The Bonds We Formed, Like Magic | Chapter 26

[healingbonds]

Chapter 25 << | index |


(Flashback)

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

(Door opens)

Shylock: We’re not open yet.

Murr: Hello.
Shylock.

Shylock: .............
Good evening.
Did something happen?

Murr: Why do you ask?

Shylock: You’re drawing your hat over your eyes; all I can see is your mouth....
Your lips may be curved upwards, but I can tell that you’re not in high spirits.

Murr: Amazing. Almost like magic.

Shylock: Your humor doesn’t have its usual edge, either.

Murr: ............

Shylock: Would you like your usual cocktail?

Murr: No. I’d like one that’ll knock me out.

Shylock: .............. Do you plan on passing out in my shop?
You, of all people?

Murr: I told you about how I provoked the fury of a Northern wizard, right?

Shylock: Yes.

Murr: His magic was stronger than mine. But I was not scared of him in the least.
For you can win any battle with knowledge.

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

Murr: And win I did. I took his magic tool and all his treasures, and sold them to fund my research.

Shylock: How terrible.

Murr: But it appears I’ve incurred more hatred than I anticipated.
He found my laboratory and burned everything within it.

Shylock: ...........
Everything?

Murr: Everything.
My everything.

Shylock: How many years of....

Murr: Eight hundred years.
For eight hundred years I observed the < Great Catastrophe >. And now, all those records are lost.

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

Murr: Eight hundred years of my life were burnt away into nothingness.
That’s why....
I came to see you.

Shylock: ..............
Keep your head down.
The shop will stay closed tonight.
Because I do not wish to show that face of yours to anyone else.

Murr: You’re so kind. Even though I will never be your pet cat.

Shylock: There you go again, being needlessly cheeky..... ........
I’ll close the curtains. Before the moon rises.

Murr: .............

Shylock: Murr.
I do not think your life was burnt away to nothingness.
Even if your records have disappeared, your eight hundred years still remain right here.
Because I witnessed it all.

✦✧☾✧✦

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

Murr: We are Western wizards. We challenge the formidable with our love and knowledge, and that is what leads to our destruction!

Shylock: Does it?

Murr: Because in the end, we’re simply playing games of deception with all this love and knowledge.
Such things have absolutely no scientific relationship with the state of being alive!
Living beings either survive through brute strength, the way Northern Country does, or by working together, the way Southern Country does!
Our victories of love and knowledge are mere tricks! That’s why we’re destroyed by revenge!

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

Murr: Hey Shylock, have you noticed? Everyone’s distracted by Oz and Mithra, but.....
There’s something strange about this island. I sense the presence of that island that fell to ruin and sank beneath the waves because of you.
Something scary might happen very soon! We might be visiting this island again very soon!

Shylock: Oh my.
I’m very much looking forward to it.

✦✧☾✧✦

Rustica: Chloe. What did you want to talk to me about?

Chloe: Um.....
I think... The saddest thing in this world.....
Is when you think you have something, but you don’t actually have it.

Rustica: Is that so?

Chloe: Yeah.
That’s why shooting stars make me kind of sad.
"There it is!" you think, but in a moment, it disappears.....
It’s like a decorative button that you were lucky enough to find, but couldn’t hold on to.
"I’m the luckiest person in the world to own something so awesome!" you exclaim and laugh in delight....
And after you’ve come up with every last wonderful fantasy you could think of — it disappears.
Don’t you think the emptiness that remains in the place of something special is sadder than regular emptiness?

Rustica: You may be right. But that sounds like my birdcage.

Chloe: Huh.....?

Rustica: Because there’s no bird in my birdcage.
I wonder if there was never a bird to begin with? Or maybe there was a special bird....
And it disappeared.

Chloe: .......Rustica......

Rustica: ....My little bird.....
My......

Chloe: ....Rustica, look! Look! So many stars are falling from the sky!

Rustica: ....You’re right!
What a beautiful sight.

Chloe: Rustica, I’m going to ask you an important question. Please listen closely.

Rustica: I’m listening, Chloe.

Chloe: Do you....
Do you remember when we watched the meteor shower together?

Rustica: ..........

Chloe: It was such a lovely night! We talked for hours, Rustica.
You told me about what you knew, and how you saw the world, and I felt like you had shared your life with me.
I was.... I was so, so happy. I felt like you had given me my very own star — the first star of the night.
That night..... Was a night I’ll never forget. .....Do you remember, Rustica?

Rustica: Oh...
I’ve forgotten.

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

Rustica: I’m sorry, Chloe. But if you were with me, I’m sure it was a delightful night!
We must’ve been very happy chatting under the falling stars till dawn broke.
Just imagining it makes my heart warm. Don’t you feel the same, Chloe?

Chloe: I......
......My heart..... Kind of hurts.......

Rustica: ............

Chloe: Ahaha..... Just kidding. I know you’re forgetful, Rustica. It’s not like you can help it.
Look! Look, Rustica! The stars are shining.
.....They shine, and disappear.......

Rustica: You’re right...... A star’s journey is so ephemeral. It ends in an instant.

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

Rustica: But the star’s faint glimmer seems to be whispering—....
Thank you for finding me.

✦✧☾✧✦

(Flashback)

Chloe as a child: Mister Rustica! Rustica, look!
There’s so many shooting stars! Over there.... And over there, too!

Rustica: You’re right.

Chloe as a child: Rustica, did you bring me these shooting stars too?

Rustica: ...........

Chloe as a child: N-no....? Mister Rustica, you’ve only given me the loveliest things since the day we met.....

Rustica: It’s not a gift from me. But you’re allowed to accept as many of those stars as you wish.

Chloe as a child: Really?

Rustica: Yes.
Because it’s a gift to you from this world, saying, "Look, Chloe. Isn’t this world beautiful?"

Chloe as a child: It’s saying that to me....?

Rustica: That’s right.

Chloe as a child: That can’t be true, Rustica. Because I’m not a prince or a noble. I’m not a really good boy, either.

Rustica: And that’s all right.
Because this world is a gift that is offered to us all.
The light of the morning and the silence of the night — they’re all yours. They’re gifts to you, so that you can live a beautiful and fulfilling life.

Chloe as a child: ..........
I see.... That makes me happy, but......

Rustica: You don’t really understand?

Chloe as a child: Um..... It’s just that I love you more than I love this world....
.....Because you make me feel more at ease than this world does, Rustica.
The morning rays and the quiet night don’t have to be mine. The shooting stars don’t have to be mine either.
All I want are the things you give me, Rustica!

Rustica: Is that so?

Chloe as a child: Yeah!
I love you, Rustica. Please stay by my side forever.

Rustica: Of course I will.

Chloe as a child: ...........
.....Please don’t forget me and leave me behind........

✦✧☾✧✦

Owen: ......Tch, Ouch...... I should’ve just died once if things were going to turn out like this.
............ The stars are shining — ah, a shooting star.......
.............
Hmph....... Who cares about the meteor rain of lineage.
I have nothing to teach anyone, and no one will ever teach me anything.
I live my life complete unto myself.
......That will be the first and last time I ever teach someone how to use magic.
Idiot.

✦✧☾✧✦

Cain: Owen...... That’s him in the sky on his broom.......
Is he really okay......
.......I’m in no position to worry. I have to work harder to be like him too.
......I have to get stronger......

✦✧☾✧✦

Heathcliff: Mr. Faust is pretty drunk.... I’m going to hand him this bottle and say it’s the last one.

Shino: You should let him overdo it every once in a while.

Heathcliff: I don’t know about that......

Shino: What are you so worried about?

Heathcliff: I just hope... We can figure out Sir Sage’s powers soon.
Hey, Shino. I wonder what my injury from the < Great Catastrophe > is......

Shino: ..........

Heathcliff: You’ve always been the closest to me, Shino. Have you noticed anything?
Like, have I been doing anything strange in my sleep?

Shino: Who knows.

Heathcliff: .....You looked away.

Shino: I did not. My eyes were just chasing the stars.

Heathcliff: You really don’t know anything?

Shino: I don’t.

Heathcliff: ....... If you notice anything......
Please tell me first, before you tell anyone else. Don’t be afraid — I’ll accept it, no matter what......

Shino: ........
I know. Of course I will.

✦✧☾✧✦

Arthur: Oh, Cain! There you are — we’re over here!

Riquet: Where did you go off to? The barbecue has already started.

Cain: Sorry, my bad. I was looking for a friend, but I couldn’t find him.

Riquet: Oz forgot all about catching clams.
But there’s lots of fish with roe in their bellies. Mitile, you’ll eat more, right?

Mitile: Yes! I’d love more!

Arthur: Sir Oz, would you like to try some of these small fish too?

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

Arthur: Sir Oz?
Oh! Look at the sky! It’s incredible! There are so many stars.......!

Mitile: Wow, you’re right......!

Arthur: It’s so pretty......

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

✦✧☾✧✦

(Flashback)

Arthur as a child: Sir Oz! Sir Oz! Look, shooting stars......!

Oz: Do not open the windows, Arthur. You will catch a cold.

Arthur as a child: Pretty......

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

Arthur as a child: Tomorrow, please teach me how to fly to the stars, Sir Oz!

Oz: That will have to wait until you learn not to fall off your broom. You’re going to drop your book. Put it away if you’re not reading it.

Arthur as a child: I’m still reading!

Oz: You’ve been carrying that book everywhere lately. Have you taken a liking to it?

Arthur as a child: Sir Figaro gave it to me! All the other books say that Sir Oz makes all these terrible things happen, but....
This one doesn’t. It’s a story where the demon king Oz appears, but then you find out that it was just the shadow of a huge swarm of bees.
I’m sure that everyone just has the wrong idea about you, Sir Oz, just like in this story.

Oz: .............
Is that so......

Arthur as a child: Yes!

Oz: .............
If.......
If, like the stories in all the other books, and in the travelers’ tales......
If I really was the wicked wizard who destroyed the world...... What would you do?

Arthur as a child: ......Um.......
............ Hmm.........
.......I would feel sad........

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

✦✧☾✧✦

Beneath the night of falling stars, the wizards laugh.
Arthur smiles cheerfully as he points Oz in the direction of the shooting stars.
Cain keeps watch over the barbecue, occasionally looking up at the night sky.
Nero tends to Bradley’s injuries, sighing and smiling wryly by turns.
Rustica performs on the lute. Chloe gazes at Rustica’s profile the entire time.
As if he’s watching a sight more ephemeral than the meteor shower.
Sharing a bottle of wine between them, Figaro, Faust and Lennox drain their glasses.
They raise their voices, laughing out loud like youngsters for a night.
Riquet and Mitile are busy making baked apples the way Nero taught them.
They slather the apples with butter and honey, leaving them to sizzle merrily on the hot plate.
Shino and Heathcliff draw close, enticed by the bittersweet smell.
Owen returns from the night sky, and Mithra and Rutile emerge from a thicket shrouded in shadow; they meet and join the group.
They stab at the burnt apples, exchanging spontaneous laughter.
Enclosed in their portrait, the twins carry on a lighthearted conversation with Shylock.
It’s a revenge story that’s slightly terrifying, and just a little thrilling.
Murr flies through the sky and flutters around before landing in front of my eyes.

Murr: Sir Sage!
Let’s dance together!

He takes my hand before I can respond.

✦✧☾✧✦

And before I know it, my body is whisked into the night breeze.
It’s always a little scary to feel nothing under my feet.

Akira: ..........!

Suddenly, Murr bends far backwards.
I’m afraid he’s going to topple over, and I instinctively reach out.

Akira: Woa....h.

When I put my arm around Murr’s back in slight panic, Murr raises his leg high in the air and opens his arms.
We’re like a pair of figure skaters.
My heart begins to pound in the sweet excitement of becoming one under the shooting stars.
But that euphoria dissipates in an instant.
Because it doesn’t take very long.
For me to realize what the Murr in my arms is gazing at with such sparkling eyes.

Murr: You’re beautiful....
I love you, my dearest < Great Catastrophe >!

I laugh wryly, without turning around to look at the < Great Catastrophe > shining behind my back.
Nothing is certain, even if our bodies touch.
But the warmth at my fingertips for this brief moment in time is real.
Murr’s hair tickles my cheek.
We spin around in circles, dancing under the moonlight.
And everyone looks up at us.
As if gazing at shooting stars that burn away the final moments of their lives as they fall.

✦✧☾✧✦

The next day......
In the end, the new lord Lady Dianne never showed up.
That speaks volumes for just how pressing the matter must be.
In her absence, the inauguration ceremony is held with just the gathered guests.
Acting as a stand-in, the castle steward apologizes so profusely that I almost feel just as apologetic.
From tomorrow onwards, we will return to the magic headquarters and go back to our usual lives.
As for the night we spent together under the meteor rain of lineage.....
I wonder how many among the wizards will even remember it?
Hundreds of years later, after I’ve died.
But that’s a question where I look forward to learning the answer.
I feel that Mithra has been avoiding me for a while.
But when I hand him the steak that was served to me, he returns to his normal self.

Mithra: This meat is really soft and easy to chew. I could eat so many slabs of this.

Arthur is the very picture of a prince in high society: he greets people with a charming smile and engages them in pleasant conversation.
Cain and Riquet stand by his side. And Oz watches over Arthur from a distance.
Amidst the lively crowd, Chloe — who is always so sunny — looks dejected, his shoulders drooping.
Concerned, I approach him.

Akira: The meteor shower last night was really lovely. Did you enjoy it, Chloe?

Chloe: ......Yeah......

Chloe raises his head slowly and looks straight at me.
Notes of melancholy and determination flicker in the depths of his purple eyes.

Chloe: Sir Sage. I....... I think I’m going to look into Rustica’s past.

Akira: Look into his past......?

Chloe: Yes...... Why did he forget his bride? Why does he forget—......
Maybe it’s something that Rustica doesn’t want to remember......
But if I can figure out the secret behind it, then maybe Rustica will remember me forever too......
Maybe it’s selfish of me to think of it like that.......

Chloe mumbles confusedly, pressing the back of his hand against his eyes.
I place my hand on Chloe’s back, carefully trying to find the right words to convey what I feel.

Akira: ......I don’t think it’s selfish. After all, it’s a decision you’re making as the person closest to Rustica......
I’ll help you too...... So that neither you nor Rustica will get hurt, Chloe......
But even if that does happen, I’ll make sure that the bonds between you two will heal instead of breaking.

Chloe: Yeah......

Chloe takes a quivering breath and smiles at me kindly.

Chloe: Thank you, Sir Sage......

And so our extraordinary day off comes to an end.
The meteor rain of lineage.
Tales spun by this world.
The reason for the < Great Catastrophe >’s existence.
What awaits us at the end of these transient threads? The ending yet unbeknownst, our story continues......

Chapter 25 << | index |