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Faltering Dreams, or What The Lago Foretold - Episode 6
⭠ last episode | Episode 6 | next episode ⭢
Snow: Your parents floated leaves into the lake, and then they dreamed that they married each other. Is that correct?
Rita: Mhm! Papa did a lake fortune reading, and then he dreamed that he would marry Mama. And then, he proposed!
Village Chief: My granddaughter is describing a divination method called leaf divination. It's something that everyone in this village practises.
From the important to the trivial — when there’s something we want to know, we float leaves along the surface of Lake Mizukagami..
Rita: Rita and Mama did that yesterday too! We did it together because it's dangerous for children like me to go alone now that the lake’s turned black.
I wished really hard for the lake to have a future where it’d be pretty again.
'Please let me dream a sweet dream like when Mama married Papa,' I said to the lake…
But… I didn't dream of anything.
I wish the black stuff will go away soon…
Based on what they told me, I tried to picture how the villagers would float leaves into the lake.
They must have been doing it when they had something they wished for, or when they were troubled. They would go to the lake and seek answers.
Akira: (This lake with its leaf divination must be a pillar of stability for these villagers.)
Arthur: Divination and Lake Mizukagami must truly be an integral part of their lives.
I see now what a close connection this village has with the lake and its traditions.
Village Chief: …… But now, most of us have given up this way of life.
The state of the lake reflects the state of our future. Most of us are now thinking of leaving this place.
Actually, the family of my granddaughter's friend is preparing to move out of this village before disaster strikes. They're giving it a few days before making their final decision, I've heard…
Snow: Her friend… Was she the chestnut-haired girl that was with you, Rita?
Rita: Mhm, that was Margo. Rita and Margo have been best friends since we were born.
Village Chief: They're both close in age, so they're just like sisters.
As the leader of this village, I shall stay here until the very end… But I must say that seeing all the people we've come to know and love leave this village is heartwrenching…
Snow: ………
Villager F: Chief, sorry to interrupt. Another visitor is looking for you…
Village Chief: Please excuse me for a moment.
The village chief left us behind with little Rita.
Rita looked like she was on the verge of tears. Snow spoke to her, warmly and calmly.
Snow: Dear Rita, please don’t wear such a long face.
Rita: You're the one who gave me the sugar…
Snow: Ohoho, that was my twin, White.
My name is Snow. I am an oracle, just like the person who once visited your village.
Rita: …! You're an oracle too?
Snow: Umu. I'm a super duper oracle that has never incorrectly predicted the future, not in two thousand years.
And now, I shall specially tell you your future.
As he spoke, Snow took Rita's small hand in his.
It was a faint smile, but it was nevertheless present on Snow's face as he looked kindly at a nervous Rita. He slowly shut his eyes, focused for a moment, and then spoke aloud:
Snow: In the near future, we see you smiling.
There is nothing left to worry about. You are in good hands.
Rita: Really…?
Arthur: Yes, you can trust in what Snow sees. You have my word.
Snow sama is never wrong, be it the bigger picture, or the finer details. If he says so, then the future ahead of you is surely going to be bright, Rita.
Once, Snow correctly predicted that I would save a village from a famine. He said so before I had even opened the village’s letter requesting aid.
With wisdom beyond his appearance, Snow smiled and nodded in affirmation.
Rita: Snow sama…
Rita smiled, and her expression blossomed into one of relief.
Right then…
White: Oh, here you all are. I’ve been looking all over for you.
Snow: So you were the other visitor, White. What happened? Not good tidings, it seems…
Arthur: Did other strange phenomena happen at the lake?
White: That's the Arthur I know, always so observant. The dark lakewater has suddenly started showing images.
Visions reflected on the surface of the lake.
That’s what the Village Chief had told us had happened in the past, in the old legend about the oracle.
Back then, the oracle had shown everyone visions of a bright, prosperous future.
And now……
Rita: ………
Rita closed her eyes sadly. White's words must have shaken her.
Snow: …… Rita dear, I see you are getting worried now. But as I have said earlier, in the near future, you are smiling.
There is nothing to worry about. You are in good hands.
[ Lake Mizukagami ]
We rushed to the lake, where the villagers were gathered at the waterside. That was also the source of the commotion that White had mentioned.
Nervously, I peered into the lake water. It was like the darkest night, and faintly, I could see scenes playing out on it.
Akira: What’s going on…
Faust: You're finally back.
Nero: Oh, man. What even is going on here? And did you ever figure out what the black stuff’s made of…?
Bradley: Well, it’s pretty much what we expected. It's a curse. Or specifically, it's also an amalgamation of negative feelings.
Faust: I believe that this curse evolved from all the people’s wishes gathered here. Over a long period of time, if people keep bringing their wishes to the same place, it can grow into something much more substantial.
Akira: A gathering of wishes…
Faust: Yes. Its presence is strongest around the roots of the tree in the middle of the lake.
Snow: …… I see now.
Snow smiled a small smile as he picked up a leaf by his foot.
Snow: Dear Kenja, a wish is made of the thoughts and feelings of a person. Wishes can be prayers or desires…… everything that sprouts from and blossoms within the heart.
Do you recall the divination method favoured by this village?
Akira: Yes…
With a start, it all came flooding back to me.
The villagers regularly floated leaves onto the lake. If there was anything they wanted for their future, they would have their hopes in mind as they sent the leaves floating across the water.
Akira: So, Faust—
I reiterated to the other wizards what we'd heard from the village chief.
They nodded, fully understanding the gravity of the matter.
Faust: …… Of course. Divination by leaves, huh.
On their own, little prayers have no significant weight. However, as time marches on, if they gathered and clustered up in one place, they would eventually grow into an amalgamation of wishes as large as this one.
Snow: And most likely what has happened is that the < Great Calamity > has in some way affected this amalgamation and turned it into a burgeoning curse.
[ Rippling… ]
Villager G: Oh, no! That was my house……!?
A wail filled the air, cutting through the stir the villagers had kicked up.
Scene after scene played on the lake's surface, each of them worse than the next.
Homes consumed by raging flames, fields ravaged by drought, a plague upon the people……
Villager G: But I… if that happens…
Within seconds, the village reflected upon the water's surface fell to ruin, leaving nothing but dust and rubble — all was laid to waste.
Arthur: Don't tell me… This is the future of the village, reflected upon the lake just like the oracle had in the past?
Snow: Wrong. This is no future.
Snow and White spoke in unison, calm despite the panic unfolding by the waterside.
Snow: The lake that they believed to show them their futures is now darkest black, and the villagers have been tormented by its state. To them, the phenomenon must be a portent of the unthinkable.
White: And so, they started imagining the worst — a burning village, barren land, themselves slowly rotting to death.
Now, Lake Mizukagami reflects what has consumed them: fear, unease, and so on.
Arthur: Instead of pleasant wishes, they brought…
Bradley: The black stuff is basically made from the villagers’ own warped mindset and negativity. It eats that kinda thing for breakfast.
Episode 7 ⭢
Snow: Your parents floated leaves into the lake, and then they dreamed that they married each other. Is that correct?
Rita: Mhm! Papa did a lake fortune reading, and then he dreamed that he would marry Mama. And then, he proposed!
Village Chief: My granddaughter is describing a divination method called leaf divination. It's something that everyone in this village practises.
From the important to the trivial — when there’s something we want to know, we float leaves along the surface of Lake Mizukagami..
Rita: Rita and Mama did that yesterday too! We did it together because it's dangerous for children like me to go alone now that the lake’s turned black.
I wished really hard for the lake to have a future where it’d be pretty again.
'Please let me dream a sweet dream like when Mama married Papa,' I said to the lake…
But… I didn't dream of anything.
I wish the black stuff will go away soon…
Based on what they told me, I tried to picture how the villagers would float leaves into the lake.
They must have been doing it when they had something they wished for, or when they were troubled. They would go to the lake and seek answers.
Akira: (This lake with its leaf divination must be a pillar of stability for these villagers.)
Arthur: Divination and Lake Mizukagami must truly be an integral part of their lives.
I see now what a close connection this village has with the lake and its traditions.
Village Chief: …… But now, most of us have given up this way of life.
The state of the lake reflects the state of our future. Most of us are now thinking of leaving this place.
Actually, the family of my granddaughter's friend is preparing to move out of this village before disaster strikes. They're giving it a few days before making their final decision, I've heard…
Snow: Her friend… Was she the chestnut-haired girl that was with you, Rita?
Rita: Mhm, that was Margo. Rita and Margo have been best friends since we were born.
Village Chief: They're both close in age, so they're just like sisters.
As the leader of this village, I shall stay here until the very end… But I must say that seeing all the people we've come to know and love leave this village is heartwrenching…
Snow: ………
Villager F: Chief, sorry to interrupt. Another visitor is looking for you…
Village Chief: Please excuse me for a moment.
The village chief left us behind with little Rita.
Rita looked like she was on the verge of tears. Snow spoke to her, warmly and calmly.
Snow: Dear Rita, please don’t wear such a long face.
Rita: You're the one who gave me the sugar…
Snow: Ohoho, that was my twin, White.
My name is Snow. I am an oracle, just like the person who once visited your village.
Rita: …! You're an oracle too?
Snow: Umu. I'm a super duper oracle that has never incorrectly predicted the future, not in two thousand years.
And now, I shall specially tell you your future.
As he spoke, Snow took Rita's small hand in his.
It was a faint smile, but it was nevertheless present on Snow's face as he looked kindly at a nervous Rita. He slowly shut his eyes, focused for a moment, and then spoke aloud:
Snow: In the near future, we see you smiling.
There is nothing left to worry about. You are in good hands.
Rita: Really…?
Arthur: Yes, you can trust in what Snow sees. You have my word.
Snow sama is never wrong, be it the bigger picture, or the finer details. If he says so, then the future ahead of you is surely going to be bright, Rita.
Once, Snow correctly predicted that I would save a village from a famine. He said so before I had even opened the village’s letter requesting aid.
With wisdom beyond his appearance, Snow smiled and nodded in affirmation.
Rita: Snow sama…
Rita smiled, and her expression blossomed into one of relief.
Right then…
White: Oh, here you all are. I’ve been looking all over for you.
Snow: So you were the other visitor, White. What happened? Not good tidings, it seems…
Arthur: Did other strange phenomena happen at the lake?
White: That's the Arthur I know, always so observant. The dark lakewater has suddenly started showing images.
Visions reflected on the surface of the lake.
That’s what the Village Chief had told us had happened in the past, in the old legend about the oracle.
Back then, the oracle had shown everyone visions of a bright, prosperous future.
And now……
Rita: ………
Rita closed her eyes sadly. White's words must have shaken her.
Snow: …… Rita dear, I see you are getting worried now. But as I have said earlier, in the near future, you are smiling.
There is nothing to worry about. You are in good hands.
[ Lake Mizukagami ]
We rushed to the lake, where the villagers were gathered at the waterside. That was also the source of the commotion that White had mentioned.
Nervously, I peered into the lake water. It was like the darkest night, and faintly, I could see scenes playing out on it.
Akira: What’s going on…
Faust: You're finally back.
Nero: Oh, man. What even is going on here? And did you ever figure out what the black stuff’s made of…?
Bradley: Well, it’s pretty much what we expected. It's a curse. Or specifically, it's also an amalgamation of negative feelings.
Faust: I believe that this curse evolved from all the people’s wishes gathered here. Over a long period of time, if people keep bringing their wishes to the same place, it can grow into something much more substantial.
Akira: A gathering of wishes…
Faust: Yes. Its presence is strongest around the roots of the tree in the middle of the lake.
Snow: …… I see now.
Snow smiled a small smile as he picked up a leaf by his foot.
Snow: Dear Kenja, a wish is made of the thoughts and feelings of a person. Wishes can be prayers or desires…… everything that sprouts from and blossoms within the heart.
Do you recall the divination method favoured by this village?
Akira: Yes…
With a start, it all came flooding back to me.
The villagers regularly floated leaves onto the lake. If there was anything they wanted for their future, they would have their hopes in mind as they sent the leaves floating across the water.
Akira: So, Faust—
I reiterated to the other wizards what we'd heard from the village chief.
They nodded, fully understanding the gravity of the matter.
Faust: …… Of course. Divination by leaves, huh.
On their own, little prayers have no significant weight. However, as time marches on, if they gathered and clustered up in one place, they would eventually grow into an amalgamation of wishes as large as this one.
Snow: And most likely what has happened is that the < Great Calamity > has in some way affected this amalgamation and turned it into a burgeoning curse.
[ Rippling… ]
Villager G: Oh, no! That was my house……!?
A wail filled the air, cutting through the stir the villagers had kicked up.
Scene after scene played on the lake's surface, each of them worse than the next.
Homes consumed by raging flames, fields ravaged by drought, a plague upon the people……
Villager G: But I… if that happens…
Within seconds, the village reflected upon the water's surface fell to ruin, leaving nothing but dust and rubble — all was laid to waste.
Arthur: Don't tell me… This is the future of the village, reflected upon the lake just like the oracle had in the past?
Snow: Wrong. This is no future.
Snow and White spoke in unison, calm despite the panic unfolding by the waterside.
Snow: The lake that they believed to show them their futures is now darkest black, and the villagers have been tormented by its state. To them, the phenomenon must be a portent of the unthinkable.
White: And so, they started imagining the worst — a burning village, barren land, themselves slowly rotting to death.
Now, Lake Mizukagami reflects what has consumed them: fear, unease, and so on.
Arthur: Instead of pleasant wishes, they brought…
Bradley: The black stuff is basically made from the villagers’ own warped mindset and negativity. It eats that kinda thing for breakfast.
Episode 7 ⭢