Rhapsody of the Sunset-Kissed Greenhouse | Chapter 7

[healingbonds]

Chapter 6 << | index | >> Chapter 8


Heathcliff: I mentioned it earlier, but I never had any real friends until I met Shino.
Back then, I was even more ashamed of being a wizard....
So I made up an imaginary friend — a friend who looked just like me.
Of course, I knew that he was imaginary.
That’s why I made a rule for myself: I would only meet my friend when I was in the orangery.

Akira: ...He was your secret friend.

Heathcliff: Yes. He was my secret friend who I could only meet in a certain place.

Heathcliff would sneak into the unpopulated orangery just to meet this friend, and pass the time within his imagination.
He would huddle close to the orange tree and tell him about his day, or confess his smallest little worries to him.

Heathcliff: And after some time, the orange tree began to speak to me, too.
These are memories from childhood, so I’m sure it was all my imagination, but.... I know I heard his voice.
I was so happy, because I felt like we had really become friends.....

As adults, we might see it as nothing more than make believe. But for a child, this friend must have been like a security blanket — someone he could lend his whole heart to.
For Heathcliff, the orange tree was a precious friend, tucked away from the rest of the world.

Heathcliff: After some while, I met Shino.
He was the first friend I made aside from the orange tree, so I spoke to him about Shino all the time.
I wanted to introduce him to Shino one day; I had hoped we could all spend time together. But....

Heathcliff laughs bashfully and traces the rim of his teacup with his finger.

Heathcliff: I knew Shino would understand, but I was still a little embarrassed to confess to him that I had a secret imaginary friend.
So I decided I would tell him about my friend when the orange tree bore fruit.

His smile is contagious. I can understand that — creating a landmark event in your mind that will give you the courage to speak up.
But a shadow begins to loom over his expression. His voice echoes through the room like a painful confession.

Heathcliff: ...But the orange tree didn’t take root.
I couldn’t do anything for him.
I tried casting spells, changing the water and the soil, but the tree only grew weaker, day by day.....
And when my master said he wanted to use the greenhouse to store his belongings, I couldn’t even raise my voice in objection.

His fingers holding the teacup begin to tremble, sending ripples across the surface of the tea.

Heathcliff: The orange tree was wilting by then. It was chopped down a short while later.
I thought he was my friend..... But I hid in the shadows of my own cowardice, and didn’t even try to help him.
And that was how we said goodbye. So I really never had the chance to tell Shino about him.

The silence only amplifies the rain.
It’s screaming. Accusing. Crying.
What does Heath hear in the sound of the rain?

Heathcliff: Maybe that tree loathes me. Maybe he’s trying to steal Shino from me in revenge.
....The scene in the miniature garden is a sight that I once dreamed of. It’s the very dream I told the orange tree about, time and again.
Maybe that’s why the miniature garden of memories is recreating that vision now.
And when I thought about that, I couldn’t use magic anymore.....

Akira: Heath......

Faust: If you can’t do it, I will save Shino.

I don’t know when he arrived — but Faust stands by the entrance.

Akira: Faust?

Heathcliff: Mr. Faust....!

Faust: I can’t sense any malice from the miniature garden, but we don’t have much time.
Because a mind cut off from its body is like a raft without an oar.
If they remain separate for much longer, they may lose their connection entirely.
And when that happens, Shino will never regain consciousness again. I will intervene before that happens.

Faust’s matter-of-fact tone is strict and solid. He looks Heathcliff in the eye.

Faust: I will wait until tomorrow morning.
But if you cannot recover by then, I will break the curse of the miniature garden.

Heathcliff: ........

Heathcliff says nothing in return. He simply bites his lip and looks downward.

Akira: But wouldn’t you risk the curse rebounding....?

Faust: I’ll make sure nothing happens to Heath or Shino, no matter what. I will shoulder all responsibility.
....Don’t berate yourself too much.

Faust says, before spinning around and walking away, his footsteps growing distant.

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

The half-finished tea in our hands has already cooled.
But the rain will not stop.

✦✧☾✧✦

Faust: .......... !?

Nero: Woah! ....Oh, it’s you, Mr. Faust.

Faust: Nero? What are you doing, pacing back and forth like that.....

Nero: Well, uh.....

Faust: ....... The Sage is with Heath. He’s still having some trouble.

Nero: .....I see.

Faust: He’s a thoughtful boy, for better or for worse. His heart is tied up in knots precisely because the person he wants to save is his friend.
If it comes down to it, I’ll do what needs to be done. I ask for your help if that does happen.

Nero: All right.
....Hang in there, Heath.

✦✧☾✧✦

That night.

Heathcliff: .......Shino.

Shino: ........

Heathcliff: Of course you’re still asleep...



Arthur: .....Zz......

Riquet: Zz.......

Heathcliff: Prince Arthur, Riquet.... They were watching over Shino all this time.
(I want to get a little closer to Shino and keep him company. Quietly, so I don’t wake them up....)

???: Boo!

Heathcliff: !?



Cain: Hey, did I catch you off guard?

Heathcliff: Cain!?
Geez.... You surprised me. I was about to yell.

Cain: My bad, my bad. I was just feeling playful.

Heathcliff: Cain, you were watching over Shino too?

Cain: Yeah. Arthur and Riquet insisted they’d stay up, so I suggested we watch over him in turns.

Heathcliff: I see... I’m sorry for resting all this time.

Cain: Hey, don’t worry about it. You and Shino are both our friends.

Heathcliff: Thank you.....
....You know. Mr. Faust said that he would save Shino tomorrow.

Cain: Faust did?

Heathcliff: I think he’s trying to shoulder the responsibility that ought to be mine. And that makes me really happy, but.....
I know that I have to do this.
I know that I have to save Shino. It can’t be anyone else.
Because that’s what I want to do. I want to save Shino with my own power — I want to be someone I’m not embarrassed of; someone Shino isn’t embarrassed of.

Cain: ....I see.

Heathcliff: Woah.

Cain: Oh, did I hit you too hard?
That was a really cool line just now. I’m telling Shino — He’s gonna hate that he missed it.
He might even go, "Why didn’t you wake me up sooner?" So let’s go get him before he starts complaining.

Heathcliff: Cain.....

Chapter 6 << | index | >> Chapter 8