Alptraum of the White Funeral Night Chapter 3

[xuebingcode]

Chapter 3

Cain: To be honest, I’m concerned too…but if we’re doing it, it should be today.

I know Mitile doesn’t have enough confidence in his own power, so I can imagine the delays are making him feel bad about himself. 

Akira: That’s…true…

Oz: …

…I will strengthen the barrier around the mausoleum. So that not even a single bug or gust of wind can come in while my and the twins’ powers are restricted at nightfall. 

Vox Nox.

Akira: …And that’s why we’re here. The training session should end in the evening, so we’ll fly on brooms to the Town of Ice and sleep there for a night. 

As I explained to them I quietly let out a tired sigh.

The reason we were so late with our preparations was because of Bradley and Mithra’s interference. 

I thought about the unrelenting and meddlesome fights they kept picking.

Akira: (They were kinda weird today. Rather than beating up Oz or the twins it was more like they wanted to stop us…)

(And numerous times Mithra would say “Owen’s reward is…” before Bradley stopped him.)

(What could he mean by reward? Owen wasn’t there at all, so I wonder if he’s connected somehow…?)

Mitile: It’s a late start but…that means we just gotta do our best to hurry and clear it! 

Let’s do this, Riquet! 

Riquet: Yes!

Riquet nodded with enthusiasm, before putting on a serious face.

He was on alert from head to toe, staring at Mitile.

Riquet: …By the way Mitile, how are you feeling? Does your magic feel stable?

Mitile: …? Yeah, I’m bursting with energy!

Riquet: … I see…

Akira: (...? Riquet…?)

Snow & White: Noscomnia!

Suddenly, a snowman shaped window that reminded me of the window of roses that once appeared at Granvelle Castle, opened in the air.

Snow: Testing testing!

White: Ah ah ah–

Mitile & Riquet: It, it’s starting…!

Anxiety and anticipation in our hearts, we stared through the window with intense gazes. 

Like a television showing us a broadcast, we could see a room different from the one we were in, and the twins bobbed for a peek into the window.

Behind them we could see Oz, Cain, and Chloe.

Snow: We can’t see you from here, but can you see us?

We’re currently in the innermost room of the mausoleum, the burial chamber. It’s a bit later than expected, but we have carefully finished our preparations. 

White: In place of Mr. Oz who sucks at explaining, we will tell you all about the special training we have in store for you! 

Chloe & Cain: Woo! *clap clap clap*

Snow: Mm, thank you for the hype. First, let us explain the itinerary.

White: To put it simply, it will be a game where you must protect the Sage while collecting candy and reach the destination. 

Think of it as a step up from the treasure stealing training we did at the Ravages of Oz the other day.

Snow: Throughout the mausoleum as your opponents with candy are us twins, Cain, and Chloe. 

White: You must steal the candy from each of us. 

Snow: Once you’ve gathered all the candy you will make your way to the burial chamber to reunite with Oz, and it’s game clear.

White: Of course, you must have the Sage with you when you reach the final room. 

Your clear objectives are 1. To have four candies, and 2. Have the Sage with you.

Snow: Your opponents will not be sitting around waiting for you. We will be constantly on the move, aiming for a chance to seize the Sage from you. 

Should you concentrate on gathering candies, or focus on protecting the Sage? You must think on one’s feet. 

Mitile & Riquet: Yes!

Snow: And…here, Oz. You go tell them about the compass. 

Oz: …There is no map that leads to the burial chamber. Instead, you will have a compass. 

Mitile: Woah! I can feel something in my pocket…!

Oz: You must go in the direction the compass points to. If in any case the compass does not work, sense my magic to find the way. 

The opposition will not use attack spells. However, they may work in groups like packs of wolves when hunting.

Cain: Oh, but you two are allowed to use attack magic. 

Chloe: G-Go easy on me, though!

Snow: …Anyways, don’t hold back. You are practicing against those stronger than you, so it’d be good to come at us full force. 

White: Before we start, we shall take Sacrificium back, since you see it as your lifeline.

Akira: Really?

Riquet: Yes. During the training at the Ravages of Oz, we also had it staying behind, right?

Mitile: We were worried we’d take it too easy if Sakitty was with us. Though I understand if you’re nervous, Master Sage…

Akira: I’m okay! I want to be on the same wavelength with you two. It’s your special training after all. 

Snow: Sage, could you hold out Sacrificium into the air? We will take it back with magic. 

Akira: See you later Sakitty. Ta-da!

Sacrificium: Yawn~...

Snow: Noscomnia.

…That’s that. 

Snow & White: Now then…

Owen: Hey, this looks like fun.

Snow & White: !

Chloe & Cain: Owen!?

Through the window Owen appeared all of a sudden. 

While everyone was in their black training clothes, he alone was wearing his usual ghostly garb. He smiled like he was in a good mood. 

Apart from Owen, we all stood on edge, guards up. 

Because it’s when he’s in a good mood that the worst will happen. 

Chloe: Owen…! You broke through Lord Oz’s barrier!?

Owen: I didn’t though? I’ve been here the whole time. You idiots just didn’t notice. 

Snow: You cast a vanishing spell strong enough so that even we couldn’t detect it? Just what are you planning…

Owen: Hehe…Oz, Twins. Did you enjoy your playdate with Mithra and Bradley?

Oz: …You knew they came.

Owen: Of course. I was the one who asked them to.

I told them to stall you three here until sunset, that I would give a special mana stone to the one who did his very best. 

And that after the sun set I would come over to play with my special toy. 

Here, have a look. I’ll open my trunk for you.

Cain: Hey, stop it!

Owen: Cure Memini.

Chloe: …Uhm, bunnies?

Owen: Huh?

What hopped out of Owen’s trunk was a herd of white hares with horns growing from their heads–the North’s Horned Hare. 

They were ferocious and carnivorous magic beasts, considered a danger to humans. However, they were ants compared to Oz and the Northern wizards.

The twins, watching the hopping hares, looked extremely let down. 

White: Whaaat. They’re just horned hares.

Snow: Right, there’s other things in your trunk aside from Cerberus. You stuffed something in there after the Lemora trouble too. 

Oz: You’re interrupting Mitile and Riquet’s training. Throw them away.

Owen: …That’s weird. I thought I’d stuffed in a hydra from the Forest of Dreams…

Chloe: H-Hey! Aren’t these bunnies kinda weird?

Cain: Well it is weird for a hydra to turn into a bunch of bunnies.

Chloe: That’s weird too, but…I wonder…I just have this bad feeling like I just looked into the eyes of a liar…

Snow: Hmmm…? If a Western wizard thinks it odd, then there must be some sort of illusion or transformation spell cast on them. 

White: I’ve never heard of hydras being able to cast that kind of magic before though…

Snow & White: …No.

Unless it’s not a hydra…

…

Snow: …Oz, Oz! Burn these things to ashes!

White: To cinders, now!

Chloe & Cain: Huh?

Oz & Owen: …?

It was then.

The fluffy fur of the hares wriggled like worms gushing forth. 

No, those really were worms, forming in a cluster.

They were a mass of unnaturally white caterpillars, enough to make an adult’s arm. 

Chloe: Eeeek!?

Cain: Woah, what the!? Even our clothes…!

Oz: Vox No…

…n…

Snow: No good, it’s sun down!

White: We’re going to be inside the painting…!

White in the Painting: gh, Owen you…! You were planning to unleash a hydra on us when the sun set, right!?

Snow in the Painting: We’ll let it slide this time! You need to kill all these bugs immediately!

Owen: …Caterpillars, maggots…

White in the Painting: …Owen?

Owen: My friends inside the soggy mud…

He held out his hand to the caterpillars. That naive smile told me instantly.

Akira: (His mind’s turned into a kid, it’s his Calamity injury…!)

Cain: …! Owen, don’t go near them!

He pulled out his sword at the same moment the caterpillars leaped.

A tiny mouth bit onto Owen’s finger and chewed.

Owen: Waaah…!

Cain: Gladius Procella!

Owen, are you alright!? You’re bleeding…

Chloe: …!? The caterpillar’s mana has…!

Altogether the hundreds of caterpillars wriggled their bodies in joy. 

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