The Bonds We Formed, Like Magic | Chapter 6

[healingbonds]

Chapter 5 << | index | >> Chapter 7


And so, after much trial and error, we have Rustica acting as our chairperson today.

Rustica: Very well, everyone. It’s my pleasure to be here today.

Chloe: ......Are you sure about this, Sir Sage....? I think Rustica’s pretty skilled at running us off topic......

Akira: I agree, but I was hoping that by making him act as chairperson, he’d bring his grace and deftness to marshall the proceedings......

Chloe: I-I see...... I’m happy that Rustica was chosen, but I’m also worried.....
Do your best, Rustica...... Oh, I hope it’ll all go well......!

Sitting in the chairperson’s seat, Rustica lets his amicable gaze travel across everyone’s faces.
There’s no trace of coercion or inordinate self-deprecation in his manner. The way he carries himself reminds me of the conductor of an orchestra.
His gaze lingers briefly on each of us, as if he’s contemplating each instrumentalist’s expression, gently inquiring, "How are you feeling?" before he starts to speak.

Rustica: We face many problems before us. But that is no reason to feel despondent.
However, if we fail because we cannot take our duties seriously, going about everything half-asleep, surely we would be left with grievous regret.
For one, there’s a very good chance that most people in this world will die.
After all, it’s been said that if the wizards are unable to drive the < Great Catastrophe > away when it attacks, then it will destroy the world.
But there hasn’t been a single soul who has witnessed the end of the world in such a matter, so it remains a hypothetical situation.
It’s difficult to seriously consider a situation that has not yet come to pass. We prepare tea cosies in advance to prevent the tea from cooling down, all because we know it will happen.
But what if the tea decides to escape? We haven’t created precautions for a situation like that.
And the chances of such a thing happening are so low that even if it did escape, we could just prepare a fresh pot of tea. That’s all there is to it.
But the destruction of the world is a different matter altogether. If such a day arrives, that will simply be the end of it all.
We, and this planet, will be crushed and scattered across the universe, or burnt to a crisp, or stuck to another object in space, becoming lost stardust that wanders amidst the galaxy.
By the way, this is a theory articulated by the great scientist, Murr Hart, in one of his publications.
Our bodies are made of the same stuff as stars.

Akira: You mean wizards’ bodies are....?

Rustica: This goes for wizards, humans, gems, and flora. The theory states that we were all born from a single place; a single thing.
Quite fascinating, isn’t it? Ah, I went off topic.

Owen: Your opening speech was too long. What are you trying to say?

Owen crosses his legs disinteredly. He’s seemed bored right from the start.
He’s lying back against the sofa, sunk so deep that he’s almost laid out horizontal while cradling a bowl filled to the brim with fresh cream. He uses his bare hands to scoop the cream and stuff his cheeks.
If not for the overflowing bowl of sugary cream, Owen would have probably disappeared from the room by now.
Rustica looks delighted for Owen to have addressed him.

Rustica: My point is that I wish to keep on living. As merrily as possible.

Owen raises his eyebrows, puzzled.

Rustica: << Amorest Viesse >>

Rustica chants his spell, and piles of cupcakes appear on top of the table.

Rustica: I asked Nero to bake these cupcakes.
As I mentioned earlier, we will always have problems that we come to regret unless we tackle them seriously.
But it’s also tiresome when there’s one after another stacked on our plate to deal with.
I welcome interesting predicaments, but I don’t want to be involved with laborious matters. In the end, our problem remains unresolved.
So, let’s add some harmless fun into the mix.
There’s a card inserted into each and every one of these cupcakes.
Each card contains an issue that was raised in our meetings up till now.
Owen, why don’t you choose a cupcake and slather as much cream as you want on it? Once you’re done eating it, we’ll try to solve the problem tucked inside.
We’ll all work on it together. Let’s start with one.

Owen gazes at Rustica with an odd twist to his expression. It is Rutile who responds brightly to Rustica’s suggestion.

Rutile: How wonderful! What a fun idea!

And just like that, his voice lights up the entire room like chirping birds calling the night into dawn.
Cain, too, laughs in frank delight at the suggestion.

Cain: Hey, I like that. Most of the time, problem-solving kicks off with everyone offering their opinions, and then we choose which issues to prioritize.
But that didn’t work for us. So that means we need to find our own way of doing things.

Heathcliff: But remember, he said that if we mess around, we’d regret it later?

Shino: We can get serious after we’re through with this. Once we know our destination, we can start running towards it. I’m sick of all these meetings.

Faust: I think it’s fine. I recall doing the same sort of thing when I had limited information at my disposal; we just drew straws.

Nero: I didn’t even notice there was something written on the cards when I baked those cupcakes.

Even Mithra and Bradley are exchanging wry smiles with each other.

Bradley: Wild, huh? Just choose already, Owen.

Mithra: Isn’t it great that you get to eat so many cupcakes?

Furrowing his perfectly arched eyebrows, Owen scrunches up his face into an even stranger expression.
It is a strange expression, but not comical or droll. His face contorts between looking wary, half-taunting, and then flushed with confusion.
Normally eloquent, now he simply stares wordlessly at the circle around him. Perhaps he can’t make a judgement as to whether he’s being ridiculed or respected.

Akira: (Maybe he’s never been the center of attention in such a friendly setting......)

From his perch on the sofa, Owen narrows his eyes while hugging the bowl of cream and his knees close.
It seems like he’s settled for a piercing cold smile.

Owen: So you’re treating me like a fool?

Rustica shrugs.

Rustica: Not at all. It’s only that you just so happen to be holding a bowl of cream.

Owen: Then I don’t need this.

Owen brusquely shoves the bowl aside. It tips over, spilling cream over the torso of the person beside him.

Bradley: ......You shithead......! You got cream all over my suit!

Cain: What’s wrong, Owen? You love cream and cupcakes, right?

Cain leans over and peers into Owen’s face. The murderous glint in Owen’s mismatched eyes intensifies.

Owen: Shut up. I’ll kill you.

Cain: Why are you getting mad? I’m just asking a question.
So why are you upset? Don’t you love cream and cupcakes? You don’t hate having to choose, either, right?

Owen just keeps blinking rapidly as his bead-like eyes furiously dart around.
He’s not shedding any blood, but he behaves like he has been beaten up and driven into a corner. Cain makes a move as if to say something to him.
But before he can, Bradley sighs and adjusts his grip on the bowl with one hand.

Bradley: Move over; I’ll choose one for you. I got cream all over me anyway.

In the next instance, Owen disappears like a puff of smoke.
Rustica looks dazed. And then, in typical Rustica fashion, his expression is suffused with genuine sadness.
Bradley talks while selecting and grabbing a cupcake.

Bradley: Don’t look so down. Your game was pretty good. That’s why I’m gonna join in.

Rustica: But Owen......

Bradley: You didn’t hurt him. And if you think you did, then you really need to stop with that face.

One side of Bradley’s face splits into a grin at Rustica’s continued blinking.
It’s meant to be a sarcastic expression, but I can read the traces of friendship and affectionate respect in his face.

Bradley: I don’t hate you, you know? You freely give away treasures and love that anyone else would cling to desperately for fear of losing them.
That’s an expression of your generosity and spirit. But it makes for a god-awful match with Northern pride.
When we make something our own, we have to steal it or pick it up ourselves
Even if something nearly drives us mad with desire, if someone just offered it to us, we’d rather die than accept.

Rustica: .....But why is that? Is there some sort of rule?

Bradley: You’re asking me why? Haha... I guess a sexy guy from the West could never imagine why.

Bradley runs his fingers through his hair, a mirthless smile ghosting across his face.

Bradley: I wonder why myself. It’s kinda hard to explain properly. Even though it’s such a profound humiliation — even despair — that sets our blood aflame.

Bradley taps Rustica’s arm jovially, like he’s trying to assuage him.

Nero: ............

To the side, Nero gazes at Bradley, a bitter look on his face.
But he simply folds his arms and wordlessly lowers his gaze. Bradley opens his mouth as if to take a bite out of the cupcake.
But that’s when—......

Owen: << Cuare Morito >>

(Growling)

Bradley: Whoa......!?

(Loud crashing)

The vicious, three-headed giant hound — Cerberus — materializes and knocks Bradley over.
The cupcake flies out of his hand and floats through the air.
And the one who catches it is Owen, who had disappeared just moments earlier.
Owen laughs gleefully.

Owen: Fufu...... I snatched it from you, the supposed leader of the bandits. You poor thing.
That’s what you get for laying your hands on something that belongs to me.

Bradley: You asshole.........

Owen reaches over and plucks the bowl from Bradley while Cerberus holds him pinned to the ground. There’s still a little cream left in the bowl.
His eyes glittering, he smears the remaining cream on the cupcake and bites into it with relish.

Owen: Mu~nch.

Rustica: Whew.... I’m happy you ate it.

Cain: What’s going on....? Is it okay now because you snatched it from Bradley......?

Akira: D-don’t tell me... The Northern wizards will go at it forever unless they can steal from someone....?

Murr: One man’s common sense is another man’s insanity! One man’s foolishness is another man’s integrity! Fascinating, isn’t it?

Murr says this with the air of an enlightened philosopher.
The giant hound’s roars resound through the room. Filled with trepidation, I steal a glance at Owen, who’s stuffed the whole cupcake into his mouth.

Owen: Mhhmmm...... ......!

Seems like Owen bit down on the edges of a card while munching on the cupcake.
He turns towards Cain, the card between his teeth.

Owen: Mhm.

Cain deftly retrieves the card and unfolds it on his palm.

Cain: Look, you’ve gone and bitten off part of the card......

Owen: Not my fault. What does it say?

Cain: S.....Sage....Co.....firm.
Confirm....power....confirm the Sage’s power! It says "Confirm the Sage’s power"!

Bradley: << Adnopotensum >>

(Low growling)

Owen: Hey. Are you trying to blast a hole through my dog?

Bradley: Want me to put one through your guts instead!?

Mithra: Hah...... I dozed off..... What’s happening? It’s so noisy......

Snow & White: Boys~! No fighting~!

Seems like the squabble between the Northern wizards has started again. Their fights are relentless every single time. They’ve ended up wrecking half the magic headquarters more than once.
One of these days we might all get pulled into one of their fights and sustain grievous injuries. But it’s really incredible what you can get used to......
We carry on with our conversation amongst the sounds of gunshots, blizzards and thunderclaps.

Rutile: Congratulations! We’ve decided on the meeting’s theme: "confirm the Sage’s power"!

Shino: Can I eat the rest of the cupcakes?

Heathcliff: Wait until we’re done with the meeting.

Shino: Omnom, nom.

Heathcliff: You’re already eating...!

Riquet: The Sage’s power.......When Oz can’t use his powers at night......
As long as the Sage is there, Oz can use his power — that’s what we’re talking about, right?

Mitile: I also heard that Mister Mithra can fall asleep when he’s with Sir Sage! Though there are times when he can’t sleep regardless......

Figaro: So this means that we have to investigate the conditionals of his power. Well, it’s about time we resolve at least one issue.

Lennox: I think it’s a good opportunity for us to pursue this matter to the end.

Murr: Yay, so we’re researching the sage! I love research~!

Akira: Huh..... Researching me......?

Murr: Let me do lots of experiments on you, okay!

Akira: Experiments......!?

Shylock: Not to fear, Sir Sage. Despite his looks, Murr is still a scientific genius.

Akira: Shylock, every once in a while you have this way of showing off Murr like he’s your child....

Arthur: Nero, may I take this cupcake?

Nero: Of course you can, Mister Prince. Are you going someplace?

Arthur: I’m so sorry, but I have official duties to attend to...... I wanted to sit in on this meeting because it’s related to the Sage’s powers, but......

Snow: You were close to the previous sage, so we would’ve loved to have your opinion, too.....

White: Very well, let us come back to the matter another day. Let’s end today’s meeting here.

Oz: ............
I want to clarify the Sage’s power as soon as possible.

White: Oz. You finally spoke.

Arthur: Sir Oz, I’m so sorry......

Oz: I am not blaming you. When is the next time we can all gather?

Akira: The next time will probably be....... When we’re all visiting Borda Island for the inauguration ceremony?

Oz nods once before continuing.

Oz: Let us talk there.

Shino: Seriously? You wanna throw in a meeting when we’re on vacation partying!?

Nero: Hey! Stop it, Shino! Don’t fight this guy!

Faust: We’re not going to do anything at the party anyway. I don’t mind.

Rustica: How wonderful! I’m sure once we’re surrounded by beautiful sights, we’ll overflow with brilliant ideas!

Chloe: We’ll all be in brand new outfits too! I’ll do my best to make wonderful party clothes for everyone!

Rutile: Yay~! I’m looking forward to it!

✦✧☾✧✦

Bradley: Man. I had a hell of a time thanks to Owen.
Ah, geez. My shirt’s a fucking mess. Guess I have to change.

(Sound of magic)

Lennox: Bradle—.......
............

Bradley: Hey, Southern shepherd.

Lennox: ............

Bradley: Stop gawking. Can’t you see I’m changing? I’m going to charge you for looking.

Lennox: Ah...... Sorry.

Bradley: Hmph. All right, there we go.

Lennox: ............ There are so many scars on your body.

Bradley: Well, yeah.

Lennox: Why won’t you heal them? You should be able to.

Bradley: Isn’t it obvious?
It’s because I don’t want to forget.

Lennox: ............

Chapter 5 << | index | >> Chapter 7