Oz: I do not wish for anything in particular. I would be fine with just seeing the town the Sage lived in.
Arthur: I wish to try the "ramen" from Sir Sage's world. …If this wish is ever granted, I'd like to try soy sauce ramen.
Cain: I'd like to try learning "kendo" from the Sage's world. In order for me to protect everyone, it might come in handy, don't you think?
Riquet: I'd like to try some "konbini sweets." Is it true that, if you eat them in the middle of the night, you can actually taste the guilt?
💜North Country
Snow: May we go "viral" in the Sage's world! Everyone must know about my adorable Whitey!
White: May we go "viral" in the Sage's world! Everyone must know about my super cool Snowy!
Mithra: I want to try out that "memory foam mattress" or whatever. May the technology from the Sage's world help me sleep.
Owen: I want to completely obliterate a "cake buffet." Sir Sage will be tasked with bringing all the cakes to my table.
Bradley: I want to drink at a "beer garden" from the Sage's world. I'd enjoy such a divine paradise to the max.
💙East Country
Faust: I want to try the "soba" from the Sage's world even once. If it tastes anything like a galette, I think I'll like it.
Shino: I want to see the castles in the Sage's world. I want to draw inspiration for when I build my own awesome castle.
Heathcliff: I'd like to see one of the "robots" in Sir Sage's world. … It'd be even better if I could dismantle one!
Nero: I'd love to try the food from Mr. Sage's world. If I can recreate some of it, I'm sure Mr. Sage would be happy as well.
❤️West Country
Shylock: I'd like to go through the Sage's "album." I'm sure I'd be filled with feelings of endearment.
Murr: I want to ride a "rocket" and fly to the moon in Sir Sage's world! Would that be considered cheating on my beloved?
Chloe: I'd like to meet Sir Sage's friends! We might live in different worlds, but I'm sure we'd all get along!
Rustica: I wish to learn all about the popular songs in Sir Sage's world. It'd be lovely if our two worlds could be connected through song.
💚South Country
Figaro: May I ever get to try some "tapioca" and take some "selfies." Have I got a clear grasp of the trends in the Sage's world?
Rutile: I wish to fly in an "airplane" from the Sage's world. It'd also be amazing to use magic and have a race against it on my broom!
Lennox: I'd like to try going to one of the "gyms" in the Sage's world. It'd be nice if we went together with Shino and Cain.
Mitile: I'd like to go to the school Sir Sage went to! It'd be so fun to be Sir Sage's junior!
last compilation for the year i think...mm not much but i have many pieces in the back burner, as per usual
chatter under the cut
first image is based on a log-in story where rutile draws mithra surrounded by flowers, titled as such: the birth of Mithra, king of flowers. i wanted to be in rutile's headspace bc i love his silly artistic abstractions that none of the characters understand but i cant be as good as him
8th image: i think it's kind of cool if owen's eyes (and by extension cain's) have differently shaped pupils. i imagine their vision would be fucked up though w
and some image songs ? maybe ?
2nd image: Viatonten valssi (Einojuhani Rautavaara). not exactly a waltz, but listening to it inspired this drawing. mithra and owen vaguely waltzing
4th image: Memories Fade (Tears for Fears). i dont even know where to start w this song, so subjecting figaro to those feelings is the right choice lol
7th image: Frank (The Lemon Twigs) ouuuhjhghghhhghg
[In the Early Morning, Weaving the Sky’s Blue Hue] — Nero Turner 2025 Birthday SSR Translation
Yaaawn… so sleepy…
Haha. You've been staring at me for a while since I woke up. Am I that mesmerizing?
I'm kidding... Or not.. Actually, maybe I'm just trying to hide that I'm a little embarrassed..
I’ll listen and be quiet now, so… why don't you go ahead and tell me what's on your mind?
Ft. Akira, Faust, Heathcliff, Shino
A New Morning with Nero - Chapter 1
Faust, Shino, Heathcliff: Happy birthday!
Akira: Well then, once again… Nero, happy birthday!
Nero: Haha, thanks.
After celebrating Nero's birthday party, which was attended by all the Sage's Wizard, we gathered in his room. It was Shino who had suggested doing a "second round of party," which I had told him about previously. Since it doubled as a pajama party, everyone had already changed into sleepwear.
Nero: So, what exactly do we do at “second parties”?
Shino: Don't worry, we've prepared something for it.
Shino: Heath.
Heathcliff: R-right, then.., I'll get started. Welcome to the 1st Annual "Happy Birthday, Nero!" Card Game Tournament!
Faust, Shino, Akira: Clap, clap, clap!
Nero: Huh, a card game? You sure about this, Teach?
Faust: About what?
Nero: Normally you’d go on a full lecture and say stuff like “it’ll be bad influence for the kids.” If I’d known, I could’ve at least brought coins or chips to stake.
Faust: Hey, don't go turning everything to gambling. Nothing is on the line. We're just playing a picture-matching game.
Nero: Haha, figures. So then, what’s this "picture-matching" thing?
Akira: It's a game where you turn over face-down cards to find pairs with the same picture. We prepared two of each card, so the person who makes the most pairs wins.
Nero: Ahh, so it's that kind of game.
A soft, cozy carpet was already spread out on the floor. We all sat down on it and flipped the prepared cards face down.
Shino: Alright, Nero, you're the star of the show today, so you go first.
Nero: Okay. Hmm… two cards, yeah? Guess I’ll go with these. O~oh? Something’s drawn on it. …This is… a picture of cocotte, right?
Heathcliff: Correct. I drew that picture.
Nero: You did, Heath?
Heathcliff: Yeah. It's the cocotte you made for me as a late-night snack when I came back exhausted from work. Thanks to that cocotte, I felt so much better… I can still clearly remember how delicious it was, the smell, and even what it looked like.
Once again, Nero took the card in his hand. He stared at it intently and let out a breath of admiration.
Nero: These ingredients… yeah, no doubt the same mix from that night. You drew it well.
Akira: It's not just the cocotte. It's the same with the other cards, too. We all drew a bunch of memorable dishes you've made for us over the years.
Nero: Wha… these cards are all my cooking? And you all even hand-drew ‘em?
Shino: We even narrowed it down. We would have needed way more cards to draw everything you've ever cooked.
A New Morning with Nero - Chapter 2
Nero: … (a/n i think he was still processing here)
Faust: What you see here are carefully chosen memories. Go on, flip the next card.
Nero: (blushes) …Yeah, alright.
Akira: (Haha. Nero looks a little embarrassed.)
Nero: Mm… then this one.
Akira: Oh, a picture of bread! I drew that one.
Heathcliff: What's the memory attached to that bread?
Akira: It was the bread Nero baked for me when we had just met. It was so crispy and chewy, and it was incredibly delicious!
Shino: I know.
Faust: Nero's bread is delicious.
Akira: Right! I was so moved the first time I ate it. I couldn't stop myself from eating it.
Nero: That brings back time… I still remember the happy look on your face. I acted cold and distant towards you back then, yet you were thinking that way.
Nero squinted his eyes with a nostalgic look, gazing at the card.
Nero: Even if I miss, getting to see another dish isn’t a loss. Honestly, I’m glad.
Akira: Ahaha, I'm happy to hear that. Alright, it’s my turn now!
I flipped over the nearest card, and a picture of a lunchbox appeared.
Akira: This is…
Faust: I drew that one. It's what Nero made for me when I first started living at the magic manor. Even though I was just holed up in my room, I got to eat delicious food, and it felt like an undeserved luxury.
Nero: Haha. I know your tastes better now, so I could make it even more luxurious if I wanted to.
Faust: It's a tempting offer, but I'll make sure to show my face in the dining hall. I prefer to eat my food while it’s still warm.
My cheeks softened at the change in the distance between our hearts, which had certainly shrunk since those days. I flipped over the next card.
Akira: This is… a picture of soup. Wow, it's heaped high with ingredients.
Shino: That's mine. It's the soup with lots of ingredients that I had for breakfast one morning. You saw that I was hungry after my training and poured me a bigger bowl than usual. You didn't say anything, but I noticed.
Nero: So you caught that, huh. You fill up alright on it?
Shino: You know it.
The corners of both their mouths turned up into a grin. It was an expression you couldn't see when they had just met.
Akira: (Seeing this side of Nero, and hearing everyone's memories of Nero's cooking, somehow makes me happy too…)
Shino: It's your turn now, Heath.
Heathcliff: Alright. Then I'll choose this one…
One by one, the food cards were turned over with care. As various memories were shared, the night deepened.
A New Morning with Nero - Chapter 3
The next morning, I woke up to a careful rustling sound, and what I saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.
Akira: Uh… where is this…?
I looked around with sleepy eyes and saw a faint human silhouette. In the clear air, bathed in the morning sun, someone was tying up their sky-blue hair.
Akira: Nero…?
Nero: Ah, you're up. Mornin’, Sage.
Akira: No way… Did I… fell asleep while we were playing the card game?
Nero: Yup. You were sleeping so soundly that I didn't want to wake you up, so I just let you sleep in my room.
Akira: I'm so, so sorry! On your birthday night, of all nights…
Nero: It's fine, really. You made the second party a lot of fun, after all.
The hand-drawn card matching game, with pictures of Nero's cooking, was truly a wonderful time thanks to the added memories. Nero had come in last place in the first round because he kept reaching for various cards, curious to see what dish was drawn on them.
Akira: But from the second round on, you were unstoppable.
Nero: Well, with drawings that had so much heart put into them, I only need to see them once to remember where they all were. Okay, I'm done.
He seemed to have finished getting ready while we were talking. A light illuminated in his casually outstretched palm, followed by the appearance of his broom.
Akira: Are you going out this early in the morning?
Nero: Yeah, since you all talked so much about my cooking yesterday, I'm going to put some effort into preparing a special breakfast. I'm gonna go to the morning market to get groceries.
As he spoke, Nero looked at the table. On it lay the cards we had given him as a gift yesterday. They were memories of the dishes Nero had made for us. Surely, today’s meal would also become one of them.
Akira: …Um, if it's alright… could I tag along to help carry things? I’d be happy to go with you to show my thanks for letting me stay the night.
Nero: What’re you talking about? There’s nothing you need to thank me for…
Nero: …But hey, since it’s still my birthday, guess I’ll indulge a little in your offer. Call it another present.
Akira: Thank you!
Nero: …Yeah.
Nero took an outer from his closet and held it out to me.
Nero: If you don't mind, do you wanna wear this? Since it’s kind of awkward to go out in your pajamas and if you put this on, you won't have to go back to your room first to change, that way we can leave right away.
Akira: Thank you. I'll take you up on that, then…
The sleeves were large since it was a loose-fitting design, and as I put my arms in them, a gentle scent that wasn't my own wafted into my nose. Feeling a sense of a different-than-usual day, I got on Nero's broom.
Nero: Then, shall we?
I soared out the window with him, bathed in the brilliant morning sun and refreshing wind.
A Secret Ingredient for Breakfast - Card Episode
Nero: Haha, glad to hear it. And thanks for helping me carry all those groceries.
Akira: Nero. Thank you for letting me stay the other morning. Breakfast was wonderful, too!
Akira: No, really– It was my pleasure! By the way, is there anything you usually do when you wake up in the morning? You know, like a morning routine or something…
Nero: Well, I get ready to make breakfast… I guess that's too obvious.
Akira: It is… I'd be happy if you could tell me anything else.
Nero: Hmm… let’s see…? Ah. Opening the window and taking in the morning air. How's that?
Akira: Ohh, that's nice and refreshing! A breath of fresh air and a bit of sunshine sounds like a perfect way to reset!
Nero: 'Know right? The morning air is a great thing. It can be chilly one day and warmer on another… Depending on the mood, I might even tweak the breakfast menu.
Akira: So Nero’s usual delicious breakfast secret ingredient is his morning routine…
Nero: It's not that big of a deal. …Wait, does that still count as getting ready to make breakfast? Was that what you wanted to hear, Sage?
Akira: Of course! Thank you for answering.
Card Voiceline
"Good morning. You're up pretty early today. …Eh? So you woke up at this hour all fired up from wanting to congratulate me? Haha, that's far too good of a celebration for me. Sage, thanks to you, my birthday has gotten off to a great start."
