Fantasia of the Silver-Biding House of Eggs ~Eastern Country & Northern Country~ | Chapter 3

[healingbonds]

Chapter 2 << | index | >> Chapter 4


Shino: Let’s break it.

Mithra: Good idea.

Owen & Bradley: Let’s go with that.

Nero: Hey hey hey.

Heathcliff: C-can we do that?

Faust: Absolutely not.
Not only is it a powerful barrier, it’s also terribly complex and delicately woven. One wrong move and this entire stretch of forest might collapse on itself.
I won’t say it’s impossible to safely undo the spell, but it will probably take a significant amount of time.

Mithra: Then you can just go ahead and deal with it. I’m going home for now.

Snow: Don’t be hasty. Listen til the end.

White: We were invited here as guests. So we have a secret key just for this occasion.

White produces a black stick from his pocket. Apparently, it was sent with the request letter as a means of letting us through the barrier.

Owen: Hmm? So that can get us in the shop.

Snow: Ohoho, you look like you’re up to no good. But there’s no use in plotting to take it from us later.

White: Unfortunately, this key can only be used once.

White explains as he inserts the black key into a depression in the boulder.
The boulder immediately shatters, and the lush overgrowth of trees around us starts transforming before our eyes. Soon enough, a gaping cave opens up before us.

Nero: ......What’s this? A cave?

Bradley: So this is the entrance.

Shino: Hey, let’s get going.

Heathcliff: Sir Sage, shall we?

Akira: Yes!

Shino and Heathcliff step into the cave, unable to hide their anticipation. I follow behind, my heart thumping with excitement.
We make our way deeper into the cave. Before long, I see the exit looming ahead, a gaping hole the same size as the entrance. I gasp at the scenery on the other side.

Akira: Wow......!

It almost looks like an actual castle. I see a large white building beyond well-tended gardens and a pond covered with blooming flowers.
It’s a picture-perfect castle complete with a domed roof, just like the ones in fairy tales.

Owen: ......Huh.

Shino: Amazing. What is this place.....

???: I humbly welcome you to the House of Silver Eggs.

Without a sound, a man appears before us as we stand there astounded by the scenery. He’s a refined old gentleman with snowy white hair and an equally snowy mustache.

Owner: I am the owner and the silversmith of this establishment. I thank you for graciously accepting my request for assistance.

He greets us, bowing his head deeply. His worn yet impeccable tuxedo and his courteous bearing give the impression of a stately butler with years of service to a noble family.
Ah....... An unconscious sigh escapes my mouth.

Heathcliff: It’s just like Bradley said. He’s entirely different from the craftsmen at the Blanchett workshop......

Nero: Well, we’re talking about the owner of the House of Silver Eggs. He’s not any old normal craftsman.
Well, there’s nothing normal here to begin with, from how they create their silverwork to just about everything else.

The owner quirks an eyebrow questioningly.

Owner: Considering your familiarity with our shop, have you by chance been a customer in the past?

Nero: Eh? Nope, no way. Absolutely not!

Nero hurriedly shakes his head.

Nero: Your shop is famous among wizards. I’ve just heard rumors here and there.

Owner: Is that so? Then I am honored to hear it.

At that moment, someone nudges my back.

Bradley: Hey, don’t you have more important things to talk about?

Akira: Oh...... Right. Sorry, you mentioned a dangerous magical beast in your letter, but where might that creature be......

I look around at the calm and refined surroundings devoid of any sign of chaos. They hardly seem like they’re being plagued by a magical beast.
The owner nods and slowly turns to look at the castle.

Owner: The magical beast is right over there — inside the shop. Allow me to show you the way.

✦✧☾✧✦

The owner guides us through the gardens and into the castle.
What greets us inside is the polished, historical workshop of silversmiths.......... Except.
To our utter confoundment, it is a large chicken coop.

Shino & Heathcliff: .......!?

While the coop is furnished with regal walls the same white as the castle exterior, the interior is entirely devoid of lavish decoration. Instead, it is carpeted by gleaming white sand and countless chickens.
The large chickens are covered with pale blue feathers. Surprised by the sudden guests, the chickens flap their wings wildly as they run around the coop.

Snow & White: This is......

Mithra: Does this mean I can eat all of this chicken?

Akira: (......Huh?)

As I look around the room, bewildered, my gaze lands on the center of the coop.
A giant egg large enough to fit a whole human sits in the middle of the room, emitting a silver glow.
Before I can ask what it is, a high-pitched sound splits the air.

Chicken: Squawk—!!

Nero: Woah.

A chicken makes straight for Nero, charging at him. The owner swiftly reaches out and captures the chicken.

Owner: Please forgive them. It appears that the children have become agitated in the presence of wizards besides me......
Come now, we shouldn’t surprise our guests. Be a good child and run along now.

He carries the chicken in his arms, caressing its feathers before gently returning it to its nest.
His expressions and gestures are those of a parent soothing a stumbling toddler. His manner is practiced, but brimming with warmth and affection for his chickens.

Heathcliff: ......Um, excuse me.
I don’t see any sign of the workshop, so where do you do your silversmithing......?

At Heathcliff’s confusion, the owner nods with a smile.

Owner: As you can see, the workshop is right in front of you.

Akira: In front of us......?

Faust: I had a hunch — so these chickens......

Owner: Yes. These chickens are exceptional magical creatures. Naturally, they lay eggs that end up on the dining table like most normal chickens, but......
On occasion, they give birth to a silver egg. But the chickens do not warm and incubate the silver eggs.

Shino: They don’t? Then who does?

His smile deepening, the owner sweeps into a deep bow.

Owner: Wizards, sir.

According to the owner, the silver eggs can only be hatched by a wizard’s magic.
As the wizard keeps the egg warm and incubated, it molds itself to reflect the desire or longing that lies in the wizard’s heart, and hatches in the form of silverwork.

Owen: So you could possibly hatch a cursed object?

Mithra: Then I want the strongest one.

Owner: I’m afraid no one knows what will be born until the moment the egg hatches.
It might be a knife, a plate, or an accessory..... It differs from person to person.

Snow: I see.

White: So that’s what Nero meant when he said that everything about this place is unusual.

Akira: That means you don’t actually work with or temper silver, right?

Owner: Yes. Perhaps this might differ from the conventional image of a silversmith.
My main duties are feeding and cleaning the chickens, maintaining the optimal temperature of the coop, caring for the chickens’ comfort, and collecting the eggs they lay.

Shino: So you’re their keeper.

Owen: Sir Sage, why don’t you live here with the chickens? Have him take care of you. You might live a better life than you do now.

Akira: Ahaha...... I’m perfectly happy with my life at the magic headquarters, so I’ll pass......

Heathcliff: ......Silverwork born from an egg......

Chapter 2 << | index | >> Chapter 4