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dotsuitarehompoAppearing Characters: Akira, Rutile, Riquet, Chloe (mentioned), Mitile (mentioned), Murr (mentioned)
⚠️Warning: This card story contains minor spoilers from the Halloween 2021 event story. Please read with caution.
Chapter 1 ✾ Chapter 2 ✾ Chapter 3 ✾ Card Episode
Location: Talbot Castle - Hall (Night)
Later that evening, the rest of the wizards and I were at a Halloween party held at the castle where the mission took place.
Akira: (Huh? I wonder what Rutile and Riquet are doing. Looks like those two are worried about something...)
Heya Rutile and Riquet. Is everything all right?
Rutile: Ahh! Master Sage! Actually we were…
Riquet: When we found out today’s the last time we’d be able to see the Talbot family spend time together, we became really sad all of a sudden.
Akira: I see…
After tonight, one of the Talbot siblings will end up moving into a brand new home.
While tonight’s party was a blast, it’s still inevitable that someone will be saying their goodbyes.
Rutile: Needless to say, I think it’s a nice way for them to say their farewells in a positive note.
But I couldn’t help but wonder what it's really like to be in their shoes...
It’s no question that Rutile was thinking the same way about Mitile and himself. He does care for Mitile with all his heart after all.
Rutile: My apologies. I know this party’s supposed to be fun and all, but I just can’t help myself feeling blue…
Akira: No worries. I understand how you guys feel. It’s only natural to be honest about your feelings when you’re feeling down.
(If anything, I want to make sure you guys still have fun. I hope you’ll also be able to bring more fun memories rather than any sad ones...)
...I got an idea. How about we work together to come up with something?
Rutile: What do you mean?
Akira: Maybe we can figure out ways on how we can make this party even more unforgettable for the siblings.
Even if they part ways, it would still be wonderful if they can recall tonight a memory they can all treasure.
Rutile: I agree with you! What a great idea!
Riquet: I agree too. But any clue on how we should make this party truly a memorable one?
Akira: Let’s see, we could…
Rutile leaned closer to me when I couldn’t think of any clear examples to support my idea.
Rutile: When one’s heart is overflowing with emotion, it stirs itself into a memory you cherish with all your might, right?
How about we present them a surprise?
Riquet: A surprise…?
Rutile: When surprises come into light, their hearts end up in amazement, filled with happiness and laughter.
I exchanged looks with Riquet as we heard Rutile speak.
Riquet and Akira: So that's it!
✾ ✾ ✾
Chapter 2
Location: Talbot Castle - Hall (Night)
Rutile: You see, Chloe surprised me with a beautiful handkerchief one time!
I still look back about how I felt at that moment. So astonished yet I couldn’t stop myself from smiling ear to ear.
Riquet: I got some nice souvenirs from Mitile as a surprise too!
They were cookies that were scrumptious. When you exclaim “It’s delicious!”, does it mean that your heart’s been touched, right?
Their eyes lit up as they shared their fond memories with me, a complete change from their gloom faces shared earlier.
Akira: (Looks like they perked up a bit. I’m relieved I was able to bring up the idea).
Riquet: Do you think candies would make for a nice gift?
Rutile: Candies, without a doubt, are a great idea for gifts. But since the food and candies are available already, wouldn’t it be even more surprising if we prepared something else?
Riquet: Very well then...Hmm, let’s see...
Akira: (I want to make sure they would love our gifts for them, but I wonder what we should pick?)
Rutile: Have you ever been “surprised” by someone before, Master Sage? If you don’t mind, I’d love to hear you share your stories from that time.
Akira: Sure, why not...I was given a surprise when I walked into my room and was welcomed by party poppers.
Rutile: You were welcomed by party poppers, you say? Someone else had popped them to surprise me too!
Riquet: I had one also! When I heard the sound for the first time, I was shocked. It looked wonderful with all of the falling confetti and ribbons though.
Rutile: ...Alright, then how about we prepare party poppers?
Akira: Prepare party poppers?
Rutile: Yeah! Besides the ribbons and confetti, how about we add candies and cookies to the mix as well? It’s like that one time Mister Murr made them rain using his magic.
When he brought it up, I suddenly remembered. I recall when Murr used his magic to manifest a heavy rain of candies to keep people distracted.
Akira: Oh, I see. So we’re making something that’s a mix of a surprise and a gift, right?
Riquet: How about we put together flowers along with the candies?
Rutile: A wonderful idea! They’ll end up dancing beautifully just like the confetti. If that’s the case, maybe we could make use of a big box to place the party popper…
Riquet: Should we also place a bow to the box too? When I got my gift, it was…
They exchanged their ideas one after another and decided on the contents of the gift.
They also looked as if they were having fun during the process. They must have really wanted to make this an unforgettable memory for the Talbot siblings.
Akira: (...Okay. I’ll also surprise them with something. I wonder if they will like it?)
Location: Talbot Castle - Hall (Night)
After some time, all three of us worked together to complete a unique magical party popper.
Riquet: Hehe! It came out wonderful, didn’t it?
Rutile: Mhmm! All of the hard work we put into paid off.
Akira: Yeah. It was fun working together on this!
This large party popper box has a magical casted to it where it allows the contents to pop out once you try opening the box.
The box is placed at a corner in the hall. The plan is to inform the siblings that a package has arrived from an anonymous source and call them to receive it.
Riquet: Do you think it will work?
We all hid ourselves behind a column and kept watch until they come across the package
Akira: I’m sure it will turn out well. I’m also sure they will be amazed and happy about it.
Rutile: ...Ah! They’re here!
Akira: Those three came across the gift!
Riquet: How come...they are also sniffing it…?
Akira: Maybe they’re just being cautious. I assume they aren’t familiar with what they come across after all...
Rutile: Looks like they’re opening the box now! What should we do, I’m starting to get nervous about this…!
Riquet: Me also. My heart’s racing so fast!
(I hope it’ll end up a success…!)
✾ ✾ ✾
Riquet: Phew...Thank goodness...
Rutile: Hehe. The surprise was a great success!
Akira: That’s right! They looked seriously surprised.
(The three’s reactions to the surprise were much better than I thought...I guess it’s since they’re siblings, but they all shared the same reaction.)
The surprise gift we prepared for them turned out to be a great success.
I will never forget the smiles on their faces as they stood laughing being showered by the candies and flower petals in the hall.
Riquet: Do you believe it will become an unforgettable memory for the siblings?
Rutile: I believe it will be. It’s a surprise that touched my heart so much.
Riquet: Ehehe. My heart was racing with all kinds of anxiety and excitement while I was watching all of us getting the surprise ready!
Akira: ...Um, sorry if I sound like a party pooper but I also got you guys a gift too.
Rutile and Riquet: Huh?
I reached for my pocket to reveal a small gift that I had prepared and passed it to them.
It’s for the thoughtful wizards who devoted their time to give their kindness to the siblings who will eventually be separated.
Rutile: Master Sage, is this…?
Akira: This is a surprise gift from me to you.
It still has the same contents as the party popper we prepared earlier, but I still hope it makes you guys happy.
Riquet: This makes me really happy, thank you very much!
Rutile: I’m really happy as well! I never thought that Master Sage devoted their time to prepare a gift for us…
Akira: I was able to get you guys a gift. I’ll definitely never forget about today.
And I’ll also never forget about the surprise we planned together. So thank you, Riquet. And Rutile.
As I told them, they were all smiles. It was like when you witness a beautiful bouquet of flowers, big fat smiles without any gloom intact.
Riquet: I, too, will never ever forget how much it made me so happy.
Rutile: I will also forever remember this day. Everything about today is so special!
✾ ✾ ✾
Card Episode: The Hidden Face of That Man
Appearing Characters: Akira, Rutile, Oz (mentioned), Shylock (mentioned)
Location: Manor Dining Hall (Day)
Akira: Hey Rutile. Those candies look yummy, don’t they?
Rutile: These candies are leftovers from the party held days ago. I still have some candies we used for the surprise!
If you don't mind at all, would you like to join me to an afternoon tea party, Master Sage?
Akira: Thanks for the invite. I'm more than happy to join you.
Akira: Speaking of surprises, who in the manor would you like to give a surprise to?
Rutile: That's a difficult question... I'd be happy to surprise everyone if it's possible...
But if I have to choose, it would be someone who I have never witnessed being surprised before.
Like for example, maybe Lord Oz or Mister Shylock!
Akira: I see...It's quite rare to come across seeing them with a surprised face.
Especially since Oz appears cool as a cucumber...
(Hmmm, I can hardly imagine them being actually surprised.)
Rutile: Right! I think about what kind of faces will they make.
Would their eyes widen, their whole body becomes frozen or will they yell "Ahhhh!" at the top of their lungs?
Akira: (Has Oz even screamed "Ahhhh!" like that before...?)
...Somehow, I'm getting curious about it too.
Rutile: How about we plan out our next surprise? While we enjoy the tea and candies!
Akira: Yes, I would love to!
---
TL Note: A fun fact––In the 1st Anniversary Fanbook, Oz's and Shylock's "surprised face" is very deadpan, it looks like this emoji 😐(while the rest has their eyes widen or in a state of shock) HAHAHA
✾ ✾ ✾
Bonus! Homescreen Line:
Rutile: I have been talking with the other wizards about the kinds of harvest festivals they do in their respective countries. I learnt about all kinds of festival customs! Could you share me more about the harvest festivals in your world, Master Sage?
