Wishing You All the Best on This Blooming Summer Night’s Journey Chapter 2

[xuebingcode]

Chapter 2

The next morning arrived.

Mitile: Ah, he’s back! Dr. Figaro!

Akira: Welcome back, Figaro. Thanks for taking on the overnight mission.

So how was the family…they couldn’t eat anything but apple pies since the day the Calamity visited, right? You said it might be the early symptoms of a infectious disease…

Figaro: Yep, they’re all better now. There’s something I’m still curious about though, so I’m gonna go back once I’ve looked into it. 

How are you guys? Mitile, you look excited about something. 

Mitile: Ehehe…I’ve actually come to invite you to a sleepover-study meet at Mister Shylock’s cottage!

Figaro: A sleepover-study meet?

His mouth formed a smile at Mitile’s hurried explanation. 

Figaro: You’re a hard worker, Mitile, for wanting to study at a sleepover. You do this teacher proud.

Mitile: So will you come too, Dr. Figaro?

Figaro: Of course. Let’s pack our stuff up together later, okay?

Mitile: Yay!

He smiled like he could jump in joy. Figaro kindly watched over him, and then asked,

Figaro: By the way, when will it take place? So I know to keep my schedule free. 

Akira: Oh, about that. Shylock and the twins decided for it to be…

When I told him the dates of the trip, his face clouded over. Troubled, he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand.

Figaro: That’s a problem…it completely overlaps…

Mitile: Dr. Figaro? Do you have plans already…?

Figaro: Yep. The days you guys are planning to go line up with the days I’m checking up on that family.

That illness they caught should have gone extinct a long time ago. My guess is that it came back due to the Calamity’s influence. If I’m correct, then I need to investigate the area carefully.

I would ask another teacher to handle it, but I’m afraid I’m the only doctor as well…

Mitile drooped his head. After a second however, he turned his head up, not giving up.

Mitile: T-Then maybe we can change the dates on our side! I’ll go ask Mister Shylock!

Figaro: I appreciate that, Mitile. But that cottage you’re talking about is probably at the Lake of Young Hearts…and if it’s the days that the twins decided on…

He put his hand to his chin and went deep into thought. Thinking for a few moments, he then shook his head in disappointment. 

Figaro: I’ll try and talk to them, but…this outing may be a little difficult for me to join in on.

And if we change the dates now, the other teachers might not be able to go anymore. 

If that happens, you’ll have less opportunities to take different kinds of classes, Mitile.

Mitile: …I understand…uugh, but I really wanted to go with you.

Disheartened, his shoulders dropped.

Figaro put on a smile as he softly patted that chestnut coloured head, trying to comfort the kid. 

Figaro: I’m sorry, Mitile. In my place, how about I assign you some extra special homework?

And if the investigation goes well, I can probably drop in on the last day. I’ll be sure to race there as soon as I finish it. 

Snow: We’re going on a trip, we’re going on a trip! A trip to the little cottage of “Young Hearts”!

White: Ohohoho. A vacation at a lake will be most fun indeed. Ozzy, what games will we be playing there?

Oz: …I thought we were going to be learning.

Faust: The kids may play as they please, but our role is as both teachers and supervision. 

Shylock: That’s true, but sticking to it the entire time will feel constraining. We teachers and students should all enjoy this vacation.

The morning of our departure. The lounge was crowded with the members of the cottage trip.

And among us was our prince who was always busy with official duties and missions, Arthur. 

Akira: I’m surprised you’re able to come, Arthur. Is the work at the castle gonna be okay? 

Arthur: Yes, fortunately. I won’t be having any work to do for a long while. 

Mitile: When Riquet and I went to invite him, his break happened to fit exactly with the days we were going out!

Riquet: You have been blessed with a break for your hard work in caring for the people, Prince Arthur. I’m so happy you can come with us!

Arthur: Yeah, me too!

Except…it’s a shame that Lord Figaro is unable to attend. Though I’m sure you’re the one feeling the most down about it, Mitile… 

Faust: There’s no healing in a day after all. Solving an anomaly is one thing, but investigating an illness is no amateur's job. 

Shylock: The other wizards also took on our business so that we teachers could go out on these days…this was the best we could do.

Mitile: Yes…

But he said that he’d do his best to come on the last day! Rutile, Mr. Leno, and Cain said they’d help him out so he could make it. 

And, he even gave out special homework to fill in for his classes! Look at this!

What Mitile passed to both Arthur and Riquet were colourful pots for plants. In the damp soil there was nothing planted yet. 

Riquet: Is this…homework where we have to grow a seed we found over there?

Arthur: No…I can sense magic from the soil. Are these magic seeds?

Mitile: Right on! These are magic seeds that bloom into a different flower depending on the state of a person’s heart when they cast their spell on it.

During our vacation, our homework is to cast our spells when we think the time is right, and grow our own pretty flowers! 

Faust: A “Heartcast Flower” is what they’re called. They’re a rare flower that grows only in hot climates or where the power of spirits is most concentrated. 

Mitile: Woah, they’re that rare? Dr. Figaro didn’t mention a thing…

White: Ohohoho. He must’ve splurged since he couldn’t come with you. That’s the heart of a teacher.

Snow: We look forward to what sort of flower will bloom from you three.

Arthur & Riquet: Yes!

Mitile: I’ll do my best to grow the greatest flower ever!

Shylock: Now everyone, I too have something from Chloe to give all of you. 

It is a surprise that will make our vacation a step more enjoyable.

He let out a puff of smoke from his pipe. A fresh summer smell wafted throughout the room, and our clothes changed. 

They were outfits fitting for a lakeside vacation, bright and breezy. 

Mitile: Wah, these are so stylish…! Does it suit me?

Riquet: Of course, since it’s Chloe’s work! My shoes feel so airy. I bet we would dry up very quickly if we got wet. 

Oz: …

Arthur: Those clothes look wonderful on you, Lord Oz! It’s not everyday I get to see you in casual clothes and going on vacation.

Oz: …I suppose so. Your clothes suit you too.

Akira: They feel comfortable to wear. We’re gonna have a good time at this study meet!

Shylock: I feel the same. He couldn’t come since the big Cloth Fair was on these days, so I hope you can save up a lot of stories to tell him when we get back. 

Snow: We’re all set and ready to go! Shall we head off?

White: Indeed we shall. Oh Oz, please take us to the Western Country!

Oz: …Vox Nox.

As soon as he said his spell, we were surrounded by beautiful nature. 

A shallow lake bordered by a forest. Transparent turquoise waters that sparkled and reflected the sun’s light.

Mitile: Wooow! It’s so pretty…!

Riquet: We’re standing in the middle of a lake! The water’s so cool and refreshing!

Akira: There’s fish swimming between our legs! It’s like we’re at a resort in Okinawa…

Arthur: It’s an area that hasn’t been touched by urban development yet. A place as beautiful and peaceful as this would surely have become a popular vacation spot by now…

Shylock: The surrounding terrain is steep and rugged, so humans rarely ever come here. Thanks to that, we can put our feet up and relax. 

Oz: Is that where we will be staying?

Following his gaze we spotted cottages of untainted white walls and round blue roofs, along with an elevated floor.

The deck the cottage stood on had a staircase that led right into the water, making for an entrance directly from the lake. 

Shylock: Yes. That building there is the “Home of the Young Hearts” we had mentioned.

The water here is very shallow, so walking to the cottage is the same as walking on land. 

Arthur: That sounds fun. Riquet, Mitile, let’s race to see who can get there fastest!

Riquet: Okay! I’ve never ran in water before, but I’ll do my best!

Mitile: Okiedokie, on our marks…get set…go!

Faust: The sand is slippery. You might fall…and they can’t hear me anymore. 

White: Ohohoho. They’ve gone with the wind. How lively, how lively. 

We smiled at their backs as they already reached the stairs. Panting hard, Mitile looked over to us and gave a big wave.

Mitile: Master Sage! Teachers! You come over too!

<      Index       >