Flowers for You, Magic for the Sky | Chapter 15

[healingbonds]

Chapter 14 << | index | >> Chapter 16


In the courtyard, Shino fights the Minotaur.
A monster with a bulky, massive frame — even larger than a stable.
The head of a bull tops off its hulking body; it commands an axe of horrific proportions.
Despite its fierce movements, the Minotaur’s eyes harbor a silent darkness devoid of emotion.

Shino: Hmph.... You remind me of my old self.

Shino dashes through the dark midnight garden that has transformed into a labyrinth.
I thought he was fleeing the Minotaur. But I was wrong.
He turns a corner and hides himself in the Minotaur’s blind spot, ready to launch an attack on the monster when it reaches him.

Shino: << Matztzāh Sudipas >>

(Clash) (Roar)

Shino’s scythe strikes the Minotaur’s neck, right on target.
Any normal beast would’ve had its head flying in an instant. But....

Shino: ......Dammit......!

The scythe only scratches the Minotaur’s hide; it stands unharmed.
Using the centrifugal force of his scythe, Shino spins through the air like a wheel before hitting the ground.
And then he runs through the labyrinth once more. He hides amidst the roots and the trees and waits for his next opportunity to strike.
Shino is out of breath, but he remains as composed as a hunter laying his traps.
If he manages to slowly and keenly chip away at the Minotaur’s stamina, bit by bit, maybe he has a shot at winning this battle.
—But the very next moment, tragedy strikes.

(Roar)

Shino: ...........!

Maybe the Minotaur sensed where Shino was: it slices away the entire corner of the maze where he’d hidden with a heavy blow of its axe.
Shino manages to dodge the attack, but it takes him a second to get back on his feet.

Shino: << Matztzāh Sudipas >> .......!

The Minotaur swings its axe and slices Shino’s body right down the front.

Shino: .....Uugh.....

(Crash)

And then, in one sweeping sideways motion, the Minotaur tosses Shino several meters into the distance.
As Shino struggles to rise to his feet, the monster stampedes towards him with thundering footsteps.
I scream.
Even though I know my voice won’t reach him.

✦✧☾✧✦

Akira: Shino! Run......!

Obsius: It’s pointless. There is no escaping the Minotaur, the greatest warrior on earth.

Akira: .....What do you hope to accomplish with all this!?

Obsius: I want to reunite with my dearest wife.

Akira: Wife.....?

Obsius: The briar witch, Talia.
The pitiful witch who was cursed for attempting forbidden magic, only to fail and be possessed by the briars in return.
Against her will, briars would appear and lash out at all those who dared approach her.
And thus, ashamed of her cursed existence, Talia hid herself away in an ancient castle. That was where we met each other.
My puppet show was a salve to her lonely heart, her smile the very same to my loneliness.
We were meant to live happily ever after, free from this meaningless world and its foolish masses.
......And yet that man incited Talia into destroying herself!

Akira: ......That man......?

Obsius: The genius of the ages, the philosopher Murr, known for his brilliance!
He stole my wife’s heart away from me, used her to further his own research, and cast her aside once he was done using her.
Unwittingly, Talia was tricked into weaving roses to create a pathway to the moon!
She lost herself, weaving away in the ancient castle, and in the end......
She became one with the castle of briars......

Akira: Became one with the castle......?

Obsius: It’s all that man’s fault! The great philosopher Murr destroyed my wife and our love for each other!

Akira: No way...... Murr wouldn’t do something like...... .............
(......The current, innocent Murr might not, but the Murr before his soul shattered, I couldn’t say for sure......)
......Even if that were the case...... He wouldn’t have gotten innocent people involved.......

Laughter rings out from the darkness.
The sweet, insolent, charismatic laughter of a voice accustomed to mockery.
A strong light glows from the purple sapphire shard.
And that bewitching purple light coalesces into a person.

???: How cruel of you, Sir Sage.
I know that one of the many me’s out there explained to you...

Obsius: ......! You....

Murr: The one I love is the < Great Catastrophe >.
The beautiful moon alone.

The man with a face identical to Murr’s takes a bow, so gracious that he seems to be feigning politeness.
Then, he smiles at me.

Murr: It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Murr Hart. Please call me Murr — Sir Sage.

✦✧☾✧✦

Riquet: ......The castle courtyard is like a maze now.

Mitile: It wasn’t like this earlier.....
Ah, Mister Heathcliff, come this way.... Are you okay? Are you tired?

Heathcliff: ....I’m all right. Thank you for looking out for me.

Mitile: Not at all.

Heathcliff: But.....

Riquet: What’s wrong, Heathcliff?

Heathcliff: .....I’m sorry. But could you two escape alone?

Mitile: Mister Heathcliff.....

Heathcliff: I can’t leave Shino on his own. He was putting on a show, pretending he had everything under control, but I know.....
That if he thought he could win, he would want me to be there so I could witness it. He wouldn’t let me escape like this.

Mitile: ....Mister Shino said he would definitely catch up. We should believe in him.

Heathcliff: I’ve made a promise with Shino.

Riquet: A promise?

Mitile: But wizards aren’t supposed to make promises....?
Because if we break our promises, we can’t use magic anymore.

Riquet: It must have been a promise you made with great conviction. ....Right, Heathcliff?

Heathcliff: ....Not at all. We were just swindled by our master, and..... We made it without understanding a thing.
Our promise was to protect each other. That’s why.... I need to protect Shino.
I still don’t know how to face the question that Mister Faust posed to me — I still don’t know if my heart is ready for me to be his master, but.....
But.... I have to go. I’m sorry.

Mitile: ............

Riquet: What’s wrong, Mitile? ....You look pale.....

Mitile: .....Mister Heathcliff. Mister Shino actually asked me to.....

Heathcliff: To what....?

Mitile: He said that we couldn’t beat the Minotaur.
So he asked me to take care of you and run, Mister Heathcliff.

Heathcliff: ....Wh......
.......I can’t believe him......! Now I’m seriously pissed off......!!

Mitile: P-please don’t get mad at him!! Mister Shino was doing it for you, Mister Heathcliff.....

Heathcliff: I know, but.....!

Riquet: Why didn’t you tell us, Mitile?

Mitile: I did sort of bend to Mister Shino’s overwhelming willpower, but.... I was also happy.
Because he acknowledged me as a capable, proper wizard. Nobody else treats me like that....
But he said he was counting on me. That’s why.... I was so happy......

Heathcliff: .......... Going by that logic, it means he doesn’t trust me.

Mitile: I-I guess, I guess you could say that, but...... .....Did I make you mad?

Heathcliff: I’m not angry at you, Mitile.

Riquet: But your hands are shaking, Heathcliff.....

Heathcliff: I’ve never been this mad — I’m so mad that I feel like I could pass out. I don’t care about the Minotaur.

Mitile: Y-you’re so reliable.

Riquet: I will pray so that you can feel at peace, Heathcliff.

Heathcliff: I’m heading back to Shino. What will you two...

Riquet: We’ll follow you. As a disciple of God, and as a Sage’s wizard, I cannot just sit aside idly as my friend is exposed to danger.
Plus, there’s a little something that I want to try out!

Chapter 14 << | index | >> Chapter 16