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yumemory
Card Story: The One Who Illuminates the Quiet Evening (Faust, Lennox, Akira)
Card Episode: Students from Other Countries (Faust, Akira)
The One Who Illuminates the Quiet Evening: Chapter 1
[Location: Akira’s room, day]
(Faust knocks)
Faust: Sage, can I talk to you for a bit?
Akira: Faust? What’s the matter?
(Akira opens the door)
Faust: Sorry for interrupting your rest. I wanted to give you this.
Faust held out his hand, revealing a glittering gem to me.
It was the stardew gem, said to be a mysterious stone that gives its owner a bit of good luck.
Akira: (This is the stone that’s only found in a cave near his hometown... The one we all went to pick before.)
Faust: At the time, we discussed having a lesson to teach the other Sage's Wizards how to make a protective charm out of this stone.
Faust: That’s what we did today... And here’s the one I made as an example. It’s infused with the power of protection.
Akira: Thank you very much, Faust. This is very kind of you.
Faust: No... I already told you then that I’d make one for you.
I took the stone with both hands, watching it glitter like a star as it rolled on my palm.
Akira: (It’s so beautiful... I could stare at it forever.)
Faust: You’re looking pretty hard at it. Do you like it?
Akira: Very much! I’ll definitely treasure this.
Faust: I see.
Akira: But to think that I’m the only one who received something as lovely as this...
Akira: Is there anything I can do to thank you, Faust?
Faust: Thank me?
Akira: Yes. Maybe I can help you with your classes, or whatever you want me to do.
Faust: ............
Faust: ...Will you grant my wish, then?
Akira: Of course! Just let me know what it is.
Akira: (It’s rare for Faust to ask for something. I have to accomplish it no matter what!)
Faust: I heard you’ve been busy with a number of missions recently.
Faust: I want you to rest your mind and body today. Is that okay?
Akira: Of course! Consider it done!
I nodded enthusiastically, and Faust left the room.
(Faust leaves)
Akira: (Yup, he’s right. Today should be a day dedicated to relaxing.)
Akira: ......Wait a minute.
The One Who Illuminates the Quiet Evening: Chapter 2
[Location: Hallway]
Akira: It’s supposed to be me doing something for Faust, but it ended up the other way around...
Akira: (Should I ask him to request something else? But what if that bothers him…)
Akira: Hm......
Lennox: Master Sage, is something the matter? You seem troubled by something, so I followed you.
Akira: Lennox!
Akira: (Ah, Lennox has known Faust for a long time, hasn’t he? Maybe I can ask him about this.)
Akira: Actually...
Lennox: I see. A thank-you gift to Lord Faust...
Akira: He gave me a very nice good luck charm, so I want to give him something in return.
Lennox: ...Is this the same charm you received?
Lennox brought out a stardew gem out of his pocket, its appearance and shape much like the one I received from Faust.
Lennox: Today we had a joint class attended by all the Sage's Wizards, including the Southern wizards. Lord Faust taught us how to turn this stone into a protective charm.
Akira: I see. It makes me happy that yours and mine look similar.
I pulled out my own charm, aligning it with the one on Lennox's hand.
Lennox: I think yours look more radiant than mine, Master Sage.
Lennox: It must be because Lord Faust carefully put all his blessings into that stone, so that it could properly protect your mind and body.
Akira: Protect me...
Akira: Then that’s all the more reason I need to thank him.
Akira: But all he told me was to take my time resting today...
Lennox: I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t think there’s any need for you to worry so much.
Lennox: Lord Faust only wishes for you to remain healthy—
Faust: Hey. You two, what are you talking about in front of my room?
Akira: Huh?
Lennox: Hello, Lord Faust.
When I paid attention to my surroundings, I realized I was in front of Faust’s room. It seemed I was too caught up in my thoughts to notice where I'd wandered off to.
Akira: (Oh no, he totally heard us...)
Lennox: I'm sure you heard, Lord Faust. Master Sage wants to show their gratitude to you.
Faust: ............
Faust: It’s supposed to be your day off, so why can’t you just take it easy today and not think about anything unnecessary?
The One Who Illuminates the Quiet Evening: Chapter 3
[Location: Hallway]
Akira: It’s not unnecessary. I really want to express my gratitude to you, Faust.
Akira: It’s just that receiving this charm from you made me much happier than you probably think.
Akira: (It feels sort of weird to tell him what I feel directly, but...)
Faust: ............
Faust: ......Come out with me tonight, then.
Akira: Huh. S-So you’ll let me do something for you, after all?
Faust: Why do you look so surprised? That’s what you said you wanted, right? I’m letting you.
Lennox: Isn’t that good, Master Sage?
Akira: It’s all thanks to you, Lennox. Thank you for the advice.
Faust: What do you mean “good”...
[Location: Forest, evening]
Later that evening, Faust took me to the forest.
Akira: (What are we going to do here? Will he ask me to help with his curseworking rituals?)
Faust: I like it here.
After saying that, Faust then cast his spell, making a table and a bonfire appear in front of us.
Faust:《 Satillquinart Mulcreed 》
Faust: Sit there. You said you’re going to keep me company while I drink?
Akira: Drink?
Set on the table, there was lightly-cooked bacon, olives soaked in oil, and fragrant chocolate...
...And a wine-like drink accompanied by sliced oranges.
Faust: You can drink that. I’ve been told it’s mixed with honey.
Akira: ...Thank you so much. You prepared so much stuff for me.
Faust: Thank Shylock instead. He gave me all of this.
Faust: He offered me all sorts of extra stuff after I told him I’ll be having dinner with you.
Akira: (A drink just for me. I wonder if he went through all the trouble of asking Shylock to prepare it for me...)
Faust: ...What are you smiling about?
Akira: Nothing.
Faust: ...Well, whatever. Go on, have a drink.
We clink our glasses before I sipped the honey wine given to me. After that, my eyes wandered around my surroundings once more.
Akira: Beside a fire in the forest... This is like your mana area, Faust.
Faust: My mana area can't be in a well-kept forest like this.
Faust: ...It has to be in a deeper, darker, and quieter forest.
That’s what he said, but there was a small smile on his face, and he looked more relaxed than usual.
I held out the charm I got from him in front of the fire. It glowed even brighter, like it was absorbing the firelight.
Akira: I’m really happy to receive this charm, Faust. I’ll definitely take good care of it.
Akira: And today... Thank you so much for accompanying me on my day off.
Faust: ...You’re welcome.
He gave his response as he lowered his hat to hide his face.
The fire in front of us kept me warm. We spent the night quietly, beside a fire that burned like it was safeguarding and healing us in an intimate moment.
Card Episode: Students from Other Countries
[Location: Training room, morning]
Akira: You taught everyone how to make protective charms out of stardew gems the other day, didn't you, Faust?
Akira: I heard that all of the Sage’s wizards joined in. How did it go?
Faust: ...Yeah. The Central and Eastern wizards were really serious about it.
Faust: The Southern wizards taught each other how to make it.
Faust: It took a long time, but everyone eventually managed to make their own.
Akira: I can imagine that. How about everyone else, though? Like the West and North...
Akira: (Did the North even participate?)
Akira: (I think Owen said something about joining way back when we went to collect these stones...)
Faust: As for the Western wizards...
Faust: Chloe thought of making buttons out of the stones, which led to him creating a protective charm in a shape I’ve never seen in my entire life.
Akira: Ahaha. That’s very much like the Western wizards. I’m sure they came up with stylish charms.
Faust: ...Then, there are the Northern wizards. Well, none of them joined since they all went out on a mission.
Faust: I’d like to host another session for them when our free time aligns, but the idea of teaching them sounds difficult…
Akira: (So he’s serious about teaching everyone. I kind of want to see Faust teaching the Northern wizards.)
Special Home Screen Line
Faust: Sage, if it wasn't for you, I might not be here anymore. Had I turned to stone, then Heath would have blamed himself. I should come up with a way to thank you one of these days.
TL: yumemory | Proofread: Alle
