Fantasia of the Silver-Biding House of Eggs ~Eastern Country & Northern Country~ | Chapter 2

[healingbonds]

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It is Snow, White, and Faust.

Heathcliff: Mister Faust.

Akira: You came along with Snow and White too.

Shino: That’s unexpected. Did you guys invite each other out to lunch?

Snow: Regretfully, that is not the case.

White: Well, perhaps we can sit down to lunch together once we’ve settled the matter at hand.

Faust: Enough with the chatter. Let’s get to the point.

Heathcliff: Is something the matter?

Faust: Yes. We’re here to inform you about the request we just received. It’s from a shop called the House of Silver Eggs located in Eastern Country.

Akira: Eh?

Shino & Heathcliff: The House of Silver Eggs?

Our eyes widen in surprise at hearing the name again so soon.

Snow & White: Judging by your reactions...... You’re familiar with it?

Nero: Sorry for the wait. Lunch is served.

Nero and Bradley walk in bearing plates from the kitchen. The steaming heap of eggs benedict fresh out of the pan looks incredibly delicious.
Upon seeing Snow and White, Bradley’s good humor is immediately replaced by a scowl.

Bradley: Ugh, not you old geezers......

Nero: Ah, are the teachers here for lunch too? Just give me a sec and I’ll go throw something together.

Faust: No, we have something to discuss.....

Shino: Come on, let’s eat first.

Heathcliff: Hang on, Shino. Mister Faust, you mentioned the request from the House of Silver Eggs......

Nero: Huh? Are you talking about the House of Silver Eggs again?

Faust: Again?

Shino: Hey, Nero. I’m taking the plate with the huge slab of bacon on it.

Bradley: No way. That’s mine.

The discussion comes to a standstill as the floor is overtaken by several jumbled-up conversations. Exasperated, Snow and White produce a gong-like drum out of nowhere and strike it with all their might.

(Clang)

Shino & Heathcliff & Nero: !?

Snow: Quiet down!

White: None of you are even listening!

Bradley: You two are the loudest here!

Snow & White: Anyway!

Snow: It’s been decided that the Eastern and Northern wizards will go on this mission.

White: So be ready!

Bradley: Huh?

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

Akira: The Eastern and Northern wizards.....?

✦✧☾✧✦

A few days later. As Snow and White declared, the Eastern and Northern wizards arrive in Eastern Country for the mission.

Nero: The road is pretty rough with all these roots getting in the way.

Owen: Did you hear that? Heathcliff, Sir Sage, make sure to look up when you walk today. I’ll laugh at you if you trip and fall.

Shino: Don’t listen to Owen. The two of you should pay more attention so you don’t trip.

Heathcliff: O-okay.

Akira: Thank you.

Mithra: Okay, got it.

Faust: I don’t think that was intended for you, Mithra, but.... Oh well.

Following the directions from the letter, we find ourselves trekking through a dense forest. The interlaced tree branches block out the sun, creating a dim gloom despite the daytime hour.
Apparently the House of Silver Eggs lies deep within this forest. As the rumors say, it’s been hidden away somewhere no one can find it.

Akira: I can see why no one knows where it is......

Faust: In sending that request for help, they had to reveal their location. It must have been a difficult decision to make.

Bradley: Hey, nothing’s more important than staying alive. They’ve got no choice but to give up their location now that there’s a magical beast around.

—Roused by the < Great Catastrophe >, a fearsome magical beast appeared in the shop.
That’s what the letter stated.
There were no further details, but they requested that the wizards investigate the situation before any irreparable damage was done.

Snow: This might turn out to be a dangerous mission.

White: Listen. We Northern wizards will cooperate this time.

Mithra: Okay.

Owen: I know, I know.

Mithra and Owen concede in a show of surprising obedience.
In most cases, the Northern wizards are sulky and irritable when sent out on missions, and often end up dragged along by force.

Akira: (I can understand why Bradley agreed; he was there to hear the details of the mission, but.....)

Mithra and Owen still came along without any threats from the twins.
A far cry from their usual rebellion, they even showed up on time for the gathering this morning — a rare phenomenon.

Akira: Um, I don’t mean to be rude, but Mithra and Owen are really obedient today, aren’t they.....?

Puzzled, I lean in close to ask Snow and White. Bradley grins as he catches my question.

Bradley: We had pretty good bait this time round.

Akira: Bait?

Snow: It appears Bradley told them about the silverwork produced by the House of Silver Eggs.
I’m afraid that they are more preoccupied with getting ahold of the silver than the mission at hand. It is a valuable piece of silverwork after all.

White: Their motives might be impure, but as long as they’re working hard! Why not?

Akira: (I see...... Now it makes sense......)

Owen: What are you staring for?

Mithra: Let’s get going already.

Faust & Heathcliff: ............

Shino: What’s with those guys?

Heathcliff: I know this is rude, but I’ve never seen the Northern wizards so enthusiastic about a mission before......

Faust: I pray spears don’t start raining from the sky.

The Eastern wizards trail behind Mithra and the others while exchanging furtive conversation.

Shino: By the way, why aren’t we using magic when we have Mithra around? We’d get there in an instant if he opened a door in space for us.

White: The House of Silver Eggs is hidden away from all prying eyes. It might be dangerous if Mithra’s dimension magic interferes with the stability of the place, especially if the shop has been concealed with magic or spells.

Nero: ......The House of Silver Eggs, huh.

Faust: What’s with the sighing? Is something the matter?

Nero: No, it’s nothing......

There is no trace of human presence in the forest, let alone any sign of forest trails. Despite the difficult terrain, Heathcliff’s steps are light as he walks beside me.

Heathcliff: I still can’t believe that we get to visit the House of Silver Eggs......
Ah...... S-Sorry. I know this is for a mission.

Heathcliff anxiously schools his expression. I smile at the earnest way he rebukes himself for letting his excitement show.

Akira: It’s only natural to feel curious about going somewhere you’ve only heard about. Besides, the House is a place you don’t get the chance to see very often.

Heathcliff: Yes. When I think about how I might witness the wonderful techniques passed down through generations for myself, my heart starts beating really fast......
That reminds me, the silversmith who owns the shop is a wizard, right?
I wonder what they’re like. Do you think they’re anything like the craftsmen in the Blanchett workshop?

Bradley: The House is beyond anything you can dream up. Don’t get too freaked out, young master.

Heathcliff: ............!

Heathcliff jumps in surprise as Bradley overtakes us, his low voice threatening.

Akira: (A place beyond imagination......? What kind of shop is it....)

We tread deeper into the forest, reaching an oddly-shaped boulder. The streamlined shape and flowing curves of the boulder make it look almost like a sculpture.

Nero: This is a strange boulder.

White: According to the letter, this should be the entrance to the House of Silver Eggs.

Faust: As far as I can tell, they’ve cast a relatively strong barrier over it. Most wizards would have walked right past this boulder without noticing the entrance.

Akira: Is there a barrier? Then how do we get in......?

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