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yumemory[Location: Beach, night]
Nero: Shh.
Nero winked at me as he put a finger to his lips.
Perhaps it’s some kind of wordless understanding that lets adults easily see through kids’ plans.
We blew air into our cups before sipping at our piping-hot herbal tea, and I felt warmth seep into my body
Akira: It has a really calming aroma. I think I’ll be able to sleep after this.
Nero: Expected no less from Teach’s recommendation.
Akira: I think this tea and the dream-eating ring could really help people sleep.
Nero: Haha, you might be onto somethin’. A charm that gobbles up your nightmares, eh?
Nero: If it has such a weird taste, maybe it’ll find my dreams delicious too.
Akira: Have you been having bad dreams too, Nero?
Nero: ...Yeah. Only lately, though.
Nero answered quietly, in a voice almost a whisper.
Akira: (Lately…)
Inhaling the tea’s aroma, I instinctually thought back.
Akira: (I haven’t been able to sleep well lately, either. I’ve been worrying too much about Bradley…)
Akira: (...Ah.)
That’s when I realized.
When I told Nero about what happened to him, he cheered me up, and smiled brightly as he told me that Bradley would be all right.
But now, Nero was staring at the bonfire, as if he didn't know how to spend a long night awake.
Akira: (...So Nero is worried too…)
Akira: When we hear that a comrade has gone missing, I think it’s only natural for us to lose some sleep over it.
Nero: ...A comrade?
I didn’t put much thought into my choice of words, but Nero looked surprised when he asked me.
Akira: Um… I know both of you are wizards from the North and East, and you may not have that much relation, but…
Akira: Bradley likes eating delicious food, and you’re good at making it.
Akira: And now, both of you became part of the Sage’s wizards, living together in the magic manor, and we all eat the food you make for us.
Akira: So I don’t think it’s that strange to call each other comrades, or even friends… Right?
Nero: ...Nah, it ain’t strange. If you say so, then that’s how it is.
Nero laughed, but it felt like his voice was mixed with emotions. His gaze looked bitter, and yet somewhat nostalgic.
Bradley and Nero are another pair that seems to have a complicated relationship, akin to a thread with many, many tangled knots.
And untangling all these complicated knots is not an easy thing to accomplish.
Akira: (I don’t know what kind of past they had together, but….)
Will this new relationship they’re building turn into something so complex that it’s impossible to put a name on it?
Akira: ...I hope Bradley comes back soon.
Nero looked like he wanted to say something, but chose to stay quiet instead, as if something got caught in his throat. The fringe of his hair cast a shadow over his face, which prevented me from seeing his expression.
Eventually, he decided to stand up, and laughed as if to escape the silence.
Nero: ...Sorry, I suddenly got sleepy.
Nero: You oughta get some rest, too. I’ll put out the fire. See ya tomorrow, Sage.
[Location: Beach, morning]
The next morning, a loud noise woke me up. I could hear a growing panic outside my tent.
Akira: Good morning, everyone. Did something happen?
Heathcliff: Master Sage, Shino is missing!
Akira: Huh!?
Nero: I checked everyone’s tents, in case he slept in the wrong one or somethin’, but I ain’t seen hide nor hair of ‘im.
Lennox: I searched around the area, but I couldn’t find him either.
Rutile: We still have the leftover ingredients from yesterday, so I don’t think he’s gone out to gather some for breakfast…
Akira: No way, then where...?
Mitile: Shino didn’t go to the temple on his own, did he…?
Everyone: !
Taking into account Shino’s demeanor last night, all the dots suddenly connected.
Akira: Did he leave to exterminate the giant spider…?
Nero: It’s Shino we’re talkin’ about, so it’s pretty damn likely. We should get over to the temple.
Nero: Murr, lead the way. And Figaro, maybe you should come with, just t’ be safe.
Murr: Okay!
Figaro: Sigh,I might have underestimated the youngsters’ drive for action.
Heathcliff: Nero, I’ll go, too!
Nero: Heath, you stay here now. We’re just going to see if he’s there, that’s all.
Nero: Maybe nothing really happened and he just went out for a stroll.
Heathcliff: Then it’s also possible that something did happen!
Heathcliff’s voice was unexpectedly emotional, in huge contrast to his usually calm personality.
Heathcliff: I can’t bear it, seeing Shino like that, bathed in the blood of his wounds, over and over again, only for my sake…
Heathcliff: I know better than anyone that I’m still unfledged and unreliable as a wizard….
Heathcliff: Still, I want to save Shino with my own hands. I want to protect my precious friend, the person who has been by my side for as long as I can remember.
His wrung-out voice shriveled into a quiet sigh at the end of his proclamation.
Heathcliff: That’s all I want…
Akira: Heath…
Nero ruffled Heathcliff’s hair.
Nero: ...Yeah. Having a friend who’s all hasty and reckless is a real pain in the ass, ain’t it?
Heathcliff blinked at Nero’s words, which gave the impression that he was talking about someone in particular.
Heathcliff: Y-Yeah…
Nero: So, let’s go together! After that, we’ll give Shino a real stern talking-to, okay?
Mitile: Um, I’d like to go as well!
Mitile: Yesterday, I told Heathcliff that I’d also do my best, so…
Heathcliff: Mitile…
Rutile: Why don’t we all go, then? We already had a plan to visit the temple together, didn't we?
Lennox: That could be safer for all of us. Master Sage, what do you say?
Akira: I agree. Let’s all go together!
Murr: Heathcliff Squad, dispatched!
Rutile, Nero, Lennox: Heathcliff Squad…?
Heathcliff: F-Forget it…!
[Location: Jungle, day]
Following Murr, we made our way deep into the jungle. The farther we went, the denser it became, with overgrown trees and worsening footholds.
When the animal’s trails faded away, the temple finally appeared before us.
Mitile: Whoa…
It was a huge building made of stone.
Nobody knew when the temple was built, but the mossy appearance gave off a majestic atmosphere similar to ancient ruins.
Akira: I can’t believe it, a temple this big is here in this jungle….
Heathcliff: ...I don’t see Shino anywhere.
Figaro: I sense something in that temple, though.
Lennox: Let’s go in.
[Location: Temple]
The interior of the temple appeared even more desolate. Wild plants grew heavily throughout, and the vines were entwined so as to cover the wall.
But what caught our attention more was—
TL: yumemory | Proofread: Alle
