Riquet 3rd Anniversary SSR "Someday, A Story to Love"

[centralgoldstar]

Card story: The refreshing fragrance of our shared memory

[Lounge at the Manor]

Riquet: No matter which page I open, everything is so beautiful. What an amazing magical item this “Book of Sceneries” is.

Akira: I feel the same. It’s a real joy that I’ve managed to collect so many memories of the places I visited with everyone here. I’m so lucky that Murr let me have this book!

One day, Riquet and I was going through a certain book that had once been in Murr’s storage. It could preserve on its pages the sceneries one saw.

Riquet: With this book, we can see that you have had many adventures, Master Sage.

Akira: That’s right. Thanks to everyone, I have had many unforgettable moments. Speaking of, I’d like to use this Book of Sceneries with you too. Do you have any place you want to save memory of?

Riquet: Uhm, the places I have visited with you all leave a deep impression. Oh, there’s somewhere that’d be nice too, in that case…

Riquet: My apologies. I can’t come to a decision right away.

Akira: Please don’t worry about it. Just take your time and think it over. I’d love it to be place that would bring a smile to you and me whenever we open this book to look at it.

Riquet: Master Sage, what you’ve just said gave me an idea of where I’d like to go!

Akira: Eh, what I’ve just said?  

Riquet: That’s right! Master Sage, shall we go to the forest where Derrick lives?

[Derrick’s cottage]

The next day, we travelled to the forest where Derrick and Hermes lived together.

Riquet: Hello, Derrick! Hello, Hermes!

Derrick: Oh, it’s you guys! Long time to see!

Derrick came to greet us as soon as we called out to him. A little owl was perching on his shoulder.

Riquet: Oh, so you’re in owl form today, Hermes.

Hermes: Yeah, I went to check the roof of the house just now. This form is more convenient for that.

Hermes’ real form was a wizard. Because of a certain incident, he once hid his identity and stayed around Derrick. After meeting Riquet and the other wizards, he told Derrick the truth and a mutual companionship was born.

Riquet: We have a favor to ask of you today.

Riquet opened the Book of Sceneries. As he showed Derrick and Hermes the pictures in the book, he asked for permission to preserve the scenery of the forest.

Derrick: Sure. You guys have helped us a lot, so feel free to use this forest for that if you like.

Riquet: Thank you so much! If possible, please tell me the way to this spot. I’d like to use the Book of Sceneries there.

Riquet: Master Sage, this location will be my surprise for you.

Akira: Eh, a surprise?

Derrick: Not that we mind, but is it okay to tell them about your surprise like this?

Riquet: It’s fine. I’m doing this because I’d like to express my feelings properly.

Riquet: In any case, I hope you’ll enjoy where we are about to go, Master Sage!

Akira: Ahaha, thank you. I can’t wait to see it!

After Riquet finished talking to Derrick, we parted with them and headed to the place Riquet had in mind.

Riquet: Our destination is a short walk from here. Let’s use this occasion to enjoy the nature on our way too.

Akira: That reminds me. I haven’t thanked you for coming up with a surprise for me. Thanks for being so kind to me, Riquet.

Riquet: Oh, it’s me who…

Riquet: …!!! Master Sage, over there!

Akira: Eh?

Following Riquet’s line of sight, I saw a huge boar the size of my back. Roaring ferociously, it walked towards us.

Akira: (We’re screwed if that boar attacks us!)

Even if I told myself to calm down, my legs were glued to the ground by fear. I couldn’t move an inch, as if my body had turned into lead.

Riquet: ….

Riquet: Sunrotea Edif!

[In the sky]

Riquet: We should be fine here, I think.

Akira: Thank you for saving me. That was quick thinking of you to summon your broom.

Riquet: You’re welcome. I was taken aback too. Luckily I could put what Oz taught me in practice!

Akira: Oz’s teaching?

Riquet: That’s right. The other day he taught me “Don’t insist on fighting. Save yourself first. Then save people important to you. Everything is over if you turn to stone. If someone important to you becomes a hostage, your mind will be disturbed and that will guarantee your destruction.”

Akira: (He’s so casual about imitating how Oz talks)

As we were regaining our composure, Riquet looked down at the forest below us.

Riquet: I wonder if we can get down there now. It is impossible to find the path Derrick told me from the sky. What do you think, Master Sage? If it’s still too scary to get back to the ground, let’s have a chat here for a bit longer.

Akira: Is that okay? Perhaps we should get to our destination as soon as possible. I’ll be fine.

Riquet: No need to rush. What is important is that you are safe and sound. Besides, it was in this forest that I learnt this: it happens that kind-hearted people may not be able to say what they really feel out of consideration for those around them, so I should make it easy for my companion to tell me how they feel.

Akira: Thank you, Riquet. To tell the truth, my heart is still thumping, so I’d like to chat if you don’t mind.

Riquet: Certainly! I am glad you let me know.

[In the forest]

Riquet: We have reached our destination, Master Sage! This is the place I’d like to take you to.

Akira: Wow, so many red flowers here! The scent is amazing. But why do you choose this place?

Riquet: I’d like you to experience this fragrance.

Akira: This fragrance?

Riquet: Yes. The last time we went to this forest, I brought back these red flowers as souvenirs. Figaro told me “The scent of these flowers can heal fatigue”. Therefore, I’d like to make these flowers a little present for you, because you are always so kind to us.

Akira: So that’s what have been on your mind. Thank you for doing this for me. I’m really happy.

Riquet: Great! In that case, let’s use the Book of Sceneries here.

Riquet: Sunrotea Edif

The Book of Sceneries gave off a faint light when Riquet cast his spell. Then, the image of us together with the scenery of the forest appeared vividly on the white page.

Akira: What a beautiful picture! Huh? For some reason, the picture gives off a lovely scent too.

Riquet: Nice! So my second surprise is a success!

Akira: Eh? You have another surprise?

Riquet: *Giggles* I asked Oz to teach me the spell to bind the fragrance together with the image once I decided where to go. I failed many times during practice so it’s a relief that I succeeded here! Unfortunately the fragrance can’t last very long, but hopefully we will always recall this wonderful place when we look at the picture together.

Akira: …

His kindness filled my chest with warmth.

Akira: Thank you so much, Riquet. I’m really, really happy, so much I can’t put into words. You really show that you think of what is best for someone and act accordingly with your surprises and our chat on the broom just now. That’s really admirable of you.

Riquet: I am really, really happy to earn your respect, Master Sage!

Holding the book in my arm, I looked at him and we smiled at each other.

Akira: (I’ll write all about what happens today in the Book of Sceneries, so that I’ll never forget it).

The irreplaceable memory the two of us made together had a refreshing citrus-like fragrance.

 

Card episode: A dreamlike house

Akira: Hello, Riquet. Are you studying?

Riquet: …..

Akira: Uhm, Riquet?

Riquet: Whoa! My apologies, Master Sage. I was absorbed in the book I am reading.

Akira: It’s me who should apologize for startling you. What is the book about?

Riquet: It is a picture book Rutile lends me. The more I practice reading and writing, the more books I can read and that is really fun. I have been reading this book since noon.

Akira: Oh I see. Do you have a favorite picture book or a story yet?

Riquet: Uhm, I have so many that I can’t decide which. Among the recent stories, I love the one about Hansel and Gretel that you told me. A whole house made from yummy cakes and candies! That’s just like a dream!

Akira: Ahaha I know right! I felt the same when I was small.

Riquet: However, there is one unacceptable detail in that story though.

Akira: An unacceptable detail?

Riquet: It’s the action of the evil witch. She created that house to lure children into her trap, right? If I had a house made of cakes and candies, I would make it a place where everyone can feel at ease and be happy. A place like the Magic Manor.

Akira: That’s very sweet idea. It’s just like you to think of something like that.

Riquet: Ehehe. That reminds me, I heard Owen once created a cake and candy house too. Maybe I should ask him about the way to make such a house when I finish reading this book.