darklydivergent

Faust: …….I mean, that…..is there some kind of means you use to stop from getting old?

Faust: Or even if you can’t stop it, some kind of method that can make your lifespan longer…..

Nero: Faust, you tryin’ to live a long time?

Faust: No, I don’t…it’s not like it’s me, just that…..


On the verge of faltering, I pulled myself back and stubbornly told a lie.


Faust: Actually yes. It’s me. I want to live longer.

Nero: Really? That’s-that’s really how ya feel?

Faust: Yes, that’s really how I feel. Is there some sort of trick to it?

Nero: Why don’t ya go an’ ask Snow and White, then?


Nero shrugged, laughing like he was rather astounded by my question.


Nero: Do ya really wanna live 2000 years, though? I feel sorry for ya.

Nero: I don’t got no mind for doin’ away with myself, but livin’ that long, just….don’t understand’ the purpose of that.


Carelessly, Nero bent his head back, exposing his neck. Aimlessly, all I could think was that if I were a starved, rabid beast, how easy it would be to tear his throat out right now.

But suddenly, his neck, shoulders, and the rest of his body began to shake. Even his hair was waving gently on his head. He wasn’t making a single noise, but I could tell he was laughing.

It was a little absurd-looking, though I was impressed by how much like Nero this was.

Trying to imitate him, I too was craning my neck back, but had to stop when it grew too painful.


Nero: Haha….oh, I remember now. The secret t’ long life. Though it’s somethin’ I was told when I was just a lil brat.

Faust: What is it?

Nero: Find a hole an’ stay in it.


It sounded like a proverb, but all I could do was blink in response.

Nero laughs cynically.


Nero: Where I was born, since th’ public order was fucked up, runnin’ into other people was a danger in itself.

Nero: My shitty ole man….Well, my whole family was shit-myself included.

Nero: But he’d say it to me plenty. ’If ya don’t wanna go somewhere dangerous,’ he told me, ‘just shove yerself in a hole somewhere.’

Nero: Got screamed at for bein’ a coward a ton for that. An’ not just in my own house…….Ahaha, yeah, just go lock yerself in th’ cellar then.

Faust: And that’s funny?

Nero: No, it’s uh. How d’ I say it. T’ put it simply, there’s a contradiction in it. If ya lock yerself up in a cellar or hole somewhere, ya can’t eat.

Nero: Then, ya have no choice but t’ die. So I was just, ‘are my choices bein’ killed by someone, or starvin’ to death?’ Thought about that a lot when I was a kid.

Nero: Ya can’t run across anythin’ dangerous in yer hidin’ place. So, even if ya shut yerself away, if somehow food would jus’ turn up every so often….

Nero: Well, I’d thought it’d be heaven.


It’s true that I shut myself away from the world in the Valley of the Storms. But despite this, I could not fathom how he could think it was heaven.

Hearing that, I decided to ask a question. There was no ulterior motive, and I hadn’t even planned it out; but I guess you could call it a test.


Faust: Even if it’s a prison?


Being locked up in prison was a terrible personal experience, one of the worst in my life.

'Oh definitely', Nero would probably reply, shoulders still shaking with laughter. At least, that’s what I thought would happen.


Nero: …….


But instead, Nero said nothing. Only his eyes moved, watching me silently. I suddenly felt like I was trapped under the golden, piercing glare of a wild beast.

(Sound of wind blowing)

A freezing, blistering wind picks up between us, and a black shadow covers the moon. Nero’s hair fell over his face, hiding most of his expression.

Practically clawing at the back of his neck, he muttered his next words without a hint of humor.

Spitting them out like they were trash to get rid of.


Nero: Better than dyin’ in a fuckin’ ditch somewhere.

---

(end flashback, background cuts to the underground waterway)

(sound of water dripping)


Faust: …..


Something is still lurking.

As the sound of water reverberates, I cast out my senses in order to find that presence again. And still, I was unsuccessful. With Nero’s level of skill we might have been able to, but he was currently gravely wounded.

Then I felt that disquieting presence draw near again. But for some reason, the spirits were quiet, like their nature had completely changed.

Nero still laid limp and unmoving in my arms. Quickly feeling around on his back, I could tell the bleeding hadn’t stopped.

There was no time for us to think about growing older. I needed to act now.


Shino: ….I’m gonna go for it! You stay where you are!

Faust: Stay quiet and keep down!

Shino: But that thing is coming around for an attack! I’m gonna put him to sleep!


Shino may have been accustomed to battle, but the horror of the situation was causing it to quickly descend into chaos. I still had to think about the unconscious girl Nero brought too.

Trying my best to quell the fear, I took a deep breath. Arranging our state of affairs in my head, I began to act on priority.

Getting to safety. Emergency medical treatment. Preparing for a counterattack.


Faust: 《Salliuqnart Mullcrede》


Chanting my spell, I cast out the barrier again. But like before, using my magic felt out of place.


Faust: (It’s so difficult to use it…..The spirits feel all strange.)

Shino: Faust. Sorry, but, I gotta go look for Heath. Please help Nero.


I couldn’t see his face in the dark, but Shino sounded tormented.

This was my duty, though. I knew Shino wasn’t in the right mind for any of this. I couldn’t blame him; but at the same time, we couldn’t afford to let anything go.

While continuing to put pressure on Nero’s back, I tried to quickly explain how I’ve set things up in my head.


Faust: Shino. Lend a hand first, will you?

Shino: No, I gotta get to Heath! I’ll go even if I have to kill you!


Shino yelled this out, his scythe at the ready. But the moment pale light began collecting on the blade, I could see his bewildered expression.

It looked like he was allso feeling how difficult it is to use magic. But, from what I could sense, the spirits didn’t seem contaminated. Rather…..


Faust: (The land we’re in is different.)

Faust: (This isn’t the East.)


It was then I noticed some sort of mark roughly in the center of Nero’s back underneath all the blood. It was a hole no bigger than my little finger.


Faust: (A perforation? Like a gunshot?)


There was no stop to the warm blood flowing out beneath my fingers. I needed to stop it fast, lest he lose his life.


Faust: Shino. Nero’s dying. While I’m giving him emergency treatment, you need to hold the barrier.

Shino: …..Dying?

Faust: Yes. He’s bleeding out. Shino. Take out your broom, put the girl on it. Also, we’re probably in the West Country.

Shino: The West Country?!

Faust: That’s what it looks like. We need to perform a Ovis ritual. Just, leave out the magic circle for now.

Shino: A what ritual?

Faust: Shino, are you fucking serious? We had a lesson, and a test on this…!

Shino: When we get back alive, I’ll prostrate myself in forgiveness, okay?! Just tell me one more time. Please. Quickly.


It was an admirable effort, but Shino’s voice was laden with anger and impatience.

Then again, even I at this juncture, was not prepared to give a lecture. While continuing Nero’s treatment, I gave him a brief rundown.


Faust: Whether or not you are in Sherwood Forest, I know you should have some dried leaves from there you brought along. Scatter them around yourself there.


Shino taken aback, started fishing around for them in his coat pocket.


Shino: I remember now. It’s one way to strengthen magic. When using magic in a place I’m not used to, it can help me.

Faust: Yes, that’s right. Sherwood Forest’s spirits will come to your rescue.

Shino: But it wont last long. If the spirits of this land are very strong, even less so…..

Faust: Yes, just like that. Guess I’ll give you a full score. But the Sherwood Forest spirits will quickly be swallowed up by the spirits of this land. So don’t get cocky.

Nero: .….nn, nngaaa..agh!!!


As I pressed medicinal herbs on the mark on his back, Nero screamed in pain, nearly folding himself in half.

I checked right away to see if he’d bitten his tongue. Nero’s eyes, despite being hazy from the agony, were slightly open now.

Breathing out a sigh of relief at his response, I pressed my hand against the wound. Shino was readying both the ritual and securing the girl on his broom.

So far, everything was going according to plan.

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