Forest of Frost Sub Episodes
Dec. 5th, 2021 12:34 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
runarunesForest of Frost Sub Episodes
- Impressions of the Spot (1)
- Impressions of the Spot (2)
- Impressions of the Spot (3)
- Break Time (1)
- Break Time (2)
- Memories of the Spot (1)
- Memories of the Spot (2)
- Memories of the Spot (3)
- Impressions of Snow (1)
- Impressions of Snow (2)
- Impressions of Snow (3)
- Impressions of Snow (4)
- Impressions of Snow (5)
- Stories Related to the Spot (1)
- Stories Related to the Spot (2)
- About the North Country
- About <The Great Calamity>
- The Humans in the Spot
- The Wizards in the Spot
- The Local Goods Hunter in the Hole
- A Dangerous Place
- Snow's Reputation
- Specialty of the Spot
- Discovery of the Spot
- A Fun Place
゜✭・.・✫・゜
Akira: Mithra, do you like this place too? You said that you've been here before, right?
Mithra: Only for a few times. After all, this place has been the twins' territory since eons ago.
Mithra: Well, I don't hate this place. It's quiet here.
Akira: Does that mean you don't like lively places, then?
Mithra: I've always spent my time near a lakeside, and it’s pretty silent there, you see? I found myself feeling quite irritated in the crowded places.
Mithra: When there's a lot of stuff just piled up on the table, it’d make you want to just fling it off to get rid of it, right?
Mithra: It's the same with crowded places. Don't you feel the same way?
Akira: I’d love to spend time with you in quiet places, then… Ah, I guess for you this forest sounds like an ideal place to live in, then.
Mithra: I wonder about that. It’d be too boring to live here.
Mithra: Yet, I don't hate it... This view, nor the presence of the forest nearby.
Mithra: If it’s a place you took a liking to, you'd find yourself won’t mind it even if you take a walk around there until you become exhausted.
Akira: Oh, there's a hole between all of this snow. It seems really deep. And it's pitch black from here... It'd be no joke if someone fell in there.
Murr: (off-screen)......Master Sage—
Akira: Huh...? —Murr’s voice came from this hole...! Murr, are you okay?!
Murr: .....Master Sage— Help me—...
Akira: Help…? Oh, no… Murr, did you fall down here!? Murr… Murr, answer me!
Akira: If you can't use your magic to come up here, that must mean you are pretty injured...! But... I can't do anything to help you by myself...
>> I'll go and get Shylock!
> Murr: Why Shylock?
> Akira: Eh!? I, I mean, I keep seeing you together with him, and you two are friends, right…?
> Murr: I see, so that's what us two look like to you? What expression do you think Shylock will have when he hears that? Do you really think he'd be willing to help an idiot who fell into a hole just like that?
> As he rapidly shot off question after question, Murr jumped out from the hole.
>> I'll go and get Snow!
> Murr: Why Snow? He might just bury me off!
> Akira: Eh? No way, Snow is kind after all! Don't worry!
> Murr: You can say that because you don’t know the twins' true nature, Master Sage~.
> As he laughed, Murr jumped out from the hole.
>> I'll go and get Owen!
> Murr: Why?!
> Akira: Whoa?! So you can get out by yourself...!
> Murr: Well, rather than that, I’m waay more curious why would Owen's name came up there!
Murr: The land around here is rich in its minerals, it’s very interesting. The last time I was here was hundreds of years ago, so I was wondering if the geology had changed and was inspecting it!
Murr: But after I played a prank on you, I feel like it’d be more fascinating to play with you instead, so I came here!
Akira: So you were only playing around... That was awful for my heart...
Arthur: Master Sage, are you alright with the temperature here?
Akira: Thank you, Arthur. I’m feeling fine, all thanks to your magic.
Arthur: I’m glad then.
Akira: Have you been to this forest before, Arthur?
Arthur: Indeed. I've been here a few times with Lord Oz on behalf of Lords Snow and White’s invitation.
Arthur: The landscape of this forest is similar to the scenery around Lord Oz’s castle, so ever since the first time I came here, I’ve found myself to be quite taken in by this place… Yet, I also felt quite afraid of this place.
Akira: Afraid?
Arthur: Yes... I only have a vague memory of it, but I think the scenery here is similar to the place where I was abandoned and almost died at when I was young.
Arthur: It was a place similar to this forest... A silver landscape with snow covering the leaves on the tree’s branches, and a glimpse of a beautiful sky above.
Akira: .....
Arthur: Lord Oz said that this was not the place where he found me, so I must have been mistaken about it.
Arthur: And while I do feel dread about it... At the same time, it's also the scenery of my first meeting with Lord Oz.
Arthur: This forest that is similar to that memory… I do love this place, but... This is also a place that brings a slight terror within me, after all.
Snow: Now that our job here has all been done, do let me show you around for a bit.
[Snow changed into adult's form]
Akira: Ah...
Snow: If I want to escort someone, no question that ‘tis the ideal form to go. Then Master, your hand, please?
Akira: Th- Thank you very much...
Akira: (Seriously, I’ll never get used to looking at adult Snow’s face... He’s so handsome… And even the usual Snow and White are an artwork in itself, so much that you’ll think that they’re dolls instead and not living people...)
Snow: Hohoho. No matter how many times I did this, you’d still show me an expression that’s different from before. Really, how adorable you are.
White: Well, well, if it isn't Snow.
White: How unfair of you to sneak off on your dear brother like this.
Snow: Oh, my. Hello White.
White: Master. I, too, shall be your escort. Here, give me your other hand.
Akira: O- Okay...
Akira: (Sandwiched between adult Snow and little White like this… How rare...)
Snow: You seem to be pleased.
White: Indeed, you seem to be oh-so pleased.
Snow: Let us return to Magical Manor after we’ve done escorting you around our beloved forest until you’re satisfied, Master.
Owen: .......
Akira: Owen...! Is there something wrong? Out of all places, why would you choose to lie down here…?
Akira: .....Huh...? He's not breathing... He's... dead...?
Akira: No way... Owen! Please, open your eyes…! Owen!! Please... No… *sobs*...
Owen: (opens his eyes) .....
Akira: OWEN!!! Oh, thank goodness... I’m so, so glad... I thought you were dead...
Owen: I was dead.
Akira: Wha- why would something like that happen here…? Who did this to you?
Owen: If I tell you, will you avenge me?
Akira: I can't... But, still...
Owen: Then there’s no use in telling you.
Akira: You Northern Wizards are really competitive that somehow, it’s kind of cute…
Owen: What's the point of living if you think that it's alright to be a loser? I can’t even imagine it.
Akira: I see… So that’s how you view it...
Owen: Lend me your shoulder. And sit still. Do it and leave me be for some time, I’ll heal just fine.
Akira: I understand. He- Here you go...
Owen: *Sigh*... It hurts... Ugh... I’m so pissed...
Snow: There was a time when I used to play together in this forest with White all the time, how nostalgic.
Akira: What kind of games did you two play?
Snow: We have a lot of time on our hands, and thus we have done almost all the games that one could imagine playing.
Snow: For example, in the past, the previous Sage once taught upon us their knowledge about an activity called surfing. And so, the two of us tried playing it by riding on the small avalanches that we’ve created ourselves.
Akira: What a hardcore way to do surfing...
Snow: But of course, there are some heartwarming ones too. For example, we did help the lost ones around.
Snow: You see, with just a sprinkle of magic, it'd be oh so easy to make travelers stray off from the mountain path, and stray off from the trail, they did.
Snow: Just as you can see, us twins have lovely appearances. And thus, when we appeared in front of a person who was on the verge of death, they’d think that we have come to welcome them instead! Oh, how countless people have been moved to tears.
Snow: We looked after them with a lot of care and adoration.
Akira: Please don't play such a terrible game with people on the verge of death...!
Snow: No need to fret. For we have always made sure that each one of them, with no doubt, would come to their own home safely.
Akira: (It's easy to get deceived by their appearance, but these two, too, have an extremely mischievous side that loves terrible sorts of jokes... I should be more careful...)
Snow: Hohoho.
Akira: I heard that you often came to this forest. Is there any particular memory you have of this place?
White: Well, you see...
White: This Forest of Frost... This place is the place where I took my last breath. So to speak, it would be better to say that this is a place where my memories had ended instead.
Akira: ........
And as if he didn't just drop a bomb on me, White then just flippantly lied down on the top of the snow.
White: Here, at this place... I collapsed down just like this, and then drew my last breath.
White: Should my memories stand correct, then Snow should be standing around where you are standing now, Master.
Akira: ...Is this true? Or could it be that this is just your usual joke?
White: I'm telling you the truth. The truest truth.
White: Hmm… Master, would you be a dear and call Snow over here for me? You see, I want to see his reaction should he see this.
Akira: Even I was troubled over how to react...
White: You have done nothing wrong, thus you ought not need to be fretting over yourself about this matter, Master. Well, I do think that Snow would act all awkward should he see me like this.
White: Huhu. Serves him right.
Akira: Whi- White...
Figaro: What a breathtaking scenery. Seeing this really makes me think, 'Aah, I'm back, North Country!'.
Akira: So you do miss the North Country, after all Figaro. Did you and Oz used to visit this forest, then?
Figaro: Rather than visiting this place, we lived around here when our twin masters taught us about magic.
Figaro: We usually do our training in this Forest of Frost, so if you asked me whether I miss this place, then I do miss it. But...
Figaro: Maybe it's because more than one thousand years has passed, but the landscape around here has changed, yeah? Well, the atmosphere is still the same, though.
Akira: (It still feels kind of surreal to have this kind of conversation...)
Figaro: You know, in the past, this whole area used to be burned down when Oz was practicing his magic.
Akira: What?! Was it an accident...?
Figaro: That's right. Oz's power has always been really extraordinary, that’s true even from the past. But at that time, his control was still pretty bad.
Figaro: If you bring this up, that guy will act all awkward, like he’s on pin and needles or something. It's just hilarious! Master Sage, you definitely should try asking him about this next time.
Akira: That ‘accident’ scale is so big, it’s as if the ones I made are nothing after all...
Figaro: Ahaha. You know, a failure or two is nothing to be worried over. Even after an accident that big, as you can see, this forest has been restored back to normal.
Figaro: Oz's power is certainly great, but nature's power is the same. Most problems would settle themselves after a long time has passed. You don't have to worry too much about it, Master Sage.
White: My impression of Snow? My, what a complex question you’ve decided to ask...
Akira: Is it a complex question...?
White: If I were to praise Snow, it would be akin to praising myself. So in turn, I don’t quite know what should I say.
White: For us twins resemble each other very closely, that you could say that we are a doppelgänger of each other.
Akira: So that's how it is…
>> What part of Snow do you like the most?
> Akira: What part of Snow do you like the most?
> White: Let's see... I think Snow would feel the same way, but I think it would be when he was sleeping.
> White: Whether it's time when we sleep or wake up, we would do it at the same time. Therefore, a chance where I get to see Snow when he sleeps is really precious.
> White: He also knows this. So even though he has woken up... For a moment, he will pretend that he's still asleep. It's the same for both of us.
>>Is there anything about him that you’re rather discontented of?
> Akira: Is there anything about him that you’re rather discontented of?
> White: Let's see……
> White: …..That when Snow is gone, then I’d be gone, too.
> White: Right now, he's the one who tied my soul into this world. Not that I have any intention to part from him, yet, it is still different compared to when we both chose to stay by each other's side by our own will.
> White: In the past, it's not like this at all.
>> What’s an activity that you two enjoy doing together?
> Akira: What's an activity that you two enjoy doing together?
> White: It might be to come up with a new, interesting game to play together.
> White: But since for the longest time we were only together with each other, the games that others wouldn’t know of, and also jokes that don't seem to be understood by other people, just keep increasing.
> White: Therefore, it would remain unknown whether they really are amusing or not
> Akira: (So it's like an ultimate-inside joke thing...)
Mithra: What do I think about Snow, was it?
Akira: Yes. There’s this strange sense of distance between the two of you, so I was wondering about what Mithra could be thinking about Snow...
Mithra: How troublesome... It's not that he didn’t leave any impression on me, but...
Mithra: Would it be an acceptable answer, if I just say that I don't think of the twins as either my allies or enemies?
Akira: So Mithra is the type to judge someone from whether they’re an ally or enemy first, huh...
Mithra: That's right.
Mithra: I won’t say that I hate them, but it's not as if they are of any use to me either.
Mithra: In the first place, it's quite peculiar that you have asked me about them separately. The two of them are one, after all. You could even think of those twins as a one wizard.
Mithra: Well, if you were to ask me which one is who, sometimes I still mistook them though.
Akira: I think it's normal...
Mithra: Indeed, but now it's still easy to remember. ...Ah, I know. What do I think of Snow, was it?
Akira: What is it?
Mithra: The one that still lives, is what comes to my mind.
Akira: Owen, from your perspective, what do you think of Snow?
Owen: Someone I don't really want to meet.
Owen: The twins only come to meet me to scold me, after all.
Akira: I see...
Owen: It's not like they have any other business with me, right?
Owen: They're annoying. It's like, ahh here they come, how annoying... The feeling when you are doing something fun, then something interferes and it becomes boring all of sudden.
Akira: Somehow it feels like a yankee who is playing hooky and got caught, huh...?
Owen: And just who is this yankee you're talking about? Someone strong?
Akira: I don't know the details, but I think there are strong ones among them.
Owen: Hmm. Then it's fine, being a yankee.
Akira: (So it's fine...)
Owen: Right now White is dead. If I fight them, I think I will win, but...
Owen: Oz cares about twins, right? If in the end that man will come out anyway, it just feels stupid to pick a fight with them.
Akira: Bradley, from your point of view, what is your impression of Snow?
Bradley: That twins is something like a pain in the ass, y'see. Even before they caught me and threw me to the slammer, they always keep appearing when somethin’ happen.
Bradley: Like, if there's any guy who crossed the line, they'll suddenly appear and beat the crap out of 'em. Just remembering it already pisses me off.
Akira: (There are a lots of strong wizards from the North, after all. I wonder if Snow and White are kind of controlling it so that none of them will go too far...)
Bradley: Well, when White was dead, even I was a bit surprised.
Bradley: ‘Cause when I was wonderin' if Snow was down in the dumps and dropped by, turned out the twins, even the dead one, were together ya know.
Bradley: Seriously, that was somethin' else fer sure.
Akira: That's... Of course, huh...
Bradley: Even more, when I know that they fought each other ‘cause of some twisted love quarrel ...
Bradley: I got chills just thinking how far they got along with each other.
Bradley: In the past, when I parted with my partner, it was a swift farewell that we did.
Akira: Oz, I heard that you and Snow have known each other for a long time. Has Snow always felt like this since the past?
Oz: Indeed. Snow, and also White, are both noisy and meddlesome people. This stands true even from our first meeting.
Oz: Perhaps it's because they have lived for a long time, but they are good at adapting and also blending themselves to the times.
Akira: Blending themselves into the times... I see, I think I understand. Even from our first meeting, I feel like they both are very easy to go along with.
Akira: For Oz... It might seem to be a pretty difficult thing to do, though...
Oz: For me, the passage of time is the same as the passing of seasons. The era will change, while I stay unchanging.
Oz: The changing of eras that suited me, and also the ones that did not. There are eras which were easy to pass, and also difficult to pass. They keep passing and changing, for all that I care.
Oz: The twins, and also Figaro, are flexible about this.
Akira: Snow and White are Oz's and also Figaro's masters in magic, right? Can you differentiate between the two of them?
Oz: The thought of differentiating them never crossed my mind at first, but there was an incident that made me to.
Akira: Ah... I-I'm sorry... I asked about a delicate thing, huh…?
Oz: It doesn't matter. In the first place, I never know what the twins are thinking.
Oz: And after that incident happened, even more so.
Snow: 'Tis the biggest tree in the entirety of the Forest of Frost.
Akira: Whoa, so huge… Even though this is such a cold place...
Snow: Indeed. 'Tis tree has been around ever since us twins were but a pair of bright-eyed young children. It's a tree that's as old as we are. ...Or mayhaps it is even older than us?
Akira: That old!? Back in my world, it definitely will be counted as a world heritage…
Snow: Once upon a time, this area used to be burned aflame in a huge wildfire. And us twins were the ones to save this tree from that disaster.
Snow: And thus, this tree feels indebted to us. For sure, should we introduce you to it, it would treat you with its utmost courtesy.
Akira: Can a plant even feel indebted or be courteous...?
Snow: Live long enough, and no matter what living being it is, they at least would come to understand the intentions of what feelings and words one wants to convey to them.
Snow: Master, you should experience it yourself. Try saying something to it.
>>Nice to meet you! I'm Akira!
> Snow: Ooh. That's right, that's right. We were at the brink of forgetting your name ourselves.
> Akira: No way...
> Snow: 'Tis of importance to make an appeal of yourself regularly.
> > I hope we can get along well!
> Snow: Oh, my. What a lovely and humble greeting that you did. Such a well-mannered child, that just by bringing you here has brought an honor to ourselves.
> Snow: For there's not even one wizard in the entirety of the North Country who would choose to be so courteous.
>> I am the newly summoned Sage!
> Snow: I see. It is good to state what role you have clearly.
> Akira: But I wonder if this tree will even understand something like the Sage or Calamity...?
> Snow: Nature is even more susceptible to the Calamity, and they can sense the power and presence of it easier. It is only humans that seem to be unable to feel it.
[Rusting sounds]
Akira: Wha— The branches just shook...?
Snow: It was pleased. It would seem that it has been feeling quite bored lately.
Snow: It's my hope that you will get along with it, for this tree is something akin to a brother to us twins.
Snow: Here, come here. See, you shall find a boulder of crystal in this area.
Akira: Wow, it's big… The area around there is sparkling, it's so beautiful...
Snow: Right? Right?
Snow: That's Laugoc, a wizard that was turned into a crystal by us twins.
Akira: What...? Then, that used to be a wizard...?
Snow: Indeed.
Snow: He was going around in a killing-spree of humans for no apparent reason, you see? He was being quite of a nuisance, and thus we had no choice but to punish him for it.
Akira: Snow and White did this...
Snow: Even crystallized, it would seem that he still holds a grudge against us. See, should even one of us approach it, like this...
Akira: Wha-!? Whoa, crystallized rocks are shooting out from that boulder…?!
Snow: Indeed. In anger, the body of that crystal then would start to break apart, and then transformed into snow and started falling from the sky.
Snow: Since the more powerful the magic one used to possess, the more thoughts that they would leave behind. We made it so that even anger and resentment he left behind shall be sublimated beautifully.
Snow: Hohoho. It might seem that there are still a few hundred years left before he would turn into a mana stone.
Akira: (Snow and White sure is not half-hearted in dishing out punishment...)
Snow: Just as you can see, the North Country is a land with harsh nature and prominent mysterious power. 'Tis why there are many strong wizards that hailed from the North.
Snow: Such an ideal place for wizards, yet the reverse is true for humans. ‘Tis why, it could feel a tad lonely here.
Akira: Then, does that mean you two think that it's lonely when there's no human around?
Snow: Indeed.
Snow: For the newborns are so ignorant, so naive, so pure… They're adorable and amusing. The truth is that we wish that we could fawn over them more.
Akira: And I guess that's how you two are seeing me too, huh...
Snow: When we were feeling lonely, and tried to get close to humans... Most of them would feel scared and frightened instead, and then begin to abase themselves in front of us.
Snow: And when it comes to that, we can't help but to feel a tad irritated about it.
Snow: I guess we’re but someone convenient for them, too, after all.
Snow: I feel that the Forest of Frost seems to be growing a tad restless. I wonder if the cause of this is because <The Great Calamity> had come too close to us.
Akira: How would the wizards feel when Calamity approaches?
Snow: Hmm... ‘Tis a question that I have heard many times before, but I always have a hard time putting this feeling into words. If I must, then it would be like…
Snow: It's coming! It's comiiing—!!!
Snow: ...Something like that?
Akira: So you can feel its power coming, I guess?
Snow: Yes, it was something similar to that. In truth, it would make us wizard’s power to become stronger too. Some of us would even take advantage of this to practice evil witchcraft then.
Snow: And there are some of us that would even get a feeling of whether the approaching <Great Calamity> that year will be several times tougher, or maybe even weaker than usual.
Akira: So that means we can predict it to some extent? Then we can prepare some sort of safety measure. What a relief...
Snow: Don’t let your guard down, Master. There are times when it was much stronger than what we have predicted.
Snow: We couldn't afford to be complacent. It is a must for us to keep training and better prepare ourselves.
Akira: I think the North Country is a really tough place for humans to live in...
White: That might be true. There's the cause of this country's climate, of course, but there are also a lots of wizards with an... interesting history, so to say, that hailed from the North Country too.
White: The few humans that live in this country reside in a wizard's territory, and sought protection from them.
Akira: Protection?
White: Indeed. For example, it is quite well-known by humans that no other wizards would dare to strike on the place where us twins reside at.
White: Thus, in return for living within our land, humans then would bring everyday necessities for us, such as food and the like.
Akira: So it's like giving an offering, or protection money…?
White: In the past, wizards were treated akin to Gods by humans. In the North, that custom is still left quite strongly.
Akira: Then does that mean that you two would protect the village and humans there?
White: But of course. For if you live together side by side for a long time, it can’t quite be helped that you’d end up feeling quite attached, right?
White: In the past, we have protected them against guys who have bad conducts like Mithra. There were also times when we would ward off bad weather and natural disasters.
White: The territory of us twins starts from the City of Frost that we live in, and it spans across this forest until that far off mountain range.
White: Master, should you decide to live in the North Country then you definitely should live in our land. We shall welcome you there with our utmost hospitality.
Akira: Thank you very much. But, it's practically freezing here... I wonder if I will ever get used to it...
Akira: What kind of wizards live around here?
Bradley: Y’know that this Forest of Frost is the twins' turf, right? The wizards ‘round here are all weaklings,.Well, in the Northern standard at least.
Bradley: There are some upstarts here and there, but the twins then'd get ‘em good real fast. Well, they're pretty good at taking care of 'em afterward, though.
Bradley: In the past, there was this wizard gramps who was close to his death door. He got senile and all, even thought that the twins were his grandsons.
Akira: But that grandpa is older, right?
Bradley: Are you kiddin' me! Just how long do ya think they have lived, huh? They're the world's oldest geezers.
Bradley: The twins got along with that gramps' whims though, went and called him 'Grandpa, Grandpa~'. Actin’ all attached to delight him.
Bradley: I know their true characters, so watchin' it gave me chills, y'know?
Akira: I-I see... But Bradley, when you met with that person, did you decide to just get along with their story?
Bradley: Well, yeah. If not, the twins will get real annoyin’ and all.
Akira: What did you say then?
Bradley: Well... “Such good grandchildren that you have there...”
Bradley: Hey, you just laughed, huh? Do ya want to die that badly?
Akira: Huh, there's a hole hidden within all this snow. It's deep and dark... Seems like it’ll be dangerous if you fall in there.
As I took a look into the hole, suddenly Shylock’s head popped out of it.
Shylock: Master Sage.
Akira: Whoa!? You startled me...! What are you doing there, Shylock? Could it be, you’re in the middle of playing hide-and-seek right now...?
Shylock: Me? Playing hide-and-seek? Hehe, that's a pretty interesting thing you just said.
Akira: I think you coming out of that hole is way more interesting though…
Shylock: I was just taking some ice hidden beneath all of this snow.
Akira: Ice? You dug a hole that deep just to get some ice...?
Shylock: Please don’t look at me as if I’m some kind of freak, Master Sage. Surely, there are people more fitting to be at the receiving end of that look.
Shylock: It’s ice that I'm going to use for serving alcohol. The quality of water in North and East Country is very excellent, you see?
Akira: I- I see. I think I got it. I mean, you always act so sensible. It really gave me a shock, suddenly seeing this much gap from how you usually behave.
Shylock: Huhu. My, how embarrassing. But I'd like to hunt for some more while I still can, so please excuse me for now.
After saying that, Shylock then quickly disappeared again into the hole.
Akira: I knew it, there’s definitely a gap from his usual behavior...
Akira: (Could it be, it seems like he’s about to get some good ice, so he got a little more fired up than usual...?)
Owen: Hey, Master Sage. Master Sage.
Akira: Owen...? This is quite a strange distance you decided to start a conversation from. You’re quite far… What’s wrong?
Owen: Hey, Master Sage. Come here, okay? Come on.
Akira: (Owen’s using his sweet coaxing voice... It feels like I’m hearing some danger alarm.)
Akira: Uhm... Can I ask you first why you’re slightly floating from the ground there?
Owen: Nope.
Owen: Don’t worry about it. Just walk like you usually do to my place, okay?
It was not like I had any other choice other than just keep standing where I was, so I started walking towards him.
That was when suddenly...
Akira: …!!! The ground collapsed…?!
Owen: Oh my, too bad. So you didn't fall.
Akira: That was dangerous...!? Just what is this? Did you use your magic to do this...?
Owen: No, it wasn't me. It’s a natural crevasse. I only want to talk to you… After I heard your scream as you start to fall into the bottom of that crevasse, that is.
Akira: That's mean...
Owen: There's a lot of this stuff around here. It's dangerous, so be careful, okay?
Akira: That’s… very kind of you...?
Akira: Oh, Bradley. What's up with all of that fruit?
Bradley: Some young wizard indebted to the twins brought this. Probably sensed twins' presence here.
Akira: It's no good to just take things from them, you know...?
Bradley: Shut up. Try to tattle to anyone, and I'll kill ya.
Bradley: This happens in Magical Manor too, but seriously, the twins are quite liked by the youngsters. There are a lot of fools that got deceived by their appearance.
Akira: But, I do feel the same way. Since our first meeting, they have always been gentle and kind towards me.
Bradley: They're just wolves in sheep's clothing. Recently they hid it that when the push comes to shove, they'll be real terrifyin’ and act like they’re nice people. Oz and Figaro too.
Bradley: That's why, y’know? The youngsters are all acting cheeky towards ‘em even though they’re old and strong wizards. Just watching it gives me chills, seriously.
Akira: (I think Bradley, who worries about his juniors like this, is pretty good at taking care of others too though...)
Bradley: Well, I think compared to the era when it's all free for bad guys to do bad things, everyone has gotten pretty soft.
Bradley: I don’t know if it's because they're just waiting, or it's their age... Either way, ya could say that my era will finally come.
Akira: If you keep saying things like that, Snow and White will scold you again, you know?
Bradley: Shut up. I'll kill ya if you dare to tell 'em.
Mithra: Oh.
Akira: Huh?
Mithra, who was walking with me, suddenly stopped and broke off a branch from a nearby tree. And then, he offered it to me.
Mithra: Here you go.
Akira: Uhm, thank you very much…? What is this?
Mithra: This is a bud of the Tree of Frost. It will stay frozen even after it has been removed from its branch for some time.
Akira: I see...?
Mithra: That’s it?
Akira: Eh?
Mithra: How weird... The previous Master Sage was much happier than this.
Akira: The previous Master Sage was?
Mithra: Indeed. That person was always afraid of me, but he asked me to open the door of space for this. He said that this bud is definitely going to hit it off in the South Country, so he was going to sell it there.
Mithra: The plan was to strike it rich with bartering it for a fortune, like back in the Age of Exploration…?
Akira: Previous Master Sage, you’re so... Did Mithra help him?
Mithra: No, I didn't. It's too much trouble for me.
Mithra: After that, he reported to me that he put it in his lunch box instead. So I told him that eating it would only freeze his tongue and stomach...
Akira: (I guess he was using it like a cooler…? That sure sounds useful. I'll take one too, then).
Akira: Oz! So here you are. Is there something interesting here?
Oz: No...
Akira: (Huh, I think there's something behind that tree over there. Is that… a rabbit?)
>> Do you like rabbits?
> Oz: Not me. Arthur used to love rabbits when he was young.
>> Do you feel like eating rabbit now?
> Oz: Don't treat me as if I'm Mithra. Arthur used to love rabbits when he was young.
Oz: When I saw that rabbit, it reminded me of the past. Arthur used to keep chasing after a rabbit whenever he saw one and get in the harm's way because of that.
Oz: He would be so immersed in chasing the rabbit, that he couldn’t see his surroundings. There was a time when he almost fell off a cliff, or went near a bear's or a wolf's den...
Akira: That sounds bad for heart… I guess it’s true that you can’t take your eyes off your kids, huh?
Oz: Indeed. And no matter how many times I warned him about it, he wouldn’t listen to me. It seems like he didn’t ignore me on purpose, but he was just so immersed in his chase that he lost sense of what was going on around him.
Oz: I was not sure what to do… So I thought that if I made it clear that the rabbit itself is a sign of danger, then he wouldn’t go near it.
Akira: The rabbit itself...? I mean, it sounds like a good idea, but how did you do it?
Oz: I used magic so that all the rabbits around the castle would be seen as horrible creatures. Every last one of them.
Akira: Huh? What do you mean...?
Oz: 《Vox Nox》.
Oz cast a spell on the rabbit he was just looking at, turning it into a terrifying monster!
Akira: NOOOO—!!! A beast?!?! Alien?!?!?
Oz: I know it...
Oz: Arthur too was so frightened and started crying immediately, just like what you did just now. That’s why I immediately undid the spell.
Oz: In the end, this matter wasn’t solved until he was old enough to be aware of it himself.
Figaro: Looks like an aurora is going to appear here tonight.
Akira: Really?! We can see an aurora here?
Figaro: Master Sage, could it be that you have never seen an aurora before?
Akira: No, I haven't! But! I'd really love to!
Figaro: Haha, easy there. All right, then. Shall we spend the night here tonight?
Figaro: 《 Possideo 》.
As soon as Figaro cast his spell, a transparent glass dome started to appear, starting from above our heads.
Then furniture started to appear one after the other- a bed, sofa, fireplace… In the end, it felt like the inside of that dome was transformed into a hotel room.
Akira: Amazing...! This looks like something I saw in the travel magazine...!
Figaro: Ahaha, if it makes you this happy, then there’s worth in me showing off my magic like this.
Figaro: It sounds nice, right? Watching aurora with a warm drink on our hands to warm us on a cold night.
Akira: Oh, that sounds like something we’d do in my world! Like, eating ice cream in the kotatsu, or eating oden in the pool...
Figaro: Huum… I’ve never heard any of the things you’re talking about, are they something fun to do?
Figaro: Seeing some aurora isn’t that unusual around here, but since you're here by my side… I'm looking forward to an extraordinary aurora-viewing experience tonight, Master Sage.
