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iridesenescenceChapter 10
As Heathcliff slowly stroked its soft black fur, the dog relaxed its body and closed its red eyes. It looked very comfortable.
Shino: ......
The burning wood in the bonfire crackled loudly.
The sounds of lively laughter all seemed to be coming from far away, as if silence had come to perch only on our shoulders.
Gazing down at the black dog, Shino spoke to it.
Shino: ... Well, I can praise you just a little for trying to protect Heath.
As he said this, Shino reached to rest his hand on the black dog's head. It seemed like that was his way of saying goodbye.
But before Shino's hand could reach it, the black dog suddenly sprang to its feet and dashed forward, as if it had noticed something.
Shino: ?! Hey, where're you...
Heathcliff: Ah.
The dog had taken off in the direction of a single young boy.
In a patch of darkness out of reach of the bonfire's shadows, stood a boy with gently fluttering hair in a warm hue. The colour bore a strong resemblance to the light of the lanterns.
The moon peeked out from behind the thick clouds, and silver moonlight shone down on the two of them.
Akira: (That's...)
A young boy with beautiful blonde hair resembling Heathcliff. He was wearing the same ceremonial clothes as the villagers.
Boy with blonde hair: Thank you for protecting me! I'll love you forever and ever.
Perhaps I had misheard something from the lively conversations happening nearby instead. But I thought I heard him say those words.
As the boy wrapped it in a tight embrace, the black dog crooned affectionately, as if replying to him.
Black dog: Khrr.
Still being hugged by the boy, the black dog turned back to look at Heathcliff and Shino.
Heathcliff: ......
Shino: ......
Its expression as it gazed at the two wizards looked happy, and somewhat proud.
Akira: Ah...
From out of nowhere, a faint light enveloped the black dog and the boy.
Just like that, under the light of the moon, the two of them flickered gently, dissipated into light, and vanished.
Heathcliff: ......
Heathcliff cast his gaze downwards, but then looked up again as if having noticed something.
Akira: A plush toy of a black dog...
In the darkness that the two of them had stood in, was a single, tattered plush toy.
Shino strode over, bent down, and picked it up.
Shino: Oz said it too. This is that dog's true form.
It probably wasn't that strong to begin with. Maybe it used up all its strength fighting the will-o-wisps.
Hearing Shino's words, Heathcliff reached out to touch the plush toy.
He gently caressed it, as if stroking a delicate flower.
Heathcliff: I'm sure it's because he got to meet the person he was waiting for.
Someone who treasured him very much — someone cheerful and boisterous with blonde hair just like mine...
Akira: Could that boy from earlier have been...
The son of the wizard who lived in that mansion... The true master that the black dog was meant to protect.
It might have just been an illusion that the Great Calamity had created...
Heathcliff: ... Maybe he realised that the black dog was searching for him, so he came to pick him up.
Well, it's also possible that the flickering shadows from the fire caused us to mistake one of the villagers for someone else...
Heathcliff gently squeezed his eyes shut. Both Shino and I pretended not to notice the way his long eyelashes shook faintly.
I too fought back the sensation rising in my throat and forced myself to speak.
Akira: ... I agree. Even if it was just an illusion created by the Great Calamity, all sorts of strange things happen in this world.
Shino: If that's what it was, then the calamity's got a pretty sentimental side to it.
Not that I care either way.
That dog was a haughty and irritating guy all the way till the end.
So he said, but Shino was using his hand to brush sand and dirt off of the plush toy.
Heathcliff laughed, and his refined, mature features looked just a little more boyish than usual.
Heathcliff: You really aren't good at being honest about your feelings.
Chloe: Oh, there you guys are!
When I turned to look, I saw Chloe and Cain waving as they made their way over to us.
Chloe: Come quick, everyone! Shylock said he's going to tell us horror stories!
Cain: Huh? Where'd the black dog go?
Heathcliff: ... He returned to the person important to him.
Shino showed the black dog he was holding to Cain. Cain looked surprised, but eventually a peaceful look settled on his face.
Cain: ... I see.
In response to Cain's reaction, Shino quickly followed up.
Shino: Don't worry, Cain. That dog did his duty.
Shino smiled triumphantly, in a way similar to the black dog's proud expression from earlier.
Heathcliff: Ahaha, you two really are alike.
Shino: What? How could we be alike? I'm way stronger and cooler than he is.
Heathcliff: Yeah, just like that.
Chloe and Cain shared a look as the two bickered between laughter.
Chloe: It looks like they managed to make up with each other.
Cain: Yeah, I'm glad. Seeing these two together just feels right.
Heathcliff: Shino, would you mind letting me have that plush animal?
Shino: I mean, sure, but... The stuffing's leaking out, and one of the beads for its eyes is coming loose.
Heathcliff: That's okay, I don't mind. However it looks, it's still that dog.
Chloe had been quietly watching Heathcliff and Shino's conversation, but here he broke into a smile.
Chloe: Don't worry, I can fix something like that in no time. We can give him a bath and get him cleaned up too!
Heathcliff: Wait, really?
Chloe: Of course! If you're fine with it, then I'd be happy to fix up your precious friend.
Heathcliff: That's not really it... But thank you, Chloe. (To the plush) Isn't that nice?
Shino passed the plush toy to Heathcliff, and he held it lovingly with both hands.
As if embracing all of it, and paying no mind to the tears and dirt on its body.
Just then, we heard lively voices coming from the center of the village square.
Faust: And you're absolutely sure this is something that can be spoken of in front of the children?
Shylock: My, what ever could I have done to earn such distrust?
Nero: I mean, you're a Western wizard...
Oz: Yes...
It seemed the wizards had all gathered in front of the bonfire. We heard their laughter as they ate and drank.
Chloe: Let's head over too! We don't wanna miss Shylock's story!
Shino: Yeah.
Shino: Heath, Sage. Let's go.
We gotta make sure we enjoy this festival just as much as those two, wherever they are.
The flickering flames were reflected in Shino's red eyes, a bright splash of colour in the dark of the night. Those eyes narrowed into playful crescents and looked towards us.
The night was young, and the festival was just getting started.
Heathcliff: Yeah!
Akira: Right!
We laughed out loud as we ran towards the square bathed in the warm firelight and lantern light.
If we stopped to listen, I had the feeling we would be able to hear a dog's happy barking from somewhere in the night.
Chapter 9
As Heathcliff slowly stroked its soft black fur, the dog relaxed its body and closed its red eyes. It looked very comfortable.
Shino: ......
The burning wood in the bonfire crackled loudly.
The sounds of lively laughter all seemed to be coming from far away, as if silence had come to perch only on our shoulders.
Gazing down at the black dog, Shino spoke to it.
Shino: ... Well, I can praise you just a little for trying to protect Heath.
As he said this, Shino reached to rest his hand on the black dog's head. It seemed like that was his way of saying goodbye.
But before Shino's hand could reach it, the black dog suddenly sprang to its feet and dashed forward, as if it had noticed something.
Shino: ?! Hey, where're you...
Heathcliff: Ah.
The dog had taken off in the direction of a single young boy.
In a patch of darkness out of reach of the bonfire's shadows, stood a boy with gently fluttering hair in a warm hue. The colour bore a strong resemblance to the light of the lanterns.
The moon peeked out from behind the thick clouds, and silver moonlight shone down on the two of them.
Akira: (That's...)
A young boy with beautiful blonde hair resembling Heathcliff. He was wearing the same ceremonial clothes as the villagers.
Boy with blonde hair: Thank you for protecting me! I'll love you forever and ever.
Perhaps I had misheard something from the lively conversations happening nearby instead. But I thought I heard him say those words.
As the boy wrapped it in a tight embrace, the black dog crooned affectionately, as if replying to him.
Black dog: Khrr.
Still being hugged by the boy, the black dog turned back to look at Heathcliff and Shino.
Heathcliff: ......
Shino: ......
Its expression as it gazed at the two wizards looked happy, and somewhat proud.
Akira: Ah...
From out of nowhere, a faint light enveloped the black dog and the boy.
Just like that, under the light of the moon, the two of them flickered gently, dissipated into light, and vanished.
Heathcliff: ......
Heathcliff cast his gaze downwards, but then looked up again as if having noticed something.
Akira: A plush toy of a black dog...
In the darkness that the two of them had stood in, was a single, tattered plush toy.
Shino strode over, bent down, and picked it up.
Shino: Oz said it too. This is that dog's true form.
It probably wasn't that strong to begin with. Maybe it used up all its strength fighting the will-o-wisps.
Hearing Shino's words, Heathcliff reached out to touch the plush toy.
He gently caressed it, as if stroking a delicate flower.
Heathcliff: I'm sure it's because he got to meet the person he was waiting for.
Someone who treasured him very much — someone cheerful and boisterous with blonde hair just like mine...
Akira: Could that boy from earlier have been...
The son of the wizard who lived in that mansion... The true master that the black dog was meant to protect.
It might have just been an illusion that the Great Calamity had created...
Heathcliff: ... Maybe he realised that the black dog was searching for him, so he came to pick him up.
Well, it's also possible that the flickering shadows from the fire caused us to mistake one of the villagers for someone else...
Heathcliff gently squeezed his eyes shut. Both Shino and I pretended not to notice the way his long eyelashes shook faintly.
I too fought back the sensation rising in my throat and forced myself to speak.
Akira: ... I agree. Even if it was just an illusion created by the Great Calamity, all sorts of strange things happen in this world.
Shino: If that's what it was, then the calamity's got a pretty sentimental side to it.
Not that I care either way.
That dog was a haughty and irritating guy all the way till the end.
So he said, but Shino was using his hand to brush sand and dirt off of the plush toy.
Heathcliff laughed, and his refined, mature features looked just a little more boyish than usual.
Heathcliff: You really aren't good at being honest about your feelings.
Chloe: Oh, there you guys are!
When I turned to look, I saw Chloe and Cain waving as they made their way over to us.
Chloe: Come quick, everyone! Shylock said he's going to tell us horror stories!
Cain: Huh? Where'd the black dog go?
Heathcliff: ... He returned to the person important to him.
Shino showed the black dog he was holding to Cain. Cain looked surprised, but eventually a peaceful look settled on his face.
Cain: ... I see.
In response to Cain's reaction, Shino quickly followed up.
Shino: Don't worry, Cain. That dog did his duty.
Shino smiled triumphantly, in a way similar to the black dog's proud expression from earlier.
Heathcliff: Ahaha, you two really are alike.
Shino: What? How could we be alike? I'm way stronger and cooler than he is.
Heathcliff: Yeah, just like that.
Chloe and Cain shared a look as the two bickered between laughter.
Chloe: It looks like they managed to make up with each other.
Cain: Yeah, I'm glad. Seeing these two together just feels right.
Heathcliff: Shino, would you mind letting me have that plush animal?
Shino: I mean, sure, but... The stuffing's leaking out, and one of the beads for its eyes is coming loose.
Heathcliff: That's okay, I don't mind. However it looks, it's still that dog.
Chloe had been quietly watching Heathcliff and Shino's conversation, but here he broke into a smile.
Chloe: Don't worry, I can fix something like that in no time. We can give him a bath and get him cleaned up too!
Heathcliff: Wait, really?
Chloe: Of course! If you're fine with it, then I'd be happy to fix up your precious friend.
Heathcliff: That's not really it... But thank you, Chloe. (To the plush) Isn't that nice?
Shino passed the plush toy to Heathcliff, and he held it lovingly with both hands.
As if embracing all of it, and paying no mind to the tears and dirt on its body.
Just then, we heard lively voices coming from the center of the village square.
Faust: And you're absolutely sure this is something that can be spoken of in front of the children?
Shylock: My, what ever could I have done to earn such distrust?
Nero: I mean, you're a Western wizard...
Oz: Yes...
It seemed the wizards had all gathered in front of the bonfire. We heard their laughter as they ate and drank.
Chloe: Let's head over too! We don't wanna miss Shylock's story!
Shino: Yeah.
Shino: Heath, Sage. Let's go.
We gotta make sure we enjoy this festival just as much as those two, wherever they are.
The flickering flames were reflected in Shino's red eyes, a bright splash of colour in the dark of the night. Those eyes narrowed into playful crescents and looked towards us.
The night was young, and the festival was just getting started.
Heathcliff: Yeah!
Akira: Right!
We laughed out loud as we ran towards the square bathed in the warm firelight and lantern light.
If we stopped to listen, I had the feeling we would be able to hear a dog's happy barking from somewhere in the night.
Chapter 9
