Prelude to the Festival and Pride | Chapter 12

[healingbonds]

Chapter 11 << | index | >> Chapter 13


Akira: (I’ve heard that Owen can die many times over. Mithra would probably be fine too, even if he got shot......)
(But even if I have to stop them......)
(There’s no way I can choose....... Between the two of them.)
............!

(Flash of light)

I screw up my face at the dazzling light. Mithra’s skull and Owen’s wolves clash against each other as the ice bridge glows intensely with pulsating light.
The ephemeral aurora hues start to change, turning into eerie and strange colours like the wings of a poisonous moth. It gives me a really bad feeling.

(Rumble)

The sounds of the earth tremoring shake the world around us.
And through the blizzard, I hear the twins’ voices in the distance.

Snow in the portrait: Stop! Mithra, Owen......!

White in the portrait: Don’t use any more magic!

Owen looks up, and Mithra turns around.
"Ah", I think — and the next second, the world is enclosed in darkness.

✦✧☾✧✦

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

Light disappears from the world, and my stomach feels suddenly heavy.
Just like when we awakened the Ancient Temple in the South, I’m overwhelmed by an incredible shock.
As if my body’s going to fall to pieces; as if it’s being stretched out; as if many tiny explosions are occurring within me.
I’m so scared that I feel like running away.
I feel a premonition of death, and a terrifying sense of enmity.
In the absolute darkness.

Akira: ......This is......

It’s a sight I’ve seen many times before.
—The ancient temples that we revived in each country. A lonely temple, adorned only by the light of the moon and stars.
But unlike before, I don’t hear a single sound. The celebratory music of the holy festival is absent.

Snow in the portrait: This is bad...... The original spirits beat us to it and entrapped us instead.

I turn around at Snow’s voice: the Northern wizards are all at the temple. But the Central wizards are nowhere to be seen.

Mithra: ......Entrapped? What do you mean......?

White in the portrait: You’ve provoked the land. We didn’t summon the original spirits — we’ve been summoned by the original spirits instead.

Owen: Which means?

Snow in the portrait: We’re their sacrifices. The original spirits of the North have violent tempers. If this continues, we’ll be taken in by the darkness.

Akira: ......Taken in by the darkness......

White in the portrait: That’s right. Our senses will corrode gradually — first you’ll lose your sense of time, and then your hearing, your vision, and your sense of self.

The terror takes my breath away. Mithra and Owen, who had been fighting up until moments ago, exchange glances and fall silent.

Bradley: You’ve gotta be kidding me. If we perform the holy festival before that and subdue the spirits, will they calm down?

Snow in the portrait: We can’t perform the holy festival by ourselves without the Central wizards.

White in the portrait: Forget the holy festival; if we use magic, the original spirits of the North will devour us instantly for attempting to use them.

Bradley: Are you for real......

Owen: ......This is the worst......

Akira: (They can’t use magic...... Then are we going to be trapped here forever......?)

I sense something laughing from within the depths of the darkness. Something wriggling and squirming as it approaches......
The lonely temple, the moon, the stars, the darkness — they’re all standing guard over us; aiming to swallow us up.
Mithra sighs lightly.

Mithra: All right, then. I’ll open up a door in space.
I don’t know how long I can sustain the door without being devoured by the original spirits, but please get out of here while I’m holding it open.

Everyone looks astonished at Mithra’s suggestion.

White in the portrait: Are you going to sacrifice yourself......?

Owen: ......Why are you doing this? Are you trying to atone for your sins?

Mithra: Huh? Sins? What sins?

Owen: ............ What you did to me, for example......

Mithra: No, that has nothing to do with this.

Owen: You piss me off......

Bradley: Then what are you thinking? Didn’t you hear the twins say that it’s dangerous to use magic here?

Mithra: Even so, the strongest person here is me. I have to play up that role properly.

Akira: That role?

Mithra: What was it again? That thing the twins said yesterday......

Snow & White in the portrait: The ace?

Mithra runs a hand through his hair carelessly, laughing like an innocent boy.



Mithra: Yep, that’s it.

I stare at Mithra, forgetting to even blink. His lighthearted smile brings hope to my heart, which had been paralyzed with terror, on the edge of despair.
A reassuring gleam returns to everyone’s eyes that had been tinged with nervousness.

Owen: ......Is that so. Well then, why don’t you give it a go.

Bradley: I’m leaving it to you. Don’t worry. I’ll eat you if you turn into stone.

Owen: Hey, no hogging.

Bradley: It’s the fee for all the trouble you’ve caused.

Mithra: I don’t think I’ll turn into stone. Most probably.

Mithra shrugs at the two of them making nonchalantly ominous comments. After some hesitation, I ask Mithra.

Akira: Mithra...... Are you sure about this?

Mithra looks at me out of the corner of his eyes. His sidelong glance is as impassive as always.

Mithra: I don’t mind. I know it’s dangerous, but......
I believe that I can do this.

Chapter 11 << | index | >> Chapter 13