Wishing You All the Best on This Blooming Summer Night’s Journey Chapter 4

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Chapter 4

Arthur: I love them too! It’s always more fun to sleep in big groups!

Riquet: It so is! Master Sage, are these kinds of rooms often used in summer camps?

Akira: They are. They make it feel like you’re at a sleepover, and I’d chat with my friends all night lying in our beds.

Riquet: Really now…

His eyes sparkled. Having come up with a great idea, he then looked at us, head bobbing as he began to speak.

Riquet: …Then how about we four use this room? To have our own slumber party!

Arthur, Mitile, & Akira: Oooh…!

We were all thrilled to hear it. Arthur gave a large nod. 

Arthur: That’s a wonderful idea Riquet! Let’s ask Shylock if we can use this room when he comes back.

Mitile: Yeah! I also brought these sheep styled dehumidifiers. We can put them by the window once we get his permission!

Riquet: What’s that?

Mitile: Ta-da! It’s this thing! Once I told him about how we’re staying in a cottage above a lake, Mr. Leno went and made these for us!

When you’re near a water source, it’s always good to leave something made from sheep’s wool to take in the humidity. That’s what Mr. Leno taught me before when we went camping.

Riquet: Wow…! It’s a sheep that’s cute and useful! 

Mitile: Yep! Ah…but there’s been barriers and magic put up to make things comfortable for us, so I guess we don’t need them…

Arthur: Not at all. Just looking at them makes me happy. 

Akira: Exactly! We should leave them on the windowsill anyway. Thank you for bringing them, Mitile.

Shylock: I’m back, everyone. My, we seem to be having fun.

I turned around to the voice behind me and saw the teachers waiting by the door. They were about to enter the room.

Akira: Everyone, you’re back…!

Mitile: Welcome back! Did the barrier go well?

Faust: Yeah. Sorry for taking Oz from you. 

Snow: We took a look at the rooms you’ve cleaned so far, and they’re all squeaky clean. 

White: You children are excellent students. We shall give you plenty of rewards later on. 

Riquet: Ehehe…oh, right. Shylock, we were discussing it together and, can we use this room?

Shylock: Of course you may. This room was meant for a group of friends who enjoy chatting and sleeping together, which I believe matches you four perfectly.

Mitile & Riquet: Woohoo!

Arthur: Thank you, Shylock!

Snow: What shall we do, my fellow teachers? Perhaps we could use magic to expand a room and have ourselves a slumber party there? 

Faust: I refuse. 

Oz: I refuse.

Shylock: I’m afraid I must refuse as well, since I feel like sleeping on my own. I will bring your painting to a room for two though.

Snow & White: Booo.

Faust: So it’s decided then.

I have packed lunches from Nero. I’ll set up the living room, so when you kids finish your cleaning we can start eating. 

Mitile & Riquet: Okaaay!

Filling ourselves up on a cool soup and some sandwiches for our lunch, we then had our freetime.

While I lazed about in the cottage with the teachers, the younger wizards immediately went out to explore the lake. 

Arthur and Riquet returned before sunset, but Mitile was at the lake practicing his cleaning magic up until dinner time.

And as our compensation for taking Oz earlier, we were treated to Shylock’s homemade dinner. After that we took our baths, brushed our teeth, and…

Riquet: Heehee. Sleeping next to you guys is gonna be so much fun. 

Arthur: Yeah, we’re gonna talk until morning! Ah, but before that…

He said his spell, and the small flower pot appeared in his hands. 

Arthur: I think I’ll do the homework from Lord Figaro.

Mitile, Riquet, & Akira: Whaaat?!

Mitile: I know we’re supposed to grow our bestest flowers…but it’s only the first day and you’re gonna do it now?!

Arthur: That’s why I’ll do it now! Today I had a real blast learning and hanging out together with you guys.

Days like these will continue on to tomorrow, and the day after…with those beliefs, I know I can grow the greatest flower ever. 

He showed his beaming smile. Earnestly talking about his feelings with those captivating eyes of his, we all couldn’t help but smile too. 

Akira: I get it…I was surprised at first, but I like your way of thinking.

Arthur: Thank you! Okay then, now…

Pernoctant Nixzo!

The soil glowed with light when he cast his spell. A bud emerged with a jump, and within blinks grew taller and taller. 

Mitile: Wow…! A tiny rainbow flower bloomed…!

Riquet: Hehe, it’s like your feelings of excitement came through!

Eventually, other small flowers came to grow. Yellow, red, blue, purple, various colours of buds sprouted and bloomed to brilliant flowers.

Akira: It’s a whole fountain of flowers…these flowers don’t look like anything I’ve ever seen before, but they remind me of you, Arthur.

Arthur: Thank you, Master Sage. I can’t wait to show Lord Figaro!

A satisfied look on his face, Arthur placed the flower pot on the windowsill. The silver light from the stars shined down on it.

It felt like the ever expanding night skies were welcoming this flower pot filled with dreams for the future.

Riquet: They’re so pretty…I wonder if my 'moment' I think is right will come?

Arthur: It will! I know you’ll be able to grow a wonderful flower of your own, Riquet. 

Riquet: Hehehe…

Arthur: And that goes for you too, Mitile.

Mitile stared at the floor when that warm smile turned to him. 

Mitile: …I don’t know…blooming a pretty flower like that must be hard.

Riquet: Are you nervous? Even though we had a wonderful day today?

Mitile: I had a lot of fun playing with you guys today! But during class all I did was receive help…

I don’t think I’ll be able to grow a good flower if this keeps up…

…Even though I had a chance to be taught by the world’s greatest wizard today, I…

Arthur: …Mitile.

He leaned towards him, meeting eyes with Mitile sitting on his bed.

His hand gently cupped itself over those smaller and tightly wrapped hands.

Arthur: Lord Oz is certainly the world’s greatest wizard. 

Yet when I first learned under him, it wasn’t like I understood everything and could perform it well right off the bat. 

Mitile: Really?

Arthur: Of course. Eventually I was able to keep up after some practice. So Mitile, I know you’ll be fine.

And you did a great job today in class! Even Lords Snow and White praised you.

He tenderly smiled, like the sun rays of the early summer mornings. Arthur warmly wrapped both his hands around the fists that began to loosen.   

Arthur: Besides, isn’t joining hands and working together the way of the Southern wizards? Mitile, I think you should continue learning the way you do.

…Tomorrow will be Faust’s class. The Eastern classes are similar to the Southern classes, with classroom learning and tests.

Riquet and I are not used to that kind of format. So tomorrow, we’ll be relying on you, Mitile. 

Mitile: …Okay…

His expression brightened up, but was still a bit cloudy.

Mitile has a strong admiration for strength. Even though he knows in his head that Arthur is right, it will still take some time for his feelings to agree with that truth. 

Thanks to Arthur though, he has cheered up. He thumps his chest and clears his throat, signalling a change in the mood.

Mitile: Tomorrow, I’ll do my best to help you two out. If you’re having trouble, come to me!

Okay, now let’s chat till we fall asleep. What do we wanna talk about? Riquet, any suggestions?

Riquet: I want to hear your stories, Mitile! Can you talk about the school you went to in your hometown?

Arthur: Oh, nice! I want to hear about teacher Rutile as well.

Akira: I’ve been curious too! Mitile, you ready?

Mitile: I am! Okiedokie, let me tell you about the time a nearby bison got lost and entered my brother's class as he was teaching.

Arthur, Riquet, & Akira: Yeah!

The next morning. After we ate breakfast with everyone, I sat in the corner of the living room watching over Mitile and the others. 

Today was Faust’s day to teach. Before noon he wanted them to have a classroom session here. 

Faust stood at a wall where the sunlight didn’t hit, and with his finger traced four corners on the wall. 

Suddenly, a blackboard became visible. With this classroom setting, he turned to the younger wizards, looking over their faces. 

Faust: Alright, let’s start class. Are you guys ready?

Arthur, Riquet, & Mitile: Yes! We’re ready to learn!

Faust: …

Akira: …Faust? You okay?

Faust: …I’m fine. It’s just that though my students try their best…

I’ve never seen everybody so ambitious to learn during class time. It’s a new feeling.

…This certain pressure is too. 

He said as he glanced to the back of the classroom, where on a couch against the wall the other teachers sat.

White: He’s feeling pressured, Shylocky.

Shylock: He’s feeling pressured, Oz. 

Oz: …

Snow: Wow, you passed on the joke to Oz just like that. For a moment I got the chills. 

Akira: (Seeing them sit together in a row like this…reminds me of parent’s day at school.)

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