Ballad of the Dogsledder Praying to the Northern Lights | Chapter 9

[healingbonds]

Chapter 8 << | index | >> Chapter 10


Shylock: I beg you to soothe your anger, Sir Oz.

Shylock’s tone is calm and collected, his head bent and his entire body laid flat in absolute submission.
His voice, as sweet as a bedtime story, is gently and soothingly persuasive.

Shylock: You should enjoy your return home; it’s been so long. And the sun is about to set.

Oz: Move.

Shylock: Your wrath is certainly justified. I too have wished to kill this man on several occasions. But Murr is now a Sage’s wizard.
No matter how unbearable he may be, his loss will cause our dear Sage trouble.

Oz: And why should I care?

I am hurt by the ruthlessness in his voice.
Because Oz has always said, "If it’s what the Sage wishes for," and given in to me.

Oz: You, cursed jester who frolics with the moon. I will seal those lips for eternity.

Shylock: ....Sir Oz...... Please, do reconsider. For the sake of our battle against the < Great Catastrophe >.....

Oz: Silence. As long as we have the Sage here, we can summon a wizard to replace Murr.

Akira: ......I-I won’t do it......

At long last, I find my voice.
Oz glances at me. I speak desperately, even as I clamp down on my fear.

Akira: I-I won’t summon a wizard to replace Murr. There’s no replacement for him.

Oz’s merciless gaze pierces through me. I want to scream from the terror and run away.
Noticing my pallor, Oz looks bewildered and tries to say something.



At that moment, Cain steps in front of me as if he’s protecting me.
Gritting his teeth like he’s fighting against his fear, he grips the hilt of his sword with trembling fingertips.

Cain: ......Release Murr...... This isn’t like you at all!?

Oz: Do you want to be killed?

Cain: No way, you idiot!

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

A vein pops on Oz’s temple at the unbelievably straightforward way Cain calls him an idiot.
Realizing the extent of Oz’s fury, Shylock turns white, even paler than before.
Even so, Cain doesn’t back down. He blocks the path in front of Oz, even as he breaks out in cold sweat and his legs tremble.

Cain: Yes, Murr went overboard with what he said! It’s understandable that you got angry. But Murr is our comrade, isn’t he!?
This is not the way you should be going about it! Arthur would be sad!
If you turn Murr and me into stone, how are you going to face Arthur? After his room, are you going to erase his friends next!?
He believes that you’re a kind person! And that you’re not some demon king! He thinks those tales of you are all lies! I feel the same way! I want to believe in you, Oz!

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

Something much like grief flashes through Oz’s eyes. Still breathing shallowly from stress, Cain doesn’t look away.

Cain: I’m begging you, Oz.

The air taut with tension, a long moment passes.
With a short sigh, Oz lowers his staff. My relief is short-lived: Oz whirls around and pierces Murr’s body with his staff.
All in the span of one breath, from Murr’s laughing mouth to the back of his head.

Shylock: ............!

Akira: Murr......!

(Ripple of water)

When Oz retracts his staff, Murr’s form—which had become a crystal sculpture—undulates like a body of water.
And then he crumples in a heap, weighed down by gravity. Shylock reaches out with his arms at once.
Right before his knees fall to the ground, Murr regains his physical body.
Lying in Shylock’s arms, his cat-like eyes go wide and round.

Akira: ......M-Murr.....

Murr opens his mouth wide and speaks.

Murr: ......I thought I was gonna die~!

Shylock sags with exhaustion without a single tactful or sarcastic remark.
Sitting plastered on the ground, he draws up his knee and slumps over.
Murr peers into Shylock’s face delightedly.

Murr: Wow! That was so thrilling! How about you, Shylock? Were you scared? Were you excited?

Shylock: Fufu.... May I smoke my pipe before I provide an answer?

Oz turns his back on us, meaning to walk away. Just as I start to ask where he is going and try to hold him back—...
Oz runs into Arthur.

Arthur: Sir Oz.

Oz: ............!

Riquet, Rustica and Chloe are also with Arthur. The line of Oz’s back stiffens.
As Arthur opens his mouth to speak, a look of self-mockery crosses Oz’s face.

Oz: Words mean nothing. I do not have the answer that you are looking for.

Arthur: ......Is that so?

Oz: That is right. What you saw just now is my true self.

Arthur: What I saw just now......?

Oz: ............
Did you not see what I just did?

Arthur: Well, I just arrived now.

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

Arthur: What were you doing?

Murr: Should we recreate the scene for you, Arthur? Want me to lend you a hand, Oz?

Shylock: Murr. I am begging you to shut up.

Cain: Ah, well...... I was helping him practice talking to you, Arthur. Oz said he has something he’d like to say.

Cain smiles, taking his hand off the hilt of his sword. He claps Oz’s back and urges him forward.

Cain: Go on, Oz...... These things should be conveyed with words. Show me the results of your practice.

Arthur gazes up wordlessly at Oz, simply waiting for him to speak.
Saying that they were practicing talking — it is simply an excuse Cain made up to cover for Oz.
But Oz looks like he got some sort of message. He embraces Arthur’s shoulders, sitting him down on the sofa.
Cain might have forgotten, but he actually did make them practice how to have a conversation. He did so with Oz, a few days ago.
So when he asks Oz to show him the results of his practice, this happens.

Oz: Hey.

Arthur: ............

Oz: Can I sit down next to you?

Akira: (They did do this! That practice......!)

Arthur blinks in surprise. And then he bursts loudly into laughter, holding the sides of his stomach.

Arthur: Ahahaha......! Yes, of course. Please, take a seat. Oh, Sir Oz......

Arthur waits for Oz to sit down, and then winds his arms around Oz’s back.
Smiling through his tears, Arthur buries his cheek in the crook of Oz’s shoulder. Somehow, it feels like he is the one protecting Oz, even though he’s the young boy.

Arthur: Thank you for trying to talk to me kindly. Just your feelings alone are enough for me.

Oz: ............ .......Your room no longer exists.

Arthur: Yes...... I saw.

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

Arthur: Can I ask you just one thing?

Oz: Yes.

Arthur: Should I not have returned here?

My chest grows tight, thinking of the way Arthur looked earlier.
The young boy’s profile, streaked with tears of nostalgia and happiness as he stood gazing at the scenery from the balcony.
Oz lowers his gaze. His expression — so terrifying and cold just a few moments ago — is tinged with helplessness, and warmth slowly creeps back into his eyes.
He returns Arthur’s embrace, shaking his head.

Chapter 8 << | index | >> Chapter 10