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centralgoldstarCain: Master Sage, Oz gave us some nice booze. Do you want to drink with us?
Akira: Alcohol? Thanks for inviting me, but I don’t drink.
Shylock: Cain, Master Sage abstains from alcohol.
Cain: Eh? Ah, that’s right. Ahaha, sorry, sorry.
Akira: (Cain seems more cheery than usual. Is he tipsy? Anyhow, it’s rare to see these two drink together.)
Akira: What are you two talking about?
Cain: Nothing serious. We’re chatting about legends we’ve heard so far about Oz’ castle. Stories like, people who got lost here were eaten by Oz and their souls wandered around for eternity. Or like, the bones of humans who Oz abducted piled up like a mountain beneath the castle.
Shylock: In Western Country, there are legends such as Oz turned humans into stone statues and lined them up all over the castle.
Akira: Er, those legends all sound like horror stories.
Akira: (But this reminds me of ‘Seven Mysteries At School’ kind of urban legends).
Shylock: *chuckles* My apologies if we scare you. People can say all kinds of nonsense, but reality is likely not the case.
Cain: It really feels like that. It’s said there’s a mountain of bones beneath the castle, but nothing is there. That’s right! Oz said we can go around the castle as we like. Shall we go exploring this place?
Akira: Er, now? It’s a bit scary to go around at this hour.
Cain: Don’t worry. I’ll protect you should something happen, Master Sage.
Akira: (Hmm Oz’ castle does give off the vibe that something is here) If you say so, Cain, I’ll go.
Cain: Then let’s start right away. I’ll clean up the glasses so please wait a bit here.
Shylock: Master Sage.
Akira: What’s the matter, Shylock?
Shylock: I think I’ll take a different path in this exploration venture, since I want to try giving that little rascal a little scare.
Akira: Eh?
Shylock: Accordingly, if something unusual happens during your exploration, please assume it’s my handiwork.
Cain: Sorry to make you wait, Master Sage. Let’s go. You too, Shylock.
Shylock: I’d like to return to my room so I’ll have to excuse myself. Have fun, you two.
Cain: You won’t join us? Then thanks for keeping me company this late. Good night, Shylock.
Shylock: Thanks. You two please be careful.
Akira: (He’s gone. Will he really try to scare Cain? Hmm, how is he going to do that? Sorry, Cain, for keeping quiet, but I’m kinda excited.)
Cain: Well, shall we start? It’s dark in the castle, so let’s hold hands so that we won’t get separated.
Akira: Eh… (Cain is really a bit drunk, isn’t he?)
Cain: All is set? Forward!
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[In the hall way]
Cain: Master Sage, it’s a bit dark around here so mind your steps.
Akira: Thank you. You should be careful too, Cain.
Akira: (Come to think about it, judging from what Arthur is like and the fact that he grew up here, it looks like the rumors about this castle are really just people’s imagination. Still this place does have that kind of ambiance at night when there is no other sound besides the echo of our footsteps).
Cain: Oh, this is the end of this wing, huh. Let’s try turning right then.
Akira: Cain, you’re the type that are cool with scary stories like what you and Shylock told just now, aren’t you?
Cain: Hmm yeah. I won’t say I’m calm, more like my curiosity usually wins out in the end. When I encounter something unfamiliar or mysterious, I feel excitement instead of terror.
Akira: I see. Such curiosity is certainly very Central wizard-like.
Cain: What about you? You don’t like scary stories?
Akira: Yeah, it’s not like I completely can’t handle them, but I certainly don’t want to explore a place like this if I’m alone.
Cain: Hahaha, this castle certainly has a fearsome aura. I definitely don’t want to force you to go with me, so if it gets too much for you, just say so.
Akira: Understood. Thank you!
Cain: Oh, there’re stairs over there. Let’s try it. Huh, we’ve walked past this place before. That means, we’ve made a full round of this castle. Just as expected, nothing like what is said in those legends happened.
Akira: Indeed. There is nothing.
Cain: That means from now on, we can say for sure when we hear those terrifying legends that those are just wrong. Thanks for going with me all this way. Let me walk you back to your room.
???: *Crying sound*
Cain – Akira: ?!
Akira: What’s that? Did you hear it? It sounds like someone’s voice…
Cain: Yeah, it’s probably the wind… No, it really sounds like someone is sobbing. The sound definitely comes from that direction.
Cain: !!!
Akira: (W-What? There’s a human figure over there. A woman? Ah! Is this Shylock’s trick? With this castle’s ambiance, it can really be scary.)
Cain: Akira, are you okay?
Akira: Oh, I’m fine. I’m just…
Cain: Glad to hear that. It’s certainly strange though. This isn’t a place where women typically come alone. Also, she doesn’t feel like a ghost but I can see her without touching her. Sorry, but can you wait here for a bit? I’ll go talk to her.
Akira: Eh?
???: *Crying sound*
Cain: Hey there. Why are you crying here?
Akira: (C- Cain?!)
Cain: If you don’t mind, can you tell me why you’re crying? You don’t have to, of course, but I’ll be glad if you let me know if I can be of help somehow.
???: ……..
Akira: Cain… (He can be so considerate to another person even in this situation. That’s really something.)
???: No, there is no need for you to worry, Cain. Invibelle.
Cain: Whoa!
Shylock: How vexing. I’m no match for you, huh.
Cain: S- Shylock? What are you doing here?
Akira: Cain, I’m sorry. The truth is…
Shylock: You’re so curious so I wanted to shake you up a bit with a prank. With Master Sage’s help, I tried to scare you, but it ended up a failure this time.
Cain: Hahaha, I see! I got pranked by you, huh.
Akira: Sorry for not telling you.
Cain: Don’t worry about that. I thought you had to go through something unsettling because of me, so I’m relieved now.
Shylock: Well, we’ve had some fun. There’re still affairs of tomorrow to take care of, so we should return and rest.
Cain: Ah, that’s true. Master Sage, shall we go back to our rooms?
Akira: Yes.
Cain: I’ve to say this though, I couldn’t imagine you of all people would play pranks. What a surprise.
Shylock: Oh? Have you forgotten what the temperament of us Western wizards is like? In any case, it’s me who was startled by you, when you came talking to me without hesitation like that.
Cain: Haha, really? Whether it’s a ghost or something else, I can’t ignore a being who cries alone like that.
[After a while]
Cain: Huh?
Akira: What’s the matter?
Cain: It’s Shylock. Where is he? He was next to me just now.
Akira: What? That’s true. Where is he indeed?
Shylock: You two, where have you been to? I couldn’t find you so I came here.
Cain – Akira: Eh?
Shylock: Oh my, what’s the matter? You two look like you have seen a ghost.
Akira: Shylock, we’ve been walking together with you for quite a while…
Cain: Yeah, we met you at that hallway over there. You were trying to scare us.
Shylock: My, my, that is quite something. Seems like you two have just encountered something extraordinary before running into me here.
Cain – Akira: ….
Cain: Uhm, was that a joke?
Shylock: Hehe. Well, who knows.
Card episode: A Prank in the Style of Western Country
Akira: Good evening, Cain. Your face is a bit flushed. Did you have a couple of drinks?
Cain: Yeah, I was just at Shylock’s bar.
Akira: Ah, so that’s why! What did you two talk about?
Cain: How to play pranks in the style of Western Country.
Akira: How to play pranks?
Cain: Well, you remember how he played a prank on me when we traveled to Oz’ castle at a request the other day? I like pranks too so I want to try something like that some time.
Akira: I see. What did he teach you exactly?
Cain: I learnt how to transform myself. That’s right! Shall I try this trick on someone right now?
Akira: That sounds fun! What are you going to transform yourself into? A cat? Or a bird?
Cain: No, I plan to try turning into Oz.
Akira: What? Oz?
Cain: That’s right! Shylock told me that it’d be more effective if I manage to capture the distinctive manners of who or what I transform into. I probably won’t be able to fool Arthur, but do you want to see the reactions of other people?
Akira: I’d like to, I think…
Cain: Then go with me! You’ll get to see something interesting.
Akira: Yes, definitely!
