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yumemory[Location: Central market, morning]
Faust: That's...
It was a breathtakingly beautiful stone that sparkled as if it had twinkling stars trapped in it.
Rustica: Marvelous, isn't it? The owner called this the stardew gem.
Akira: Stardew gem...
Mitile: So cool! It really looks like a star...
Mitile chimed in, full of curiosity. Seeing his reaction, Rustica smiled and extended the stone to him.
Rustica: From now on, this is yours.
Mitile: Huh? But the stone was given to you...
Rustica: Just now, I was able to see the same bright sparkle in your eyes. Take this as a symbol of my gratitude.
Mitile: ...! O-Okay... Thank you very much.
Mitile happily gazed at the stone in his palm.
Akira: I'm happy for you, Mitile.
Mitile: Ehehe. I’ll show it to Riquet when we get back. And to my brother and the others too!
Shino: Careful, or you'll drop it.
The feeling of wanting to show something beautiful to someone. Mitile’s heart and soul are just as pretty as the stone he has in his hand, and that fact fills my heart with pride.
Our steps were light as we headed towards the tea parlor.
ーーー
[Location: Manor lounge, morning]
After enjoying delicious tea in the Central capital, we returned to the manor.
We were greeted with lively voices when we arrived in the lounge.
Snow: And in that moment, the shadow on the wall cried out...
White: Roar!
Owen: Waa, scary!
White: Oh dear, did we go too far?
Owen: Nope~ it's fun. Do it again.
Snow and White: Roarrr!
Owen: Ahaha! Roaarrr!
Owen sat in between Snow and White, who were reading a picture book to him.
The whole scene looked cheerful and innocent, lacking the piercing chill one would expect to see.
Akira: (...Could that be... Owen's affliction?)
Owen's curious affliction causes him to occasionally have the personality of an innocent young boy with admiration for knights.
Additionally, he forgets everything that happens during the change in his personality.
Rustica: Owen and Masters Snow and White are having a friendly chat, I see.
Faust: For the twins, maybe. But Owen…?
Mitile: Is it just me, or is something a little weird here?
Akira: Y-You think so?
While everyone began to hold suspicions, I started to internally panic.
I can’t tell if it’s because of a Northern wizard’s pride or if he simply fears being seen in such a vulnerable state, but Owen strongly refuses to let anyone know about his affliction.
There are only a few of us who know about it.
Owen: Come on, read the next—
Owen: …?
As I was getting cold sweat thinking about how I should cover for Owen, his smile suddenly disappeared. He looked like he was in a daze, like someone who just woke up from sleep.
Snow: Ooh, he returned.
White: Good boy time is over.
Owen witnessed the twins closing the picture book, and grasped the whole situation. He exhaled in disgust.
Owen: This is the worst. I don’t even want to imagine what happened.
Akira: (T-That was close!)
I felt like a huge load was taken off of my shoulders. The twins then directed their wide eyes to us.
Snow: Oh, look who we have here.
White: An unusual group of lads, I see.
Owen: …………
In contrast to the welcoming mood of the twins, Owen glared back, wary of us.
Noticing his disgruntled mood, I gave a thumbs-up to him as a signal.
Akira: (Owen, everything's all right! You're safe!)
Owen: ...Tsk.
He clicked his tongue, annoyed. But it seemed like he got my message.
White: Mitile, dear, what an odd thing you have with you.
Mitile: It's a beautiful stone, right? Mr. Rustica gave it to me.
Rustica: The owner of a stall that sells magical tools gave me this as a symbol of our blossoming friendship.
Faust: Didn’t the story change a bit?
Shino: The owner called it the stardew gem.
Upon hearing the name, Snow and White expressed their astonishment.
Snow: How very lucky!
White: The stardew gem is a rare stone, rumored to grant anything its master wishes.
Akira: It grants wishes?
Rustica: I see. So beyond its beauty hides a wondrous power.
Shino: Mitile, try it out and make a wish. If the rumor is true, then the stone should be able to grant it.
Mitile: A wish...
Mitile thought for a while, and lowered his brows, troubled.
Mitile: I can’t think of one right now. How about you, Shino? What would you wish for?
Shino: I’m not gonna wish on a mere stone. I’ll grant my wishes with my own power.
Mitile: S-So cool!
Shino: But if I gotta say one, then I want a lemon pie. That's it.
Faust: You ate so much earlier, and you still have enough room in your stomach for more food?
Shino: I haven’t had lemon pie yet!
At that moment, we heard footsteps, accompanied by a sweet aroma that spread within the lounge.
Nero: Oh, there you are.
Nero: I was kinda in the mood for a lemon pie, so I baked one. Y’all want some?
Nero: It’s good, if I do say so m’self. Eat it while it’s still fresh outta the oven, all warm ‘n crispy.
Everyone: !
Snow: Lemon pie, you say?
Mitile: Really!?
Nero: Huh, what's gotten into y’all? Did I say somethin’ weird?
Akira: (The stone grants wishes, just like White said?)
We were all perplexed after witnessing the supposed power of the stardew gem.
Everyone’s eyes turned serious as they stared at it, judging if the legend about the stone’s wish-granting power could be true.
Mitile: ...Ah.
However, while they were busy coming to a conclusion, the gleaming gemstone suddenly started to lose its shine.
Then it slowly lost its hue... and turned into an ordinary stone on Mitile’s palm.
As if its power had been used to grant a wish.
