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centralgoldstarCard story: A Day Off with Friends
[In the city]
Akira: Whoa, the river wind feels so nice! It’s great to get a day off and all but I was at a loss about what to do. Thank you for inviting me to go with you.
Cain: Likewise. I’m happy that you visit my hometown. I’ve been thinking about taking you to a boat ride. Today that wish of mine is finally granted.
As we arrived at the dock, Cain called out in the direction of the ferrymen, who were at work.
Cain: Denis!
Denis: Cain! It’s you! So you are back.
Having guessed where the voice of the smiling young man came from, Cain cheerfully raised his hand. The young man clasped it as if that was the most natural thing in the world.
Cain: Akira, this is Denis. He’s been my friend since I was a kid. Denis, here is Akira, a friend I made at the Magic Manor. They are our Master Sage.
Denis: Nice to meet you, Mx. Sage. Welcome to the City of Glory.
Cain: I’d like to give Master Sage a boat ride around town today. Sorry it’s short notice but can we use your boat? I’ll treat you to a meal later.
Denis: Sure, just leave it to me. I’ll show them the best sights this river has to offer. Mx. Sage, you’ll definitely enjoy the trip.
Akira: Thank you so much! I look forward to it, Denis.
Akira: (He’s really Cain’s friend. Such a straightforward person).
Denis: Well then, get on here, the two of you. Let’s go!
[A moment later]
Akira: Whoa, the view of the city is certainly different from a boat.
Cain: This river has been maintained and kept in good shape too. It was constructed for transportation from here to the Capital. Just a bit more and we’ll reach the streets lined with trees along the river. The view there is fantastic.
Denis: Yeah, it’s within sight already. Look.
Akira: Oooh!
There were lines of magnificent great trees on both sides of the river. From the vibrant green reflected on the water surface to the city peeking through the trees, the scenery was indescribably beautiful.
Cain: This brings me back. We children used to climb the trees all the time here.
Denis: We sure did. You always climbed all the way to the very top of the trees. Once you were so pleased with yourself and waved your hand, then the wind shook you and you fell into the river. Geez, I nearly had a heart attack that time.
Cain: Oh- Things like that happened yeah. Sorry for making you worried.
Akira: Ahaha, it’s nice that you always do everything with all your heart, even as a child.
Denis: This guy has many legendary exploits like that.
Cain: Hey, keep the embarrassing stories to a minimum in front of Akira, will you.
[A while later]
Akira: Denis, thank you for everything. It was really fun seeing the city and hearing stories about Cain.
Cain: Thanks for letting us use your boat, Denis. Normally we don’t have much chance for that.
Denis: You’re welcome. Well then, see- Oh!
Cain: What’s wrong? You cried out all of a sudden.
Denis: Oh, it’s no big deal. Just my hat. I left it by my feet but now it isn’t there.
Cain: By ‘hat’ you mean the one you bought with your first earning from working with the boat?
Akira: Eh? That means the hat is something very important to you, right? Let’s go searching for it right away!
Denis: Haha, it’s okay. Probably it was carried away by the water flow or the river wind and can’t be found anymore. Fate doesn’t want it to stay with me, so I’ll let it go. Sorry for making a fuss just as you’re saying goodbye! Give me a shout next time you’re in the city. See-
Cain: Wait, Denis. Thanks for thinking of us, but I know how much you treasure that hat. So let’s not give up before we even search for it. Akira, sorry to bother you on your day off, but will you lend me a hand looking for Denis’ hat?
Akira: Of course! Please let me help you.
Denis: Cain, Mx. Sage, thank you.
Cain: Come on, don’t stand on ceremony with me. Let’s split up and search! You look for it in the river while we take care of the land.
[A while later]
Cain: We still haven’t found the hat. Akira, please have a look over there. I’ll search here.
Akira: Sure!
Akira: (Ah, this is the spot we were talking about earlier. The road lined with trees that Cain and his friends used to climb. They’re so big when I look at them up close. Cain sure climbed pretty high. Huh?)
Akira: Cain, Cain! Please come here! There is a hat stuck above there, isn’t it?
Cain: Uh where? Ah! That’s Denis’ hat yeah! What a feat, Akira! Gladius procella.
As Cain cast his spell, the hat floated with the wind and lightly dropped in Cain’s hand.
Cain – Akira: We did it!
Without thinking, my hand met Cain’s. It was a celebratory high-five.
Cain: What a relief! Let’s go find Denis and hand this back to him.
[A while later]
Denis: Ah! Thank you, both of you!
Cain: Good thing that your hat’s in one piece without a stain. Perhaps it was protected by your care for it.
Denis: Even so, it’s you guys who returned it to me. Please take this as a thank-you gift. Among the ferrymen, it’s said to be a protective charm that houses a water fairy.
Cain: A water fairy?
Denis: Yeah, when you dip it in clear flowing water, there’s a figure inside it. Why don’t you try that in the creek near your home?
Akira: (Oh, isn’t that Cain’s mana area?)
Cain: Thanks. I’ll give it a try with Akira later.
[By the creek]
After saying goodbye to Denis, we went to the creek near Cain’s home.
Cain: Let’s see. We should dip it in the water like this, huh.
Akira: Whoa, there’s a blue light coming from the charm.
Cain: Indeed. The light looks so pretty flickering like that, right.
From the charm came countless flecks of light. They wrapped around the bright blue veins and floated in the creek. It was as if there was a flock of fireflies in the water.
Akira: So this is a water fairy. This is the first time I see one.
Cain: No, there is no unusual presence in the charm. It’s probably a misunderstanding. Even so, just looking at that cheers me up. I can see why the ferrymen consider it a charm.
Akira: That’s true! Besides, one’ll probably feel braver, believing that one is protected by something so beautiful. The figure formed by the light floating in the river really looks like a fairy, doesn’t it. Look, the color changes a bit just now!
Cain: Haha, I’m happy that it delights you so. Here you are, Akira.
Akira: Eh?
Cain: It was you who found Denis’ hat after all. Since you like the charm, please keep it.
Akira: I- I’m flattered. But it’s thanks to you that I got to meet Denis and have such a wonderful day off. Since you retrieved the hat, I’d like you to take the charm.
Cain: Uhm, what to do….? Ah, I got it! How about us sharing the charm? What do you think?
Akira: Share the charm?
Cain: Yeah. Either of us will keep the charm. Then when we want to see the light, we’ll invite the other side to watch it. That way, it won’t belong to just one of us. More importantly, it’s nicer when both of us watch the light together than watching alone, right?
Akira: That’s a great idea! Let’s do that.
Cain: That’s settled then. I’ll entrust this charm to you. Whenever you want to watch the light, just call me and I’ll come.
Akira: Sure! That goes for you too. Feel free to ask me any time.
Akira: When we met Denis, you introduced me not as the Sage but as your friend. Thank you. Please invite me as a friend again like today. It’s really a delight!
Cain: Yeah, I’ll be glad to. Besides the boat, there’re still many places in this town that I’d like to show you after all!
Card episode: The Little Budding Knights
Cain: Akira, thanks for visiting the City of Glory the other day. I’m glad that I could finally treat you to a boat ride.
Akira: It’s me who should thank you. I had a wonderful day off. It was a delight meeting your friend. You’ve known Denis since childhood, right. What kind of games did you guys play?
Cain: As a kid, I used to play pretend to be a knight a lot, not just with Denis but with the others too. Acting as Roland was especially popular.
Akira: Roland? That’s the legendary knight that you admire, right? I still remember the stories you told me.
Cain: Yeah, that Roland. City of Glory is the city of swordsmanship, so everyone has a phase of idolizing him. All of us competed for the role of Roland, so from time to time it ended up being a brawl too.
Akira: Ahaha, that sounds cute.
Cain: Then one day we realized. The gentlemanly Roland would never do something like taking part in a brawl.
Akira: I see. Then did you guys settle it by sword duels?
Cain: No. How should I put it, we became conscious about acting like a gentleman. Since everyone was putting on best behavior and declined to claim the Roland role, that time no one played Roland in the end.
Akira: Then your dashing, knight-like manners in the present were probably refined by declining the Roland role.
Cain: Really? If that’s the case, I probably should go thank Roland some time.
