Held Up By a Veil of Rain | Nero SSR
Nov. 6th, 2022 02:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
adnodusomnisCeremony of Starlight, Stories, and Blessings
Chapter 1
Akira: Nero, do you have a moment right now?
Nero: What is it, Sage? I'm almost done preparing, so if you're hungry it'll be a few minutes…
Akira: N-no, that's not it. It's almost your birthday, so I was wondering if you'd like to do the "Ceremony of Starlight, Stories, and Blessings"...
The "Ceremony of Starlight, Stories, and Blessings" is a secret ceremony that Snow and White found in an old book, said to have been passed down to the Sage and their wizards.
It's said that there are many benefits for performing the ceremony on a day when blessings are likely to gather, such as deepening bonds with the Sage and increasing magic power and financial luck.
Nero: That's the ceremony the others did on their birthdays. Thanks, but I'm good.
Nero: It's a lot of work for you to perform the ritual for everyone and I'd feel bad making you go to all that trouble on my birthday.
Akira: It's no trouble at all!
Akira: Even if it doesn't increase your magic power like the legend says, if it might bring you happiness then I definitely want to do it with you.
Akira: I won't force you, but could you please give it some thought…?
Nero: …All right.
Nero: You went to the trouble of asking me. I'll take your word for it.
Chapter 2
The ceremony requires blessings from the Sage and three wizards who have deep connections.
While I was thinking about who to ask, I saw Bradley and Rustica having drinks in the dining hall. Shino was also with them.
Rustica: Oh, Master Sage.
Bradley: Hey, want a drink too?
Akira: Ahaha. Sounds like fun, are you having a party? It seems like a somewhat unusual combination…
Bradley: Mr. Bridegroom said he got some good alcohol so we were having a drink, and this guy came along and was drawn in by the snacks.
Shino: I was going to the kitchen because I was hungry and smelled something yummy.
Rustica: I bought a lot of ham and cheese at the market to go with the alcohol. Would you like some too, Master Sage?
Akira: Wow, it looks delicious. I see, so you two were having evening drinks and Shino joined in.
Akira: (...That's right. Exactly three wizards are present…)
Akira: Um, I have a favour to ask you all…
Rustica: For us to give Nero blessings?
Akira: Yes. Could you help with Nero's ceremony?
Shino: Sure. We're both wizards from the same country.
Bradley: Guess I'll pitch in, too. I like the food that guy makes.
Rustica: Of course, I'd be happy to as well.
Akira: Great! Thank you so much, all three of you.
Rustica: It's my pleasure. I've always thought that just as the timbre reveals an instrument's personality, Nero's cooking is also imbued with his nature.
Rustica: How he thinks of us, what he considers while cooking… It is keenly conveyed through the food to your tongue.
Rustica: This ceremony is an excellent opportunity to thank him for the sincerity he always puts into his cooking.
Bradley: Haha. I'm sure it'll make him feel good if you use such fine words.
Bradley: I don't think he was ever praised so skillfully in the past.
Shino: How do you know that?
Bradley: I don't. Just a hunch.
Shino: Hm. Well then, next time I'll make Nero happy by skillfully praising him like Rustica did.
Bradley: This is perfect, then. Do it for this ceremony.
Bradley: Give him your blessings with words that are a little fancier than usual. Like a song or a poem.
Shino: I like that. I'll let him hear some cool, fancy words.
Rustica: Fufu. I can't lose this one.
The three of them were super excited as they thought of nice things to say to Nero.
Akira: Cool words… Can I come up with something good…?
Bradley: Don't worry. You're a bit of a poet too.
Chapter 3
The night of the ceremony. Nero and I, wearing the outfits prepared by the twins, arrived in the City of Rain in the Eastern Country.
An area with deep ties to the wizard and is abundant in nature is suitable for holding the ceremony.
Nero: It's better not to be found by the humans here. We won't be seen around my herb garden, it's on the outskirts of town.
The area around the herb garden that Nero led me to was quiet, and there were no people around. The falling stars shone soundlessly.
Akira: Then, let's begin. Nero, could you close your eyes please?
Nero: …
He closed his eyes as I held my hand over his chest.
Akira: First, Rustica's blessing…
Akira: "May Nero, who gives me more happiness than my tongue can handle, be showered with more happiness than he can hold."
Akira: This is Shino's blessing…
Akira: "You know my stomach better than I do. You should be proud of that. You give me my share, and for me that's a relief."
Akira: Next, from Bradley…
Akira: "A first-class chef makes food that moves the heart and body of the one who eats it. Both that kitchen you’re putting to good use and these guys' words are treasures you’ve got, so you’ve gotta hold them tight.”
Akira: Finally, from me…
Akira: Your cooking is warm and delicate, and I think it's much like the inadvertent kindness you show.
Akira: Thank you for always filling my heart and stomach.
When I finished speaking, something warm overflowed from the middle of my chest. I felt it flow through my hand and reach Nero.
Akira: …How was it?
Nero slowly opened his eyes and scratched his head in embarrassment.
Nero: I'm not sure, I guess it's a tingly feeling. When it's put into words like this.
Nero: Also, it was more serious than I thought it would be…
Akira: Actually, we all decided that your blessings should be a little bit poetic.
Nero: Huh, why? Do I seem like I enjoy poetry?
At that moment, Nero noticed something and lowered his gaze.
When I looked closely, I realized there were a number of herb-like things poking out of the ground under my feet.
Akira: (I’ve never seen leaves shaped like this before. They’re like lacework, so beautiful…)
Nero: …These are herbs I planted a long time ago.
Akira: Oh, is that so?
Nero: Yeah. There’s no doubt about this distinctive leaf shape. They have a gorgeous appearance and aroma, and they’re often used in celebratory dishes.
Nero: I tried planting them once, but you gotta have a knack for growing them, and in the end they never sprouted.
Nero: I’d given up on them a long time ago, so I didn’t expect to be able to harvest them now.
Nero’s voice was lively as he picked the herbs.
Nero: Maybe the ceremony helped me find them. Thanks, Sage.
Akira: I’m glad. You made a delightful discovery, I'm so happy for you.
Right after that, there came a voice from behind us.
???: Hey.
Nero & Akira: ...！
Akira: (Oh no, are the townspeople suspicious of us…!?)
Fearfully, I turned around and saw Shino, Rustica, and Bradley.
Nero: You guys…!?
Akira: What are you doing here…!?
Shino: We decided we'd come celebrate Nero’s birthday.
Rustica: We thought it was about time for the ceremony to end.
Bradley: We went to the trouble of coming all the way out here. Let’s celebrate in style at your restaurant.
Nero: …Well, it’s fine.
Nero: I picked the best herbs, so I’ll make a meal to go with them.
Rustica: Delightful. I’m actually quite hungry.
Shino: Me too.
Nero: Yeah, yeah. All these hungry people are giving me a hard time.
Despite his grumbling, Nero was smiling.
Nero’s cooking is filled with care. I’m sure the feast he’ll make us after this will be no different. Warm, attentive, and gentle.
Akira: (When these three eat his cooking tonight, I wonder what words they’ll use to tell him it’s delicious…)
With these thoughts in mind, I headed to Nero’s in a lively mood.
Chapter 1
Akira: Nero, do you have a moment right now?
Nero: What is it, Sage? I'm almost done preparing, so if you're hungry it'll be a few minutes…
Akira: N-no, that's not it. It's almost your birthday, so I was wondering if you'd like to do the "Ceremony of Starlight, Stories, and Blessings"...
The "Ceremony of Starlight, Stories, and Blessings" is a secret ceremony that Snow and White found in an old book, said to have been passed down to the Sage and their wizards.
It's said that there are many benefits for performing the ceremony on a day when blessings are likely to gather, such as deepening bonds with the Sage and increasing magic power and financial luck.
Nero: That's the ceremony the others did on their birthdays. Thanks, but I'm good.
Nero: It's a lot of work for you to perform the ritual for everyone and I'd feel bad making you go to all that trouble on my birthday.
Akira: It's no trouble at all!
Akira: Even if it doesn't increase your magic power like the legend says, if it might bring you happiness then I definitely want to do it with you.
Akira: I won't force you, but could you please give it some thought…?
Nero: …All right.
Nero: You went to the trouble of asking me. I'll take your word for it.
Chapter 2
The ceremony requires blessings from the Sage and three wizards who have deep connections.
While I was thinking about who to ask, I saw Bradley and Rustica having drinks in the dining hall. Shino was also with them.
Rustica: Oh, Master Sage.
Bradley: Hey, want a drink too?
Akira: Ahaha. Sounds like fun, are you having a party? It seems like a somewhat unusual combination…
Bradley: Mr. Bridegroom said he got some good alcohol so we were having a drink, and this guy came along and was drawn in by the snacks.
Shino: I was going to the kitchen because I was hungry and smelled something yummy.
Rustica: I bought a lot of ham and cheese at the market to go with the alcohol. Would you like some too, Master Sage?
Akira: Wow, it looks delicious. I see, so you two were having evening drinks and Shino joined in.
Akira: (...That's right. Exactly three wizards are present…)
Akira: Um, I have a favour to ask you all…
Rustica: For us to give Nero blessings?
Akira: Yes. Could you help with Nero's ceremony?
Shino: Sure. We're both wizards from the same country.
Bradley: Guess I'll pitch in, too. I like the food that guy makes.
Rustica: Of course, I'd be happy to as well.
Akira: Great! Thank you so much, all three of you.
Rustica: It's my pleasure. I've always thought that just as the timbre reveals an instrument's personality, Nero's cooking is also imbued with his nature.
Rustica: How he thinks of us, what he considers while cooking… It is keenly conveyed through the food to your tongue.
Rustica: This ceremony is an excellent opportunity to thank him for the sincerity he always puts into his cooking.
Bradley: Haha. I'm sure it'll make him feel good if you use such fine words.
Bradley: I don't think he was ever praised so skillfully in the past.
Shino: How do you know that?
Bradley: I don't. Just a hunch.
Shino: Hm. Well then, next time I'll make Nero happy by skillfully praising him like Rustica did.
Bradley: This is perfect, then. Do it for this ceremony.
Bradley: Give him your blessings with words that are a little fancier than usual. Like a song or a poem.
Shino: I like that. I'll let him hear some cool, fancy words.
Rustica: Fufu. I can't lose this one.
The three of them were super excited as they thought of nice things to say to Nero.
Akira: Cool words… Can I come up with something good…?
Bradley: Don't worry. You're a bit of a poet too.
Chapter 3
The night of the ceremony. Nero and I, wearing the outfits prepared by the twins, arrived in the City of Rain in the Eastern Country.
An area with deep ties to the wizard and is abundant in nature is suitable for holding the ceremony.
Nero: It's better not to be found by the humans here. We won't be seen around my herb garden, it's on the outskirts of town.
The area around the herb garden that Nero led me to was quiet, and there were no people around. The falling stars shone soundlessly.
Akira: Then, let's begin. Nero, could you close your eyes please?
Nero: …
He closed his eyes as I held my hand over his chest.
Akira: First, Rustica's blessing…
Akira: "May Nero, who gives me more happiness than my tongue can handle, be showered with more happiness than he can hold."
Akira: This is Shino's blessing…
Akira: "You know my stomach better than I do. You should be proud of that. You give me my share, and for me that's a relief."
Akira: Next, from Bradley…
Akira: "A first-class chef makes food that moves the heart and body of the one who eats it. Both that kitchen you’re putting to good use and these guys' words are treasures you’ve got, so you’ve gotta hold them tight.”
Akira: Finally, from me…
Akira: Your cooking is warm and delicate, and I think it's much like the inadvertent kindness you show.
Akira: Thank you for always filling my heart and stomach.
When I finished speaking, something warm overflowed from the middle of my chest. I felt it flow through my hand and reach Nero.
Akira: …How was it?
Nero slowly opened his eyes and scratched his head in embarrassment.
Nero: I'm not sure, I guess it's a tingly feeling. When it's put into words like this.
Nero: Also, it was more serious than I thought it would be…
Akira: Actually, we all decided that your blessings should be a little bit poetic.
Nero: Huh, why? Do I seem like I enjoy poetry?
At that moment, Nero noticed something and lowered his gaze.
When I looked closely, I realized there were a number of herb-like things poking out of the ground under my feet.
Akira: (I’ve never seen leaves shaped like this before. They’re like lacework, so beautiful…)
Nero: …These are herbs I planted a long time ago.
Akira: Oh, is that so?
Nero: Yeah. There’s no doubt about this distinctive leaf shape. They have a gorgeous appearance and aroma, and they’re often used in celebratory dishes.
Nero: I tried planting them once, but you gotta have a knack for growing them, and in the end they never sprouted.
Nero: I’d given up on them a long time ago, so I didn’t expect to be able to harvest them now.
Nero’s voice was lively as he picked the herbs.
Nero: Maybe the ceremony helped me find them. Thanks, Sage.
Akira: I’m glad. You made a delightful discovery, I'm so happy for you.
Right after that, there came a voice from behind us.
???: Hey.
Nero & Akira: ...！
Akira: (Oh no, are the townspeople suspicious of us…!?)
Fearfully, I turned around and saw Shino, Rustica, and Bradley.
Nero: You guys…!?
Akira: What are you doing here…!?
Shino: We decided we'd come celebrate Nero’s birthday.
Rustica: We thought it was about time for the ceremony to end.
Bradley: We went to the trouble of coming all the way out here. Let’s celebrate in style at your restaurant.
Nero: …Well, it’s fine.
Nero: I picked the best herbs, so I’ll make a meal to go with them.
Rustica: Delightful. I’m actually quite hungry.
Shino: Me too.
Nero: Yeah, yeah. All these hungry people are giving me a hard time.
Despite his grumbling, Nero was smiling.
Nero’s cooking is filled with care. I’m sure the feast he’ll make us after this will be no different. Warm, attentive, and gentle.
Akira: (When these three eat his cooking tonight, I wonder what words they’ll use to tell him it’s delicious…)
With these thoughts in mind, I headed to Nero’s in a lively mood.
