The Bonds We Formed, Like Magic | Chapter 13

[healingbonds]

Chapter 12 << | index | >> Chapter 14


(Footsteps)

Mithra: Oz!

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

Shino: It’s Mithra.

Chloe: Oh no, now Mithra knows too.

Rustica: Why don’t we have Mithra join too, then?

Heathcliff: We can’t just ask Mithra to join! What if we make him mad.....?

Oz: Do not fear.

Heathcliff: Sir Oz.....

Oz: Northern wizard Mithra.

Mithra: Hmph.... Let us avoid all this long-winded nonsense.
Oz. You received my declaration of war. We should end this once and for all....

Oz: Join the variety show.

Mithra: Va?

Oz: Variety.

Mithra: Variety?

Oz: Yes.

Mithra: What’s a variety?

Oz: It is something that will make the Sage happy. The Sage takes good care of you every day, does he not?

Mithra: I take care of him. What do you mean, it’ll make him happy?

Chloe: U-um. It’s something fun he watched back in his old world.

Heathcliff: I think these informative variety shows... were supposed to include food reports too.

Mithra: Food reports?

Shino: You eat things that taste good, and say they taste good.

Mithra: ....Isn’t that just stating the obvious?

Shino: What’s obvious in our world probably wasn’t obvious in his world.
Apparently people went out of their way to watch recordings of people eating things that tasted good, and saying they tasted good.

Mithra: Huh......

Oz: Try it.

Mithra: Try what?

Oz: Variety.

Mithra: That’s a piece of cake. So all I have to do is eat something and say it’s delicious?

Oz: You just have to say, "I’m doing well."

Mithra: .....?
Is this about the food? Or about Sir Sage?

Oz: ......?

Mithra: ......?

Oz: ........ Doing well......

Mithra: Who is?

Oz: ......Me?

Mithra: Me?

Shino: Tch. What are they up to? Are they amateurs?

Chloe: Aaaah, I guess my quick explanation was confusing for them......

Rustica: Sir Oz! You simply look to the studio and say, "I’m doing well."

Oz: I see.
You say it to the studio.

Mithra: What do you mean, say it to the studio? Is the studio a mountain or something?

Oz: .....Probably.

Mithra: So if we eat delicious things, and face Studio Mountain while saying, "I’m doing well," Sir Sage will be happy.....

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

Mithra: He’s very strange.

Oz: He is from another world, after all.
......... But.....

Mithra: What are you staring at me for?

Oz: I never imagined a man like you would comply without complaint.

Mithra: ..........

Oz: Has relying on the Sage’s powers allowed you to open up to him?
What a credit to the Sage.

Mithra: ....Did you just laugh?

Oz: I do not mock you. For it is neither foolish nor terrible.

Mithra: Then what is it?

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

Heathcliff: Ah, it’s Sir Sage!

Shino: Arthur and Cain are with him too.

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

Mithra: .........

✦✧☾✧✦

(Running footsteps)

Akira: Oz...... Mithra......

Upon arriving at our gathering place, I grow tense at the sight of Oz and Mithra facing off against each other.
But the two of them are acting remarkably genial: maybe it’s because they’re with the other wizards.
Similarly, Arthur looks confused.
Unable to see them, Cain looks puzzled at our expressions.

Cain: ......What’s wrong? Are Oz and Mithra there?

Before I can answer, Heathcliff speaks up.

Heathcliff: Ah, it’s Sir Sage!

Shino: Arthur and Cain are with him too.

Oz slowly turns around at Heathcliff and Shino’s voices.

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

Arthur covers his wound with his hand at once.
If Oz and Mithra have made up, then there’s no need to reveal a cause for discord.
However, a frown flashes across Oz’s face in an instant.
I’ve heard this before: a strong wizard can sense the remnants of magic.

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

Oz looks at Mithra.
His gaze is as sharp and terrifying as an icy blade.
"This was your doing."
Without a word, Oz conjures his magic staff and points it straight at Mithra standing beside him.
Mithra opens his mouth, but before he can utter a single sound......
The morning courtyard scene is obliterated by violent claps of thunder.

(Thunder)

Mithra: ............!

In the blink of an eye, the overwhelming force of the lightning blasts Mithra all the way back into the magic headquarters.
Stray bolts zigzag across the courtyard, splitting branches and crushing stones as they strike.
Flashes of lightning snake along the ground towards Chloe and the others.

Arthur: Watch out......!

Shino: Heath! Get behind me!

Shino protects Heathcliff behind his back, brandishing his scythe in a flash.
The sweeping blade generates a faint magical circle of light, a giant shield which catches the snake of lightning shooting their way.

Shino: ......!

But it doesn’t completely stop every streak of lightning: the lightning snake clings and crawls up Shino’s scythe faster than the eye can see.

Heathcliff: Shino.....!

Rustica: << Amorest Viesse >>

Rustica’s spell echoes across the courtyard.
Light in the form of birds’ wings attaches itself to Shino’s magic circle.
It must have strengthened its protective powers: the lightning snake unleashes a blinding ray of light before dissipating into the air.

Akira: Thank goodness—......

Before I can indulge in relief, I go rigid with apprehension.
Just the excess energy from Oz’s barrage against Mithra holds considerable destructive power.

Akira: (Where’s Mithra......!?)

Showered with Oz’s lightning at close distance, Mithra had razed the walls of the magic headquarters, and lay buried in a heap of rubble.
He staggers to his feet, clouds of fine dust swirling around his tall, lean silhouette.
A furiously painful red line — like a scorch mark left by lightning — runs all the way from his nape to his chin.
Right before our eyes, the line vanishes.

Mithra: ......Urgh......
Haha...... It’s about time you started acting like your old self.

Oz: << Vox Nox >>

Paying his words no heed, Oz once again calls a storm of lightning down on Mithra.
The roar of the lightning is so deafening that I can feel my heart plunging into the depths of my stomach.

Arthur: << Pernoctant Nixzo >>!

Arthur chants his magic to protect me from flaming stray branches hurtling in our direction.
He grasps my shoulder, and turns to speak to Cain.

Arthur: Cain. Can I leave Sir Sage with you!?

Cain: What about you!?

Arthur: I’m going to stop Sir Oz.

Cain: No way! Don’t get any closer! You’ll get dragged in......!

Arthur: It’s fine! Sir Sage, stay here and don’t move. Please be Cain’s eyes for him!

Arthur leaves us, sprinting towards Mithra.
Cain readjusts his grip on his sword, one arm tight around my shoulders.
My face is taut with strain.

Cain: Sorry, Akira! I can see the plants flying at us, but I can’t see anyone’s movements.
I need your help. Can you answer some questions?

Akira: Y-yes......

Cain: Apart from me, is there anyone else who might be able to protect you?

Akira: N-no! Shino, Rustica, and the others are here, but they’re too far away......

Cain: Got it. Mithra is standing in front of the rubble, Oz is the center of the lightning swirl, and Arthur is headed for them.
Did I get that right?

Akira: Yes.......!

Cain: Okay! Is Mithra holding up against Oz’s attacks......!?

Akira: That’s right! Mithra is......

Mithra: ......hh......!

Mithra stands his ground, weathering the full brunt of Oz’s lightning.
Maybe he’s incensed after being blown away earlier.
As a price for his stubbornness, both his arms are covered with fiery, ruthless slashes; I can barely stand to look.

Akira: Mithra has horrible injuries all over both arms......!
Oz! Oz, please stop......!

Arthur: Sir Oz......!

Oz: Stay away.

Mithra: ......Gh......
<< Arthim >>!

Mithra’s magic skull gleams with a ghastly blue-white flame.
The skull grows rapidly, menacing light shining from its eye sockets.
Low voices, the agonized moaning of countless souls, reverberate through the courtyard. I’ve never heard anything like it before.
Countless orbs of light coalesce into glowering eyes that glare all around.
An instinctively paralyzing fear grips me instantly. Goosebumps spread from the tip of my toes throughout my entire body.
When Mithra makes his next move......
I sense that the entire magic headquarters will be obliterated.
From within the giant skull, the eyeballs amassed from light glare towards us.

Akira: ......Aaaah!

I cry out, even though I haven’t been harmed.
Cain grabs my head and pushes it down.

Cain: Don’t look, Akira!

I keep my head down, completely blinded. Everything looks pitch black, like a basement that the sun could never touch.
In the darkness, I hear frantic voices.

Rustica: It’s dangerous! Stay down...!

Chloe: Rustica....!? What’s going on....!?

Heathcliff: ......Shino!? Why are you covering my eyes!?

Shino: Oz, you better stop him! If you don’t, I’ll kill you....!
Heath is right here!

Oz: Don’t move.

I look up with a start.

Arthur: Sir O—......!

Drawing Arthur to his side with magic, Oz raises his staff high in the air.
He radiates confidence: ready to ward off anything Mithra throws at him.
Bathed in the ghastly white glare of the skull, Mithra glares resentfully at Oz.

Mithra: ......I’ll turn you to stone once and for all today.
<< Arthi— >>

Snow & White: Stop there, both of you......!

At that moment, the twins’ voices descend from the sky.
Snow and White leap off their brooms, landing between Oz and Mithra.
There’s no trace of their usual playful manner: in its place is a grim tension, like they’re fully prepared to face death.
Snow swallows and warily addresses Oz.

Snow: Oh, Oz......
Listen. You must calm down.

Oz: Move.
I’m going to seal Mithra away. We just have to release him before the < Great Catastrophe > attacks.

White: That plan sounds familiar. Don’t you agree, Mithra?

Mithra: You’re only alive because of my kindness, Oz.
Be thankful that I’ve allowed you to live through every night until today.
All that ends now.

Mithra raises his orbs, and Oz grips his staff.
Snow immediately speaks up in protest.

Snow: ......I said! Calm down!
Owen.....Where’s Owen!? If these two get serious, we alone cannot stop them!

White: It looks like there’s no room to pull off one of Bradley’s or Figaro’s strategies either. What on earth happened here!?

Akira: Mithra......! Mithra hurt Arthur on purpose......
He said it was a declaration of war to Oz......

The twins lift their gazes to the sky with matching looks of despair.

Snow: Is that so...... I see now.
Oz. As a favour to me, can you spare Mithra?

Oz: Move.

Snow: Listen to me. Are you asking to be punished, Oz?

Snow glares at Oz, cold and detached. His childlike features are overwritten by his shrewd and cunning expression.
Oz throws a merciless glance at Snow.

Oz: Who do you think you’re talking to?

White: Snow, hold your temper! You’re no match for Oz!

Snow: Hmph.... As if a Northern wizard would lose to the likes of a Central wizard.

Oz furrows his brows.
With a chilling smile, Snow floats the doll that serves as his magic tool into the air.

Snow: You cold, insolent soul — turning your back on your own abode...... You ungrateful brat. I’ll bury you on Central land.

Oz: As if you could.

Arthur: Sir Oz, please stop!

White: Snow! This isn’t your fight!

Mithra: << Arthim >>

Behind Snow and White, Mithra chants his spell.

Chapter 12 << | index | >> Chapter 14