Prelude to the Festival and Pride | Chapter 10

[healingbonds]

Chapter 9 << | index | >> Chapter 11


Akira: W-what happened!?

Mithra: Close your mouth. You’ll bite your tongue.

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

(Whoosh)

As soon as he says that, Mithra turns and flies upside-down.
Amidst my spinning vision, I see Snow and White on brooms chasing after Mithra at a fearsome speed.

Snow: Wait, Mithra!

White: Return the Sage!

Mithra: Owen! I used magic to make you spit out that bird, right!? Back me up here!

I squint at the ground from upside-down. On the frozen earth below, Owen shudders and spits out a dark mass.

(Rustle)

Owen: .........Guh...... Cough......
......Mithra...... How dare you.......!

Black feathers soaked in dirtied blood. The frozen ground around Owen shines with seven-coloured lights — proof that Mithra used his magic.
The light — as turbulent and beautiful as an aurora — illuminates the wizards like a spotlight.

(Whoosh) (Bang!)

The moment we return to an upright position, gunshots resound through the sky. The twins come to a sudden halt in their pursuit.

Snow: ............! Bradley!

White: You absolute fool......! What were you going to do if you actually hit us!? When we get back to the magic headquarters, you’re in for a strict punishment!

Bradley stands atop his broom as he flies, aiming his rugged rifle. The soles of his feet are dyed with red and yellow streaks of light as he dashes through the sky like the wind.

Bradley: Shut up, you geezers! Mithra, let’s beat it! Take the Sage and retreat!

Mithra: Why?

Bradley: Because Oz is coming, you fucking idiot! ............! Behind you......!

I turn around at Bradley’s voice. Bathed in blue and purple light, there is astonishment written across Mithra’s handsome profile.
Lightning bolts close in before our eyes.

(Thunder) (Lightning)

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

Mithra: Tch......

(Whoosh)

I scream, and Mithra clicks his tongue. We flip upside-down once more, dodging and weaving past the lightning bolts that streak across the sky.
And Oz materializes in the air ahead of us, as if he’s anticipated this move. He raises his staff in our direction, crackling lightning wrapped around its length.

Mithra: Oz! What are you going to do if the Sage dies!?

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

Oz falls silent; his face says, "Oh shoot, I forgot."

Akira: O-Oz, please......! I don’t want to die......!

Beyond Oz’s shoulders, the setting sun radiates an afterglow as it sinks into the horizon.
Bradley cuts in between Mithra and Oz like a gust of wind. He immediately holds up his rifle, firing towards the empty ground.

Bradley: << Adnopotensum >>!

The frozen ground absorbs Bradley’s magical bullets and starts to shine — so brightly that I can’t even keep my eyes open.

(Whoosh)

Taking advantage of the blinding flash of light, Mithra and the others flee from the scene.

Snow: Oh dear! They’ve taken the Sage and concealed their presence!

White: It’s going to be sunset soon......! Oz won’t be able to use his magic, and we’ll be trapped inside the portrait!

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

✦✧☾✧✦

I have no idea where we flew, or how we flew — I am dizzy and disoriented by the time we land on the ground, jostled by both their recklessness and their speed.

Mithra: What’s wrong, Sir Sage. You should be free of injuries.

Akira: I... I feel like I’m seasick......

Mithra: Was it like a pleasant sea voyage?

Akira: Hang on, please wait...... Once I calm down, there’s heaps of things I’d like to say. Uu...... The world is spinning......

I hold my hand over my mouth; beside me, Bradley looks up at the sky and whoops.

Bradley: All right, it’s sunset! In a few more seconds, we’ll be invincible!

I look up with a start. The dim red glow of the setting sun gives off its last few dying rays, and then disappears.
Night has descended.

(Night falls)

Bradley: Ahaha! Take that, Oz! You geezers!

Listening to Bradley’s laughter, I turn pale. If this goes on, Oz will be sealed away.
In that moment, twinkling stars approach us from far away.

Akira: (Is that...... Owen......?)

What looks like a star turns out to be Owen on his broom.
Owen lands directly in front of us; Bradley holds up a hand, expecting a high five.

Bradley: We did it, Owen. Now to finish it off.

Owen: Shut up.

Bradley: Hey......

Owen walks right past Bradley, coming to stand before Mithra expressionlessly. He kneels down on one knee, and opens up his trunk without hesitation.

Owen: << Cure Memini >>

Mithra: Huh!?



A large silhouette bursts out of the trunk, and Cerberus — a ferocious large hound with three heads — bites into Mithra.

(Crash)

Fresh blood sprays like flower petals, immediately painting Mithra’s long limbs and torso in the same color as his hair.

Mithra: .....Ugh......!

Owen relentlessly steps on Mithra’s chest as he collapses onto the ground. Above Mithra’s face, Owen opens his mouth wide.
The bird’s corpse, stained with blood as black as ink, spills from Owen’s mouth and trickles down onto Mithra’s face, smoke rising from where it falls.

Akira: Mithra......!

Owen: Cough...... Cough...... ......Hah...... Now we’re even.

Owen wipes his mouth, displeased, and takes his foot off Mithra’s unmoving body.
He pushes his hair from his eyes, and sighs gloomily.

Owen: Stand up. Let’s go seal Oz away.

Mithra: << Arthim >>

Owen: ............!

The moment Mithra chants his spell, crystalline objects pierce through Owen’s chest.
— It’s the skull that Mithra uses as his magic tool. Owen holds his ground, staggering from the impact of the skull penetrating his torso.

Owen: ......Do not mess with me, Mithra......

Mithra: That’s my line.

Mithra stands back up, stroking his face with one hand. The darkly festering side of his face returns to its original state.
In no time at all, Owen’s body also returns to normal — rumor has it that he can’t die.

Akira: (W... What is this...... What on earth am I watching......?)

Chapter 9 << | index | >> Chapter 11