Ballad of the Dogsledder Praying to the Northern Lights | Chapter 2

[healingbonds]

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Riquet: You must have had really strong magic if you could control a flying carriage at that age, Prince Arthur.

Cain: That’s true. It must have been quite a distance from Oz’s castle to the neighboring village.

Arthur: You see, Sir Oz’s castle commands a magnificent view. So there’s a small village once you cross a few mountains.

Akira: How very like you, Arthur — not even scared when you had to journey to such a faraway place.

Arthur: I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared. When I ventured out of the castle, I was all worked up and really excited, but......
As I gradually lost sight of the castle’s windows, and couldn’t see Sir Oz anymore, I’d start to become afraid.
I’d get disheartened, my courage would fade, and I would feel scared..... I even thought about just turning back.

Riquet: So even someone as brave as Prince Arthur has times like that.

Arthur: Because I knew. That if I turned back, Sir Oz would be there, and he would protect me from anything.

Arthur beams at Oz, faith written in the pure smile on his face.
Oz rubs the balls of his fingers together for no reason. I think he’s probably just embarrassed.

Arthur: To me, it was a very real temptation. To be honest, I almost turned back on many, many occasions.
In order to draw on my courage, I had to use my own hands to give myself a push on the back.
During those times, I would cast light incantations. I learned it from the children of the nearby village.

Akira: Light incantations?

Oz: ......Those incantations do not hold any real effects or mysterious powers.

Arthur: No, they do. At the very least, they do for me. Sir Oz, what the light means to that village is—.....

(Knock knock)

Murr: Found you, Sir Sage~! We’re back~!

Akira: Woah...... Welcome back, Murr. How did the mission in Northern Country go?

I ask, catching Murr as he gently soars through the air and jumps at me.
It isn’t Murr who answers me, but Chloe, who arrives a moment later.

Chloe: We found a human who collapsed, and brought him back with us. Um, apparently he’s an acquaintance of Arthur.

Arthur: An acquaintance of mine?

Chloe: Yep. He’s at Shylock’s bar right now.

✦✧☾✧✦

Toto: Whew...... Heaven sure is a classy place.

Shylock: Here you go. Please warm your body up with some hot wine.

Toto: Thank you...... Ah, even the wine is incredibly delicious...... The angel is so sexy, too..... I really am in heaven.....

Shylock: Fufu, that doesn’t feel too bad. Let me give you some chocolate as a special treat. And some spare ribs for your dogs.

(Barking)

Toto: You guys...... Did all of you come to heaven too? Or am I actually still alive......?

(Footsteps)

Chloe: Shylock! I brought Arthur and the rest along!

Shylock: Oh my. Our guest just woke up as well.

I step into Shylock’s bar together with Arthur and Cain.
Arthur peeks out from behind Chloe’s back.

Arthur: The person who you said was my acquaintance.....

Toto: ......! Arthur......!

The large man who leaps up from the sofa is even taller than Lennox, and built like a short and stocky bear.
He comes running towards Arthur with a heavy noise; naturally, Cain immediately puts up his guard.
Cain promptly places his body between the two of them as if he’s shielding Arthur.
He lifts his hand towards around the young man’s chest, giving him a smile that didn’t lose an inch of politeness and warmth.

Cain: Hey there, calm down. I’m Cain. Nice to meet you.

Caught off guard by Cain’s proffered hand, the young man shakes it, and their eyes finally meet.
The young man probably hadn’t noticed, but due to his injury from the < Great Catastrophe >, Cain can’t see anyone until he touches them.

Toto: Ah...... My name is Toto. I came from the village at the furthest edges of Northern Country.

Looking at Toto’s guileless face, Cain breaks into a kind smile that radiates sincere friendship.

Cain: You don’t have to be so formal, Toto. My hometown is the Town of Glory in Central Country. Come visit someday if you get a chance.

Toto: Y-yes.

Cain pulls Toto into a light hug. He nonchalantly runs his hands over Toto’s back and waist, checking for danger before turning towards Arthur.

Cain: Prince Arthur, do you know him?

Arthur had been staring intently at the young man from behind Cain’s back, but at Cain’s words, he nods with a smile.

Arthur: I do know him. Even though he’s become really huge.

Cain takes a step backwards, and Arthur quickly runs up to Toto. He holds out both arms and cups Toto’s face.

Arthur: You’ve grown so big, Toto! You look like the bear mountain lord! You became so splendid that I couldn’t recognize you.

Toto grabs Arthur in a hug with his huge arms, his tension finally easing.

Toto: Arthur, the wizard’s apprentice! Oh, thank god! To think that we get to meet again......!

Arthur: How did you get here from the farthest ends of Northern Country? Don’t tell me you rode here on the dogsled?

Toto: A wizard rescued me when I got lost! Um, the one with the kind purple eyes!

Arthur: So it was Chloe! I see they found you during their mission in Northern Country. Thank you, Chloe.

Chloe: Heheh...... So you you know Arthur. I’m glad I was able to help you!

Toto: What about your dad up at Granvelle? Is he doing well?

Cain: When you say his dad up at Granvelle, could you possibly mean His Majesty, the king of Central Country?

Toto: Oh no, no way! I mean Arthur’s dad. Right?

Toto directs an artless smile towards Arthur. He has a large build, but he appears to be a pure-hearted, genuine young man with his innocence still left in him.

Akira: (I guess he didn’t know about Arthur being the prince...... How is Arthur going to explain this?)

Arthur: Toto. Granvelle is the name of the royal family. My father is the king of Central Country. I’m Arthur, the crown prince.

Arthur’s explanation is really direct.

Toto: Huh? What did you say?

Arthur: Granvelle is the name of the royal family. My father is the king of Central Country. I’m Arthur, the crown prince.

Toto: Huh......?

Arthur: Should I repeat it? It’s confusing because it’s quite a mouthful.

Toto: Ah, no, it’s all right! ......I see...... You’ve become really splendid yourself, Arthur......

It seems like Toto is forcing himself to accept this shocking revelation. Arthur smiles cheerfully.

Arthur: You became really splendid too, Toto. You were only slightly bigger than me the last time we saw each other. The dogs grew up really sturdy, too.
You said you got lost, but did something happen in Northern Country?

Toto gives a small nod, his expression grave.

Toto: I wanted to know about our lord...... His castle has been dark and unlit, so everyone is worried.
About whether something happened during the battle against the < Great Catastrophe >......

Akira: Our lord...... Do you mean Oz?

Someone who lived in the Northern castle, and who Toto—who seems like Arthur’s childhood friend—would know about...... Oz’s face springs to mind at this train of thought.
But the moment he hears Oz’s name, terror wells up in Toto’s eyes.

Toto: Yes...... Um...... And you are......?

Akira: Ah, sorry for the belated introduction. I’m Akira, the Sage from a different world.

Toto: The Sage!?

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