Prelude to the Festival and Pride | Chapter 7

[healingbonds]

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(Whoosh)

In the blink of an eye, we’ve left the ground beneath us. I’m not even sitting astride the broomstick; I panic, and cling onto Bradley’s arms.

Akira: I-I’m going to fall...!

Bradley: Don’t go around saying anything unnecessary. Tell me what my magic tool is.

Akira: Your magic tool!? A-a rifle?

Bradley: That’s right. Even if you’re far away, I can send your head flying from behind. Do you want to become a smashed tomato?

Akira: I feel like I’m about to become one right now......!

Bradley: I’ll help you out if you’re a good boy. I’ll let you ride on my broom. Think of it as an honour. Don’t say anything unnecessary. Got it?

Akira: ............

Bradley: Answer me.

Akira: ......Yes.

I nod reluctantly. Bradley raises his eyebrows, hoisting me up and settling me on his broom.
He steals a glance at my face, laughing cheerfully.

Bradley: Hey, don’t look so gloomy! I won’t do anything to you as long as you behave.



Bradley: Once I’m running the magic headquarters, I’ll make sure you have a good time. What do you want? Money? Land?

Akira: Are you going to be in charge, Bradley? Not Mithra?

Bradley: Of course. You think I’m going to let that incompetent brute run things?
The same goes for Owen; he’s insane and darkly warped. This is the time for the great Bradley to shine. I’m going to turn everyone in the magic headquarters into full-fledged bandits.

Akira: B-Bandits!?

Bradley: Oh yeah. Isn’t it cooler than being on the side of justice?

Akira: ......I don’t think this is going to work out. You said Oz’s powers are in a completely different league. If he finds out, it’s going to be a serious issue.

Bradley: Maybe. But, well, I still have to try it out.

Akira: You have to try it out......?

Bradley shrugs as he continues flying, cutting through the wind.

Bradley: If rumours got around that I submitted to Oz and the twins’ without even defying them once, my reputation would be done for.
Even if Oz thrashes me within an inch of my life, it’s still better than just rolling over and lying there belly-up. At the very least — I’m going to turn around and bite the hand trying to leash me.

Akira: Is that how it is......?

Bradley: Damn right.

I knit my eyebrows in confusion. If the alternative was to go through something scary, I would choose to obey without complaint.
If I was only going to lose, then I would choose not to fight. But Bradley is saying that he would rather go down fighting — even if he loses.
I don’t understand the pride of Northern wizards.

Akira: (But, for some reason......)
(I’m drawn to that side of them.)

Bradley notices my gaze on him, and grins broadly.

Bradley: We’re gonna fly faster. Hold on tight.

Akira: ............

(Whoosh)

True to his words, Bradley soars through the sky at an incredible speed.

✦✧☾✧✦

Arthur: Sir Sage! I’m glad you’re all right. I see Bradley brought you here. Thank you.

Bradley: Hmph. It’s nothing.

Cain: It was an incredible blizzard; lightning was flashing right next to us. Seems like it’s called a thundersnow. Did you see it from the door in space?

Cain holds out his hand as his gaze roams around. He can’t see other people until he touches them. I touch his hand, and nod.

Akira: Yes. It was amazing.

Cain meets my eyes; the second he does, he makes a surprised face.

Cain: Your hands feel like ice. Did you fly here without waiting for the blizzard to stop?

Snow: Mithra took the Sage and just flew in headlong. One wrong step and it could have ended terribly. The North is hard for humans to endure, after all.

Riquet: Are you all right, Sir Sage? If Oz hadn’t been there, I would have also been blown away; that’s how great a blizzard it was.

Akira: Um...... I’m all right. You don’t have to worry.

I smile and nod, but internally I’m freaking out. Forget the blizzard; the real trouble here is the plot that Mithra and the others are hatching.

Akira: (I have to tell them somehow...... But how, when Mithra and the others are watching......)

Bradley: What’s next? Where should we perform the holy festival? It’s not like we can do it in any old place in the Plains of Hope, right?

Snow: The Plains of Hope are really wide, after all. The location that we saw in our prediction is a little further into the North.

Akira: (Further into the North...... I have to let them know about Mithra and the others’ plan before we get there......)

I stand next to everyone as they get ready to head out, and cast my gaze around the group. If I’m going to tell anyone, it would have to be Oz.
But since I’m being supervised, I can’t tell him using words; I try my hardest to appeal to Oz with my eyes.

Akira: (Please notice, Oz...... If this goes on, you’ll be sealed away once the sun sets.)

I chant desperately in my heart, continuing to gaze passionately in Oz’s direction for a long while. But......

Akira: (Oz...... I had a hunch about this, but he’s really dense when it comes to catching on to anything aside from murderous intent or magic.........)

Oz doesn’t notice my gaze in the slightest. He just stands there with his staff in hand, so still that I start to grow anxious.

Akira: (It’s impossible to get Oz’s attention...... I’ll have to get someone else to notice me. ......That’s right! Maybe Arthur......)

I turn to look at Arthur. He’s friendly and powerful, but he’s also a wizard who will pay attention to humans.

Akira: (Notice me, notice me, notice me......)

I stare at Arthur — so intently I feel like I’m staring a hole through him — and Arthur turns around, almost as if he hears my thoughts.

Akira: (He noticed me!)

Arthur smiles cheerfully and walks right up to where I am.

Arthur: Sir Sage. Do you need help with anything?

That question is exactly the opening I’m looking for. But, the second I open my mouth, I feel a pressure on the nape of my neck.

Chapter 6 << | index | >> Chapter 8