Ballad of the Dogsledder Praying to the Northern Lights | Chapter 7

[healingbonds]

Chapter 6 << | index | >> Chapter 8


Oz: What’s wrong, Oz? Is there a problem......

Oz: ......The room isn’t there.

Akira: Huh? What isn’t there?

Oz: Arthur’s room isn’t there. I sealed it away.

Akira: Sealed it away!? But why......

Oz holds his breath. Agony and distress are written across his face, as if he can’t even answer that question himself.
After a long, lengthy silence, Oz murmurs quietly, his voice low and hoarse with suppressed emotion.

Oz: I burned it all with magic — everything that belonged to him.
All of it — I turned everything into ash and scattered it across the snow fields. All so that none of it could be restored ever again.

The deep red glow of the setting sun sets Oz ablaze.
Recalling Arthur’s proud smile from earlier, I am struck speechless.

✦✧☾✧✦

Arthur: My room is after this. I hope the Sage doesn’t get lost.

Toto: Amazing, this is just like a dream...... To think that I get to enter the castle I’ve always gazed at from afar......

Arthur: I’m happy that you finally came. You too, Cain, and Riquet, and the Western wizards......

Shylock: What a beautiful castle...... The craftsmanship in the lighting is slightly brusque, but still refined. ......Oh?

Cain: What’s up, Shylock?

Shylock: This lamp...... When I bring the smoke of my pipe close to it, it changes into a decorative plant.

Arthur: In the past, I often bumped my head when I flew about the corridors, so the lighting changes into plants when anything gets close to it.

(Knock knock)

Riquet: Ah, it’s the same for this window pane! I could knock on it at first, but if I rap on it more forcefully, look!

(Water ripple)

Cain: That’s incredible! It changes so it feels like you’re just plunging your hand into water. This is pretty convenient and safe.

Arthur: But in the end, I still crashed through it and plunged downwards. Though the shards of glass can’t actually pierce anything.

Chloe: You sure were mischievous, Arthur.......

Arthur: I wasn’t afraid of anything. Because I knew Sir Oz would be watching over me.
So I felt like I could do anything.

Chloe: Fufu...... That’s so nice.

Arthur: Ehehe. Ah...... We’re almost at my room.
Oh, this door sure brings back memories...... The position of the doorknob used to change as I grew.

(Turn of doorknob)

Arthur: It’s slightly too low for me now...... Okay, welcome. Everyone, please come in!

Cain & Riquet: Yay—......
............
Huh......?

Arthur: ............
......Why......
......Everything is gone......

✦✧☾✧✦

Akira: You say you burned everything, but why.......

Oz: ............

Akira: Did you burn it all — even the clothes Arthur talked about and the grimoires he used to read?

Oz: Yes.

Akira: ............

I stand frozen to the spot, speechless. Oz hangs his head, his hand covering his forehead.
I remember now, just as I asked him about the reason. The fact that Arthur was thirteen years old when he left this castle behind, after the people from the Central castle came for him.
Only the room had been left behind, unchanging, even though the sounds of the child who lived in it — his lively voice and his footsteps running around the castle — had all but disappeared.
It must have been too much for Oz to bear.

Akira: ............ Can’t you restore the things that you burned with magic?

Oz: It’s possible.

Akira: Then......

Oz: I gathered the ashes that I scattered, and I restored them — over and over again. And then I set them on fire again. At times I filled the entire room.

Akira: Huh......?

Oz: I did it countless times. Thousands and thousands of times — I set everything on fire, only to restore it from ashes. It was the only thing I could do.
Eventually, the twins stopped me. They told me to stop before I destroyed my own heart. Only they know where those ashes lie now.

I am completely taken aback. I can understand wanting to erase the traces of someone precious to you after you’ve parted ways with them.
I understand, too, the realization of the enormity of what you’ve just lost, and the regret that follows on the heel of erasing those traces.
But if you can use magic, does it mean that you will keep on reliving that excruciating moment, over and over again?
Unable to bear his solitude and loneliness, he burned Arthur’s belongings, turned them into ashes, and scattered them — and yet he yearned for them, so he gathered them back, and restored them once more......

(Footsteps)

In the distance, I hear the sound of approaching footsteps. Arthur and the rest have returned.
A faint trace of fear flashes across Oz’s eyes. The sound of the wind suddenly grows louder, and the windows start to rattle noisily.
In contrast to the violently cold sound of the wind, Oz’s breathing grows shallower.

(Door opens)

Cain and Riquet appear, cutting a dashing figure.

Cain: Oz, I have something to say to you.

Riquet: I have something to say too. What on earth do you mean by all of this?

Arthur: No, it’s all right. Both of you, please stop.

Oz: ............

It seems like everyone has seen Arthur’s room.
Cain and Riquet make no attempt at hiding their righteous fury and bewilderment, while Arthur looks uncertain.
The Western wizards also look like they want to say something. Still holding his breath, Oz cannot even meet their gazes.
He is just like Toto, who can’t bring himself to look at Oz’s face.
He is scared.

Arthur: Sir Oz.

Oz: ............

Infected by Oz’s nervousness, I feel my palms grow cold with sweat.

Arthur: Sir Oz...... Is there—..... Is there anything you’d like to say to me?

Arthur fixes his pure blue eyes straight at Oz without averting his gaze.
The unwavering look in his eyes shows that he’s braced himself to be hurt, or even scolded.
By contrast, Oz continues to look away from him.

Oz: ......Nothing.

Arthur: ............ Is that so...... I understand. I apologize.

Oz: ............

Arthur: ......Well! It’s time to prepare dinner. Will any of you help me?

Riquet: Riquet will help!

Chloe: I-I’ll help you too!

Rustica: I’m not very good at cooking, but please let me stay by your side, Prince Arthur.

Arthur: Thank you, everyone. Well then, let’s go and get the ingredients together.

Arthur heads towards the corridor, smiling a little sadly. Rustica pats his back before following him.
Before Riquet can complain at Oz, Chloe covers his mouth and hurriedly drags him down the corridor.
The moment they leave, a painful silence falls over the balcony.

Cain: ......Oz......

Cain calls out to him with his arms crossed. But a peal of laughter rings out, cutting him off.
It’s Murr.

Chapter 6 << | index | >> Chapter 8