Flowers for You, Magic for the Sky | Chapter 22

[healingbonds]

​​Chapter 21 << | index | >> Chapter 23


Faust: .....I can’t hear the Sage’s voice anymore.
Lennox! Have you spotted Figaro’s belongings?

Lennox: They’re right this way......

(Rustle) (Thump)

Lennox: .........! Please be careful. There are more briars than before.

Oz: The sacrificial doll must have strengthened its powers.

Lennox: I believe so. Here are Sir Figaro’s belongings.

Faust: Thank you. Apparently this is what he needs to seal the Leviathan.
Though there are some ingredients missing.....

Arthur: Missing ingredients.... Let us see what we have first.
A strangely-scented oil, a blue pearl, blackened bones....

Oz: Arthur. Don’t touch these items so carelessly.

Arthur: Ah.... I apologize.

Faust: Let me do it instead. Commanding oil, a pearl from the Ocean of Stars, the fang of a Moonlit Bat.....
And a needle used to sew burial clothes, a silk thread dyed with the blood of a chick.... You shouldn’t touch these.

Arthur: All right. Is there anything missing?

Faust: We need a medium to serve as the keystone. Either the shard of a star, or the relic of a hero.....

Arthur: We keep the sacred sword, Caletvwlch, in the castle treasury. It’s a relic of our first king Alec — the hero who founded this country.

Faust: .....The sacred sword Caletvwlch should be more than enough for the job.

Arthur: I’ll retrieve it right away.

Oz: But first, the Sage. Faust, you located the Sage, did you not?

Lennox: You found Sir Sage?

Faust: So you noticed. I haven’t been able to narrow down his exact whereabouts, but....
The moment before the Sage’s voice cut out, I felt our realms connect. I might be able to pinpoint his location.

Arthur: Is that true!? Then can we count on you to do that, Faust?
Sir Sage mentioned that the mastermind was nearby. I want to save him as soon as possible.

Faust: I will try. Can I ask you to handle the sacred sword, Caletvwlch?

Arthur: Please leave it to m....
<< Pernoctant Nixzo >> !

Faust: The attacks are becoming even more vicious.... Will you really be all right, Arthur?

Arthur: Yes.

Oz: .....I will go with him. Lennox. Detection magic requires full concentration of the mind.
Protect Faust.

Lennox: With my life.

Arthur: We’re off!

Faust: ....Wait, Arthur! Oz cannot use magic. Don’t be reckless!

Arthur: All right!

Faust: Promise me you won’t!

Arthur: I am a wizard. I do not make promises.
But I will return! Do not worry about me!
Let us go, Sir Oz.

Oz: Yes.

Faust: .......... .......He is his very image.

Lennox: Indeed.

Faust: Lennox. I am going to search for the Sage. I leave my back to you.

Lennox: Yes, Sir.

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

Lennox: What is the matter?

Faust: I’m regretting my own words. I keep insisting that our relationship has been left in the past, yet....
(.....I am involuntarily relying on him the way I used to.)
(At this rate, I can never set Lennox free from the barren future of my life....)

Lennox: Sir Faust.

Faust: What.

Lennox: I am happy.

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

Lennox: Please focus on your task. I will protect you at any cost.

✦✧☾✧✦

Nero: Die......!

Skillfully handling his cutlery, Nero closes in on the Basilisk.
The Basilisk rears up and unfurls its wings, ready to blow him away.
But Shylock takes the moment to blow a trail of smoke from his pipe towards the Basilisk.

Shylock: << Invibelle >>

Enveloped in a cloud of smoke, the Basilisk veers unsteadily in its flight path.
Shylock approaches the Basilisk, night wind whipping around him like a cape.
With a light gesture, he tucks his magic pipe into his hair and reaches out with slender fingers, caressing the wind.
A faint glow gathers at the tips of his fingers. Just as it coalesces into small beads of light, I muffle a scream.
Because Shylock is about to charge straight into the Basilisk’s gaping beak.

Akira: (Watch out......!)

But the next instant, Shylock gracefully somersaults through the air.
An exquisite full rotation, as bold, artistic, and bewitching as a performance by a circus trapeze artist.
The blue night seems to freeze, suspended in time.
The glittering golden moon, the Basilisk with its wings unfurled — every being held in thrall by the beautiful loop he draws in the sky.
Shylock hangs upside-down in the air, an alluring, temptation-laden smile spreading across his face.
He parts his lips and clicks his tongue, as if humoring the Basilisk, frozen with its beak wide open.

Shylock: Tsk tsk tsk.

The Basilisk gawks at Shylock, spellbound.
Shylock languidly slips the bewitching beads of light gathered at his fingertips into the Basilisk’s beak before elegantly flying away.
The Basilisk’s gaze trails after Shylock as it very nearly plummets to the ground.
Swaying from side to side, it flails like a drunkard.
On his broom, Shylock turns around, freeing the pipe from the back of his head and placing it in his mouth.
He narrows his eyes with a playful smile.

Shylock: How adorable.

The Basilisk spreads its wings and contorts its body like it’s shaking off a drunken stupor.
Nero, lying in wait for an opening, raises his right hand above his head.

Nero: << Adnodus Omnis >>!

In the blink of an eye, a towering knife, huge as a lance, appears in his right hand.
Without hesitation, Nero drives his gigantic knife into the joint of the Basilisk’s wing.
A shower of fresh blood spurts all over Nero.
The Basilisk shrieks and throws its head back.
Writhing in agony and thrashing wildly, the snake on the Basilisk’s tail raises its head.
It bares its sharp fangs, poised to spit poison at Nero, when......

Nero: .......Eat that yourself!

Nero sends the snake flying with a roundhouse kick.
The kick seals the snake’s mouth shut and obliterates its chance to spit its poison.
Nero stabs his fork into the snake, skewering it from head to jaw.
With blood spraying everywhere, the three cutlery weapons dislodge themselves and return obediently to Nero’s side.
Standing on his broom and looking down on the Basilisk with a cold, imperious gaze, Nero lowers both his arms.
His eyes say it all: he knows he won the fight.

Nero: << Adnodus Omnis >>

The Basilisk raises its voice, a final dying cry.
As countless feathers flutter and dance in the air.

Shylock: Magnificent. All that’s left is for us to pray that Bradley’s attack will succeed.

Nero: ......Yeah. Brad, you ready to fire!?

Bradley: I’m ready anytime.

Nero: ......Riquet, Shino, wait for us. We’re coming to save you right now.

✦✧☾✧✦

Mitile: ......Uu.... Hic.....

Mitile, who just witnessed a young girl transform to wood before his eyes, huddles on the ground crying.
But he’s not just crying.
He’s glaring at the Minotaur with fury in his eyes as he prepares Riquet’s lantern.
Riquet stands by his side, his fingers interlocked as he offers a quiet prayer.

Riquet: ...I pray that her tender soul shall be guided to God’s restful Eden.
And that Mitile and I... and Bradley, while we’re at it....
Will enact God’s divine punishment upon that terrible monster.

Mitile: .....All right. I’ve equipped your lantern with the comet tears, Riquet.

Riquet: Thank you, Mitile.

The lantern unleashes beautiful beams of light that quietly spread across the courtyard.
Like petals gently blooming amidst a dark forest labyrinth.
Riquet and Mitile face each other at the core of that warm flower of light.
They gaze at each other with serious expressions — while holding hands in innocent prayer.
Behind them, a terrifying monster of immense stature runs rampant as its shadow criss-crosses with those of two boys.

Riquet: Please do me a favor: don’t let go of my hand.

Mitile: ....When we’re raising the lantern above the Minotaur’s head?

Riquet: Yes. I’m worried — I’m scared that I’ll mess up.
Sir Sage said that Cain was on the brink of death... Shino and Heathcliff are also in critical condition.....
If I mess up..... We might lose someone. .....I’m so scared......

Riquet’s face looks like it’s about to twist into tears. He rubs his eyes with his fingertips, still interlocked with Mitile’s.
Mitile looks surprised — maybe his fingers touched Riquet’s tears.

Riquet: ....I want Nero or Oz by my side right now. But they’re not here.
So please, please hold my hand. .....Mitile, will you laugh at my weakness?

Mitile solemnly shakes his head and grips Riquet’s hands even tighter.

Mitile: I won’t laugh. My brother told me that we use magic with our hearts.
I will be your heart’s anchor, Riquet. I’ll make your heart stronger. It’s all right... We will succeed!
Riquet, you’ve been practicing so hard. So even if they’re not here.....
You remember all sorts of things Sir Oz and Mister Nero taught you, right?

Riquet: .......Yes......

Riquet nods as tears spill down his cheeks. Mitile keeps talking through his own tears, as if trying to comfort himself too.

Mitile: I remember everything that my brother, Dr. Figaro, and Mister Leno taught me too....
So let’s do this! I’m sure we can!

Riquet: Yes....!

They take each other’s hands and stand up with determination in their eyes.
And when they do, Riquet’s lantern begins to spin.
The dark labyrinth becomes a merry-go-round of blessings, bringing courage to their young hearts.
They rush forward, heading straight for the Minotaur.
Shino and Heathcliff, who were fighting the Minotaur, can barely stand. I can’t tell if the stains all over their bodies come from blood or dirt or the darkness of the night.
Yet Shino still turns around to look at Mitile with a smile.

Shino: ....Your potion really saved me, Mitile.

Mitile smiles faintly too. Heathcliff rubs the blood off his cheeks and gives orders like a commanding officer.

Heathcliff: Shino and I will do everything we can to stop the Minotaur in its tracks.
So make that lantern shine as bright as you can — Bradley will need it to take aim.

Mitile: All right.

Heathcliff: Bradley may be an excellent hunter, but we still need to watch for stray bullets.

Riquet: Yes.

Heathcliff: ....All right, let’s begin. Shino, are you okay?

Shino: Of course I’m ready. ....Leave it to me.

Heathcliff: ............

Heathcliff gazes at Shino worriedly. But he takes a deep breath without a word.

Heathcliff: Then let’s begin.

Shino: << Matztzāh Sudipas >> !

I don’t know how he has the strength remaining in his body, but Shino kicks the ground and breaks into a run.
He scythe cuts through the air as he leaps into the sky.
The pointed blade reflects a silver light, ready to hunt the moon out of the night sky.

Heathcliff: << Repsevaivulp Sonus >>

Under Shino’s flying shadow, Heathcliff grips his pocket watch with both hands.
He may be gentle, sensitive, and timid, but fear has no place in Heathcliff’s eyes now.
He is focused on the mission before him, like the hands of a watch steadily marking the passage of time.
Because he is the only one who can save his friend.

(Clash) (Roar)

Struck by Shino’s scythe, the Minotaur topples into the branches of the courtyard that begin to wrap around its limbs.
Shino slices at the beast’s legs.

(Roar)

His blade gouges into the Minotaur’s joints, and it unleashes a howl as it falls to its knees.
Shino spins around and yells.

Shino: Now’s your chance....! Riquet! Mitile!

Riquet: —Yes!
<< Sunrotea Edif >> !

Mitile: << Ortonik Sealsispilce >> !

Riquet grips Mitile’s hand as he raises the lantern into the air.
As the lantern ascends higher and higher, the area surrounding the Minotaur grows bright as day.
It slowly makes its way directly above the Minotaur’s head — and upon reaching its destination, unleashes an even brighter light.
An outpouring of intense golden rays that slice through the depths of any darkness.

Riquet: Is this the power of the comet tears....?

Mitile: Wow.....

✦✧☾✧✦

Murr: I see it!

Nero: It’s Riquet’s lantern! Brad!

Bradley: Got it! Leave it to me!
There’s no wind ....... We kept you waiting, Eastern, Western, Southern, Northern and Central tinies. Bradley the Great will take down that damn bull.

Murr: Is there a Northern tiny?

Shylock: I don’t think the Western one is there either, but....... Please take care of them, Bradley.

Nero: We’re counting on you, Brad. Those kids’ lives are on the line.

Bradley: Don’t worry. I’ve got this.
Here we go! << Adnopo— >>
......hh, A...... Ah.......

Nero & Murr & Shylock: ............!

Bradley: Achoo!

Nero & Murr & Shylock: ............!!

​​Chapter 21 << | index | >> Chapter 23