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The Lavender Flowers of Sympathy and Sleep - Episode 10
⭠ last episode | Episode 10
The Great Raven’s gaze moved along with the Maiden’s movements.
Its jet black eyes had been dull and vacant, but now they began to tear up from emotion after it saw something that reminded it of the past, bringing back old memories.
The Great Raven: (cawing) ᴀᴀᴀᴀ! ᴀᴀᴀ, ɢʜ, ʜʜʜ!
ᴀ… A…… ᴀAaaa…
Rutile: ‘And at last, I now hold the bouquet of lavender flowers I sent for in my hands. But there will never come a day where she can breathe in the fragrance of this bouquet.’
Rutile glanced up from the page he was reading. Solemnly, he held out the bouquet of lavender flowers he had been cradling.
A small smile filled with his hopes and prayers crossed Rutile’s face as he offered up the bouquet to the Raven Witch as she wept tears that looked like droplets of coal tar.
Rutile: ‘... Even if it can only last for a single day, I hope these flowers may be delivered into her embrace.’
‘If I had been able to hand this bouquet to her, if I had told her how grateful I am to have her… that I have always relied on her…’
‘I wonder if things could have been different.’
The Raven Witch unfurled her gnarled talons. They trembled.
When the magical light that held her entire body in place faded, she reached out with her wing-arm-limb-thing to accept the bouquet and bring it into her embrace.
She looked like she had finally found something that she had been searching for all this while.
It was an embrace that spoke of a miraculous reunion.
The Great Raven: ………
First she buried her face into the lavender bouquet, then she lifted her head.
She broke into a blindingly fast run, even faster than she had been when she tried to attack Rutile, and more human-like than all her movement so far.
She headed straight for the Maiden of Tears, who was still trying her best to take faltering steps towards all of us.
Faust: …… « satilliqunart mullcreed »
Faust said his spell-word, as if to give his blessings.
At once, the other wizards followed suit.
Arthur: « pernoctant nix zo » !
Chloe: « suispisiva voitingoc » !
Heathcliff: « repsevaivulp sunos »
Figaro: « possideo »
Mithra: « arsim »
Owen: … « quare moritor »
One step. A second step.
With each step the Great Raven took, her black feathers turned white.
She shed her white feathers, like petals scattering to the wind, light and airy, dancing about the room like the blessings that filled it.
The Great Raven’s warped appearance gradually reverted into that of a human. Her face began to melt away, revealing vague features that looked like that of an earnest young girl.
The Great Raven: ᴀ- A… Mʏ, Lᴀ… dy……
… Adeline sama…
[ No BGM ]
Rutile: … « allitnic setomaoje »
A warm white light flooded the room once Rutile said his spell-word aloud.
Akira: Ah…!
[ No BGM ]
[ Screen goes dark ]
It was so dazzling, I couldn’t help but close my eyes.
But in that fleeting moment, I saw within the pure white:
A young lady in a blue dress smiling through happy tears as she hugged a girl dressed in black robes, who held a bouquet of lavender flowers.
Centuries of time and space could not stand between them.
[ Caw! Caw! Caw! ]
[ Castle of Maiden’s Tears - Bedchamber ]
[ BGM starts ]
I reopened my eyes when I heard the cawing of ravens coming from outside.
Scattered everywhere in front of me were countless white feathers like the remnants of fallen tears.
Heathcliff: Ah… Both the Raven Witch and the Maiden are gone…
Chloe: The bouquet of lavender flowers is gone too!
Figaro: That might be because the Raven Witch was holding it. It looks like there’s nothing left of the warped ritual or the Calamity’s influence. It’s all been washed away.
Faust: … Indeed. We’ve successfully purified the Great Raven without incident.
Arthur: … Thank goodness…!
The young wizards all formed a huddle as they looked at each other with happy smiles.
From a short distance away, Faust watched over them with an indescribable expression. It was dazzlingly beautiful but stained by a sense of nostalgia.
I could see Owen too, putting away his suitcase. In stark contrast, he wore his loathing plain as day.
Despite how unhappy he looked, he didn’t disappear on us or start lashing out at things around him.
For some reason, he was rubbing his hand, as if he were trying to scrub it clean.
Mithra: ……..
As for Mithra, he was looking Rutile’s way.
He was about to call out to him, but then he scratched his neck in thought and decided against it.
Perhaps it was because Rutile wore an unfamiliar expression. Rutile looked relieved and tearful, yet at the same time, he was smiling and laughing.
[ Magical Manor - Meeting Lounge ]
And then, several days later——
Rutile: … There we go! We’ve come so far now — just a little more to go!
Akira: Yeah! I’m glad we could fix the tapestry after all.
In the meeting lounge, Rutile and I exchanged smiles. Spread out on the table was the tapestry from before, with most of it already sewn back together.
The other day, using his magic, Rutile had managed to salvage and mend most of the tattered cloth.
But apparently, something like this tapestry that was made by a highly skilled craftsman wasn’t so easily repaired. It wasn’t something that we could fix overnight with, say, Chloe’s sewing or Figaro’s medical expertise.
Heathcliff and Chloe advised us, ‘For the more ornately detailed parts, hand-sewing will be best,’ and so the two of us decided to put in some elbow grease to mend the tapestry by hand.
Rutile: The needle Faust lent us sure came in super handy, didn’t it? He said that it ‘could smooth over shabby workmanship to some extent as you stitch.’
Akira: I think he said something along the lines of it being a magical sewing needle he used for making his own clothes?
At any rate, I think we’ll finish up right around when Mitile and Riquet get back to the manor. Aren’t they out shopping for that tea party?
Rutile: Yup! They’re out shopping for the perfect sweets to serve at the tea party we plan on hosting at the Wizards’ House.
It’s the first time we’re having such a big tea party since the Wizards’ House’s inception. They’re very enthusiastic and excited about it.
What’s more, I heard that the elderly man who gave us the tapestry will be joining us as well — and many others too!
Happily, Rutile smiled as he continued to work on the tapestry.
It was all too easy to imagine Mitile and the others excitedly planning the tea party, and soon I found myself smiling too.
Despite that… When I looked at the work-in-progress tapestry spread out in front of us, I felt a certain sense of unease.
Akira: ………
Rutile: What’s wrong, Kenja sama?
Akira: Oh… It’s nothing. I wish I could say what’s troubling me, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.
On the day of the tea party, we’ll probably have a larger crowd than usual. There’ll be more people who don’t know wizards well, right?
Most likely, the guests would show up because they’re interested in learning more about wizards, so there shouldn’t be any problems but…
… I can’t help but think, it would be really nice if we could avoid any accidental misunderstandings, or the sort of situation where a careless remark hurts someone’s feelings…
Rutile: Oh, yeah…
But I—
[ Crash! Smash! ]
Rutile & Akira: ……!?
Mithra: You must have some nerve trying to lay hands on me, Owen.
Owen: Hunh. I want to see you grovel. Go on, start your pathetic pleading, ‘Please don’t kill me.’
Akira: (It’s Mithra and Owen at it again…!)
In a hurry, Rutile scooped up the tapestry and hugged it close to his chest.
Rutile: You two, I’m sorry, but this isn’t the place for a fight…
Mithra & Owen: ………
With their magical tools out, the two of them glanced at Rutile from the corner of their eyes.
I had no idea if they even realised that Rutile was clutching the tapestry that they had ruined before.
Their eyes showed not even the slightest change in emotion.
Mithra: ……
« arsim »
But just then, Mithra opened up his transpatial door.
A refreshingly cold breeze blew in through the open door. Beyond it, there was a wide snowy field under bright skies.
Mithra: I don’t think I can muster up the right mood to fight in such a cramped place. Let’s settle this outside.
Owen: I was just about to suggest that myself. If I’m going to make you kneel, I’d prefer the most frigid, most miserable place possible.
Mithra: « arsim »
Owen: « cur memini »
[ Door sfx ]
Rutile & Akira: ………
Akira: Do you think… that was them trying to be considerate…
Rutile: Fufu. Wouldn’t it be nice if they were?
We resumed our work on the tapestry as the afternoon sun filtered into the meeting lounge.
Rutile: … About what you said regarding the tea party…
Akira: Mmhm?
Rutile: I think everything’ll be just fine, even if everyone comes from different backgrounds and eras.
Even if some of us aren’t any good at communicating or putting our feelings into words; even if someone puts their foot in their mouth; even if we mess up again and again…
As long as we never give up, then I know that someday…
Rutile ran his fingers over the embroidery depicting the Maiden of Tears and the Great Raven with a smile on his face.
We were all born of different backgrounds, lived in different eras, and had vastly different ways of life.
Whenever we wanted to communicate our perspectives to each other, there was always a wide, deep chasm standing between us.
Akira: (Even so…)
Getting across to each other would be a long and arduous journey, but step by step, brick by brick…
We can build a bridge to usher in a better future for us all.
Just like how this beautiful tapestry was created, one stitch at a time.
The Great Raven’s gaze moved along with the Maiden’s movements.
Its jet black eyes had been dull and vacant, but now they began to tear up from emotion after it saw something that reminded it of the past, bringing back old memories.
The Great Raven: (cawing) ᴀᴀᴀᴀ! ᴀᴀᴀ, ɢʜ, ʜʜʜ!
ᴀ… A…… ᴀAaaa…
Rutile: ‘And at last, I now hold the bouquet of lavender flowers I sent for in my hands. But there will never come a day where she can breathe in the fragrance of this bouquet.’
Rutile glanced up from the page he was reading. Solemnly, he held out the bouquet of lavender flowers he had been cradling.
A small smile filled with his hopes and prayers crossed Rutile’s face as he offered up the bouquet to the Raven Witch as she wept tears that looked like droplets of coal tar.
Rutile: ‘... Even if it can only last for a single day, I hope these flowers may be delivered into her embrace.’
‘If I had been able to hand this bouquet to her, if I had told her how grateful I am to have her… that I have always relied on her…’
‘I wonder if things could have been different.’
The Raven Witch unfurled her gnarled talons. They trembled.
When the magical light that held her entire body in place faded, she reached out with her wing-arm-limb-thing to accept the bouquet and bring it into her embrace.
She looked like she had finally found something that she had been searching for all this while.
It was an embrace that spoke of a miraculous reunion.
The Great Raven: ………
First she buried her face into the lavender bouquet, then she lifted her head.
She broke into a blindingly fast run, even faster than she had been when she tried to attack Rutile, and more human-like than all her movement so far.
She headed straight for the Maiden of Tears, who was still trying her best to take faltering steps towards all of us.
Faust: …… « satilliqunart mullcreed »
Faust said his spell-word, as if to give his blessings.
At once, the other wizards followed suit.
Arthur: « pernoctant nix zo » !
Chloe: « suispisiva voitingoc » !
Heathcliff: « repsevaivulp sunos »
Figaro: « possideo »
Mithra: « arsim »
Owen: … « quare moritor »
One step. A second step.
With each step the Great Raven took, her black feathers turned white.
She shed her white feathers, like petals scattering to the wind, light and airy, dancing about the room like the blessings that filled it.
The Great Raven’s warped appearance gradually reverted into that of a human. Her face began to melt away, revealing vague features that looked like that of an earnest young girl.
The Great Raven: ᴀ- A… Mʏ, Lᴀ… dy……
… Adeline sama…
[ No BGM ]
Rutile: … « allitnic setomaoje »
A warm white light flooded the room once Rutile said his spell-word aloud.
Akira: Ah…!
[ No BGM ]
[ Screen goes dark ]
It was so dazzling, I couldn’t help but close my eyes.
But in that fleeting moment, I saw within the pure white:
A young lady in a blue dress smiling through happy tears as she hugged a girl dressed in black robes, who held a bouquet of lavender flowers.
Centuries of time and space could not stand between them.
[ Caw! Caw! Caw! ]
[ Castle of Maiden’s Tears - Bedchamber ]
[ BGM starts ]
I reopened my eyes when I heard the cawing of ravens coming from outside.
Scattered everywhere in front of me were countless white feathers like the remnants of fallen tears.
Heathcliff: Ah… Both the Raven Witch and the Maiden are gone…
Chloe: The bouquet of lavender flowers is gone too!
Figaro: That might be because the Raven Witch was holding it. It looks like there’s nothing left of the warped ritual or the Calamity’s influence. It’s all been washed away.
Faust: … Indeed. We’ve successfully purified the Great Raven without incident.
Arthur: … Thank goodness…!
The young wizards all formed a huddle as they looked at each other with happy smiles.
From a short distance away, Faust watched over them with an indescribable expression. It was dazzlingly beautiful but stained by a sense of nostalgia.
I could see Owen too, putting away his suitcase. In stark contrast, he wore his loathing plain as day.
Despite how unhappy he looked, he didn’t disappear on us or start lashing out at things around him.
For some reason, he was rubbing his hand, as if he were trying to scrub it clean.
Mithra: ……..
As for Mithra, he was looking Rutile’s way.
He was about to call out to him, but then he scratched his neck in thought and decided against it.
Perhaps it was because Rutile wore an unfamiliar expression. Rutile looked relieved and tearful, yet at the same time, he was smiling and laughing.
[ Magical Manor - Meeting Lounge ]
And then, several days later——
Rutile: … There we go! We’ve come so far now — just a little more to go!
Akira: Yeah! I’m glad we could fix the tapestry after all.
In the meeting lounge, Rutile and I exchanged smiles. Spread out on the table was the tapestry from before, with most of it already sewn back together.
The other day, using his magic, Rutile had managed to salvage and mend most of the tattered cloth.
But apparently, something like this tapestry that was made by a highly skilled craftsman wasn’t so easily repaired. It wasn’t something that we could fix overnight with, say, Chloe’s sewing or Figaro’s medical expertise.
Heathcliff and Chloe advised us, ‘For the more ornately detailed parts, hand-sewing will be best,’ and so the two of us decided to put in some elbow grease to mend the tapestry by hand.
Rutile: The needle Faust lent us sure came in super handy, didn’t it? He said that it ‘could smooth over shabby workmanship to some extent as you stitch.’
Akira: I think he said something along the lines of it being a magical sewing needle he used for making his own clothes?
At any rate, I think we’ll finish up right around when Mitile and Riquet get back to the manor. Aren’t they out shopping for that tea party?
Rutile: Yup! They’re out shopping for the perfect sweets to serve at the tea party we plan on hosting at the Wizards’ House.
It’s the first time we’re having such a big tea party since the Wizards’ House’s inception. They’re very enthusiastic and excited about it.
What’s more, I heard that the elderly man who gave us the tapestry will be joining us as well — and many others too!
Happily, Rutile smiled as he continued to work on the tapestry.
It was all too easy to imagine Mitile and the others excitedly planning the tea party, and soon I found myself smiling too.
Despite that… When I looked at the work-in-progress tapestry spread out in front of us, I felt a certain sense of unease.
Akira: ………
Rutile: What’s wrong, Kenja sama?
Akira: Oh… It’s nothing. I wish I could say what’s troubling me, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.
On the day of the tea party, we’ll probably have a larger crowd than usual. There’ll be more people who don’t know wizards well, right?
Most likely, the guests would show up because they’re interested in learning more about wizards, so there shouldn’t be any problems but…
… I can’t help but think, it would be really nice if we could avoid any accidental misunderstandings, or the sort of situation where a careless remark hurts someone’s feelings…
Rutile: Oh, yeah…
But I—
[ Crash! Smash! ]
Rutile & Akira: ……!?
Mithra: You must have some nerve trying to lay hands on me, Owen.
Owen: Hunh. I want to see you grovel. Go on, start your pathetic pleading, ‘Please don’t kill me.’
Akira: (It’s Mithra and Owen at it again…!)
In a hurry, Rutile scooped up the tapestry and hugged it close to his chest.
Rutile: You two, I’m sorry, but this isn’t the place for a fight…
Mithra & Owen: ………
With their magical tools out, the two of them glanced at Rutile from the corner of their eyes.
I had no idea if they even realised that Rutile was clutching the tapestry that they had ruined before.
Their eyes showed not even the slightest change in emotion.
Mithra: ……
« arsim »
But just then, Mithra opened up his transpatial door.
A refreshingly cold breeze blew in through the open door. Beyond it, there was a wide snowy field under bright skies.
Mithra: I don’t think I can muster up the right mood to fight in such a cramped place. Let’s settle this outside.
Owen: I was just about to suggest that myself. If I’m going to make you kneel, I’d prefer the most frigid, most miserable place possible.
Mithra: « arsim »
Owen: « cur memini »
[ Door sfx ]
Rutile & Akira: ………
Akira: Do you think… that was them trying to be considerate…
Rutile: Fufu. Wouldn’t it be nice if they were?
We resumed our work on the tapestry as the afternoon sun filtered into the meeting lounge.
Rutile: … About what you said regarding the tea party…
Akira: Mmhm?
Rutile: I think everything’ll be just fine, even if everyone comes from different backgrounds and eras.
Even if some of us aren’t any good at communicating or putting our feelings into words; even if someone puts their foot in their mouth; even if we mess up again and again…
As long as we never give up, then I know that someday…
Rutile ran his fingers over the embroidery depicting the Maiden of Tears and the Great Raven with a smile on his face.
We were all born of different backgrounds, lived in different eras, and had vastly different ways of life.
Whenever we wanted to communicate our perspectives to each other, there was always a wide, deep chasm standing between us.
Akira: (Even so…)
Getting across to each other would be a long and arduous journey, but step by step, brick by brick…
We can build a bridge to usher in a better future for us all.
Just like how this beautiful tapestry was created, one stitch at a time.