Fantasia of the Silver-Biding House of Eggs ~Eastern Country & Northern Country~ | Chapter 8

[healingbonds]

Chapter 7 << | index | >> Chapter 9


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

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

The morning air is as tense and sharp as the edge of a new blade.
In that silence, the wizards and the owner swallow nervously as they keep a close watch over the egg.

Snow & White: ......It’s coming out!

I hear a splintering sound. The next instant, the crack on the surface splinters across the entire egg.
The silver eggshell shatters, its role fulfilled.

Everyone: ............!

What emerges from the egg is a lionesque creature, glowing silver.
The beast has a dignified yet fearsome face and sturdy-looking limbs. The wings spreading across its back span a larger length than its entire body.

Akira: (...... Amazing......)

I hold my breath, utterly captivated.
Rather than fear, I am struck first by awe for its beauty. The beast carries itself with a haughty and divine air, as if it stepped right out of a fairy tale.
As we stand transfixed, the lion lets out a terrific roar.

(Roar)

Heathcliff: ......hh......

Nero: The amount of magical power in its roar......!

The force of his roar rips through the air; my skin ripples from the impact. So this is the fearsome power it absorbed while being raised in its egg — now it’s being unleashed on this chicken coop.

Bradley: Looks like it’s not gonna play nice.

Growling, the lion glares in our direction. It looks on edge, ready to charge at any second.

Mithra: So it did turn out to be a beast.

Owen: I told you we should’ve destroyed the egg earlier.

Mithra and Owen wield their magic tools, poised to fight.
Owen’s cold laugh is like the crack of a whip against the glowering lion.

Owen: What a great life, to be born and then buried seconds after. Don’t worry. I’ll break you into little pieces.

The palpable enmity radiating from the beast, matched against the ruthless, intense bloodlust from the Northern wizards.
The overwhelming aura from the two opposing sides collide, whipping up a storm.

Owner: Please wait......!

Just as the owner raises a cry of protest, a blast rings out — it sounds like something breaking.

Shino: !?

Akira: What was that......!?

Faust: The barrier ruptured. It couldn’t contain such strong magical power.

Heathcliff: Ah, the beast......!

(Roar)

Taking advantage of the momentary opening, the lion turns around. It flies out of the chicken coop, and disappears into the forest in a blink.

Mithra: It got away.

Owner: Oh no..... It got past the barrier.....!

I turn around upon hearing an aggrieved wail, only to find the owner looking pale and aghast.
Until this moment, he has been unfailingly composed and courteous, but now he appears visibly shaken.

Shino: Don’t worry. If it escaped into the forest, it means you’re safe here.

Faust: Yeah. If we reconstruct the barrier now, it shouldn’t be able to attack your shop.

The owner shakes his head.

Owner: That’s not it. I’m concerned about the child who ran off......

Bradley: The child.....? You mean the beast?

Owner: No, it is no violent beast. I know this.
It might have a fearsome appearance, but its eyes are as kind as the chickens’.
I’m sure it just roared because it was confused, and it wouldn’t have attacked anyone......

Beneath his white mustache, I can see him biting his lips.

Owner: But once in the wild, it is nothing more than a monster born of silverwork. Someone will discover it and kill it someday.
Even though it’s an innocent life that’s only just been brought into the world......

Shino & Heathcliff: ............

Owner: I’m not asking this for the sake of the shop, or for anyone else. This might very well just be my own ego. I know these are all ludicrous excuses.
And yet, I beg you. Won’t you please bring that child back?
Maybe it was never meant to be born, but it came to be given a life through the strange workings of fate and chance. So please......

The owner bows his head imploringly. In a departure from his usual refined and elegant conduct, his undisguised raw emotions are closer to a desperate plea.

Owner: I beg you to save those children.

Akira: Those children......?

I ask, before we all suddenly realize his meaning.
He lost more than half of his chickens to the < Great Catastrophe >.
To him, the lion which was raised on the lifeforce of those sacrificed chickens is as dear as the children that he lost.

Owner: Please......

He repeats, his voice teary and his elderly frame trembling.

Akira: Mister Owner......

Heathcliff: Let’s go after it immediately......!

Shino: Yeah, we’ll catch that guy for you.

Faust: Wait, Heath, Shino......



Nero: No.

Nero stops the two of them before they can dash off.

Nero: That lion is way too powerful. Whether it comes to catching or killing it, the Eastern wizards are no match for it alone.

Heathcliff: Nero......

Nero: ......But we can do it if we work with the Northern wizards. Please. Lend us your strength.

Mithra: No way. It sounds like a pain.

Owen: Just let it be. It can just go off and die someplace far away.

Heathcliff: No way......

Owen shrugs exaggeratedly at their disappointment.

Owen: Why do I have to listen to you guys? You don’t want to kill it? You want me to catch it?
Hell no. If anything, now I feel like wiping every trace of that monster out of existence.
Would that make you angry and sad? Haha, poor things. You only have yourselves to curse for being weak and useless.

The Eastern wizards are at a loss for words. Looking at their stiff faces, Bradley scoffs.



His gesture seems to break the stalemate, pointing toward a new way forward.

Bradley: Come on, you Eastern wizards. What do you take us for?
You’re out of your minds if you think you can buy us with that pity party. If you want to strike a deal for our help, then you gotta bring something equally valuable to the table.

Nero: ......All right.
If you guys help us, I’ll give you the silver egg from my share. How about that?

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

The Northern wizards’ attitude undergoes a swift transformation from their previous disinterest.

Faust: Nero. If that’s the case, then take mine......

Nero: It’s fine. This is between me and the Northern wizards. Please stay out of it, Mister Faust.

Faust: But......

Bradley: ......Eastern chef. Do you realize how much that silver egg is worth?

Nero: Of course. That’s why I’m offering it.

Owen: Hmm. The silver egg, huh......

Mithra: I guess that’s not half bad.

Bradley: All right, we have a deal.

✦✧☾✧✦

The wizards take off on their brooms to chase after the silver lion.

Snow: Shino. I’ll protect the owner here, and I’m counting on you to look after the Sage.

White: Our opponent is a bloodthirsty lion. We don’t know what could happen. It might attack this place if it gets agitated or confused.

Shino: Leave it to me.
Hold on tight, Sage. I’ll protect you no matter what happens.

Akira: Yes......!

Following the trail of the lion’s magic, we survey the top of the forest as we hunt for it.

Faust: ......Found it. It’s over there.

Chapter 7 << | index | >> Chapter 9