Wish on the Star-Filled Sea Chapter 1

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Chapter 1

One afternoon…

Rutile: Wooow, look at this jelly!

Rutile’s eyes were sparkling at the stuff me, Lennox, and Figaro brought back from the market. 

Figaro: I knew its colours would catch those painter’s eyes of yours, Rutile. It’s quite fancy. The Sage picked it out.

Akira: I figured since it was a bit hot out we should eat something refreshing to cool down.

Within the box was a jelly cake with the most beautiful of blues and a delicate gold leaf coating that reminded one of the summer night skies. 

It was a stunning sight to see enough boxes of these gorgeous delights for everyone at the manor lined up on the table.

Murr: Spaaarkly! I love it! It’s like if you trapped the stars inside the ocean!

Oz: …The children would like this…

I found this particular matchup of wizards a little interesting.

Aside from Figaro and Lennox, the wizards in the lounge were originally Oz, Murr, and Rutile. On our request the three of them joined us for some tea.

Akira: With this much of the jelly it does look like a sea of stars. It’s almost as much as the Milky Way!

Murr: Milk-y way? Wuzzat, a drink?

Akira: Oh, no. The Milky way is a bunch of stars that you can see on the day of Tanabata. 

Lennox: Tanabata…ah, that Star-viewing Festival from your world.

He strokes his chin as he collects his memory.

Riiight, I don’t think I’ve really talked about Tanabata to all the wizards at the manor yet. 

I begin to explain about the legends of Orihime and Hikoboshi, the two lovers of the Milky Way, and how when the day of the festival approaches we decorate “bamboo” trees

with papers called ‘Tanzaku” that you write your wishes to the stars on, along with star shaped ornaments and all kinds of other colourful things. 

Akira: There’s this certain streamer we also decorate with called “Fukinagashi” and is so pretty when it flies in the wind.

Murr: Oooh, can you draw it out? I wanna see!

Curiosity taken over, Murr produces a pen and paper for me to draw on.

Akira: Thanks. Let’s see…it’s round like this…and then it has a flowy tube-like shape…

Oz: …I’ve seen this before.

Akira: What, seriously?! Is there really something like a fukinagashi here?!

Oz: No…not that…

Lennox: Is Lord Oz perhaps talking about one of Rutile’s sheep drawings?

Rutile: Oh, right on the dot!

Rutile’s face brightens up when he peeks into my paper.

Rutile: Its torso is the round part, and the lines growing from it are its legs! Personally I tend to draw the legs of sheep rather long, but I think it’s cool, so it’s fine!

Murr: I love the originality of your sheep drawings, Rutile! This ‘fukinagashi’ thing also looks interesting!

Akira: Ahaha, hearing you say that makes me happy.

The Milky Way that paints the night sky. The Tanabata streamers and tanzaku that sway softly in the wind. I felt myself overflowing with the memories of me and my childhood friends as we talked about what wishes we wrote on our tanzaku together.

The smell of summer in Japan. The relenting heat of the summer winds and nights. It’s all in the past now.

Akira: …

Figaro: What kind of wishes did you make, Master Sage?

Akira: Huh? My wishes?

Figaro: Yep. The ones you wrote on ‘tanzaku’ and decorated trees with. I was just wondering what sorta stuff you’d usually wish for.

Murr: “SUCCEED IN: TOTAL WORLD DOMINATION!” probably?

Akira: N-Nobody out there would wish for something so large scale. And I don’t really remember what I wrote since it was a festivity I participated in as a child, so…

Murr: Boo, what a waste! Gotta aim high, not low! Dont’cha agree, Oz?

Oz: I wouldn’t even need to wish for that since I could make it happen myself.

Murr: Yeah, ‘cept it was left as a work in prog–

Figaro: Murr. We’re talking about the Sage right now so let’s keep quiet. 

Murr: ‘Kaaaay.

Lennox: Are there any sort of limitations to what we can wish for on these tanzaku?

Akira: Not really, but since tanzaku are closer to a good luck charm most people often wish for the smaller things. 

Lennox: So would “May they not catch a cold” or “May they do well in their studies” work?

Akira: Yeah, like that! Little wishes that you’d be happy if they were granted but wouldn’t sign the end of the world if they didn’t!

Murr: …I totally get it now. It’s not about “Will it be granted or not?” but the idea of actualizing the greed you hold by writing it down.

Akira: G-Greed?!

Murr: Hey, even a little wish is considered greed. I’m guessing exposing your desires in public isn’t a common thing in your world.

Maybe that’s why the people of your world limit it to one day of the year! It’s a festival for enjoying your mundane desires.

Let’s do this together with everyone! We’re gonna make “Tanabata” popular here!

Rutile: Woah!? Murr, you might hit your head against the table if you suddenly do a somersault in the air!

It’s nothing out of the ordinary for a Western wizard like Murr to reveal his desires in public.

This lovable boldness is probably why he’s so taken in by this different world enough to fly around the room. 

Akira: (True, Tanabata is a rather unique festival…but saying it’s a day to let loose your greed is a bit shaming…)

Figaro: I’m up for it. I’m interested in the Sage’s culture too, so why don’t we try it out as wizards of the Sage?

By learning what everyone’s wishes are we’ll get to see a new side to each other. It’ll be a bonding experience. 

Besides, isn’t wishing on the stars just romantic? I’m gonna like this Tanabata holiday.

Lennox: I think it’s a splendid idea as well. Though spreading it to the entire land seems a little impossible, spending it with everyone at the manor sounds fun. 

Rutile: Mmhmm. Celebrating Tanabata AND deepening our bonds with the other wizards? Count me in!

Figaro: I just know the kids will love it. Well, how about it, Master Sage?

Akira: Well…

Those mysterious eyes of his calmly gazed at me.

Encouraged by the tone of his voice that wrapped itself around my shoulders and the nostalgia and loneliness I felt remembering Tanabata, I gave in and nodded my head.

Akira: …I’d like to spend Tanabata with you all too.

Murr: Awright! Then it’s decided, we’re throwing a Tanabata party!

While everyone was hyped up, Oz simply sips his tea undisturbed. 

Oz: …

Akira: Uhm, are you okay with it, Oz?

Oz: …Do as you please. Your wishes are yours alone to enact.

Though his words may have come off as harsh, the fact that he didn’t decline or vanish from the room helped me feel more confident. 

Lennox: May I know what is required to hold this Tanabata festival?

You’ll teach us everything, won’t you, Master Sage?

Akira: Yes, of course I will!

I nodded excitedly. My heart was racing at the idea of throwing a Tanabata themed party!

Figaro: We can improvise those bamboo trees, what’s most important seems to be the decorations and ornaments…

We need to fix up every single detail in order to remake the perfect Tanabata day for our Sage.

Lennox: Since it’s a special holiday should we also be preparing special food?

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