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Sincerely, a Rainbow of stories for you:
Please Tell Me the Story of the Rainbow: Part 3
(Location: Magic Manor’s Lounge, Central Kingdom, Afternoon)
Heathcliff: Ah… it smells like a deep forest. It's a little nostalgic…
Mitile: This scent is familiar to me too!
Rutile: It's sweet… it smells vaguely like flowers.
My vision wavered as if chasing the scent. Vague colors emerge from the surface of the paper and spread out like drops of watercolor paint.
Before long, a forest landscape painted in delicate colors appeared, enveloping us like a phantom snow globe.
The round outlines of the trees, made up of odd shapes, were fantastic and adorable: like toys, though they were definitely alive.
Chloe: Woah… its almost as if we’re really in the forest from the book!
Heathcliff: It’s like we’ve been transported to the world from the picture book…
Shino: The fruit growing over here looks delicious. I’ve never seen this shape before, but it’s as glossy as the real thing.
Riquet: It looks like the flowers in the drawings are actually swaying in the wind. If I reach out, I feel like I can almost touch them…
Riquet’s puzzled yet excited eyes shone brightly.
Akira: (A three-dimensional picture book complete with smells and wind… its a magical version of pop-up picture books!)
The depths of the forest were drawn in pale colors and the sound of unseen birds chirping filled the air. The wind sent waves through the crystal-clear water of a lake, as fish I’d never seen before swan through it.
Akira: I can’t believe this is a picture book… it feels like I’ve been lured into some fantastical new world…
The younger wizards and I weren’t the only ones entranced by the mysterious sight.
Even the older wizards were wide eyed at the illusion, blinking repeatedly, as if to clear their eyes.
Snow and White: Oh…
Faust: This is…
Shylock: Wonderful. These delicate strokes… its as if each one of these creatures were really alive.
Shylock gently reached out to the illusion. As if playing with the mixed colors of smoke, he scooped up the vaguely melty shapes with his long fingers.
Shylock: It’s as if the danger of an innocent and pure girl was mixed with the aesthetic temptation of an overripe fruit.
Mysterious and delicious.
Mitile: Oh look! Flying softly through the scenery… if that a rabbit?
Shino: Isn’t it a cat? The ears aren’t long enough.
Riquet: Some of them look like frogs with wings. They’re jumping around over there… and here too!
Chloe: Even though they’re beautiful, they’re strange and a little scary… but even still its amazing how cute they are!
Rutile: No matter I look, my heart pounds with so much excitement that I can’t help but sigh. I’ve never seen any of the creatures here before.
Faust: Are these imaginary creatures envisioned by the artist?
Heathcliff: Probably, though the things we’ve seen here behave almost as if they are alive..
Figaro: Yeah… that sounds about right.
Figaro who was standing a step behind, gazing at the scenery that surrounded us, stroked his chin and nodded.
A mysterious world was reflected in his knowledgeable eyes that have seen many things.
Figaro: Most likely, the scenery depicted here can only be seen under certain conditions. The creatures that love here are commonly called phantom beasts.
What we’re seeing here with our own eyes is rare, but it’s been recorded in old literature and academic books.
Snow: Hmm… phantoms usually live in a secluded, clear, natural settings…
White: They’re mythical creatures that rarely appear in front of humans and wizards.
Akira: Phantoms…?
Snow: Even though what we’re seeing now is an illusion, both the phantoms and this scenery exist.
These creatures are incredibly difficult to see with the naked eye, even for us, thus the name “phantoms”.
White: At first glance, this picture book seems to be a fantasy, but it’s actually depicting an existing landscape.
Murr: So they exist, but you can’t see them. Can you even draw something you can’t see? Interesting! I like it!
Heathcliff: It’s difficult for even Lords Snow and White to see… did the author use some sort of special technique?
Shino: She could be some kind of super-powerful witch.
Figaro: It’s possible, but what do you think? It doesn’t seem like magic power has much to do with being able to see these things.
White: That’s right. Both latent sense and the strength of a wizard’s sensitivity to the supernatural, rather than just raw magic power, are what’s most important in this case.
Snow: Whether or not a particular spirit likes you is also important. That’s why it’s difficult for the two of us to see them.
Akira: So even if you’re strong and give it your all, you still might not be able to see them.
Rutile: Is it possible to depict such a world so delicately?
Snow: It might be possible if you go around the world collecting and researching the various texts written about these strange creatures.
Shylock: In any case, she seems to be a witch with very deep insight. She must be very long-lived.
Faust: Luca Caroll… it’s a miracle that something like this is the unpublished version.
Akira: That’s right, is the final version of this book going to be for sale?
Arthur: Yes, in fact I heard it was the son of the art exhibitioner who discovered her talents.
They seem to be preparing with great enthusiasm, as this is the first time that her books will be sold to the general public.
Cock Robin: Along with his previous books being for sale, it appears as though she’ll be announcing a new one. That will be the height of the exhibition!
Rutile: I can’t believe there will be so many needful picture books lined up… I’d like to see both her previous books and her new ones!
Shylock: Still, no matter how private the event is, to think that works by wizards will also be exhibited…
Even though it's within the jurisdiction of the Central Country, Lord Vincent still allowed it…
Arthur: Special permission was granted under the conditions that it must be a high-quality work that does not harm people.
Though few in number, it seems there will also be a number of magical artifacts lined up in addition to Luca Caroll’s works.
Figaro: Well maybe His Highness Prince Vincent might not hate all wizards…
After all, the name of the holy wizard who was friends with the first king is widely known.
Faust: Hmph, I doubt it.
Snow: In any case, the organizer of this event seems friendly to us and to have power as well.
White: It wouldn’t be bad to get in his good graces.
Snow and White: Hohoho
Mitile: I’ve never been to an exhibition! I’m really looking forward to it; there’s never been such a big event in the Southern Country.
Cock Robin: In addition to paintings and sculptures, there will be displays of rare jewels and antiques excavated from ruins.
It seems there will even be weapons used in ancient times.
The ones used in the past were rough, but brave and cool.
Riquet: Ancient weapons…
Mitile: Riquet, are you interested in them?
Riquet: A little… but isn’t it barbaric to be interested in weapons?
Mitile: Of course not. Also, when you see something from a long time ago, you’ll feel as if you’re looking into history.
Rutile: You’ll feel as though you’re traveling through history. Let’s go see the cool weapons together!
Riquet: Yes!
Arthur: In addition, it seems as though mechanical objects and karakuri puppets* will also be exhibited.
Heathcliff: Mechanical objects and karakuri dolls…
Shino: Heath, your excitement is written on your face. Try not to dismantle them the moment you see them.
Heathcliff: I-I wouldn’t do that…
The corners of my mouth naturally lifted at the sight of them teasing each other.
Akira: I’m happy to see everyone looking forward to it!
Arthur: Yes. And how about you, Master Sage?
Akira: I’m excited too, of course! After all, opportunities like this are rare.
Arthur: Good! I’m relieved to see your smile.
Akira: It’s an invitation from someone who approaches you all.
If possible, I’d like to go with everyone at the manor!
(Location: Akira’s room, Central Kingdom, Night Time)
Akira: Whew
I collapsed onto my bed.
Akira: (I tried to invite the wizards who weren’t there to the exhibition, but…)
I expected as much, but their reactions were different, and they didn’t show any interest.
Akira: (Of course, I didn't expect everyone to want to go, but stil…)
Tossing and turning on the bed, I end up staring at the ceiling.
Akira: This exhibition… sounds fun.
I felt my heart speed up as I said that.
Akira: (Compared to when we first met, I feel that the relationship between the Sage’s Wizards has depended considerably.)
(But… I don’t think we understand each other completely yet.)
The more you try to know, the further away you get, and the more you step back, the more you trip over your own feet, repeating the game of tag.
For both wizards and humans, it is hard to understand one another.
Akira: Even so…
Dare to say it.
Akira: The fact that there are people out there who want to thank everyone… makes me really happy.
To be invited to a high-profile gathering… it’d be nice if people’s view of wizards continued to improve.
I’m sure it’s not my imagination that my words, thrown at the ceiling, made my heart feel a little lighter.
Akira: Alright!
With that, I stretched my arms and sat up vigorously.
At that moment, a knock echoed through my room.
*A karakuri doll is a “traditional Japanese mechanized puppet or automata, made from the 17th century to the 19th century” according to Wikipedia.
Part 2
Part 4
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