Prelude to the Festival and Justice | Chapter 6

[healingbonds]

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I try desperately to appeal to Oz. He looks down at me, seemingly at a loss for words.
Then, he moves to cover the hand I placed on his chest with the palm of his own.
At that moment, I feel an approaching presence.

Arthur: Sir Sage! Sir Oz! What on earth.....

Akira: Arthur, Cain! The three of us will go ahead from here.

Cain: Eh? What about Oz?

Akira: His stomach hurts!

I blurt out.
The three of them, having just run over, first look confused, then genuinely worried about Oz.

Cain: What did you say!? Are you all right!?

Arthur: Your stomach!? Sir Oz, would you like to rest somewhere?

Riquet: Poor Oz, upsetting his stomach when we haven’t even eaten our snacks yet......

Oz holds his head at my terrible excuse.

Oz: ...... You’re the idiot....

Akira: Riquet, please stay with Oz. If he tries to go any further, then please rub his stomach for him!

Riquet: I-I understand.

Akira: Well, let’s go!

I take Arthur’s arm before the dead souls can gather around, and set off towards the ruins.
As I pull him along forward, Arthur turns to look back at Oz.

Arthur: Sir Oz, please take care of yourself! Don’t worry about us!
I’m your disciple after all, Sir Oz!

Oz: ......

Oz gazes silently at Arthur’s dazzlingly bright smile.
Along with Arthur and Cain, I set off towards the ruins of the ancient city of Mesa — the city that Oz destroyed.

✦✧☾✧✦

Rutile: Sigh...... I wonder if the Central wizards are all right.......

Mitile: Riquet definitely hates me now.....

Figaro: That’s not true. Plus, even if he did hate you, Mitile, you still have good old Dr. Figaro.

Mitile: ......Sigh.......

Figaro: Huh? Did my pitch fail to strike your heart?

Lennox: It’s better to stay active instead of just waiting around. Rutile, Mitile, let’s prepare the magic circles.
We have to believe that they will revive the ancient temple, and provide whatever support we can. Can I ask you to do that?

Rutile: Yes!

Mitile: Of course!

Figaro: Good boys. Now, can you fly around to check the surroundings of the ruins?

Rutile: Got it. Let’s go, Mitile!

Mitile: Yes! Dr. Figaro, we’re off!

Figaro: Yes. Take care.

Lennox: That was fast....... They’ve already flown off. Dr. Figaro, I’m going with them. What will you do...

Figaro: I’ll wait here. I have a hunch that things won’t end well if I go near the ruins of Mesa with you guys.

Lennox: ........

Figaro: I can sense the tension from here. The original spirits of Central have heroic natures, so they hate wizards from the North.
It feels like they’re saying, "Get out, villain." Both Oz and I are ultimately Northern wizards at our core, after all....

Lennox: ......That’s not necessarily true.

Figaro: Leno......

Lennox: When your nature changes, you grow accustomed to the land — and eventually the land comes to love you in return. The way you are overprotective of the brothers — I think that’s just like the Southern wizards, who love their families.
Sir Oz must be the same..... Because a heart that loves harmony and goodwill was born in him, he came to be loved by the Central lands.
So I’m sure it will all work out.

Figaro: ......Thank you. You’re a good guy.....

Lennox: Well, I am a better person than you, Dr. Figaro.

Figaro: ......

Lennox: No taking back your words.

✦✧☾✧✦

Along with Arthur and Cain, I set off towards the ruins.
Without Oz, the dark shadows calling out his name vanish.
Under the dazzling, cloudless skies, a hot wind blows across the desert.

Akira: (Everyone had been relying on Oz, but we’ve left him behind. I have to pull myself together so that Arthur and Cain can return safely....)

Steeling myself, I take a step forward, and then another. Arthur turns back to look at me, as if he noticed my nervousness.

Chapter 5 << | index | >> Chapter 7