Etude of the Melancholy Sunflower | Chapter 10

[healingbonds]

Chapter 9 << | index |


A single blackened sunflower.
Like the silhouette of a stunned person staring this way.
As if asking, why do I look like this?

Lennox: .....Bianca.......

Lennox quietly holds his breath. A strong wind blows, and the sunflower sways in the breeze. Faust steps across the line marked by the black dust.

Nero: Faust!

Nero shouts, trying to stop Faust — who clutches the black sunflower to his chest.
As if hugging a comrade he has left behind in the far, distant past.



Faust: << Satillquinart Mullcreed >>

Wrapped in a gentle light, the black sunflower turns to dust.
All that remain are brilliant yellow sunflowers and an infinitely clear blue sky.
Bianca’s curse is purified, and peace returns to the beautiful sunflower fields.
The villagers express their gratitude by gifting us sunflower seeds and sunflower-dyed stoles.
We go around and briefly greet everyone before departing from the sunflower fields of Landsberg.
It was a strangely melancholy ending.

✦✧☾✧✦

Faust stops us after we exit the magic tower and begin to head towards the magic headquarters.

Faust: Hold it.

Akira: .....What is it?

Faust: It was for a brief moment, but we still came into contact with a curse. I will teach you a purifying ritual to keep us from bringing the curse into our living quarters.

Heathcliff: A purifying ritual.....

Faust: That’s right. Each of you should perform this in your own rooms. You too, Sage.

Akira: I understand.....

I nod, nervously. Nero grins as he squats down on the ground.

Nero: So this is Mr. Faust’s first lesson.

Faust: Don’t sit like a hooligan.

Shino: What about powerful attack magic?

Faust: That will have to wait for another day. And I’ll teach you patience before that, Shino.

Rutile: A purifying ritual.... May we listen in too?

Faust: I don’t mind, but.....

Faust casts a glance at Figaro, the Southern wizards’ teacher, who laughs and nods.

Figaro: It’ll be a good learning opportunity for both of you, Rutile, Mitile.

Mitile: Yay!

Lennox: Sir Faust. Should I prepare some silver pans?

Faust: No, I already prepared some in the courtyard ahead of time. Everyone should draw water with those. It would be better if we could get some rainwater from a storm, but......

Figaro: I’ll ask Oz.

✦✧☾✧✦

We gather in the courtyard and wait for the dark clouds to appear as we clutch the silver pans to our chests.
A droplet falls, and soon turns into a downpour.
We gaze up at the thunder dancing through the skies and let the rainwater wash our faces as we wait for the rain to fill our pans.
It’s a strange moment of time. It’s quiet, wordless, divine, and lonely. Yet we also feel a sense of unity.
Soaked in the same rainwater, we undergo the same ritual.

Faust: ....Once you return to your rooms, close all the windows and doors. Then light a candle and simmer the rainwater with that fire.
Remove every garment and accessory on your body. Once the water boils, bask in the steam.
First, let it onto your tongue. Next, your eyelids. Then, your fingertips. Do not wear any clothes through all of this. Bathe in the steam from head to toe.
You must not utter a single word until the rainwater has completely evaporated.
Once you’re done, open the windows and doors; let the steam out of the room, and bring fresh air into the room.
That’s all. Have you memorized all that?

Akira: ....Yes, I think I have it. Um.... Will something scary happen if I mess up....?

I ask, timidly. Faust laughs in the rain.

Faust: I am a curseworker. If that ever happens, I’ll help you out.

✦✧☾✧✦

(Rustle)

I return to my room, place the silver pan on a small stove fueled by a candle, and light the candle.
I listen to the rainwater boil as I take off my clothes.
It feels strange, being naked somewhere besides the bathroom.

Akira: (Everyone else is doing the same thing in their own rooms......)

What a bizarre sense of unity.
I am all alone in this closed-off room. Yet we’re all taking off our clothes together, putting an end to our roles, and returning to our usual selves.
I’m careful not to utter a word as I wait for the white steam to rise from the pan, and stick out my tongue.
When the steam touches my eyelids, a brilliant yellow sunflower field appears in my mind. A laughing lady stands in those fields.
With a pure, bright smile so full of hope that it makes me want to cry.

???: Sir Faust! Lennox! Where shall we march next?
I’ll follow you anywhere. We’ll all go together!

A voice that I’ve never heard before rings through my mind and disappears.
Her hair swaying in the breeze was a warm, pale yellow color, just like the sunflower-dyed stole.

✦✧☾✧✦

Akira: ....This brings back memories.....

Before I know it, I’m smiling as I gaze at the pale yellow stole.
I haven’t really been able to wear it, because it was supposed to be a souvenir, but it feels like a keepsake.
Maybe I’ll put it on next time I get dressed. I wrap the stole around my neck in front of the mirror. That’s when I hear a knock.

(Knock knock)

Faust: It’s me.

It’s Faust. Surprised by the rare visitor, I hurry to open the door.

Akira: Yes, what is it?

Faust: Nero..... ..........

Faust sees the stole around my neck and pauses mid-sentence.
He smiles without saying a word, then reaches out towards me and adjusts the stole.

Faust: Nero baked us some sweets. I was wondering if you’d like to join us.

Akira: I’d love to! It’s rare for you to come get me, Faust.

Faust: I lost a game of rock-paper-scissors. You’re the one who taught Shino and Heath that game, aren’t you?

Akira: So they remembered rock-paper-scissors. You should play with me too. I’ll teach you how to play odds and evens, too.

Faust: What in the world is that?

Faust and I laugh as we head to the dining hall together, walking side by side.
The soft, pale yellow stole around my neck is very warm.

Chapter 9 << | index |