(Card Story) Within a Very Special Dream
Oct. 6th, 2021 11:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
schoenheit
Card: [SSR] (Whereabouts of His Smile) Owen[1]
Event: N/A (Wizard Party Set)
Characters: Akira, Mithra, Owen, Snow, White
Chapter One ✧ Chapter Two ✧ Chapter Three ✧ Training Episode
Chapter One
Location: Sage's Room (Night)
(Sound of page turning)
Akira: (Yawn)... I wrote much more about everyone than I thought I would.
I think that's enough writing in the Sage's journal for the day. Still, it's a little early to turn in for bed... Maybe I should wind down with some tea from the dining hall.
(Loud crashing, screen shaking)
!? W-What was that?
I jump to my feet in alarm as the manor rumbles with the sounds of sudden explosions. Just then, someone violently throws open my door.
Owen: ......
Akira: Owen! What happened? Why are your clothes half-burned—
Owen: Mithra's fault. He couldn't sleep, so he came to my room to "talk."
Akira: Umm... So how did that lead to this...?
Owen: Don't ask me when it's Mithra who's as mercurial as it gets. One minute he's talking, and the next he's attacking me for no reason at all... He really makes my blood boil.
Akira: (I guess that explains the explosions...)
Owen: Forget that, Master. We're leaving.
Akira: Huh—? Where? Why...?
Owen: Isn't it obvious? He can't sleep if you're not around.
He just tried to kill me. As if I'd let him shrug his shoulders and get a quiet night's rest now.
Owen grabs my arm, and the two of us disappear through the curtains and into the night sky in the blink of an eye.
✧✧✧
Location: Outdoor Market (Night)
Owen: ......
Akira: ......
Ummm... It's night, but the market's packed with people, huh. You made a beeline for this place... Did you have any, um, errands to run, or anything?
Owen: No. Not really.
Akira: O-Oh, okay... Um... On the bright side, even when you have nothing else to do, it's pretty fun to people-watch when there's this many people around, isn't it?
Owen: You sure love prattling on and on. Maybe I ought to sew your mouth shut.
Akira: (Eek... He's in an awful mood. He's been like this ever since we left...)
(Still... I guess Owen really does like places where there's lots of people. And I recall him saying his mana area was an outdoor market "somewhere"... —Oh.)
Owen, why don't we get a table at that café?
They don't just serve tea, but plenty of desserts as well: pancakes piled with whipped cream as high as the eye can see, cakes packed with glazed fruits, and...
Owen: (Still frowning) ......
✧✧✧
Location: Central Café (Night)
Café Server: I apologize for the wait. Here's your strawberry shortcake.
Owen: (Smiling) ......
Akira: (Phew. I'm glad his mood's improving.)
Owen: (Still smiling) What. Why do you keep staring at me?
Akira: Oh, um... Nothing, really, I was just thinking of how nice this is— I don't really get the chance to have tea with you all that often.
Owen: (Still smiling) Hmmm.
Akira: (He doesn't seem to care...)
... Now that I think about it, I don't usually go out at night.
How do you usually spend your nights, Owen? Relaxing in your room?
Chapter Two
Owen: (Sighs) I can't afford to be so careless. Not when Oz and Mithra pace about the manor like caged beasts.
Most nights, I go out. And when I am in my room, I put a barrier up.
Akira: Wait. Then did you not have a barrier ready when Mithra came into your room earlier?
Owen: ......
Akira: (Oops. So Mithra destroyed it when he came in, huh.)
Owen: ≪Quare Morito≫
Akira: ?
Quite suddenly, Owen chants a spell, and a small bottle made of purple, well-crafted glass appears in his hand.
Owen: Hey, hey, Master... Don't you feel bad for me? I'd done nothing to deserve it, and yet... Mithra destroyed my barrier, and nearly killed me.[2]
I can't sleep in my room now that I've been left so vulnerable. And if I want to put up a new barrier, I'll need a new taglock.
The lid squeaks as Owen twists it open and pours the thick liquid into my black tea.
Akira: ... What... did you just pour in?
Owen: Dream Drops. It's a type of syrup.
When you drink it, you'll experience a very special dream. I’ll keep that dream in this bottle and use it as a taglock.
Akira: What do you mean, "special"?
Owen: What else could I mean? Special.
Akira: ......
Though unease wrests my heart, I take up my cup and, hesitantly, bring it to my lips.
The syrup oozes down my throat and sinks hotly into the pit of my stomach. As its warmth spreads through my body and washes over me, my consciousness slowly slips away.
✧✧✧
Location: The Forest of Dreams (Night)
Akira: ... Nnh...
(... Huh...? The Forest of Dreams...? I'm sure I was just in Central...)
Owen: What's wrong, Master?
Akira: Owen...
I realize Owen has been standing next to me for some time. Snow drifts softly from the sky, a quiet flurry around us.
Owen: You came here to play with me, didn't you? Come on, come here. Come, come.
Akira: (Is that right...? My head feels so fuzzy...)
I trail after Owen. As we walk, a towering tree comes into view.
A deep tree hollow cuts a tunnel through the base of its vast trunk.
Owen: Follow me.
Akira: But... there's something eerie about this place...
Owen: If you're scared, why don't you just close your eyes?
As if to guide me, he takes me by my arm and pulls me into the tunnel. I squeeze my eyes shut as quickly as I can.
(Screen goes dark)
Akira: (... I don't know why, but... I feel like something's staring at me...)
... Um, Owen... Are we almost out...?
(... No response. Maybe I should take a small peek...)
Chapter Three
Spurred by my anxiety, I slowly open my eyes.
(Screen fades back in; wavering, black shadows cover the screen)
Instantly, I lock eyes with the gaze of something else. No matter where I look, I see eyes upon eyes upon eyes riddling the inside of the tree hollow and bulging against each other, all of them glowing painfully bright, all of them red, and all of them staring at me.
Tree Hollow: (Eyes bulging wildly) Eeheeheeheehee!
Akira: (Screams)
Owen...! Please, we need to go! Owen! Owen...!!
Owen: ......
No matter how much beg and plead, Owen wouldn't turn around.
(Sound of high-pitched cackling)
The chilling gazes and blood-curdling laughter overwhelm me. I feel like I'm going to faint.
And then, with his back still turned to me, Owen finally, finally answers me.
Owen: Poor Sage. What's wrong? You keep mewling my name like a sad little kitten.
Akira: Please, please help me! I'm begging you...!
Though I can't see his face, I feel a faint smile curl his lips as he exhales softly.
His figure obscured in the dark, I can only tell that he's slowly turning to face me. Then, he quietly snaps his fingers, and the sound echoes around us.
(Screen fades to black)
???: ...—me. Excuse me... Are you all right?
(Screen fades in)
Location: Central Café (Night)
Akira: ... Nnh...
Huh...? This is...
Café Server: I'm so glad you're awake. You were groaning in your sleep, so I couldn't help but worry...
Akira: I-I apologize for the trouble. Thank you for waking me.
The café stands hollow and empty, not a patron here besides me. And yet... I can't shake the nagging feeling that it'd been bustling with life just moments ago.
Akira: (Huh? There's a small bottle on the seat in front of me. I can't put my finger on why, but something about it seems familiar...)
???: ≪Arthim≫
A familiar voice echoes throughout the café as a massive door materializes before me.
Mithra: Oh, there you are.
Snow and White in the Portrait: Thank goodness you're safe...!
Mithra steps out of the doorway looking exceptionally put-upon, Snow and White's portrait secured under his arm.
Akira: Mithra... Snow... White... You’re all here…
Snow in the Portrait: You know not how worried we've been. Are you free of injury and ailment?
White in the Portrait: You were in the manor— and then, with great suddenness, you were not. We have thus searched hither and tither for you.
Akira: I left the manor...? Did I really?
Mithra: Yes, that's correct. And because you chose to disappear on a whim, these twins have worked me to the bone. You must understand how unbearable this experience has been for me.
Akira: I'm very sorry for causing so much trouble. But... I wonder why I can't remember what happened...
A strange feeling washes over me, and I glance around the café. I realize now that the bottle is gone.
Akira: (... I feel as if I was just dreaming about something...)
Snow in the Portrait: Oh, Sage. What might that be on your head?
White in the Portrait: My... Is that snow?
Akira: Huh?
✧✧✧
Location: Sky (Night, full moon)
Owen: (Smiling) Unable to remember anything, even when you try to remember...
... You won't be able to recall a thing, Master. Because I’ve trapped your nightmare, your agony... all in this little bottle.[3]
A little clump of dreams like this one can't serve as a taglock for my barrier. But... hearing some fresh screams was fun.
Let's play again next time, Master.
Training Episode: His Favorite Game
Location: Manor Courtyard (Day)
Owen: (Smiling) ......
Akira: Oh, huh. You're in a surprisingly good mood, Owen.
Owen: I just got back from playing with people at the market.
Akira: Are you saying you were playing with humans? H... How did you play with...
Owen: I played a game where I was nice to humans. I helped humans find their way in the market when they got lost, and gave them tips when they were looking for things they'd misplaced. Those sorts of things.
It was so funny seeing lost, confused children on the verge of tears as I led them— and the look on that man's face when he grew convinced his friend stole from him? That was the best.
Akira: (I wouldn't call that playing "nice"...)
Speaking of, your mana area is a market somewhere, isn't it?
The Central marketplaces are also especially relaxing for you, aren't they? Like your mana area? If you invite chaos into a market, won't it be difficult for you to relax ther...
Owen: I don't know what it's like for those other wizards, but I don't want to "relax."
Besides, I'm only presenting them with options. It's those humans who choose to panic; who choose to overreact; who choose to quarrel.
Akira: ... Is that why you go to the market? Because you enjoy seeing humans act out?
Owen: (Smiles sharply) ......
Why don't you play with me instead? We'll play a nice little game; a game where you can experience all sorts of things like fear and fun; sadness and pain...
Akira: I-I'd prefer not to order a four-for-one combo, thank you...! W-We can play something that isn't quite so dangerous...!!
Translation Notes
1. I originally translated this card name as "Where He's Hidden His Smile" to convey the meaning of the Japanese more clearly, but someone pointed out that the title of this card is named the same way as Owen's short story, whereabouts of the left eye, so I chose to go for a more literal translation for consistency. This may also be relevant given TL note 4, below. ↑
2. I believe I've seen other translators translate this word (媒介, baikai) as "talisman" and "intermediary." I decided to use "taglock," as it is the term used for this type of thing in western witchcraft. A taglock is a physical object that serves as the core of a spell, or a link to the target of the spell. Generally, a tangible body part (such as an eye, a drop of blood, a locket of hair, or so on) is ideal, though other types of items can serve as taglocks as well. In Mahoyaku, taglocks derived from the body parts of powerful wizards allow for more powerful magic, as seen in the first anniversary event. ↑
3. While, in Japanese, Owen's second piece of dialogue refers specifically to Akira ("You won't be able to recall a thing, Master..."), his first piece of dialogue ("Unable to remember anything, even when...") is phrased more ambiguously in the Japanese, and could refer to anyone (including himself). I chose to leave it ambiguous, considering Owen's whole thing is being unable to remember his past (and I suppose you could draw a speculative parallel between Owen locking away Akira's nightmare/suffering in the bottle to Owen's memories of his painful past being locked away somewhere else, like his trunk). ↑
4. Speculation from Japanese fandom ahead:
1) Owen has stated his mana area is a specific outdoor market, and, given the theme of this card set is visiting each wizard's mana area, some users have speculated that the market Owen takes Akira to in this card story is his specific mana area market. It has been noted by others that the background in this card story is used for Central marketplace locations in the game.
2) The same Central marketplace background is likewise used in the the 2021 Valentine's event, wherein the characters visit Cain's hometown, the Town of Glory. Near this market is a café, which Akira and the other wizards go to during this event. That café background is the same café background that appears in this card story. Akira sounds as if they have visited this café already when they suggest it to Owen, hence the speculation that it could be the same café as the one they went to in the Town of Glory.
3) Not JP fan speculation, but, as noted, the Owen short story is titled whereabouts of the left eye, AKA, where he's hidden his left eye (his left eye being the one he gave to Cain and vice versa). After seeing how certain words keep getting repeated in Owen's stories that end up being foreshadowing (like tojikomeru; see TL note 3, TL note 4), I figure it's worth noting.
In any case, as a result of these factors, some Japanese fans speculate that Owen's specific mana area is an outdoor marketplace in the Town of Glory.
As for my opinion: whether you choose to believe this theory is up to you. Whether his mana area is another Central marketplace or the one in the Town of Glory, I would presume Owen's mana area location predates Cain, just like Owen's affinity for knights predates Cain, considering Owen's been around for hundreds of years before meeting him.
I do think Owen's mana area being a Central marketplace makes sense, at the very least: Central has been characterized as having people who are busy, cheerful, and extremely social; they seem to have the type of lively atmosphere Owen appears to enjoy watching from afar.
Thank you haranami_ @ Twitter for proofreading!
