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odorekijinchapter one
[Wizard’s Manor—Hallway]
One day, right around noon, Arthur and I were walking down one of the many hallways of the Manor when something upstairs caught the prince’s attention:
Arthur: I think I heard something in the classroom, but there aren’t any lessons planned for today...
Akira: I can hear something, too… Shall we quickly see who’s up there?
⁂
[Wizard’s Manor—Classroom]
Shino: …
Akira: Shino? What are you doing here all by yourself?
Shino: I’m trying to wrap up some homework Faust gave me. Murr came over to hang out in my room, so I had to come here instead.
Arthur: Homework from Faust… May I see what you’re working on?
Shino: Sure, go ahead.
Arthur: Let’s see… Oh, it’s about magic using medicinal herbs.
This method is quite foreign to me; I don’t often get to test what I’ve learned in my lessons with the other Central wizards.
Shino: You can give it a shot yourself if you want.
Arthur: Pardon?
Shino spared no time for protests, already chanting his spell to duplicate the question on a nearby sheet of paper.
Shino: Take it, it’s yours.
Arthur: Tha-thank you. Am I supposed to answer these with you, then?
Shino: That’s the plan, but we’re not just filling in the questions—we’re gonna have a race; whoever answers all the questions first wins.
Arthur: That sounds like a much more thrilling challenge indeed.
Master Sage, I apologise for imposing this on you so suddenly, but would you please be our arbiter?
Akira: Leave it to me! Since you two are already set, let’s not waste any more time! Ready?
⁂
Akira: …Time’s up!
Both emerged from their deep concentration, simultaneously putting their pens down.
Shino: So, how did you do?
Arthur: I filled most of the blanks, but struggled quite a lot on the third question—the one about the effects of medicinal herbs. What about you?
Shino: I feel you, we just learned about that part in our last lesson. Here, look, that’s how you’re supposed to solve it…
Shino leaned over Arthur’s sheet, offering him concise explanations.
Arthur: I see! I wasn’t confident in my answer when I was writing it down, but it seems I wasn’t too far off.
Shino: Hey, how did you answer that question? Seriously, memorising where each medicinal herb grows? That sucked. There’s no way I can remember all that.
Arthur: I agree, the difficulty left me perplexed. However, I remember that most varieties of this plant are native to the same region, so…
Akira: (They look like classmates reviewing their classes and helping each other out with homework. It’s like I’m watching the springtime of their lives unfold…)
Shino: …Cool, I’m done! Thanks a bunch for the clear explanations, Arthur. That made things easier for me.
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chapter two
[Wizard’s Manor—Classroom]
After completing his work, Shino opened a book that he had kept next to him.
Shino: This is a collection of incantations using medicinal herbs. Faust lent it to me for studying.
Arthur: Interesting… What sort of incantations does the book tackle?
Shino: All sorts. There are even spells for common plants you might already know, like… Here, like “Feather Grass.”
Arthur: Ah yes, of course, “Feather Grass.”
Akira: And what is “Feather Grass”? (1)
Arthur: It’s a plant with ivory petals shaped like plumes, often used to alleviate the first symptoms of a cold. I believe some patches grow in the neighbouring woods.
Akira: Wow, I didn’t know we had that sort of vegetation around us. What kind of magic can you perform with it?
Arthur: That’s what I’d like to know as well. Shino, could we borrow some of your time? I’d like to learn more about the effects of that plant.
Shino: Sure, no problem, but it’ll be easier for me to just show you how it works. Follow me, it’s time for practical training.
⁂
[Wizard’s Manor—Courtyard]
Under a cloudless sky, Shino led us out to the courtyard. He then set out for the nearby grove, soon returning with freshly-picked flowers.
Shino: Here, this is what Feather Grass looks like.
Akira: Wow, the petals actually look feathery! They’re lovely.
Shino: Yeah, but being pretty isn’t the only thing it’s good at. Watch this.
Shino pulled the flower clean off from its stem, and cast his spell.
Shino:《 Matztzāh Sudipas 》
The bloom donned a faint glow, and took to the sky.
Akira: (I wonder what sort of effects it’ll exhibit…)
Arthur: …
Akira: (Heh, even Arthur seems impatient to see it.)
Shino: …There!
Akira: Look at that! It started raining!
Arthur: The sky was clear just a moment ago… Yet the weather has changed drastically, incredible…
Akira: Shoot! I left our bed sheets out in the sun to dry! I have to get them back inside–
Arthur: Oh no! Wait, let me help.
Shino: Just our luck… Quick, let’s grab them and get in.
⁂
[Wizard’s Manor—Foyer]
Akira: Phew… We somehow managed to get everything back in just in time. Thanks for the extra help, you two.
Arthur: No need, it’s the least we could do. Most fortunately, the sheets aren’t completely soaked.
Nero: Oh, you guys already got the sheets back in? Thanks, I was about to do it.
Akira: It’s nothing, we just happened to be outside.
Nero: Still, I didn’t expect a downpour all of the sudden. Man, ‘n the weather was just perfect, too…
Anyway, thanks for the help. You guys saved me some trouble.
Since you’re there, come by the dining room once you get all that outta the way. I’ll whip up some eggnog to warm the three of you back up.
Shino: Yay! You always know what we need.
Arthur: Thank you Nero, I already can’t wait.
Nero: Haha… Dun’ mention it. Catch ya later then.
Shino: …
Akira: Hear that? We may have been unfortunate enough to get rained on, but we’ll be blessed by Nero’s cooking!
Arthur: Indeed! Nero’s eggnog is heavenly. It truly is a blessing!
Shino: …Heh, talk about a nice turn of events, and it’s all thanks to me.
Arthur: Thanks to you…? What do you mean by that?
(1) Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis) and pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana), also referred to as “white feather grass,” are two plants that certainly inspired the “Feather Grass” plant mentioned here. ↑
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chapter three
[Wizard’s Manor—Foyer]
Arthur: Thanks to you…? What do you mean by that?
Shino: You mentioned a blessing, right? Well, that was the incantation’s doing.
Akira: Wait, you mean that it all was a blessing in disguise? Then…
Shino: To put it simply, the rain was the disguise to get us to our lucky encounter with Nero.
Akira: Oh...
Shino: But from what we just saw, the spell relies a lot on its surrounding environment. So, how’d you like that, Sage? Impressed?
Akira: You...
Arthur: Master Sage…?
Akira: You’re amazing, Shino! I can’t believe you even managed to change the weather just with your spell!
Your feat leaves me speechless, really! Thank you for showing us such extraordinary magic!
Shino: … …You can be really naïve sometimes.
Akira: Excuse me?
Shino: Those are incantations using plants, not my own magic. We conjure those powers like how we would pray for a wish to come true, for example.
I can’t change the weather however I want with a snap of my fingers. I’m not Oz.
Akira: Oh, I, I guess you’re right… I didn’t realise…
Shino: The rain, how Nero just happened to be there… All that was pure coincidence. I didn’t expect you to be so impressionable, though.
Akira: So you just wanted to make fun of me…?
Shino: I didn’t. The incantation is real, but I didn’t use my own power either.
Arthur: …On the contrary, I’m persuaded that it was your power that summoned the rain and beckoned Nero’s presence. It wasn’t mere coincidence.
Shino: Arthur…
Arthur: My heart was racing as you performed your incantation.
Just listening to its effects, I was struck in awe at the amazing power exhibited. It felt like coming across a treasure in the wild.
That’s why I have no doubt that it was your doing—I believe in your incantation, and its power. Is it such a bad thing to be impressed by something we believe in?
Shino: …No, not at all.
Aight, I’ll buy into it: I’ll also believe in the power of the Feather Grass, and the incantation, too. If it’s in Faust’s book, then there must be some truth to it.
Akira: Um, can I… Can I also believe in its power?
Shino: You’re a bit late to pledge faith in something you already believed in, more than any of us here.
Akira: Ahaha, you make a good point.
Arthur: Speaking of, do you think I could attend one of Faust’s lectures? I’d like to learn more about these specific incantations.
Shino: Sure, I’ll put in a word for you, but you’ll have to ask Oz to let me into one of his lessons.
Arthur: Of course, I’ll personally a, a-ah–
Shino, Arthur & Akira: ACHOO–!
Arthur: …Right, we are soaked. Well, look who’s caught a cold!
All three of us, sneezing in unison? Talk about comedic timing…
But we embraced the ridicule of the situation, shaking with laughter as we put away the bedsheets.
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episode story
“Cross-Country Trial Class”
[Wizard’s Manor—Hallway]
Akira: Hey there, Arthur! What happened? I can tell you’re in a good mood.
Arthur: Master Sage! As a matter of fact, I am! You see, I just attended a lesson with the Eastern wizards.
We had a lecture using some manuals Faust had prepared for us, and we were even given a test to see if we had listened well. It was a lot to register, but it was all very productive.
Although our lessons do not compare, Shino will join in our training with the other Central wizards tomorrow!
Akira: So Shino will experience Oz’s teaching, huh… Do you know what you’re going to work on tomorrow?
Arthur: We’ll have hands-on training: those sessions essentially consist in coordinating our forces to face Master Oz in direct combat.
Akira: Woah! That sure sounds more proactive…
Arthur: We usually are no match for Master Oz, even with all three of us combined, but…
But something tells me our training will be plenty instructive this time around.
Akira: I’m sure Shino is raring to face Oz’s training.
Arthur: That he is. We’ve actually planned a strategy meeting with everyone later today.
Shino must be asking Lord Snow, White, and Sir Figaro for advice on the matter as we speak.
Akira: Did you have to go that far for advice…!? How do I put it… It sounds more like a council of war, rather than reviewing lessons before an exam…!?
Arthur: Oh, but you’re more than welcome to attend our training, Master Sage.
Akira: Are you sure? I wouldn’t mind, I feel like I could learn a lot just by watching you in action!
(Frankly, I’m dying to see the fruits of their strategy meeting…!)
home line
“I still vividly recall the day I first met Cain: he looked positively dashing, leading the Order of the Knights despite his young age. The way he wielded his sword, or how valorous he looked riding his horse… He embodies an ideal that I truly look up to, even to this day. Perhaps you share similar sentiments for him, Master Sage.”
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