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Chapter 4

[Location: Southern village, daytime]

Sturdy-Looking Man: Hey, what's the problem, Elder? Don't you wanna show off a little, like you did back then?

Elder: ...

The elder hummed and smacked his lips as he mulled over his words, before simply nodding in response. 

The villagers immediately began stirring in excitement. 

Man Wearing a Vest: It's been ages since we've had two wizards face off in Strongarm's Mettle!

Sturdy-Looking Man: It's not every day you get to see a magical battle in the countryside. I'm sure the young'uns will definitely come watch that!

Mitile: W-Wait a second. Am I really going to fight against this… elderly man...?

Mithra: Don't misunderstand. This wizard is a good match for you.

Mitile: What!?

Akira: (Why is Mithra, who seemed to be the least interested, suddenly so eager…!?)

Mithra: Let's begin training tomorrow. I can ensure your victory.

Mithra: Besides, I know you want to be a wizard who has mastered your mother's spell.

Mitile: My mother's spell... Mastered...

Mitile's eyes, which had been wide with confusion, immediately cleared of their hesitation. As if set ablaze, his gaze became sharp. 

Mitile: ...Yes! Please help me, Mister Mithra!

[Location: Wizard Manor lounge, daytime]

Akira: ...And that's pretty much what happened.

Mitile: Mister Chloe and Mister Nero, if you don't mind, would you be able to help out?

Chloe: Of course! This Strongarm's Mettle sounds like tons of fun!

Nero: I guess as long as you ain't expecting anythin' special, I can help ya. And I can't just leave you guys with Mithra as the only supervision... 

Mitile: Yay!

Akira: Thank you, both of you!

Chloe: It's no problem! But I am having a hard time deciding on Mitile's costume. It has to be something worthy of the festival's main event, so I'll need to really focus.

Chloe: Oh, will Rutile also be attending the festival? If it's based on a legend about your mother, I think you two should totally do matching outfits!

Mitile: I haven't invited my brother yet. He's been at the Wizard's Center with Lennox today.

Nero: If it was just the two of 'em, they just got back.

Mitile: Really?

Akira: How about I stay here and explain the details to everyone? Don't worry about it, just go see him. 

Mitile: Thank you so much!

[Location: Wizard's Manor hallway]

Mitile: (I wonder if my brother is back in his room yet... Ah!)

Mitile: Big brother! Mister Leno!

Mitile: ...And Doctor Figaro.

Figaro: Hi, Mitile.

Rutile: Perfect timing! I was just looking for you.

Lennox: We wanted to talk to you about something at the Wizard's Center.

Mitile: I was just hoping to talk to my brother… Um, but also to the rest of you, too.

Mitile: ...Uhm...

Figaro: ...This could be a bit of a long conversation. Here, let's go into my room for now. 

[Location: Figaro's room]

Mitile: …And so Mister Mithra said… Well, basically, he offered to give me special training to prepare for Strongarm's Mettle.

Figaro: ....

Rutile: A festival related to our mother! Ehehe, and in the past she won in an instant - that's amazing.

Lennox: A competition of strength... Why does that sound familiar?

Rutile: Since it's a festival in honor of our mother's memory, of course I'll help. When is it?

Mitile: Uhm... this one is the day. They said it was right before the Sowing Star. [1]

Rutile: Oh! Actually, that day...

Figaro: That was the same day we were hoping to invite you out, Mitile.

Mitile: Huh?

Lennox: While we were at the Wizard's Center today, some people who live nearby invited us to a cookout.

Rutile: We thought it'd be a good opportunity to get to know everyone, and I said I'd definitely go.

Mitile: I didn't realize....

Mitile: (That means... Doctor Figaro will be busy with the preparations for a while. He won't be there to watch me train or compete…)

Mitile: (...Which means I'll be able to use my mother's spell, and use offensive magic to defeat opponents, without him seeing…)

Lennox: Mitile?

Mitile: Ah... No! It's nothing!

Mitile: Since my brother can't go, I don't mind going to the festival by myself.

Rutile: I understand. Please give my best to Mithra and the other villagers!

Mitile: I will! …

Mitile: ...Um, Doctor Figaro, I'm sorry...

Figaro: Hm? 

Mitile: ...

Mitile: For not being able to make it to the Wizard House...

Figaro: ...

Figaro: ...Don't apologize, Mitile. 

Figaro: 《Possideo》.

Mitile: Whoa...! What's this, a big jar of jam?

Figaro: It's a healing salve for dressing your wounds. If you're going to be training with Mithra, I'm sure you'll need lots of it. 

Figaro: ...Mitile. Great power comes with a lot of responsibility. 

Figaro: And too much strength can be a bad thing, Mitile.

Figaro: It's okay if you just don't know how to use it, but if you use it improperly, it can seriously hurt you or something you love. Just like a sword or a gun.

Mitile: ...

Figaro: I know I've said it a thousand times, but just keep this in mind. New spells, while they may be quite strong, will drain your magic faster than you think.

Figaro: If you start to feel lightheaded or have trouble breathing while casting spells, make sure to take a break right away. Same thing if you start to feel unusually happy, or unusually sad.

Figaro: You have to be the one to take care of yourself. I don't think Mithra is very familiar with the idea.

Mitile: ...Yes. I understand.

Figaro: Okay, good boy. Now then..

Figaro: Stay safe, do your best, and don't give up.

Figaro: I'll be rooting for you.

Mitile: ...Ah...

Rutile: Mitile, hug attack!

Rutile hugged Mitile tightly.

Mitile: Wah!

Rutile: As your big brother, I'm so, so, so proud that you're following in our mother's footsteps. 

Rutile: I'm sorry I can't be there to cheer you on in person, but I know you'll give it your all in your training and matches!

Lennox: Yeah. I hope you have a good match.

Mitile: ...Yes!

Mitile: Doctor Figaro, big brother, Mister Leno - thank you so much.

Mitile: I'll give it everything I've got!

[Location: Southern village, day]

A few days later, we visited the village once more, and this time they were in the midst of festival preparations. 

Chloe: So this is the traditional festival costume... Is there a reason why the colored threads are so sparse?

Seamstress Lady: There used to be more, but most of the threads have lost their color over time. The embroidery is supposed to be really vibrant, but after wearing it year after year, all the color is gone.

Man Wearing a Vest: Some of our competitors have fought in the same outfits for a decade or more. In the olden days, hardocre young'uns used to join the festival in droves, so the clothes would end up being replaced long before the embroidery would fade...

Chloe: I see.... Alright, then I'll be sure to use plenty of beautiful colored thread for the new costume, too. I think the younger villagers will pay more attention to bolder outfits!

Nero: If you're gonna have food service at an event like this, then meat is definitely the way to go. What sorta meat do you eat 'round here? 

Man Wearing a Straw Hat: Beef, usually, since most of the families here have cattle on their farms. Sometimes, if deer are wreakin' havoc in the fields around here, we'll trap and butcher them too.

Nero: Sounds pretty efficient. So, meat skewers... Roasts, probably... Let's see...

Chloe and Nero quickly become part of the festival preparations, beginning to plan out their costumes and food.

Akira: (I think the older villagers have enough help here.)

Akira: (I wonder if Mitile and the others are training at the designated festival grounds. I'll go check on them.)

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TL Notes:

[1] Most likely a similar concept to a harvest moon, or seasonal changes being measured by different constellations; basically a day where seeds would be sown in the fields. Probably stems from the fact that the mhyk moon is constantly visible and constantly full (iirc), so they wouldn't be able to measure natural processes by moon cycles, and instead rely on stars or the sun!