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[lunacy-tls]

Mitile's 4th Anniversary SSR Card Story — "Between Strength and Kindness"

Part 1

[Manor Corridor]

Akira: (Is that Mitile…?)

Mitile: “…”

Akira: (He looks worn out, I wonder if something happened…)

Bradley: “Yo, Sage.”

Akira: “Whoa! Bradley…”

Bradley: “You showed up at a good time. Invite the Southern Shortie out for a holiday, would’ja?”

Akira: “Huh? I’m happy to do that, of course, but why—?”

Bradley: “I’ll leave ya to it then.”

Akira: “Ah… He’s gone.”

Akira: (From the way he was talking, it seems like Bradley knows why Mitile looks so tired… Well, I guess I’ll just pay Mitile a visit instead.)

[Mitile’s Room]

Mitile: “I’m glad to see you, Master Sage! I only just got back home, so I’m happy we didn’t accidentally miss each other… Was there something you wanted to talk about?”

Akira: “Well, I saw you going into your room a few moments ago… You looked kind of worn out, so I got a little worried.”

Mitile: “Oh, is that all! Well, to be honest… Mister Bradley has been teaching me magic recently, and it’s pretty tiring.”

Mitile: “It’s a lot more intense than the relaxed classes I used to have in the South, so I usually feel exhausted by the end.”

Akira: (Oh, I see… So that’s why Bradley came up to me earlier.)

Akira: “Is it difficult, then…?”

Mitile: “A little bit, yeah. It can be hard work, and sometimes I get frustrated or even angry at the way Mister Bradley speaks to me…”

Mitile: “But it’s really been worth all the effort! He did say to me ‘I won’t go easy on you as your teacher’.”

Mitile: “He doesn’t treat me like I’m just a kid — I feel like he really sees me as his equal in being a wizard… And that gets me fired up about working even harder!”

Mitile: “Thanks to him, I can use my magic in ways I never even thought of before!”

Akira: “That’s amazing…! Bradley’s very dependable.”

Akira: (Ways of using magic that Mitile’s never thought of before…? I can’t help but feel like that might be dangerous…)

Mitile: “Still, maybe I pushed myself too hard today. I’m sorry for worrying you.”

Akira: “Oh, no, it’s okay. Just knowing why is a relief on its own. That being said… If you have the time, would you like to take tomorrow off with me?”

Akira: “We can relax in the Magic Manor together, or go out if there’s a place you’d like to visit. Preferably somewhere not too stressful, of course.”

When I smiled at him, the worried expression on Mitile’s face suddenly disappeared. Then, looking a little fidgety, he opened his mouth to speak.

Mitile: “If you don’t mind, then…”

[Plateau of Flowers]

So, the next day Mitile and I went to a plateau not very far from the Southern Tower at his request. A number of stalls lined the road beneath the clear blue sky.

Mitile: “The villagers from around here like to gather in this spot to sell each other some of their own handmade things. There are so many one-of-a-kind items that it’s fun to just look at everything!”

Akira: “Thank you so much for bringing me to such a wonderful place. I’m excited to find my own personal treasure here!”

Part 2

Akira: “Still, there’s really so many stalls here. I’d love to visit all of them if I can, but I’m not sure we’re going to have enough time…”

Mitile: “What if we split up for now, and then when we find some stalls we’re really interested in, we can meet up again and show each other?”

Akira: “Good idea! I’ll be sure to find some great stalls to take you to you later.”

—

Akira: (They’re selling things carved out of wood at this stall. The fretwork pattern here is beautiful… Oh, that coaster might be nice to get.)

Akira: (I know Mitile has a habit of bringing drinks to his table when he’s studying, so I’m sure he’d get good use out of something like this.)

Blond-Haired Man: “Hmph, how could anyone try and sell such a misshapen ring for a price like that?”

When I turned to look for the source of those words, I saw a fairly tall man walking behind me with his shoulders slumped.

Akira: (That man doesn’t seem like a citizen of Southern Country… He’s being stingy over almost every item on sale here. What a rude guy…)

Blond-Haired Man: “This thing here is free, yes? I’ll be taking it, then.”

Stall Owner: “W-Well, hold on…”

Akira: “E-Excuse me…! If you do something like that you’ll be putting this person in a difficult position, so I really think you should pay—“

Blond-Haired Man: “Shut your mouth!”

Akira: “Wah!”

—

Mitile: “Oh, wow! These inks made of flowers come in so many beautiful colours… And the flower that was used as the ingredient is labelled on each of the jars.”

Mitile: (Maybe Master Sage could use these for writing in their book? I’ll bring them to this stall later so they can choose the inks they’d like.)

Mitile: (…Now that I’m thinking about it, I was happy when Master Sage spent a lot of time getting to know me and listening to me talk after we met each other for the first time.)

Mitile: (It still makes me feel kind of lonely to think that the only reason they were writing all that down in the first place was to help the next Sage after they leave…)

Mitile: (But I understand how it feels to want to go home, too. I’m sure they must have friends and family waiting for them to come back…)

Mitile: “Still… I really don’t want to say goodbye…”

Mitile: (Because the more I get to know about Master Sage, the more I find myself really liking them…)

Mitile: (…I wonder how much they think I’ve changed since they first wrote about me in the Sage’s Manual.)

???: “Shut your mouth!”

Mitile: “Did I just hear someone starting a fight…? Something might’ve happened over there…!”

—

Akira: “Ouch…”

Mitile: “Master Sage…?! Are you okay?”

Stall Owner: “Your friend there tried to scold this man for not paying for his things, but they were shoved to the floor…”

Blond-Haired Man: “Of course you’re going to get hurt if you attack someone so brazenly. It’s only expected that I would defend myself as a foreigner here.”

Mitile: “…Grr… I won’t let you bother any of the people here, or Master Sage!”

Blond-Haired Man: “What an impertinent brat. What could someone like you ever do to me, hm?”

Mitile took out his magic potion jar. At that moment, I saw Bradley’s face flash through my mind.

Mitile: “«Ortonik Cealsispilce»!”

(‘Bang!’ SFX)

Part 3

Akira: “Wah! …Huh?”

The man was unharmed, despite how the loud bang made him brace himself in fear. Nothing nearby seemed to have been destroyed, either.

Blond-Haired Man: “Gah! S-So you’re a wizard, are you?!”

Mitile: “That’s right! Cause any more trouble here and I’ll do a lot worse than make a loud sound next time!”

Blond-Haired Man: “S-Shit… I don’t need this!”

Mitile: “…Phew. Master Sage— Oh…”

Though there were few humans who held prejudices against wizards in Southern Country, many of the people around us still seemed shocked by the abruptness of the situation. Mitile’s gaze wavered with anxiety in the still and silent air.

Standing, up I gently grasped Mitile’s hand with my own. I could feel his fingers trembling against my palm.

Akira: “Mitile. You did a good job protecting everyone. Thank you. I think we’re all just surprised because the noise was so loud.”

Mitile: “O-Oh… Um… I’m sorry for scaring you, everyone.”

Mitile: “All I did was make the air vibrate to create a loud sound… It’s not the kind of magic that could hurt anyone, really.”

As he turned to face the people around him, Mitile explained himself with a sincere voice.

Stall Owner: “Ah, so that’s what it was. Thank you. You’ve been a big help.”

Hatted Woman: “Ah, so it was like one of those bells that drive away beasts. It’s a relief knowing nobody was hurt just now.”

Once everyone had realised that things were alright again, the area quickly regained its former liveliness. Mitile’s tension was quickly washed away, perhaps relieved by the sight.

Mitile: “…That spell I just used was something Mister Bradley showed me.”

Mitile: “He told me that so long as my opponent isn’t a wizard, I don’t really need to use serious magic to scare them away.”

Mitile: “I thought— maybe I could use what Mister Bradley taught me to frighten that guy off without hurting him… But I ended up scaring everyone around me, too.”

Akira: “…You really haven’t changed at all, Mitile.”

Mitile: “Huh?”

Akira: “Since the day I first met you, all you’ve ever wanted is to protect others using your own strength. I think it’s amazing how that part of you hasn’t changed one bit.”

Akira: “Even though you’ve recently been thrust into a situation where you’re having to learn from people whose values are very different to your own, and you’re growing up at a surprisingly fast pace.”

Akira: “You’re really cool, Mitile. I respect you a lot.”

Mitile: “…Thank you so much!”

Mitile: “To be honest, while I was wandering around the stalls by myself, I couldn’t help but wonder how you thought of me now, Master Sage…”

Mitile: “So it makes me feel really happy to hear you say that!”

Mitile: “Oh, that’s right — I found a really great shop while I was looking around. They sell lots of different coloured inks made out of flowers. Can I take you there after this?”

Akira: “Oh, yes please! It’d be wonderful if I could write about everyone in the Sage’s Manual using flower ink.”

Mitile: “Are you going to write about my hard work and what I learnt today once we’re home?”

Akira: “Of course!”

Beaming at me happily, Mitile held my hand in his so that we wouldn’t be separated until we arrived at the stall he wanted to show me. I squeezed his palm gently.

The idea of having to someday leave behind my Sage’s Manual is a difficult one — because I never want to forget Mitile’s gentle warmth.

Sub-Episode: Mitile and the Door of Days Gone By

Akira: “Apparently, there’s a door that lets people see into the past appearing on the beach of Borda Island.”

Akira: “Speaking of the past, I used to get very anxious when I first arrived in this world. Whenever I felt particularly bad, I would calm myself down by recalling a certain memory of mine.”

Mitile: “A memory?”

Akira: “Mhm. Of an adult I trusted reading me a book when I was a child.”

Mitile: “Me too! I used to love having my father and brother read to me as a child!”

Akira: “Ahaha. We’re the same then, huh?”

Akira: “If you don’t mind me asking, how do you comfort yourself when you feel lonely, Mitile?”

Mitile: “Oh, um… Well, I’m not really sure…”

Mitile: “I have memories of being by myself, and feeling lonely and sad.”

Mitile: “Of course there have also been times when I was upset or angry, and didn’t want to see anybody at all, but…”

Mitile: “I guess what I mean is that I don’t really understand what loneliness is yet.”

Mitile: “Even when me and my brother fight, we usually make up really quickly.”

Mitile: “And if we don’t, I still have my friends from school to talk to, and Doctor Figaro, and Mister Leno — Mister Mithra, too.”

Mitile: “It’s not like I have plans to go somewhere far away all by myself…”

Mitile: “To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever really felt truly alone.”

Akira: “Ah, I see! But you know, I think that’s a very good thing, honestly.”

Akira: “It makes me happy to hear that you’re surrounded by people you can rely on. It’s relieving.”

Mitile: “You really think so?”

Akira: “Yes!”

Mitile: “Loneliness… I guess what I really think of when I hear that word is Mister Leno.”

Akira: “Lennox…?”

Mitile: “Yeah. Mister Leno never spent much time in or even near the Town of Clouds, really.”

Mitile: “When people would talk about him, I’d always think of this man herding sheep all by himself on some far away mountains…”

Mitile: “Totally alone with only the sheep and his sheepdog to keep him company. Doesn’t that sound lonely?”

Mitile: “I remember that it used to make my heart pound. Though, maybe that’s not the right way to put it… I just thought it sounded like something I could never do.”

Akira: “I get it… Sheep and dogs are cute, but you’d start missing people after a while, right?”

Mitile: “Exactly!”

Akira: “What about Rutile and Figaro, then?”

Mitile: “My brother and I have always been together. I know he’s got lots of his own friends.”

Mitile: “And Doctor Figaro is a popular person everyone can always rely on.”

Akira: “Mm, I see…”

Mitile: “Maybe once I’m grown up I won’t feel lonely living by myself, though.”

Mitile: “I hope I can stay together with everyone, even when I’m older…”

[lunacy-tls]

Sea Rover Squama — In-Depth Character Introduction Profiles

Snow: Squama. He travels the world laying siege on various pirate ships in order to find his twin brother, White, who was kidnapped and separated from him by pirates when they were children. His powers grant him the gift of eternal youth, and he uses his cute, childlike appearance to catch his enemies off-guard. In addition to his natural-born abilities, Snow’s unrelenting efforts to save White from the hands of pirates has made him into a highly skilled fighter, enabling him to single-handedly eradicate a number of pirate crews. He excels at quick and light fighting techniques that make the most of his small build.

Bradley: Squama. Captain of the Pirates of Death, whose motto in life is to challenge those who are stronger than him and steal all of their treasure. He took in Nero as part of his crew after finding out he had nowhere else to go. His gift allows him to see how hostile his opponents are in the form of a black haze. He chose to become a pirate after hearing stories of the Cintamani Stone as a child, fascinated by the tales an old former pirate would tell him. His dream in life is to one day find that legendary treasure. He enjoys Nero’s honest reactions to things that are now the norm for Bradley, and finds teaching Nero the fundamentals of piracy worthwhile because of it.

Nero: Squama. His unique blue scale crest sets him apart from his kind, and is referred to by the nickname “giftless”. He became a member of the Pirates of Death after Bradley found him collapsed on the beach, and took him under his wing. Though he looks like an adult, there’s still very little he knows about the world around him, and at first he knew barely more than a child would. Despite this, his quick understanding of things and attention to small detail helped him integrate easily within the crew. Though he respects Bradley for saving his life, he finds it frustrating sometimes when he’s still treated like a child.

White: Squama. A Lieutenant Commander in the Vollmond Navy. His powers grant him the gift of eternal youth. He was kidnapped by pirates from the slums where he lived with his twin, Snow, with the intention of selling him on the slave trade. When the pirates were arrested, however, White ended up being adopted by the Vollmond Navy officer who caught them, and was trained to become a gifted soldier as a result. Upon being told by his adoptive father that Snow had died, he lost any interest in his life and career, choosing to settle for his current position despite his admiral-level accomplishments.

Heathcliff: Human. A First Lieutenant in the Vollmond Navy. As the son of a highly distinguished military family, the Blanchetts, he rose quickly through the ranks despite his young age. He has mixed feelings regarding his childhood friend, still a student at the Naval Academy, who would enthusiastically talk about “becoming Heath’s shield”. Heathcliff’s earnest personality sometimes makes it difficult for him to handle his superior officers, what with Murr’s mischievous behaviour and White’s indifferent attitude. Alongside his solemnity and thoughtfulness, his sensitive, unsoldierlike care has earnt great trust from those above him.

Murr: Human. An Admiral in the Vollmond Navy, he’s pursuing the whereabouts of the Child of the Cintamani Stone, who fled while under his care. Though there are rumours abound of him having once used whatever means necessary to rise through the ranks and achieve his current position, nobody can explain exactly why he might’ve done such a thing. His methods having backfired on him, a certain incident left him with a severe head injury, turning his intellectual personality into that of a mischievous cat. He’ll occasionally visit his old friend’s house on a whim for a glass of wine, though only he knows when best to go and why.

Arthur: Squama. His gift draws in good luck from the world around him, and he has never once lost a bet. When he was about 4 years old, a crew of pirates almost succeeded in kidnapping him – only thwarted by the lucky appearance of the great and legendary pirate Oz, who then took Arthur in. There’s not much he remembers from before he was 4, and has no memory at all of his real family. When he was 13, he once had a nightmare about being kidnapped from Oz by other pirates. Though he calls himself a pirate out of respect to Oz, the truth is that he prefers helping people by fighting off the truly bad pirates, all while on his journey to reunite with the man who left him behind.

Oz: Squama. A legendary pirate whose reputation extends to every corner of the world. Equally as famous for his strength, his gift of being able to control the weather at will is well-renowned, and many pirates grow out their hair in admiration of Oz. He found Arthur onboard the ship of a pirate crew that had challenged Oz to battle, soundly defeating them and then taking Arthur in himself. Though he did his best to balance child-rearing with piracy, overhearing a 13 year old Arthur say “I want to go home” in his sleep prompted Oz to leave him at the nearest house available – which just so happened to be Cain’s – in order to set off on a journey to find Arthur’s real family for him.

Cain: Human. A master cutlass swordsman and member of Arthur’s pirate crew. He took care of Arthur after he was left behind by Oz, and found himself so charmed by Arthur’s personality that he decided to come along on Arthur’s journey to find Oz again. The cutlass-using character in many of the stories sung by bards is said to be modelled off of Cain, who is well-loved by the children that know of him. While fighting against the red-eyed pirate Owen, their left eyes were somehow exchanged. Since then, he’s been searching for a way to make things right, planning on returning Owen’s eye immediately once he knows how.

Chloe: Human. Though he doesn’t know it, many of the clothes he’s made as a hobby while travelling around with Rustica are now incredibly fashionable, known by many as the “Wandering Chloe’s Ensemble”. As he was being arrested by the Vollmond Navy, Rustica’s last words to Chloe were “I’ll be alright, just wait for me here,” and so he waits for Rustica to come back while keeping watch over their ship. Once, while praying at a well-known church for Rustica’s safe return, he met a blond boy who unexpectedly helped cheer him up, and hopes to see him again someday soon.

Rustica: Squama. Although he’s unaware of his status as a pirate, he has been officially recognised as one by the Vollmond Navy due to him always skillfully turning the tables on any pirates who attack him and brazenly taking their treasure while on his carefree travels. His gift is the ability to charm people with the music he plays. He was recently arrested without warning by the Vollmond Navy for some unexplained reason, separated from the friend he had been travelling with. He’s especially talented when it comes to playing the ocarina, and his habit of playing a tune every time he stops for a drink at a bar has built up quite the fan following, unbeknownst to him.

Rutile: Squama. His gift allows him to paralyse whoever he touches. Having lost his mother at a young age, he took up caring for his younger brother in her absence. An incredibly good surfer, he’s become something of a speed demon capable of going unbelievably fast due to his spectacular riding skills. Ever since his younger brother started living at the Naval Academy boarding school, Rutile has begun drawing his own picture books based on stories about his mother, a famous female pirate, reading them to the children around Vollmond Island. Having met his mother’s old friend only once a long time ago, he hopes to someday see him again and tell him of his mother’s death.

[lunacy-tls]

Sea Rover Squama — A Teensy-Weensy Pirate Battle!

CENTRAL

Oz SS: Do not presume to think that you could beat me on these seas. S: …Could the Goddess of the Sea be displeased, I wonder? A: (All the things I have done… I can never speak of them to that child.)

Arthur SS: Hooray! I shall be sure never to forget how happy this has made me. S: I suppose this proves I still have much left to learn. I shall ask Cain to teach me some new tricks. A: (As lacking as I am now, I’ll never be able to meet him again at his level…)

Cain SS: All right! C’mon, let’s celebrate our victory with a feast! Time to let loose and party! S: Guess I gotta report this to Arthu… No, I mean– to the captain. A: (Damn… How am I supposed to give that guy his eye back like this…)

Riquet SS: So I have taken the righteous path after all, just as I thought. S: I am not yet as capable of protecting others as I had hoped. A: (Uuu… Did I not study enough beforehand, perhaps…) 

NORTH

Snow SS: ‘Tis I, Snow – one half of the strongest pair of twins! Now, here I come! S: Hohoho. You are a hundred years too young to win against the likes of me. A: (Oh dear… Will White scold me for this, I wonder…)

White SS: ‘Tis I, White – one half of the strongest pair of twins! Now, here I come! S: You mistook me for a student, you say? How unfortunate! As you can now see, I am actually a lieutenant commander. A: (Oh dear… Would Snow have scolded me for this, I wonder…)

Mithra SS: Haha, as expected. Everything within this ocean is mine, after all. S: Good enough. Now then, I shall be taking my nap.  A: (Hah? Does this person want to die, I wonder?)

Owen SS: That’s right, run away. And don’t you ever think about invading my territory again. S: Alright, now it’s snack time. A: (Haha… So you want me to make this your watery grave, is that it?)

Bradley SS: I’m in luck – I’ve got both the sea and the undine workin’ on my side. S: At the rate we’re goin’, all the treasure in the world’ll be mine soon enough. A: (You ain’t seen us Pirates of Death at our true strength yet, mark my words…)

EAST

Faust SS: We’re one step closer to creating a whole new world. S: It’s alright. I was taught a long time ago to never get impatient at sea. A: (I can’t allow myself to stop here. Not until I’ve accomplished this dream.)

Shino SS: Heh. Time to go brag about this to the guys in my dorm. S: I’ll do even better in the next drill, you’ll see. A: (Tch… I’m gonna get called into the teacher’s office if I keep screwing up like this…)

Heathcliff SS: Looks like everything went according to plan. That’s a relief. S: Phew. I was starting to feel a little nervous… A: (For the sake of everyone’s peace, we cannot allow ourselves to lose…!)

Nero SS: I’m one of the Pirates of Death too, yanno. S: Guess this brings me one step closer to becomin’ a proper pirate. A: (I’m still so goddamn weak…)

WEST

Shylock SS: Fufu. A job well done. S: We can do a little better than that, don’t you think? A: (I won’t go so easy on you next time.)

Murr SS: Just leave keepin’ the peace at sea to us! …Yeah, right. S: Another job complete. Aye-aye, sir! A: (I seem to be acting in poor form for you today, my love.)

Chloe SS: Now I’m a real man of the sea, too! …Haha, just kidding. S: Phew! I’m glad everything worked out okay! A: (I really need to toughen up if I want to stay on this ship…)

Rustica SS: Now then, shall we have a tea party to celebrate our victory? S: How relieving to know that the ship and crew are all safe. A: (Oh my, the sea appears to be in a rather bad mood.)

SOUTH

Figaro SS: Can’t just sit around and let my students show me up, can I? S: Your trusty teacher Figaro’s skill isn’t all just for show, y’know. A: (Oops, looks like I went a little too easy on ‘em that time.)

Rutile SS: I want to follow in the footsteps of my mother’s dream, too. S: One mistake here or there doesn’t make me any less of a pirate’s son. A: (Ugh… No, I can’t give up here…)

Lennox SS: The waves are on our side. S: So long as everyone is safe, that’s really all that matters. A: (Time for a temporary retreat.)

Mitile SS: This is just proof of all my hard work in class! S: I knew the practice sessions would make me nervous… A: (Uuu… I should go over everyone’s feedback again…)

[lunacy-tls]

Sea Rover Squama — Notice Board Wanted Posters/Achievement Certificates

CENTRAL

Oz (Pirate): I cannot allow myself to be caught by the Navy within this city. For I still have an objective I wish to achieve.

Arthur (Pirate): With my face appearing on all of these posters, I hope it will help him know that I am well…

Cain (Pirate): Hold on, is this… My wanted poster? Ahaha, looks like my name is worth a high price!

Riquet (Navy): As a student of the Navy Academy, I’m glad to be of help to all those who may be struggling!

NORTH

Snow (Pirate): My own wanted poster, hm… Will it reach whatever corner of the world White is in, I wonder…

White (Navy): My own certificate, hm… If only Snow were still alive, I’m sure he would have been happy for me… 

Mithra (Pirate): A bounty, you say… Of course, I am of much higher value than Oz, am I not?

Owen (Pirate): Hmph. There’s no way I’d let myself get caught so easily. I still haven’t gotten my left eye back, you know.

Bradley (Pirate): Oi, y’know a sketch like this one could never live up to how cool I am in real life, yeah?

EAST

Faust (Navy): In order to live up to the expectations of this accolade, I’ll continue doing my best for the sake of our world.

Shino (Navy): This just brings me one step closer to my goal. I’ll prove to Heath exactly what it is I can do.

Heathcliff (Navy): It’s an honour. I’ll carry on doing my best in order to live up to the Blanchett name.

Nero (Pirate): Is that… Me? This ain’t good… I gotta get better at keepin’ a low profile…

WEST

Shylock (Navy): While I certainly wouldn’t dare complain about a letter of appreciation… Haven’t I earnt a more personal reward from you as well?

Murr (Navy): I want more than just a letter from you, you know. So now I’m gonna eat this certificate! Bleh~!

Chloe (Pirate): My own wanted poster?! If I’d known I was going to get one of these I would’ve worn something a little more fashionable…

Rustica (Pirate): Oh my, is that a portrait of me? Perhaps I should put it in a frame to hang inside the boat.

SOUTH

Figaro (Navy): Ooh, looks like I got something nice. I should go show this off to all the students.

Rutile (Pirate): Wow, my own wanted poster! I wonder if this is how it felt for my mother, too…

Lennox (Navy): You’re giving this to me? It’s a little embarrassing being thanked in such a formal manner… 

Mitile (Navy): Yay, I did it! I’ll keep working hard so I can serve you honourably in the future!

[lunacy-tls]

The Enigmatic Tale of the Flowers and the Moon — In-Depth Character Introduction Profiles

Riquet: A kitsune who awoke to divine powers at a young age, he was treated as a child prodigy in the village where he was born and raised. He met Murr just as he was beginning to desire the freedom to help as many yōkai as possible in the wider world, who then introduced him to Shylock. Now renting his own space in Shylock’s bar, Riquet uses his powers to help bring guidance to any troubled yōkai who hear rumour of his existence.

Faust: A tengu who lives a secluded life on the mountain. Though he used to live in Ōun-gai, as time went by the population grew and he left for the mountain instead, possibly because he felt as though it’d be too uninhabitable for anyone else. It is rumoured that Faust was once the student of a certain knowledgeable yōkai, skilled in the art of magic. He usually spends his time making medicine out of herbs.

Oz: One of the dragons living in the castle, he is the strongest yōkai in all of Ōun-gai. Having been in possession of this power from a young age, he was taken in by the castle residents and taught the ways of the world, including how to harness his magic. The twins, who wish to retire, are planning on forcing Oz to take on their role as leader of the dragon clan.

Shylock: A kitsune, and the owner of a bar in Ōun-gai. Incredibly smart and well-connected, he was introduced to Riquet through Murr, one of his oldest acquaintances. Though Shylock rents out a part of his bar for Riquet to use, he only allows people he personally approves of to see the young fox, not wanting Riquet’s powers to be taken advantage of.

Mitile: A young kitsune who lives on Nagaya-dōri with his brother Rutile. Though he spends most of his time in lessons at the local temple school, he also makes the effort to take care of the cherry blossom trees and help Rutile with his work, wanting to be useful to the people around him. Once when he was very young, Mitile fell ill and was taken care of by Lennox, who carried him to the local town doctor. He met and befriended Riquet on a visit to Shylock’s bar while helping Lennox with his job.

Lennox: A tengu who lives in Ōun-gai. When he was young, his life was saved by a certain other yōkai. Now that this benefactor has secluded himself away up on the mountain, Lennox worries after and attempts to take care of him. He also watches over the Flores brothers, two kitsune who live on Nagaya-dōri like he does. Though he usually uses his ability to fly to work as a mailman, he’s so naturally caring and sincere that he’ll take on almost any job if asked to do so.

White: A dragon who lives in the castle with his twin, Snow. Although he looks young, he’s actually one of the oldest of his kind, and it is said even the most powerful of the dragons find it difficult to disobey him. He wants Oz, the strongest dragon in Ōun-gai, to be his and Snow’s successor after they retire as leaders, but White can’t help but be worried about his communication skills. It is rumoured that he has no reflection when passing by surfaces of water.

Figaro: One of the dragons living in the castle. The twins are both his teachers and leaders. A long time ago, he watched over and took care of a certain yōkai as his student. Though he’d been planning on living the rest of his life at a leisurely pace, he keeps getting questioned on his potential as the next leader of the dragon clan, forcing him to continually find ways to dodge the issue. Figaro is also rather skilled when it comes to shapeshifting, a rare talent for dragons to have.

Heathcliff: A kitsune and the only son of the Blanchett family, who run Ōun-gai’s largest medicine wholesaler. It’s rumoured that just having him smile at you will bring you happiness, so many customers come for that reason alone. He has a talent for handicrafts, particularly when it comes to making karakuri puppets. As a test, Heathcliff once made one of these puppets in Shino’s image, though he’s been embarrassed about it ever since because Shino takes it out almost every day to brag to whoever will listen.

Shino: A young kamaitachi who works as both an apprentice and bodyguard at the Blanchett wholesaler. Upon being separated from his pack, he was determined to survive on his own somehow before being found by Heathcliff’s family. Currently, he’s trying to come up with a title people will recognise him by, while still sounding cool and kamaitachi-esque. He keeps trying to get Cain, another bodyguard who is older than Shino but has been working at the wholesaler’s for less than a year, to call him “Shino-senpai”, but the likelihood of that is never very high.

Cain: A kitsune who works as a bodyguard at the Blanchett wholesaler. Before settling down where he is now, he served apprenticeships in a variety of different places while travelling the world as part of his warrior training, even once working as a bodyguard for the head of a tengu clan. Cain's heterochromia is a genetic trait, though rarely he’ll see flashes of an unfamiliar forest, and even more rarely flashes of a far more familiar townscape – almost as though he’s seeing through someone else’s eyes…

Rutile: A kitsune who works as a children’s kawaraban journalist. An enjoyable read, his cheerful and relaxed reporting style is popular with yōkai of all ages and species. When he was a child, he attempted to scale the mountain without telling anyone where he was going, rescued by a certain dragon when he ended up getting caught in a trap – a story he’s now summarised in a picture scroll of his own design. A regular at Shylock’s bar, Rutile loves to listen to Murr tell his outlandish stories, hoping to one day get an interview with him.

Chloe: A tanuki currently travelling around with his teacher, Rustica, who he happened to meet after finding it difficult to fit in with his friends due to their love for playing tricks on others. Spending time with him has helped Chloe realise that pranks don’t always need to be malicious and can even make people happy, reconciling his relationship with his fellow tanuki. He loves fashionable kimonos and kanzashi, and was even the one who made Rustica’s outfit.

Rustica: A tanuki currently travelling around with his apprentice, Chloe. He often does various types of street performances in order to be able to fund their travels. Whenever he transforms into another type of yōkai, Chloe is often the one who has to point out that he forgot to hide his obvious tanuki tail. Having quickly grown fond of Ōun-gai, the two of them have taken up temporary residence in the town. Rustica believes it would be nice to open a tea shop with Chloe someday, under the name of… Bunbuku Chagama.

Bradley: A tengu who was once the leader of his own gang of bandits. After spending a consecutive three days and nights fistfighting with Nero, they ended up opening a restaurant together. At Bradley’s suggestion, the concept of fast food delivery quickly became popular in Ōun-gai thanks to the characteristic speed of tengu flight. He gets to enjoy Nero’s meals day in and day out, which is likely why he’s always getting in trouble for pinching food when he isn’t supposed to. Despite claiming to have given up on the bandit lifestyle, sometimes he disappears at night to help with thefts without Nero’s knowledge.

Nero: A tengu, and a former bandit. After spending a consecutive three days and nights fistfighting with Bradley, they ended up opening a restaurant together. Despite how pleased he is with Bradley’s proficiency in running a business, he’s desperate to hire some new employees as he’s currently the only one capable enough to work in the kitchen. Nero gives second helpings of food to any of the younger yōkai free of charge, showing them a little more generosity compared to his usual service. The bodyguards who work for Blanchett wholesaler are frequent patrons to the restaurant.

Snow: A dragon who lives in the castle with his twin, White. Although he looks young, he’s actually the oldest of his kind, and it is said even the most powerful of the dragons find it difficult to disobey him. He’s having a hard time deciding on a true successor, and believes Arthur would be a good choice… if he were a dragon, that is. He and White have a habit of fighting bitterly with each other every 150 years or so, leaving the castle together in a huff. A few months later they always make up and return, though they refuse to share the details of how or why with anyone else.

Arthur: The son of a tengu clan chief. As a young child, he once ran too far away from home while chasing after a rabbit he had spotted, only managing to avoid getting lost forever when Oz found him and returned him to his parents. With his father’s permission, Arthur now lives with Oz in the dragons’ castle while also keeping in touch with his family. He loves to hear Oz tell stories of the outside world, and hopes to someday befriend someone from an alternate universe himself.

Mithra: A dragon who lives alone by a river, deep in the mountain. Formerly one of the castle dragons, he was excommunicated from the clan for his poor cooperation skills and lack of respect for anyone who wasn’t himself. Despite this, the twins and Figaro have a habit of secretly paying him to subjugate anything they can’t deal with themselves, though Mithra won’t accept these requests without being given considerable compensation in return. A long time ago he rescued a young kitsune from a trap he himself had set up, doing it mostly on a whim.

Owen: A kitsune who lives alone in the forest, and has a habit of appearing and disappearing as he pleases. His specialty is illusion magic, and although his power is incomparable to that of a dragon, he’s grown skilful in the art of making a quick escape. Occasionally he’ll come into town to visit the local bookstore, and the protagonist of the picture scroll he recently bought reminds Owen of an old acquaintance of his… if he squints and tilts his head, at least. Though his heterochromia is a genetic trait, occasionally he’ll see flashes of a familiar townscape – almost as though he’s seeing through someone else’s eyes…

Murr: A yōkai rumoured to be a prodigy in the art of shapeshifting. He created a bell for Shylock's bar, which alerts him when troublesome customers have arrived. He’s a vagabond at heart, and when he happened to meet Riquet while wandering around told him that "I can see a future where you are taken care of by a kitsune I know", bringing him to Shylock shortly afterward. Though Murr usually appears to others as a kitsune, whether or not that’s his true form is a mystery. Only Shylock knows what he really looks like.

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Glossary

-gai – Town

-dōri – Street

Karakuri puppets – Traditional Japanese mechanical dolls.

Kawaraban – A type of Japanese newspaper common in the Edo period, that reported on interesting events through artwork as well as text. They were known for being cheap and easy to make, more for getting interesting stories out fast and being entertaining than genuinely reporting on news. Kind of like an early tabloid.

Kanzashi – A traditional type of ornamental hairpin.

Bunbuku Chagama – An old Japanese folktale about a tanuki who uses its shapeshifting powers to transform into a tea kettle, doing street performances for its master in exchange for warm food and care, eventually bringing wealth to the man.

[lunacy-tls]

S2: M13 Intertwined Fate

SNOW: No matter who you may be, everyone walks alone WHITE: Destined to their own road, each different from the last BOTH: Summoned here from afar These karmic strings are destined to cross here and now ARTHUR: This bond of ours is one that can never be broken Or perhaps it is merely the tangled strings of fate Twenty-one different beliefs

SHINO I’m gonna make you into a hero Don’t refuse these things I want to give to you Don’t pretend and hide away that you’re a wizard, don’t be ashamed of who you are I’ll always protect you, that’s the promise that we made This is how we were meant to be

HEATHCLIFF If one betrays their heart, if one breaks a promise made, their magic will be lost Even if that promise was made through deceit Now that you’re here and we’re side by side, together once more, I…

LENNOX Desperately reaching towards a time of peace, I’ll keep running as far as I can The sight of your back as you walked away, I’ll follow until the very end

FAUST Desperately dreaming of a time of peace, I ran as far as I possibly could My old friend, you were all I wanted To believe you ‘til the end, that’s all I wanted Let us go, follow me no matter what, never stray too far away

LENNOX The sight of your back as you said those words, I can never forget

FAUST I’m still alive, so now all that I can do is lay down curses There’s no point to chasing this back of mine, or following me You’ll only lose me, and you’ll lose the way forwards, too My existence as a whole, to you, is a curse

BRADLEY Losin’ your temper whenever I scraped by death Can't keep dealin’ with this no more, you said to me But it was never your damn choice whether I live life recklessly or not

NERO Even though you look like you’re a short-tempered idiot, I know you ain’t You take good care of people, make ‘em wanna follow you But I can’t live that reckless life of yours

BRADLEY: I don’t wanna believe the knife in my back is yours NERO: I don’t wanna be there when he gets himself killed BOTH: I never thought this would be how our paths would cross again

RUTILE A mother who foresaw her own mortality When I found out, I couldn’t keep myself from crying It was Uncle Mithra who comforted me then Maybe I’m mistaken, maybe I have the wrong guy I want to see him again My Daddy Long Legs Uncle

CAIN Though I tried to hide it, he could see right though me He saw me for what I am We fought, but I lost, both the battle and my eye I was no match for a wizard such as he

OWEN Wielding your sword in the name of friendship Just like a knight in a picture book More fun to tease you than it was to kill you I decided then that I would take your eye

CAIN: I will get it back from you someday OWEN: This detested, honey-sweet colour CAIN: I will get it back, no matter what OWEN: How long has it been since I raised my head To see such a colour, warm like sunlight CAIN: This left eye of yours- OWEN: I truly hate it

MITILE It’s frustrating to always be weaker It’s frustrating not being able to speak my mind That’s why I want to get stronger Please, won’t you teach me all the magic you know

FIGARO & SNOW & WHITE O child of prophecy, be young while you still can

OZ: These karmic strings are destined to cross here and now Twenty-one different beliefs ARTHUR: Are we bound by fate? OZ: Or bound by obligation? ARTHUR: All the sights that I’ve seen ‘til now… OZ: …are so remarkably different to mine ARTHUR & OZ: Keep on looking straight ahead At the view that lies before us AKIRA: With everyone, I’ll look straight ahead At the view that lies before us

[lunacy-tls]

S2: M2 Sign of our Beginning

It’s very nice to meet you, Master Sage Welcome to our broken and fragmented world Where humans and wizards can both coexist A world unlike the one you know

AKIRA: Now, it rings around me WIZARDS: Reaching towards you, fingertips touching Pay attention, this is the sign of our beginning!

CHORUS Spinning ‘round, spinning ‘round Turning ‘round, turning ‘round It goes on without end That incessant wax and wane Building bonds, building bonds Spinning tales, spinning tales Together, let's make a promise One that can never be broken

EAST: No matter who you may be, everyone walks alone NORTH: Destined to their own road, each different from the last WEST: Summoned here from afar SOUTH: The time has come for our paths to cross here and now CENTRAL: This bond of ours is one that can never be broken WIZARDS: Or perhaps it is merely the tangled strings of fate AKIRA: Which strings to tie? Which strings to cut?

CHORUS Spinning ‘round, spinning ‘round Turning ‘round, turning ‘round It goes on without end That incessant wax and wane Building bonds, building bonds Spinning tales, spinning tales Together, let's make a promise One that can never be broken

This is our unique world, beloved by the moon Beautiful despite everything, even all it’s scars

[lunacy-tls]

S1: M2 Sign of our Beginning

It’s very nice to meet you, Master Sage Welcome to our broken and fragmented world Where humans and wizards can both coexist A world unlike the one you know

WIZARDS: Now, it rings around me AKIRA: Reaching towards you, fingertips touching Pay attention, this is the sign of our beginning!

CHORUS Spinning ‘round, spinning ‘round Turning ‘round, turning ‘round It goes on without end That incessant wax and wane Building bonds, building bonds Spinning tales, spinning tales Together, let's make a promise One that can never be broken

CAIN & BRADLEY: With this power I hold in my hands… HEATHCLIFF: …what is it I can do? SHYLOCK & MURR: Soaring through the sky… SNOW & WHITE: …and changing our very shape! FAUST: With this fire in my heart… OZ: …even I can illuminate the darkest night. ARTHUR: I must believe in myself no matter what happens– WIZARDS: –because no one else can believe in me more than I! AKIRA: I am me… only me…

CHORUS Spinning ‘round, spinning ‘round Turning ‘round, turning ‘round It goes on without end That incessant wax and wane Building bonds, building bonds Spinning tales, spinning tales Together, let's make a promise One that can never be broken

This is our unique world, beloved by the moon Beautiful despite everything, even all it’s scars