Cain 2022 Halloween SR "With Light-hearted Steps"

[centralgoldstar]

Card story: The Outcome of the Invitations

Cain: Want to have a dance with me?

Oz: ………

Oz: Are you talking to me?

Cain: Obviously. I’ve just heard an interesting legend from the young locals. If you dance around the bonfire, you’ll have one whole year full of luck and happiness. Since we happen to be here on this occasion, let’s give it a try.

Oz: If you want to dance then go ask someone else. I’ll stay where I am.

Cain: Come on, don’t say that.

Oz: ….Why do you want to invite me to dance that much? You and I are a poor match in both stature and temperament.

Cain: Haha. We aren’t dancing at a ball in the palace. No need to overthink it. I’d like you to have a good year. It’s simple as that. You’ve been taking care of us during missions as well as training, so it’s natural to wish for good fortune to smile upon you, you know.

Oz: ……..

Cain: Of course, if you don’t want to then you don’t have to. Just, give it a thought, please. Take your time. I’ll go fetch some food now. My stomach has been complaining for a while. Do you want something too?

Oz: I’m fine. You’d better hurry if you’re hungry. Food at a festival runs out quickly.

Cain: Right. I’d better be going then!

[A bit later]

Villager: Hey, bro! Come dance with us!

Cain: Me? I can join you guys?

[A while later]

Cain: Ahaha, you guys are great dancers!

Villager: Bro, join us for the next dance!

Cain: Ooh! Huh?

Oz: ……

Cain: Sorry I made you wait for me! I forgot the time when I danced with those guys.

Oz: I wasn’t waiting for you though.

Cain: Eh, really? I thought you were trying to get my attention with your eyes. Oh, so you are finally tempted to join the dance?  

Oz: What I want to ask is, you left to get food, didn’t you?

Cain: Food?

Cain: Oh! I forgot! Ahaha, dancing was so fun so that slipped my mind.

Oz: ……

Oz: You’ve been moving around a lot. Go and have a proper meal. It’ll be too late when you collapse.

Cain: Hahaha, so you’re worried for me. Thanks. Well then, I’ll go and get food for real this time. That’s right! Why don’t you go with me?

Oz: Why?

Cain: Maybe I’ll get invited to dance again, so it’ll be great if you’re there to remind me to eat. Besides that, I simply want to have a chat with you. Please indulge me?

Oz: ……. Finish your meal first. I’ll chat with you when you’re done.

Cain: Yes, sir!

 

Card episode: Eating the World’s Strongest Sugar

Cain: *munching* Hmm?

Cain: Oh hi, Master Sage. You’re here for lunch?

Akira: Yes, I’m pretty hungry already. Are you eating wizard’s sugar?

Cain: Yeah, Oz gave me these after our self-training session. They’ve been a big help because I moved around more than usual today. Thanks to them, I feel even more energetic than before the training.

Akira: They are sugar from Oz after all. Perhaps it’s his way to say ‘good work’.

Cain: I thought so at first, but Riquet got the sugar too. You know, we wizards of the Manor love to recreate the customs of Halloween. My guess is Oz gives out the sugar because that’s how he understands the occasion.

Akira: I see. If that’s the case then Oz is enjoying Halloween in his own way. I’m glad.

Cain: I know, right? It made me happy too, so I ate most of the sugar I got in one go. But Nero who was around us smiled somewhat awkwardly, in a “those are the most powerful sugar in the world, many people would die to have them” way.

Akira: That’s true… You really shouldn’t eat such sugar so recklessly.

Cain: Yeah, so I’ll save the rest of the batch and only eat one piece at a time. Thanks to Oz’ sugar, I’ll have enough energy for anything even in the afternoon!