May Love Echo Where Snow Falls - Episode 10

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Mithra: I don't know about you guys, but we can't just call it here. It's not complete.
Rutile: Mithra san?

Mithra: « arsim »

[ Door warp sfx ]

Shino & Heathcliff: Wha-!?
Chloe: Eeeh!? Where is this!?
Arthur: Mithra? What's this all of a sudden?

Mithra opened and closed his spatial door linking the Garden of Ice to the Magical Manor, and from it he dragged out one wizard after another.
In a flash, Heathcliff and Shino, Arthur and Cain and Chloe, then Mitile and Riquet showed up.
And last of all, there was White.

White: This is......
Riquet: Hey, Mithra! You're being coercive!
Cain: Ahaha! That sure was a novel way of doing it. Though if everyone's invited here, it's most likely a fun place to be, right?
Mitile: Really? Mithra san, where are we?
Mithra: The festival at the Town of Ice. Snow said that once it's ready to go, he wanted to invite all of you over, so I brought you all here.
And with that... I'm finally free to do as I please.

Lennox: That's Mithra for you. He's fast.
Owen: Fast? More like abrupt.

Snow: Ohoho. Well, all's well ends well. Let the festivities begin!
Everyone, please enjoy the snow sculptures here at the Town of Ice to your hearts' content.

Having grasped the situation from Snow's explanation, everyone's confusion melted into lively excitement.

Mitile: Wow...! A festival, how fun!
Riquet: Look, Mitile. There are so many beautiful sculptures!
... Oh, this bunny sculpture is pure white and has red eyes. It looks just like the one in the book we read yesterday, Mitile!
Mitile: You're right! And the sculpture next to it reminds me of the bird that perched on your shoulder the other day in the courtyard.
Rutile: That sounds like a lovely encounter to have. Also, we made some of these sculptures ourselves — take your time and go have a look around.
Murr: We made a snowman by stacking up a lotta snowballs! It's waaaaay taller than I am! It might even be thrice Mithra's height!
Mitile & Riquet: That tall!?

Shino: Heath, over there! That dragon's massive! It looks strong and cool.
Heathcliff: Ahaha, I expected that from you, Shino. It sure has a daring design and an impactful presence.
Snow sama and White sama's statues are well-made, too. Especially this part here, the detailing on the accessories... That was some really intricate work.
Nero: .........
Shino: Whatcha looking at, Nero. You're smirking.
Heathcliff: Did we do something weird?
Nero: No, not at all, nothing like that. No smirk, no weird stuff.
Shino: You're acting suspicious.
Heathcliff: ...? Ah well, it doesn't matter. You seem like you're having fun anyhow, Nero.
Although... I guess Mithra did give me a fright just now. He appeared so suddenly and tossed me through his door.
Shino: That guy's always too spontaneous.

[ Nero CG ]
Nero: Hahaha, yeah, that's gotta be a shock.
Well, it isn't everyday you get to do this. So today, set aside your responsibilities, forget all your worries, and go have fun like the kids you are.

Chloe: Great music, great big snow sculptures... and my friends right next to me. It's the absolute best!
Cain: Yeah! All this great stuff makes for an awesome time — makes you wanna dance!
Chloe: It does, it does!
Arthur: Chloe, Cain. If you don't mind, let's have a look around together. There's a few staple attractions to look at: the twins, the dragon, and the bear with cubs.
Chloe: Arthur! Have you been to this festival before?
Arthur: Yeah. When I was living with Oz sama in his castle, Snow sama and White sama brought me here to experience it.
I thought I'd show you two around — just like how they showed me around!
Chloe: Gosh, I'm flattered! Please do, Arthur.
Ehehe. Now we've got one more thing to add to our gathering of greats.
Arthur: A gathering of greats?
Cain: Yep. When great stuff gathers, you have an awesome time, and then it makes you wanna dance.
Alright! Let's put on our dancing shoes, lose ourselves in Rustica's music, and tour the venue! Tatta-la-la!
Arthur: Whoa, you surprised me, grabbing my hand like that. But I agree, that's a good idea!
I'll tell you two all about that statue over there first. Tatta-la-la!

White: So you were here all along, Snow.
Snow: Oh, White! You've come.
White: Jeez... I did think you were being particularly shifty these few days, but this comes as a surprise. You'd hid traces of your magic and even your entire presence...
Snow: Ohoho, that's because we have Mithra forc— ahem, super peacefully cooperating.
White: It might have been cutting it real close to the day of the festival, but we always avoid getting involved in the preparations, don't we?
Yet here you are, making sure the preparations are well underway with the other wizards behind my back.
You left me to complete our festival with some other wizards.
Snow: W-White? Don't tell me, you are angr...
White: Ohoho.
Nothing of the sort. I'm just joking. I'm very happy with this surprise.
The sculptures this year are splendid as well! It's a resounding success. If I must be something, it's nothing but happy.

[ Snow CG ]
Snow: Right!? For White chan's sake, myself, everyone, and even the residents of the Town of Ice — we all came together to make this happen!
Now, let me escort you over to where our statues stand. I hope you'll enjoy the fruits of my love for you.
White: Kyaa—! How cool of you, Snow chan—!

Owen: What the hell is up with those twins...
Mithra: I think it's about time they started acting their own age.
Snow & White: Can't hear you~

Everyone around me was having a good time viewing the sculptures.
There were smiles everywhere in the Garden of Ice.
The townspeople admired each other's sculptures, while being serenaded by the song coming from the harpsichord.
I smiled brightly as I approached the musician.

Akira: Rustica, thank you for the wonderful accompaniment.
Rustica: If it isn't Kenja sama herself. I trust you are having fun?
Akira: Yes, lots of it!
Rustica: Good. There is no better time than a festival to convey gratitude and well-wishes. At the same time, it is also a place for everyone to share a happy moment.
Let us spend the rest of today merry and joyful.

Rustica smiled gently as he played.
Snow kept falling. The snowflakes were pure and white, unstained and untainted.

Akira: ...... Say, Rustica.
Rustica: Yes, what is it?
Akira: Rustica, how did you arrive at the conclusion that the bird was never your bride?
I was under the impression that it always took Chloe or someone else to tell you for you to realise it... Was there anything in particular that made you notice?

If there was indeed something, then that could be a clue leading to the person he was searching for.
It was a long shot, but I was willing to bite the bullet and ask.

Rustica: About that...
I think it was when Mithra said she was a monster and declared his intention to kill her.
I heard that you all were planning to drive it away, and for some reason, I felt like I was the only one who could protect her.
Being apart from your beloved is a painful thing. It was a good thing for her that I mistook her for my bride and subsequently captured her.

His fingers lightly danced across the keyboard. There was no hesitation in them.
The answer I received gave me no lead towards finding his bride.
But this person, who was like pure white meringue — hard to pin down, but also warm and fluffy, smiled at me kindly.

Rustica: Do not worry for my sake. The little bird may not have been my bride, but I don't feel lonely at all.
I may end up being whisked away by freezing cold winds; I may never find a spot in the shade to rest my wings; I may even find myself turning to stone all by my lonesome......
But there was a moment in my life where the one I loved was by my side.
... And that is fact, and it shall remain in my heart for as long as I live, where it will continue to give me happiness and joy.
Akira: Rustica... if you say so, then I truly am happy for you.

[ Chirp! ]

A cold gust of wind blew past at that moment, carrying with it a familiar cry.
My eyes met Rustica's.

Akira: Did you hear that...?
Rustica: It's almost as if the peryton is singing a song of happiness.
Akira: Yes, I think so too.
... Even after the deer melts away, I hope the peryton remains happy.

Before I realised it, I'd said that aloud, and the reply I received was one filled with conviction:

Rustica: It'll be fine. She is happy, Kenja sama. She is happy now, and she will continue to be.
Akira: Huh...?
Rustica: It's just like Murr said, maybe we do share something in common after all. Strange as it may sound, I can see it happening —
There will come a time when the magic fades and the snow melts. Even so, the warmth of happiness will continue to remain in the peryton's heart.
I can see her living out the rest of her days in dignity, for that warmth shall give rise to hope.

The peryton traveller was ultimately nothing but a legend.
The peryton that once stood before us was a fiend.
Those were things that Snow had said.

But I believe that the feeling of wanting to be with your beloved is the same regardless of species.

Akira: (And that feeling is...)

That feeling is surely shared by Rustica, who is on a journey to find his bride.
Even if his memory of her wanes.
Even if they continue to spend hundreds of years apart.

Akira: ... If it is as you say, Rustica, then I'm happy for her too. Thank you.
Rustica: Fufu. You are most welcome. What shall we chat about next?

The story of a traveller who never gave up on his journey to reunite with his lover.
His tale was woven into this song I was listening to, and its melody sounded happy but also a little bit heartrending.

I wonder what it sounds like to everyone else.
Would they hear what I hear?
What does Rustica hear?

I thought it over, while I listened to Rustica play.