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The Lavender Flowers of Sympathy and Sleep - Episode 8
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Mithra: … Please give me your hand.
Rutile: Excuse me?
[ Mithra CG ]
Mithra: « arsim »
Rutile: It’s… a shell bracelet.
Mithra: It’s a protective amulet I made, on the night the tea leaves formed the shining shield.
Mithra: When you wear this, it will shield you one time, no matter what the Great Raven does to hurt you.
Rutile: Oh! Mithra san…
Mithra: I think it’s a pointless exercise though. It’s already forgotten what words are anyway.
… But, well… when you’re worried about something, your face looks sort of weird.
Please read your memoir or whatever that is, and hurry up and return to your normal face.
Rutile: … Yes, I’ll do just that. I’ll try to bring back my normal face!
Thank you very much, Mithra san!
[ Castle of Maiden’s Tears - Bedchamber ]
—— The next morning, Rutile and I waited for Owen at the Great Raven’s sleeping chambers.
The Great Raven slept atop the bed, moaning in anguish just as it had in all the days past.
Akira: Owen’s not here yet… It’s almost time for the ritual to begin too.
Rutile: Yeah… Should we wait for a while longer? If he doesn’t show up soon, let’s go look for him.
This was the chamber where the ritual was supposed to start and end.
The ritual began with Owen’s role. He was to wake the Great Raven.
At the very end of it all, Rutile would put the Great Raven back to sleep.
The other wizards waited at their designated locations, ready to receive and escort the Great Raven through the prescribed path.
Per the request letter, which was sent by the current lord of the land, I was to bear witness to the ritual from beginning to end.
Rutile: ………
With the Maiden’s book and bouquet of lavender flowers in hand, Rutile gazed upon the Great Raven… no, the witch that had turned into a monster.
He wore a tense expression as he tightly gripped what appeared to be a protective amulet with a shell.
He looked like he was praying, and I too prayed.
Akira: (… May today’s ritual proceed without a hitch.)
(And may the Maiden of Tears’ thoughts and wishes reach the Great Raven.)
(And above all, may Owen show up anytime now so this ritual can actually happen…!)
[ The door opens. ]
Akira: Owen…!
Owen: ………
Rutile: What a relief, you’re here! Owen san, thank—
Owen: Of course I’m here. I want to see you murdered alive by the Great Raven.
Even though he laughed mockingly as he always did, Owen did not spare us even a single contemptuous gaze.
On any other occasion, he would have been sneering, enjoying himself at the prospect of our faces gone pale from fright or red with anger.
He ignored the stunned looks on our faces and brushed past us. He strode towards the bed.
Owen: Looks like it’s time to start the ritual.
Kenja sama, why don’t you come closer? You can hardly bear witness if you’re not close enough to see.
Akira: R-Right. Um, Owen…
Owen: « cur memini »
[ No BGM ]
Owen said his spell-word, cutting me off mid-sentence.
Just like that, the mood in this chamber changed completely.
The atmosphere felt something like the gentle touch of dawn, of sunlight filtering gradually into a bedroom in the morning. It was like waking up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Owen: ………
For a brief moment, Owen closed his eyes.
His eyelashes fluttered downward; I could see how his pale, feather-like eyelashes cast faint shadows upon his fair complexion.
[ Event BGM ]
[ Owen CG ]
Then, he closed the distance between him and the bed.
He sat on the mattress and peered into the Great Raven’s face.
His smile was unlike anything I’d ever seen on him — it was gentle.
His silvery-grey hair swayed softly, and his dainty lips formed a sentence to rouse The Great Raven:
Owen: —— ‘Good morning to you. May you receive many blessings today.’
‘Now, won’t you please come with me?’
The words he used to rouse it awake were like soft music falling from his lips.
Slowly, the Great Raven’s eyelids fluttered open.
In a daze, the Great Raven locked eyes with Owen. The next thing I knew, Owen’s expression was neutral again. Without further ado, he stood up from the bed.
Owen: Hey, you freak, don’t just lay there with that blank look. Get up and get out of here. What a dolt.
Akira: (Eek, he’s using all his might to drag it up by the beak! T-That’s going to anger it…)
Rutile: O-Owen san, let’s be nice to—
My blood ran cold at the sight, but the Great Raven didn’t respond to Owen’s callousness at all.
Gradually, it managed to pull itself to its feet, remaining expressionless all the while. It tottered unsteadily on its gnarled feet, following after Owen to leave the bedchamber.
Rutile: Please don’t make any trouble!
Rutile called out after Owen.
Owen didn’t bother replying. He left with the Great Raven.
I ran after him.
[ Castle of Maiden’s Tears ]
Owen brought the Great Raven to the grand hall.
Mithra and Figaro awaited our arrival for their turn of the escort.
Figaro was a picture of serene calm.
Mithra looked no different from his usual languid self. He was leaning against the wall and remained doing so even as we arrived to the site.
Mithra: Oh, you're finally here. You're late.
What took you so long with such a simple task? Did you have a hard time waking it up and bringing it over here?
Owen: No way this thing gave me a hard time. It just has stupid for legs.
Figaro: Okay, boys, we leave the arguing for later.
Come on, Mithra. You're supposed to say your part of the script here and take over the escorting.
Mithra: Please do not order me around.
Even though he grouched at Figaro, Mithra moved to extend his hand to the Great Raven.
His slightly more gentlemanly demeanour was all thanks to Arthur and Heathcliff’s relentless teaching efforts.
Mithra placed his hand over his chest. He regarded the Great Raven with an emerald gaze that was reminiscent of the deepest depths of a lake.
Mithra: ‘Blessings be unto you.’
‘I shall now guide you through this castle, which is a monument of our gratitude to you. Come this way, please.’
[ Castle of Maiden's Tears - Office ]
Figaro: ‘Now our part is done, and we shall allow him to be your next guide.’
Figaro threw the doors to the office wide open and ushered the Great Raven into it with a graceful flourish.
Right then, Arthur stepped up to take his turn to receive the Great Raven. He looked at it with warm hospitality.
Arthur: ‘I have been eagerly anticipating your arrival.’
With a kind smile, Arthur nodded in greeting at the Great Raven. He followed the ritual’s outlined procedure and led the Great Raven over to the window.
I couldn’t help but sigh at the impressive sight before me. Arthur embodied grace from head to toe, and his princely elegance touched me.
Arthur gestured to the window with his hand, inviting the Great Raven to join him. The way he smiled was filled with benevolence.
Arthur: ‘Behold the lands that you have protected.’
‘On behalf of everyone who lives upon this land, allow me to express our gratitude to you.’
Black birds flew gaily across bright, brilliantly blue skies.
Underneath those very skies, there was a quaint village town, made up of old buildings whose age told the story of how this land had known peace and prosperity since ancient times.
There were low mountains off in the distance. Perhaps the disease-ridden water source the Raven Witch had sealed away was somewhere in those mountains.
From this window, you could see everything that the Raven Witch had protected all those centuries ago.
Only the Maiden of Tears had known the truth.
Akira: (… I see now, that's why the ritual has a segment where the Great Raven is shown what lies outside the office window.)
(It's a ritual retooled by the Maiden of Tears to communicate every aspect of what she wanted the Raven Witch to know…)
The Great Raven: ………
But from what I could see, the Great Raven's current expression was no different from how it looked when it first awoke.
Its jet-black beady eyes could see everything: the brilliantly blue skies, the beautiful roads and buildings that lined up to make a town. But it did nothing more than see.
There was no happiness, no elation, no rage or sorrow or even the faintest hint of an emotion — the Great Raven merely stood where it was, in its numb daze.
Akira: (That's right. It's already forgotten it used to be a witch, so it must have also forgotten the Maiden and this land…)
(… All it knows is anger and sorrow…)
[ Castle of Maiden's Tears ]
Chloe: (gasp) Oh, they're coming!
Heathcliff: We'll be fine, Chloe. We just have to do as we practised.
We took the Great Raven on a stroll about the castle, then led it back to the hall, where Chloe and Heathcliff were waiting for us.
When Arthur approached them with the hobbling Great Raven, the two of them quickly lowered their heads in a respectful bow.
Chloe looked a little nervous as he extended his hand to the Great Raven.
Chloe: How… ‘How did you like the castle?’
‘I pray that whilst you sleep, you may be granted beautiful dreams from the blessings and gratitude that fill this place.’
Chloe was endearingly amateurish, and his gestures were filled with warmth. With a smile like blossoming flowers, he delivered his lines with gratitude and blessings from the heart.
He performed his part of the escorting with utmost care.
But Chloe glanced my way, and his eyes briefly widened in surprise.
Heathcliff followed suit. He too, stood with his breath caught in his throat.
Akira: (I hear soft footsteps coming from behind me… But Saccie isn't standing on guard. It's unlikely to be a threat.)
(I was told to avoid any sudden movements like turning around, because that might startle the Great Raven, but I’m pretty sure I already know who these footsteps belong to.)
I thought of a beautiful young maiden with blue-grey hair.
Surely she had appeared here because she wanted to watch over the ritual—
— and just like Rutile believed, she too might believe that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purify the Great Raven.
next episode ⭢
Mithra: … Please give me your hand.
Rutile: Excuse me?
[ Mithra CG ]
Mithra: « arsim »
Rutile: It’s… a shell bracelet.
Mithra: It’s a protective amulet I made, on the night the tea leaves formed the shining shield.
Mithra: When you wear this, it will shield you one time, no matter what the Great Raven does to hurt you.
Rutile: Oh! Mithra san…
Mithra: I think it’s a pointless exercise though. It’s already forgotten what words are anyway.
… But, well… when you’re worried about something, your face looks sort of weird.
Please read your memoir or whatever that is, and hurry up and return to your normal face.
Rutile: … Yes, I’ll do just that. I’ll try to bring back my normal face!
Thank you very much, Mithra san!
[ Castle of Maiden’s Tears - Bedchamber ]
—— The next morning, Rutile and I waited for Owen at the Great Raven’s sleeping chambers.
The Great Raven slept atop the bed, moaning in anguish just as it had in all the days past.
Akira: Owen’s not here yet… It’s almost time for the ritual to begin too.
Rutile: Yeah… Should we wait for a while longer? If he doesn’t show up soon, let’s go look for him.
This was the chamber where the ritual was supposed to start and end.
The ritual began with Owen’s role. He was to wake the Great Raven.
At the very end of it all, Rutile would put the Great Raven back to sleep.
The other wizards waited at their designated locations, ready to receive and escort the Great Raven through the prescribed path.
Per the request letter, which was sent by the current lord of the land, I was to bear witness to the ritual from beginning to end.
Rutile: ………
With the Maiden’s book and bouquet of lavender flowers in hand, Rutile gazed upon the Great Raven… no, the witch that had turned into a monster.
He wore a tense expression as he tightly gripped what appeared to be a protective amulet with a shell.
He looked like he was praying, and I too prayed.
Akira: (… May today’s ritual proceed without a hitch.)
(And may the Maiden of Tears’ thoughts and wishes reach the Great Raven.)
(And above all, may Owen show up anytime now so this ritual can actually happen…!)
[ The door opens. ]
Akira: Owen…!
Owen: ………
Rutile: What a relief, you’re here! Owen san, thank—
Owen: Of course I’m here. I want to see you murdered alive by the Great Raven.
Even though he laughed mockingly as he always did, Owen did not spare us even a single contemptuous gaze.
On any other occasion, he would have been sneering, enjoying himself at the prospect of our faces gone pale from fright or red with anger.
He ignored the stunned looks on our faces and brushed past us. He strode towards the bed.
Owen: Looks like it’s time to start the ritual.
Kenja sama, why don’t you come closer? You can hardly bear witness if you’re not close enough to see.
Akira: R-Right. Um, Owen…
Owen: « cur memini »
[ No BGM ]
Owen said his spell-word, cutting me off mid-sentence.
Just like that, the mood in this chamber changed completely.
The atmosphere felt something like the gentle touch of dawn, of sunlight filtering gradually into a bedroom in the morning. It was like waking up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Owen: ………
For a brief moment, Owen closed his eyes.
His eyelashes fluttered downward; I could see how his pale, feather-like eyelashes cast faint shadows upon his fair complexion.
[ Event BGM ]
[ Owen CG ]
Then, he closed the distance between him and the bed.
He sat on the mattress and peered into the Great Raven’s face.
His smile was unlike anything I’d ever seen on him — it was gentle.
His silvery-grey hair swayed softly, and his dainty lips formed a sentence to rouse The Great Raven:
Owen: —— ‘Good morning to you. May you receive many blessings today.’
‘Now, won’t you please come with me?’
The words he used to rouse it awake were like soft music falling from his lips.
Slowly, the Great Raven’s eyelids fluttered open.
In a daze, the Great Raven locked eyes with Owen. The next thing I knew, Owen’s expression was neutral again. Without further ado, he stood up from the bed.
Owen: Hey, you freak, don’t just lay there with that blank look. Get up and get out of here. What a dolt.
Akira: (Eek, he’s using all his might to drag it up by the beak! T-That’s going to anger it…)
Rutile: O-Owen san, let’s be nice to—
My blood ran cold at the sight, but the Great Raven didn’t respond to Owen’s callousness at all.
Gradually, it managed to pull itself to its feet, remaining expressionless all the while. It tottered unsteadily on its gnarled feet, following after Owen to leave the bedchamber.
Rutile: Please don’t make any trouble!
Rutile called out after Owen.
Owen didn’t bother replying. He left with the Great Raven.
I ran after him.
[ Castle of Maiden’s Tears ]
Owen brought the Great Raven to the grand hall.
Mithra and Figaro awaited our arrival for their turn of the escort.
Figaro was a picture of serene calm.
Mithra looked no different from his usual languid self. He was leaning against the wall and remained doing so even as we arrived to the site.
Mithra: Oh, you're finally here. You're late.
What took you so long with such a simple task? Did you have a hard time waking it up and bringing it over here?
Owen: No way this thing gave me a hard time. It just has stupid for legs.
Figaro: Okay, boys, we leave the arguing for later.
Come on, Mithra. You're supposed to say your part of the script here and take over the escorting.
Mithra: Please do not order me around.
Even though he grouched at Figaro, Mithra moved to extend his hand to the Great Raven.
His slightly more gentlemanly demeanour was all thanks to Arthur and Heathcliff’s relentless teaching efforts.
Mithra placed his hand over his chest. He regarded the Great Raven with an emerald gaze that was reminiscent of the deepest depths of a lake.
Mithra: ‘Blessings be unto you.’
‘I shall now guide you through this castle, which is a monument of our gratitude to you. Come this way, please.’
[ Castle of Maiden's Tears - Office ]
Figaro: ‘Now our part is done, and we shall allow him to be your next guide.’
Figaro threw the doors to the office wide open and ushered the Great Raven into it with a graceful flourish.
Right then, Arthur stepped up to take his turn to receive the Great Raven. He looked at it with warm hospitality.
Arthur: ‘I have been eagerly anticipating your arrival.’
With a kind smile, Arthur nodded in greeting at the Great Raven. He followed the ritual’s outlined procedure and led the Great Raven over to the window.
I couldn’t help but sigh at the impressive sight before me. Arthur embodied grace from head to toe, and his princely elegance touched me.
Arthur gestured to the window with his hand, inviting the Great Raven to join him. The way he smiled was filled with benevolence.
Arthur: ‘Behold the lands that you have protected.’
‘On behalf of everyone who lives upon this land, allow me to express our gratitude to you.’
Black birds flew gaily across bright, brilliantly blue skies.
Underneath those very skies, there was a quaint village town, made up of old buildings whose age told the story of how this land had known peace and prosperity since ancient times.
There were low mountains off in the distance. Perhaps the disease-ridden water source the Raven Witch had sealed away was somewhere in those mountains.
From this window, you could see everything that the Raven Witch had protected all those centuries ago.
Only the Maiden of Tears had known the truth.
Akira: (… I see now, that's why the ritual has a segment where the Great Raven is shown what lies outside the office window.)
(It's a ritual retooled by the Maiden of Tears to communicate every aspect of what she wanted the Raven Witch to know…)
The Great Raven: ………
But from what I could see, the Great Raven's current expression was no different from how it looked when it first awoke.
Its jet-black beady eyes could see everything: the brilliantly blue skies, the beautiful roads and buildings that lined up to make a town. But it did nothing more than see.
There was no happiness, no elation, no rage or sorrow or even the faintest hint of an emotion — the Great Raven merely stood where it was, in its numb daze.
Akira: (That's right. It's already forgotten it used to be a witch, so it must have also forgotten the Maiden and this land…)
(… All it knows is anger and sorrow…)
[ Castle of Maiden's Tears ]
Chloe: (gasp) Oh, they're coming!
Heathcliff: We'll be fine, Chloe. We just have to do as we practised.
We took the Great Raven on a stroll about the castle, then led it back to the hall, where Chloe and Heathcliff were waiting for us.
When Arthur approached them with the hobbling Great Raven, the two of them quickly lowered their heads in a respectful bow.
Chloe looked a little nervous as he extended his hand to the Great Raven.
Chloe: How… ‘How did you like the castle?’
‘I pray that whilst you sleep, you may be granted beautiful dreams from the blessings and gratitude that fill this place.’
Chloe was endearingly amateurish, and his gestures were filled with warmth. With a smile like blossoming flowers, he delivered his lines with gratitude and blessings from the heart.
He performed his part of the escorting with utmost care.
But Chloe glanced my way, and his eyes briefly widened in surprise.
Heathcliff followed suit. He too, stood with his breath caught in his throat.
Akira: (I hear soft footsteps coming from behind me… But Saccie isn't standing on guard. It's unlikely to be a threat.)
(I was told to avoid any sudden movements like turning around, because that might startle the Great Raven, but I’m pretty sure I already know who these footsteps belong to.)
I thought of a beautiful young maiden with blue-grey hair.
Surely she had appeared here because she wanted to watch over the ritual—
— and just like Rutile believed, she too might believe that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purify the Great Raven.
next episode ⭢