The Bonds We Formed, Like Magic | Chapter 21

[healingbonds]

Chapter 20 << | index | >> Chapter 22


Cain: Looks like Rutile and the others aren’t back yet...

Owen: ............

Cain: Owen.

Owen: Tsk......

Cain: Where are you going? You don’t have to run away.

Owen: Hah? I’m a Northern wizard.

Cain: I know.

Owen: Why would I ever run away from you?

Cain: Yeah, that’s why I said you didn’t have to, but......

Owen: ............

Cain: Don’t get mad......
Oh right. Wanna look at some clams?

Owen: Why would you think I’d want to?

Cain: It made Arthur and Riquet pretty happy....

Owen: Don’t lump me in with them.
Well, I’ve paid you enough attention. I’m going now; I’m not running away.

Cain: Why are you avoiding me?

Owen: You know, you....

Cain: I mean, I’m just saying that you used to make fun of me while grinning and sneering a lot more, you know?
But you haven’t done that lately. Right?..... Or am I just imagining things?

Owen: I’ve gotten bored of you.

Cain: ............

Owen: I’ve had fun playing with you and making you a toy for my dogs. But I’m through with that now.

Cain: You’re lying.

Owen: What!?

Cain: Ah..... Um, I mean..... What about tonight’s barbecue? Will you come?

Owen: What are you saying?

Cain: I’m inviting you to dinner.

Owen: Hey, little baby knight.....

Cain: Baby?

Owen: You’re basically a newborn to me — you don’t have the slightest idea how presumptuous your actions are.
If this were Northern Country, you wouldn’t even dream of talking to me.
You would be praying, all pale and quivering. You wouldn’t be inviting me to dinner like this. Know your place.

Cain: ......You don’t like clams?

Owen: I’m not talking about clams. I really will kill you.

Cain: .............

Owen: There’s a limit to how dense you can be. What’s with that stupid face you’re making? You should be terrified of me.
Want me to gouge out your eyeball again?

Cain: I’m pretty amazed myself.

Owen: At what?

Cain: How I’m not scared of you.

Owen: Haha......
I won’t be goaded by someone like you, Sir Knight. You're just trying to provoke me. ......You say you’re not scared of me?
I’ve had enough of your conceit.

Cain: Owen......

Owen: << Cure Memini >>

Cain: ............!

Castle servant: Kyah......!

Castle servant: The silver-haired young man sent the red-haired one flying with magic......!

Cain: ....Is everyone okay? Did anyone around me get hurt......?

(Punch)

Cain: Guh.......!

Owen: Don’t look away. Want me to put my foot through your ribcage?
I could easily crush your family or your prince anytime I wanted, you know?

Cain: .......Got it. I really do, so please move aside. We’re attracting too much attention......

Owen: ..........

Cain: Hah.......

Owen: I’ll feed you to Cerberus next time.

Cain: ......You won’t.

Owen: What are you saying?

Cain: When I was being eaten, I heard a voice praying.

Owen: .............
You were hallucinating.

Cain: I wasn’t. Chloe told me. You tore the castle down and carried me all the way to Figaro, right?

Owen: .............
I’ve forgotten.

Cain: .......When we first met, I thought you were exactly the kind of person you claim to be.
A cruel, capricious, terrifying Northern wizard.
The guy who attacked me, stole one of my eyes, and injured my subordinates.
And I was exposed for being a wizard. My title as the captain of the guards was stripped away. Geez....... I really went through it.

Owen: Hmph...... Serves you right.

Cain: But I stopped being so sure after our battle with the < Great Catastrophe >.
This is how I see you: a guy who stole my eye, who taunts me and laughs at me whenever we meet, who tosses all the trouble he can my way.......
And yet, you’re affectionate when you turn into your little self — or I thought so, but then he set Cerberus on me, but then.......
It wasn’t the little you, but you who prayed for me.

Owen: ...........
.......I want to return to the North.

Cain: Huh.......?

Owen: I don’t want to be here. I should’ve frozen the magic headquarters in a blizzard.
Why didn’t I do that?

Cain: Hey......

Owen: Why did I pray........?

Cain: .............
Owen.

Owen: .......What?

Cain: .......Don’t go.
Let’s talk.

Owen: .......
.......About what?

Cain: How about...... Um, your memories of the meteor shower?

Owen: What about yours?

Cain: Mine? Let’s see......
When I saw the meteor shower as a child, I thought I’d be able to pick up the stars once they fell to the ground.

Owen: ......What would you do after picking up the fallen stars?

Cain: I was going to.....eat them. Somehow I got the feeling that they would taste sweet.

Owen: Because they look like sugar?

Cain: Huh?

Owen: I’m talking about wizards’ magic sugar. It looks like shining, sparkling stars.

Cain: Haha...... Maybe you’re right.

Owen: Were you able to pick up a star?

Cain: ..........

Owen: Did it taste sweet?

Cain: I never did. They probably aren’t sweet at all.

Owen: I see.

Cain: What about you?

Owen: What?

Cain: Your memories of the meteor shower.

Owen: I don’t know. I don’t remember.

Cain: You must’ve seen it many times since you’ve lived for so long. You really don’t remember a single one?

Owen: ......Who knows. I’ve forgotten.

Cain: Why have you forgotten everything?

Owen: I could ask you the same.

Cain: Eh?

Owen: Why do you remember?

Cain: .........

Owen: ......This is the worst. I didn’t want to talk about this. You’re truly horrible.

Cain: Owen......

Owen: Forget this.

(Owen disappears)

Cain: Owen.......!
......He disappeared.
....... "Forget this," he said......
Which you do you want me to forget....?

(Thunderous noises)

Cain: ..........
The sky is getting darker......

✦✧☾✧✦

Nero: Mr. Faust, this is crazy.....!
Huh.... He’s not back yet? He said the ocean was acting up, so he was gonna go check it out......
.....And it looks like he was right. This sky......

Bradley: What’s the crazy news?

Nero: Brad......

Bradley: What’ve you got there on that plate? Does it have something to do with the curseworker?

Nero: Ah.... Not, I mean.....Shylock, or Murr, or Rustica would be fine too.

Bradley: What about me?

Nero: .......... Nah...... You’ll just laugh at me.......

Bradley: I won’t. It’s crazy news, right? You looked pretty fired up.

Nero: ......No, it’s really not that big a deal......

Bradley: .............. Fine, then.......

Nero: ............
It turned out really great — I made this pâté en croute with Borda Island duck from the bazaar.

Bradley: Is that what you’ve got there?

Nero: Yeah. Want to try some?

Bradley: Looks like you put a lot of effort into it. I guess it’d be rude to eat while standing. I’ll take a seat.

Nero: Haha... You remembered your manners for once. Come over here and sit down.

Bradley: It’s fresh out of the oven?

Nero: Well, yeah. I think it’d taste pretty good cold too; that’s when the flavor settles in.

Bradley: Then I’m digging in. Om.....

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

Bradley: .....Oh. This is what I was talking about. The pie with meat in it.

Nero: I got my hands on a nice Borda duck, so I stuffed it with duck and beef innards.
I know you’re a fan of stronger flavors, but this isn’t half bad either, right?

Bradley: But something’s missing here. The one I ate before tasted even better.

Nero: What? If you’re gonna complain, then don’t eat it, asshole.

Bradley: Don’t get all worked up. Man, you’re terrifying.....
Aren’t you forgetting something? Like a sauce.... Nah, it’s not a sauce.... What was it.....
Something with an aromatic, deep flavor.....

Nero: ....Oh, I see. That’s surprising. You actually have a taste for food — this whole time I thought you had a child’s palate.

Bradley: A child’s palate?

Nero: Ahaha. I’m not wrong. All you ate was fried chicken with tons of spices.
What’s missing is.....

Shylock: Wine.

Bradley: The Western pipe smoker.

Nero: And Mister Groom.

Rustica: My, it smells so good. Is this pâté en croute?

Nero: That’s right.

Rustica: It looks like a work of art even when sliced. It’s profound, complex, and attractive — much like a painting.

Nero: Man, the Western wizards make you feel good about your cooking even before they dig in.....

Shylock: It looks truly delicious.... Nero. You’ll need a delicious bottle of wine for this dish.
I just purchased this, but let’s open it. I’m sure it will complement the dish.

Nero: Are you sure? That looks like some expensive wine.

Shylock: Of course. On nights like these, we should all share a bottle of wine.
You’re going to share with us too, right, Nero?

Nero: Of course. I’ll slice it up and bring it over.

Rustica: I’ll steal some glasses from the kitchen cupboards, then.
<< Amorest Viesse >>

Bradley: Hmph. I guess I can use a knife and fork to eat a fancy meal every once in a while.

Shylock: I don’t believe there’s any need for you to put on a noble performance. For you are plenty honorable as you are.

Bradley: You’ve got a silver tongue. I’ll put you on the plate and eat you too.

Nero: I sliced it up for you. Here you go.

Rustica: I have the glasses too. Now we’re ready to eat.

Shylock: Then let us open the bottle as if we’re awakening a sleeping beauty.

Nero: What a nice aroma.

Bradley: Alright.... I remember it now. Yeah, we need that for this dish.

Rustica: I can’t wait. Now let us share a meal from the same platter, and wine from the same bottle.

Shylock: Yes.

(Pouring wine)

Shylock: Of course I enjoy making and drinking cocktails.
But unlike nights when each of us enjoy our own signature flavors, on nights when we share drinks from a single bottle.....
The flavor of fine wine will become a memory that is shared among us all.
And when we encounter this wine again, we will recall the faces at this table, the flavor of the cooking, and the view that lies before us.

Bradley: I like the sound of that. So we’re gulping down our memories.

Shylock: Alongside these unforgettable flavors, they will become our flesh and blood.

Nero: It’s gonna bring something back for you, too. Because.... You’ve eaten this before, right? You’ll remember the flavor from that day.

Bradley: And the faces of those who were with me.

Rustica: I feel like I’ve shared a bottle of wine like this with someone before.

Shylock: ............

Rustica: But I’ve forgotten.

Nero: It happens. Our lives are just too long.

Shylock: Let us say cheers.

Bradley: Yeah. Cheer.....

(Crash)

Rustica: Oh, it’s getting cloudy.....
This is unfortunate. Chloe was looking forward to tonight’s meteor rain.

Nero: This magic.... It’s Oz and Mithra.

Shylock: Yes, I sense it too.

Bradley: Looks like they’re fighting for real for the first time in ages. Interesting.....

Nero: Brad, where are you going!?

Bradley: I can’t just sit around with this blood-boiling excitement going on.
I’m never gonna stop them from fighting, but jumping in is a different matter. Time to have some fun.

Nero: We’re talking about Oz and Mithra here, you know!? You’re gonna get your ass handed to you.

Bradley: That’s better than emerging without a scratch

Nero: ......We haven’t even said cheers.

Bradley: I’ll eat later. Sorry, Eastern chef.

Rustica: Ah.... There he goes.

Nero: .....Have it your way, then. This is why....
.............

Shylock: Don’t make that face. Let us say cheers, Nero.
In order to forget it all.

Rustica: In order to share our memories.

Nero: ....In order to teach myself a lesson:
That time lost will never return.

Shylock & Rustica & Nero: Cheers.

✦✧☾✧✦

Chloe: Ah... It’s getting cloudy. The wind is getting stronger too.....

Murr: Looks like a storm!

Chloe: ....I hope the skies clear up.....
Murr, thanks for tagging along with my shopping.

Murr: I like shopping with you, Chloe~! We get to see so many sparkling things!

Chloe: Ehehe! I’ll make you a new accessory, Murr!

Murr: Ya~y!

Chloe: What should I make? Since we’re here, should it be shooting star themed? Do you like shooting stars, Murr?

Murr: I do! Because they remind me of the ties between wizards!

Chloe: Ties between wizards?

Murr: That’s right! You think you’ve lost it, but then it comes home to you again. You think you’ve spotted it, but then it disappears!
<< Eanul Rambul >>

Chloe: Wh-where are you going, Murr!? Everyone will see us if we fly!

Murr: Let them see us! Let’s fly through the sky, Chloe!
We can even become shooting stars!

Chloe: ..........
<< Suispicibo Voitengok >>!

✦✧☾✧✦

Chloe: What a pretty sunset....! But dark clouds are gathering.....
Ah....! Something’s shining over there!

Murr: We’re beginning to see the meteor rain of lineage. There will be even more shooting stars once it’s nighttime.
Wishh, wishh, wishhh — they’ll resound across the sky, igniting it with blue fire, their tails streaking as they fall to the ground.
It’s the death of stardust.

Chloe: ....It’ll be even more beautiful at night.

Murr: For darkness draws our eyes to the light!

Chloe: What did you mean when you said that shooting stars are like ties between wizards?

Murr: We are wandering stardust!
Even as we row our lonely boats into the vast ocean of stars, we continue to float in circles!

Chloe: ..........

Murr: Wizards live long lives, you see! Even if we think our hearts have connected, our lives do not end.
If we were human, we could’ve held hands and ended our stories like that!
Yet we continue to live together. We live, and we live, and we live. And that’s why.....
The bonds we’ve tied begin to unravel.

Chloe: ....Bonds unravel......

Murr: For time brings forth change!
To people, to hearts, to the scenery before our eyes!

Chloe: ...........

Murr: The opposite is true as well. Those who could not understand each other, at a certain place, in a certain era.....
If they were human, their souls would have dissipated and died away, completely opposed to one another. But after many, many years, they come around again....
And at a certain point in time, they become bound together by chance. The bizarre, wondrous tales of wizards!
Our friends today might one day become our most loathsome enemies......
And someone we scorned in the past might become our heart’s dearest anchor.
The death of stars. Their brilliance! We rock back and forth between waves of hellos and goodbyes; between honeymoons and divorces.
Just like the moon waxes and wanes — we are fulfilled, only to be eaten away.
How about you, Chloe?

Chloe: Huh....?

Murr: Do you really think Rustica, who forgot even his dear bride, won’t forget his apprentice?
Let’s say he doesn’t forget — how long will that last?
Let’s say he does forget — how long will that last?

Chloe: ....How long.....

Murr: Can you keep on living with someone who will eventually forget you?
Can you continue to love him?
Or will your love transform into something else?
Such as loathing?

Chloe: I.... I’d never hate Rustica!
Rustica saved my life. He’s my savior and my master. I would never loathe him.

Murr: Really? How do you know? The future that lies ahead of you is ever so long and distant!
Let’s test out a couple hypotheses! What if you do come to loathe him?

Chloe: ....If, by any chance, that feeling ever, ever wells up in my heart, then I’d hide it till the very end.
Because it would hurt Rustica. I don’t want to hurt Rustica......

Murr: That’s interesting, Chloe! You’re going to create a secret room where you can hide within your own heart!

Chloe: .........hh.....

Murr: Why are you crying? Are you hungry?

Chloe: .....No.......

Murr: Then why are you sad?

Chloe: .....Hic......
.....I don’t want him to forget.......
I don’t want him to forget me..... I don’t want him to forget our precious memories together.......
The thought of Rustica forgetting me just makes me so sad......

Murr: Chloe, you poor thing..... Wanna see some fireworks?

Chloe: .....No.

Murr: << Eanul Rambul >>!

Chloe: .....hh.... I said I don’t wanna see......

Murr: I love you, Chloe. Please smile.

Chloe: ......I don’t want us to be shooting stars. I don’t want us to flicker for just a single, fleeting moment. I don’t want us to change.....
I want to stay by his side forever......

Chapter 20 << | index | >> Chapter 22