Etude of the Melancholy Sunflower | Chapter 2

[healingbonds]

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(Door opens)

Faust: Lennox.....

Lennox: Sir Faust.

Faust: What are you doing out here.....

Lennox: I was on watch. Nothing out of the ordinary occurred.
You looked like you weren’t getting much rest, so.
I was going to keep watch for a few nights and let you know if the barrier was properly functioning.

Faust: ......... There’s no need for you to go so far.

Lennox: I apologize if it was uncalled for.

Faust: ....That’s not what I meant.....
............
I’m sorry for making you worry. ...Would you like to come in and have some tea?

Lennox: Thank you very much. I think I will take you up on that offer.

Faust: So my dreams really weren’t overflowing?

Lennox: They were not. The barrier was working perfectly — as expected of Sir Faust.

Faust: No need to praise me.

✦✧☾✧✦

(Knock knock)

Nero: Be right with you.

(Door opens)

Nero: Shino.... What’s wrong?

Shino: I got kinda hungry. Do you have anything to eat?

Nero: Haha.... You came by again. Wait one sec. I’ll make you something.

Shino: Really? Yay!

✦✧☾✧✦

Shino: I saw that really tall Southern wizard in front of Faust’s room before I came here. Lennox, was it.....

Nero: Yeah. Seems like they knew each other in the past. I heard he was his personal servant....

Shino: So they’re like me and Heath, huh. I think he was doing an all-night watch. I wanna try that too.
I’m gonna stay up all night guarding Heath’s room while he’s asleep. I bet it’ll feel great.

Nero: Why would it feel great? Being on watch is a boring job, you know.

Shino: It would make me feel extremely loyal. Plus, I’m sure it’ll make Heath happy too. He’ll think he has such a reliable vassal by his side.

Nero: He doesn’t seem like that kinda guy, though.... There we go. You should eat here.

Shino: It looks delicious. Thanks for the meal.

Nero: Sure thing.

Shino: Back when I was guarding the woods, I’d eat berries and fruits whenever I got hungry in the middle of the night.
This meal is so fancy — the magic headquarters are awesome.

Nero: Haha. Go on, eat up.

Shino: ....This is really good. I wanna share it with Heath too. I wonder if he’s had this before?

Nero: I wonder. This is commoner’s food.

Shino: Can you make some for Heath too? Apparently he’s headed back to Blanchett tomorrow. He said he got a letter from Master.

Nero: Huh, is that so. Are you tagging along with him?

Shino: Of course I am. Wherever he is, I’ll be there too.

Nero: Haha.... You really treasure Heathcliff, don’t you.

Shino: He’s my lord, after all.

Nero: ...........
You’ve sworn loyalty to Heathcliff from the bottom of your heart. And he treasures you too.
From my point of view, your lord-and-vassal relationship is sweet and youthful, but.....

Shino: What’s your point?

Nero: ........ What if, in the future.... You can no longer walk down the same path?

Shino: .........

Nero: Right now, the two of you are together. And so long as you’re together, you feel like you’re invincible.
You stay up on an all-night watch and share everything delicious you find. That’s all it takes for you to feel happy.
But what if..... What if, one day, that stops being true?

Shino: ....What do you mean?

Nero: How should I put it..... ....Nah, I probably make no sense right now. Just forget it.....

Shino: Say it. Stop being ambiguous.

Nero: .............
You do an all-night watch because there’s the risk of danger. But how long can you find joy in the fact that Heathcliff is surrounded by danger?
Never mind delicious food. What if every meal feels like it’s gonna be your last supper together? How many times can you endure that?
What if Heathcliff pushes himself beyond his limits — to the point where you start to think he might die any day — in exchange for victory and glory? Could you stand that?

Shino: What are you talking about? Heathcliff won’t push himself.

Nero: ........ All right then.....

Shino: It’s better to push yourself to your limits anyway. If Heath is ever in danger, then I’ll protect him.
From the < Great Catastrophe >. From any enemy in the world.

Nero: .......... Haha......

Shino: What’s so funny?

Nero: That’s how you feel the first ten times or so. But after the eleventh time, you start to get uneasy.
After the twentieth time, you begin to think, "If you wanna die so badly, I’ll kill you myself."

Shino: .........
What about after the thirtieth time?

Nero: You realize you can no longer be together.

✦✧☾✧✦

Faust: Is tea all right?

Lennox: I’ll make it. Please stay seated, Sir Faust.

Faust: This is my room.

Lennox: Please let me do it. I’ve yearned to serve you for four hundred years — to the point where it appeared in my dreams.

Faust: .........
....I apologize for disappearing without a word.

Lennox: No; I was simply inadequate.

Faust: There is nothing wrong about you.

Lennox: That’s not true. When I rescued you and brought you to that little hidden cabin in order to tend to your wounds.....
If you had felt at peace, for even just a moment — you would not have disappeared without a word.
I’ve regretted it for all these years.

Faust: .............

Lennox: Here you go. It’s still hot.

Faust: .......... .....I wanted to be alone. I needed to be.

Lennox: And I did not want to let you be alone. Because I feared something terrible might happen..... But that was what drove you into a corner.
....... A curseworker......

Faust: You must be disappointed in me. This is the man you’ve been searching for all this time.

Lennox: And this is my identity: a man who could not even get his revenge. Because I was so desperate to find you......

Faust: You’re not suited for loathing others.

Lennox: ....That certainly goes for you as well. Sir Faust, how do you feel about him?
About Ale.....

Faust: Do not say his name.

Lennox: ..........

Faust: ....I’m glad I was able to meet you. Though I must say you’re quite unlucky, ending up as a Sage’s wizard.

Lennox: I am grateful for this fate.

Faust: It’s nothing to be grateful for. Two of my comrades turned to stone in the last battle. I really am not suited to be a leader.

Lennox: That’s not true. The young Eastern wizards and Sir Sage himself are awaiting your instruction.

Faust: You’ve got to be mad.... I guided those who trusted me and followed me into the depths of hell. There’s nothing I can do for them.
How many people died because I trusted that traitor and his fellow humans? Tell me, Lennox.

Lennox: ............

Faust: .......I only gave Heath advice out of pity. That’s all there is to it. My role isn’t that of a teacher.

Lennox: ........Is your role to live with curses, then?

Faust: That’s right. The me you once knew has long been gone. You never have to keep watch ever again.

Lennox: ...........

Faust: .....Please forget about me, and treasure your own life. Because I dearly wish for your happiness.

Lennox: And I do too, Sir Faust.

Faust: ....Goodnight, Leno.

Lennox: I’ll come again.

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