Wish on the Star-Filled Sea Chapter 2

[xuebingcode]

 

Chapter 2

Akira: That reminds me, we also have traditional Tanabata foods called “Chirashi-zushi” and “Soumen”! Other than that…I remember there being dishes modeled after the stars.

We would cut fruits and vegetables in the shape of them, even pouring the sauce like a star too…

Mithra: Hmmm. I didn’t know you could eat the stars in your world, Master Sage. How do they taste?

Rutile: Woah, Mithra?! When did you get here?

Rustica: Good afternoon, everybody.

Owen: …

As we were happily chatting about Tanabata, Mithra had arrived. To my surprise, Owen and Rustica as well.

Rustica: I was just about to have some tea with Mithra and Owen, but if you lovely people don’t mind, might you join us?

Mithra: When did I agree to that? I happened to be walking beside you is all. 

Owen: Don’t suddenly decide things for us just because we were heading to the same room.

Figaro: Cool it now. Good timing, guys. We were having our own tea party as well, so why don’t you join us instead.

Rustica: Goodness, what a pleasant surprise! Yes, we certainly will–Oh? Mithra, Owen, where are you going?

Owen: Like hell I’d be playing tea party with you idiots. Moreso with Oz and Figaro. 

Mithra: I’m off to my room.

Akira: Hey…wait, you two!

I hastily called out to their backs.

Akira: We were discussing throwing a Tanabata party here at the manor. Won’t you guys join in too?

Owen: “Tanabata”?

Mithra: What is that?

Akira: It’s a festival back in my world. We all thought it’d make for a fun bonding activity, so.

When it comes to these two unpredictable Northern wizards, chaos is neverending. 

That’s why I really wanted to get them to join in on this party, to do something together.

I also thought that maybe I could get to know them better if I knew what wishes they wrote on their tanzaku sheets. 

Rustica: You’re holding a party? What a splendid idea. 

The one who answered my request was none other than Rustica. He took Mithra and Owen’s hands, and held them as he brought them over to us. 

Mithra: Hey.

Owen: Let go. Or should I rip off your whole arm?

Rustica: But isn’t an invitation to a party from the Sage themself an honour?

Master Sage, please do tell us of this Tanabata festivity. 

Akira: Uhh, for sure!

Before Mithra and Owen could try to leave again, I explain to the three of them about Tanabata as Rustica listens intently to my words, nodding deeply in understanding.

Rustica: A pair of lovers whose meeting is only allowed one day out of the 365 days of the year…such a saddening tale! 

Mithra: & Owen: …

By the way, Mithra and Owen are currently sitting on the couch (as forced by Oz) and have an irritated look on their faces as they snack on the jelly desserts. 

Mithra: Boring. You made me sit down to hear this?

Mithra glared at Oz as he toiled with a cowlick in his own hair. On the other hand, the corners of Owen’s mouth turned upwards. 

Owen: Really? I thought it was amusing.

Akira: ! Owen, I’m so glad you–

Oz: What are you planning.

Owen: Hahaha….how mean. I’m not up to anything. I simply think from the bottom of my heart that the Sage’s story is very interesting. 

You saw that, right Master Sage? Wasn’t his comment just plain rude?

Oz: People carry hopes and dreams within them to fill the emptiness of their hearts. 

However, displaying in public what hopes you dream of may be a way to reveal one’s weakness. 

Your words eat away at the hearts of others. Deepening the cavities of the heart is an easy matter for you.

Owen: …

An Owen who found out the wishes of others is an Owen with a blade at the ready. That was what Oz was trying to get at. 

Yet Owen carried on smiling soundlessly, neither confirming nor denying his accusations. 

Rustica: I for one think revealing your own dreams to the world is exciting! You must let me join in.

Murr: Me too! Who knows, I might find another part of myself I didn’t realize was there!

Let’s write tons and tons of tanzaku, wishing out whatever inner desires we feel at the moment! 

Rutile: Inner desires…?

Lennox: Hearing that makes me a little nervous…

Akira: Y-You don’t have to go that far with them! Let’s take it easy!

Mithra: Do whatever you want, I’m not participating. Please find someone else who has more freetime than me.

Like Oz, or Oz, and perhaps Oz too. 

Akira: (Now that I think about it, Oz didn’t really say whether he’d participate or not…)

Just when I turned to look at Oz, scarlet eyes met with mine. After a few moments of silence, he nods slightly. 

Oz: …If that is your wish, so it will be.

Akira: Yes, thank you Oz! 

Mithra: Alright then, I’m out.

Owen: Same. Sounds like a drag. 

Akira: Whyyy?!

Oz: …

After staring at the two for a bit Oz slowly turns to me. 

Oz: Words will not convince them. The only way to make Northern wizards obey is with pure power. 

Right when he said those words a staff had magically appeared in his hands.

Mithra: I am of the same opinion. I’ll make you bow with my magic. 

Owen: Fine, I guess I’ll help you out this once. I’m in a bad mood because of him.

Oz: Shall I have at them, Sage?

Akira: E-Everyone, let’s calm down, please?! I’d prefer we discuss this in the most peaceful way possible…

Figaro: Don’t we all. Since we’re all going to celebrate a holiday from the Sage’s world together, it’d be best if none of us were fried to a crisp.

So instead of settling this dispute of yours with a fight, how about a fun party game?

Oz, Owen, & Mithra: What?

Figaro: I bet you it’ll be way funner than a battle to the death. Though, we can’t let a wizard who won’t participate in the festival participate in this game. 

That means it’ll be an automatic loss for you two. By default.

Mithra & Owen: …

Hearing those specific words Mithra and Owen’s eyebrows twitched. 

Lennox: I did not know there was a game for Tanabata. 

Murr: Awesome! We’re gonna have a blast of a Tanabata party AND its games! 

Oh, except for Mithra and Owen. That makes you two, and everyone in the manor, losers to Oz! 

Mithra: Who said anything about that? I would never lose any kind of match against that man. 

Owen: …About this game, is there any kind of reward? Like one of Oz’s eyeballs.

Figaro: Nooo, nothing like that. But I can give you a prize even better than that. I found it earlier in the marketplace. 

It’s a magical tool that makes whoever wields it an emperor. 

Rutile & Lennox: Emperor?

Figaro: Yep. With it, you can give orders to people and they’ll listen. And there’s no sort of limitations on what orders you can give. 

Akira: (So like, it’s the magical version of the King’s Game…??)

Mithra: As if there’d be such a powerful tool lying about in a marketplace. 

Owen: Right. I’ve never heard of a magical tool like that, it’s obviously a hoax. 

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