Alptraum of the White Funeral Night Chapter 5

[xuebingcode]

Chapter 5

Twins in the Painting: Mmmng…

White: Yeah, I’m out! 

Snow: Wakey wakey Oz. Noscomnia!

Oz: …

…I…right, magic beasts came out of the trunk…

Where is everyone? I don’t see Cain or Chloe, nor Owen.

Snow: They ran away. I can’t sense their mana very well, but they should all be on the run from those caterpillars…the cucarucca. 

White: Owen went with them, but in that state…I wonder if he’ll be any help. 

Oz: What is this ‘Cucarucca’ you speak of. I’ve never heard of it.

Snow: They are a species we made extinct from before you were born. 

White: Though each individual caterpillar had weak mana, there were so many of them you couldn’t count, and together they would hunt and kill humans. Truly a beast to be feared. 

What’s more, those caterpillars…

Cain: Here! Move those legs, we’re running! 

Snow: Cain!?

Oz: Vox…!

White: Stop, Oz!

Snow: Do not use magic!

Snow & White: …This is…

Cain: Don’t get close! Move, run!

…h, aaaaaaugh…!

Snow & White: Noscomnia!

Cain?: Gaaaaugh…! Gaaaah…aaaaaaaaaaaah…

Oz: Cain became a cluster of caterpillars…so they have the power of mimicry.

Snow: Exactly. We dispelled their imitation, and now they’re running away with their cluster. 

White: Ew…it never fails to make me sick to see a face we know crumble into a bunch of maggots. 

Snow: If someone you knew came running to you bleeding and asking for help, anyone would feel disturbed and err in judgement. 

White: …That craftiness is the most troublesome part about these magic beasts. 

Snow: The cucarucca can perfectly transform themselves to people or animals and parrot the words they hear. 

And with the voice they stole they can let out screams of death, harming themselves to appear bloodied, all to despicably fool you even more.

White: Not just humans, even Northern wizards had been fooled and fallen prey to them.  

Which was why when we were more youthful and energetic than now, we went around the North killing them all…

Snow: Though it seems they’ve revived due to the Great Calamity’s influence. 

Oz: …

……

Snow & White: Woah woah woah…!?

Snow: Wait Ozzy!

White: Watch how you hold the frame!

Oz: We must find Riquet and Mitile at haste. I will borrow the Sage’s power and exterminate these beasts.

If they can eat Northern wizards, then younger wizards and humans do not stand a chance.

…Those three are honest and goodhearted. They won’t doubt mimics. 

Let us hurry.

Riquet: Haa, haa…!

Mitile: Keep at it, Riquet! They’re still after us! 

Oz?: …

Akira: Those caterpillars have transformed into Oz too…!

We were running for our lives from the cucaruccas that were constantly crawling after us.

Just before this at the end of a pathway we’d spotted Oz. I was relieved from the bottom of my heart, but holding his hand was a mistake.

I still remember how wrong it felt.

Oz’s hand was cold and sodden.

The moment I pulled my hand back, he silently stared at me like the real Oz would, but in his eyes I could spot a caterpillar creep out.

Those gruesome monsters would then keep turning into Oz and breaking down, all while chasing us at a speed unbelievable for a caterpillar. 

Mitile: …Ugh, take this! Scintilla!

Oz?: n…

Mitile: I did it! I casted the inextinguishable flame spell! I can toast these magic beasts…!

…er, they’re still after us!

Akira: I see a huge pillar at the end of this pathway! Maybe we can hide in its shadow…!?

Riquet: Alri...n-no, we can’t! It’s wrapped in webs! 

Mitile: How about that stone statue over there? There’s no webs on it! 

I’ll blind their eyes…

Riquet: I will do it! Sanretea Edif!

Now is our chance! Let’s hurry…!

We dashed behind the crumbling stone statue, killing our breaths and huddling close together. 

As the flash of light dissipated, the cucarucca that had transformed into Oz slowly turned their heads left and right, reminding me of a hairy caterpillar when it felt threatened. 

In the end, the white caterpillars crumbled their forms and scattered down the pathways. 

Akira: …Haa…we’re safe, for now…

Are you two okay?

Mitile: Y-Yes, somehow…

Riquet: …

Akira: …

Riquet: Ah…yes, I’m fine.

He nodded in a panic. Contrary to his words, he was definitely spacing out.

On a face full of sweat, eyes that were normally courageous were now vacantly blinking.

Akira: Are you really okay? You look exhausted…

Mitile: You’re running out of mana aren’t you? Riquet, you’ve been using too much magic.

You even casted a blinding spell when I was going to. If you keep pushing yourself you’ll run out of mana…

Riquet: I won’t!!

Riquet’s voice echoed throughout the mausoleum.

I could hear the rustling of cucaruccas in the distance. 

But rather than fear, surprise took over me. 

Riquet isn’t one to lose his temper and shout from his friend worrying over him.

Mitile: …Riquet? Is something wrong?

He talked in a soft voice. Riquet quickly covered his mouth, crouching lower in embarrassment. 

Riquet: I’m so sorry, I…but I really am fine. 

There is nothing you need to worry about, Mitile. Really…nothing.

Akira: (...There is something. Anyone could tell he’s not himself right now.)

(Is it the fear of the cucarucca? Nervous that Oz and Cain aren’t with him? Usually he’d still be brave though…)

Mitile: …Riquet…

Riquet quickly stood up, as if to interrupt Mitile from saying anything. 

Riquet: My apologies. Because I raised my voice, the cucaruccas might come to us now. 

Sitting around won’t help us find the real Oz, so let’s get moving. 

Mitile: …

He starts walking with haste. Mitile follows after him with a troubled expression.

Snow: The kids aren’t anywhere.

White: Nor are Cain and the others. 

Oz: …This mausoleum is like a labyrinth.

Why did we choose this space for the training session?

Snow: Huuuh~?? Before this all happened you were all like “Oh looks good” about this place weren’tcha!

White: Stop, you two! We don’t have time for squabbles.

If we fight here, the younger wizards will be turned to stone before the sun rises. 

Snow & Oz: …

Snow: Oz, you should say “Sorry” here. Then I shall reply “It’s okay”.

Oz: You say it.

White: Ugh!! Keep at it for the rest of your lives then! Idiots!!

Snow: Sorry sorry sorry! I won’t do it anymore! I’ve turned over a new leaf!

*breathe* Haa…let’s change the topic…

Right, speaking of fights, the state of Mitile’s heart worries me. This is certainly no situation to be pointlessly fighting. 

That child has consumed a mana stone far stronger than him. Though Figaro is looking after him…

He doesn’t seem to be following the rule of not using too much magic. 

Now that we’re in this mess, there’s no doubt that he will ignore the strains on his heart and keep on using magic. I can only hope that the stone won’t devour him…

White: That’s true…at least we can have some relief that Riquet’s with him.

Magic is used with a clear mind. With a trusted friend by your side, it is easier to keep one’s head and maintain your sense of self. 

Oz: …

The other day…

I was asked by Riquet if there was any way he could help Mitile should he be consumed by the mana stone.

I told him that there was no way to help him.

Snow & White: …!

Snow: So…as of now, Riquet is fighting thinking his best friend is going to turn into stone?

White: …That changes things…he must be thinking that he has to resolve this all by himself.

Oz: …

Snow: …You too, Oz. Calm down.

Oz: I am calm.

Snow: How? Walking hastily like that.

Accept it. Though you pride yourself as the world’s strongest, there is nothing you can do now.

White: Snow. Stop. I told you no fighting.

Snow: I am not. I am merely telling my student the truth. 

We who are stuck to this painting are the same. We can’t do anything, it’s best to accept the truth then deny it.

Oz: …

…That’s why I’m hurrying. If I can take the Sage’s hand…

Snow: You can use magic at night.

…However, the current you is the same as a mere human. Should you stumble over on your high heels you could not heal yourself with magic. 

So calm your nerves. Accept your powerless and human-like self. 

Oz: …

……




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