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The Burning of a Wish in Winter - Episode 7
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Lennox: … Still, there are moments where clinging onto a tiny morsel of a wish is all you need to pull yourself back up onto your feet.
Clinging to that wish is undoubtedly better than having someone dear to you leave you behind, and then having to accept that you will never meet them again…
I understand how she feels — I understand wanting to hold onto the belief that it is still within your power to someday reunite with those that you have lost.
Owen: Then you’re stupid too.
Lennox: I don’t think I am. But I also don’t think I’m particularly smart either.
If I had no wish back then, I would not have been able to live out my life.
[ No BGM ]
Lennox: Hm…? There’s some commotion coming from the corridor.
Owen: It’s Shino. That’s his presence coming towards us.
Lennox: I can hear him running, but I also hear only one set of footsteps…
I fear something has happened to Heathcliff and Kenja sama.
[ A few moments ago… ]
[ Vera City ]
Heathcliff: Now, where could Beluga be… We’d just finished making matches with her not too long ago, so maybe she’s out peddling them again?
Akira: Good idea. Let’s look around the city streets.
Shino: ………
Heathcliff: What’s wrong, Shino? You’ve been awfully quiet.
Shino: Nothin’.
Heathcliff: Okay, it’s not ‘nothin’’… something’s obviously eating at you from inside.
Shino: ………
[ BGM starts ]
Shino: … I didn’t know you’d met a frosty before.
Heathcliff: I forgot it even happened… and besides, I didn’t find out until today that it was a frosty.
Shino: Right. Sure. Wasn’t about to start lecturing you. Was just thinkin’ you should probably be more wary.
[ Shino appears downcast. ]
Shino: ………
In a rare turn of events, Shino searched for the words he wanted to say, his gaze wandering as he thought.
His red eyes wavered like the flame of a miracle match showing you your wish.
Shino: … I think I know what you wished for, Heath. And I also know that I’m the only one in this entire world that can grant it.
Because wizards lose their magic and become humans once they break a promise.
Heathcliff: Shino…
Shino: We’d renewed our promise to protect each other. But that doesn’t mean that wish of yours is gone just like that.
That’s why…
………
… Shit. I don’t know what I wanted to say anymore. That’s why… your wish, I…
Heathcliff: ………
Heathcliff too searched for the right words to say. He cast a fleeting glance my way, with a look in his eyes that was inexplicable to me…
Something about the look in his eyes was brilliant and bright. He was just about to speak, when—
Akira: (Heath…?)
Beluga: … Heathcliff sama? Oh, Shino san and Kenja sama’s here too.
I glanced around to locate the source of the familiar voice. I found Beluga standing at the crossroads just ahead of us. She was looking at us, surprised.
Heathcliff: Beluga…!
Akira: Glad we found you. We’ve got something to—
[ Strong wind sfx ]
[ No BGM ]
Without hesitation, we rushed to Beluga’s side as a cold wind whistled around us.
Saccie leapt out of its bag. At the same time, Shino brandished his scythe.
Shino: Get behind me, everyone. Something’s coming.
[ Strong wind sfx ]
Shino had barely finished his sentence when the winds swirled up into a vortex of snow, like a howling blizzard. A white figure stood barely five steps away from us.
[ BGM starts ]
Heathcliff: It’s the frosty!
Akira: No way…!?
It was like an angel of death, a creature made of pure white. It gestured towards Beluga like an invitation: ‘Come with me, child.’
Beluga beamed brightly. Her brown eyes were wide and sparkling — but the sparkle came from the large snowflake that had filled her eyes.
Beluga: Wow! I’d never dreamt of meeting God’s angel ever again…!
Heathcliff: Beluga, that’s no angel of god—
Beluga: Gosh, I’m so happy. I’m finally going to see Papa and Mama again. All because I’ve managed to become a good daughter.
Akira: Wait, no, Beluga…!
Shino: Nothing’s gonna get through to her. She’s completely enthralled.
Shakily, Beluga tottered closer and closer, beckoned by the frosty. Heathcliff tightened his grip on her hand, determined not to let go.
Heathcliff: Beluga, listen to me. That’s an evil fey. It’s going to kidnap you, and…
Beluga: Let go of me!!
Heathcliff: Woah…!
Shino: Heath!
With an unbridled strength that didn’t match her small stature, Beluga broke free from Heathcliff’s grasp and cast his hand aside.
Instead, she offered her little hand, dried and cracked, towards the frosty.
Beluga: Oh, God’s angel. Please take me with you.
Frosty: ………
The frosty extended its snow-white hand in return and took Beluga’s hand into its own.
Desperately, I lunged towards Beluga and grabbed onto the hem of her blouse. Heathcliff tried yet again to reach for her hand and pull her back.
A moment too late, there was Shino with his scythe.
[ Strong wind sfx ]
Shino’s fingers were a hair’s breadth away from touching Beluga. But in that instant, we were enveloped by the white of a blizzard.
Akira: What’s going on…!?
Heathcliff: It’s the vortex of blizzard winds…! Does it plan on whisking Beluga away with us in tow!?
Saccie stood with its hackles on end in an intimidating display.
Oz’s flower that I had tucked into my chest pocket was swept up into the snowy vortex by its winds.
Shino: HEATH! KENJA! Damnit, you evil fey! I’m going to kill you dead…!
Heathcliff: Leave it, Shino! Tell the others at the mansion—
That was the last thing I heard.
An unnatural cold set in. An overwhelming drowsiness overcame me.
I felt someone wrap an arm around me, as if trying to shield me, and then my vision blurred into nothing but pure white.
[ ??? ]
[ No BGM ]
Heathcliff: —— …… « repsevaivulp sunos »
Heathcliff: Kenja sama… Kenja sama, are you with me?
Akira: Nngh…
[ Frosty’s Abode ]
Slowly, I opened my eyes and noticed what felt like the gentle warmth of being covered by a blanket.
The first thing I saw was two pairs of eyes peering at my face.
Akira: Mmh? Heathcliff, Saccie…
Heathcliff: You’re awake. What a relief!
When I tried to sit up, Heathcliff helped prop me upright.
From what I could tell, I had been lying here, passed out under what looked like a star-studded canopy formed by dreamwood trees.
Beyond the canopy that enveloped us and the furniture-like objects around us was a giant transparent dome. I didn’t recognise the plains that stretched beyond the dome’s walls.
Akira: We’re… Are we inside a snow globe…?
Heathcliff: We’re inside the frosty’s abode. Beluga’s here with us too.
I followed his gaze to the elevated platform that resembled a bed. Beluga was lying on the ‘bed’ in silence with her eyes firmly shut.
Akira: Beluga!
Heathcliff: There’s no need to worry. She’s unharmed. She’s probably just fast asleep. I’ve already cast some protective magic over her.
Akira: You did? Oh, right, these are dreamwood trees…
Heathcliff: Yes. They release poisonous spores. I’ve cast the same magic on you too, Kenja sama.
Just in case, do you feel funny anywhere? You might’ve inhaled some spores while we were both unconscious…
Akira: I-I’m fine, I think. I don’t feel strange at all.
Heathcliff: That’s good. Once you feel the spell’s effect start to weaken, please let me know immediately.
Heathcliff breathed a sigh of relief. After that, he filled me in on the situation:
The frosty wasn’t anywhere near us.
Most likely, it had gone and hidden itself to bide time, because it had abducted all three of us at the same time and had expended too much of its magical power.
Perhaps it was a fey driven to the brink of desperation, and that was why it had grabbed us too without regard for Oz’s mark on the flowers we carried.
Heathcliff: … Well, now that you’re awake, Kenja sama, to start with, I’d like to try breaking us out of this place with my magic.
Heathcliff’s explanation was quick and spartan, but it was well-paced, and I had no problems understanding it. When he was done explaining, he took out his pocketwatch.
Heathcliff: Please take a few steps back.
Heathcliff: « repsevaivulp sunos »
His bangs and the trim of his cloak mantle fluttered up in the air as lines of light formed intricate, geometric shapes that reminded me of blueprints of draft designs. The shapes spread to cover the surface of the dome’s icy wall.
But…
[ Flash! ]
Heathcliff: …!
Akira: Heath!
Heathcliff: I-I’m fine, sorry to make you worry.
…… From what I could tell from the spell, there’s a good chance that we can break free of this snow globe if we apply enough force to the wall.
But if I do that, we’ll definitely end up in a fight against the frosty. That might put you and Beluga in harm’s way.
So for now, I’m going to devote my efforts to protecting the two of you from the cold and the poison while we wait for help to arrive. Does that sound alright to you?
Akira: Most definitely, yes. I really appreciate how thoughtful you’ve been this entire time. Thank you so much.
Honestly, I’m glad you’re here with me, Heath… If I were alone, I’d have panicked.
Heathcliff: No, not at all, you flatter me. It just so happened that I woke up a little earlier than you, so I had the luxury to spend some time thinking things over.
Beluga: …… Nngh……
Just then, we heard Beluga stir while her eyelids fluttered.
I put Saccie back into its bag, and together with Heathcliff, we rushed over to the girl’s side.
Heathcliff: Beluga, you’re awake! What a relief.
Beluga: Where am I…? Where’s Papa and Mama?
Akira: They’re… Your parents were never there. Beluga, you were taken away by a frosty.
Beluga: Frosty… Oh, I did hear a little bit about that while I was selling matches. Something about… it’s a monster that kidnaps bad children?
Heathcliff: Yeah, the legends all say that. Frosty fairies are actually fey from the North, and sometimes, they kidnap children that they’ve a liking to.
You have… a heart-wrenching wish. These fey like children with wishes like that, so you became the target of a frosty. The dreamwood branches you’d been receiving – those were all gifts from a frosty.
Beluga: You’re saying that all these branches are from a frosty…
Beluga reached for her basket of wares. She fished out a box of dreamwood matches. She took a matchstick in hand and lit it with a firm strike.
Beluga: Then, that means… I had gotten full of myself. I thought that I'd improved a little, and that I’d become a good daughter, that’s why God’s angel had come for me.
…… But instead, it’s a fey that takes away bad children, that’s what came for me……
next episode →
Lennox: … Still, there are moments where clinging onto a tiny morsel of a wish is all you need to pull yourself back up onto your feet.
Clinging to that wish is undoubtedly better than having someone dear to you leave you behind, and then having to accept that you will never meet them again…
I understand how she feels — I understand wanting to hold onto the belief that it is still within your power to someday reunite with those that you have lost.
Owen: Then you’re stupid too.
Lennox: I don’t think I am. But I also don’t think I’m particularly smart either.
If I had no wish back then, I would not have been able to live out my life.
[ No BGM ]
Lennox: Hm…? There’s some commotion coming from the corridor.
Owen: It’s Shino. That’s his presence coming towards us.
Lennox: I can hear him running, but I also hear only one set of footsteps…
I fear something has happened to Heathcliff and Kenja sama.
[ A few moments ago… ]
[ Vera City ]
Heathcliff: Now, where could Beluga be… We’d just finished making matches with her not too long ago, so maybe she’s out peddling them again?
Akira: Good idea. Let’s look around the city streets.
Shino: ………
Heathcliff: What’s wrong, Shino? You’ve been awfully quiet.
Shino: Nothin’.
Heathcliff: Okay, it’s not ‘nothin’’… something’s obviously eating at you from inside.
Shino: ………
[ BGM starts ]
Shino: … I didn’t know you’d met a frosty before.
Heathcliff: I forgot it even happened… and besides, I didn’t find out until today that it was a frosty.
Shino: Right. Sure. Wasn’t about to start lecturing you. Was just thinkin’ you should probably be more wary.
[ Shino appears downcast. ]
Shino: ………
In a rare turn of events, Shino searched for the words he wanted to say, his gaze wandering as he thought.
His red eyes wavered like the flame of a miracle match showing you your wish.
Shino: … I think I know what you wished for, Heath. And I also know that I’m the only one in this entire world that can grant it.
Because wizards lose their magic and become humans once they break a promise.
Heathcliff: Shino…
Shino: We’d renewed our promise to protect each other. But that doesn’t mean that wish of yours is gone just like that.
That’s why…
………
… Shit. I don’t know what I wanted to say anymore. That’s why… your wish, I…
Heathcliff: ………
Heathcliff too searched for the right words to say. He cast a fleeting glance my way, with a look in his eyes that was inexplicable to me…
Something about the look in his eyes was brilliant and bright. He was just about to speak, when—
Akira: (Heath…?)
Beluga: … Heathcliff sama? Oh, Shino san and Kenja sama’s here too.
I glanced around to locate the source of the familiar voice. I found Beluga standing at the crossroads just ahead of us. She was looking at us, surprised.
Heathcliff: Beluga…!
Akira: Glad we found you. We’ve got something to—
[ Strong wind sfx ]
[ No BGM ]
Without hesitation, we rushed to Beluga’s side as a cold wind whistled around us.
Saccie leapt out of its bag. At the same time, Shino brandished his scythe.
Shino: Get behind me, everyone. Something’s coming.
[ Strong wind sfx ]
Shino had barely finished his sentence when the winds swirled up into a vortex of snow, like a howling blizzard. A white figure stood barely five steps away from us.
[ BGM starts ]
Heathcliff: It’s the frosty!
Akira: No way…!?
It was like an angel of death, a creature made of pure white. It gestured towards Beluga like an invitation: ‘Come with me, child.’
Beluga beamed brightly. Her brown eyes were wide and sparkling — but the sparkle came from the large snowflake that had filled her eyes.
Beluga: Wow! I’d never dreamt of meeting God’s angel ever again…!
Heathcliff: Beluga, that’s no angel of god—
Beluga: Gosh, I’m so happy. I’m finally going to see Papa and Mama again. All because I’ve managed to become a good daughter.
Akira: Wait, no, Beluga…!
Shino: Nothing’s gonna get through to her. She’s completely enthralled.
Shakily, Beluga tottered closer and closer, beckoned by the frosty. Heathcliff tightened his grip on her hand, determined not to let go.
Heathcliff: Beluga, listen to me. That’s an evil fey. It’s going to kidnap you, and…
Beluga: Let go of me!!
Heathcliff: Woah…!
Shino: Heath!
With an unbridled strength that didn’t match her small stature, Beluga broke free from Heathcliff’s grasp and cast his hand aside.
Instead, she offered her little hand, dried and cracked, towards the frosty.
Beluga: Oh, God’s angel. Please take me with you.
Frosty: ………
The frosty extended its snow-white hand in return and took Beluga’s hand into its own.
Desperately, I lunged towards Beluga and grabbed onto the hem of her blouse. Heathcliff tried yet again to reach for her hand and pull her back.
A moment too late, there was Shino with his scythe.
[ Strong wind sfx ]
Shino’s fingers were a hair’s breadth away from touching Beluga. But in that instant, we were enveloped by the white of a blizzard.
Akira: What’s going on…!?
Heathcliff: It’s the vortex of blizzard winds…! Does it plan on whisking Beluga away with us in tow!?
Saccie stood with its hackles on end in an intimidating display.
Oz’s flower that I had tucked into my chest pocket was swept up into the snowy vortex by its winds.
Shino: HEATH! KENJA! Damnit, you evil fey! I’m going to kill you dead…!
Heathcliff: Leave it, Shino! Tell the others at the mansion—
That was the last thing I heard.
An unnatural cold set in. An overwhelming drowsiness overcame me.
I felt someone wrap an arm around me, as if trying to shield me, and then my vision blurred into nothing but pure white.
[ ??? ]
[ No BGM ]
Heathcliff: —— …… « repsevaivulp sunos »
Heathcliff: Kenja sama… Kenja sama, are you with me?
Akira: Nngh…
[ Frosty’s Abode ]
Slowly, I opened my eyes and noticed what felt like the gentle warmth of being covered by a blanket.
The first thing I saw was two pairs of eyes peering at my face.
Akira: Mmh? Heathcliff, Saccie…
Heathcliff: You’re awake. What a relief!
When I tried to sit up, Heathcliff helped prop me upright.
From what I could tell, I had been lying here, passed out under what looked like a star-studded canopy formed by dreamwood trees.
Beyond the canopy that enveloped us and the furniture-like objects around us was a giant transparent dome. I didn’t recognise the plains that stretched beyond the dome’s walls.
Akira: We’re… Are we inside a snow globe…?
Heathcliff: We’re inside the frosty’s abode. Beluga’s here with us too.
I followed his gaze to the elevated platform that resembled a bed. Beluga was lying on the ‘bed’ in silence with her eyes firmly shut.
Akira: Beluga!
Heathcliff: There’s no need to worry. She’s unharmed. She’s probably just fast asleep. I’ve already cast some protective magic over her.
Akira: You did? Oh, right, these are dreamwood trees…
Heathcliff: Yes. They release poisonous spores. I’ve cast the same magic on you too, Kenja sama.
Just in case, do you feel funny anywhere? You might’ve inhaled some spores while we were both unconscious…
Akira: I-I’m fine, I think. I don’t feel strange at all.
Heathcliff: That’s good. Once you feel the spell’s effect start to weaken, please let me know immediately.
Heathcliff breathed a sigh of relief. After that, he filled me in on the situation:
The frosty wasn’t anywhere near us.
Most likely, it had gone and hidden itself to bide time, because it had abducted all three of us at the same time and had expended too much of its magical power.
Perhaps it was a fey driven to the brink of desperation, and that was why it had grabbed us too without regard for Oz’s mark on the flowers we carried.
Heathcliff: … Well, now that you’re awake, Kenja sama, to start with, I’d like to try breaking us out of this place with my magic.
Heathcliff’s explanation was quick and spartan, but it was well-paced, and I had no problems understanding it. When he was done explaining, he took out his pocketwatch.
Heathcliff: Please take a few steps back.
Heathcliff: « repsevaivulp sunos »
His bangs and the trim of his cloak mantle fluttered up in the air as lines of light formed intricate, geometric shapes that reminded me of blueprints of draft designs. The shapes spread to cover the surface of the dome’s icy wall.
But…
[ Flash! ]
Heathcliff: …!
Akira: Heath!
Heathcliff: I-I’m fine, sorry to make you worry.
…… From what I could tell from the spell, there’s a good chance that we can break free of this snow globe if we apply enough force to the wall.
But if I do that, we’ll definitely end up in a fight against the frosty. That might put you and Beluga in harm’s way.
So for now, I’m going to devote my efforts to protecting the two of you from the cold and the poison while we wait for help to arrive. Does that sound alright to you?
Akira: Most definitely, yes. I really appreciate how thoughtful you’ve been this entire time. Thank you so much.
Honestly, I’m glad you’re here with me, Heath… If I were alone, I’d have panicked.
Heathcliff: No, not at all, you flatter me. It just so happened that I woke up a little earlier than you, so I had the luxury to spend some time thinking things over.
Beluga: …… Nngh……
Just then, we heard Beluga stir while her eyelids fluttered.
I put Saccie back into its bag, and together with Heathcliff, we rushed over to the girl’s side.
Heathcliff: Beluga, you’re awake! What a relief.
Beluga: Where am I…? Where’s Papa and Mama?
Akira: They’re… Your parents were never there. Beluga, you were taken away by a frosty.
Beluga: Frosty… Oh, I did hear a little bit about that while I was selling matches. Something about… it’s a monster that kidnaps bad children?
Heathcliff: Yeah, the legends all say that. Frosty fairies are actually fey from the North, and sometimes, they kidnap children that they’ve a liking to.
You have… a heart-wrenching wish. These fey like children with wishes like that, so you became the target of a frosty. The dreamwood branches you’d been receiving – those were all gifts from a frosty.
Beluga: You’re saying that all these branches are from a frosty…
Beluga reached for her basket of wares. She fished out a box of dreamwood matches. She took a matchstick in hand and lit it with a firm strike.
Beluga: Then, that means… I had gotten full of myself. I thought that I'd improved a little, and that I’d become a good daughter, that’s why God’s angel had come for me.
…… But instead, it’s a fey that takes away bad children, that’s what came for me……
next episode →