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The Burning of a Wish in Winter - Episode 6
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Owen: Hey, Heathcliff, what sort of dream did you have back then?
What was it that you so futilely wished for, all on your lonesome?
Heathcliff: … (mumble) …
In a flash, Shino grew murderous.
Rutile and Shylock both looked like they were like they were right about to say something.
Oz pulled his staff out of thin air and primed it in his firm grasp.
Cain reached towards the back of Owen’s collar. Perhaps he wanted to pull Owen back and stop him from going any further.
[ No BGM ]
[ Grip sfx ]
But Lennox got to Owen before Cain could. Unruffled, he grabbed Owen’s hand away from Heathcliff.
Lennox: No more. Hold your tongue and stay your malice.
Owen: Huh?
Lennox: Heathcliff, you need not answer. You need not even retread those memories.
Any one of us, any person at any time, can have wishes and thoughts of what could have been, if only things were different or if things had stayed the same.
[ BGM starts ]
Lennox: I would know. I too have had futile dreams and wishes. I still do.
Lennox’s words were simple, but the tone of his voice was complex.
He clapped Heathcliff on the back and smiled. It was a small but casual smile.
To get to the point where he can casually talk about the pain he carried today, he had to endure those impossibly endless days and months of the past, those countless steps taken on his journey — try as I might, it was something that I couldn’t understand, not yet, not now, and perhaps not ever.
Heathcliff: … Got it. Thanks, Lennox.
Owen: Hey, you Southern Wizard, how long do I have to wait until you let go of my hand?
Lennox: Oh. Apologies. I forgot about that.
Though, Owen, I know you were trying to express concern about Heathcliff, but the way you posed that question was…
Owen: Concern? I was doing no such thing. It’s not like I care one way or another what his answer might be.
Oz: Then, why—
[ No BGM ]
Cain: Shh! Sorry, Oz, but right now we’re on a pretty good vibe, so let’s try to bring the topic back to frosties.
Cain: So, in a nutshell… Just like the legends say, frosties are creatures that kidnap children.
Rutile: They leave out gifts to lure a child in, and then they’ll whisk the child away. The dreamwood branches that Beluga’s been receiving could also be gifts left out to lure her in.
[ BGM starts ]
Oz: I suspect so. There are changes in her aura whenever someone mentions the branches. That is proof enough that she is being lured deeper into its thrall.
Shino: Then what’re we waiting for? Let’s get out there and kill a frosty. Like, I hate to admit it, but if we have Owen, then tracking that thing down is no problem.
Owen: Well, yes, that’s true. I’d definitely get that done much better than Oz or Shylock could. I’ve had a lot of experience with this sort of magical presence.
Shylock: Be that as it may, let us not forget that this creature is strongly bonded with Beluga. We’d be best served if we avoid a violent confrontation.
If we resolved this problem by overpowering it with force, it could have severe consequences for the wellbeing of Beluga’s heart. It’s like having a scab over a bloody wound. Tearing away that scab will reopen the wound.
Rutile: That’s a good point… It’s obvious that her emotional wellbeing is propped up by the gifts the frosty gives her.
Heathcliff: …In that case, could we try doing a ritual purification?
Akira: What’s that?
Shino: What.
Heathcliff: Shino, we learnt about it in Faust sensei’s class… It’s a type of ritual for driving out a weak fey or magical creature from the people or animals it’s possessing.
Faust sensei said that ritual purification can also be used in situations where, instead of being possessed, a person’s heart has been strongly bonded. We should be able to use ritual purification to chase a weak fey out of someone’s heart.
Oz: Correct. The frosty we’re dealing with is particularly weak. The ritual you mentioned will suffice.
Lennox: Then that’s what we’ll do. First, we’ll use this ritual to distance Beluga’s heart from the workings of the frosty.
If I remember correctly, this ritual requires us to draw a rather large glyph. Would it be permissible for us to use this drawing room for the ritual?
Shylock: A worthy consideration. Although this city is relatively open-minded about the Sage’s Wizards, a large magical glyph might be too much for their tastes.
Cain: Right. Let’s ask Emmett if we… er, Emmett sama, if we can.
Then we need someone to bring Beluga back to the mansion while the rest of us work on preparations for the ritual.
Heathcliff: I’ll go.
The frosty I encountered was so kind to me that it’s hard to believe it could possibly have been an evil fey. Or rather, I don’t want to believe it, but here we are…
As someone that has also been under the thrall of a frosty, I think I’d have an easier time breaching the subject with her.
Rutile: Yeah. Beluga’s opened up to you the most, Heathcliff. If it’s you, I’m sure she won’t be frightened off by stories of the fey. She’ll hear you out.
Akira: Could I come with you? I’m human, just like her. If I’m there too, she might feel more at ease.
Heathcliff: Thank you for your generous offer, Kenja sama. You’re more than welcome to come along.
Shino: I’m going too. I’ll protect you. You shouldn’t go anywhere without someone to protect you.
Lennox: Then the rest of us will work on preparing what’s needed for the ritual in the meantime.
Heathcliff: Okay. I’m counting on you all. And you, Oz sama, I’m honoured to have your assistance.
Oz: Yes.
………
Slowly and deliberately, Oz plucked a flower out of the vase. He placed the flower onto his open palm and gently blew a breath of air onto it.
Oz: Heathcliff, this shall go into your chest pocket.
Heathcliff: What’s this…?
Oz: I have marked this flower with my power. The frosty will know better than to approach you, and I will also be able to easily track your location.
This Frosty fey is fond of this land in Eastern country and its cautious people; therefore, it is unlikely to play any tricks or lay any traps. Nevertheless, we cannot be too careful.
There was no emotion to Oz's gaze, but gently, his gaze wandered away until it eventually returned to Heathcliff.
Oz: … Your beauty will attract inhumans. If it has already happened to you as a child, then it will only happen more often now.
Do not think that you had drawn the frosty to you simply because of your childhood wish. It is because of your beauty that you were – and are – exceptionally likely to draw the attention of frosties.
Quietly, Oz elaborated. As he did, he pressed the flower into Heathcliff’s hand. It was subtle, but I could tell that Oz was being kind.
Oz: Do not lose this.
Heathcliff: I understand. And… thank you very much.
Oz: Kenja and Shino, you two as well. Take these.
Akira: Thank you very much, Oz.
Lennox: Heathcliff, Shino, Kenja sama — godspeed, and good luck with Beluga.
Heathcliff: We’ll be off then.
Cain: Alright, so we’ve pushed all the furniture in the room into a corner.
Rutile: Do you think we have enough space now?
Oz: It shall suffice. Next, I will need the windows covered. Cloth, black, untouched by magic.
Emmett: Right away. Is there anything else you might need?
Shylock: If you’re taking requests, then I’d like to place an order for moonlight tree leaves and stormsalt. Oh, and some Tears of the Morning Dew as well.
Owen: And I’d like another serving of sweets.
Bring me that dessert that had those bright red gooey, smashed up bits. It was a cake with chunky blood between the layers. That one was tasty.
Emmett: I… I believe that can be done, and I shall arrange for it posthaste.
[ Cain walks over to Owen. ]
Cain: Owen… How about you come over here and help us out a bit? Don’t just eat sweets all day long.
Owen: No. I’m going to eat all the sweets I want, and then I’ll return to the manor.
After all, I’m only here for one reason. I’m here to see how all your faces twist when you realise that destitute, starveling girl’s doomed — not only because of her sad circumstances, but also because of her own futile wish.
Cain: Okay, there’s such a thing as too much honesty…
Oz: So that is indeed the reason why you have come here.
Rutile: But if Owen san hadn’t decided to come join us, we wouldn’t have known for certain that Beluga is enthralled by a frosty.
When she talked about her parents and the meaning of the dreamwood branches… It was truly heart-wrenching to see. I’m glad we discovered the root of the problem.
Oz: … You are a teacher. You have seen hordes of children. And yet you would still say that her circumstances are terrible beyond belief.
Rutile: It’s not so much her circumstances as it is the way of life she’s chosen to lead. It’s like she's surrounded by a delicious feast of food, yet she refuses to take even a single bite and insists on starving herself. That’s what she looks like to me.
Lennox: … You’re talking about Maia. Beluga described her as a kind landlady offering her room and board, but I get the feeling that Maia has a different point of view.
Rutile: Yes. It seems to me that Maia has not only welcomed Beluga into her home, but she’s also ready and willing to welcome Beluga into her family.
But she’s a kind soul, and she doesn’t want to impose her feelings onto Beluga, whose heart remains closed-off to the outside world. So Maia kindly watches over her without interfering…
I just think that Beluga has chosen to turn a blind eye to everything that Maia has offered her. She’s chosen to turn her back and withdraw deeper into her gloomy, sad world of her own making.
Shylock: Perhaps she does not believe in her own worth, and so she cannot believe that she deserves love and kindness. Given how life has treated her thus far, one cannot blame her for having low self-esteem.
Rutile: Yeah… But Beluga is objectively a wonderful girl who’s kind and also hardworking.
She simply hasn’t been made aware of the fact that she’s lovely, and she deserves better.
From what I can tell, Maia san is the sort of person that wants to make sure Beluga realises that, no matter how long it takes.
Even if Beluga may never have her wish granted, as long as she realises her potential…
Lennox: …… Yes. Truly so.
[ Door knock sfx ]
Emmett: Thank you for your patience. I’ve brought the curtains, moonlight tree leaves, stormsalt, and Tears of the Morning Dew that you asked for.
Cain: Thanks. Alright, I’ll go put up the curtains. Manually, no magic allowed, right?
Oz: In addition to that, there is a custom we must obey when concealing the sun’s light. Come with me.
Shylock: I will get the moonlight tree leaves ready. Rutile, please bring with you the Tears of the Morning Dew and stormsalt, and come lend me a hand, won’t you?
Rutile: Sure thing!
Emmett: And I’ve brought the sweets too. Um, could you confirm that I’ve brought you the right cake? It’s cream cake with strawberry jam.
Owen: Yay. Look at the clotted blood squished into its layers.
Emmett: Blood…
Lennox: Thank you, Emmett — and allow me to apologise on his behalf. He’s always like this.
Emmett: N-Not at all. Please call upon me if you need anything.
[ Emmett leaves the drawing room. ]
Owen: (giggle) I’ll roll them over like corpses before I dig in.
Lennox: Owen, I have to move your chair and table over to the other side. Kindly do me a favour: pick up your tea and cake, and stand up.
Owen: That reminds me. So what was Beluga’s futile wish?
Lennox: We never asked her……
………
Lennox: … No, I’ll tell you. There’s a chance we’ll need to count on your support. It’s for the best to loop you in.
Beluga was abandoned by her parents. She thinks it’s because she’s clumsy and no good with her hands.
And that’s why… she wants to be a good daughter.
Owen: … Oh?
Lennox: She believes that if she becomes skilled at making matches, she would then become a good daughter. If she’s a good daughter, then her parents will come back for her. I don’t know how much of her thinking comes from the frosty’s hold on her.
Owen: Will they really come back for her?
Lennox: … No. I’m afraid not.
Owen: ………
… Haha.
Her beloved parents have already forgotten all about her, yet she still has nothing but unconditional love for them. What a stupid child.
To her parents, she’s nothing but trouble, no different from rubbish thrown away into the dark recesses of a cellar. Who comes back for rubbish? No one, that’s who.
Nothing good comes to good children who wait. No way, never.
next episode →
Owen: Hey, Heathcliff, what sort of dream did you have back then?
What was it that you so futilely wished for, all on your lonesome?
Heathcliff: … (mumble) …
In a flash, Shino grew murderous.
Rutile and Shylock both looked like they were like they were right about to say something.
Oz pulled his staff out of thin air and primed it in his firm grasp.
Cain reached towards the back of Owen’s collar. Perhaps he wanted to pull Owen back and stop him from going any further.
[ No BGM ]
[ Grip sfx ]
But Lennox got to Owen before Cain could. Unruffled, he grabbed Owen’s hand away from Heathcliff.
Lennox: No more. Hold your tongue and stay your malice.
Owen: Huh?
Lennox: Heathcliff, you need not answer. You need not even retread those memories.
Any one of us, any person at any time, can have wishes and thoughts of what could have been, if only things were different or if things had stayed the same.
[ BGM starts ]
Lennox: I would know. I too have had futile dreams and wishes. I still do.
Lennox’s words were simple, but the tone of his voice was complex.
He clapped Heathcliff on the back and smiled. It was a small but casual smile.
To get to the point where he can casually talk about the pain he carried today, he had to endure those impossibly endless days and months of the past, those countless steps taken on his journey — try as I might, it was something that I couldn’t understand, not yet, not now, and perhaps not ever.
Heathcliff: … Got it. Thanks, Lennox.
Owen: Hey, you Southern Wizard, how long do I have to wait until you let go of my hand?
Lennox: Oh. Apologies. I forgot about that.
Though, Owen, I know you were trying to express concern about Heathcliff, but the way you posed that question was…
Owen: Concern? I was doing no such thing. It’s not like I care one way or another what his answer might be.
Oz: Then, why—
[ No BGM ]
Cain: Shh! Sorry, Oz, but right now we’re on a pretty good vibe, so let’s try to bring the topic back to frosties.
Cain: So, in a nutshell… Just like the legends say, frosties are creatures that kidnap children.
Rutile: They leave out gifts to lure a child in, and then they’ll whisk the child away. The dreamwood branches that Beluga’s been receiving could also be gifts left out to lure her in.
[ BGM starts ]
Oz: I suspect so. There are changes in her aura whenever someone mentions the branches. That is proof enough that she is being lured deeper into its thrall.
Shino: Then what’re we waiting for? Let’s get out there and kill a frosty. Like, I hate to admit it, but if we have Owen, then tracking that thing down is no problem.
Owen: Well, yes, that’s true. I’d definitely get that done much better than Oz or Shylock could. I’ve had a lot of experience with this sort of magical presence.
Shylock: Be that as it may, let us not forget that this creature is strongly bonded with Beluga. We’d be best served if we avoid a violent confrontation.
If we resolved this problem by overpowering it with force, it could have severe consequences for the wellbeing of Beluga’s heart. It’s like having a scab over a bloody wound. Tearing away that scab will reopen the wound.
Rutile: That’s a good point… It’s obvious that her emotional wellbeing is propped up by the gifts the frosty gives her.
Heathcliff: …In that case, could we try doing a ritual purification?
Akira: What’s that?
Shino: What.
Heathcliff: Shino, we learnt about it in Faust sensei’s class… It’s a type of ritual for driving out a weak fey or magical creature from the people or animals it’s possessing.
Faust sensei said that ritual purification can also be used in situations where, instead of being possessed, a person’s heart has been strongly bonded. We should be able to use ritual purification to chase a weak fey out of someone’s heart.
Oz: Correct. The frosty we’re dealing with is particularly weak. The ritual you mentioned will suffice.
Lennox: Then that’s what we’ll do. First, we’ll use this ritual to distance Beluga’s heart from the workings of the frosty.
If I remember correctly, this ritual requires us to draw a rather large glyph. Would it be permissible for us to use this drawing room for the ritual?
Shylock: A worthy consideration. Although this city is relatively open-minded about the Sage’s Wizards, a large magical glyph might be too much for their tastes.
Cain: Right. Let’s ask Emmett if we… er, Emmett sama, if we can.
Then we need someone to bring Beluga back to the mansion while the rest of us work on preparations for the ritual.
Heathcliff: I’ll go.
The frosty I encountered was so kind to me that it’s hard to believe it could possibly have been an evil fey. Or rather, I don’t want to believe it, but here we are…
As someone that has also been under the thrall of a frosty, I think I’d have an easier time breaching the subject with her.
Rutile: Yeah. Beluga’s opened up to you the most, Heathcliff. If it’s you, I’m sure she won’t be frightened off by stories of the fey. She’ll hear you out.
Akira: Could I come with you? I’m human, just like her. If I’m there too, she might feel more at ease.
Heathcliff: Thank you for your generous offer, Kenja sama. You’re more than welcome to come along.
Shino: I’m going too. I’ll protect you. You shouldn’t go anywhere without someone to protect you.
Lennox: Then the rest of us will work on preparing what’s needed for the ritual in the meantime.
Heathcliff: Okay. I’m counting on you all. And you, Oz sama, I’m honoured to have your assistance.
Oz: Yes.
………
Slowly and deliberately, Oz plucked a flower out of the vase. He placed the flower onto his open palm and gently blew a breath of air onto it.
Oz: Heathcliff, this shall go into your chest pocket.
Heathcliff: What’s this…?
Oz: I have marked this flower with my power. The frosty will know better than to approach you, and I will also be able to easily track your location.
This Frosty fey is fond of this land in Eastern country and its cautious people; therefore, it is unlikely to play any tricks or lay any traps. Nevertheless, we cannot be too careful.
There was no emotion to Oz's gaze, but gently, his gaze wandered away until it eventually returned to Heathcliff.
Oz: … Your beauty will attract inhumans. If it has already happened to you as a child, then it will only happen more often now.
Do not think that you had drawn the frosty to you simply because of your childhood wish. It is because of your beauty that you were – and are – exceptionally likely to draw the attention of frosties.
Quietly, Oz elaborated. As he did, he pressed the flower into Heathcliff’s hand. It was subtle, but I could tell that Oz was being kind.
Oz: Do not lose this.
Heathcliff: I understand. And… thank you very much.
Oz: Kenja and Shino, you two as well. Take these.
Akira: Thank you very much, Oz.
Lennox: Heathcliff, Shino, Kenja sama — godspeed, and good luck with Beluga.
Heathcliff: We’ll be off then.
Cain: Alright, so we’ve pushed all the furniture in the room into a corner.
Rutile: Do you think we have enough space now?
Oz: It shall suffice. Next, I will need the windows covered. Cloth, black, untouched by magic.
Emmett: Right away. Is there anything else you might need?
Shylock: If you’re taking requests, then I’d like to place an order for moonlight tree leaves and stormsalt. Oh, and some Tears of the Morning Dew as well.
Owen: And I’d like another serving of sweets.
Bring me that dessert that had those bright red gooey, smashed up bits. It was a cake with chunky blood between the layers. That one was tasty.
Emmett: I… I believe that can be done, and I shall arrange for it posthaste.
[ Cain walks over to Owen. ]
Cain: Owen… How about you come over here and help us out a bit? Don’t just eat sweets all day long.
Owen: No. I’m going to eat all the sweets I want, and then I’ll return to the manor.
After all, I’m only here for one reason. I’m here to see how all your faces twist when you realise that destitute, starveling girl’s doomed — not only because of her sad circumstances, but also because of her own futile wish.
Cain: Okay, there’s such a thing as too much honesty…
Oz: So that is indeed the reason why you have come here.
Rutile: But if Owen san hadn’t decided to come join us, we wouldn’t have known for certain that Beluga is enthralled by a frosty.
When she talked about her parents and the meaning of the dreamwood branches… It was truly heart-wrenching to see. I’m glad we discovered the root of the problem.
Oz: … You are a teacher. You have seen hordes of children. And yet you would still say that her circumstances are terrible beyond belief.
Rutile: It’s not so much her circumstances as it is the way of life she’s chosen to lead. It’s like she's surrounded by a delicious feast of food, yet she refuses to take even a single bite and insists on starving herself. That’s what she looks like to me.
Lennox: … You’re talking about Maia. Beluga described her as a kind landlady offering her room and board, but I get the feeling that Maia has a different point of view.
Rutile: Yes. It seems to me that Maia has not only welcomed Beluga into her home, but she’s also ready and willing to welcome Beluga into her family.
But she’s a kind soul, and she doesn’t want to impose her feelings onto Beluga, whose heart remains closed-off to the outside world. So Maia kindly watches over her without interfering…
I just think that Beluga has chosen to turn a blind eye to everything that Maia has offered her. She’s chosen to turn her back and withdraw deeper into her gloomy, sad world of her own making.
Shylock: Perhaps she does not believe in her own worth, and so she cannot believe that she deserves love and kindness. Given how life has treated her thus far, one cannot blame her for having low self-esteem.
Rutile: Yeah… But Beluga is objectively a wonderful girl who’s kind and also hardworking.
She simply hasn’t been made aware of the fact that she’s lovely, and she deserves better.
From what I can tell, Maia san is the sort of person that wants to make sure Beluga realises that, no matter how long it takes.
Even if Beluga may never have her wish granted, as long as she realises her potential…
Lennox: …… Yes. Truly so.
[ Door knock sfx ]
Emmett: Thank you for your patience. I’ve brought the curtains, moonlight tree leaves, stormsalt, and Tears of the Morning Dew that you asked for.
Cain: Thanks. Alright, I’ll go put up the curtains. Manually, no magic allowed, right?
Oz: In addition to that, there is a custom we must obey when concealing the sun’s light. Come with me.
Shylock: I will get the moonlight tree leaves ready. Rutile, please bring with you the Tears of the Morning Dew and stormsalt, and come lend me a hand, won’t you?
Rutile: Sure thing!
Emmett: And I’ve brought the sweets too. Um, could you confirm that I’ve brought you the right cake? It’s cream cake with strawberry jam.
Owen: Yay. Look at the clotted blood squished into its layers.
Emmett: Blood…
Lennox: Thank you, Emmett — and allow me to apologise on his behalf. He’s always like this.
Emmett: N-Not at all. Please call upon me if you need anything.
[ Emmett leaves the drawing room. ]
Owen: (giggle) I’ll roll them over like corpses before I dig in.
Lennox: Owen, I have to move your chair and table over to the other side. Kindly do me a favour: pick up your tea and cake, and stand up.
Owen: That reminds me. So what was Beluga’s futile wish?
Lennox: We never asked her……
………
Lennox: … No, I’ll tell you. There’s a chance we’ll need to count on your support. It’s for the best to loop you in.
Beluga was abandoned by her parents. She thinks it’s because she’s clumsy and no good with her hands.
And that’s why… she wants to be a good daughter.
Owen: … Oh?
Lennox: She believes that if she becomes skilled at making matches, she would then become a good daughter. If she’s a good daughter, then her parents will come back for her. I don’t know how much of her thinking comes from the frosty’s hold on her.
Owen: Will they really come back for her?
Lennox: … No. I’m afraid not.
Owen: ………
… Haha.
Her beloved parents have already forgotten all about her, yet she still has nothing but unconditional love for them. What a stupid child.
To her parents, she’s nothing but trouble, no different from rubbish thrown away into the dark recesses of a cellar. Who comes back for rubbish? No one, that’s who.
Nothing good comes to good children who wait. No way, never.
next episode →