Rhapsody of the Sunset-Kissed Greenhouse | Chapter 3

[healingbonds]

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Now that we’ve seen the entire castle, it’s time for our lesson.
This time, Oz leads.

Oz: We will now begin our training.
<< Vox Nox >>

Oz prepares his staff and chants his spell. Within seconds, Blanchett Castle is surrounded in a brilliant light.

Oz: This is protective magic.

Shino & Nero: Ooh.

Heathcliff: Wow.....

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

Shino & Heathcliff & Nero: .......?

Oz: Now do the same.

Shino & Heathcliff & Nero: Huh!?

Faust: Th-that’s it?

Oz: That is it.

Nero: Uh.....?

Heathcliff: Are Central Country’s lessons always like this?

Arthur: More or less. Sir Oz shows us an example, and we follow.

Riquet: Oz is not very good at chatting, so he has trouble explaining what he is doing.

Cain: Don’t learn, act! That’s how it goes.

Shino: It’s even more abstract than I imagined. But I’d rather do this than use my brain.
Like this....? << Matztzāh Sudipas >> !

Nero: Learn by trying... That’s about as Northern as you get.
Let’s see.... << Adnodus Omnis >>

Shino and Nero start out hesitant, but they skillfully adapt to Oz’s teaching style.

Heathcliff: << Repsevaivulp Sonus >> .....!
No.... It’s not working.....

Heathcliff, on the other hand, seems to be struggling with the unfamiliar lesson style.

Oz: You are putting an unnecessary amount of power into your spell. Sharpen your senses: focus on the spirits dwelling in these lands, and align yourself with them.
This is your home, is it not? The spirits are familiar with your magic. You should be better suited to control them than anyone else here.

Heathcliff: Y-yes.

Practice continues, but perhaps due to pressure, Heathcliff cannot manage to draw out his full power.

Oz: That is enough for today.
Your magic is not manifesting consistently enough. We cannot put this into practice yet.

Faust: I agree.... We’ll try the protective spell after a few more training sessions.

Heathcliff: Yes.... Thank you very much.

✦✧☾✧✦

(Footsteps)

Akira: Phew, that was an amazing meal. I stuffed myself.....
....Hm?

As I walk down the hallway after dinner, I see Cain and Faust ahead of me, walking together.

Akira: (You don’t see those two together every day.... I wonder where they’re going?)
Faust, Cain. Good evening.

Faust: Sage?

Cain: Yo, Akira.

Akira: It’s strange to see you two together. Are you headed out somewhere?

Faust: Ah, not really.

Cain: We’re not exactly headed out.

Heathcliff: Cain, Mr. Faust. Sorry for making you wait. ....Ah, hello, Sir Sage.

Akira: Heath?

Before I can ask what’s going on, Heathcliff laughs abashedly.

Heathcliff: I asked them to join me while I reviewed protective magic in my room.

Akira: So, extra lessons?

Heathcliff: Yes. Shino and Nero completed the lesson, but I held them back and kept us from progressing to the next step.
I also felt bad for the Central wizards, who joined us for practice.....

Cain: You don’t have to worry about that. In fact, you should be more honest.

He jabs Heathcliff with his elbow, a boyish look in his eyes.

Cain: Let’s be real. I know you also hate to lose. You don’t want to let Shino and Arthur get ahead of you, right?

Heathcliff: Th-that’s......
....No, sorry. You might be right.

Cain: Ahaha!

Faust: I like your honesty.

We break out smiling. His quiet ambitious streak, and his honesty in admitting it — it’s wonderful to witness.

Cain: Back when you first arrived at the magic headquarters, you really seemed like a quintessential sheltered, shy young master, Heath.
But now, we get to see bits and pieces of the real you. It makes me happy.

Faust looks at Heathcliff in agreement.

Faust: Heathcliff was always a shy boy, but you can blame his reticence on that man called Jack, too.
He acted like a haughty master, taking every opportunity to push Heathcliff around and domineer over him. Of course he’d shrink back.

Akira: Really?

Faust: Yes. I suppose that when he was chosen as a Sage’s wizard, he feared that his incapacity would become evident, with all the stronger wizards around him.
He was desperate to make Heathcliff believe he was a great wizard. So he put up a pathetic front of cocky bravado in hopes that nobody would find out how weak he was.

Akira: Heath, that must’ve been awful....

Heathcliff smiles bitterly.

Heathcliff: But in retrospect, it wasn’t all bad. Because that was why Cain was so kind to me, always helping me out.....
And Mr. Faust, who would usually refuse to get involved, sympathized with my predicament, and taught me all sorts of things about magic.
I managed to make it through because of Cain and Mr. Faust. Thank you, both of you.

Cain: ....... You’ve got me blushing.

Faust: I’ve done nothing to merit your thanks.

Cain rubs his nose, unable to hide his joy, and Faust pushes his glasses to conceal his embarrassment.

Faust: You made it through because you are humble and brilliant. You never wielded your status or wealth as a weapon: you were always honest and kind.

Cain: That’s right. Heath, you were always polite and serious, no matter who you were talking to. You never seemed stuck-up — you were such a good guy, I was seriously impressed.

Heathcliff: Th-that’s not.....

Now it’s Heathcliff’s turn to go red. A gentle awkwardness surrounds the conversation, like they’re all offering bouquets to each other.

Akira: ...Ah, sorry. I held you back. I’ll be going now.

Cain: Akira, are you sure I don’t need to take you back to your room?

Akira: Don’t worry; it’s right there. Good luck with your extra lessons.

Heathcliff: Thank you.

The three of them disappear into Heathcliff’s room. They look comfortable lined up next to each other — you can tell that they’re close.

Akira: (Right, with the exception of Shino, Cain and Faust have known Heath the longest among all the wizards...)
(Maybe that’s why he asked them for help.)

Cain and Faust are reliable pillars that support Heath when he feels lost.

Akira: (I hope his training goes well....)

I reflect on their gentle exchange, and return to my room with a warm heart.

Chapter 2 << | index | >> Chapter 4