darklydivergent

Arthur: ….Take him into custody? Our Rustica?

Vincent: Yes.

Arthur: And what was your answer?

Vincent: I told him rather indirectly that I refused. I wasn’t about to antagonize you or the sage.

Arthur: Uncle….

Vincent: Don’t give me that look. I didn’t do it for your sake.

Arthur: Why would His Majesty from the West Country demand something like that from you? I can see if Rustica might know anything.

Arthur: However, he’s very forgetful, so he might not remember some things from long ago.

Arthur: What about any records related to the Ferch family?

Vincent: They were burned by Oz, and likely, very few, if any records remain at all.

Arthur: Burning….? You are saying that Lord Oz had burned books?

Vincent: That is precisely what I said. Around the time that Oz was subjugating the world, the West Country’s records were essentially all destroyed.

Arthur: Lord Oz wouldn’t do things like that.

Arthur: He would teach me important things from books, and he also gave me my magic tool…..

Vincent: We are talking about history here! Why does any conversation about Oz with you always end up in the same place?

Arthur: ……

Arthur: Well, I mean, burning books sounds like it was awfully troublesome to the West Country’s people….

Vincent: There is a reason that that century’s wise sage Murr Heart was regarded as the pride of the West Country. He is practically a living record himself.

Vincent: Well, when talking about being a living record, that’s how people refer to most long-lived wizards. Have you tried asking the ones at the Sage’s manor?

Arthur: About what?

Vincent: The truth about Oz burning half of the world to the ground.

Arthur: …..

Vincent: Arthur. Stop just protecting him and take the time to really ascertain the truth. I know you have the courage to do so.

Vincent: You need to determine Oz’s true character.

Arthur: ….I understand.

Arthur: …Lord Oz and the other long-lived wizards-I will try to ask them about……

Arthur: …the truth…….

Oz: ………..

---

Rutile: This day really has come to an end now. I wonder if Mr. Mithra is at the manor…

Lennox: Wherever he went, he’s bound to come back eventually.

Lennox: It seems he comes and goes as he pleases.

Rutile: Well, that is true.

Lennox: …Oh…

Rutile: What’s wrong, Mr. Leno?

Lennox: This is Lord Faust’s familiar.

Lennox: Did something happen to him…?

---

(somewhere dark)


Faust: ...ugh…

Faust: This is…..


When I came to, I was surrounded by darkness.

The lower half of my body was chilled to the bone; it seemed like I ended up in a pool of freezing water.

I heard the sound of water echo.


Faust: (….not outdoors……..doesn’t feel like a river or anything like that. This is……)

Faust: (A subterranean lake…? No, the stone here are not nearly rugged enough…)

Faust: (Then….an underground waterway….?)

Shino: Faust…

Faust: Shino??


I frantically search for Shino’s signal from where I heard the faint sound of his voice.


Shino: ...ugh, where…..

Faust: Don’t move. I…


Impatient at the surrounding darkness, Shino recites his spell.

It seemed like he was going to use magic to light up the cave.


Shino: 《Matztzah Sapidus》

Faust: Com…!


I stopped myself.

There could be an enemy lurking anywhere in the dark, and if he lit us up, it would be far too easy to spot us.

As I thought that, an ominous sound echoed, almost shaking the air around us.


Shino: …..!

Faust: Shino!


Something sharp ripped through the air, and tore into Shino’s windpipe.

But, the spell I had performed earlier protected him.

I became the sacrificial doll, and a sudden pain flashes across the back of my neck.


Faust: …. agh!

Shino: Faust…!

Faust: Don’t move!! Hide yourself!!


Holding my breath, I readied my magic tool.

There was something out there in the middle of the dark.

I sharpened my senses; behind the sound of water, something was definitely drawing closer.

I shuddered at the looming presence, but as it approached, I opened my eyes wide.

I could sense Nero. The relief I felt from that fact alone nearly made me pass out.

Nero is a very skilled wizard. If he was here now, we could surely find a way to break through together.

But, the same ominous presence was still advancing along with him.


Nero: …..ck.

Nero: …ugh, Faust!


Nero called out for me in a raspy voice.

His presence drew near, and I stretched out my arms towards him.

Something heavy and warm was pushed forcefully into them instead.

A person.

I first wondered if it was Heath, but it was a woman. She was too small to be Tanya, either.

I have no idea why, but by reflex I wondered if it was the merchant captain’s missing daughter.

I had to check if Nero was safe too, so I tried grabbing his arm.

However, doing so sent him tumbling to the ground, and I was unable to catch him in time. He fell backwards, nearly drowning himself in the water.

I fished him out, but as I touched him, Nero’s back felt oddly warm. He was soaked in freezing water, but the liquid dripping down his back was almost tepid.

It was blood.

Nero was dying.


Faust: Ne…ro…..

Nero: gh…black….beast…..

Shino: ….A black beast…..


Shino’s voice was pitched high-not out of fear, but rather, from grief.


Nero:......Don’....don’ attack it…., gh….It’s Heath…..

Nero: ....nng…..

Faust: Nero!! Oi, Nero..!!


With that, Nero lost the last of his strength, passing out from blood loss on top of the young girl’s body.

I strain my ears.

Out in the darkness, there was a growl of a wild beast.

And then…

Whatever emerged, it was like nothing I’ve never seen.


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