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yumemoryFigaro: You see, the strange things happening to this lake wasn’t because of the appearance of that strange fish, but rather, because that strange fish was taken away from the lake.
Figaro: That fish and the lake spirit are close-knit. It being taken away from the lake disrupts the order and causes the change in the water’s color.
Arthur: Close-knit?
Snow: To be more precise, the fish is a being budding into the lake spirit.
White: What we did was not an attack, but a mere nudge.
Figaro: We used magic to hold back the lake’s disorderly state, and Bradley used his enhancing magic to amplify the strange fish’s magical power.
Figaro: To help it break out of its shell.
I blinked in confusion at Figaro and the others as they smiled at me. I tried to analyze the words they said just now, but I still couldn’t understand anything.
Akira: So, in other words…?
White: Hohoho. I suppose ‘tis a bit complex.
Bradley: To put it simply, that fish is still growing. Like a caterpillar before turning into a butterfly.
Bradley: We just helped with the hatching.
Arthur: So that thing is something like a larva…? Is it still in its child form?
Akira: But a child of what, exactly?
Figaro: The one in the legend, Lorelei.
Figaro: I mentioned earlier that while it's also feared as a monster that threatens people, in some cases it's also respected as a water spirit, right?
Figaro: It’s the latter that is about to be born in this lake.
Suddenly, we heard splashing sounds from the lake. When we looked back, a woman showed her face from under the water.
What we saw was a beautiful figure of a woman with sparkling green hair. Everyone stared in awe as Arthur murmured:
Arthur: Lorelei….
At the very same moment, Chloe arrived in short of breath. Behind him was the chief’s son.
Chloe: Where is the fish!?
Chloe looked at the lake as he descended his broom, and his eyes widened in surprise.
Chloe: ...Huh? A woman…?
Chief’s son: !
As soon as the chief’s son laid his eyes on Lorelei, he jumped off the broom and ran towards the lake.
Similarly, the instant Lorelei noticed him, she came near the edge of the lake, like she was drawn in.
Chief’s son: You… You look like…
Lorelei: Oops, better not come too close. Wouldn’t want you to fall into the lake again.
With a playful smile on her face, Lorelei looked up at the chief’s son standing near the edge of the lake.
Lorelei blinked slowly, just like the chief’s son as he watched her swim in his bathtub when she was still a fish.
Lorelei: You look exactly like that person…
Lorelei: ...I desperately wanted you to know. The words I couldn’t say, something I couldn’t bring myself to do back then...
With her eyes seemingly gazing at a place far away, Lorelei broke into a fond smile.
Lorelei: ...Congratulations on your wedding. May your marriage be blessed with happiness.
Chief’s son: Ah…
His face contorted as if he had lost his foothold. Despite that, he still tried to say something. That moment—
Figaro: < Possideo. >
Chief’s son: …...Zzz.
Chloe: He fell asleep!?
Arthur and Rutile: Eeh!?
Akira: F-Figaro!?
Figaro: Unfortunately, we don’t have much time.
White: Oh dear, getting things over with as quickly as ever, I see.
Snow: Nonetheless, Figaro is right. ’Tis a race against time.
Figaro: If we don’t do anything soon, the water from the altered lake might affect the city as well. We have to return it to its original state, pronto.
Figaro: Please do what you need to do.
Lorelei dove back into the lake after exchanging looks with Figaro.
Shortly after, her hair, her body and all of her slowly turned into bubbles.
Everything eventually dissipated into the lake like sparkling water.
Then moments later, all of Lorelei has completely vanished.
The surface of the lake then shone brightly, as if dawn had risen at the bottom of it.
Rutile: !
Arthur: The lake’s color….
The lake, which was unnaturally bright blue earlier, was now a dazzling emerald green.
It was bright, clear and beautiful, much like the scales of the fish swimming in the bathtub of the chief’s son.
Chloe: So pretty…
Bradley: This is the lake’s true color.
We looked at the lake for a while, breath taken away by the appearance of its true form.
An emerald green that was neither fake nor altered. The whole landscape sparkled brightly, just like a big jewel.
[Location: Lakeside Town, main road]
(bell chimes)
The mission was successfully completed, and the wedding of the chief’s son proceeded without a hitch.
The townspeople were relieved that the issue had now been solved, throwing Lakeside Town in a celebratory mood, a smile present on everyone's faces.
Akira: What a grand wedding. So many guests, too… I guess everyone in town came to attend.
Mithra: It seems like it’s all-you-can-eat. But why can’t I bite this white stuff off?
Akira: Mithra, I think that’s a cloth napkin...!
In the ceremony venue decorated with an overflowing amount of flowers, a long, bright path caught my attention. In it, a young man and woman walked together.
It was the married couple in their wedding attires.
Having just met, the two of them smiled at the guests somewhat awkwardly, like dolls that have been dressed up.
Rutile: The bride… She’s really beautiful.
Chloe: She is. The light reflects on her pure white veil. It makes her look sparkly.
Chloe: ...But I wonder if they can be happy… Both the chief’s son and his bride….
Rutile: Chloe…
Chloe: It’s a really wonderful wedding, but I can’t help but wonder, that it’ll be even better if this wedding wasn’t just for the town, but also for the two of them…
Rutile: How blissful that’d be. But…
They were interrupted when they saw the bride trip forward after accidentally stepping on the hem of her gown.
Rutile and Chloe: !
Without a second wasted, the groom immediately reached out and caught her. The people surrounding them gasped for a moment before letting out a relieved sigh.
And the couple was then showered by warm applause.
The two of them laughed shyly at each other, and linked their arms. They began to walk through the applause with a more relaxed expression than before.
Rutile and Chloe: …...
Rutile: As Prince Arthur said, this could be a chance for a new love to bloom.
Chloe: Maybe you’re right. Even if it’s difficult at first, I hope that someday….
Rutile: Let’s pray for them; so they can be each others’ dearest, be loved by the people, and be a happy couple.
Chloe: Yep…!
