Fantasia of the Silver-Biding House of Eggs ~Eastern Country & Northern Country~ | Chapter 5

[healingbonds]

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Shino: But it might not turn out that way, right?

Faust: We can’t rule out either possibility. Wouldn’t it be wise to spend more time observing the egg before we reach any conclusions?

Bradley: ......Haha, taking your chances on the outcome, huh? We can just kill it if it’s bad news.
And if it’s all good, we’ll collect the treasure. You can’t get lucky on a big gamble without taking a risk.

Owen: Nope. I’m not bored enough to wait around for it to hatch.

Mithra: We’re destroying it right away.

Mithra and Owen refuse to give in. They seem reluctant to drag the mission out any longer.

Heathcliff & Nero: ............

Should we destroy it now, or should we wait and see?
Even if the other wizards choose the latter option, it’d be hard to go through with it unless they got Mithra and Owen on board with their plan.
Since we don’t know what will hatch from the egg, we need them on our side to counter with force in case anything happens.

Owner: ......I have a proposal.

Watching the exchange, the owner softly speaks up.

Owner: If you would kindly wait until the egg hatches, then...... As a token of my gratitude, I will present all of you with a silver egg from our shop.
Naturally, you will be fully entitled to the silverwork born from the egg in your care.

Heathcliff: ......! A silver egg......!?

Nero: Are you sure......?

Owner: Yes, by all means. If those terms are amenable to you, then I would be glad to.

Bradley: Hey, how’s that for getting lucky?
Silver eggs from this House are incredibly rare. It’s not every day you get hold of one. I’m sure even that bastard Oz doesn’t have one.

Owen & Mithra: ............

Mithra: If that’s the case......

Owen: I guess I can play along for a while. But don’t go thinking that you can buy our help just like that.

Once their resistance softens, the situation easily turns around. The teachers also seem to set aside their worries and give in.

Faust: ......Good, that’s decided. Well then, let’s keep a close watch and make sure we’re ready to act when it hatches.

Nero: Sorry, Mister Faust.

Snow: Oh my, who would’ve expected the offer of a silver egg.

White: Not many wizards would turn down this opportunity.

Akira: Thank you for reconsidering, Mithra, Owen.

Mithra: Well, it saved me some trouble too.

Akira: Trouble?

Owen: Now we won’t have to think about how to steal a silver egg.

Akira: Oh. O-of course you were thinking about that......
(Thank goodness...... Crisis averted......)

Bradley: You hear that, Owner? Make sure you’ve got enough eggs for each of us.

Owner: Thank you. I will make sure to have them prepared by the time of your departure.

Akira: Ah...... Will the eggs only hatch if they’re incubated with magic?
I’m not a wizard, so you don’t have to worry about me. I appreciate the thought.

Owner: I see..... Very well, I understand.

✦✧☾✧✦

We decide to stay in the House of Silver Eggs until the egg hatches.

Owner: While it is far from a luxurious abode, I have done what I can to prepare living quarters that are adequately suited to your comfort, so please relax and enjoy your time here.

Heathcliff: Apologies for imposing on your hospitality for the time being.

White: You even prepared clothes for us.

Out of consideration for our comfort during the stay, the owner even lent us clothes similar to his.
Despite being formal attire, these clothes are remarkably easy to move around in.

Owen: There’s no point in getting changed if we’re just staying over.

Akira: But you all look so great.

Bradley: Of course.

Mithra: Naturally.

Faust: I said my own clothes were fine, but.....

Nero: I’m not used to these kinds of clothes.

Shino: You two look pretty good. Not bad.

Faust & Nero: Not bad.......

Owner: It might be some time until the egg hatches. I don’t know if this will suffice to keep you occupied, but please feel free to take a look around the shop.
I have a few pieces of silverwork that were recently hatched, so if any of you are interested, I would be honored to show them to you.

Heathcliff: Really!?

Snow & White: We wanna see—!

The wizards’ eyes light up with excitement. It looks like their interest is piqued by the House’s special, exclusive silverwork.

Shino: Owner, I want to ask something.
Do silver eggs only hatch into silverwork? Has a silver egg ever hatched into a living creature?

Owner: No. That giant egg may be the single exception thus far. Normally, silver eggs only bear silverwork.
But I can vouch for the breathtaking quality of the silverwork. We’ve been fortunate enough to have customers tell us that our silver is finer than anything you might find elsewhere.

Faust: Even I’m familiar with your reputation. It must be exceptional silverwork.

Heathcliff: I’m getting nervous..... Can I hatch an egg properly? Maybe I should be practicing magic right now.

Snow: Magic is important, but it won’t do if you forget to pour in your love.

White: Once we get our silver eggs, we will take diligent care to keep them warm and cared for. Perhaps we might even sleep with an egg by our side every night.

Shino: That’s impossible. Don’t you guys turn into a painting at night?

Snow & White: Ah.

The wizards chatter excitedly as they think of the silver eggs they’ll soon be raising. Their mood is infectious, and I grow excited too.

Akira: How exciting. I can’t wait to see what comes out of everyone’s eggs......
I’d love to hear about it once each of your eggs hatch.

Shino: Sure. I’ll show you mine. My egg is going to hatch into the strongest, coolest silver you’ve ever seen.

Mithra: Mine is going to be even stronger and cooler.

Shino: Mine is obviously going to be better.

Mithra: You think you stand a chance against me?

Owen: Don’t worry. Both your eggs will only hatch into pathetic little things, like you two.

Mithra: Huh?

Shino: Want to bet?

Faust: At least start fighting after your eggs hatch.

Heathcliff: But..... No matter what shape it takes, I feel like I’ll be attached to it anyway.
At first I was surprised, but I realized that there must be a unique sense of attachment in the silverwork born from these eggs — different from what you might feel towards something that has been hand-crafted by an expert artisan.

Akira: That’s true. After all, it’s a piece that belongs especially to you......

White: What about you, Sage?

Akira: Eh?

White: Think of it as a hypothetical question. If you could hatch an egg, what kind of silverwork would you hope for?

Akira: If I could hatch an egg......

I did imagine it briefly. If I were a wizard like everyone else and could hatch my own silver egg......
What a delightful thought. I run through all sorts of ideas, but a silver curve stands out in my mind.

Akira: A spoon, maybe......?

Faust & Nero & Bradley: A spoon?

I blurt out the thought that occurs to me, and the wizards look at me in surprise.

Owen: Can’t you think of anything else?

Mithra: You want that kind of thing?

Akira: I remembered a saying we have in my world. Apparently, ice cream tastes extra delicious when you eat it with a silver spoon.

Snow: So that’s why you chose a spoon.

White: You have simple desires, dear Sage.



Heathcliff: Still...... It might certainly be the most fitting form of silverwork for you, Sir Sage.
In some regions, a silver spoon is known as an amulet to ward off evil and misfortune.
Some people hand them to babies and travelers as charms to pray for their health and safety.

Akira: Oh, a charm..... That’s an interesting custom.

Nero: ............

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