Dance of the Shining Stars on the Shore of Memory

Mitile: I felt that way, too! It’s always really something special to make a new friend… it’s the kind of day you never forget!

Cain: And more than that, I think it’s really admirable to help someone out without worrying about them finding out that you’re a wizard. I’m getting to like this guy more and more!

Arthur: Walking through the world carefully… what a beautiful and freeing way of seeing the world. How very like a Western Wizard to think that way! It’s very nice.

Fran: Ahah… thank you! But Layla is far nicer than I am. Even knowing that I was a wizard and that I came from the dirty slums, she still wanted to be my friend. It was just an unbelievably happy moment for me. Just like Mitile said, it’s a day I’ve never forgotten!

Chloe: Yeah, I totally get that…! When it’s someone really amazing, who lives in a totally different world from you… for them to still want to be friends with you feels like it comes straight out of a dream. You wonder if you’re really good enough for them…

Fran: Right! But even so, Layla has always been so kind to me. She’d always say such kind things, like, “Fran, your words alone are a kind of magic that can always cheer me up” and “when you’re smiling, I feel like I can smile too”…

Chloe: And when she says things like that, you start to feel like you can start to like yourself a little more, bit by bit.

Fran: Amazing! You totally get it! Can you read my mind or something, Chloe?

Chloe: Ehehe… it’s more like I’m the same as you, Fran. I once met someone who is to me like Layla is to you. A person who changed my life.

Chloe shifted his glance over to Rustica, who was watching over him.

Akira: (That’s right… Chloe had been going through a terrible time before Rustica arrived in his life and saved him…)

He had been locked away in a sewing room, harassed by his sisters, and Rustica had taken him out of that place. Rustica complimented Chloe on everything he did, and bit by bit, he came to be able to like himself more. Remembering how Chloe told me about Rustica – speaking as though Rustica was the person who taught him how to be happy – makes my chest hurt.

Rustica: …

It seems that Rustica has been watching over Chloe throughout his entire conversation with Fran. Chloe’s violet eyes met Rustica’s azure ones, and instead of exchanging words, they exchanged smiles.

Chloe: So? What happens next? Were you able to reunite with Layla after taht?

Fran: No… I was only able to see Layla once a year, every year, on the eve of the festival. Adults always told me that I was never supposed to cross the river.

Mitile: Huh? Why?

Fran: The place I lived in was a slum. But the opposite shore was like a different world. It was full of beautiful people with lots of money. It’s not going to go over well if someone filthy is running around in a pristine place. I mean, if you saw a rat in the kitchen, wouldn’t you want to chase it out? It’s like that. As far as the people on the other side of the river concerned, we were like rats. So we were never to cross over the river and invade their beautiful space. … … ah! But it’s not like I’m running around going squeak-squeak or anything!

Fran raised his hands above his head in a comical imitation of a rat’s ears. He seemed to know right away that he had said something that was a little bit upsetting to us, and was trying to defuse the situation.

Fran: So that’s why I could only go over on the night of the festival, because everyone would be enjoying the festivities and the riverbank would be abandoned… and only at night, when I could make the trek across without anyone on the other side seeing me. But I was able to meet Layla then.

Akira: That’s…

Fran told us this sad story in a bright and chipper voice, and the younger wizards’ expressions began to grow more somber.

Akira: (Between the City of Foam and the City of Affluence, I already know that the Western country has a large amount of wealth disparity, but…)

But hearing a story from someone who was directly impacted by that disparity made it feel all the more real and painful.

Fran: Ahaha… there’s no point feeling bad about it, though. I can’t blame anyone. I was dressed the part of a dirty rat, you know? I brought it upon myself. I was still just a little kid who wasn’t good at magic yet. It had never occurred to me that I could have just made myself look nicer with magic.

Arthur: … Fran. There’s nowhere in the world that you shouldn’t be able to go. If there’s a place you’re not welcome, it’s the fault of the people there, who have let the garden walls around their heart grow too tall. You’ll have to forgive them for that, but even if you can’t find forgiveness for them, you still shouldn’t think of yourself as dirty.

Heathcliff: I feel the same way. Even if we’re born in different circumstances, we’re all sharing a life together. If your story is true, then the people who are in charge of this city and this country ought to be the ones who are made aware and take measures… whenever I meet somebody in your circumstances, I feel ashamed of myself for being born into a noble family.

Fran: Aah… Thank you, Arthur, Heathcliff. The two of you really are too kind. I wish I could go back in time and tell past-me the things you’re saying today! … honestly, though, there were a lot of times when the way and place I was born made things really difficult for me. But no matter how painful it got, no matter how much of a struggle life could be… if I just reminded myself that once a year every year I would be able to meet Layla again, it made my heart a lot lighter. Layla was my hope, my happiness… so if there was anything at all that she wanted, I was willing to do it for her. So, one year during the festival, Layla said to me…

*

【Flashback】

[ext: City, by the river, night]

Fran: … you want to see a White Bridesveil? What’s that? Some kind of fancy headdress or something?

Layla: Ahahah! No, Fran. A White Bridesveil is a little creature that are supposed to be very rare. I read about them in a book recently. Normally, their bodies are like silver, but sometimes they glow gold! When there are a bunch of them are shining all together, the way they fly around in the air looks like a starry sky.

Fran: Hah… A starry sky, huh…

Layla: You know how the sky around here is so polluted that you can’t see the stars anymore, right? Because my legs are like this, I can’t travel very far… but, if there were a bunch of White Bridesveils on this riverbank, I thought I might be able to see the starry sky with you, Fran.

Fran: Layla…

Layla: Ah… I’m sorry. I guess that’s kind of a weird thing to say. There’s no way that such a rare creature would show up around here.

Fran: … no. I don’t think that’s weird at all! I’m gonna make your dream come true, Layla! So please, wait for me, okay? I’ll definitely find the White Bridesveils, and I’ll show them to you.

Layla: Fran… Thank you. I’ll look forward to that day. I’ll wait as long as it takes.

【Flashback ends】

*

Fran: … and that’s why I ended up setting out to find the White Bridesveils. And I finally found them here on this island!

Mithra: You’re really caught up on the physical thing, aren’t you. You’re a wizard. Why didn’t you just show her what she wanted to see with an illusion?

Fran: A… … I never thought of that! But Layla said she wanted to see the White Bridesveils. Anything less than the real thing wouldn’t be the same. And also, I’ve had a lot of fun trying to figure out what the White Bridesveils like to eat, and how to increase their numbers!

Bradley: Huh, you don’t give up easy, do you?

Chloe: That’s amazing…! Just like you told Layla you would, you really found the White Bridesveils, and you’ve managed to accumulate this many of them!

Fran: Eheheh… it’s a little embarrassing to be praised this much.

Fran’s face was turning bright red with embarrassment at being praised by everybody. Then, without warning, we heard the trembling strings of a violin.

Akira and Heathcliff: …!?

Rustica: … I was also quite moved by hearing this story that’s been shared with us. The hard-working, earnestly-living young man Fran. The kind-hearted Lady Layla with eyes like the night sky. A friendship as beautiful as the night sky full of stars brought forth a beautiful melody to my heart. Please, accept this song that I have composed for the two of you.

Akira: Whoa…

A gentle sound vibrates the air and reaches our ears as Rustica performs a comfortable melody for us. It was as beautiful and ephemeral as the night sky of which it was reminiscent.

Fran: What a beautiful melody…!

Cain: Isn’t it? Hey, look, the White Bridesveils are so happy, too, they’re starting to float into the ai— … huh?

Arthur: Look, Master Sage. The White Bridesveils are starting to shine…!

Akira: …! They really are…!

The White Bridesveils, in time with the melody of the violin, began to emit a shimmering, ephemeral light. They almost looked like—

Heathcliff: Amazing…! They really do look like stars.

Mitile: Look! One’s getting closer to the Master Sage!

In response to Mitile’s outcry, I held out both of my hands and one of the shining-golden White Bridesveil swooped down softly into them.

Akira: Ahaha. It’s like catching a falling star…

Fran: The White Bridesveils like beautiful things, whether it’s scenery or music. When they’re happy, they shine just like this.

Cain: I mean, who wouldn’t be happy to hear Rustica playing music?

Fran: I see what you mean!

When Rustica finished playing, the White Bridesveils slowly went back to their original color.

Fran: Thank you, Rustica! You’ve made both me and the White Bridesveils very happy!

Rustica: It’s my pleasure. I should be the one thanking you, for sharing this beautiful starry sight with me.

Chloe: It really was beautiful, huh… have you shown the White Bridesveils to Layla yet?

Fran: Ah…

Akira: …?

Fran: No. I haven’t, yet. If it’s something I’m going to show to Layla, I didn’t want to just have a few, so I’ve been gathering more and more White Bridesveils. I know I’m being a bit selfish, but I want to show her an entire beautiful sky full of stars.

Akira: (Like something we saw just now…)

I don’t know if it was my imagination or just my heart, but I thought I saw Fran’s red eyes waver for just a moment. When I involuntarily looked at Chloe standing beside me, he was looking back at me, as if silently asking a question.

Fran: But seeing everyone’s reactions just now, I feel a lot more confident. I feel like I can go to see her again now! Ehehehe… It’s been a while since I last met Layla. I’m a little bit nervous. … … what should I do if I don’t know what to say to her…

Chloe: Fran…