healingbonds (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
healingbonds) wrote2020-07-25 10:28 pm
healingbonds) wrote2020-07-25 10:28 pm
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Etude of the Melancholy Sunflower | Chapter 6
Chapter 5 << | index | >> Chapter 7
The Eastern wizards and the Southern wizards decide to head off to the Landsberg region of Eastern Country together.
Bianca, the man-eating witch, and the curse she left behind.... Our departure is shrouded by a heavy atmosphere.
But the young wizards express delight at the gallant outfits that Chloe prepared for them.
Heathcliff: Chloe is amazing.... We need to pull ourselves together and get this job done.
Rutile: He prepared outfits that would make us look like military men because I told him that a riot was about to break out.
Shino: It’s probably easier to intimidate them with matching outfits, after all.
It really suits you, Heath.
Heathcliff: Please, not now..... Your praise makes me happy, but we’re not headed out to play.
Faust: He’s right. We don’t know what will happen. Follow my orders once we arrive.
I steal a glance at Faust. He’s no longer wearing his usual dismal expression: his eyes are sharp and crisp.
Shino is taken aback by the change in Faust’s attitude, but the next moment, he breaks out in a grin.
Shino: What are you saying? You skimped on teaching us until today. I’m a difficult student, so it’ll take some time to get me in line.
Faust: What are you acting all proud for......
Heathcliff: You’re really happy, aren’t you, Shino? Because you’ve wanted to take lessons from Mr. Faust all this time.
Now Faust is the one who is surprised.
Hmph, Shino huffs, blushing ever-so-slightly.
Shino: Heath just speaks of you so highly, you know. I figured I should give you the chance to show me what you’re made of.
Nero: Sounds good. Hopefully the teacher and his student will both get perfect marks from each other.
Nero laughs and pats Shino on the head. Watching the Eastern wizards makes me break out into a smile.
Because I can feel them slowly opening up, taking careful, deep breaths.
I pray that these newly budding bonds will not be undone.... As we head off to Eastern Country.
✦✧☾✧✦
(Whoosh)
Akira: So this is the sunflower field that was used as an execution ground.....
An endless field of sunflowers blossoms under a clear blue sky.
The vibrant and cheerful colors make the view look like the very embodiment of peace.
Yet it’s also bizarrely terrifying. Perhaps it’s because the large sunflowers swaying in the wind look like human faces.
Lined up in the fields without saying a word as they swing back and forth.
Mitile: There are so many sunflowers blooming here. It’s so bright and beautiful — don’t you think so too, Dr. Figaro?
Figaro: I do. But don’t go running off on your own. Because you have no immunity to curses.
Shino: You’re overprotective. He’s not that much younger than me.
Figaro: He’s not an experienced warrior the way you are. Plus, Southern wizards have never been very good at handling curses; it’s one of our weaker areas.
Shino: Hmph.
Mitile: ....Experienced warrior......
......... I’m jealous......
Rutile: What’s wrong, Mitile?
Mitile: Oh! It’s nothing!
Lennox: It looks like people are gathering over there......
Figaro: You’re right. Are they arguing about something?
Villager: Even if those are the orders from our Lord — we can’t just turn back! Unless we do something, the whole region will be cursed!
Villager: You must have never witnessed the terrifying sight of the rope swaying back and forth......!
Official: Calm down! If you set these fields on fire, who knows what horrifying events might occur!
Our Lord asked the Sage’s wizards to investigate the matter — they should be arriving any moment now! Until then.....
Villager: Why would we ever trust those damn wizards!? At this rate, the man-eating witch will come back to life!
Rutile and Mitile hold their breath at the words, "those damn wizards."
Shino is the one who gallantly steps forward. He raises his voice loud and clear at the villagers who seem to be seconds away from starting a riot.
Shino: Stand back! Sir Heathcliff from the Blanchett family has arrived. We are here to investigate these fields at the request of your Lord.
Villager: From the Blanchett family.... Yes, sir.
The villagers hurriedly fall to their knees as if overwhelmed by Shino’s presence. Heathcliff speaks to them kindly.
Heathcliff: I am Heathcliff. Along with Sir Sage, we will investigate the situation and handle the problem if necessary.
I’m sure you must be anxious, but please leave this job to us. Could you tell us a little more about this mysterious occurrence?
The villagers regain their composure at Heathcliff’s soothing voice and try to explain the situation to the best of their abilities.
Villager: Ever since the day the < Great Catastrophe > approached, a gallows’ noose hangs from atop these sunflower fields.
The legend of the man-eating witch Bianca haunts these lands.
It is said that before the royal troops came to exterminate her, the witch Bianca kidnapped one hundred babies and ate them all.
What if that horrid witch comes back to life again.....? That fear keeps us up all night.
We should just destroy these cursed sunflower fields with a sacred fire!
Official: We’ve lived our whole lives in this village without a single mention of anything of the sort. You probably just witnessed some illusion.....
Villager: It’s not just some damn illusion! The noose really was swaying back and forth. Please believe me, Sir Heathcliff!
Heathcliff: I do believe you. What else have you witnessed....?
Shino: ........! Heath, look........
Heathcliff: .......Huh?
Rutile: .....The noose from the gallows.......!
The ominous sight steals my breath away.
A noose hangs above the bright, picture-perfect sunflower fields.
I gulp and look up at the sky. I can’t tell where exactly in the sky the rope is hanging from.
But the silent rope seems to entice us: come over to this side.
Villager: Look at that....! It’s the curse of the man-eating witch! The once-executed Bianca is going to come back to life!
Shino: Stop making a fuss. I’ll chop this thing down with my scythe.
Faust: Don’t.
Faust reaches out to stop Shino, who has pulled out his scythe, ready to swing.
Under his heavy bangs swaying in the wind, Faust’s eyes glimmer with astonishing brightness.
He seems like a completely different person from the shut-in man who always dully averted his gaze.
Faust: Do not approach that thing recklessly. The curse is even stronger than I had imagined. It must be spiraling out of control because of the < Great Catastrophe >.
Villager: .....See.....! We need to burn the sunflower fields right away!
Faust: Do not panic. We need to follow the proper procedure to purify this curse, or else it will contaminate these lands.
Curses cling to the things that approach them. Avoid coming near here.
The sun will begin to set soon. Malice grows more powerful at night. We will perform the purifying ritual tomorrow morning.
Villager: A.... Are you going to purify these lands for us? May I ask who you are.....?
Faust: .......... Why should it matter who I am......
Heathcliff: He is Mr. Faust, the great wizard who taught me magic.
Faust: .....Heath.......
Faust can’t hide his bewilderment as he turns around to look at Heathcliff.
And Heathcliff gazes back at him. He’s afraid of being scolded again, but I also catch a glimpse of a sincere hope hidden within his eyes.
Heathcliff: ....I’ve told no lies. I owe you my life, Mr. Faust.
Shino rests his scythe against his shoulder and grins.
Shino: Then I owe you one too, Faust. Come on, it’s about time you took charge.
Keeping us Eastern wizards together is your role.
If you don’t do it, who else will?
Nero: .............
Chapter 5 << | index | >> Chapter 7
The Eastern wizards and the Southern wizards decide to head off to the Landsberg region of Eastern Country together.
Bianca, the man-eating witch, and the curse she left behind.... Our departure is shrouded by a heavy atmosphere.
But the young wizards express delight at the gallant outfits that Chloe prepared for them.
Heathcliff: Chloe is amazing.... We need to pull ourselves together and get this job done.
Rutile: He prepared outfits that would make us look like military men because I told him that a riot was about to break out.
Shino: It’s probably easier to intimidate them with matching outfits, after all.
It really suits you, Heath.
Heathcliff: Please, not now..... Your praise makes me happy, but we’re not headed out to play.
Faust: He’s right. We don’t know what will happen. Follow my orders once we arrive.
I steal a glance at Faust. He’s no longer wearing his usual dismal expression: his eyes are sharp and crisp.
Shino is taken aback by the change in Faust’s attitude, but the next moment, he breaks out in a grin.
Shino: What are you saying? You skimped on teaching us until today. I’m a difficult student, so it’ll take some time to get me in line.
Faust: What are you acting all proud for......
Heathcliff: You’re really happy, aren’t you, Shino? Because you’ve wanted to take lessons from Mr. Faust all this time.
Now Faust is the one who is surprised.
Hmph, Shino huffs, blushing ever-so-slightly.
Shino: Heath just speaks of you so highly, you know. I figured I should give you the chance to show me what you’re made of.
Nero: Sounds good. Hopefully the teacher and his student will both get perfect marks from each other.
Nero laughs and pats Shino on the head. Watching the Eastern wizards makes me break out into a smile.
Because I can feel them slowly opening up, taking careful, deep breaths.
I pray that these newly budding bonds will not be undone.... As we head off to Eastern Country.
✦✧☾✧✦
(Whoosh)
Akira: So this is the sunflower field that was used as an execution ground.....
An endless field of sunflowers blossoms under a clear blue sky.
The vibrant and cheerful colors make the view look like the very embodiment of peace.
Yet it’s also bizarrely terrifying. Perhaps it’s because the large sunflowers swaying in the wind look like human faces.
Lined up in the fields without saying a word as they swing back and forth.
Mitile: There are so many sunflowers blooming here. It’s so bright and beautiful — don’t you think so too, Dr. Figaro?
Figaro: I do. But don’t go running off on your own. Because you have no immunity to curses.
Shino: You’re overprotective. He’s not that much younger than me.
Figaro: He’s not an experienced warrior the way you are. Plus, Southern wizards have never been very good at handling curses; it’s one of our weaker areas.
Shino: Hmph.
Mitile: ....Experienced warrior......
......... I’m jealous......
Rutile: What’s wrong, Mitile?
Mitile: Oh! It’s nothing!
Lennox: It looks like people are gathering over there......
Figaro: You’re right. Are they arguing about something?
Villager: Even if those are the orders from our Lord — we can’t just turn back! Unless we do something, the whole region will be cursed!
Villager: You must have never witnessed the terrifying sight of the rope swaying back and forth......!
Official: Calm down! If you set these fields on fire, who knows what horrifying events might occur!
Our Lord asked the Sage’s wizards to investigate the matter — they should be arriving any moment now! Until then.....
Villager: Why would we ever trust those damn wizards!? At this rate, the man-eating witch will come back to life!
Rutile and Mitile hold their breath at the words, "those damn wizards."
Shino is the one who gallantly steps forward. He raises his voice loud and clear at the villagers who seem to be seconds away from starting a riot.
Shino: Stand back! Sir Heathcliff from the Blanchett family has arrived. We are here to investigate these fields at the request of your Lord.
Villager: From the Blanchett family.... Yes, sir.
The villagers hurriedly fall to their knees as if overwhelmed by Shino’s presence. Heathcliff speaks to them kindly.
Heathcliff: I am Heathcliff. Along with Sir Sage, we will investigate the situation and handle the problem if necessary.
I’m sure you must be anxious, but please leave this job to us. Could you tell us a little more about this mysterious occurrence?
The villagers regain their composure at Heathcliff’s soothing voice and try to explain the situation to the best of their abilities.
Villager: Ever since the day the < Great Catastrophe > approached, a gallows’ noose hangs from atop these sunflower fields.
The legend of the man-eating witch Bianca haunts these lands.
It is said that before the royal troops came to exterminate her, the witch Bianca kidnapped one hundred babies and ate them all.
What if that horrid witch comes back to life again.....? That fear keeps us up all night.
We should just destroy these cursed sunflower fields with a sacred fire!
Official: We’ve lived our whole lives in this village without a single mention of anything of the sort. You probably just witnessed some illusion.....
Villager: It’s not just some damn illusion! The noose really was swaying back and forth. Please believe me, Sir Heathcliff!
Heathcliff: I do believe you. What else have you witnessed....?
Shino: ........! Heath, look........
Heathcliff: .......Huh?
Rutile: .....The noose from the gallows.......!
The ominous sight steals my breath away.
A noose hangs above the bright, picture-perfect sunflower fields.
I gulp and look up at the sky. I can’t tell where exactly in the sky the rope is hanging from.
But the silent rope seems to entice us: come over to this side.
Villager: Look at that....! It’s the curse of the man-eating witch! The once-executed Bianca is going to come back to life!
Shino: Stop making a fuss. I’ll chop this thing down with my scythe.
Faust: Don’t.
Faust reaches out to stop Shino, who has pulled out his scythe, ready to swing.
Under his heavy bangs swaying in the wind, Faust’s eyes glimmer with astonishing brightness.
He seems like a completely different person from the shut-in man who always dully averted his gaze.
Faust: Do not approach that thing recklessly. The curse is even stronger than I had imagined. It must be spiraling out of control because of the < Great Catastrophe >.
Villager: .....See.....! We need to burn the sunflower fields right away!
Faust: Do not panic. We need to follow the proper procedure to purify this curse, or else it will contaminate these lands.
Curses cling to the things that approach them. Avoid coming near here.
The sun will begin to set soon. Malice grows more powerful at night. We will perform the purifying ritual tomorrow morning.
Villager: A.... Are you going to purify these lands for us? May I ask who you are.....?
Faust: .......... Why should it matter who I am......
Heathcliff: He is Mr. Faust, the great wizard who taught me magic.
Faust: .....Heath.......
Faust can’t hide his bewilderment as he turns around to look at Heathcliff.
And Heathcliff gazes back at him. He’s afraid of being scolded again, but I also catch a glimpse of a sincere hope hidden within his eyes.
Heathcliff: ....I’ve told no lies. I owe you my life, Mr. Faust.
Shino rests his scythe against his shoulder and grins.
Shino: Then I owe you one too, Faust. Come on, it’s about time you took charge.
Keeping us Eastern wizards together is your role.
If you don’t do it, who else will?
Nero: .............
Chapter 5 << | index | >> Chapter 7