SOUTHERN FANTASIA | CHAPTER 3

[posseoir]

Akira. The day of Faust’s…

A bitterness spreads through my heart. Faust had once served as the right-hand man of Alec, the first king of the Central Kingdom, during the time of the Revolutionary Army. He devoted himself to changing the world so that humans and wizards could coexist in harmony, but what awaited him was a cruel fate.

Lennox. ...As a result of that incident, the Revolutionary Army lost many of its comrades and we became scattered. The last time I saw Ethan was before his departure from the army.... He was hurt, angered, mourning, and cursing the betrayal of mankind.

Akira. ….

Before long, the king of Central had been replaced. Lennox heard a rumor during his travels. A blacksmith wizard was said to be casting curses on people in the Central Kingdom.

Lennox. That blacksmith, they say, masquerades as a human and graciously takes on the task of servicing weapons of people he's never met. However, this is only a convenience. Under the guise of maintaining the weapon, the wizard casts a curse on the weapon's owner. When I heard that rumor…the first who came to mind was Ethan.

Akira. …Eh?

Lennox. He was originally a blacksmith. When servicing the army, he was in charge of maintaining our weapons. I couldn't imagine there being so many wizards in the world who doubled as blacksmiths. Even more when it comes to having a grudge against humans to the point of cursing them.

I stared at the rough handwriting on the letterhead, speechless. A wizard who approaches humans just to harm them. The mere thought of it made my heart ache. What a sorrowful and maddening existence. It reminds me of the Witch of the Sunflower Fields, who lamented the end of her idealistic revolution and died with anger, resentment, and a strong curse on her heart. She, too, was once a kind-hearted witch. Had Lennox's friend, also, been transformed by grief and distortion of mind?

Lennox. The number of people who have been victimized by this wizard is not small. In case I was mistaken…I searched all over Central for Ethan, hoping to meet him and find out the truth in person.... Yet in the end, no matter my efforts, he did not make himself easy to find. Until this letter.

Akira. I see….so that’s what happened.

An old friend who was like a brother figure. Rumors that he had changed, but being unable to meet face-to-face. When the letter arrived after several hundred years of absence, I wonder what Lennox thought. He stared at the letter for a while; eventually, Lennox looked up with determination.

Lennox. Sage. Permission to step out for a while to meet with him?

I would really like to see him and have a proper discussion.

Akira. You can leave as you please without my permission. You are not obligated to stay….

Akira. ( …but… )

Everything Lennox told me about Ethan's past made me nervous.

I didn't want to let him go through this alone.

Akira. Before you leave, may I suggest talking to Faust and Figaro about this? The Revolutionary Army members know both of them. If that's the case, I'm sure they share some concern about these events. If you don't mind, may we speak with them together?

Lennox. …Understood.

Lennox momentarily seemed hesitant, but eventually nodded. I immediately called Figaro and Faust to explain the letter and the wizard at the blacksmith's shop. They both remembered Ethan.

Figaro. That makes sense. I thought you looked rather troubled for someone who received a letter from an old friend, but it turns out that's what happened.

Faust. ...The Ethan I knew was not one to curse people, but temperaments can change from time to time. For the gentle, straightforward, and loving; when their trust is trampled upon, when they are betrayed, they are trapped in hatred and curses…

After Faust muttered a few words, he fell silent. The look in his eyes as he read the letter appeared to be neither sympathy, indignation, nor contrition....and I could not say a word. Figaro and Lennox watched his profile silently. Their expressions, bitter and unchanging, was something beyond my understanding.

Figaro. …That’s for another day.

Sage, we should head to that town with the wizards from South and East.

Akira. Together?

Figaro. Earlier, Mitile and Nero were making plans to go knife shopping, and he wanted to invite everyone along. Leno can check on Ethan while we're touring the city. If something should happen, he'll be within broomstick distance, right?

Faust. ....You're right. I don't want to let Lennox go alone.

If it's alright with you, I'd be willing to accompany you.

Lennox. …I don’t mind. Thank you Sir Faust, Lord Figaro.

Figaro. So, the wizards of the south and east are decided. What about the sage?

Akira. Of course, please allow me to tag along.

When I replied with clenched fists, Lennox's cheeks relaxed slightly.

Lennox. You have my thanks, Sage. Then, let’s go inform the rest.

–A few days later.

We came to the town of blacksmiths.

Mitile. Big brother, look! There are so many artisan workshops!

Rutile. Over there they have frying pans, over there they sell plowshares and swords!

Truly, it seems like there is nothing they don't sell.

The sounds of working iron could be heard from many of the stone buildings in the town, and artisans in their work clothes were busily passing by. Although the town is small in scale, every workshop and store is crowded with customers who have come to buy tools.

Heathcliff. Shino! Where’d you run off to?

Shino. Here, Heath. I was looking at the furnace in the workshop.

Nero. Wow, you totally blended in with the town.

Figaro. Ha ha. Everyone looks great. Makes me feel like I could be an apprentice craftsman myself.

The wizards had all dressed up in craftsman-like attire. Figaro advised them to do so because they would be looked down upon if they were perceived as amateurs. In fact, many of the people who passed by were dressed in a lively, yet somewhat rugged, craftsman-like atmosphere.

Faust. However, there is a lot of activity… The crowds are intoxicating.

Lennox. Are you feeling okay, Sir Faust? There was a bench over there…

Faust. Don't treat me like an old man. I'm younger than you.

Heathcliff. ….

Nero. Heath, what’re you lookin’ at? You're gonna get your wallet stolen, at this rate.

Heathcliff. Oh, sorry. I was just looking at the potted sign over there.

I thought the workmanship was gorgeous, even from a distance.

Nero. Oh, yeah.

Looks like a good craftsman, but it's hard to tell from here whether it's a pot shop or a cookware workshop.

Heathcliff. Perhaps we can take a peek later for a knife.

 

CHAPTER TWO  |  CHAPTER FOUR