Wishing You All the Best on This Blooming Summer Night’s Journey Chapter 5

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Chapter 5

Faust: Before we start, know that what we will be covering today may not be anything new to you. You probably already know the subject matter.

Shylock: There is always something new to learn. Watching Mr. Faust who’s popular with the younger wizards teach will serve as great pointers to us teachers. 

Faust: I don’t want to hear that from you. Your lessons always make the younger wizards and their magic more toward the bizarre. 

For some reason whenever classes end, a few wizard's mannerisms tend to match that of yours…

Shylock: Hmhmhm. Let’s call it the fruits of their learning.

Akira: (Just what kind of learning…)

White: Now now, the kids are waiting! Do not mind us, it’d be best for you to start. 

Faust: …Well, if you guys don’t mind. Back to business it is.

Today, I’ll be teaching you about the “King of Water”. A strange fairy that calls beautiful and calm waters its home.

Can anyone explain what kind of spirit this “King of Water” is?

Arthur: I’ve read about them before in a book when I was young. I read that there are times where they run wild, punishing those who pollute the waters, and also times where they give a blessing to those who respect them properly…

Faust: That’s the King of Water. Good memory you have. There is actually one living here at this lake, though it’s still young.

Akira: (A young fairy…Shylock did say we might be able to see young fairies around here…)

The “King” in its name was the same as the way you’d refer to the lion as the “King of Beasts”, in that it was a fairy that held stronger magic than any other water fairy or sprite. 

From fish to waterfowl, their forms could be any of the sort. The essential feature to tell them apart was their red cloak they’d have draped over their body. 

Faust: When it becomes an adult, it will leave its nest it was raised in, that being the lake. The interesting part however is the length of that growing period.

Within three hundred years of a lifespan, they spend two hundred as a child. 

Mitile: Wha…so they’re a child for two thirds of their lifetime!

Riquet: The time they spend as an adult is considerably smaller than their time as a child…

Faust: Even more intriguing is that the fairy living here has been in its child state for over two hundred years. Isn’t that right, Shylock?

Shylock: Indeed. This year I believe it will be 220 years old.

Arthur: …Twenty above the average…though you can chalk it up to individual differences, twenty years seems to be a pretty big difference…

Mitile: Oh no…that’s so sad…

White: There is no need to feel pity. 

We twins are forever children as you can see, and are very much enjoying the kid’s life. Riiight, Snowy?

Snow: Yeees, Whitey. When you’re a kid you get to be pampered by everybody, so it’s a win for Team Happy Kid’s Life, having our heart’s fill of fun!

Snow & White: Kyakya! 

While they faced each other and held their hands in delight, Mitile slightly bit his lips. 

Mitile: But…even though you two have the forms of children, you’re actually really powerful adult wizards. You can even use magic when you want to transform.

Being stuck as a child means yourself, your body, and your power remains that of a kid.  If you wanted to be an adult, you couldn’t.

I think it’s way more frustrating to be stuck as a useless child…

Akira: …Mitile….

I didn’t know what to say to Mitile, who was adamant in his words.

Even the teachers, who I thought would say something, only looked at him in silence. Then with a start, Mitile lowered his head in realization.

Mitile: Ah…I, I’m sorry. I stopped the class.

Faust: No need to apologize. It’s a worthwhile endeavour to place yourself in the shoes of others and try thinking from there. 

…When the time comes, the King of Water will grow its wings on a warm and peaceful night. It will gain power from the waters that raised it, and within a night become an adult.

During that change, the spirits and water sprites of the land will react strongly, and can cause a wondrous phenomenon to occur. 

Riquet: A wondrous phenomenon…Oz, have you seen something like that before?

Oz: Many times, in the past. I saw an inimitable sight.

Riquet: Inimitable?

Oz: It means it was unlike anything else in this world. You, Arthur, and Mitile would love it. It was a beautiful, brilliant phenomenon to behold.

Riquet: Beautiful, brilliant, and unlike anything else…do you think I’ll get to see it someday?

Twinkling eyes absentmindedly ran off to dreamland as a mysterious grin formed on Shylock’s face. 

Shylock: Oh yes, I’m sure of it.

Faust: …Gold stars on the oral exam, everyone.

The morning class ends there. You did well.

Arthur, Riquet, & Mitile: Thank you for the lesson!

Arthur: You’re really good at teaching, Faust. It was a fun class! 

He stretched widely. His shining blue eyes that were full of curiosity and a thirst for knowledge were satisfied. 

Arthur: I’ve dropped in many times with Shino and Heathcliff, but your classes are always so interesting. I feel like it sticks in my head better than when learning alone.

Please, let me take another one of your classes sometime!

Faust’s eyes widened at that energetic and captivating smile for a second.

Then his gaze quickly turned to the floor. It was a sudden action coming from him, and like he was erasing his expression he took his sunglasses off to wipe them. 

Faust: …Glad you think so. I don’t believe I can teach you much, but if the opportunity rises, then sure.

After this, we’ll have lunch and proceed with our afternoon class.

Shylock: My, you stick to quite the rigid schedule. As expected from our Eastern wizard. 

Faust: …Don’t tell me, you still haven’t planned out what you’re doing on your day of teaching? We all decided to have our own days to hold a class. 

Snow: How rude! We’ve properly decided what we’ll be doing for our class! 

White: Yes, but not much to it. It’ll be a sort of open class, free to do as you please. 

Shylock: I also have my class’ subject matter and schedule properly decided. Before then however I plan to give out freetime. 

Oz: …I meant to plan something.

Arthur: That feeling is what matters! 

Faust: …This makes me wonder if I’m the one who’s been too strict on the kids…

Riquet: I like your way of planning, Faust. The way you have a confirmed time and subject matter laid out reminds me of the Church I was in. It’s comfortable.

Faust: …That’s…well, thank you, Riquet.

Mitile: Since breakfast was made by Lord Oz and Prince Arthur, it’ll be up to me, Riquet, and the Master Sage to make lunches for everybody!

Riquet, Master Sage, let’s go to the kitchen.

Riquet & Akira: Yeah!

Mitile and I finished our meals a step faster than Arthur and Riquet, and were out on a lakeside walk to help digest. 

The afternoon class was going to be on practical skills. Since he needed time to set up, we were told to do as we pleased while waiting.

Mitile: Ah, this leaf…

He leaned over into the lake. He plucked off an aquatic plant that resembled bamboo grass. Treating it like origami paper, he began to make something.

Akira: What’re you making?

Mitile: Hehehe, you’ll find out soon. Put it over here like this, slip this there…

Ta-daaa! It’s a leaf boat!

Akira: Ooh, amazing! You’re good, Mitile!

Mitile: I used to fold lots of these for the kids back home when we played by the river. 

I was put in charge of watching over the younger kids often. 

Akira: So that’s why. Like a big brother yourself you trained your leaf-boat making hands to make them for everyone, so it’s a natural skill to you. 

Mitile: Yup! Though since we’ve come to the manor, the only time I’ve made them was when teaching Riquet about paper folding. 

…Because I’m the youngest one at the manor. 

Eyes the colour of young grass looked to the lake, and Mitile floated the leaf boat upon it. 

I was worried it’d float to the sea, but the boat merely stayed floating in place. The waters were that calm.

Turning his focus from the boat that swayed in the same spot to the warm and silent waters of the lake, he spilled what was on his mind.

Mitile: Somewhere on this lake…is a 220 year old King of Water who can’t become an adult.  

I wonder if it’s doing its best to become an adult as quickly as it can…

I felt a little sad seeing his expression, and remembered the words he said this morning in class.

How it’s frustrating to stay stuck as a useless child.

Akira: (Mitile is the youngest wizard at the manor. The long lived wizards and the younger ones both dote on him.)

(Except…that may be the reason why he thinks he can’t stay the way he is now…)

Yes, he’s the youngest wizard, but the age differences between him, Arthur, Shino, and Heathcliff for instance isn’t that wide. 

Arthur however is a prince loved by his people. Shino is a forest guardian acknowledged by other wizards seasoned in battle. Heathcliff represents his family’s domain.

When standing side by side with them, his ambitious nature refuses to be let himself be treated like a child, since they’re young too.

Just because you wish for it though, doesn’t mean you can become strong and capable right away.

Akira: (Mitile likely sees himself in the King of Water who’s still a child at 220 years…)

Mitile: …Huh? Master Sage, look at that. There’s a baby bird swimming towards us. 

He pointed in the direction of the sea, and when I followed that finger I found a tiny yellow chick facing us.

Akira: Cute! What kind of bird is it?

Mitile: I think it’s a duck. Uh, wait, there’s something red on it…

We looked closer, and that tiny fluffy chick that appeared to be a duck, had a red cloth tied around its neck that draped over its back.

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