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Faltering Dreams, or What The Lago Foretold - Episode 8
⭠ last episode | Episode 8 | next episode ⭢
Bradley: Hey, they’re finally getting a little party started here, aren’t they? Even Mithra has to get his shit together with something like that around.
Nero: Man, it’s not a party… I guess the Bradley Sect just ain’t right in the head……
Bradley: Oh, you're still running with that joke? You liked it?
Nero: S-Shut up. Well, it’s whatever, I mean, no, it’s stupid. Hey! Shit, don’t get distracted!
Bradley: Yeah, yeah.
Chloe: …… I believe in you two, Arthur, Mithra. It doesn’t matter if there’s a devouring black or a watery disaster, you two will find a way.
Everyone, be safe…!
[ Central Country - Open Skies ]
Akira: Arthur! Mithra…!
At the sight of the dark water swallowing up them both, my heart dropped and my blood ran cold.
Mithra: « arsim »
However, it took only a second for the pillar of water to burst open.
Arthur emerged from it after Mithra, who looked as calm as ever.
From where the pillar burst open, a jet of water, seemingly with a life of its own, split into two tendrils that chased after the two wizards.
Mithra: I will bait the tendrils. Please use your magic to strike them both at once.
Arthur: Okay, got—
[ Splash! ]
Akira: Ahh…!
While Arthur was still trying to orient himself, a wall of water came crashing down upon him in a flash.
The thick, wriggling tendrils of black water were just like whips as they aimed for the staggering Arthur. They attacked him with increasing force.
Mithra: Arthur.
Arthur: ……! (breathes in)
« pernoctant nix zo » !
Arthur's spell-word resounded loudly and clearly.
The great whips of water dwindled into nothing.
I looked up, past the drops of water that fell as if it were a rainstorm.
There Arthur stood, drenched to the last strand of his silvery hair; Mithra next to him, a light breeze tousling his completely dry hair.
Akira: P-Phew. They both seem to be alright…
Snow: Ohoho. It seems those two have seized upon the route to the best possible future for themselves: Arthur, who was divined to have a devouring black lurking in his future, and Mithra, who we Foretold would run into a watery disaster of great magnitude.
Snow's laughter was bright and his voice clear.
The rain over the lake had stopped. A beaming Arthur approached where Mithra was hovering on his broom.
Arthur: We did it, Mithra!
Mithra: Well…… You did pretty good for a young wizard, but you still have a long way to go.
[ Mithra readies his magic. ]
Water started to swell from the middle of the vortex under Mithra.
Mithra: Let me show you how it should be done.
Akira: ……!
With a simple flick of his hand, Mithra pulled up all that water. Then, the next thing I knew, an unseen force crushed it.
Mithra: « arsim »
I heard a terrific noise. With it, a massive vortex started swirling within the lake.
It sucked in all the black water. The gurgling vortex swept it all into its centre. It was almost as if a black hole had opened up right in the middle of the lake.
Arthur: Amazing…! The vortex is sucking in all the black water……
Mithra did not allow the water even a moment of reprieve.
The corrupted negativity underfoot was now completely under Mithra's control.
Snow: …… The curse is all gathered up in one spot. It's now or never!
Snow & White: On our signal…!
Snow & White: « noscommunia »
Faust: « satilliqunart mullcreed »
[ Central Country - Lake Mizukagami ]
[ No BGM ]
A bright flash of light enveloped the lake.
It was so bright, I couldn't even keep my eyes open. My eyes were tightly shut and yet I could still feel the light searing through my eyelids.
When I sensed it dimming, I gradually opened my eyes…
Akira: Wow…!
[ BGM starts ]
A scenery beautiful beyond words unfolded before me.
The black curse plaguing the lake was completely gone.
The surface of the lake was just like a mirror that reflected the surrounding lakefront.
I could not see where the sky ended and the lake began.
I could look up or down and all I'd see was clouds idly floating by, as if I’d gotten lost somewhere in the skies above.
Snow: Ohoho. All done with the purification!
White: Umu. It has returned to its previous splendour!
Faust: Oh, I see…… The scenery is more beautiful than I had imagined.
[ Chloe runs up to Akira and the others. ]
Chloe: Hey, everyone—!
Akira: Chloe, Nero, and Bradley, we’re back!
Bradley: Hey, the view ain't half bad 'round these parts.
Nero: Looks like you guys did a good job purifying the lake.
Chloe: I nearly had a heart attack when I saw that giant pillar of water…! Arthur, Mithra, are you two alright?
Arthur: I'm fine. Thanks, Chloe. As you can see, we're both unharmed.
Mithra: Yes, I should hope so. There was only a minor annoyance after all.
We all regrouped by the water's edge, and we looked out at the lake that had been restored to its original beauty.
Then, I noticed that there were other people approaching the lake with trepidation.
Village Chief: Oh……
Snow: Oh, Chief. There you are. Behold, the lake restored to its former glory.
You may now rest easy.
Village Chief: T-Thank you very much.
Akira: (Huh…?)
The village chief looked downcast.
Just like the other villagers gazing upon the lake, his expression was best described as one of despair.
Village Chief: …… You all have my deepest thanks for returning the lake to what it once was.
But there is no salvation that awaits our village……
As he uttered those words, the village chief slumped to his knees.
He broke down into choking sobs, covering his face with his hands.
Village Chief: Surely all of you had seen it too — the terrible fate that awaits our village at the end of all this…!
Our village will soon be consumed by darkness and fall to ruin.
As I listened to the village chief, I remembered what he'd told us about the relationship between the village and Lake Mizukagami.
The lake provides a glimpse of the village’s future. That is what they all believe.
They must be convinced that the horrifying images that played upon the darkened surface of the lake just some time ago was an inevitable future.
Even though the curse was now dispelled, the fear that had been deeply engraved into their hearts still remained.
Akira: (We have yet to free the villagers' hearts from the curse that plagues them…)
What they had seen in the lake had been a grievous wound to their hearts.
We can tell them to cheer up because we resolved the problem of the lake, but they can’t simply cheer up on command. They believe their future has already been foretold, and that they are powerless to do anything about it.
Arthur: Chief, it's not like that, it's…
Rita: Grampa!
Before Arthur could attempt to explain, Rita appeared with her mother.
Village Chief: Rita! It's dangerous out here. I told you to wait in the village.
Rita: It's all okay now, Grampa. Snow sama said there was nothing to worry about after all.
Snow sama is a Great Oracle! He said his prophecies have never been wrong, ever!
Village Chief: N-Not once…?
Snow proudly stood before the village chief, whose gaze wavered between hope and distress. It was almost as if that was Snow's answer to his unspoken question.
Snow: Umu. Not once, in over two millennia.
Rita: Just now, he looked into Rita's future and said that he saw that Rita will be smiling in the near future.
…… So everything will be alright! The lake stuff isn't the village's future.
If… If what Rita saw in the lake is gonna come true, it's not something Rita can smile at……
Village Chief: But…
Snow: My dear Chief. Do you still doubt us? Then allow us to show you what a true prophecy looks like.
Gather all your villagers to the lakeside. We shall grant you all an audience to our divination.
[ Lake Mizukagami ]
[ No BGM ]
The villagers quickly gathered up together by the lakeside.
They all looked gloomy and fraught by despair. Just like the village chief before them, they too truly, deeply believed that the images on the lake had shown them their village's future.
Snow: Everyone, thank you for gathering here today. We are the Oracles Snow, and…
White: … White, his twin. Should we make a hundred predictions, we would be correct a hundred times. We have never, ever been wrong.
Villagers: What…!?
They were already uneasy, but now a commotion spread through these shaken villagers.
Episode 9 ⭢
Bradley: Hey, they’re finally getting a little party started here, aren’t they? Even Mithra has to get his shit together with something like that around.
Nero: Man, it’s not a party… I guess the Bradley Sect just ain’t right in the head……
Bradley: Oh, you're still running with that joke? You liked it?
Nero: S-Shut up. Well, it’s whatever, I mean, no, it’s stupid. Hey! Shit, don’t get distracted!
Bradley: Yeah, yeah.
Chloe: …… I believe in you two, Arthur, Mithra. It doesn’t matter if there’s a devouring black or a watery disaster, you two will find a way.
Everyone, be safe…!
[ Central Country - Open Skies ]
Akira: Arthur! Mithra…!
At the sight of the dark water swallowing up them both, my heart dropped and my blood ran cold.
Mithra: « arsim »
However, it took only a second for the pillar of water to burst open.
Arthur emerged from it after Mithra, who looked as calm as ever.
From where the pillar burst open, a jet of water, seemingly with a life of its own, split into two tendrils that chased after the two wizards.
Mithra: I will bait the tendrils. Please use your magic to strike them both at once.
Arthur: Okay, got—
[ Splash! ]
Akira: Ahh…!
While Arthur was still trying to orient himself, a wall of water came crashing down upon him in a flash.
The thick, wriggling tendrils of black water were just like whips as they aimed for the staggering Arthur. They attacked him with increasing force.
Mithra: Arthur.
Arthur: ……! (breathes in)
« pernoctant nix zo » !
Arthur's spell-word resounded loudly and clearly.
The great whips of water dwindled into nothing.
I looked up, past the drops of water that fell as if it were a rainstorm.
There Arthur stood, drenched to the last strand of his silvery hair; Mithra next to him, a light breeze tousling his completely dry hair.
Akira: P-Phew. They both seem to be alright…
Snow: Ohoho. It seems those two have seized upon the route to the best possible future for themselves: Arthur, who was divined to have a devouring black lurking in his future, and Mithra, who we Foretold would run into a watery disaster of great magnitude.
Snow's laughter was bright and his voice clear.
The rain over the lake had stopped. A beaming Arthur approached where Mithra was hovering on his broom.
Arthur: We did it, Mithra!
Mithra: Well…… You did pretty good for a young wizard, but you still have a long way to go.
[ Mithra readies his magic. ]
Water started to swell from the middle of the vortex under Mithra.
Mithra: Let me show you how it should be done.
Akira: ……!
With a simple flick of his hand, Mithra pulled up all that water. Then, the next thing I knew, an unseen force crushed it.
Mithra: « arsim »
I heard a terrific noise. With it, a massive vortex started swirling within the lake.
It sucked in all the black water. The gurgling vortex swept it all into its centre. It was almost as if a black hole had opened up right in the middle of the lake.
Arthur: Amazing…! The vortex is sucking in all the black water……
Mithra did not allow the water even a moment of reprieve.
The corrupted negativity underfoot was now completely under Mithra's control.
Snow: …… The curse is all gathered up in one spot. It's now or never!
Snow & White: On our signal…!
Snow & White: « noscommunia »
Faust: « satilliqunart mullcreed »
[ Central Country - Lake Mizukagami ]
[ No BGM ]
A bright flash of light enveloped the lake.
It was so bright, I couldn't even keep my eyes open. My eyes were tightly shut and yet I could still feel the light searing through my eyelids.
When I sensed it dimming, I gradually opened my eyes…
Akira: Wow…!
[ BGM starts ]
A scenery beautiful beyond words unfolded before me.
The black curse plaguing the lake was completely gone.
The surface of the lake was just like a mirror that reflected the surrounding lakefront.
I could not see where the sky ended and the lake began.
I could look up or down and all I'd see was clouds idly floating by, as if I’d gotten lost somewhere in the skies above.
Snow: Ohoho. All done with the purification!
White: Umu. It has returned to its previous splendour!
Faust: Oh, I see…… The scenery is more beautiful than I had imagined.
[ Chloe runs up to Akira and the others. ]
Chloe: Hey, everyone—!
Akira: Chloe, Nero, and Bradley, we’re back!
Bradley: Hey, the view ain't half bad 'round these parts.
Nero: Looks like you guys did a good job purifying the lake.
Chloe: I nearly had a heart attack when I saw that giant pillar of water…! Arthur, Mithra, are you two alright?
Arthur: I'm fine. Thanks, Chloe. As you can see, we're both unharmed.
Mithra: Yes, I should hope so. There was only a minor annoyance after all.
We all regrouped by the water's edge, and we looked out at the lake that had been restored to its original beauty.
Then, I noticed that there were other people approaching the lake with trepidation.
Village Chief: Oh……
Snow: Oh, Chief. There you are. Behold, the lake restored to its former glory.
You may now rest easy.
Village Chief: T-Thank you very much.
Akira: (Huh…?)
The village chief looked downcast.
Just like the other villagers gazing upon the lake, his expression was best described as one of despair.
Village Chief: …… You all have my deepest thanks for returning the lake to what it once was.
But there is no salvation that awaits our village……
As he uttered those words, the village chief slumped to his knees.
He broke down into choking sobs, covering his face with his hands.
Village Chief: Surely all of you had seen it too — the terrible fate that awaits our village at the end of all this…!
Our village will soon be consumed by darkness and fall to ruin.
As I listened to the village chief, I remembered what he'd told us about the relationship between the village and Lake Mizukagami.
The lake provides a glimpse of the village’s future. That is what they all believe.
They must be convinced that the horrifying images that played upon the darkened surface of the lake just some time ago was an inevitable future.
Even though the curse was now dispelled, the fear that had been deeply engraved into their hearts still remained.
Akira: (We have yet to free the villagers' hearts from the curse that plagues them…)
What they had seen in the lake had been a grievous wound to their hearts.
We can tell them to cheer up because we resolved the problem of the lake, but they can’t simply cheer up on command. They believe their future has already been foretold, and that they are powerless to do anything about it.
Arthur: Chief, it's not like that, it's…
Rita: Grampa!
Before Arthur could attempt to explain, Rita appeared with her mother.
Village Chief: Rita! It's dangerous out here. I told you to wait in the village.
Rita: It's all okay now, Grampa. Snow sama said there was nothing to worry about after all.
Snow sama is a Great Oracle! He said his prophecies have never been wrong, ever!
Village Chief: N-Not once…?
Snow proudly stood before the village chief, whose gaze wavered between hope and distress. It was almost as if that was Snow's answer to his unspoken question.
Snow: Umu. Not once, in over two millennia.
Rita: Just now, he looked into Rita's future and said that he saw that Rita will be smiling in the near future.
…… So everything will be alright! The lake stuff isn't the village's future.
If… If what Rita saw in the lake is gonna come true, it's not something Rita can smile at……
Village Chief: But…
Snow: My dear Chief. Do you still doubt us? Then allow us to show you what a true prophecy looks like.
Gather all your villagers to the lakeside. We shall grant you all an audience to our divination.
[ Lake Mizukagami ]
[ No BGM ]
The villagers quickly gathered up together by the lakeside.
They all looked gloomy and fraught by despair. Just like the village chief before them, they too truly, deeply believed that the images on the lake had shown them their village's future.
Snow: Everyone, thank you for gathering here today. We are the Oracles Snow, and…
White: … White, his twin. Should we make a hundred predictions, we would be correct a hundred times. We have never, ever been wrong.
Villagers: What…!?
They were already uneasy, but now a commotion spread through these shaken villagers.
Episode 9 ⭢