odorekijin

[Manor, Shylock's Bar]

Akira: The view…?

Shylock: The entertainment district of the Town of Nectar sits on a peninsula jutting out from the continent toward the ocean, and therefore is very close to the sea.

He was so captivated by the littoral landscapes atop the cliff that he spent every single day admiring it. Be it under downpours or storms, he would never miss it.

Chloe: Every day? He must have adored the view then.

Shylock: Very much so. One could even call that falling in love.

Eventually his admiration was no longer enough, and he found himself longing to be a part of the scenery itself...

Murr: While searching for a spell to live in the ocean, he ended up turning to stone, isn’t it! I also know about that wizard.

Rutile: Oh, no...

Mitile: For him to turn to stone...

Perhaps the years gap in the lives they had faced shone at that moment. While Mitile and Rutile were in shock, the adults calmly faced acceptance.

Figaro: Sounds like another case of whimsical curiosity.

Lennox: A familiar story from the West.

Rustica: Bar Bennett attracts a lot of wizards. There are always new encounters to experience and surprises to welcome.

Chloe: Right! And you can hear so many entertaining stories. One of the customers even bragged that he'd been stopping by the bar for a very long time.

Shylock: There were wines that could only be enjoyed there back then. Some people flocked to the bar purely for that need.

The great witch Tiletta was one of them.

Rutile & Mitile: What!?

Mitile: Is that true?

Shylock: Of course, this was long ago, however.

Rutile: Mother visited Mister Shylock’s bar...

Both widened their eyes in surprise upon hearing their mother’s name.

Mitile and even Rutile, who usually did his best to act as an older brother, carried the excitement of delighted young children.

Shylock: ...Would you both like to pay a visit to Bar Bennett?

Rutile & Mitile: Would that be all right?

Shylock: Why, of course. Consider it repayment for your compliments towards the bar. I shall treat you to a special cocktail.

Figaro: That sounds nice. The entertainment district of the Town of Nectar is a famous resort area, after all.

Let's take advantage of this opportunity and go there to relax all together. What do you think, Master Sage?

Akira: I think so too. We haven't received any urgent requests so far, so you will be just fine.

Rutile & Mitile: Hooray!

Mitile: Thank you, Mister Shylock!

Rutile: You’re joining us Mister Leno, right?

Lennox: You don't mind if I go too?

Rustica: Shall we come along as well then? Mind if we join you?

Murr: Go ahead!

Lennox: Murr answered for you.

Chloe: Ahaha, you've been thinking about going from the start, haven’t you?

Murr: Of course! I've got my own couch in there.

Shylock: If you don't mind stray cats lounging around, you all are invited to come along, we will receive you with open arms.

Rutile: My heart is already racing...!

Mitile: Me too. That entertainment district has a lively, modern feel to it, right?

Rutile: That’s right! We’ll have to dress up properly to keep up with their trends.

Mitile: What should we wear? Something cool? Or maybe have something more elegant? I'm starting to get lost…!

Chloe: If you can't decide, why not create something new? A stylish outfit for a fun day out!

Everyone's voices sang with joyful anticipation. As though invited by the merry echo, the sound of the harpsichord rose in the background.

Rustica: On a night like this, even the instruments want to partake in our melody.

Murr: Chloe, let’s dance!

Chloe: Whoa!

Murr and Chloe began to dance to Rustica's music.

The Southern wizards joined in the singing, twirling around, following the other two's frantic steps.

Spirited and lively, they danced, laughed, drank and sang their way through the night.

―

[Manor, upper corridor]

The party had come to an end, and I was now walking down the hallway with Shylock.

Akira: Sorry to make you walk me back to my room, Shylock.

Shylock: It is my pleasure. I indulge in my own selfishness as well after all, and simply wish to keep Master Sage to myself for as long as possible.

Akira: (Th-That actually was pretty smooth...)

Today was amazing. Even though it was only non-alcoholic, it felt like the real deal!

I also heard great things about your future visit to Bar Bennett together… I hope you enjoy your trip.

Shylock was taken aback by my sentence.

Shylock: You’re not joining us, Master Sage? Everyone assumed that you would.

Akira: But it's your break, and it’d be more appropriate to enjoy a place filled with Mitile and Rutile's mother memories with their closest friends...

Shylock: That is precisely why we would like you to join us, Master Sage. Everyone does, and I do too.

I managed a nod to his embarrassing declaration.

Akira: Thank you so much. If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to join you. It really did sound like a lot of fun.

Shylock: Of course, I'd be happy to have you.

Akira: When I went there last time, I remember Town of Nectar to be stunning. It's no wonder they call it a resort.

Shylock: Indeed. It is described as a dazzling, brilliant city.

...Alas, I would ideally have preferred to show you the view of that once beautiful city.

Shylock quietly smiled to himself.

Yet distress seeped through his features as he recalled previous visits to the city.

Akira: (...Ah.)

With the development of Magical Science, the once gorgeous sea and pure air have been gradually polluted, thus changing the landscape of the town.

That's what Shylock had told us at the time.

The entertainment district of the Town of Nectar must be a complicated place for him, mingling both affection and resentment.

Akira: (...What am I supposed to say?)

Finding myself at loss for words, Shylock opened his mouth as if to offer some help.

Shylock: Master Sage, do you remember this story I told earlier, about that one peculiar customer?

Akira: Which one?

Shylock: The wizard who desired to be one with the seascape, but ultimately turned to stone. He went by the name Tubal.

However, we never talked using each other’s names.

Shylock’s lips stretched into a smile.

Shylock: He had such impact on me that, even after he turned to stone and stopped coming to the bar, I still thought of him from time to time.

Every time I did, I would go to the beach and pour Tubal's favourite cocktail into the sea.

Maybe, that way, I hoped I could help him be part of the scenery that he so loved, just as he wished...

Or, maybe, I simply wanted to celebrate his unwavering devotion.

The way he spoke was like singing an old, nostalgic song. The image of him by the beach, pouring his cocktail into the sea, naturally drew itself in my mind.

Shylock: Never did his feelings ever change or waver in intensity, and with the innocence of a newborn, his yearning kept on burning away until he turned to stone...

His life was pure, honest and intense. I wonder what it feels like to be running through life, pushed by the wind, without afterthought.

That wizard, who wanted to be part of the scenery, and Shylock, who wanted to believe that his wish had come true, may have been linked by something invisible.

Something a bit peculiar, endearing, like sharing a dear treasure.

Akira: That person and you, Shylock… You both are curious people, but wonderful nonetheless.

Shylock’s gaze gently narrowed.

Shylock: You, Master Sage, who listens without sharing a laugh, are just as curious and wonderful.

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