healingbonds (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
healingbonds) wrote2020-10-11 08:31 pm
healingbonds) wrote2020-10-11 08:31 pm
Ballad of the Dogsledder Praying to the Northern Lights | Chapter 6
Chapter 5 << | index | >> Chapter 7
Relieved, I head indoors with everyone else.
Within our group, Arthur continues to gaze at the scenery from the balcony. Riquet stands next to him.
Haloed against the brilliance of the blue sky and the blinding light of the silvery landscape, the sight of their backs lined up next to each other is as beautiful as a painting.
Riquet looks up at Arthur with a smile.
Riquet: What a beautiful place.
Arthur: ......Yes......
Still looking straight ahead, Arthur nods.
Riquet smiles, returning his gaze to the scenery. But then he whips around to look up at Arthur once more with a shocked expression.
Riquet: P-Prince Arthur......
Something must have happened: I run towards the two of them in a hurry.
Arthur turns around at the sound of my footsteps. I gasp from the shock.
Because there are tears welling up in his large, blue eyes.
Arthur: ......Sir Sage......
The Northern wind blows past us, and I hear the cry of the large bird.
The frozen landscape, and the vast, silvery forest that stretches without end.
Akira: (I see...... This place must be like Arthur’s hometown. .....And he finally got to come home to it......)
Arthur attempts a sheepish smile, but failing to do so, he grimaces weakly.
Tears spill from his eyes. He hides his mouth with the back of his hand, but the choked up tremor in his voice is heartbreaking.
Arthur: Forgive me..... ......... It just brought back so many memories......
......And I’m so happy.......
Instinctively, I feel the urge to wrap my arms around his shoulders.
His blue eyes glitter and overflow like the sea. I never imagined that he would cry out loud like this.
Moved by his tears, I recall — the people waiting for me, the scenery of the town where I lived, familiar and yet so far away now......
Akira: (I wonder how everyone is doing...... If the town has changed at all......)
(Not being able to go home made me realize that I actually loved that place and the people there more than I thought......)
My eyes grow warm, and a tremor goes through the depths of my chest. I would have shut out this impulse in the past, but now I no longer hide it.
While living in this world, I gradually ceased to think that it was shameful for your heart to be swayed when you think about something precious to you.
Riquet: ......A nostalgic place......
I’m sure it’s the same for Riquet. He, too, has a place that he means to go home to—but cannot.
Riquet looks down, his shoulders shaking, as I blink over and over again; Arthur comes to himself with a start, and furrows his eyebrows sorrowfully.
Arthur: ......I apologize, Sir Sage...... Sorry, Riquet...... I shouldn’t be talking about my joy at coming home in front of you two......
Riquet: ......No, no, it’s not that. It’s not like I suddenly wanted to go home, it’s just that you cried, Prince Arthur, so......
.....So I thought that it would be okay...... to cry while thinking about the place you yearn to go home to......
His sentence trails off inarticulately. Riquet bursts into sobs, pressing both hands against his eyes.
Arthur puts his arm around Riquet’s slender shoulders and embraces him. Feeling my eyes grow warm, I pat Riquet on his back.
I gaze at the beautiful, silvery world while smiling through my tears, and draw in a long, deep breath that fills my entire chest.
Akira: I’m happy for you, Arthur..... I’m really, really happy that you could return home to the place that is precious to you.
Arthur: ......Thank you, Sir Sage......
Arthur must have dreamed of this scenery countless times while lying in his lavish bedroom in the Central castle.
I’m glad that I can congratulate Arthur sincerely on returning to his precious place. I’m glad that I didn’t feel jealous or sorry for myself.
All of this is only possible because everyone here has treasured me.
When it is time for me to leave this mysterious world, I’m sure I’ll be happy, and lonely at the same time.
✦✧☾✧✦
When the three of us make our way back to the living hall with red-rimmed eyes, Oz loses his composure.
Oz: ......!? ......Wh—......
Cain: What happened, you guys!?
It is Cain who dashes over. He cups our cheeks in both of his hands in turn, peering into our faces with a serious expression.
Arthur gives an embarrassed smile.
Arthur: I cried because it was all just so nostalgic.
Akira: And then I cried in sympathy.
Riquet: Me too.
Cain’s gaze softens, and he smiles kindly. His long fingertips stroke through our hair, ruffling it messily like a gust of wind.
Cain: I can’t find the right words, but I love all of you. Akira, Arthur, Riquet.
That’s the best line he could’ve come up with.
Oz still looks shaken. It’s nothing, it’s all right. Before I can tell him any of that, he asks.
Oz: ......Did you see it?
His question is directed at Arthur. Arthur blinks, looking mystified.
Arthur: What do you mean?
Oz: ............
Oz looks away from Arthur without answering. I feel a strange sense of unease.
The rigid line of his cheeks, and the way his lips are stubbornly pressed together — it reminds me of Toto, who refuses to look at Oz’s face.
Toto: S-Sir Oz...... Thank you for returning to the castle......
Toto’s voice happens to ring out at that moment, and everyone turns to look at him.
He calms his dogs down, continuing to kneel with his lowered gaze fixed on the floor.
Toto: I will take my leave now...... I’m truly, truly, grateful. I’ll never forget about stepping inside this castle.
Arthur: You don’t have to leave right away. Let me show you the clothes that I received from your mother.
Toto: Arthur......
Arthur: Sir Oz, can I show Toto, Cain, and everyone else to my room?
Oz: ............
Riquet: I want to explore Oz’s entire castle, not just Prince Arthur’s room!
Fufu, once we return from our exploration, I have a special surprise for everyone.
Rustica: A special surprise. I wonder what it could be. I’m looking forward to it.
Murr: Ya~y, let’s explore Oz’s castle! We might make an amazing discovery!
Shylock: Please don’t. Fufu...... Let’s enjoy ourselves in a civilized manner.
Chloe: Exploring the castle sounds so exciting!
Arthur beams at everyone, his expression proud and youthful. He turns to look at Oz, looking just the slightest bit like a spoiled child.
Arthur: Would that be all right, Sir Oz? If I showed everyone around.
Oz: ............
Yes.
Oz nods with a vacant look. Almost as if he’s watching helplessly from the sidelines as a cup topples towards the ground.
Arthur stares quizzically at Oz, but realizing that Oz doesn’t mean to say anything, he walks away.
Everyone trails along after Arthur. I also mean to follow him, but......
Akira: ......Oz?
Oz grasps my wrist.
Cain: Akira?
Akira: Ah...... Please go on ahead! I’ll catch up afterwards.
Cain: Got it. Don’t get lost, okay.
The sounds of everyone’s footsteps fade into the distance.
In the space where we find ourselves alone, Oz looks down at me with a bitter expression. He murmurs, still gripping my wrist, clinging onto it.
Oz: ......This way.
Oz makes for the balcony, as if he’s trying to avoid being seen.
Chapter 5 << | index | >> Chapter 7
Relieved, I head indoors with everyone else.
Within our group, Arthur continues to gaze at the scenery from the balcony. Riquet stands next to him.
Haloed against the brilliance of the blue sky and the blinding light of the silvery landscape, the sight of their backs lined up next to each other is as beautiful as a painting.
Riquet looks up at Arthur with a smile.
Riquet: What a beautiful place.
Arthur: ......Yes......
Still looking straight ahead, Arthur nods.
Riquet smiles, returning his gaze to the scenery. But then he whips around to look up at Arthur once more with a shocked expression.
Riquet: P-Prince Arthur......
Something must have happened: I run towards the two of them in a hurry.
Arthur turns around at the sound of my footsteps. I gasp from the shock.
Because there are tears welling up in his large, blue eyes.
Arthur: ......Sir Sage......
The Northern wind blows past us, and I hear the cry of the large bird.
The frozen landscape, and the vast, silvery forest that stretches without end.
Akira: (I see...... This place must be like Arthur’s hometown. .....And he finally got to come home to it......)
Arthur attempts a sheepish smile, but failing to do so, he grimaces weakly.
Tears spill from his eyes. He hides his mouth with the back of his hand, but the choked up tremor in his voice is heartbreaking.
Arthur: Forgive me..... ......... It just brought back so many memories......
......And I’m so happy.......
Instinctively, I feel the urge to wrap my arms around his shoulders.
His blue eyes glitter and overflow like the sea. I never imagined that he would cry out loud like this.
Moved by his tears, I recall — the people waiting for me, the scenery of the town where I lived, familiar and yet so far away now......
Akira: (I wonder how everyone is doing...... If the town has changed at all......)
(Not being able to go home made me realize that I actually loved that place and the people there more than I thought......)
My eyes grow warm, and a tremor goes through the depths of my chest. I would have shut out this impulse in the past, but now I no longer hide it.
While living in this world, I gradually ceased to think that it was shameful for your heart to be swayed when you think about something precious to you.
Riquet: ......A nostalgic place......
I’m sure it’s the same for Riquet. He, too, has a place that he means to go home to—but cannot.
Riquet looks down, his shoulders shaking, as I blink over and over again; Arthur comes to himself with a start, and furrows his eyebrows sorrowfully.
Arthur: ......I apologize, Sir Sage...... Sorry, Riquet...... I shouldn’t be talking about my joy at coming home in front of you two......
Riquet: ......No, no, it’s not that. It’s not like I suddenly wanted to go home, it’s just that you cried, Prince Arthur, so......
.....So I thought that it would be okay...... to cry while thinking about the place you yearn to go home to......
His sentence trails off inarticulately. Riquet bursts into sobs, pressing both hands against his eyes.
Arthur puts his arm around Riquet’s slender shoulders and embraces him. Feeling my eyes grow warm, I pat Riquet on his back.
I gaze at the beautiful, silvery world while smiling through my tears, and draw in a long, deep breath that fills my entire chest.
Akira: I’m happy for you, Arthur..... I’m really, really happy that you could return home to the place that is precious to you.
Arthur: ......Thank you, Sir Sage......
Arthur must have dreamed of this scenery countless times while lying in his lavish bedroom in the Central castle.
I’m glad that I can congratulate Arthur sincerely on returning to his precious place. I’m glad that I didn’t feel jealous or sorry for myself.
All of this is only possible because everyone here has treasured me.
When it is time for me to leave this mysterious world, I’m sure I’ll be happy, and lonely at the same time.
✦✧☾✧✦
When the three of us make our way back to the living hall with red-rimmed eyes, Oz loses his composure.
Oz: ......!? ......Wh—......
Cain: What happened, you guys!?
It is Cain who dashes over. He cups our cheeks in both of his hands in turn, peering into our faces with a serious expression.
Arthur gives an embarrassed smile.
Arthur: I cried because it was all just so nostalgic.
Akira: And then I cried in sympathy.
Riquet: Me too.
Cain’s gaze softens, and he smiles kindly. His long fingertips stroke through our hair, ruffling it messily like a gust of wind.
Cain: I can’t find the right words, but I love all of you. Akira, Arthur, Riquet.
That’s the best line he could’ve come up with.
Oz still looks shaken. It’s nothing, it’s all right. Before I can tell him any of that, he asks.
Oz: ......Did you see it?
His question is directed at Arthur. Arthur blinks, looking mystified.
Arthur: What do you mean?
Oz: ............
Oz looks away from Arthur without answering. I feel a strange sense of unease.
The rigid line of his cheeks, and the way his lips are stubbornly pressed together — it reminds me of Toto, who refuses to look at Oz’s face.
Toto: S-Sir Oz...... Thank you for returning to the castle......
Toto’s voice happens to ring out at that moment, and everyone turns to look at him.
He calms his dogs down, continuing to kneel with his lowered gaze fixed on the floor.
Toto: I will take my leave now...... I’m truly, truly, grateful. I’ll never forget about stepping inside this castle.
Arthur: You don’t have to leave right away. Let me show you the clothes that I received from your mother.
Toto: Arthur......
Arthur: Sir Oz, can I show Toto, Cain, and everyone else to my room?
Oz: ............
Riquet: I want to explore Oz’s entire castle, not just Prince Arthur’s room!
Fufu, once we return from our exploration, I have a special surprise for everyone.
Rustica: A special surprise. I wonder what it could be. I’m looking forward to it.
Murr: Ya~y, let’s explore Oz’s castle! We might make an amazing discovery!
Shylock: Please don’t. Fufu...... Let’s enjoy ourselves in a civilized manner.
Chloe: Exploring the castle sounds so exciting!
Arthur beams at everyone, his expression proud and youthful. He turns to look at Oz, looking just the slightest bit like a spoiled child.
Arthur: Would that be all right, Sir Oz? If I showed everyone around.
Oz: ............
Yes.
Oz nods with a vacant look. Almost as if he’s watching helplessly from the sidelines as a cup topples towards the ground.
Arthur stares quizzically at Oz, but realizing that Oz doesn’t mean to say anything, he walks away.
Everyone trails along after Arthur. I also mean to follow him, but......
Akira: ......Oz?
Oz grasps my wrist.
Cain: Akira?
Akira: Ah...... Please go on ahead! I’ll catch up afterwards.
Cain: Got it. Don’t get lost, okay.
The sounds of everyone’s footsteps fade into the distance.
In the space where we find ourselves alone, Oz looks down at me with a bitter expression. He murmurs, still gripping my wrist, clinging onto it.
Oz: ......This way.
Oz makes for the balcony, as if he’s trying to avoid being seen.
Chapter 5 << | index | >> Chapter 7