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iridesenescenceChapter 5
Shylock: You and Shino each have your own considerations, I'm sure. It would hardly be fair to view that as mere immaturity.
Though, I suppose you could say that the way you chose to convey your feelings instead of locking them away inside of you was quite reminiscent of a Western wizard.
Heathcliff: ... Haha. Thank you, Shylock.
Black dog: Woof!
Chloe: Ahaha, the dog's licking your hand. He really is attached to you, Heath!
Shylock: He must be worried after seeing you so dispirited... I believe this is his attempt at comforting you.
Heathcliff: ......
Chloe: ... You know, I kind of think this dog is a little like Shino.
Of course, there's the black fur and the blazing red eyes, but more than that...
There's also the way they both treasure you a lot.
Heathcliff: Chloe...
Chloe: And you treasure the both of them too, don't you, Heath?
You care about Shino, and that's exactly why you feel sad when it seems like Shino is treating himself badly.
Heathcliff: ... Yeah. That's why I didn't want anyone to say anything cruel about this dog.
Because he reminds me of Shino.
Chloe: Then you should tell Shino how you feel!
Shylock: Oh, it seems the dog supports this idea as well.
Chloe: All the more reason for us to go ahead and do it. We have the ritual tonight too, so it's the perfect chance for you two to make up!
After all, the villagers said the ritual is more like a festival where everyone parties and has fun.
Let's make sure you and Shino can make up, then we can successfully complete the ritual and all enjoy the night together.
Heathcliff: Right...! Thank you, Chloe. And you too...
[Barking]
Heathcliff: Haha, that tickles...!
Shylock: ... Heh. I came along because I was frankly worried about both Heathcliff and Chloe...
But it seems I had no reason to be.
Heathcliff: What's the matter, Shylock? You're smiling to yourself as you watch us...
Shylock: Oh no, it is nothing at all.
Now then, shall we return to where everyone else is? For I am sure that a certain someone is eagerly awaiting our arrival.
——
By the time Cain, Shino and I headed back to where Oz and the others were, Heathcliff's group had already returned.
They were both still clearly uncomfortable around each other, but we decided to focus on preparing for the ritual.
Shino: So all the villagers need to change into these outfits before the ritual starts, right? Will the outfits be done in time?
Chloe: Yup, no worries! We only have a few left, so I'll go take their measurements.
Shylock: Thanks to Chloe's efforts, the ceremonial clothes will all be prepared soon enough.
Heathcliff: There were so many to begin with, but not only is he going to finish with time to spare, he even made some for us... You're really amazing, Chloe.
But if you've been using your magic this whole time, aren't you tired? If there's only a few left, then maybe I can help too...
Heathcliff abruptly cut himself off in the middle of what he had been saying.
Shino: ......
Shino's gaze was fixed on Heathcliff's face. Chloe replied while gently shaking his head.
Chloe: Thanks for offering, but I'm okay! I'm good at using magic to mend and sew clothes!
I can handle the outfits by myself, so can I leave you, Shino and everyone else to take care of the preparations for the ritual?
Prompted by Chloe's cheerful suggestion, Heathcliff and Shino made eye contact for a brief moment.
I'm sure Heathcliff hadn't said that in an attempt to avoid Shino either. He had just been trying to look out for Chloe, as he always was.
It was Shino who took a step forward and replied.
Shino: Yeah, of course.
Let's all work super hard, and make sure we get rewarded when the ritual starts. The villagers will have to honour us for helping out with their tradition.
Chloe: Yeah, let's be sure to enjoy ourselves! That means you too, Heath!
Heathcliff: ... You're right. There's only a little more left for us to do, so let's do our best.
After exchanging quick high-fives with Shino and Heathcliff, Chloe took off with light footwork.
Shino and Heathcliff had turned away from each other once again, but the tension in the air between them felt like it had dissolved a little. I think the other wizards felt it too.
The sun would set soon, and the entire village was bustling with activity as everyone rushed to prepare for the ritual that night.
More and more villagers dressed in the ceremonial clothes could be seen milling about.
Faust: Let's leave the outfits to Chloe and proceed with the other preparations. I recall something about putting lanterns out all around the village.
Cain: Yeah, the villagers said they'd have the lanterns ready for us. Nero went to see how things're going.
Just then, Nero returned with a few villagers in tow. They had rather dismal expressions on their faces.
Akira: Is something wrong?
Nero: So... There's been a lil' bit of a problem.
We went to check on the lanterns that're needed for decorating the village, but it turns out some of 'em were damaged. So we're gonna be short of a few.
Akira and Heathcliff: Huh...?
Villager: The ones we had in storage had tears in them, y'see... If only we'd noticed sooner, we could've prepared more, but...
Villager: We've just been so busy this year, no one had time to check. But oh, what do we do now... Without enough lanterns, we won't be able to light up the whole village...
The villagers looked deeply troubled. The village was already filled with a faint sense of anxiety over the fact that they had delayed the ritual.
Akira: (We could ask the wizards to fix the lanterns with magic, but...)
Everyone had already used a lot of magic in helping to clean up the wrecked village and make the ceremonial clothes. I was reluctant to ask them to use any more than they already had.
Just then, a few of the village children ran past us.
Child: This pumpkin is so heavy, big brother!
Child: Hang in there, we're almost home! Don't drop it!
The children were each carrying big pumpkins — perhaps they were freshly harvested. Watching them, I was struck with a flash of inspiration.
Akira: Oh...! What about making lanterns out of vegetables?
Nero: Wha?
Oz: Vegetables...?
Akira: Back in my world, some people would hollow out pumpkins and turn them into lanterns.
You can carve all sorts of designs into them, like the faces of people or animals...
The flesh that you remove to hollow it out can be saved to eat, and whatever is left can't be eaten anyway, so it can be used as decoration. It's a win-win...
The biggest reactions to my words came from the village children.
Child: Didja hear that? Making a pumpkin lantern sounds super fun! I wanna try!
Child: Me too!
Akira: That's great! I'm sure you're all feeling anxious because of the damage caused by the calamity and the ritual being delayed...
So I hope you can all make lanterns just the way you want to get yourselves excited for tonight.
The only problem is that we'll need lots of people to help out...
I proposed as such to the villagers, while watching the children cheer as they held their pumpkins.
The adults exchanged slightly bewildered looks with each other, but eventually, they responded with pleasant laughter.
Villager: If it's people you need, we've got plenty! We're happy to help in any way we can.
Villager: Yeah, it's thanks to you all that the village is back to normal again. We've gotta make lots of lanterns and show you how our lively ritual is done!
Shylock: Fufu, it seems the villagers are all quite delighted with your suggestion, Master Sage. Of course, we feel the same.
Cain: You bet! Since we finished cleaning up the village quickly thanks to Oz's help, we're all able to lend a hand here.
Let's all pitch in and make lanterns too! Can you tell us more about what kinds of vegetables we can use, Master Sage?
Akira: Of course! Thank you, everyone!
Chapter 4 || Chapter 6
Shylock: You and Shino each have your own considerations, I'm sure. It would hardly be fair to view that as mere immaturity.
Though, I suppose you could say that the way you chose to convey your feelings instead of locking them away inside of you was quite reminiscent of a Western wizard.
Heathcliff: ... Haha. Thank you, Shylock.
Black dog: Woof!
Chloe: Ahaha, the dog's licking your hand. He really is attached to you, Heath!
Shylock: He must be worried after seeing you so dispirited... I believe this is his attempt at comforting you.
Heathcliff: ......
Chloe: ... You know, I kind of think this dog is a little like Shino.
Of course, there's the black fur and the blazing red eyes, but more than that...
There's also the way they both treasure you a lot.
Heathcliff: Chloe...
Chloe: And you treasure the both of them too, don't you, Heath?
You care about Shino, and that's exactly why you feel sad when it seems like Shino is treating himself badly.
Heathcliff: ... Yeah. That's why I didn't want anyone to say anything cruel about this dog.
Because he reminds me of Shino.
Chloe: Then you should tell Shino how you feel!
Shylock: Oh, it seems the dog supports this idea as well.
Chloe: All the more reason for us to go ahead and do it. We have the ritual tonight too, so it's the perfect chance for you two to make up!
After all, the villagers said the ritual is more like a festival where everyone parties and has fun.
Let's make sure you and Shino can make up, then we can successfully complete the ritual and all enjoy the night together.
Heathcliff: Right...! Thank you, Chloe. And you too...
[Barking]
Heathcliff: Haha, that tickles...!
Shylock: ... Heh. I came along because I was frankly worried about both Heathcliff and Chloe...
But it seems I had no reason to be.
Heathcliff: What's the matter, Shylock? You're smiling to yourself as you watch us...
Shylock: Oh no, it is nothing at all.
Now then, shall we return to where everyone else is? For I am sure that a certain someone is eagerly awaiting our arrival.
——
By the time Cain, Shino and I headed back to where Oz and the others were, Heathcliff's group had already returned.
They were both still clearly uncomfortable around each other, but we decided to focus on preparing for the ritual.
Shino: So all the villagers need to change into these outfits before the ritual starts, right? Will the outfits be done in time?
Chloe: Yup, no worries! We only have a few left, so I'll go take their measurements.
Shylock: Thanks to Chloe's efforts, the ceremonial clothes will all be prepared soon enough.
Heathcliff: There were so many to begin with, but not only is he going to finish with time to spare, he even made some for us... You're really amazing, Chloe.
But if you've been using your magic this whole time, aren't you tired? If there's only a few left, then maybe I can help too...
Heathcliff abruptly cut himself off in the middle of what he had been saying.
Shino: ......
Shino's gaze was fixed on Heathcliff's face. Chloe replied while gently shaking his head.
Chloe: Thanks for offering, but I'm okay! I'm good at using magic to mend and sew clothes!
I can handle the outfits by myself, so can I leave you, Shino and everyone else to take care of the preparations for the ritual?
Prompted by Chloe's cheerful suggestion, Heathcliff and Shino made eye contact for a brief moment.
I'm sure Heathcliff hadn't said that in an attempt to avoid Shino either. He had just been trying to look out for Chloe, as he always was.
It was Shino who took a step forward and replied.
Shino: Yeah, of course.
Let's all work super hard, and make sure we get rewarded when the ritual starts. The villagers will have to honour us for helping out with their tradition.
Chloe: Yeah, let's be sure to enjoy ourselves! That means you too, Heath!
Heathcliff: ... You're right. There's only a little more left for us to do, so let's do our best.
After exchanging quick high-fives with Shino and Heathcliff, Chloe took off with light footwork.
Shino and Heathcliff had turned away from each other once again, but the tension in the air between them felt like it had dissolved a little. I think the other wizards felt it too.
The sun would set soon, and the entire village was bustling with activity as everyone rushed to prepare for the ritual that night.
More and more villagers dressed in the ceremonial clothes could be seen milling about.
Faust: Let's leave the outfits to Chloe and proceed with the other preparations. I recall something about putting lanterns out all around the village.
Cain: Yeah, the villagers said they'd have the lanterns ready for us. Nero went to see how things're going.
Just then, Nero returned with a few villagers in tow. They had rather dismal expressions on their faces.
Akira: Is something wrong?
Nero: So... There's been a lil' bit of a problem.
We went to check on the lanterns that're needed for decorating the village, but it turns out some of 'em were damaged. So we're gonna be short of a few.
Akira and Heathcliff: Huh...?
Villager: The ones we had in storage had tears in them, y'see... If only we'd noticed sooner, we could've prepared more, but...
Villager: We've just been so busy this year, no one had time to check. But oh, what do we do now... Without enough lanterns, we won't be able to light up the whole village...
The villagers looked deeply troubled. The village was already filled with a faint sense of anxiety over the fact that they had delayed the ritual.
Akira: (We could ask the wizards to fix the lanterns with magic, but...)
Everyone had already used a lot of magic in helping to clean up the wrecked village and make the ceremonial clothes. I was reluctant to ask them to use any more than they already had.
Just then, a few of the village children ran past us.
Child: This pumpkin is so heavy, big brother!
Child: Hang in there, we're almost home! Don't drop it!
The children were each carrying big pumpkins — perhaps they were freshly harvested. Watching them, I was struck with a flash of inspiration.
Akira: Oh...! What about making lanterns out of vegetables?
Nero: Wha?
Oz: Vegetables...?
Akira: Back in my world, some people would hollow out pumpkins and turn them into lanterns.
You can carve all sorts of designs into them, like the faces of people or animals...
The flesh that you remove to hollow it out can be saved to eat, and whatever is left can't be eaten anyway, so it can be used as decoration. It's a win-win...
The biggest reactions to my words came from the village children.
Child: Didja hear that? Making a pumpkin lantern sounds super fun! I wanna try!
Child: Me too!
Akira: That's great! I'm sure you're all feeling anxious because of the damage caused by the calamity and the ritual being delayed...
So I hope you can all make lanterns just the way you want to get yourselves excited for tonight.
The only problem is that we'll need lots of people to help out...
I proposed as such to the villagers, while watching the children cheer as they held their pumpkins.
The adults exchanged slightly bewildered looks with each other, but eventually, they responded with pleasant laughter.
Villager: If it's people you need, we've got plenty! We're happy to help in any way we can.
Villager: Yeah, it's thanks to you all that the village is back to normal again. We've gotta make lots of lanterns and show you how our lively ritual is done!
Shylock: Fufu, it seems the villagers are all quite delighted with your suggestion, Master Sage. Of course, we feel the same.
Cain: You bet! Since we finished cleaning up the village quickly thanks to Oz's help, we're all able to lend a hand here.
Let's all pitch in and make lanterns too! Can you tell us more about what kinds of vegetables we can use, Master Sage?
Akira: Of course! Thank you, everyone!
Chapter 4 || Chapter 6
