healingbonds (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
healingbonds) wrote2022-11-22 12:54 pm
healingbonds) wrote2022-11-22 12:54 pm
Entry tags:
Prelude to the Festival and Desire | Chapter 7
Chapter 6 << | index | >> Chapter 8
Chloe: .....I think she’s from the City of Foam.
Akira: City of Foam....? Isn’t that where you’re from, Chloe....?
Chloe: Yeah..... It’s a Western slum. I spotted her by my parents’ shop every once in a while. Everyone avoided her because there were rumors that she was a witch.
She was chased out of her own home and slept on the streets, keeping herself warm with the fire from her fingertips.... She was known as the homeless witch who sang herself lullabies all alone.
My parents would point to her every time they got mad at me. "Do you want to end up like her? Be grateful we’re letting you stay here....."
Rustica: Chloe......
Chloe: .....I never thought I’d find her here.......
I’d heard rumors about nobles buying powerless wizards so they could showcase them to guests, but it’s really happening......
Shino: ....Why would a wizard agree to that? They can use magic. Do they have no pride?
Chloe: ....I think it’s because they don’t want to do bad things.
Chloe gazes at the girl with sadness in his eyes.
Chloe: People think we’re creepy; nobody wants to hire a wizard. But that means we can’t find work.
So wizards like her could use magic to do bad things. Or they could pretend they’re not wizards, and live as humans, fooling everyone around them.....
But they don’t want to. They want to be their true selves; they want to live among people. That’s why this is the only path left for them......
Shino: ...........
Shino directs a bitter gaze at the girl.
She stands with a smile plastered to her face as she lights a fire at her fingertips, over and over again.....
The flame that could be taken out with a single breath wavers dimly under the light of the sparkling chandeliers.
✦✧☾✧✦
Upon exiting the salon, we call a meeting among the stars in the night sky.
Shino: That was awful.
Nero: That was awful.
Faust: That was awful.
Heathcliff: .....I have to say, it’s kind of hard for me to find anything positive to say about this place......
Shino: Sage, we just need to get rid of everybody in there, right? I’ll stuff them into bags and toss them out the window. Problem solved.
Faust: This is what happens when you don’t do your research in advance. Next time, we need to carry out a careful investigation beforehand....
Nero: I’m so done.... Let’s just call Oz and put an end to this. I don’t wanna step foot in that salon ever again.....
Maybe it would be more accurate to say they were venting. After hearing out the Eastern wizards’ numerous curses and grievances, the Western wizards smile brightly.
Murr: Yeah, yeah. I feel you.
Shylock: Do you feel better?
Rustica: Don’t you think it’s time to talk about something fun?
Faust: Were you even listening to us!?
Shino: You should be angrier!
Shylock brings his pipe to his mouth and releases a puff of smoke.
His alluring eyes twinkle, so charming that they could whisk away the night’s dark clouds.
Shylock: We are quite serious, and also quite furious. For our favorite wizards were forced to suffer such unpleasantries.
Heathcliff: Your favorite wizards?
Rustica: You all, of course.
The Eastern wizards are stunned. Rustica continues, deep regret in his voice.
Rustica: You took the time and effort to visit Western Country, so I wanted it to be a pleasant experience for you, my dear friends.
So I’m very sorry, and also very sad. I do apologize.
After a long silence, the Eastern wizards all look away at once.
Shino: .....I’m not mad or anything.
Faust: .....It’s not like this was your fault.
Heathcliff: No, I apologize for disparaging your home country.....
Nero: Yeah, like, I was a little too harsh back there.......
The Eastern wizards’ fury seems to have dissipated in an instant. The Western wizards observe them like quiet cats watching a litter of meowing kittens.
Akira: (This is so interesting. The Western wizards and the Eastern wizards are polar opposites.....)
Faust: Plus.... There was something strange about that salon.
Akira: Something strange?
Faust: Yes. The natural order there was in disarray; the balance of fortune had gone berserk.
One side was aflush in good fortune; the other was losing luck by the moment.
Shylock: I trust a curseworker’s assessment. The residents of Western Country do enjoy their merriment, but I felt something twisted back there too. .....
The nobles seemed to have forgotten their humanity, soullessly pursuing their desires like broken clockwork. The laborers, on the other hand, seemed to have relinquished all desire.
The human heart maintains equilibrium by offering tight shoes to feet that have grown fat from desire, and permitting barefooted relaxation to those exhausted from labor.
But the employees begging for silver coins without rest or complaint — they were acting like fear gortas.
Akira: Fear gortas....?
Nero: They’re a fairy species who went extinct a long time ago. They’d appear disguised as beggars, and if you offered them a token, they’d grant you good luck as a reward.
Akira: Could the influence of the < Great Catastrophe > have revived ancient fairies....?
Rustica: That’s quite possible. Perhaps the fear gorta have possessed the workers.
These poor souls are exhausting themselves as they peddle away all their luck; meanwhile, the nobles who have an excess of fortune are beginning to lose their hearts.....
Just think about it: tossing silver coins at your guests is quite lowly behavior. Something is wrong here.
A true noble would never do such a thing. Don’t you agree, Heathcliff?
Heathcliff: Precisely. A lord exists for his people, and a party can only go on while its guests remain.
They’re right. What happened at the salon was so overwhelming that we left feeling pained, but someone should’ve pointed out how strange people were acting.
Akira: If we manage to get rid of the fear gorta, do you think the nobles and the workers will all return to their senses and hear us out?
Shylock: I can’t say for certain, but that’s a very real possibility. Shall we intrude upon the Heavenly Imperial Palace tonight and investigate for traces of the fear gorta?
Faust: The fear gorta could be somewhere else, so we’ll investigate the workers’ residential quarters. I don’t want to get near that salon anyway.
Nero: Agreed. We’ll leave the salon to you guys. Take care, okay? Especially you.... Little Tailor.
Chloe: Ah.... me?
Nero: You’ve been really quiet. Don’t push yourself too hard.
Chloe: I’m okay! Thanks!
Chloe responds cheerily, but I also feel like he’s forcing himself to smile.
Akira: (He’s probably worried about the homeless witch.....)
(I wish we could figure out a way to help her too....)
Chapter 6 << | index | >> Chapter 8
Chloe: .....I think she’s from the City of Foam.
Akira: City of Foam....? Isn’t that where you’re from, Chloe....?
Chloe: Yeah..... It’s a Western slum. I spotted her by my parents’ shop every once in a while. Everyone avoided her because there were rumors that she was a witch.
She was chased out of her own home and slept on the streets, keeping herself warm with the fire from her fingertips.... She was known as the homeless witch who sang herself lullabies all alone.
My parents would point to her every time they got mad at me. "Do you want to end up like her? Be grateful we’re letting you stay here....."
Rustica: Chloe......
Chloe: .....I never thought I’d find her here.......
I’d heard rumors about nobles buying powerless wizards so they could showcase them to guests, but it’s really happening......
Shino: ....Why would a wizard agree to that? They can use magic. Do they have no pride?
Chloe: ....I think it’s because they don’t want to do bad things.
Chloe gazes at the girl with sadness in his eyes.
Chloe: People think we’re creepy; nobody wants to hire a wizard. But that means we can’t find work.
So wizards like her could use magic to do bad things. Or they could pretend they’re not wizards, and live as humans, fooling everyone around them.....
But they don’t want to. They want to be their true selves; they want to live among people. That’s why this is the only path left for them......
Shino: ...........
Shino directs a bitter gaze at the girl.
She stands with a smile plastered to her face as she lights a fire at her fingertips, over and over again.....
The flame that could be taken out with a single breath wavers dimly under the light of the sparkling chandeliers.
✦✧☾✧✦
Upon exiting the salon, we call a meeting among the stars in the night sky.
Shino: That was awful.
Nero: That was awful.
Faust: That was awful.
Heathcliff: .....I have to say, it’s kind of hard for me to find anything positive to say about this place......
Shino: Sage, we just need to get rid of everybody in there, right? I’ll stuff them into bags and toss them out the window. Problem solved.
Faust: This is what happens when you don’t do your research in advance. Next time, we need to carry out a careful investigation beforehand....
Nero: I’m so done.... Let’s just call Oz and put an end to this. I don’t wanna step foot in that salon ever again.....
Maybe it would be more accurate to say they were venting. After hearing out the Eastern wizards’ numerous curses and grievances, the Western wizards smile brightly.
Murr: Yeah, yeah. I feel you.
Shylock: Do you feel better?
Rustica: Don’t you think it’s time to talk about something fun?
Faust: Were you even listening to us!?
Shino: You should be angrier!
Shylock brings his pipe to his mouth and releases a puff of smoke.
His alluring eyes twinkle, so charming that they could whisk away the night’s dark clouds.
Shylock: We are quite serious, and also quite furious. For our favorite wizards were forced to suffer such unpleasantries.
Heathcliff: Your favorite wizards?
Rustica: You all, of course.
The Eastern wizards are stunned. Rustica continues, deep regret in his voice.
Rustica: You took the time and effort to visit Western Country, so I wanted it to be a pleasant experience for you, my dear friends.
So I’m very sorry, and also very sad. I do apologize.
After a long silence, the Eastern wizards all look away at once.
Shino: .....I’m not mad or anything.
Faust: .....It’s not like this was your fault.
Heathcliff: No, I apologize for disparaging your home country.....
Nero: Yeah, like, I was a little too harsh back there.......
The Eastern wizards’ fury seems to have dissipated in an instant. The Western wizards observe them like quiet cats watching a litter of meowing kittens.
Akira: (This is so interesting. The Western wizards and the Eastern wizards are polar opposites.....)
Faust: Plus.... There was something strange about that salon.
Akira: Something strange?
Faust: Yes. The natural order there was in disarray; the balance of fortune had gone berserk.
One side was aflush in good fortune; the other was losing luck by the moment.
Shylock: I trust a curseworker’s assessment. The residents of Western Country do enjoy their merriment, but I felt something twisted back there too. .....
The nobles seemed to have forgotten their humanity, soullessly pursuing their desires like broken clockwork. The laborers, on the other hand, seemed to have relinquished all desire.
The human heart maintains equilibrium by offering tight shoes to feet that have grown fat from desire, and permitting barefooted relaxation to those exhausted from labor.
But the employees begging for silver coins without rest or complaint — they were acting like fear gortas.
Akira: Fear gortas....?
Nero: They’re a fairy species who went extinct a long time ago. They’d appear disguised as beggars, and if you offered them a token, they’d grant you good luck as a reward.
Akira: Could the influence of the < Great Catastrophe > have revived ancient fairies....?
Rustica: That’s quite possible. Perhaps the fear gorta have possessed the workers.
These poor souls are exhausting themselves as they peddle away all their luck; meanwhile, the nobles who have an excess of fortune are beginning to lose their hearts.....
Just think about it: tossing silver coins at your guests is quite lowly behavior. Something is wrong here.
A true noble would never do such a thing. Don’t you agree, Heathcliff?
Heathcliff: Precisely. A lord exists for his people, and a party can only go on while its guests remain.
They’re right. What happened at the salon was so overwhelming that we left feeling pained, but someone should’ve pointed out how strange people were acting.
Akira: If we manage to get rid of the fear gorta, do you think the nobles and the workers will all return to their senses and hear us out?
Shylock: I can’t say for certain, but that’s a very real possibility. Shall we intrude upon the Heavenly Imperial Palace tonight and investigate for traces of the fear gorta?
Faust: The fear gorta could be somewhere else, so we’ll investigate the workers’ residential quarters. I don’t want to get near that salon anyway.
Nero: Agreed. We’ll leave the salon to you guys. Take care, okay? Especially you.... Little Tailor.
Chloe: Ah.... me?
Nero: You’ve been really quiet. Don’t push yourself too hard.
Chloe: I’m okay! Thanks!
Chloe responds cheerily, but I also feel like he’s forcing himself to smile.
Akira: (He’s probably worried about the homeless witch.....)
(I wish we could figure out a way to help her too....)
Chapter 6 << | index | >> Chapter 8