healingbonds (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
healingbonds) wrote2020-09-05 10:34 pm
healingbonds) wrote2020-09-05 10:34 pm
Ballad of the Dreaming Pilot | Chapter 2
Chapter 1 << | index | >> Chapter 3
Cain: Langrenus Island is part of Western Country. Rumor has it that they’re aggressively developing weapons of war that utilize magical science technology.
Riquet: Weapons are objects that you use to fight, right? What are they fighting? Are they going to fight the < Great Catastrophe >, just as we do?
Shylock: It’s in order to invade other countries.
Riquet: Huh?
Shylock: Western Country consumes mana stones at an extravagant rate. It wants to get its hands on territory in other countries in order to extract more mana stones.
And the country must be feeling particularly invincible right now, with its incredible wealth.
Shylock says this indifferently. His voice is dry, as if the situation has nothing to do with him — but at the same time, he sounds disgusted, as if it’s his own affair.
Shylock: That is why I warned you that human desire knows no bounds, Murr.
Murr: Ahaha! Guess I’ll take the whole thing apart!
Chloe: Geez, Murr. He’s so engrossed in fixing the mirror of past days that he’s not listening to us at all.
Shylock: Let’s leave him be for now. Sooner or later the winds of interest will blow his attention our way.
Cain: .....What do you make of the military weaponry on Langrenus Island?
Arthur: If Western military weapons invaded Central Country territory, it would have profound implications. I’d like to come to a peaceful solution, but.....
We can request an investigation into Langrenus Island, but even that might cause problems: having Cain or myself on the island could easily turn into a diplomatic dispute.
A heavy atmosphere begins to cloud the room. Arthur’s expression says it all: international relations are a difficult issue that require a delicate balancing act.
Cock Robin: There you are, Sir Sage.
Akira: What is it?
Cock Robin: We have a guest — a visitor from Langrenus Island in the West. He’d like to speak to you and the Western wizards.
Akira: From Langrenus Island....!?
Rustica: What marvelous timing.
Shylock: Terrifyingly marvelous.
Arthur: Well then, we’ll leave the room for now.
Murr: Why? It’s the perfect opportunity for you to just stay here.
Cain: But he requested to meet with the Western wizards.
Murr: Just pretend you’re Western wizards, then!
Chloe: Good point! There’s no way for him to know — it’s not like we’re wearing name plates.
Arthur: But......
Shylock: You are Arty.
Arthur: Huh?
Shylock: Kai, Rick, and Ozwald.
Cain & Riquet: !?
Shylock: Please remember your new names. From this moment on, you are all Western wizards.
Oz: I refuse.
Rustica: Now, now. Take these.
The Central wizards can’t keep up as Rustica walks around elegantly forcing objects into their hands.
Cain: ....A handbell?
Rustica: Western wizards love music, after all.
Shylock: Feel free to ring them whenever you wish.
✦✧☾✧✦
The visitor is a coarse man in his forties. He looks incredibly nervous.
Benjamin: Thank you for allowing me to speak with you. I am Benjamin. I am an engineer from Langrenus Island.
I apologize in advance for any unintentional rudeness. I spend all day working with machines, so I don’t know how to speak nice and proper.
Akira: No, it’s fine. Please speak in whatever manner would be easiest for you, Mister Benjamin.
Benjamin: Thanks, that’s a great help.
Akira: We haven’t introduced ourselves yet — I’m the Sage, and these are the Western wizards.
Murr: Hey~!
Chloe & Rustica: Hey~.
Shylock: Nice to meet you.
Arthur: H... Hey~! I’m Arty!
Cain: I’m Kai! Hey~!
Riquet: I’m Rick. H-hey?
Oz: .........
Cain: This guy is Ozwald. Don’t worry, he’s a Western wizard too!
Benjamin: ....There are more Western wizards than I expected.
Shylock: We’re providing you with extra-special service today.
Akira: B-by the way, Mister Benjamin, what did you want to speak to us about?
Mister Benjamin casts a skeptical glance at the smiling Western wizards and the nervous "Western wizards" before making a solemn face.
Benjamin: The higher-ups in the military don’t know that I’m here. If they find out, I might get killed.
So I’m begging you — what I’m about to tell you — keep it a secret.
He sounds so stressed that I have to nod in response.
Benjamin: I worked as a maintenance man for the ships on Langrenus Island, but after some time, I began to manufacture airships under government surveillance.
They’re not just any old flying ships, mind you. They’re giant, powerful military airships that utilize magical science technology.
Arthur: Military airships?
Cain: I’m amazed you can make airships to begin with — but military airships?
Benjamin: Yeah, most people would think it’s the talk of fools. But do you know of the great inventor, the wizard Murr?
Murr: I do! I totally do!
Benjamin: This Murr guy left behind blueprints for a military airship. I created an airship based on that blueprint — a feat that was said to be impossible.
It’s solemn and beautiful; it’s the most powerful ship in the world, soaring through the skies with grace. No vehicle in this world could surpass it.
Benjamin says, proudly. But then he casts his eyes to the ground.
Benjamin: And one day, it just disappeared.
Murr: Maybe it was a magic trick.
Shylock: Well, it would’ve been quite the show then. I wouldn’t be able to stop clapping.
Benjamin: It wasn’t just some magic trick! A giant ship disappeared overnight!
Cain: Well, the natural response would be to assume it was stolen. Have you asked around?
Benjamin: Of course I did. But I got nothing out of it. Plus, it’s not easy for outsiders to access the building, with all its security.
How in the world did someone steal something that big.....
Chapter 1 << | index | >> Chapter 3
Cain: Langrenus Island is part of Western Country. Rumor has it that they’re aggressively developing weapons of war that utilize magical science technology.
Riquet: Weapons are objects that you use to fight, right? What are they fighting? Are they going to fight the < Great Catastrophe >, just as we do?
Shylock: It’s in order to invade other countries.
Riquet: Huh?
Shylock: Western Country consumes mana stones at an extravagant rate. It wants to get its hands on territory in other countries in order to extract more mana stones.
And the country must be feeling particularly invincible right now, with its incredible wealth.
Shylock says this indifferently. His voice is dry, as if the situation has nothing to do with him — but at the same time, he sounds disgusted, as if it’s his own affair.
Shylock: That is why I warned you that human desire knows no bounds, Murr.
Murr: Ahaha! Guess I’ll take the whole thing apart!
Chloe: Geez, Murr. He’s so engrossed in fixing the mirror of past days that he’s not listening to us at all.
Shylock: Let’s leave him be for now. Sooner or later the winds of interest will blow his attention our way.
Cain: .....What do you make of the military weaponry on Langrenus Island?
Arthur: If Western military weapons invaded Central Country territory, it would have profound implications. I’d like to come to a peaceful solution, but.....
We can request an investigation into Langrenus Island, but even that might cause problems: having Cain or myself on the island could easily turn into a diplomatic dispute.
A heavy atmosphere begins to cloud the room. Arthur’s expression says it all: international relations are a difficult issue that require a delicate balancing act.
Cock Robin: There you are, Sir Sage.
Akira: What is it?
Cock Robin: We have a guest — a visitor from Langrenus Island in the West. He’d like to speak to you and the Western wizards.
Akira: From Langrenus Island....!?
Rustica: What marvelous timing.
Shylock: Terrifyingly marvelous.
Arthur: Well then, we’ll leave the room for now.
Murr: Why? It’s the perfect opportunity for you to just stay here.
Cain: But he requested to meet with the Western wizards.
Murr: Just pretend you’re Western wizards, then!
Chloe: Good point! There’s no way for him to know — it’s not like we’re wearing name plates.
Arthur: But......
Shylock: You are Arty.
Arthur: Huh?
Shylock: Kai, Rick, and Ozwald.
Cain & Riquet: !?
Shylock: Please remember your new names. From this moment on, you are all Western wizards.
Oz: I refuse.
Rustica: Now, now. Take these.
The Central wizards can’t keep up as Rustica walks around elegantly forcing objects into their hands.
Cain: ....A handbell?
Rustica: Western wizards love music, after all.
Shylock: Feel free to ring them whenever you wish.
✦✧☾✧✦
The visitor is a coarse man in his forties. He looks incredibly nervous.
Benjamin: Thank you for allowing me to speak with you. I am Benjamin. I am an engineer from Langrenus Island.
I apologize in advance for any unintentional rudeness. I spend all day working with machines, so I don’t know how to speak nice and proper.
Akira: No, it’s fine. Please speak in whatever manner would be easiest for you, Mister Benjamin.
Benjamin: Thanks, that’s a great help.
Akira: We haven’t introduced ourselves yet — I’m the Sage, and these are the Western wizards.
Murr: Hey~!
Chloe & Rustica: Hey~.
Shylock: Nice to meet you.
Arthur: H... Hey~! I’m Arty!
Cain: I’m Kai! Hey~!
Riquet: I’m Rick. H-hey?
Oz: .........
Cain: This guy is Ozwald. Don’t worry, he’s a Western wizard too!
Benjamin: ....There are more Western wizards than I expected.
Shylock: We’re providing you with extra-special service today.
Akira: B-by the way, Mister Benjamin, what did you want to speak to us about?
Mister Benjamin casts a skeptical glance at the smiling Western wizards and the nervous "Western wizards" before making a solemn face.
Benjamin: The higher-ups in the military don’t know that I’m here. If they find out, I might get killed.
So I’m begging you — what I’m about to tell you — keep it a secret.
He sounds so stressed that I have to nod in response.
Benjamin: I worked as a maintenance man for the ships on Langrenus Island, but after some time, I began to manufacture airships under government surveillance.
They’re not just any old flying ships, mind you. They’re giant, powerful military airships that utilize magical science technology.
Arthur: Military airships?
Cain: I’m amazed you can make airships to begin with — but military airships?
Benjamin: Yeah, most people would think it’s the talk of fools. But do you know of the great inventor, the wizard Murr?
Murr: I do! I totally do!
Benjamin: This Murr guy left behind blueprints for a military airship. I created an airship based on that blueprint — a feat that was said to be impossible.
It’s solemn and beautiful; it’s the most powerful ship in the world, soaring through the skies with grace. No vehicle in this world could surpass it.
Benjamin says, proudly. But then he casts his eyes to the ground.
Benjamin: And one day, it just disappeared.
Murr: Maybe it was a magic trick.
Shylock: Well, it would’ve been quite the show then. I wouldn’t be able to stop clapping.
Benjamin: It wasn’t just some magic trick! A giant ship disappeared overnight!
Cain: Well, the natural response would be to assume it was stolen. Have you asked around?
Benjamin: Of course I did. But I got nothing out of it. Plus, it’s not easy for outsiders to access the building, with all its security.
How in the world did someone steal something that big.....
Chapter 1 << | index | >> Chapter 3