Alptraum of the White Funeral Night Chapter 9

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Chapter 9

Snow: They’re all going somewhere together.

Cain: Weird. Should be instinct for them to be trying to poke a hole in Oz and the twin’s defenses to nab the Master Sage…

Owen: …It’s normal for starving beasts to forget instinct when there’s easier prey nearby. 

I know of some mountain dogs that were just like this. Mountain dogs usually run away if they fail to hunt down their target.

But even though a herd of deer fought them off, those dogs turned back and went after a baby deer that strayed from the herd. 

Chloe: So…the cucaruccas are right now going after…

Snow: …Mitile and Riquet are in danger! Let’s move!

Mitile: That was bad…! Riquet, you alright!?

Riquet: …Mitile…

…, h…! Why did you come after me! Go back this instant!

Mitile: Back…is, isn’t that uncalled for!? I came to save you! 

Riquet: I didn’t ask! If you use too much magic your heart will be consumed…

You could lose your mind and die! Don’t you understand!? 

Mitile: I know that! But right now we’re in an emergency situation, so I have to use it whether I like it or not!

You too Riquet, why’d you go off on your own!? You have barely any mana left! 

Are you telling me to shut up and leave you so you can get turned into stone!?

Riquet: I am!

Mitile: Huuuh!?

Riquet: Leave me alone! I’ll make do by myself!

I’d rather that than you turning into stone for my sake, I’d hate, hate, hate it…!

Mitile: Then…!! …

…, …*breathe* …Haah…

…I didn’t come after you just to fight. What I wanted to say is…

I’m worried about you.

I know you’re worried about me too.

So…thanks.

Riquet: …Mitile…

Mitile: It’s as you’ve heard Riquet. I mustn't use too much magic. 

…but I…instead of hearing you say things like “I’m worried, so don’t you do anything”...

I want to hear you say “I’m worried, so let’s do this together”. I want you to tell me to try harder. 

Riquet: …

Mitile: I know it’s not very Southern wizard-like of me. I know it’s different to who I was before. 

…I know that you probably hate this kind of me…

But you’re my first friend I’ve made at the manor, the one I’m always with. 

You’re the only one I want to hear say “It’s dangerous, but I know you can do it. It’s not safe, but you must fight.”

Riquet: …

…I know that.

I know the words that you want me to say. 

I know that you’ve always been trying your hardest, before you ate that mana stone and after. 

I know that you’re a brave wizard who would risk his life to save me if I just asked you to.

Because you’re always with me. 

Mitile: …Riquet…

Riquet: …But…that’s why…

I’m worried about you.

You’re the person I want to be the most safe. To never risk his life. 

I’ve come to care for you so much because we’re always together, but I’ve also become scared.

…I want to go on adventures with you, yet when I think of you getting hurt I lose all the strength in my legs…

Mitile, you’re my very first…and precious friend…

So if anything happened to you, I…even I…

…h, I feel like my heart would burst…

Mitile: …

Riquet: …Even so...

…will you fight by my side, for a little longer?

Mitile: …!

…Of course. Let’s put our all into it, Riquet!

Mitile & Riquet: …!?

Mitile: There’s cucaruccas coming at us from every direction!

Riquet: And there’s more of them than before! Why…!?

Mitile: N-Nevermind that, we gotta run! They’ll get us at this rate…!

Riquet: Haah, haah…Sanretea Edif!

Mitile: Scintilla! …

Haa, haaaugh…! No matter how much we fend off their numbers aren’t decreasing one bit!

Riquet: Right, it’s more like they’re increasing…

Mitile: …Scintilla!

…? Scintilla! Ortonik Sealsispilce!

Riquet: Mitile! Don’t tell me, you’re at your limit…

Mitile: I’m fi…Riquet!! Behind you!!

Riquet:  Huh? A, Aaaaaaahhh…!!

Mitile: Scintilla!!

Riquet: Sanretea Edif…!

…I casted a blinding spell. It’s just for a short while, but the cucaruccas shouldn’t be able to find us for now…

Thank you Mitile.

Mitile: …Ah…

…Hehe.

Riquet: Mitile? Why the laugh…

Mitile: Haha…aha.

Ahahaha! Aahahaha!!

Riquet: What’s wrong!? Miti…

Mitile: Kyahahahahaha! Geheeheeheehee!!

Aahahahahaha!

Riquet: Mitile!!

(What do I do, what do I do, what do I do! Mitile’s acting strange!)

(Is he being consumed by the stone…!?)

Mitile: Keeheeheehee! Geehahaha!

Riquet: Mitile, come to your senses! Mitile!

(O God, I ask for your help! Please save him, save Mitile, Mitile…!)

(Please, come back!)

(I don’t want to lose you…!)

Mitile…!

Mitile: …! Ah, hand…?

Riquet: …! Are you back to normal!?

Mitile: …? Hm, hmhm, hahahaha…!

Riquet: Mitile, Mitile! I’m holding your hand. Don’t lose yourself. 

Mitile, you’ll be okay won’t you?

Mitile: …Riquet…

Ahaha! Hah…

Aha…h, …h! …

…Sorry. I think…I’m okay.

Riquet: Mitile! …Oh thank goodness…

You really mustn’t use magic now. Leave the rest to me.

Mitile: No…no! You’re almost at your limit now. There’s gotta be another way…

…Right…I put it in my pocket…

…! Here!

Riquet: That? What is it…

Mitile: Our ace. Riquet, I’ve thought up a plan to outrun those caterpillars.

I want you to cast a tornado around us.

Can you still cast wind spells? 

Riquet: …

If you’re holding my hand, then surely.

Mitile: Riquet…

Of course. We’re together ‘til the end.

I’ll explain. The plan is…

Mitile: Haah, haah…okay, let’s enact it here. 

Riquet: Got it. Let them come to us first…

Mitile & Riquet: …

Riquet: …

Mitile. I want to tell you something, just in case.

Thank you for being my…

Mitile: Don’t say it.

Riquet: But…

Mitile: It’ll be…it’ll definitely be okay. Don’t speak like it’s our last moments. 

Riquet: …Mitile…

Mitile: Let’s hold hands, Riquet. It’s almost time.

Riquet: …Yes! I’m ready when you are! 

Mitile: Then, now! 

(First I gotta take off the cork on my bottle of pesticide.)

(Then I’ll aim it at the ceiling, as high as I can…)

(...and throw it!)

The pesticide’s up! Riquet!

Riquet: …

…Sanretea Edif.

Mitile & Riquet: …!

Riquet: Look at that! The pesticide sprayed from the tornado is working on the cucaruccas! 

Mitile: Yeees! Even if they are magic beasts, they still are caterpillars…!

Riquet, this is our last chance! Time to find Lord Oz…

Akira: Mitile! Riquet! 

Mitile & Riquet: …! Master Sage!?

The cucaruccas wriggled in anguish, like a living snowfield with rippling waves.

In the center of the pure white ring, I saw two wizards hand in hand, eyes widened. I thought I might cry out of relief.

They were beaten up, but safe. 

They managed to survive this horrible night.

Chloe: We’ve found you…! 

Snow: You’re safe now. 

White: Leave the rest to us. 

Snow & White: Noscomnia!

Cain: You did your best, you two! Gladius Procella!

Owen: Quare Morito.

Ice, a swinging sword, and the spirits of beasts, tear apart the revolting white waves surrounding Mitile and Riquet.

With my hand in his and a staff in the other, Oz speedily approached the two.

His heels stamped and scattered the dying caterpillars, as he made his way to a spaced out Mitile and Riquet.

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