Alptraum of the White Funeral Night Chapter 7

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Chapter 7

Riquet: Anyways Mitile, you need to stay here. Master Sage, I’ll be going now. 

Akira: Wai…

Mitile: Wait…Riquet!

…Geez! Riquet you dummy! Won’t even listen to me one bit!!

Watching where Riquet ran off to, Mitile stomped his feet in frustration.

I hurriedly searched for the right words to say, but nothing came out. That was because I didn’t really understand their conversation.

I know more about magic now, but I still have yet to truly understand their innate relationship between the heart and magic.

Mitile: …

Before I could say anything, Mitile squeezed his fists tight.

Mitile: …I can’t use too much magic. I know that. 

I know that, but…

…

He strongly bit his lip for a second, and he turned to look at me, a determined look in his eyes. 

Mitile: I won’t leave Riquet alone.

I’m going to find Riquet, and like I said before, reunite with Lord Oz. Until then, please hide in here, Master Sage.

Make sure not to open the door.

Akira: …I understand. Please, take care…

My voice trembled a bit,

since it could be the last time we saw each other.

Yet Mitile gave me a bright smile and a nod like he didn’t notice a thing.

Even though he’s the one who’s hurt and worn out, about to dive into the darkness to save his friend and fulfill his duty.

Even though his legs that carried him so far have started to shake ever so slightly. 

Mitile: We will find Lord Oz and make everything alright. 

Please believe in us and wait!

With all the willpower I could muster, I gave a wide smile.

For the kind and brave wizard who smiled for me. 

Akira: I believe in you two. You can do this!

Mitile: Yes!

Oz: …

Snow: Oz? Why did you stop?

Oz: Quiet. …, …

…It’s hard to tell with the presence of the bugs, but I can sense traces of magic in that direction. Incomplete spells, elaborately layered atop each other…

White: …, …Oh! You’re right! It’s faint, but there certainly is something!

Snow: Could it be Mitile and Riquet’s magic? Good job, Oz! Now we can unite! 

The Trio: …!

Snow: The cucaruccas are crawling over there too.

White: Heinous beasts, so you’ve picked up the scent too…Oz, we must hurry!

Oz: Of course.

(Mitile, Riquet…)

(...Akira…)

Akira: (...)

(...It sure is dark…)

Now alone in the small room, I carefully sat myself down on the floor to calm my nerves. 

I couldn’t tell if my eyes were open or closed in this pitch black darkness.

I was paranoid that the monsters would be able to hear the loud thumping of my heart.

Akira: (...Don’t worry. It’ll be okay. It’ll all go well…)

(Mitile and Riquet are best friends. I am worried about Riquet, but if they talk it out they’ll surely make up.)

(They’ll be able to find Oz sooner without me weighing them down. And they’re definitely searching for me too.)

(So it’s gonna be okay. It’ll be fine, fine…)

Mitile & Riquet: …Master Sage!

Akira: …! Mitile, Riquet! 

I almost jumped trying to stand up. I quickly put my hands on the door.

Akira: You already found Oz! That was fa–

(...Right. Isn’t that too fast?)

(The darkness may be messing with my sense of time, but I’m sure it wasn’t that long since I parted with Mitile.)

(And, if Oz is with them why isn’t he saying anything?)

(...Is it really Mitile and Riquet?)

Riquet: Master Sage.

Mitile: Are you okay?

I strained my ears to listen to their voices clearly,

but those worried voices sounded so real to me. 

Akira: (Maybe there was trouble and they had to come back to me. Maybe hours have already passed. It’s normal for Oz to be silent too…)

I felt so alone and hopeless in this darkness. It made me want to open the door even more. 

Akira: (...But, if they were really real…)

(They would’ve undone their own spells and opened the door by themselves, before talking to me.)

(Right, these must be fakes. I mustn’t open this door, just like Mitile said!)

As soon as I made my decision and backed away from the door,

I could hear the rustling sounds of caterpillars crawling faster than I’ve ever heard until now.

Without even a second to think, something slammed against the door with a loud thud. 

It was the sound of something large and soft hitting the door. 

Like a human.

Riquet: Aaaaah!!

Mitile: Riquet! …Waaaaugh!

Akira: Mitile!? Riquet!?

Riquet: Waaaah, …ah! Agh, …, …!!

Mitile: Aaaah, gh, …, ahhhhh…!!

Akira: What’s going on!? Are you okay!?

All I could hear were Mitile and Riquet’s shrieking and crying voices. 

And something heavy being battered without end. 

Those two were being shoved and beaten. 

Broken, squashed, shredded, torn, mushed…

Akira: …h, Mitile!! Riquet!! Please answer me!!

It can’t be real…it’s all fake, right!? None of this is real right!? Give me an answer, please, please, please, please…!

In a craze I pounded the door. Words spilled from my throat without me realizing. 

My vision flickered. I thought I might barf going numb with fear. 

Akira: (No, no, NO! It’s not real! It’s fake, it’s fake, it’s fake, it’s all fake!)

(I’ve seen these tricks in horror movies…! I mustn’t open the door!)

(I mustn’t, I won’t……but, but…)

(This isn’t a movie.)

(It’s reality.)

(What if beyond this door was Mitile and Riquet?)

(What if they really were being attacked?)

Riquet: Gaah…h,...h! Nn, aaah…

Mitile: Riquet, Riquet! Riquet!! Ri…h, waaaaah…!

I couldn’t stop shaking at their painful wailing. I thought my heart would crush from agony.

My head felt light, and I was getting dizzy, but I desperately continued to think. 

Akira: (I didn’t hear any stones breaking. They’re still alive.)

(If those two really are being attacked…)

(I could leave these room, and let those two run away while the cucaruccas go after me.)

(..., but. If they’re fakes…)

Mitile: Master Sage!

I return to my senses. The voice was right behind this door. 

My kind and brave wizard whispered to me in a hushed voice that sounded like it could cut off at any moment. 

Mitile: Make sure not to open the door. 

Ah, ah…uu, uuu…

Spongy chewing noises entered my ears, along with Mitile’s sobbing.

I could only imagine the worst happening behind that door. 

Akira: (...He’s being eaten, alive…)

I rejected the images that tried to come to mind in my despair. 

In that moment however, a light shined. 

And from far away I could slightly pick up someone’s voice. 

Snow: –kids…aren’t anywhere.

Akira: …!

White: Nor…Cain…others…

Oz: …This maus…is like…th.

Akira: Snow! White! Oz…!!

I cling to the door, shouting the names of the wizards we’d been searching for. 

They didn’t reply, but I could hear their voices come closer.

The sounds of the cucaruccas devouring and attacking fell silent. 

It could be that they were feeling wary at the presence of powerful wizards. 

If I take this chance I could reunite with Oz and the twins. 

I could give the Mitile who was being eaten alive and the Riquet who was torn apart a second longer to live. 

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