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 12
Chapter 11 << | index | >> Chapter 13
Homeless witch: My nails are so pretty!
Chloe: Right? They look so good!
Rustica: How beautiful. You’re a newborn star, about to change the world with your fire and song.
Chloe: Let’s ask the band to set the stage for us! We’re all ready to go! The rest is up to you, Murr!
✦✧☾✧✦
Antonio: Heheheh.... Too bad; looks like I’m about to win again! The shop in the entertainment district is all mine.
Murr: Uugh.... It’s not over yet!
Akira: Oh no.... At this rate, we’re going to lose Shylock’s bar too.....
Shylock: ..........
That’s when.....
The purple sapphire shard in my pocket lights up.
And a gentleman’s voice rings through my head.
???: "Sir Sage. Feed Murr the soul shard."
Akira: (Is this.... Murr’s shard?)
.....But your research......
Shylock: Sir Sage? Who are you talking to?
Murr: "I’ll continue my research when my soul becomes whole."
"Shylock’s shop is a favorite of mine, you see. I can’t afford to lose it."
"Now put the shard in the glass and hand it to Murr."
With firm resolve, I take the glass in my hand.
That’s when the ornate melody of a piano resounds across the salon.
Along with the song of a brave and daring female vocalist, igniting flames of passion in its listeners’ hearts.
Noblewoman: My, what a lovely song....!
Noblewoman: Let us dance! We can’t just idly sit by for a song like this!
On such a fun night!
I drop the shard as the cymbals begin to ring, and hand the glass to Murr while listening to the beat of the drums.
Akira: Please drink it in one go.
Murr: This time I’ve got it for sure.....
Murr doesn’t take his eyes off the cards as he grabs the glass and finishes it off.
Bang! The dapper melody of the piano takes a dynamic turn and — clash! — the glass slips out of Murr’s hand.
Antonio: What? Are your hands trembling from fear?
Shylock: ......Murr?
Shylock hesitantly takes a look at Murr’s face — and gasps.
A brilliant and erudite gaze that sees through to your mind.....
A bold and arrogant smile befitting a gentleman.....
With a dashing snap of the fingers, Murr spreads the cards in his hand like a fan and grins.
Murr: —The game has only just begun.
✦✧☾✧✦
Chloe: Wow, wow! You’re both so cool....!
Noblewoman: Goodness, what a lovely song! It makes my heart beat faster than any gamble!
Noble: Take a break — you should enjoy the song with us.
Servant: M-may I.....?
Noble: Of course! We need to spread the fun around. Have a drink.
Servant: Th.... Thank you! Ah... When was the last time I felt so happy?
✦✧☾✧✦
Antonio: Dammit! I lost again....! How’d you start winning all of a sudden! You must be cheating!
Murr: Neither magic nor fraud have transpired. This is a game of psychological warfare: all it takes is a bit of memory and some statistical calculations. Gambling is never about luck.
It’s simple numbers and philosophy.
Murr collects Mister Antonio’s coins and jewels towards himself and proceeds to cross his legs.
Murr: Looks like I’ve gotten my ring and my jewels back. Do you still want to go on?
Antonio: .....Of course I do!
Murr: Then I’ll have you put the Heavenly Imperial Palace on the table.
Antonio: Th.... ...... .......Fine! But you’ll be betting your life!
Murr: I don’t mind. Your hands are shaking, Count.
✦✧☾✧✦
Shylock: ....Sir Sage. Don’t you think Murr is acting strange?
Shylock whispers in my ear. I whisper back.
Akira: I had him drink his soul shard. Murr’s shard requested it himself.
Shylock: But why....
Akira: He said he couldn’t afford to lose your shop, Shylock. He said it was his favorite.
A look of surprise crosses Shylock's face. His eyes wander the room, as if searching for a shadow that's no longer here, before his gaze settles at the floor.
After a moment, his lips curve into a delighted smile.
Shylock: Is that so? Then I suppose I must fulfill my role as well.
Now that we’ve almost restored the balance of fortune, it’s time to wipe the fear gorta’s presence from this salon.
Shylock brings his pipe to his lips and exhales a cloud of smoke.
The white fumes wander through the salon like lost souls weaving through the crowd.
Shylock: << Invibelle >>
When Shylock chants his spell, withering black shadows begin to peel themselves off of the backs of the guests enveloped by smoke.
The shadows hit the ground like droplets, forming a dark puddle as they soak through the luxurious mattress.
The puddle gradually disappears, drained away to who-knows-where.
Akira: (Was that the fear gorta....?)
I blink, and do a double take. It feels like the salon looks brighter than it was before.
And that’s when two voices echo across the room like a victorious fanfare.
Homeless witch: Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for listening to my song.....!
Antonio: Aaargh, dammit....! It’s my loss....!
Mister Antonio grips his head in despair as the band dances along with the jubilant witch of the West, flames at her fingertips.
Rustica: The fear gorta’s presence is gone!
Chloe: Yay!
Shylock: Congratulations, Murr.
Murr turns around and gives us a big smile. It’s the Murr I know.
Murr: I won~! Feels awesome!!
I have to agree.
Akira: (Feels awesome!)
Chapter 11 << | index | >> Chapter 13
Homeless witch: My nails are so pretty!
Chloe: Right? They look so good!
Rustica: How beautiful. You’re a newborn star, about to change the world with your fire and song.
Chloe: Let’s ask the band to set the stage for us! We’re all ready to go! The rest is up to you, Murr!
✦✧☾✧✦
Antonio: Heheheh.... Too bad; looks like I’m about to win again! The shop in the entertainment district is all mine.
Murr: Uugh.... It’s not over yet!
Akira: Oh no.... At this rate, we’re going to lose Shylock’s bar too.....
Shylock: ..........
That’s when.....
The purple sapphire shard in my pocket lights up.
And a gentleman’s voice rings through my head.
???: "Sir Sage. Feed Murr the soul shard."
Akira: (Is this.... Murr’s shard?)
.....But your research......
Shylock: Sir Sage? Who are you talking to?
Murr: "I’ll continue my research when my soul becomes whole."
"Shylock’s shop is a favorite of mine, you see. I can’t afford to lose it."
"Now put the shard in the glass and hand it to Murr."
With firm resolve, I take the glass in my hand.
That’s when the ornate melody of a piano resounds across the salon.
Along with the song of a brave and daring female vocalist, igniting flames of passion in its listeners’ hearts.
Noblewoman: My, what a lovely song....!
Noblewoman: Let us dance! We can’t just idly sit by for a song like this!
On such a fun night!
I drop the shard as the cymbals begin to ring, and hand the glass to Murr while listening to the beat of the drums.
Akira: Please drink it in one go.
Murr: This time I’ve got it for sure.....
Murr doesn’t take his eyes off the cards as he grabs the glass and finishes it off.
Bang! The dapper melody of the piano takes a dynamic turn and — clash! — the glass slips out of Murr’s hand.
Antonio: What? Are your hands trembling from fear?
Shylock: ......Murr?
Shylock hesitantly takes a look at Murr’s face — and gasps.
A brilliant and erudite gaze that sees through to your mind.....
A bold and arrogant smile befitting a gentleman.....
With a dashing snap of the fingers, Murr spreads the cards in his hand like a fan and grins.
Murr: —The game has only just begun.
✦✧☾✧✦
Chloe: Wow, wow! You’re both so cool....!
Noblewoman: Goodness, what a lovely song! It makes my heart beat faster than any gamble!
Noble: Take a break — you should enjoy the song with us.
Servant: M-may I.....?
Noble: Of course! We need to spread the fun around. Have a drink.
Servant: Th.... Thank you! Ah... When was the last time I felt so happy?
✦✧☾✧✦
Antonio: Dammit! I lost again....! How’d you start winning all of a sudden! You must be cheating!
Murr: Neither magic nor fraud have transpired. This is a game of psychological warfare: all it takes is a bit of memory and some statistical calculations. Gambling is never about luck.
It’s simple numbers and philosophy.
Murr collects Mister Antonio’s coins and jewels towards himself and proceeds to cross his legs.
Murr: Looks like I’ve gotten my ring and my jewels back. Do you still want to go on?
Antonio: .....Of course I do!
Murr: Then I’ll have you put the Heavenly Imperial Palace on the table.
Antonio: Th.... ...... .......Fine! But you’ll be betting your life!
Murr: I don’t mind. Your hands are shaking, Count.
✦✧☾✧✦
Shylock: ....Sir Sage. Don’t you think Murr is acting strange?
Shylock whispers in my ear. I whisper back.
Akira: I had him drink his soul shard. Murr’s shard requested it himself.
Shylock: But why....
Akira: He said he couldn’t afford to lose your shop, Shylock. He said it was his favorite.
A look of surprise crosses Shylock's face. His eyes wander the room, as if searching for a shadow that's no longer here, before his gaze settles at the floor.
After a moment, his lips curve into a delighted smile.
Shylock: Is that so? Then I suppose I must fulfill my role as well.
Now that we’ve almost restored the balance of fortune, it’s time to wipe the fear gorta’s presence from this salon.
Shylock brings his pipe to his lips and exhales a cloud of smoke.
The white fumes wander through the salon like lost souls weaving through the crowd.
Shylock: << Invibelle >>
When Shylock chants his spell, withering black shadows begin to peel themselves off of the backs of the guests enveloped by smoke.
The shadows hit the ground like droplets, forming a dark puddle as they soak through the luxurious mattress.
The puddle gradually disappears, drained away to who-knows-where.
Akira: (Was that the fear gorta....?)
I blink, and do a double take. It feels like the salon looks brighter than it was before.
And that’s when two voices echo across the room like a victorious fanfare.
Homeless witch: Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for listening to my song.....!
Antonio: Aaargh, dammit....! It’s my loss....!
Mister Antonio grips his head in despair as the band dances along with the jubilant witch of the West, flames at her fingertips.
Rustica: The fear gorta’s presence is gone!
Chloe: Yay!
Shylock: Congratulations, Murr.
Murr turns around and gives us a big smile. It’s the Murr I know.
Murr: I won~! Feels awesome!!
I have to agree.
Akira: (Feels awesome!)
Chapter 11 << | index | >> Chapter 13