East Short Story (Bs-LOG - June 2021)
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yumemoryReal-life Cluster Event – 5th Special Story
“Old” featuring the Eastern wizards
In a poll held on B’s-LOG.com on August 17th-24th of 2020, viewers could vote for a theme, “New” or “Old”. The winner was “Old”! The last issue of this story features the Eastern wizards conversing about “old things” and “the past”.
Writer: Tsushimi Bunta
Issue: B’s-LOG June 2021
Support the series by buying a digital/physical copy of the magazine!
Faust: Well then, let’s depart for the mission.
Nero: Aight, lemme get the elevator. Put in some mana stones, then pull the lever…
Heathcliff: Using the elevator always takes some time…
Shino: If Mithra or Oz were here, we would’ve been there already.
Faust: It can’t be that slow. It’ll be here before too long.
Heathcliff: You’re right.
Faust: ………….
Heathcliff: ………….
Nero: ………….
Shino: ………….
Faust: …It’s not here yet.
Nero: Yeah…
Heathcliff: Is it malfunctioning? It’s not making the usual rattling sound.
Shino: Should I check below?
Faust: Wait, we’re not certain how magical science devices work. Make one mistake and you could end up seriously hurt.
Shino: Hurt?
Nero: Like bumpin’ into one of its contraptions, and before ya realize, you’ve already turned to stone. There oughta be a part of it that generates magical power from mana stones.
Shino: ………….
Nero: What?
Shino: Nero, Faust. Are you two scared of technology?
Faust: Huh?
Nero: I’m not, though?
Shino: ‘Cause you’re way too stiff about this. But that’s okay, I get it. You two are old wizards who haven’t kept up with the new stuff.
Faust, Nero: Excuse me?
Shino: You’ve lived for hundreds of years, while Heath and I are still in our teenage years. Right, Heath?
Heathcliff: Well, yes… But I’m not familiar with magical science devices either, so I understand why Master Faust and Nero feel the need to be cautious.
Faust: See? And not to pick holes in someone else’s invention, but I think it’s unwise to fuel it with mana stones without feeling any sort of sympathy.
Shino: Unwise?
Nero: Yeah. It’s just brutal to see ‘em being used up like fossils, unlike eatin’ ‘em, and makin’ ‘em a part of yer flesh and bone.
Shino: I thought it was more brutal to eat them.
Nero: I guess that’s how you’d feel in this modern age. Whatcha think about all this, Heath?
Heathcliff: I don’t know… I can’t even picture myself eating someone else’s mana stone. I think I’d be sad if I found out that my stone was used to run an elevator, though…
Nero: I feel ya.
Faust: It’s nothing to feel sad about. Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Our life force will dwell in the skies, in orbit for eternity. When I die, I don’t mind ending up a pebble on the side of the road.
Shino: You say all that, but you still think it’s a bad idea to use others’ mana stones as fuel.
Faust: That I did.
Shino: I want Heath to eat me.
Heathcliff: ………….
Nero: Hey, couldn’t you say that a little more seriously? That’s heavy stuff.
Shino: I am serious. Hey, Faust, Nero. You two are old, so have you ever thought things were better in the past?
Faust: ………….
Nero: ………….
Faust: Nero, what about you?
Nero: What about you?
Faust: Not for me.
Nero: Same here.
Shino: I won’t tell you to be like me and Heath, but open up to each other, would ya?
Heathcliff: …As if you open up to me.
Shino: Hm? Huh?
Heathcliff: You never say things when it matters the most.
Shino: Don’t sulk now. It’s not like I have a choice, I’m just a servant.
Heathcliff: ………….
Shino: What’s with the scary face? Don’t look away.
Nero: Ah, right. Feel like I oughta warn ya ‘bout this, Teach.
Faust: And what would that be?
Nero: I see you’re pretty merciless when it comes to Figaro.
Faust: What about it?
Nero: Better fix that attitude. He’s playin’ the good ol’ doctor from the South now, but he’s not near as much of a kind man as he makes himself out to be.
Faust: Nonsense. I know he can be frustrating at times, but he does have a tender heart.
Nero: Oh, really?
Faust: Really. He’s not the earnest, genuine type, but he’s not one to recklessly get violent. Now, it’s my turn to give you a warning.
Nero: A warning? From you to me?
Faust: Yes. It’s about your kitchen buddy, Bradley. You seem to casually snap back at him, but he’s still a Northern wizard. You should be more careful before you get on his nerves and have him turn the tables on you.
Nero: …My kitchen buddy, Bradley?
Faust: He often comes to snitch food from the kitchen, right? Sometimes with Riquet. What else would you be other than kitchen buddies?
Nero: Nah, kitchen buddies is fine. Hahaha! Relax, Bradley won’t lift a finger.
Faust: How do you know?
Nero: Uh, ‘cause we’re kitchen buddies? Ahah?
Faust: Alright, I’ll take you at your word.
Nero: Heheh, thanks for the concern.
Shino: —Aah, everything was better in the past!
Nero: What, you think you’re old enough to say that, Shino?
Faust: Didn’t you just say you're still a teenager?
Shino: Heath used to be kinder.
Heathcliff: Huh!? You used to be kinder too!
Nero: When did this turn into a fight…
Faust: That’s what you get for talking about the past. There’s no point in holding on to something that’s long gone.
Nero: Ouch, that hurts.
Shino: Stop it with the dry comments. Heath and I used to be more…
Nero: Brighter?
Shino: Yeah, brighter.
Faust: How endearing. Tell us more.
Heathcliff: You don’t have to take Shino seriously. He only remembers things that are convenient for him, it’s unfair.
Shino: Come on, cheer up. Are you mad because I only talk about our past? Don’t worry, you’re still the best even now.
Heathcliff: Oh, shut up…
Nero: So what do our teens think was better in the past?
Heathcliff: …How Shino didn’t know the meaning of ‘young master’ or ‘lord’. There was a time where he called me those terms like nicknames.
Shino: That’s not true. I’ve always been your retainer, through and through.
Heathcliff: What retainer casually calls their master by their name…
Faust: What about you, Shino?
Shino: How Heath would just be happy every time I said I’d protect him.
Heathcliff: Is the elevator not here yet?
Nero: No sign of it comin’ any time soon.
Shino: Let’s just fly with our brooms.
Nero: Do ya realize how far out we’re headed!?
Heathcliff: It’s no problem. Someone could use some fresh air to cool his head.
Shino: Who, you?
Heathcliff: No, YOU!
Faust: Let’s take our time and fly, then—after I report the elevator’s breakdown.
TL: yumemory | Proofread: Alle
