Prelude to the Festival and Pride | Chapter 4

[healingbonds]

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The strength of his gaze could crush me. Just as I am about to speak up again, Bradley casually claps Mithra’s shoulders.

Bradley: Stop staring. Well then, Mithra. Open a door to Northern Country for us.

Mithra slowly shifts his gaze away from me.

Mithra: Certainly. Where in Northern Country would you like to go?

Snow: The Plains of Hope, to the northwest of the Cavern of Time.

Mithra: Ah...... Are you sure? Normal wizards can’t even stay standing there.

White: You don’t have to worry about the Central wizards. Oz will protect them.

Cain: The Plains of Hope...... If possible, I don’t want to trouble Oz. What kind of place is it?

Oz: The land rejects all trespassers. That is why there is an ever-raging blizzard.

Riquet: I’ve never experienced a blizzard. Is it cold? Is it painful?

Arthur: It is cold, and painful, but you have nothing to worry about. When I went to play there in the past, Sir Oz stopped the blizzard for me.

Akira: (He makes it sound like switching off the AC.......)

At Arthur’s casual remark, the Northern wizards fall silent, bitter expressions on their faces.

Owen: So he can stop even the blizzard of the Plains of Hope......

Bradley: What a deviant monster......

Mithra: Hmph....... Well, that ends today...... mghgh.

Bradley: Don’t say anything unnecessary. I asked you guys to play nice for the sake of my reward, right. Owen, is your stomach all right?

Bradley exchanges a glance with Owen while he keeps Mithra’s mouth covered up.
Owen places a hand over his stomach as if he’s just remembered it.

Owen: Yeah. More or less.

Cain: Your stomach? Are you feeling ill?

Owen: I played card games with Mithra because he couldn’t sleep. I lost, so I swallowed a small bird as a punishment.

Cain: A small bird......?

Owen: That’s right. A cursed bird.

Owen opens his mouth, smiling faintly.

(Screech)

From the back of his throat, we hear the shrill, eerie screeching of a bird.

Bradley: Ahaha! It’s still alive and kicking, huh.

Mithra: It was funny to watch Owen swallow that bird.

Owen: Shut up.

Arthur: ......Should you be doing that? Playing dangerous games like that......

Riquet: I really can’t understand the things that the Northern wizards do.......

Cain: Well...... If it’s like knocking back a stiff drink in one go, then I do that too......

Ignoring the slightly appalled Central wizards, Mithra artlessly traces the empty space and opens up a door through space that connects to Northern Country.

Mithra: << Arthim >>

In the next instant, a gust of wind blows in from the door. The sounds of smashing glass resound around us.

Riquet: Woah......!

Akira: W... What amazing wind...... There’s already snow piled up in here......

Snow: We’ll have to apologize to Canary later. Well then, Oz, can you go on ahead and stop the blizzard for us?

Oz makes no movement; he stares keenly at Mithra, his gaze sharp.

Mithra: What’s wrong, Oz? Aren’t you coming?

Oz: ......Why.

Mithra: What do you mean?

Oz: You’re all too enthusiastic about this.

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

Oz: The reason that you three are so cooperative — I don’t think it has anything to do with Northern Country’s holy festival.

Mithra opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, Owen puts a hand on Oz’s shoulder; he nestles against Oz’s side, almost teasing.

Owen: How horrible...... Even though we went to the trouble of waking up early. Of course we have no real motivation whatsoever. We’re all just afraid of you.
You’ve tormented us terribly, after all. Should we lay out the details in front of these kids? Mr. Oz.

Riquet: You’ve tormented them before?

Arthur: Sir Oz would never do something like that. You’re being rude, Owen.

Owen: Haha...... Maybe so. Sorry, Oz. Forgive me.

Oz scowls, disgust written on his face. This time, Bradley gives Oz a push like he’s urging him on.

Bradley: Don’t make such a scary face. We’re listening to you, aren’t we? Go on, lead the way for the Central gang.

(Footsteps)

Still glaring at Bradley, Oz passes through the door in space with the rest of the Central wizards.

Oz: Snow, White. Wait for the blizzard to stop, and then come join us with the Sage.

Snow: Got it.

White: Oz, we’re leaving the young wizards to you.

Akira: (Will everything be all right...... Like Oz said, something does feels off. The Northern wizards aren’t even complaining......)

Mithra: Sir Sage.

Mithra calls out to me, and I lift my face.
A hand stretches out in front of my eyes.

Mithra: I’ll be taking you along with me.

Akira: Eh?

Snow & White: Mithra!?

Mithra grabs my hand like he’s latching onto it, and flies through to the other side of the door.

✦✧☾✧✦

I am completely blinded.

(Whoosh)

Akira: .............!

I see nothing but pure white. I suck in from the shock, and almost stop breathing: I feel frozen all the way to the back of my throat, and my heart creaks forcefully in my chest.
I panic. Blue light flashes, breaking through the white blizzard. It’s as if I’m in the middle of a cloud, lightning streaking by so closely that I can almost touch it.

(Thunder)

Akira: (A blizzard!? Lightning!? What is this place......!? ......I can’t breathe......! My limbs feel like they’re being pierced with needles......!)

(Wind howling)

The next instant, a fierce wind howls, and the blizzard piercing my body blows away. I stumble, and then gently float in the air.

Akira: ............!

(Rustle)

Someone pulls me towards them by my arm. Within the blinding white, a red flame approaches.
It’s Mithra’s hair. The second I realize, he grabs me by the nape of my neck.
Swiftly, forcefully — he thrusts my head in the space between his arm and the side of his torso.

Akira: (H-he tucked me under his arm......)

Mithra: That was close...... I wondered where you had flown off to. Are you all right? Can you breathe?

He’s talking to me while keeping me tucked under his arm. I can barely breathe, to be honest, so all I can do is shake my head desperately.

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