Faust - [SSR] The Maledictor's Blessings
Jun. 19th, 2022 12:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yumemory
Card Story: Hoping for the Future (Faust, Heathcliff, Akira)
Card Episode: The Students’ Formal Occasion (Faust, Akira)
WARNING: This card story contains minor event story spoilers.
Hoping for the Future: Chapter 1
[Location: Village, morning]
Faust: That is…
Akira: What’s wrong, Faust?
After we had solved the case, Faust and I were walking around the village when we found Heathcliff in an unobtrusive spot.
Heathcliff: ………
Akira: Why is he staring at the flowers?
Faust: …He’s trying to use magic.
Akira: Huh, but…
I was told that using magic here, in this village known to dislike wizards, can be really dangerous.
The fragrance of those flowers weakened a wizard’s heart. And then there’s the villagers’ reactions, too…
Akira: (I’m sure Heath is aware of all that, so… Why is he using magic now?)
Faust: We need to stop him.
Akira: Ah, Faust.
Faust: Heathcliff. You…
Heathcliff: …Hn…
Faust: Heath!
Upon seeing a staggering Heath, Faust immediately came to support him. As we approached, we saw just how pale his features were.
Akira: A-Are you okay, Heath?
Heathcliff: Master Faust… Master Sage, too.
Faust: I’m sure I already told you that this scent makes it hard to use magic—though I’m guessing you were trying to suppress it.
Heathcliff: Yes, I apologize… I just couldn’t help but worry about Miss Ann’s health, and was wondering if there was anything I could do.
Akira: (He’s right… It must be hard for Miss Ann to smell these flowers, given that she’s both physically and mentally unwell.)
Faust: There’s a spot over there with fewer flowers. Go rest there for a while.
Faust: I’ll handle it from here.
Heathcliff: Master Faust… Thank you so much.
Akira: I wonder if Heath’s feeling better… Maybe I should check up on him…
Faust: He’ll feel more at ease if he’s left alone for a while.
At that moment, we were interrupted by the arrival of a few fearful villagers.
Villager: Hey, what are you guys doing…?
Akira: Huh?
Faust: ………
Villager: We saw that golden-haired wizard you were with doing something strange earlier.
Villager: You’re not cursing this village, are you?
Hoping for the Future: Chapter 2
[Location: Village, morning]
Faust: Why would we even bother with that? We’re all tired after completing our mission.
Villager: That is… We’re grateful that you found Ann, but…
Faust: Then instead of wasting your time worrying about us, go and check up on the bride. She looked awfully fatigued.
Faust: What a person with a weakened mind and body needs the most is the kindness and attention of those closest to them.
Villager: …You’re right. We should visit Ann.
Faust: …If you don’t mind, you can offer her these medicinal herbs. They help restore physical strength.
Faust: But I’m just a suspicious wizard handing these to you. You don’t have to make her take them…
Villager: ………
Akira: I’m glad the villagers decided to accept your medicine, Faust.
Faust: Yeah. Those herbs can dull someone’s senses when taken, but they help restore strength.
Faust: They should lessen the effects of the flowers on her.
Akira: …Faust, could it be that you were aware that the villagers were watching Heath earlier?
Akira: Was that why you told him to rest somewhere else and stayed to take his place…?
Faust: I’m not sure what you’re talking about.
Faust: There was very little magic used for the most part, so neither Heathcliff nor I required any sort of reprimanding from anyone.
Heathcliff: Master Faust, Master Sage. Welcome back.
Akira: How are you feeling, Heath?
Heathcliff: Much better; I’m feeling well again.
Faust: Good. I asked the villagers to hand over some medicine to Ann. She’ll feel a bit better after taking those.
Heathcliff: Thank you so much! And I apologize for making you two worry about me.
Heathcliff: I thought there must be something more I could do to help Miss Ann and Mister Elliot, so I…
Faust: …I understand how you feel. In the past, I felt the same when my friends told me they were getting married.
Faust: I thoroughly considered how I would celebrate, what I wanted to give them and all that.
Faust: I was more worried than the actual people getting married, and I was laughed at for it…
It was wartime when Faust spent time with his friends in the past. It couldn’t have been peaceful for them.
Imagining how happy he must have been when he heard the wonderful news of his friends' marriage was incredibly heartwarming.
Faust: I guess I was still young at that time. I lost my mind worrying over someone else’s affairs for the sake of their happiness.
Faust: It’s quite ironic that now I use my magic to cause misfortune.
Hoping for the Future: Chapter 3
[Location: Village, morning]
Heathcliff: That’s…
Faust: Sorry. That was unnecessary.
Faust: Let’s stop talking about me. Anyway…
Faust: That’s right. Let’s think of the couple that’s about to be married.
Akira: (He’s just blatantly changing the topic. But…)
Akira: I really hope that Miss Ann and Mister Elliot will lead a happy life together.
Heathcliff: I agree.
Heathcliff: Marriage is still very far off into the future for me, but…
Heathcliff: Just like those two, if one day I were to marry someone important to me, I would be more than happy to invite Master Faust to the ceremony.
Faust: ………
Heathcliff: Ah, and Master Sage too, of course.
Akira: Ahaha, thank you so much.
But will I still be here by then? Being able to attend his wedding isn’t something I can guarantee when I don’t even know what the future holds for me. Even so…
Akira: Wherever I am or whatever I’m doing by then, I’ll be sure to send my well-wishes to you, and to everyone else in the manor.
At that moment, I heard Miss Ann’s voice from far behind us.
Ann: Fufu. Listen, Elliot. I’ve been feeling so much better ever since I took the medicine I was given. It’s like my chest started clearing up or something…
Akira, Faust, Heathcliff: ………
Akira: That’s good to hear. I’m sure it’s because of you two!
Heathcliff: Not at all, I haven’t done anything.
Faust: The medicine’s effects should last until the end of the wedding ceremony. I’m sure they’ll have a bright and sunny celebration.
I couldn’t help but smile when he said that. Surely we were all picturing Miss Ann’s smile during her prosperous wedding.
Faust: That couple will have to separate someday. It can’t be helped, with the difference between wizards’ and humans’ lifespans. The same goes for us and for you.
Faust: But that’s not something to feel gloomy about, as I’m sure our feelings for one another will remain the same even far into the future.
Faust: That’s why those two chose to spend this moment together, and why they exchanged promises with one another.
Akira: Faust…
His dignified voice warmed my heart. He must have realized what I was thinking when I told Heath I’d send them all my well-wishes in the future.
May that become a reality someday: even if we diverge in time and place, our blessings will still properly reach each other.
With that hope in my heart, I nodded firmly.
Card Episode: The Students’ Formal Occasion
[Location: Dining hall, morning]
Akira: In my world, it’s pretty normal for people to invite their mentors to their weddings…
Akira: Faust, what would you do if you were invited to your own students’ weddings?
Faust: …I’d turn down their invitations no matter what. I’m a maledictor; celebrations aren’t for me.
Faust: Their partners’ feelings are important, too. My presence could very well be a distraction from an otherwise joyous event.
Akira: Ah, that’s true… We have to consider what their partners would think…
Akira: But in Shino’s case, I feel like he’d be able to persuade you to come, even if he had to force you.
Faust: …Somehow, I can see that.
Akira: Everyone adores you, Faust, so I’m sure they’d be happy to have you around.
Faust: I appreciate the sentiment, but celebrating doesn’t always require showing up.
Faust: I can understand Shino and Heathcliff inviting me… But would Nero even invite anyone to his own wedding?
Akira: That’s true…
Faust: Though I can imagine him delivering the news in a very serious manner.
Faust: At any rate, I won’t be so uncaring as to not do anything after receiving such news.
Special Home Screen Line
Faust: I’ve been living as a recluse for my whole life. To me, marriage is something you leave up to fate. To make that kind of commitment to someone, and to carry the resolve to protect them for the rest of your life is a very heavy responsibility. Fufu, do you think I’m a coward?
TL: yumemory | Proofread: Alle
