healingbonds (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
healingbonds) wrote2020-08-05 06:33 pm
healingbonds) wrote2020-08-05 06:33 pm
Prelude to the Festival and Pride | Chapter 11
Chapter 10 << | index | >> Chapter 12
I am thrown into confusion at the sight before me — this cannot be real. But I immediately grow pale at the very real scent of blood.
Akira: S...... Stop fighting!
What a powerless line. Bradley tears at his hair, his veins standing out darkly.
Bradley: Are both of you fucking idiots or what!? We’ve been waiting for night this whole time and it’s finally here, you know!? This is our chance to dispose of Oz and the twins!
Mithra: I’m disposing of this guy first.
Owen: See if you can.
(Thunder) (Flash)
An ear-splitting bolt of thunder reverberates through the air.
I thought it might have been Oz approaching, but as night falls and Oz’s magic vanishes, it looks like the violent blizzards are starting up again.
(Wind howling)
Beyond the darkness of the night, fierce winds and waves of cold air blow relentlessly — it looks like a landscape you’d find at the end of the world.
Yet Mithra and Owen’s eyes shine animatedly, and they grin fearlessly.
Bradley: Give me a fucking break, you bastards.
Bradley’s voice is warm with enthusiasm even as he swears and curses. He shields me with one hand, and holds up his large rifle with the other.
My heart is ablaze. I am keenly aware of the heat of the blood that courses through my body, precisely because of the icy air around me.
This is the true nature of Northern Country.
✦✧☾✧✦
(Whoosh)
Snow & White in the portrait: << Noscommia >>
Riquet: ...... A transparent dome...... Whew...... I can finally breathe normally. I thought I was going to be blown away by the blizzard......
Snow in the portrait: You are small, after all.
Riquet: I’m not small.
White in the portrait: As long as you’re within this dome, you’ll be safe from the blizzard. Are the rest of you all right!?
Cain: More or less. But I’m worried about Akira. We have to get him back by any means possible.
Arthur: I’ll go. Since Sir Oz can’t use his magic, we’ll have to stop the Northern wizards with our own powers.
Oz: ......It’s impossible for you.
Arthur: I won’t know until I’ve tried. Their goal is to seal you away, Sir Oz. Cain, Riquet — I’ll leave Sir Oz and the others to you two.
Cain: Don’t be so cold. I’m coming with you.
Riquet: I’ll follow you as well. We have to get the Sage back.
Snow in the portrait: I suppose we have no choice. Let’s go all together. If worse comes to worst, we’ll shrink Oz with magic and hide him in a pocket somewhere.
Arthur: I knew we could count on you, Sir Snow! Putting Sir Oz in a pocket sounds kind of fun.
White in the portrait: Arthur, please carry our portrait. Cain, Riquet, follow behind our brooms. If you wander off, you’ll be blown to the ends of the earth.
Cain: Got it. Let’s hurry!
Riquet: Let’s go!
(Wind howling)
Arthur: ......It’s hard to control your broom with such strong wind. Both of you make sure not to lose sight of us ahead!
Cain: Yeah!
Riquet: Yes!
(Running footsteps)
Oz: Wai—......
............
(Whoosh)
Arthur: I’m sorry, Sir Oz! I forgot that you couldn’t use magic and almost left you behind!
Oz: It’s fine......
Arthur: Please, ride on my broom!
✦✧☾✧✦
(Battle sounds)
The pitch black darkness of the night, the sheer white of the raging blizzard, and the blue flashes of lightning interweave and mingle chaotically.
The frozen ground lights up every time Mithra and Owen use their magic — flashing red, purple, yellow. The extraordinary show of colors strikes me with both terror and excitement.
Akira: P... Please stop! You shouldn’t fight......!!
I plead desperately for them to stop; beside me, Bradley laughs dauntlessly.
Bradley: Ahaha! They can’t even hear you!
I’m at my wits’ end. If Bradley hadn’t protected me with magic, I’d have been frozen, shattered and scattered into pieces by now.
Words are powerless in this place. The only thing that holds power here is — absolute strength, that can force even the rampage of nature to yield.
Mithra and Owen — who had been battling violently in the skies until moments ago — now stand on opposite ends of the ice bridge, facing off against each other.
Mithra has the upper hand when it comes to magic. But Owen has no intention of admitting defeat.
Owen: << Cure Memini >>
Owen steps forward, one hand raised in the air. Within the blizzard, white specters wrap around him, leaving trails in their wake like comet tails.
The specters transform into the countless spirits of white wolves. The wolves creep close by Owen’s side, surging sinuously as they let loose ghastly howls into the distance.
A faint smile on his face, Owen is disquieting, dangerous, and beautiful.
From the opposite end of the ice bridge, Mithra steps forward. He tosses his magic skull into the air lightly, his gaze as languid as ever.
Mithra: << Arthim >>
The skull flashes brightly, transforming into a giant head of death made of snow and ice. Its jaw gapes at Owen in a show of intimidation.
Even amidst the ghastly skull’s vicious roars, Mithra — his gaze now strangely alert — possesses an air of seductive madness.
With Oz’s magic sealed away, the world’s strongest wizard stands right before me — that capricious, careless, impulsive man with red hair.
Bradley: Owen’s going to die if this goes on.
Akira: Huh......?
Bradley: Mithra’s stronger in the first place. Owen’s got no chance of winning if they face each other head on. He’s pretty beat up thanks to the cursed bird, too.
Akira: No way...... Is there any way to stop them?
Bradley: Well, that’s impossible. But if you tell me to, I’ll shoot out Mithra’s brains from here.
I stare at Mithra, hard pressed for an answer. Will Mithra fly into a rage? Or will he be discouraged, and end the fight?
A terrifying inscrutability that makes it impossible to read what goes through his mind, and a charm that makes you unable to look away — these are two sides of Mithra.
Like an unfathomable flame that might disappear into air or spread like wildfire at any second.
"What a pain......"
Even though he’s still the person who said that, and then tried to save me in a panic.
Bradley: What will you do?
Chapter 10 << | index | >> Chapter 12
I am thrown into confusion at the sight before me — this cannot be real. But I immediately grow pale at the very real scent of blood.
Akira: S...... Stop fighting!
What a powerless line. Bradley tears at his hair, his veins standing out darkly.
Bradley: Are both of you fucking idiots or what!? We’ve been waiting for night this whole time and it’s finally here, you know!? This is our chance to dispose of Oz and the twins!
Mithra: I’m disposing of this guy first.
Owen: See if you can.
(Thunder) (Flash)
An ear-splitting bolt of thunder reverberates through the air.
I thought it might have been Oz approaching, but as night falls and Oz’s magic vanishes, it looks like the violent blizzards are starting up again.
(Wind howling)
Beyond the darkness of the night, fierce winds and waves of cold air blow relentlessly — it looks like a landscape you’d find at the end of the world.
Yet Mithra and Owen’s eyes shine animatedly, and they grin fearlessly.
Bradley: Give me a fucking break, you bastards.
Bradley’s voice is warm with enthusiasm even as he swears and curses. He shields me with one hand, and holds up his large rifle with the other.
My heart is ablaze. I am keenly aware of the heat of the blood that courses through my body, precisely because of the icy air around me.
This is the true nature of Northern Country.
✦✧☾✧✦
(Whoosh)
Snow & White in the portrait: << Noscommia >>
Riquet: ...... A transparent dome...... Whew...... I can finally breathe normally. I thought I was going to be blown away by the blizzard......
Snow in the portrait: You are small, after all.
Riquet: I’m not small.
White in the portrait: As long as you’re within this dome, you’ll be safe from the blizzard. Are the rest of you all right!?
Cain: More or less. But I’m worried about Akira. We have to get him back by any means possible.
Arthur: I’ll go. Since Sir Oz can’t use his magic, we’ll have to stop the Northern wizards with our own powers.
Oz: ......It’s impossible for you.
Arthur: I won’t know until I’ve tried. Their goal is to seal you away, Sir Oz. Cain, Riquet — I’ll leave Sir Oz and the others to you two.
Cain: Don’t be so cold. I’m coming with you.
Riquet: I’ll follow you as well. We have to get the Sage back.
Snow in the portrait: I suppose we have no choice. Let’s go all together. If worse comes to worst, we’ll shrink Oz with magic and hide him in a pocket somewhere.
Arthur: I knew we could count on you, Sir Snow! Putting Sir Oz in a pocket sounds kind of fun.
White in the portrait: Arthur, please carry our portrait. Cain, Riquet, follow behind our brooms. If you wander off, you’ll be blown to the ends of the earth.
Cain: Got it. Let’s hurry!
Riquet: Let’s go!
(Wind howling)
Arthur: ......It’s hard to control your broom with such strong wind. Both of you make sure not to lose sight of us ahead!
Cain: Yeah!
Riquet: Yes!
(Running footsteps)
Oz: Wai—......
............
(Whoosh)
Arthur: I’m sorry, Sir Oz! I forgot that you couldn’t use magic and almost left you behind!
Oz: It’s fine......
Arthur: Please, ride on my broom!
✦✧☾✧✦
(Battle sounds)
The pitch black darkness of the night, the sheer white of the raging blizzard, and the blue flashes of lightning interweave and mingle chaotically.
The frozen ground lights up every time Mithra and Owen use their magic — flashing red, purple, yellow. The extraordinary show of colors strikes me with both terror and excitement.
Akira: P... Please stop! You shouldn’t fight......!!
I plead desperately for them to stop; beside me, Bradley laughs dauntlessly.
Bradley: Ahaha! They can’t even hear you!
I’m at my wits’ end. If Bradley hadn’t protected me with magic, I’d have been frozen, shattered and scattered into pieces by now.
Words are powerless in this place. The only thing that holds power here is — absolute strength, that can force even the rampage of nature to yield.
Mithra and Owen — who had been battling violently in the skies until moments ago — now stand on opposite ends of the ice bridge, facing off against each other.
Mithra has the upper hand when it comes to magic. But Owen has no intention of admitting defeat.
Owen: << Cure Memini >>
Owen steps forward, one hand raised in the air. Within the blizzard, white specters wrap around him, leaving trails in their wake like comet tails.
The specters transform into the countless spirits of white wolves. The wolves creep close by Owen’s side, surging sinuously as they let loose ghastly howls into the distance.
A faint smile on his face, Owen is disquieting, dangerous, and beautiful.
From the opposite end of the ice bridge, Mithra steps forward. He tosses his magic skull into the air lightly, his gaze as languid as ever.
Mithra: << Arthim >>
The skull flashes brightly, transforming into a giant head of death made of snow and ice. Its jaw gapes at Owen in a show of intimidation.
Even amidst the ghastly skull’s vicious roars, Mithra — his gaze now strangely alert — possesses an air of seductive madness.
With Oz’s magic sealed away, the world’s strongest wizard stands right before me — that capricious, careless, impulsive man with red hair.
Bradley: Owen’s going to die if this goes on.
Akira: Huh......?
Bradley: Mithra’s stronger in the first place. Owen’s got no chance of winning if they face each other head on. He’s pretty beat up thanks to the cursed bird, too.
Akira: No way...... Is there any way to stop them?
Bradley: Well, that’s impossible. But if you tell me to, I’ll shoot out Mithra’s brains from here.
I stare at Mithra, hard pressed for an answer. Will Mithra fly into a rage? Or will he be discouraged, and end the fight?
A terrifying inscrutability that makes it impossible to read what goes through his mind, and a charm that makes you unable to look away — these are two sides of Mithra.
Like an unfathomable flame that might disappear into air or spread like wildfire at any second.
"What a pain......"
Even though he’s still the person who said that, and then tried to save me in a panic.
Bradley: What will you do?
Chapter 10 << | index | >> Chapter 12