Etude of the Frog Taking Shelter From the Rain | Chapter 6

[healingbonds]

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Mitile: Mister Mithra! Please remove this ivy around our ankles! We can’t go anywhere like this!

Mithra: Sigh..... That’s the whole point. You’re not supposed to go anywhere. I’ll be napping, so don’t make a fuss.

Rutile: But Mister Mithra, you can’t sleep.

Mithra: Shut up.

Rutile: Mister Mithra. I’m very happy that you’re worried about us, but this is confinement.....

Mitile: He’s not worried about us at all! Mister Mithra is only concerned about his magic!

Mithra: Exactly.

Mitile: ....See! Even if he knew mother, at the end of the day, he’s just another Northern wizard!
He doesn’t like us, and he doesn’t care about us at all! Nii-sama, you shouldn’t be nice to a guy like this!

Rutile: ..........

Mithra: I don’t understand why you’re mad. It was my misfortune that I made that promise with Tiretta, but it’s to your good fortune.

Mitile: What!?

Mithra: You’re weak wizards who might die at any moment, but here I am protecting you.
You have power that you never would’ve held otherwise. You should be happy.

Mitile: I never asked for that.....

Rutile: .........Mister Mithra. Do you think you’re unfortunate for having made that promise with Mother?

Mithra: .........
Yes.

Rutile: .........
I understand. Then let’s put an end to this. Here, Mister Mithra. Remove the ivy.

Mithra: Listen, I’ve been saying.....

Rutile: And I too have been saying this over and over again: even if I am weak, I want to live my own life; I will be miserable without freedom.
I don’t want to live as your misfortune, Mister Mithra. So release the ivy now. If you don’t....

Mithra: ....If I don’t?

Rutile: I’ll bite my own tongue and die.

Mithra: Wai....!!

Rutile: .......!

Mithra: Y.... You idiot! Idiot! Idiot.....!! What are you thinking....!?

Mitile: Nii-sama bit his tongue....! He’s going to die....! Mister Mithra, please, remove the ivy.....!

Mithra: ......hh.
<< Arthim >> !

(Rustle)

Mitile: Nii-sama.....!

Mithra: Hurry, open his mouth....! I.... If he dies, does it mean I failed to protect him?

Mitile: Why should I care! Mister Mithra, you idiot! Idiot!! You’re the worst....!!

Mithra: Ruti......

Rutile: Yay~! Freedom~!

Mithra: ..........

Mitile: Nii-sama! Thank goodness..... Waaah.......

Mithra: .....You tricked me...... You didn’t bite your tongue.......

Rutile: Next time I really will, Mister Mithra. If you treat us like objects again, I’ll bite my tongue without a second thought.

Mithra: That makes no sense..... You want to be free, right? There’s no freedom if you turn to stone.

Rutile: I’ll have the freedom to turn into stone. If you take away my freedom by binding me and controlling me, it’s the same as turning into stone.

Mithra: ......I don’t understand at all.......

Rutile: I’m sure you can understand. Mister Mithra, you want to keep us under control because you treasure your own freedom, right?
It’s terrifying to think about losing your power because of something completely outside of your knowledge. Nobody wants that. I understand that.

Mithra: .........

Rutile: But..... I want you to say that this lack of freedom is to your "good fortune," not "misfortune."
Because this is a bond that was formed though Mother; that was how we met. It may be inconvenient and terrifying to you — but I still want to be your good fortune.

Mithra: ..... Okay, but it’d be to my good fortune if you two would stop moving around........

Rutile: Geez~. Let’s compromise, okay? If you tie us down like that again, I’ll bite my tongue. But I’ll make sure you can feel at ease, Mister Mithra....
I’ll tell you where we’re going, and exercise caution whenever I do something. Can’t we trust each other?

Mithra: ............. .....I’ll consider it......
......Sigh..... You surprised me.......

Mitile: I was surprised too......

Rutile: Sorry for making you worry, Mitile. ....Huh?

Mitile: What’s wrong?

Rutile: There’s a plaque over there with something written on it. Is it a sign? A doorplate....?

Mitile: I wonder what it is.... Let’s go see!

Rutile: Yeah!

(Footsteps)

Mithra: Hey....! What happened to exercising caution!?
.....Geez, this is..... I’m so anxious that I might go mad......
I can’t believe my lifeline is being held by something as ephemeral as a drawing in the sand, waiting to be washed away by the rain.....
.......I can’t believe this is what you left behind, Tiretta....

✦✧☾✧✦

Rutile: What is this? It’s old, and the letters have faded away, but.... The colors are adorable.

Mitile: Maybe it’s a sign....? Ah.... I can read it if I brush off the dust. Here we go..... Cough, cough.



Rutile: Cough..... What’s this? The..... Chlor......

Mitile: "The House of Chloros, My Brave and Beautiful Friend" .....?

Chapter 5 << | index | >> Chapter 7