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centralgoldstarCard Story: A Blade to Entrust You to
[At the market]
Akira: Heath, is this everything we need to buy for today?
Heathcliff: Yes. Thank you for accompanying me. Let’s return to the Magic Manor.
Akira: Sure. …Oh?
Akira: (Looks like they sell toy swords made of wood over there. They look a bit like Cain’s sword. Perhaps wielding one of them will help me become gallant like him.)
Shop owner: Hello! You like this one?
Akira: Eh?! Y- yes.
Show owner: You’ve good taste! These swords are modelled after those used by the members of the Chivalric Order. Children love them. I’ll give you a good deal! There’ll be a freebie too! Don’t miss it!
[After a moment]
Akira: I ended up buying it. Sorry to keep you waiting, Heath… Oh, he isn’t here?
Akira: (Crap, he left when I was distracted by the sword. I must find him quickly)
Akira: Uhm, we were about to go in that direction, so-
Burly man: Hand this over, quick!
[Collision]
Akira: Ouch?!
Being suddenly attacked so aggressively, I lost my balance. Fallen on my backside, I looked around and saw a burly guy holding my sack and running away.
Akira: W- wait!
Cain: That’s enough.
Akira: Cain!
Burly man: Dare to get in my way? Gaaah!
The second after the cut-purse made his attack, Cain agilely caught the arm of his opponent who was bigger than him, and pressed the cut-purse onto the ground.
Heathcliff: Thanks, Cain! Master Sage, are you alright?
Akira: T- thank you. I’m fine.
Heathcliff: What a relief. My apologies. I left your side and let you get in a dangerous situation.
Akira: No, it isn’t your fault! It’s me who got distracted by a shop and strayed from you. I’m sorry. But, why are you here, Cain?
Cain: I had an errand nearby. I ran to Heath over there. He told me you two got separated so I looked for you with him.
Akira: I see. Thanks for saving me.
[A while later]
Cain: Sorry, that took some time. I handed over the thief. Apparently he regularly causes trouble here. It’s a good thing we got him. Anyway, there’s a non-zero chance that you’ll run into something like that again, Master Sage. Maybe it’ll be a good idea to equip you with something.
Heathcliff: That’s right.
Akira: I’m sorry to make both of you worried about me.
Cain: No need to worry about that. By the way, did you buy a wooden sword?
Akira: Ah, yes. It reminds me of your sword, which seems very cool to me.
Cain: Ahaha, I’m honored! That’s right! Mind if I borrow this sword for a bit?
Akira: Sure. But what are you going to do with a toy sword?
Cain: It’s a secret. You’ll see in due time, Master Sage.
[In the courtyard]
A few days after I left the wooden sword with Cain, I came across Cain and Heath with their magic focuses in hand during my walk.
Akira: Hello. Are you practicing your magic?
Cain: Oh, it’s you, Akira. Heath’s giving me some advices about magic.
Akira: Advices about magic?
Cain: My magic’s on the rough side. Sometimes it doesn’t go too well when I attempt delicate, detailed magic. Heath’s good with such magic, so I ask for his advices for occasions like that.
Akira: I see! So Heath is giving you a lesson.
Heathcliff: No way. I am nowhere good enough to be a teacher. I am just giving him some suggestions. Normally, it’s Cain who teaches me many things. I once learnt swordplay from him too.
Cain: Haha, yeah. Heath’s passionate about learning and grasps everything quickly, so it’s a joy to teach him. One thing after another and I get carried away.
Heathcliff: Occasionally both of us get so deep into what we’re doing and forget the time too.
Akira: (Somehow there’s this aura about Cain and Heath, that they’re like that because of who they are)
There was a gentle warmth about them, like they knew how far they could go and be at ease with each other and respected those boundaries.
Akira: If you don’t mind, may I watch Cain’s magic practice?
Cain – Heathcliff: Eh.
Akira: Oh, it’s a no-go?
Cain: No, it isn’t what you think. Still, uhm.
Akira: (It’s rare that he can’t find the words like this. Looks like I put him in a bind)
Akira: I mean..
Mitile – Riquet: Master Sage!
Mitile: Master Sage, are you there?
Riquet: Nero made some snacks for us! Would you like to eat them with us?
Akira: (Seems like they’re looking for me. Perhaps Cain and Heath want to focus on their training. Let’s take up the invitation).
Akira: Y-es, I’ll be there right away! Cain, Heath, I’ll leave you to your practice. I’m going with Mitile and Riquet. Well then…
Heathcliff: Master Sage! My apologies that we can’t talk in details about what we are doing. You will know it later though. I am sure you will love it.
Akira: Later?
Cain: Ahaha, sorry, Master Sage. It’s that kind of thing. Please wait just a bit more.
With a wry smile, Cain nudged Heath a little. Laughing, Heath endured the nudge and turned to me to give a bow.
Akira: (So I’ll know what it is later? I feel a bit excited.)
Akira: I’ll look forward to it then!
I smiled and waved at them. My heart full of expectation, I waited.
[Akira’s room]
In the evening of that day.
[Knocking sound]
Cain: Akira, do you have free time now?
Akira: Oh, it’s you, Cain. What’s the matter?
Cain: I want to explain to you about earlier. Please spare some time and go with me.
[In the sky]
Akira: Whoa! The stars are beautiful.
Cain: Are you cold?
Akira: No, I’m fine. Where are we going?
Cain: Somewhere close by. Look, it’s already within sight.
[In the forest]
Akira: Oh, this is the place by the spring?
Cain: Yeah. Thanks for going me with me this late. I want to return the wooden sword to you.
Akira: (That reminds me. I gave the sword to Cain right after I bought it at the market)
Cain: Before giving it back though. I’d like to cast some magic on it.
With those words, Cain closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he recited his spell.
Cain: Gladius procella.
In that moment, together with the sweet murmuring of the small stream, the air around us became cooler and fresher, then rose and formed an array of wind that danced around him. For just a second, the wooden sword glowed with a sharp light like Cain’s sword.
Cain: Great, I did it.
Akira: The light just now. Did you cast some kind of magic on the wooden sword?
Cain: Yeah. It’s protective and defensive magic. I was practicing it earlier today. Casting both types of magic at the same time is delicate work, so it was really difficult. The trick I learnt from Heath is that if I want to make sure it’ll succeed, I should go to a place similar to my mana area.
Akira: (So the advice he got from Heath in the afternoon was for this magic).
Cain: Sorry, I really wanted to make something more impressive, but I still have much to learn.
Akira: That’s not it at all! You were very cool just now!
Cain: Haha, is that so? Well then, please take this. Master Sage, like how my sword protects my Lord, may this blade protect you for always.
I gently took the wooden sword that was offered to me with a smile.
Akira: (It seemed a bit heavier than before, but I feel at ease having it in my hand, just like when Cain is by my side.)
Akira: Thank you. I’ll treasure it.
Cain: The pleasure is mine. Well, I didn’t do anything that grand though. I just want to use all power I have for your sake the same way you take our hands and do everything you can for ours.
Akira: Cain…
Cain: Anyway, since I likely didn’t manage to be cool earlier, I’d like make up for that. May I have your hand, Master Sage? Allow me to take you for a walk in the sky as this day comes to an end.
Akira: Ahaha. Sure, I’d be delighted to!
We smiled at each other, as we took each other’s hand without hesitation. I firmly squeezed back the hand that held mine, as I resolved in my heart to keep on returning the steadfast trust that was conveyed in the touch.
Card episode: When I First Met You
Akira: What was your impression of me when we first met, Cain?
Cain: My impression about you? Let’s see. When I first met you, we were surrounded by the soldiers, and there was the matter with Faust, so we didn’t have the time to talk. Still, you trusted us even if you must have been anxious from newly arriving at a strange world like that. That made me happy from the bottom of my heart, and I wanted to trust you a lot back.
Akira: Thank you, Cain. Your belief in me has been a source of motivation for me to work my hardest in this world.
Cain: Really? Ahaha, I wanted to express my gratitude for you, but it’s me who was flattered. Ever since that day, I’ve been through many things with you and gotten to know you better. Then I increasingly want to be someone you can rely on.
Akira: I’m happy to hear that. I too will try my best to be someone you can have faith in.
Cain: Same here. Please stay by our side and guide us for always, Master Sage.
