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The Fatalità's Kiss - Episode 4
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The wizards fell into thoughtful silence as the maiden’s cruel fate came to light.
Like a cat on the prowl, Murr turned his attention to the skeleton.
Murr: This skeleton is probably the source of it all — it’s been imbued with the energy from the < Great Calamity >, and it’s also causing all the visions we saw.
Hey, you there. Is there something you wanna tell us?
Mithra: Oh…
Akira: Mithra, what’s wrong?
Mithra: « arsim »
Mithra said his spell-word, as if he just recalled something.
He summoned his transpatial door and casually stuck his hand into it.
Mithra: If I may have a moment, please.
Faust: Wha—?! Hey, you can’t just grab me!
Akira: Faust?!
It was as if Mithra’s door was a claw machine, his hand the claw, and Faust the prize that he had dragged out of it.
The door was still connected to the Magical Manor’s meeting lounge. Through it, Heathcliff and Riquet were staring at us in stunned surprise, their pleasant conversation with Faust abruptly interrupted.
Heathcliff: Kenja sama? Owen and Cain are there too…
Riquet: Brr…! Is that Northern Country over there?!
Mithra: Faust. Do you recall that conversation we had earlier? I said I’d show you my new cursed tool.
I managed to obtain one made out of bone, and I think it’s a good find. This skeleton here reminded me that I said I’d show it to you.
Faust: Yes, I recall, but that doesn’t explain—
Akira: Why are we doing this now?!
Cain: There’s a time and place for everything!
Mithra: Because if I don’t act as soon as something comes to mind, I’ll probably forget to do it. Here, take a look at this.
Faust: Yes, but you didn’t have to show me anything! In fact, let’s address a more important concern: why are we in someone’s house? Why are Kenja and the others even here…
Riquet: You can’t just grab people like this. It’s not acceptable behaviour. We were enjoying ourselves over some sweets too!
Heathcliff: … Wh— That’s a skeleton?! A-and what are these creatures…?
Pecka-Pecka: Peke, peke!
Murr & Rustica: Peke, peke.
Faust: Hold on. We’re all over the place… Can someone catch us up on everything that’s happened?
Faust: … I see. I too can sense the Calamity’s presence from this skeleton.
And mixed into the Calamity’s presence, there’s another power: the lingering wishes that someone once held in life…
We filled the three newcomers in on the series of events, and Faust went over to examine the skeleton. He nudged his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
Faust: Nevertheless, that doesn’t explain how you all ended up here to begin with.
Akira: Well, it’s a long story… So, we decided to have a fun romp through Northern Country, and then it sort of escalated from there…?
Heathcliff: Fun romp…? Northern Country…?
Faust: No, Kenja’s simply been hanging out with a group of hooligans. It’s no wonder she’s been led astray.
Riquet: What a terrible way to live.
But, Kenja sama, worry not, for we have arrived. You are in safe hands now.
Akira: Thank you very much…?
Mithra: Hey, aren’t you forgetting something more important? My cursed tool. What do you think of it? You may hold it if you wish.
Faust: Please don’t shove it into my face. I’m already looking at it.
Hmm, it’s made out of the bones of several different beasts. It’s held up exceptionally well for a tool of this design.
Murr: I wanna look too! I read an article titled “100 Cursed Tools to Seal Away Forever and Ever” last week. Maybe this cursed tool was one of them!
Pecka-Pecka: Pekepeke!
Owen: Pipe down. There aren't ‘tons of food standing around’. Now get out of my sight.
Cain: This is bad... We’re about to get swept up into some weird shit. Faust, thanks for staying. I’m glad you’re here to help.
Faust: Well…… Judging from the situation at hand, it didn’t seem wise to turn my back and shut the door on all of you.
At the very least, the skeleton doesn’t seem to have any sort of malice as far as I can tell.
Nevertheless, there’s the Calamity’s presence and also the power of that lingering wish, but they’re not exactly evil.
Rustica: … There we go. Beautiful. What do you think?
Riquet: Excuse me, Rustica, may I ask what you’re doing?
Rustica: I’m tidying up her appearance. I’ve adjusted her posture, dusted her clean, and placed her veil back where it belongs…
She’s the centre of attention right now. She couldn’t have possibly felt comfortable with her appearance in such disarray.
Rustica was a perfect gentleman, treating the skeleton with the same kindness as he would for a living, breathing noblewoman.
Rustica: You were precious to him. You have on a lovely dress, and you were given a plush chair to sit upon.
You must have been a beloved bride to Heine.
Rustica’s words surprised me. Now that he mentioned it, I noticed that besides for its ankles, the skeleton had no other injuries.
The dress was old and faded by now, but it wasn’t torn anywhere. It had remained beautiful and intact, for however many years it had been there.
Akira: … Back in the forest, when we saw the two of them, the way Heine san behaved caught my attention.
Somehow, he reminded me of when I was still getting to know you Northern Wizards…
Mithra: Was it something we did?
Akira: Wizards and humans have wildly different strength and endurance levels. So even if you guys didn’t mean to handle me violently, there were times where I got roughed up by accident.
Mithra, you weren’t an exception either. You always sounded so surprised whenever you commented on how weak I was…
Heathcliff: Right… If the maiden bride was crippled, then she was all the more fragile and helpless as a person.
Riquet: Do you think the two of them got along well?
Faust: Only they can know what happened between the two of them. We have no way of finding out.
Owen, Mithra. Do you have any idea where Heine might be?
Owen: Dead, isn’t he?
Mithra: Dead, is he not?
Riquet: Really? Please give it some serious thought.
Owen: That’s really it though. He’s not in this manor. And back in the forest, his magical strength felt meagre at best.
Another possibility is that he’s in the deepest part of the forest, where there’s this giant tree that grows strange fruit…
Cain: Strange ‘fruit’? Is that what you asked the pecka-pecka about earlier?
Something about fruit and the seal being lifted?
Owen glanced at Cain out of the corner of his eye, and then he sat down on the edge of the table.
He kicked his long legs about, and then he started to tell us what he remembered:
Owen: It’s a rare and precious fruit that grows only when the tree absorbs enough moonlight on the night of the < Great Calamity >.
That guy’s obsessed with it.
It’s called the Heart of the Moon.
Owen pointed to the left side of his ribcage as he told us about the fruit.
Murr spoke up, his ears perked up in interest like a cat.
Murr: The Heart of the Moon! What does it look like?
It’s got to be a plant that goes by a different name normally. Is that what the locals here call it? Is it a subspecies? Or a sudden mutation?
Owen: I don’t know the specifics of it. But I do know that it’s a fruit that grows in the shape of a beating heart.
Who knows if that guy’s still out there waiting for it…
Even if he’s still alive, he might’ve given up on the fruit a long time ago, or he might’ve forgotten about it. He might’ve even gotten fed up and just up and left everything behind. Who knows?
After all, the last time the tree bore fruit was a few hundred years ago.
Faust: That could be true. We don’t have any reason to think otherwise.
However, since the Calamity is involved, we should investigate the tree just to be safe.
[ Forest Clearing ]
It took us a while of travelling by broomstick to reach the deep part of the woods that Owen told us about. The tree that Owen spoke of did, in fact, exist.
But it didn’t look anything like how I had imagined it.
What I expected was a mighty tree with weighty roots. What I actually saw was a tree that had been split into half and charred completely black.
Owen: See? Nobody’s here.
Faust: Wait a sec, this… Did it get struck by lightning?
Heathcliff: It’s taken an awful beating… It’s practically withered away.
Mithra: Oh. Yeah, I did that.
Akira: What?
Owen: That day, Mithra and I were fighting above this forest.
He struck me down, and I landed right here. That’s what killed me.
Riquet: That happened a long time ago though, didn't it? If it’s been like this ever since, then it’s obvious that the tree can’t bear fruit anymore…
Rustica: But I can see that a few new branches have sprouted. It’s not completely withered away.
Murr: This tree…
Murr approached the tree and touched its blasted trunk. He inspected its roots, then its branches, and then he hummed in understanding.
Murr: It’s just as Owen said. This tree is a special tree that bears fruit on the night of the < Great Calamity > by absorbing moonlight to grow a fruit that’s shaped like a heart.
So this country calls it The Heart of the Moon, huh… That’s a good one.
Let’s work with this hypothesis: A few centuries ago, this tree suffered a terrible blow and almost withered away from the damage.
On that same day, Owen died right here.
Let us consider that humans, animals, or trees can only live for so long, like a torch that must eventually burn out. This tree would’ve needed outside intervention to extend its life.
Cain: … It was Heine himself, then? He poured his magic into this tree and extended its lifespan?
Owen: No… there’s no way. How long do you think it’s been since then?
Mithra: But there’s no other explanation. Not unless someone deliberately broke the seal and entered this clearing.
Faust: … It’s faint, but I can sense magic coming from the tree.
You were saying the fruit grows only on the night of the < Great Calamity >? Then, this time, when the Calamity made its descent…
Riquet: If I may…
Heathcliff: Don’t you think the dried branches over there look a little odd? They sort of look like someone’s arm…
Riquet and Heathcliff pointed to a spot behind the tree.
We walked behind the tree where I only saw dense piles of snow. There was nothing out of the ordinary at first. However…
Faust: … It has fingernails. That’s a person!
Cain: Hey, you okay?! Are you alive?!
Cain and Faust rushed over to the dried branches poking out of the snow, and they started to clear away the snow.
Gradually, we began to unearth what was probably a man clad completely in black.
Saccie landed on the snow and sniffed the air.
next episode →
The wizards fell into thoughtful silence as the maiden’s cruel fate came to light.
Like a cat on the prowl, Murr turned his attention to the skeleton.
Murr: This skeleton is probably the source of it all — it’s been imbued with the energy from the < Great Calamity >, and it’s also causing all the visions we saw.
Hey, you there. Is there something you wanna tell us?
Mithra: Oh…
Akira: Mithra, what’s wrong?
Mithra: « arsim »
Mithra said his spell-word, as if he just recalled something.
He summoned his transpatial door and casually stuck his hand into it.
Mithra: If I may have a moment, please.
Faust: Wha—?! Hey, you can’t just grab me!
Akira: Faust?!
It was as if Mithra’s door was a claw machine, his hand the claw, and Faust the prize that he had dragged out of it.
The door was still connected to the Magical Manor’s meeting lounge. Through it, Heathcliff and Riquet were staring at us in stunned surprise, their pleasant conversation with Faust abruptly interrupted.
Heathcliff: Kenja sama? Owen and Cain are there too…
Riquet: Brr…! Is that Northern Country over there?!
Mithra: Faust. Do you recall that conversation we had earlier? I said I’d show you my new cursed tool.
I managed to obtain one made out of bone, and I think it’s a good find. This skeleton here reminded me that I said I’d show it to you.
Faust: Yes, I recall, but that doesn’t explain—
Akira: Why are we doing this now?!
Cain: There’s a time and place for everything!
Mithra: Because if I don’t act as soon as something comes to mind, I’ll probably forget to do it. Here, take a look at this.
Faust: Yes, but you didn’t have to show me anything! In fact, let’s address a more important concern: why are we in someone’s house? Why are Kenja and the others even here…
Riquet: You can’t just grab people like this. It’s not acceptable behaviour. We were enjoying ourselves over some sweets too!
Heathcliff: … Wh— That’s a skeleton?! A-and what are these creatures…?
Pecka-Pecka: Peke, peke!
Murr & Rustica: Peke, peke.
Faust: Hold on. We’re all over the place… Can someone catch us up on everything that’s happened?
Faust: … I see. I too can sense the Calamity’s presence from this skeleton.
And mixed into the Calamity’s presence, there’s another power: the lingering wishes that someone once held in life…
We filled the three newcomers in on the series of events, and Faust went over to examine the skeleton. He nudged his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
Faust: Nevertheless, that doesn’t explain how you all ended up here to begin with.
Akira: Well, it’s a long story… So, we decided to have a fun romp through Northern Country, and then it sort of escalated from there…?
Heathcliff: Fun romp…? Northern Country…?
Faust: No, Kenja’s simply been hanging out with a group of hooligans. It’s no wonder she’s been led astray.
Riquet: What a terrible way to live.
But, Kenja sama, worry not, for we have arrived. You are in safe hands now.
Akira: Thank you very much…?
Mithra: Hey, aren’t you forgetting something more important? My cursed tool. What do you think of it? You may hold it if you wish.
Faust: Please don’t shove it into my face. I’m already looking at it.
Hmm, it’s made out of the bones of several different beasts. It’s held up exceptionally well for a tool of this design.
Murr: I wanna look too! I read an article titled “100 Cursed Tools to Seal Away Forever and Ever” last week. Maybe this cursed tool was one of them!
Pecka-Pecka: Pekepeke!
Owen: Pipe down. There aren't ‘tons of food standing around’. Now get out of my sight.
Cain: This is bad... We’re about to get swept up into some weird shit. Faust, thanks for staying. I’m glad you’re here to help.
Faust: Well…… Judging from the situation at hand, it didn’t seem wise to turn my back and shut the door on all of you.
At the very least, the skeleton doesn’t seem to have any sort of malice as far as I can tell.
Nevertheless, there’s the Calamity’s presence and also the power of that lingering wish, but they’re not exactly evil.
Rustica: … There we go. Beautiful. What do you think?
Riquet: Excuse me, Rustica, may I ask what you’re doing?
Rustica: I’m tidying up her appearance. I’ve adjusted her posture, dusted her clean, and placed her veil back where it belongs…
She’s the centre of attention right now. She couldn’t have possibly felt comfortable with her appearance in such disarray.
Rustica was a perfect gentleman, treating the skeleton with the same kindness as he would for a living, breathing noblewoman.
Rustica: You were precious to him. You have on a lovely dress, and you were given a plush chair to sit upon.
You must have been a beloved bride to Heine.
Rustica’s words surprised me. Now that he mentioned it, I noticed that besides for its ankles, the skeleton had no other injuries.
The dress was old and faded by now, but it wasn’t torn anywhere. It had remained beautiful and intact, for however many years it had been there.
Akira: … Back in the forest, when we saw the two of them, the way Heine san behaved caught my attention.
Somehow, he reminded me of when I was still getting to know you Northern Wizards…
Mithra: Was it something we did?
Akira: Wizards and humans have wildly different strength and endurance levels. So even if you guys didn’t mean to handle me violently, there were times where I got roughed up by accident.
Mithra, you weren’t an exception either. You always sounded so surprised whenever you commented on how weak I was…
Heathcliff: Right… If the maiden bride was crippled, then she was all the more fragile and helpless as a person.
Riquet: Do you think the two of them got along well?
Faust: Only they can know what happened between the two of them. We have no way of finding out.
Owen, Mithra. Do you have any idea where Heine might be?
Owen: Dead, isn’t he?
Mithra: Dead, is he not?
Riquet: Really? Please give it some serious thought.
Owen: That’s really it though. He’s not in this manor. And back in the forest, his magical strength felt meagre at best.
Another possibility is that he’s in the deepest part of the forest, where there’s this giant tree that grows strange fruit…
Cain: Strange ‘fruit’? Is that what you asked the pecka-pecka about earlier?
Something about fruit and the seal being lifted?
Owen glanced at Cain out of the corner of his eye, and then he sat down on the edge of the table.
He kicked his long legs about, and then he started to tell us what he remembered:
Owen: It’s a rare and precious fruit that grows only when the tree absorbs enough moonlight on the night of the < Great Calamity >.
That guy’s obsessed with it.
It’s called the Heart of the Moon.
Owen pointed to the left side of his ribcage as he told us about the fruit.
Murr spoke up, his ears perked up in interest like a cat.
Murr: The Heart of the Moon! What does it look like?
It’s got to be a plant that goes by a different name normally. Is that what the locals here call it? Is it a subspecies? Or a sudden mutation?
Owen: I don’t know the specifics of it. But I do know that it’s a fruit that grows in the shape of a beating heart.
Who knows if that guy’s still out there waiting for it…
Even if he’s still alive, he might’ve given up on the fruit a long time ago, or he might’ve forgotten about it. He might’ve even gotten fed up and just up and left everything behind. Who knows?
After all, the last time the tree bore fruit was a few hundred years ago.
Faust: That could be true. We don’t have any reason to think otherwise.
However, since the Calamity is involved, we should investigate the tree just to be safe.
[ Forest Clearing ]
It took us a while of travelling by broomstick to reach the deep part of the woods that Owen told us about. The tree that Owen spoke of did, in fact, exist.
But it didn’t look anything like how I had imagined it.
What I expected was a mighty tree with weighty roots. What I actually saw was a tree that had been split into half and charred completely black.
Owen: See? Nobody’s here.
Faust: Wait a sec, this… Did it get struck by lightning?
Heathcliff: It’s taken an awful beating… It’s practically withered away.
Mithra: Oh. Yeah, I did that.
Akira: What?
Owen: That day, Mithra and I were fighting above this forest.
He struck me down, and I landed right here. That’s what killed me.
Riquet: That happened a long time ago though, didn't it? If it’s been like this ever since, then it’s obvious that the tree can’t bear fruit anymore…
Rustica: But I can see that a few new branches have sprouted. It’s not completely withered away.
Murr: This tree…
Murr approached the tree and touched its blasted trunk. He inspected its roots, then its branches, and then he hummed in understanding.
Murr: It’s just as Owen said. This tree is a special tree that bears fruit on the night of the < Great Calamity > by absorbing moonlight to grow a fruit that’s shaped like a heart.
So this country calls it The Heart of the Moon, huh… That’s a good one.
Let’s work with this hypothesis: A few centuries ago, this tree suffered a terrible blow and almost withered away from the damage.
On that same day, Owen died right here.
Let us consider that humans, animals, or trees can only live for so long, like a torch that must eventually burn out. This tree would’ve needed outside intervention to extend its life.
Cain: … It was Heine himself, then? He poured his magic into this tree and extended its lifespan?
Owen: No… there’s no way. How long do you think it’s been since then?
Mithra: But there’s no other explanation. Not unless someone deliberately broke the seal and entered this clearing.
Faust: … It’s faint, but I can sense magic coming from the tree.
You were saying the fruit grows only on the night of the < Great Calamity >? Then, this time, when the Calamity made its descent…
Riquet: If I may…
Heathcliff: Don’t you think the dried branches over there look a little odd? They sort of look like someone’s arm…
Riquet and Heathcliff pointed to a spot behind the tree.
We walked behind the tree where I only saw dense piles of snow. There was nothing out of the ordinary at first. However…
Faust: … It has fingernails. That’s a person!
Cain: Hey, you okay?! Are you alive?!
Cain and Faust rushed over to the dried branches poking out of the snow, and they started to clear away the snow.
Gradually, we began to unearth what was probably a man clad completely in black.
Saccie landed on the snow and sniffed the air.
next episode →