Prelude to the Festival and Pride | Chapter 1

[healingbonds]

| index | >> Chapter 2


Snow: Oz.

White: Hey, Oz.

Oz: ............

Snow: We’ll be performing the Northern Country’s festival soon. We’re going to revive the ancient temple in the North and summon the original spirits.

White: Once we complete Northern Country’s holy festival, all the ancient temples across the five countries will be revived. Surely that will restore some semblance of order to the world in chaos.

Snow: The Central wizards will be our support. You’ll be lending us your strength, Oz.

Oz: ............
Faust told me what happened during Eastern Country’s holy festival when the Northern wizards went along with them.

Snow: Ah, that.

White: We pulled it off with the power of friendship between the Eastern and Northern wizards.

Oz: ......I hear that because the Northern wizards refused to listen, the young Eastern wizards were severely injured.

Snow: Uh huh, that’s one way to see it.

White: Our kids aren’t very used to working with other people, you see.

Oz: ............ Arthur and the other Central wizards are fearless and have a strong sense of duty.
Even if they know they’re up against a stronger opponent, they’ll still face them bravely — even recklessly. Arthur and Cain almost died during our last mission.

Snow: We know, we know.

White: We know that Mr. Oz feels uneasy.

Oz: ............
I refuse to take the Central wizards along.

Snow: Oz! If you don’t force the Northern wizards to listen, who else will!?

Oz: You two can take the lead.

White: Don’t be unreasonable! We are no longer at the height of our powers! Besides, the original spirits of the North have such violent tempers!

Snow: That’s right, that’s right! We’ll be in serious trouble without your help.

Oz: That’s not my problem.

Snow & White: Uwaa, you’re being mean......

(Footsteps)

Arthur: Sir Oz. What are you all discussing?

Oz: ......You three......

White: Oh! If it isn’t Arthur! With Cain and Riquet too!

Riquet: Were you talking about the holy festival?
I heard about the holy festival in Southern Country from Mitile; we were just talking about how it’s about time for the Central wizards’ turn.

Cain: North is the only country which hasn’t performed their holy festival yet, right?

Snow: It’s exactly as you say. Will you all lend us your strength?

Cain: Of course!

Arthur: It would be our pleasure!

Riquet: We’ll be happy to!

Oz: ............ Wait......

Snow & White: Yaaay!

Cain: But a mission in Northern Country sounds formidable. We have to brace ourselves to handle it.

Arthur: Don’t worry: I was raised in the North. I’ll show the two of you how to enjoy the North, like how to skate on a frozen lake.

Riquet: Skating on a frozen lake? Yay, that sounds fun!

Snow & White: Yaay! So much fun!

Arthur: Sir Oz. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Northern Country with you.

Oz: ............
......Fine. We’ll come along for Northern Country’s holy festival. But there is one condition.

Snow & White: A condition?

Oz: It has to be when I have proper control over my magic..... We leave early in the day and return before the sun sets. Make sure you convey that to the Northern wizards as well.

✦✧☾✧✦

Snow in the portrait: Mithra. Owen. Bradley.

White in the portrait: You’re all going to listen to our orders.

Mithra: ......Huh?

Snow & White in the portrait: Hmph......

Snow in his adult form: Here we go. It really is so cramped inside the portrait.

White in his adult form: It’s not bad having a world with just the two of us, but it is slightly inconvenient.

Owen: What’s going on...... Turning into your adult forms like that.

Bradley: Tch. You can’t scare me just by changing forms.

Snow: Liar, liar. It’s obviously working.

White: You’re all looking away from us. It’s not like we’re any stronger in this form, but you three are surprisingly influenced by appearances.

Mithra: What’s your point...... Just tell us what you want us to do.

Snow & White: Go to bed early.

Owen & Bradley: Go to bed early?

Snow: Yes. Simple, right?

The Northern wizards: .............

Bradley: Huh! No way!

Owen: I’m suddenly not sleepy in the slightest.

Mithra: I refuse to listen to orders. Besides, I can’t even sleep.

Snow: Hm~m. Aren’t you a troublesome bunch.

White: Seems like we chose the wrong approach. We should have told them to "stay awake no matter what."

Bradley: I’m not some brat sucking on a pacifier. You think I’m going to do something as uncool as going to bed early? Me, the great Bradley they call the "Lord of the Night"?

Owen: "Lord of the Night", he says. Have you ever heard that?

Mithra: Who knows...... I’m not really interested in people’s nicknames......

Bradley: Even if a thousand lambs passed by, I wouldn’t crawl into bed at this time. Why do you want us to go to bed early in the first place?

White: We have a fun outing tomorrow. We’re leaving before sunrise.

Bradley: Ha! Before sunrise! Forget it, that’s a schedule for grandpas. Hey, are you hearing this? He says we’re leaving before sunrise.

Owen: I heard him. I’m not going.

Snow: Don’t say something so cold. The morning sun feels great, Owen.

Owen: Haha...... Hey, I like to deceive other people, but I don’t really like being deceived.

White: What are you saying?

Owen: Telling us to set out in the morning without mentioning our destination. Oz is coming along, isn’t he? He can’t use magic at night after all.

Snow & White: Gulp......

Mithra: Ah, I refuse. I’m definitely not going.

Bradley: There’s nothing fun about that? It’s the worst!

Snow: Hmm...... If you’re all going to act like that, I might as well speak frankly. Tomorrow morning, we’re going to head to Northern Country and perform the holy festival.

White: We’re leaving in the morning so that Oz can push you guys around while he can still use his magic, and then come back.

Bradley: Now you’re being really blunt.......

Mithra: The original spirits of the North are savage, fiendish, and ruthless. I don’t want to die, so I’m not going.

White: Mithra. You have the strongest magic here, second only to Oz. You’re the ace of this magic headquarters, so to speak.

Snow: We have high expectations of you as our ace, you should go all out and take charge in leading this team of Sage’s wizards.

Mithra: Sigh, thanks. I’m not doing it.

White: Well, I guess that’s the end of that conversation.

| index | >> Chapter 2