Flowers for You, Magic for the Sky | Chapter 6

[healingbonds]

​​Chapter 5 << | index | >> Chapter 7


The day before the ceremony......
We head to the capital of Central Country.

Cain: Well then, Akira. I’ll head on to Granvelle Castle first with Oz.
I’ll leave Riquet to you. Oz seems to be worried about the situation too.

Akira: Got it.

Chloe: Sir Sage, how about we stick together if you’re not in a hurry!
I’m going to look for material to make clothes for the twins’ dolls! Rustica is coming too!

Akira: I’ll tag along then. Is that okay, Lennox?

Lennox: Yes. Mitile, Riquet. Don’t wander off anywhere strange. We’ll head to the castle together when you come back.

Mitile: Got it! Mister Cain, please look after my brother! He should have gone to the castle with Miss Canary earlier.

Cain: Sure, got it! What about Murr and Shylock?

Chloe: They went off to investigate something with the twins.

Cain: So Figaro is with them too?

Lennox: Dr. Figaro said he had plans somewhere else in the Central capital.
The Northern wizards are missing as usual, but where are the Eastern wizards......?

Akira: They said they were going ahead first. Apparently they were going straight to the market to buy snacks.

✦✧☾✧✦

Shino: Wow, you can really see that this is a world-class celebration. There are more stalls here than usual. Heath, let’s eat that.

Heathcliff: I’m not very good at eating while walking.

Faust: Then you should float. Once we’re done with our purchases, we can sit on our brooms and eat in the sky.

Nero: Not a bad idea. Though it would be a tragedy if we dropped our food.

Shino: If a bird is allowed to shit from the sky, then I should be allowed to drop my crumbs from the sky.

Nero: Why are you so full of yourself while comparing yourself to a bird pooping?

Faust: All right. Let’s give this little boy a bib.

Shino: I’m not a little boy. What’s a bib? Have you ever worn one, Heath?

Faust: He probably has.

Nero: I bet he has.

Heathcliff: I probably have....

Shino: Then let’s wear them together later. We’ll match.
But nah, I want to eat on the ground. The whole point is eating yummy food while looking for the next yummy meal.

Nero: I get how you fee—..... .........

Faust: Woah, don’t stop out of nowhere.

Nero: Ah.... My bad.....

Shino: A jeweler's booth, huh. Chloe would be delighted. Did something catch your eye?

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

Heathcliff: Nero?

Nero: Ah.... Nah.... I just thought I saw a ring that reminded me of something an acquaintance used to wear.....

Faust: This one?

Nero: Yeah......

Heathcliff: That’s a nice artifact. This is an absurd price for a gem this good.

Shino: You mean it’s a deal? Why?

Heathcliff: See how it’s all dull? Dull gems usually aren’t very popular, but with this particular gem, the duller it is, the more valuable it is.

Jeweler: Huh, really?

Heathcliff: Ah, yes, that’s right. A smoky black color, shot through with a hint of elegant light....
It’s called the lizards’ sun, or the ring of luck for those who walk in the shadows.
It symbolizes the light of fortune that is invisible to those who have lived happy lives.

Nero: .........

Jeweler: Well, that’s great news! Let me jack up the price tag right away.

Shino: Hold up. We’re the ones who caught this gem at this price. Change it after we leave.

Jeweler: A-and when will that be?

Shino: We’re trying to figure out if we want to buy it right now. It’s your call, Nero.

Nero: Eh!? Me!?

Faust: You were staring at it so intently. It’s not a bad deal.

Nero: No, but... It’s fine. It wasn’t mine, it was an acquaintance’s.
It’d be weird for me to buy it. Like, what am I gonna do? Buy it, and say... Look at what I found.... And hand it to him?
Isn’t that kinda strange...? ....Because I’m.....
(....I’m the reason he had to give it up in the first place.)

Shino: Stop mumbling to yourself and make a decision.

Heathcliff: If you can’t pay for it right now, I can lend you some money. Ah... Sorry if that came off as rude.

Faust: This man always carries more than this price in his wallet. He’s a cautious buyer, after all. Nero.

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

Faust: Fine. I’ll buy it.

Nero: I don’t need it.

Faust: ..........

Nero: Sorry. I don’t need it. It’s fine.

Shino: Hey....

Nero: Let’s go. Sorry for taking up your time, mister.

Jeweler: Not at all! Thanks for dropping by!

✦✧☾✧✦

Chloe: Woah! Look at that woven lace! And the pattern on their bag! It’s all so stylish!

Akira: You’re right! Just looking at all the passers-by in their outfits gets me all excited.

Lennox: I agree.

Akira: (Lennox... Is quietly keeping watch over our surroundings.)
(Also, I haven’t bumped into anyone while walking with him....)
(He’s anticipating my next move, and everyone else’s next moves, through our lines of sight.)
(He’s an amazing bodyguard. But if I were a sheep, I’d feel at ease following him anywhere.)

Lennox: Sir Sage.....

Akira: Baa.

Lennox: Huh?

Akira: Ah, um, it’s nothing!

Lennox: Are you sure you’re not tired?

Akira: I’m definitely all right. I’m having lots of fun!

Chloe: It’s fun just walking around when the streets are so lively! Ah, that person....

Rustica: The tall man in the silk hat?

Chloe: Yup. He’s carrying such a gorgeous doll around. I bet he’s a puppeteer.

Akira: A puppeteer?

Chloe: They use their dolls to put on plays.
People say that in the most amazing puppet shows, the dolls have human souls — they’re more human than actual humans.

Akira: Huh.... Now that you mention it, the doll is so delicately crafted that it almost looks human....

Chloe: Its dress is incredible too. I want to get a closer look at it....

Rustica: Then why don’t you strike up a conversation with him?

Chloe: But won’t he be surprised if I talk to him out of nowhere?

Lennox: You might never meet the people you run into during your travels again. Think it over; make a choice that you won’t regret.

Chloe: Y-you’re right.... Then I’m going to speak to him!

(Footsteps)

Chloe: Um! Excuse me!

Man in the black silk hat: ...Me? Are you speaking to me?

The gentleman in the black silk hat turns around to look at us.
He has striking dark eyes like the night, and a stubble beard. I catch a whiff of a luxurious and elegant scent.

Akira: (He smells like roses....)

Chloe: Ah.... Excuse me for coming up to you out of nowhere. I just thought your doll was really lovely.

Man in the black silk hat: ....This doll?

Chloe: Yes, I think she’s so lovely — I adore the way her hair shimmers and her skin glows, but most of all, I think the delicate laces on her dress are amazing!
I want to be a tailor, you see. Could you possibly show me her dress?

Man in the black silk hat: Of course. Go ahead.

Chloe: Yay! Thank y....

Man in the black silk hat: Ah, don’t touch her. She’s an important tool of my trade, after all. I’ll show you. Here’s the front. Here’s the back.

Chloe: Of cours.....

Man in the black silk hat: One more time. The front. The back.

Chloe: .......

Rustica: She’s crafted with such exquisite workmanship that you’d think she was alive, yet you’re treating her quite apathetically.

Man in the black silk hat: She’s just a doll, after all.

Chloe: Don’t you feel any attachment to her?

Man in the black silk hat: I do not. She’s merely a doll. So what do you think of her?

Chloe: Ah... She’s incredible! Thank you very much!

Man in the black silk hat: You’re welcome. Hm, what’s that book you have?

Akira: Eh? Ah, this is.....
(I don’t want to surprise him by telling him it’s the Sage’s manual....)
It’s just my field notebook. I write notes for my friends’ profiles, and use it as a diary.

Man in the black silk hat: Huh, I see.... Sorry for being nosy. It just reminded me of a book I used to own.

Rustica: What sort of book was it?

​​Chapter 5 << | index | >> Chapter 7