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odorekijin[West, Bar Bennett]
Rutile: Is this what my mother used to drink?
Shylock: Indeed, she would always order one during each of her visits.
Rutile: It’s such a beautiful color... Like when the sun sets over the ocean.
Shylock: It truly is as they say: “like mother, like son”—you both made the same observation.
Rutile: Really? Fufu, that makes me happy. ...Oh, I got carried away and drank it all at once!
Shylock: Come to think of it, you also inherited Tiletta’s drinking prowess. I will have to put mine to work as well today.
Murr: Master Sage! Come here, come here! What are you drinking?
Akira: An alcohol-free drink! The acidity in this juice is delicious.
Murr: Let me see? ...Yep, it’s really sour!
Akira: (H-He downed that so spontaneously...)
Murr: I’m going to ask Shylock to make one for me too!
Shylock: Would this suit you, then?
Shylock appeared from behind the counter and offered a cocktail to Murr.
Shylock: Here, this is a cocktail adapted from the drink I prepared for Master Sage.
Consider it my own small way of thanking you; your wisdom has been of great help.
Murr: Yay! On the house!
Shylock: I shall make you one as well as soon as you are done, Master Sage.
Akira: Thank you very much.
Murr: Yup, delicious! Listening to the wizards chat while lying down and having drinks is the best.
Akira: That couch is your favorite, isn’t it? You look like the owner of this bar, posing like that.
Murr: Shylock said I’m a stray cat who has settled here, so I’ll also scratch his couch. Meooow!
Akira: Ahaha, you’re in a pretty good mood.
Murr: If you say so, then I probably am!
I get to sit here because the city didn’t burn down. I don't know what the future holds, so maybe this is my last time in this place.
That’s why today is special! It may happen tomorrow, or even after that. Come, let's have another toast—let’s raise our glass to being able to drink here!
—
[Beach]
After a pleasant evening around drinks at the bar, we all headed to the beach to admire the midnight sea.
The sparkling colors of the sunset gave way to the quiet sound of the waves.
Figaro: It’s pretty dark, so watch your steps. Mitile, it’s pretty rare for you to stay up so late.
Mitile: I suppose, but I had such a fun time tonight, it was sort of a shame to go to sleep already...
Rutile: I feel exactly the same. I also found myself wishing that this wonderful night would never end.
Chloe: Look, Rutile, Mitile! The sea is so beautiful!
Rutile: It really is. It’s very different after sunset.
Rustica: You were right, Shylock, this nighttime scenery is both intimate and breathtaking.
Shylock: I’m glad you found it to your liking.
At this hour, the sea is so silent, and mindful... That it feels as though we strayed into a poet’s verses.
There was no one but us on the beach. We no longer had to be on our toes and closely investigate our surroundings.
We could, at last, simply enjoy ourselves.
The younger wizards took off their shoes and ran into the water.
Chloe: It’s cold!
Mitile: That feels nice!
Rutile: We should try to go a little deeper.
Chloe: Aren’t you going to join us, Lennox?
Lennox: We’re going for a little walk.
Figaro: The breeze feels just right to sober us up.
Mitile: Then come back later and we'll play together!
Figaro: Haha, Mitile looked a tad sleepy earlier, but there’s no stopping him now.
Rustica: …
Lennox: You just closed your eyes, Rustica, are you alright?
Figaro: Few too many drinks? Although you don’t look like you did.
Rustica: Not at all, I was listening to music. Only here can you feel the singing of the sea.
Lennox: Singing...?
Figaro: Oh, the sound of the tide. Well, if you listen carefully, it sure could sound like music.
Rustica: Yes, the ocean plays a rather unique melody. The air... It’s gentle, pleasant, and yet quite lonely tonight…
Figaro & Lennox: …
Rustica: I wonder what that voice may carry.
A little farther away from the others, I could see Murr’s back. He was gazing up at the bright moon.
Murr: Haa… My beloved darling, we meet again tonight.
The way you look upon the sea is incredibly beautiful. I want to get drunk on your reflection on the water until dawn comes.
And even if I sink from it, I'm sure I'll be able to see you from the bottom of the ocean.
Some enjoy the waves, others the quietness of the water... Time was flowing at our own pace.
A special day where we simply wear our usual clothes—
Those small hours by the seashore had an air of mutual forgiveness.
Akira: That feels so nice, it's like a vacation at a resort....
(It was a bit of a different holiday than we had planned, but I hope everyone had a nice change of pace...)
As I walked along the beach listening to the rise and fall of the waves, I caught sight of Shylock’s silhouette in the distance. Turning only his face my way, he smiled.
It felt like an invitation from him, so I joined his side.
Shylock: You are right on time, I was about to return his mana stone to the seas, accompanied by his favorite cocktail.
In Shylock's hand was a fragment of mana stone and a gorgeous ocean-blue cocktail.
Akira: Ah, I’m sorry... This is a precious moment for you.
Shylock: No need to apologize, I was hoping you would be present to witness this, Master Sage—
To see him become a part of the scenery, as he wished.
Shylock gradually opened his palm. With a small ripple, the piece of mana stone vanished in the waves.
Then, he gracefully tipped the glass waiting in his right hand, and the clear blue cocktail melted into the sea, glittering under the stars and moonlight.
Shard and alcohol mingled together and sank soundlessly, lost in the night’s dark waters.
Shylock: ...Only the sound of waves is left unchanged.
Master Sage, could you stay here a little longer? Even for just a moment, while I'm admiring the view.
Akira: ...Of course, I’m right here.
Shylock gave a small nod and looked out to sea—and so did I, leaning into the silence, gazing at a landscape where morning had yet to come.
I wonder… Will our next meeting with the ocean greet us the same, or will we be looking upon a different scene?
Again, and again, from beyond the night, the waves crash and wash away the shores.
——————
