Sincerely, a Rainbow of Stories for you: Part 12

[agirlattea]

Sincerely, a Rainbow of stories for you: 

Please Tell Me the Story of the Rainbow: Part 12

 

(Location: Magic Manor, Shylock’s Bar, Central Kingdom, Night Time)

Akira: (I see...the Northern Country is a meritocracy, where only the strong thrive. It's a harsh place for humans to live, but because of that, Wizards hold strong positions in society. 

From the perspective of Owen, a Northern Wizards who lived somewhere like that, of course something like this may sound strange.) 

...Do you think so too, Bradley? That it’s strange for wizards to be chased out of their homes by humans? 

Bradley: That's right: Cowards who run away after being mocked by mere humans lack pride. 

If ya’ have power, use it and live as you please. 

Akira: Power… 

Rustica: A person’s Innate strength is their hands and feet. 

To that young woman, seeing that world is nothing special. Just like we wizards use magic. 

Akira: ...It's certainly something to think about. As you say, Rustica, whether it’s normal or special doesn't make that much of a difference. 

I had heard that Luka was a witch with exceptional powers… I may have approached her like that too. 

Akira: It's difficult. By trying to understand someone, sometimes you push them further away. 

I feel a sharp pain deep inside my chest. 

Shylock smiled at me elegantly. 

Shylock: What a good night. Debates like this turn sweet alcohol bittersweet, and give it more flavor. 

Special or not, the mystery surrounding the author Luka is certainly expanding. 

The right to look into such a world is given only to eyes that have not yet been tainted… Isn't it like the beginning of a wonderful novel? 

His flexible fingers raise the glass, and the ice makes a sound. I thought it was the sound of night falling. 

 

(Location: Magic Manor, Courtyard, Central Kingdom, Day Time)

Akira Thank you very much. 

Rutile: Mitile, Riquet, if anything happens, make sure to report it to Figaro-Sensei and the others. 

Mitile: Yes! I'll search diligently!

Riquet: Of course, Mitile and I will do our best! Please leave everything to us! 

It was the fourth day of the exhibition. It had become a daily routine for Rutile and I to see off the wizards in charge of security. 

Figaro: I’m glad to hear that everything seems to be running smoothly so far. 

Akira: Yes, but I heard it's very crowded every day. I hope things will stay safe until the end... 

Figaro: I'm sure it'll be fine, leave it to us for today. 

Looks like Leno will be coming with me.

Lennox: Yeah. Rest assured, even if thieves break in, we did some training. 

Akira: Training…? 

Figaro: Rutile, if Luka comes to the venue, I’ll keep an eye on her. I'll let you know if anything happens when we get back. 

Rutile: Thank you very much. It's a simple request, but I'm sorry I can't accompany you today. 

Figaro It’s fine, keep up the good work.

Lords Snow and White reminded me, if something happens, I'll leave her to them. 

Lennox: Even now, we are all connected to mysterious creatures that we cannot even imagine.  

I used to live in the mountains, so there were times when I felt something strange when deep in nature or in places with strong magical power... 

I'm a little worried about a child facing that presence alone. 

Mitile and the others, who finished preparing for their departure, appear as Lennox speaks calmly.

Mitile: Figaro-Sensei, Mr. Leno! We have to go soon, the exhibition's about to start.

Riquet: Tardiness is strictly prohibited. We must fulfill our responsibilities properly. 

Mitile and Riquet: Well then, let's go! 

Akira Please come back safely! 

Astride their brooms, the wizards soared through the sky. 

Rutile and I watched until they were out of sight.

Akira: I the exhibition can continue without incident. 

Rutile: …Yes, I hope her new work can be unveiled safely. 

Rutile gently traced the cover of the picture book she borrowed from Arthur and spoke softly, as if praying. 

Akira (Huh…?) 

Suddenly, sparkling, rainbow colored scales seemed to sparkle in Rutile's hands. 

However, they disappeared in the blink of an eye, melting into space. 

Was what I saw now... an illusion? 

 

(Location: ???) 

Luka: (I wonder what this nostalgic smell is… A distant season...the smell of sunlight…) 

…Ah. I started remembering little by little. It was… a hot afternoon. 

I ran, ran, ran... before I knew it, I had passed through the forest and found myself in the city. 

I was supposed to be fleeing from people who did terrible things, but I ended up wandering into a place with lots of people. 

I sat down at the base of a tree by the street and cried a little at the faint smell of the tree. 

At that moment, something landed on my head suddenly. 

A hat that smelled like fragrant wheat: I thought that was the smell of sunlight. 

When I looked up, I saw slightly tanned skin and  amber eyes.

That person asked "Are you lost?". 

A human. If I don't run away, something terrible will happen to me again. 

That's what I thought, but the soft smell of sunlight made me feel at ease and suddenly I was tired…

I shook my head slowly. 

I'm not lost. Because there's no one looking for me. 

...I had been walking for days, and at that moment I finally lost consciousness. The next time I woke up, I was on a fluffy bed.

There was a wet towel on my head and a gentle voice at my bedside. 

"How are you?" 

I heard the sound of the window opening, and the sunset-colored wind gently swayed my hair. 

I could see thin clouds through the window. 

A beautiful color: a mixture of yellow flowers blooming under the pale red sun, with just a hint of verdant grass. 

I want to draw those clouds. 

With that thought in mind, I absentmindedly surrendered to the wind. 

"Hey, did you draw this?"

Eventually, the man shyly showed me a thin stack of paper and asked me. 

I draw pictures of scenery and creatures whenever I feel like it. My own world... 

I quickly snatched back the stack of papers. 

Being able to see that world makes it difficult to live in this one. Even though I was young, I knew that. 

“I apologize for looking at something so important to you without permission,'' the man said, bowing his head sheepishly. 

His bright hair swaying in the evening wind reminded me of a wheat field. 

...Ah, that's why it smells like sunlight.

I wondered why I thought so. But I thought so anyways. 

Like warm sunlight. 

The man spoke with a serious look on his face. 

"You paint a very beautiful world." 

“Like a daydream I had when I was young:  beautiful and somewhat sad, like a memory that lives on in a corner of my mind...'' 

Then he handed me a clean sketchbook and new art supplies. 

“...I want to know more about you and your world. Could you please draw more?"

“Of course, I won't force you, but... You're good at drawing, so I thought you might like it." 

The person laughs, a slight wrinkle forming at the corner of his eyes. It was the first time I made someone laugh like this. 

I wonder what that feeling was. My chest felt warm and somehow sad... 

“Oh! Why are you crying!?” 

The man dropped the art supplies in a panic,  leaving them scattered as he looked into my face. 

“Did you not like it? Or are you hurt somewhere? Your eyes will get swollen if you cry too much. We should use cold water and a cloth…”

Luka: Hey, what color are those clouds? 

"Huh…?" 

I pointed out the window, at the strangely colored clouds. The man leaned forward and put his hand on the window frame. 

“Well...it's just dusk, so I think orange is safe. No, maybe it's vermilion..."

Luka: Yellow, pale red, and bright green. 

That's how it looks to me. 

Suddenly, eyes brighter than the setting sun, He turned towards me.

Involuntarily, my shoulders trembled. But the usual, scathing words didn’t come. 

The golden eyelashes that framed his eyes blinked a few times in curiosity. 

 “… Is that so?” 

“You live in a beautiful world, don't you?" 

He laughed a little, like a child. 

I panicked, trying to think, to come up with something. 

None of the quickly changing expressions on his face were the cold ones I knew.   

The first person who didn’t deny me and my world. He said she wanted to know more, without ever calling it creepy...

 

(Location: ???) 

“Ah... that's right. I'll be calling you often, so If you don't mind, may I ask for your name?" 

I can see my reflection in his straight, Amber eyes. 

…Maybe I was a lost child after all. 

There was someone here who could find me.

Luka: Luka. 

What's your name······?

Luka: How nostalgic… it makes me feel a tingly in the back of my head. 

Roxy... Roxy...! Oh, thank goodness, here you are!  

It looks like you’re napping... yes, I was dreaming… a nostalgic dream. 

…Ah. I hear a voice from outside the picture book, it sounds like Aslan is calling... 

But I wonder why... I'm very sleepy… like my body is saying it doesn't want to wake up…

I… I wonder why I’m so sleepy… 

Part 11

Part 13: Coming soon!

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