![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
The Burning of a Wish in Winter - Episode 1
Episode 1 | next episode →
[ In the past… ]
[ Blanchett Castle - Heathcliff’s Room ]
Young Heathcliff: (exhales)
Young Heathcliff: (I don’t wanna go to today’s tea party…)
(The moment I show up, it’s going to cause a stir because there’s people that are afraid of me… And then people will spread nasty rumours about not just me, but Father and Mother too…)
(Or even worse, what if I accidentally use magic…)
Young Heathcliff: But I must attend the tea party. There’s no way for me to reject the invitation, because that’d also put Father and Mother on the spot…
Oh… if only I were… normal…
[ Strong wind sfx ]
Young Heathcliff: Oh… That sound… It’s the wind.
It’s been cold all day, so maybe…
[ Heathcliff runs over to the window and opens it. ]
Young Heathcliff: Oh, I was right. There’s frozen flowers for me on the windowsill.
……… … Today’s flowers are really pretty too……
…… Thank you for always cheering me on.
Thank you, Mr Snowball*.
[ ???’s Room ]
[ Strong wind sfx, window rattling sfx ]
???: (sigh) …… It’s been freezing since morning. I wonder why the wind’s been so strong…
It’s just like that day…
… The day I was left behind…
???: ………
… No, I’ll be fine. Because on days like these…
[ ??? runs over to the window and opens it. ]
???: (to herself) See? You’ve got a present.
Thank you for always cheering me on and watching over me.
… My pure white angel, sent by God.
[ Present day ]
[ Vera City ]
Rutile: Whew… That was amazing. I feel so nice and toasty, especially deep within my chest.
Lennox: Yeah. I can feel the strength welling up inside me.
We were on our way back from a mission in Eastern Country.
We were now in Vera City.
A cavern on the outskirts of the city had healing properties for magic users. Our mission had brought us close to the area, so we decided to make a pitstop.
Akira: We didn’t get to chat much, but it sure was nice to see Emmett san again.
Heathcliff: Yeah. We’ve been writing letters to each other ever since we resolved that incident here, but it doesn’t compare to catching up with someone in person.
Emmett was the son of the current lordship of the town.
Previously, there had been an incident in Vera City that we resolved at his request.
Akira: It’s good to see that Emmett san and the townspeople have gone back to their peaceful lives.
Shino: Last time, everything here sucked. Everyone was too scared to talk to us, so it was dead silent. The whole thing was real eerie.
But now you can hear city sounds, like merchants and stuff. Like over there, check it out.
Shino jerked his thumb in the direction of the voice.
Saccie, who was walking beside me, glanced to where he pointed, and so did I…
Young Girl: —— Matches for sale, miracle matches for sale! Would you like a box?
You need only strike one, and right away, you’ll see a wonderful vision.
A cold gust whistled through the streets as the girl approached passersby with her matches.
She was doing her best to sell them. She had boxes upon boxes of them in her basket. If I had to guess, she was a little younger than Mitile.
Akira: (Oh. I suppose match-selling is a real profession in this world…)
Rutile: … I wonder if she’s helping her parents out. Kudos to her…
Heathcliff: You’re right… She seems like she knows what she’s doing. She’s probably been selling matches since she was little to help her family.
Her little hands were bare and ungloved, her skin blistered red from the cold. It looked like it’d be miserable work for an adult, let alone a child.
At least she wore a hooded cloak, which covered her voluminous curly orange hair. But in contrast, from under her worn-out cloak, her arms were thin.
Heathcliff and I both focused our attention on the girl.
Akira: (She’s just a child. She should be at home, not out in the cold like this… No, I have to avoid applying the standards of my world to this one. It’s possible that there are places where even young children are expected to work out of necessity.)
(I don’t know her story. I don’t know anything about her besides that she’s clearly hard at work selling matches right now… …… But still…)
Despite myself, I was lost in thought. Heathcliff quietly approached the girl and knelt down beside her. She was surprised, but he offered her a gentle smile nonetheless.
Heathcliff: … Hello there. Could I buy one box, please?
Rutile: I’d like one too.
Akira: Oh…… Um, me too, please!
Young Girl: …! Y-Yes, of course. Thank you very much!
Our words put a bright smile on the girl’s face. But then she looked surprised again. She blinked, as if she’d just realised something.
Young Girl: Um, by any chance, are all of you…
Akira: Huh?
Young Girl: N-No, it’s nothing…! …… Um, so these matches, they’ve got the power of miracles in them.
Heathcliff: Right, just now you were saying you could see a vision with them?
Young Girl: That’s right! These matches really are miraculous, and they’ll show you a dream of your heart’s desire.
Akira: Wow…!
Young Girl: Think of the future that you want to see unfold, all of your what-if’s and I-wish’s, whatever you think happiness ought to be…
Picture those in your mind’s eye and light one of these matchsticks. I guarantee that it’ll show you what’s in your heart.
With a sweet smile, the young girl handed us our matches. Her chapped hands had cracked skin all over.
Young Girl: Here you go. It’s cold out today, so please use them.
[ The girl walks away to return to her peddling. ]
Young Girl: —— Matches for sale, miracle matches for sale! Would you like a box?
Akira: (Matches that conjure up visions of whatever you wish for… she’s just like a real-life Little Match Girl.)
I opened the box and looked at the short, thin matchsticks with red-glazed tips.
The matchsticks didn’t have a consistent shape, so I figured the girl had made them all herself, one at a time.
Akira: (Somehow, it’s a heartwarming sight. It’s obvious that she put a lot of heart into making these…)
I gazed upon the matches in my palm. Just then, Heathcliff muttered:
Heathcliff: … For some reason, I feel like that child gave off a mysterious aura.
Shino: Huh, did she…?
Rutile: Hmm, I didn’t notice anything though…
Lennox: Neither did I, but out of everyone here, Heathcliff likely has the highest sensitivity to things like this. Could you describe what you sensed in more detail?
Heathcliff: It’s pretty hard to put it into words, but… it’s like she’s human, but I couldn’t feel any sort of humanly presence from her.
Rutile: How so…?
Akira: (I mean, well, yes, she was in fact selling vision-granting miracle matches…)
I glanced back at the girl, who was busy approaching people to sell her wares just like earlier. She looked no different from any other ordinary girl.
Young Girl: Matches for sale, miracle matches for sale! Would you like a box?
Akira: (Huh… Just now, I think I saw something twinkling in her eye…)
It was only for a second, like a flash of light, but I thought I saw a twinkling light in her large eyes.
But when I tried to focus on it, the light was gone without a trace. There were only her dark brown eyes.
Akira: (Maybe it was just a trick of the light?)
It was a fleeting light that disappeared in the blink of an eye.
It had been in the shape of a snowflake.
[ Magical Manor - Shylock’s Bar ]
That night…
Cain and Rutile had invited me to go to Shylock’s bar with them. We weren’t the first to the bar, from the looks of it.
Lennox and Oz were sitting at the counter, with an empty seat between them.
Heathcliff and Shino were sitting in the sofa area, drinking from their glasses.
Rutile: Oh, it’s unusual to see you here. Heath, did Shino ask you to come?
Heathcliff: Yeah. He said I might take a liking to Shylock’s new concoction.
Cain: Ooh, yeah, it’s got spices mixed into it. It’s probably really nice. Hey, mind if we join you guys?
Shino: Sure. Hey, Kenja, go on ahead and sit next to Heath.
Heathcliff: Wait, why are you the one giving her permission… Sorry about that. You’re welcome to sit next to me if you’d like.
Akira: Ahaha, alright then. Don’t mind if I do!
The lively conversation continued as we enjoyed glasses of wine and juice.
In the midst of conversation, Cain suddenly leaned forward and asked:
Cain: Hey, so you all bought some miracle matches at Vera City? Rutile was telling me about it.
Akira: Yeah, we each got a box. Apparently, they’re matches that show you a vision of your heart’s desire.
I took out the matchbox from my pocket. At that, Shino scoffed quietly. He shrugged, with a lemon juice drink in hand.
Shino: It was just a sales pitch for suckers. I bet it’ll just flicker a bit after we light it, maybe spit out some sparks. Doubt it’ll do much more than that.
Akira: Wait, what?
Heathcliff: Shino, we don’t say such things. There’s plenty of honest peddlers out there…
Shino: Yeah, ‘plenty’ like around one in a million. Even a baby knows better than to trust a sales pitch from a street peddler.
Akira: O-Oh, alright. I guess that’s the reality…
Akira: (It’s not like I bought those matches specifically for the visions. Though I have to admit I was a little curious, like maybe they really are just like the matches the Little Match Girl sold in the story…)
My shoulders slumped slightly at the thought.
Rutile smiled brightly.
Rutile: But that simply means that that child could be our one-in-a-million honest peddler.
How about we strike one of the matches and see for ourselves?
[ Shylock approaches the sofas. ]
Shylock: Pardon me. Another bowl of nuts for you all.
Cain: Oh, thanks, Shylock.
Shino: Yesss, these are the best. You always bring me my favourite snacks.
Shylock: Fufu, you’re too kind. ……Though I must admit, I couldn’t help but listen in. Miracle matches! What a riveting encounter.
If those matches turn out to be disappointingly normal, then allow me to make up for it with some of my own enchantments. I insist.
Akira: You’d do that?
Shylock: Why, of course. It’ll be well worth my efforts for the chance to see your adorable face adorned with delight.
Akira: Y-You’re making me blush… But thank you so much! Well, here goes…
Akira: … It would be nice if I could be surrounded by lots of cats.
[ No BGM ]
I struck a match. Its tip lit up with a gentle flame.
I then heard cute mewing from all around me.
[ Meow… ]
Akira: Wha—!?
I looked around the bar. In a shocking turn of events, the bar was full of cats lazing around and about.
* T/N: literally ‘pure white something san’
next episode →
[ In the past… ]
[ Blanchett Castle - Heathcliff’s Room ]
Young Heathcliff: (exhales)
Young Heathcliff: (I don’t wanna go to today’s tea party…)
(The moment I show up, it’s going to cause a stir because there’s people that are afraid of me… And then people will spread nasty rumours about not just me, but Father and Mother too…)
(Or even worse, what if I accidentally use magic…)
Young Heathcliff: But I must attend the tea party. There’s no way for me to reject the invitation, because that’d also put Father and Mother on the spot…
Oh… if only I were… normal…
[ Strong wind sfx ]
Young Heathcliff: Oh… That sound… It’s the wind.
It’s been cold all day, so maybe…
[ Heathcliff runs over to the window and opens it. ]
Young Heathcliff: Oh, I was right. There’s frozen flowers for me on the windowsill.
……… … Today’s flowers are really pretty too……
…… Thank you for always cheering me on.
Thank you, Mr Snowball*.
[ ???’s Room ]
[ Strong wind sfx, window rattling sfx ]
???: (sigh) …… It’s been freezing since morning. I wonder why the wind’s been so strong…
It’s just like that day…
… The day I was left behind…
???: ………
… No, I’ll be fine. Because on days like these…
[ ??? runs over to the window and opens it. ]
???: (to herself) See? You’ve got a present.
Thank you for always cheering me on and watching over me.
… My pure white angel, sent by God.
[ Present day ]
[ Vera City ]
Rutile: Whew… That was amazing. I feel so nice and toasty, especially deep within my chest.
Lennox: Yeah. I can feel the strength welling up inside me.
We were on our way back from a mission in Eastern Country.
We were now in Vera City.
A cavern on the outskirts of the city had healing properties for magic users. Our mission had brought us close to the area, so we decided to make a pitstop.
Akira: We didn’t get to chat much, but it sure was nice to see Emmett san again.
Heathcliff: Yeah. We’ve been writing letters to each other ever since we resolved that incident here, but it doesn’t compare to catching up with someone in person.
Emmett was the son of the current lordship of the town.
Previously, there had been an incident in Vera City that we resolved at his request.
Akira: It’s good to see that Emmett san and the townspeople have gone back to their peaceful lives.
Shino: Last time, everything here sucked. Everyone was too scared to talk to us, so it was dead silent. The whole thing was real eerie.
But now you can hear city sounds, like merchants and stuff. Like over there, check it out.
Shino jerked his thumb in the direction of the voice.
Saccie, who was walking beside me, glanced to where he pointed, and so did I…
Young Girl: —— Matches for sale, miracle matches for sale! Would you like a box?
You need only strike one, and right away, you’ll see a wonderful vision.
A cold gust whistled through the streets as the girl approached passersby with her matches.
She was doing her best to sell them. She had boxes upon boxes of them in her basket. If I had to guess, she was a little younger than Mitile.
Akira: (Oh. I suppose match-selling is a real profession in this world…)
Rutile: … I wonder if she’s helping her parents out. Kudos to her…
Heathcliff: You’re right… She seems like she knows what she’s doing. She’s probably been selling matches since she was little to help her family.
Her little hands were bare and ungloved, her skin blistered red from the cold. It looked like it’d be miserable work for an adult, let alone a child.
At least she wore a hooded cloak, which covered her voluminous curly orange hair. But in contrast, from under her worn-out cloak, her arms were thin.
Heathcliff and I both focused our attention on the girl.
Akira: (She’s just a child. She should be at home, not out in the cold like this… No, I have to avoid applying the standards of my world to this one. It’s possible that there are places where even young children are expected to work out of necessity.)
(I don’t know her story. I don’t know anything about her besides that she’s clearly hard at work selling matches right now… …… But still…)
Despite myself, I was lost in thought. Heathcliff quietly approached the girl and knelt down beside her. She was surprised, but he offered her a gentle smile nonetheless.
Heathcliff: … Hello there. Could I buy one box, please?
Rutile: I’d like one too.
Akira: Oh…… Um, me too, please!
Young Girl: …! Y-Yes, of course. Thank you very much!
Our words put a bright smile on the girl’s face. But then she looked surprised again. She blinked, as if she’d just realised something.
Young Girl: Um, by any chance, are all of you…
Akira: Huh?
Young Girl: N-No, it’s nothing…! …… Um, so these matches, they’ve got the power of miracles in them.
Heathcliff: Right, just now you were saying you could see a vision with them?
Young Girl: That’s right! These matches really are miraculous, and they’ll show you a dream of your heart’s desire.
Akira: Wow…!
Young Girl: Think of the future that you want to see unfold, all of your what-if’s and I-wish’s, whatever you think happiness ought to be…
Picture those in your mind’s eye and light one of these matchsticks. I guarantee that it’ll show you what’s in your heart.
With a sweet smile, the young girl handed us our matches. Her chapped hands had cracked skin all over.
Young Girl: Here you go. It’s cold out today, so please use them.
[ The girl walks away to return to her peddling. ]
Young Girl: —— Matches for sale, miracle matches for sale! Would you like a box?
Akira: (Matches that conjure up visions of whatever you wish for… she’s just like a real-life Little Match Girl.)
I opened the box and looked at the short, thin matchsticks with red-glazed tips.
The matchsticks didn’t have a consistent shape, so I figured the girl had made them all herself, one at a time.
Akira: (Somehow, it’s a heartwarming sight. It’s obvious that she put a lot of heart into making these…)
I gazed upon the matches in my palm. Just then, Heathcliff muttered:
Heathcliff: … For some reason, I feel like that child gave off a mysterious aura.
Shino: Huh, did she…?
Rutile: Hmm, I didn’t notice anything though…
Lennox: Neither did I, but out of everyone here, Heathcliff likely has the highest sensitivity to things like this. Could you describe what you sensed in more detail?
Heathcliff: It’s pretty hard to put it into words, but… it’s like she’s human, but I couldn’t feel any sort of humanly presence from her.
Rutile: How so…?
Akira: (I mean, well, yes, she was in fact selling vision-granting miracle matches…)
I glanced back at the girl, who was busy approaching people to sell her wares just like earlier. She looked no different from any other ordinary girl.
Young Girl: Matches for sale, miracle matches for sale! Would you like a box?
Akira: (Huh… Just now, I think I saw something twinkling in her eye…)
It was only for a second, like a flash of light, but I thought I saw a twinkling light in her large eyes.
But when I tried to focus on it, the light was gone without a trace. There were only her dark brown eyes.
Akira: (Maybe it was just a trick of the light?)
It was a fleeting light that disappeared in the blink of an eye.
It had been in the shape of a snowflake.
[ Magical Manor - Shylock’s Bar ]
That night…
Cain and Rutile had invited me to go to Shylock’s bar with them. We weren’t the first to the bar, from the looks of it.
Lennox and Oz were sitting at the counter, with an empty seat between them.
Heathcliff and Shino were sitting in the sofa area, drinking from their glasses.
Rutile: Oh, it’s unusual to see you here. Heath, did Shino ask you to come?
Heathcliff: Yeah. He said I might take a liking to Shylock’s new concoction.
Cain: Ooh, yeah, it’s got spices mixed into it. It’s probably really nice. Hey, mind if we join you guys?
Shino: Sure. Hey, Kenja, go on ahead and sit next to Heath.
Heathcliff: Wait, why are you the one giving her permission… Sorry about that. You’re welcome to sit next to me if you’d like.
Akira: Ahaha, alright then. Don’t mind if I do!
The lively conversation continued as we enjoyed glasses of wine and juice.
In the midst of conversation, Cain suddenly leaned forward and asked:
Cain: Hey, so you all bought some miracle matches at Vera City? Rutile was telling me about it.
Akira: Yeah, we each got a box. Apparently, they’re matches that show you a vision of your heart’s desire.
I took out the matchbox from my pocket. At that, Shino scoffed quietly. He shrugged, with a lemon juice drink in hand.
Shino: It was just a sales pitch for suckers. I bet it’ll just flicker a bit after we light it, maybe spit out some sparks. Doubt it’ll do much more than that.
Akira: Wait, what?
Heathcliff: Shino, we don’t say such things. There’s plenty of honest peddlers out there…
Shino: Yeah, ‘plenty’ like around one in a million. Even a baby knows better than to trust a sales pitch from a street peddler.
Akira: O-Oh, alright. I guess that’s the reality…
Akira: (It’s not like I bought those matches specifically for the visions. Though I have to admit I was a little curious, like maybe they really are just like the matches the Little Match Girl sold in the story…)
My shoulders slumped slightly at the thought.
Rutile smiled brightly.
Rutile: But that simply means that that child could be our one-in-a-million honest peddler.
How about we strike one of the matches and see for ourselves?
[ Shylock approaches the sofas. ]
Shylock: Pardon me. Another bowl of nuts for you all.
Cain: Oh, thanks, Shylock.
Shino: Yesss, these are the best. You always bring me my favourite snacks.
Shylock: Fufu, you’re too kind. ……Though I must admit, I couldn’t help but listen in. Miracle matches! What a riveting encounter.
If those matches turn out to be disappointingly normal, then allow me to make up for it with some of my own enchantments. I insist.
Akira: You’d do that?
Shylock: Why, of course. It’ll be well worth my efforts for the chance to see your adorable face adorned with delight.
Akira: Y-You’re making me blush… But thank you so much! Well, here goes…
Akira: … It would be nice if I could be surrounded by lots of cats.
[ No BGM ]
I struck a match. Its tip lit up with a gentle flame.
I then heard cute mewing from all around me.
[ Meow… ]
Akira: Wha—!?
I looked around the bar. In a shocking turn of events, the bar was full of cats lazing around and about.
* T/N: literally ‘pure white something san’
next episode →