Prelude to the Festival and Desire | Chapter 2

[healingbonds]

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Oz responds without batting an eye.

Oz: If we fail to cultivate the young wizards before the < Great Catastrophe > strikes again, their names will end up engraved upon tombstones.

The whole room goes silent.
Oz quietly continues, his gaze cold as the depths of the ocean and calm as the endless galaxy.

Oz: But we are watching over them. We will not let them turn to cold stone.
When they encounter precipitous and unknown bridges, we will be by their side, holding their hands as we guide them across to the paths beyond. And the Sage will be there with us.

Akira: ...I understand. I’m a little scared, but let’s give it a try.

Oz smiles and nods. The other teachers begin to speak up — it looks like they’re all on board.

Faust: Well then, we need to figure out which ancient temple we’re going to revive first.

Shylock: We can leave the Northern temple for last, for the reasons Sir Snow laid out earlier. Which of the four remaining temples should we begin with?

Akira: Let’s see.....
I think I’d like us to start with the ancient temple of Western Country... I’d like the Western wizards to go first.

Shylock: Oh my. It’s an honor.

Akira: Murr, Shylock, Rustica... Besides Chloe, all of the Western wizards are very experienced.
And you seem like you’re excellent festival-planners. We need to gratify the original spirits to pull off these holy festivals, right?
That’s why I’d like to start with the Western temple. Shylock, may I request your help....?

Shylock: Of course. I’ll put my life on the line to fulfill your expectations, Sir Sage.

Akira: Is everyone else okay with that too?

Figaro: Not a bad choice. The Western wizards are amicable party-goers, after all. But they can be disrespectful at times.

Shylock: Oh my, you’re spot on. I thought we were all on our best behavior in front of terrifying individuals like you, but....

Figaro: See? There you go again, Shylock. You don’t think I’m terrifying in the least, but you went ahead and said it anyway.
You have a habit of pricking people with needles — you like to go out of your way to step on the lion’s tail. What are going to do if I ever get mad?

Figaro narrows his eyes. Shylock responds with a delighted smile.

Shylock: We’ll tremble in fear and excitement. We enjoy both, you see.

Figaro: What bad kids you are. See that, Sir Sage? And Shylock’s actually one of the more decent Westerns out there.

White: The issue is Murr..... The original spirits will either adore him or strike him down with furious wrath.

Snow: To be safe, I think we should ask a crew of reverent and dependable wizards to accompany them. Don’t you agree, Oz?

Oz nods and turns to look at Faust.

Oz: Faust.

Faust: What.

Oz: The Eastern wizards should accompany and support the Western wizards on their mission.

Faust: What?

✦✧☾✧✦

Murr: Ya~y! We’re headed off to Western Country together!

Faust: .....Why must we go to Western Country, of all places......

Shino: Why are we going as support staff? This was my chance to rack up some achievements.....

Chloe: Shino, Heathcliff, I’m so glad you two are joining us! I was so nervous when I heard we’d be carrying out a ritual I’d never even heard of!
I stuffed my bag full of tons of fashionable clothes, so let’s get dressed up later!

Heathcliff: Y-yeah. Thanks.....

Nero: Reverent and dependable wizards, huh.... Don’t you think that’s more Central or South than East....?

Shylock: The spirits of each country have temperaments akin to the same country’s wizards. So the Eastern wizards are probably more to their liking.

Nero: So we’re like, your type....?

Shylock: Yes: we adore how vigilant you are, and the way you carefully measure your distance with others.

Rustica: And yet you’re kind and serious and so obliging of our requests.

Nero: I don’t recall going along with any requests.....

Rustica: What did you bring in the lunch basket? I hope there’s a salmon-avocado sandwich.

Nero: Lunch basket? I don’t have one. I would’ve made one if you asked.

Rustica: I see.... That’s too bad.

Nero: Hang on, what was it... Salmon? If you don’t mind waiting a bit, I can head to the kitchen and.....

Heathcliff: Nero. You’re going along with his request.

Nero: Wha.....

Faust: .......We have terrible chemistry with Western wizards.......

Shylock: Going out with Eastern wizards is quite fun.

Murr: Fun! Fun! Shino, I’ll guide you around Western Country, the same way you guide folks around Sherwood Forest in the East!

Shino: Is there a forest like that in Western Country? A forest so big you’d get lost?

Murr: No forests! You know what people get lost in? Desire! Western Country is the land of desire!

Shino: Land of desire.....

Shylock: Perhaps that’s an unfamiliar concept for austere Eastern wizards such as yourselves.
Myself included, the residents of Western Country love excitement — we love the charming and the electrifying.
We are particularly interested in charming people. A beautiful noble like Heathcliff would be the center of attention.

Shino: Hear that?

Heathcliff: I.... I see.....

Chloe: We should all dress up in some really stylish clothes!

Rustica: We all love to chat, you see. Rumors, romance, riches, adventure. It doesn’t matter if the tales are true or tall so long as they make our hearts dance.

Faust: .....Is that not perfidious?

Rustica: It’s just like enjoying music. We want our bodies and souls to dance all day: we’ll cheer, we’ll scream, we’ll release sighs of relief.
Even if it means our hearts are in constant turmoil like frenzied mice, we’d rather be thrilled than bored.

I listen to Rustica in silence.
The Western wizards are defined by their individualism.... They’re exuberant, indulgent, and love to have fun.
Shylock, Murr, Rustica, Chloe. Each of them has their own set of values; they live by treasuring what they enjoy.

Akira: (I wonder what their country is like....?)

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