Children Reward the Showers of Love Chapter 8

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Chapter 8

Akira: We’ll be over there, so I’ll leave Sif with you and Oz.

…While we’re gone, I hope you can have a nice long talk. 

Arthur: Master Sage…

…Yes. Thank you very much.

When I look at Oz, he gives me a single nod.

I prayed that their chat would go well, and left with the others.

Shylock: Now, I believe you two have already been informed by Oz.

Mitile: Yes. When a siofra grants a wish, it disappears.

It’s sad but…I feel that’s why we must stay by their side. 

Akira: I think so too, Mitile. Before the time comes…we should spend every precious moment we can together. 

Bradley: Heh. Those’re some cool expressions you’re puttin’ on, kiddos.

I thought you two would be sobbing messes, but you’re actually keepin’ it together.

Shylock: Yes, but please don’t push yourselves. There is no reason to hide away your feelings.

Mitile & Akira: Thank you…

Murr: So, what babysitting tricks you got, Mithra? 

Mithra: I have a variety, but this one made them the happiest.

Akira: !?

Suddenly, Mithra grabbed me by the nape of my neck and lifted me up.

He then mercilessly launched me at the sky. 

Akira: Aaaaaaaaah!!

I shot upwards, until gravity took my body back.

Screaming out of fear of falling, Mithra’s expression remained unchanged as he caught me like I was luggage. 

Akira: Ow…!?

Bradley: Your throw is sloppy, as is your catch.

Owen: Wow, you didn’t even cast a protection spell.

Mitile: That’s dangerous! What if you didn’t catch the Master Sage!?

Mithra: Shut it, that wouldn’t happen.

Master Sage, that was fun, right?

Akira: F-For thrillseekers, maybe…uhm, could you let me down now…

Mithra: Satisfied already? I could curve my throw a bit, and make you somersault if you’d like.

Akira: No thank you, I’m okay! 

Mithra: Haah, if you’re sure. You don’t have to hesitate. 

Akira: Hah, I’m saved…

Murr: Your babysitting style is wild~!

Hey Mithra, will you play with the dolls now?

Mithra: Dolls?

Murr: Mmhmm. The ones on top of that bench.

Akira: Ah, those are…

Akira: Huh. There’s toys on this chair…they’re dolls made of wood. Did we bring something like this? 

Oz: Those were here before. They were likely used by the former residents of this village.

Akira: Makes sense. Maybe the church was looking after children?

Murr: The dolls the humans who once lived here used to play with the siofra. 

Mitile: Wait, really? How do you…

Murr: It piqued my interest, so I examined them and took them apart, to find a letter in one of them!

The paper’s pretty old and hard to read though.

He said, and with his other hand took out a crumpled old letter.

Murr: “To whomever is reading this.”

“I hide this letter in the Siofra’s beloved doll, for their divine protection should keep it safe…”

“I write this letter in hopes that someone will find it.” 

“This village since ancient times has lived on the blessings granted by the Siofra, whom we give all our love to.”

“Unfortunately, the wicked outsiders have found out about them.”

“They invade our village left and right, and steal the Siofra from us by force.”

“If you are reading this. Please, save the Siofra.”

“Before their lives are extinguished by greed.”

Mitile & Akira: Ah…

Bradley & Owen: What?

Surprisingly, it was Bradley and Owen who spoke up.

Owen: Did you know? And that’s why you told the story?

Bradley: No way I knew. I just guessed right. 

Still…

His words stopped there, and he nabbed the doll from Murr’s hand.

He immediately fiddled with the doll’s hands, and then pinched my cheek with them.

Akira: Owowowow…!?

Bradley: There’s no reason for you to be so down in the dumps now. 

‘Cuz you’re gonna use those hands that cared for the siofra to send them off with a proper goodbye. 

Akira: Bradley…

Murr: Ahaha! You’re good at playing with dolls, Bradley!

Mithra: Hey, I’m supposed to be teaching right now. 

Bradley: Yeah yeah. Sorry for stealing your human siofra. 

Mithra: Playing with dolls is for amateurs.

Instead…

He spread his hand on top of my head.

And in the next moment, put strength in his fingers and roughly began scrubbing my head.  

Akira: Wa, woah, Mithra…! My hair…I’m, getting dizzy…!

Mithra: You don’t need dolls to have fun like this. 

Owen: Oh no, the Master Sage’s head is going to rip off.

Murr: Your eyes are spinning, Master Sage!

Shylock: Since neither of us would ever play with Sif like this, they must have taken it as a novel experience.

It is a bit unrefined, but perhaps they saw it as Mithra’s way of showing affection. 

Mithra: Affection? But I don’t have any of that.

Shylock: How about you try remembering a time when your heart was moved by someone else’s actions?

Maybe you will understand why Sif enjoys playing with you then.

Mithra: Like I said, there’s no affection…

Mitile: …What about my mother?

Mithra: Huh?

Mitile: How did you feel about Mother? You met her when you were a child, and learned magic from her, right?

Mithra: Tiletta, hm…

For her, I guess it’s this.

He took a finger and stuck it in the corner of his mouth.

Then he pulled to make a smile as if saying ‘cheese’.

Mithra: She wuld offen laff wiff a big mauth juss like dis…

Bradley: What wuzzat?

Akira: “She would often laugh with a big mouth just like this”…I think?

Murr: Hahaha! That’s funny, Mithra!

Mitile: M-Mother would really laugh like that?

Shylock: Her hearty laugh must’ve left an impression on him. She was a bright, extravagant, and beautiful witch after all. 

I’m guessing that’s how you saw her too, Mithra.

Mithra: Really?

Mitile: Mother’s smile…wide open…

He timidly brought his fingers to the corners of his mouth and tried tugging them.

Mithra: You need to pull more. Like this.

Mitile: Awie!

Owen: Haha. Your mouth’s stretching sideways, sooo weird.

Bradley: Oh, the baby’s learning how to look after babies too?

Mitile: Hey, I’m not that little!

Though it was night, the mood was warm.

A sad farewell was coming soon, yet everything felt so at peace. My chest tightened.

I looked to the night sky to try and distract myself, and thought of those two.

Akira: (I hope they’re doing okay…)

(I wonder what they’re talking about now.)

Oz: …

Arthur: …

Oz: (The Sage said to talk until I felt okay…)

Arthur: (But the words just won’t come out…)

Oz & Arthur: (...Hm?)

Sif: …

Pinch pinch. 

Arthur: Lord Oz, Sif wants you to hold them.

Oz: Ah…no.

You should hold them.

Arthur: Hmhm…how about we take turns. Come, Sif.

Sif: Kyakya!

Oz & Arthur: …

Arthur: Lord Oz. About all this…thank you for trying not to hurt my feelings.

Know that your kindness warms my heart. 

Please let me apologize however, for making it sound like I was blaming you earlier. 

Oz: You have nothing to apologize for.

Taking your feelings into consideration, it’s what I deserve. 

I should have told you things sooner. 

Arthur: Lord Oz…

Oz: Everyday I see how you’ve grown. It’s not that I don’t trust in you. 

It’s just…

Arthur: …

Oz: If someone you love dies for you, you would be heartbroken.

Arthur: That’s…

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