Chapter 23: Girl, Heart Breaks
THE further west Lolo Village’s flower field spread, the steeper the ground became, and it eventually ended where the ground abruptly gave way to nothingness.
“Found her! Over there!”
Beyond the hill of flowers was a sudden cliff that led to the ravine’s river. The person they were after was standing perfectly still where one wrong step would send them plummeting off the edge to a fate from which returning alive was dubious. Their violet hair blew in the wind.
“Oh boy! You’re all such fast runners! You just had to come, didn’t’cha? This ain’t an exhibition, people.” Smiling against the setting sunlight, Lambert had Violette spread her arms wide and steadily inched down the cliffside. The edge was ten steps away—then five steps away. “But it might be fun to make it one!”
“Stop it! Please don’t!”
The villagers struggled to stop a half-crazed Makina from reaching out for Violette.
Oswald glanced at Nichika who was at an utter loss. “What do you want to do?”
“What do you mean? What can I do?”
Her unbelievably calm and composed master whispered a plan in her ear, ending with, “…You can stop him if you do that.”
“Will that really work?”
“Probably? But are you sure you’re okay taking that path?”
Nichika paused mid-run to look back at him, seeking a clarification. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
A heavy seriousness settled over his features. “You will likely be able to become Makina’s lover if that maid dies here. This is an ideal scenario for you. Do you want to let her die without helping?”
His words sent shockwaves through her body, as if he’d hit her in the head.
“Ah…that… That’s…” Nichika broke into a run, shouting back, “nothing to hesitate over!”
She smacked the pocket containing the fiery magic orb once and skid to a halt near the edge of the cliff. Then, drawing back her pinched fingers, she materialized a brightly shining crimson arrow.
“Fiercely burning mana, lend me your power! FIRE ARROW!”
“What?!” the puppet master exclaimed.
Nichika shot the arrow, which flew straight and true at Lambert—Violette’s chest—and pierced right through the core of the crystal glowing light-purple. The body jerked to a stop like a broken marionette…but then its lips curved into a malicious smirk.
“Hmm... To think you’d be the one.”
Nichika’s eyes bore into him, burning with the seven colors of the rainbow. Sparkling crimson butterflies were flitting around her.
“I let down my guard. I see, I see! So you’re the rumored Spirit Priestess, eh?”
“How—”
Nichika wanted to ask how he knew that, but Lambert grinned and cut her off, “Well, I’ll just write this off as my loss and wash my hands of this one.” He limply waved the hand he was rapidly losing control over. “Nichika, was it? See…you…later…”
Static noise cut through his voice as it faded away with the final words, “If we…meet…with my real body…next time…for sure I’ll…”
Threads cut, Violette’s body staggered backward and slowly began to tip.
“Sumire!” Makina just barely caught her in his arms. He buried his face in her shoulder and trembled. “Welcome back… You were always with me, weren’t you?”
✦ ✦ ✦
LOLO Village’s flower festival that year was extraspectacular, brimming with exhilarating energy and electrifying excitement. Sumire, who they had long thought was deceased, had finally returned to them and was at long last wedded to their landowner, Makina.
The pre-festival banquet continued all through the night. Enveloped by the sweet aroma of a fully blossomed sea of flowers, the music, singing, and dancing resounded nonstop throughout the village. Everyone was laughing and smiling. It was a truly beautiful and joyous occasion.
“Makina!” Nichika called.
Celebratory flowers were piled up on Makina’s head as he turned toward her sanguine voice. Sumire was sitting beside him, with just as many flowers woven through her hair.
“Ahaha! You two look like flower spirits!”
“Nichika…um…”
Nichika tightly grabbed hold of Makina’s hand as he searched for what to say and brought Sumire’s hand to it, folding his over hers. Then she took a step back to give them space. “It’s fine. We’re all good. Don’t mind me!” Nichika assured him, “I’m so glad you two were able to return to your original relationship.”
“Nichika,” Sumire said, tears shimmering in her violet eyes like morning dew on lilacs. She smiled with blissful gratitude. “Thank you so very much. Words aren’t enough to thank you. How can I ever repay you?”
“Don’t be silly. You don’t have to thank me or give me anything. I mean, if you’re really not going to let me go without something, the greatest way you can repay me is by becoming the happiest couple in the world. So there!” Nichika teasingly stuck her tongue out at them and laughed.
“Thank you,” Makina said sincerely, devotion shining in his voice. “Not only did you save Sumire, but you rescued my heart.”
“Shucks, that’s too much praise for me. Okay, I’d better get a move on. We’re leaving soon.” Nichika waved goodbye and turned to leave, startling Makina and Sumire.
“Are you leaving already?” Makina asked. “You should at least wait to leave until after you see the main festivities tomorrow.”
“I agree completely. I still haven’t done anything to repay you,” Sumire chimed in.
“Yeah, sorry about that. You know that creepy Lambert guy from before? Master said we’d better leave this village right away because he knows where we are now.” Nichika waved again before dashing off. “Goodbye! May you both be forever happy together!”
Her final smile twinkled brightly, leaving a lasting impression on them.
“Ah…” They watched her go, the feeling of her comforting presence receding fast, just like the wind’s breath. The hubbub from the village’s festivities receded.
“She was a curious girl,” Sumire remarked.
“Yeah. Just like Goddess Yuna, she had the talent of charming everyone who met her.” Sadness tinged his face, turning his lips down.
Sumire sidled up to Makina and tenderly entangled her hand with his. “Don’t worry. I’m sure we will meet her again someday. I just know it.”
“I hope so.”
They stayed in the same position until they could no longer see any trace of Nichika. A gentle breeze blew past them as if to chase after her.
✦ ✦ ✦
“HAA…HAAA…” Nichika ran from the center of the village all the way to the gates, then rested her hands on the fence for support as she caught her breath. Outside the reach of the festival lights, the road ahead was dark and stretched into the distance, perhaps continuing on endlessly.
“Did you finish your goodbyes?” A man emerged from the darkness as if he had slid out from the shadows.
Nichika grinned at him. “Yup! Said a perfect goodbye! Ready to go now? Where’s Wolfie?”
“I had him go on ahead.”
Nichika accepted her bags from Oswald and set off, her footsteps light. He followed right behind her. She started to babble in an elated tone, “Sumire was so pretty! They had her wear an outfit fit for a bride. Everyone was congratulating her left and right.”
“I see.”
“Makina seemed truly happy too. One look at him and I could tell that he’ll forget all about confessing his feelings to me in no time. Yup, I just know he will.”
“I see.”
“It’s true. I’m positive…it was just his mind playing tricks on him…a momentary fancy…” She desperately fought to restrain the trembling in her voice, her feet slowing to a stop several steps ahead of him. A gentle gust blew through the space between them.
“Did you love him? Did you love that man?”
Her head jerked up with a start, a single trickle of light shimmering down it. “I-I don’t know.”
“……”
“Maybe I was starting to fall for him? Ahaha… It’s strange, isn’t it? It’s probably because it was my first time having someone confess their feelings to me that I got all stupidly excited about it.”
Nichika looked back at Oswald, still smiling. She was smiling even as she wept. It was painful for him to watch.
“O-Oh? Wh-What’s this? Weird. Why am I crying? Everything ended happily. Wh-Why am I acting funny? Maybe my fatigue is finally catching up to me. Ahaha.”
Watching her messily rub at her tears with that smile plastered on her face, Oswald walked forward. As he passed by her, he placed his hand on top of her head.
“You’re so stupid.” He was mocking her, but there was something comforting in the tone of his voice. “Idiot. You’re a big idiot. What’s wrong with crying when you want to cry? There’s nobody here you have to fake your feelings for.”
“…!” Nichika gasped.
“Don’t pretend to be tough or happy. I can see right through your fake smile,” he said with his back to her.
Nichika clung onto him from behind and wept. “Ah…uwaaAAAAAAHHH!” She cried as loud as her voice allowed. “I…I…I’m never anyone’s number one!”