Ch. 4: The Fortuneteller's Plan
Fortuneteller: “Go to the Eastern Oasis.”
——————–
The next day…
Completely believing in what the fortuneteller had said, Sharon and I headed to the Eastern Oasis.
Sharon: “Hurry u~p Fairy!”
(If there’s nothing at the Eastern Oasis, I’ll say I’m not a fairy, and he should believe me…)
The coldness of the night changed, and now the blazing heat of the sun shone down.
(It’s hot…)
Sharon: “You alright Fairy?”
Sharon supported my staggering body.
Sharon: “We’re almost to the oasis! Just keep going a little more.”
Sharon supported me, and as I was able to keep walking…
OO: “…!?”
Suddenly, a sandstorm kicked up and surrounded me.
Sharon: “Fairy!!”
In the sandstorm, Sharon and I were pulled apart.
??: “You idiots. You totally believed me.”
Sharon: “You!!”
The fortuneteller from the day before appeared on the desert hill.
Fortuneteller: “The power to awaken Prince Sharon…I imagine you are one of the Träumere Royal Family. I bet I can get some good money for selling you.”
Sharon: “W-what did you say!? Money!?”
The want was clear in Sharon’s eyes.
Sharon: “Just kidding Fairy! I’ll save ya!”
Fortuneteller: “…hmph.”
The fortuneteller blew on his flute, and from the sands a countless number of snakes appeared.
Sharon: “Gyaaaaa!!”
Sharon’s scream echoed across the desert.
Ch. 5: On to the Next Legend
Sharon: “Gyaaaaa!!”
Sharon’s scream echoed across the desert…-
OO: “Sharon!”
The countless snakes rushed towards Sharon.
But they weren’t real snakes, but rather sand formed into the shape of snakes.
Sharon: “N-no more snakes!!”
OO: “Sh…Sharon! Look! They aren’t real snakes!”
I tried to rush over, but the sandstorm blocked my path and stopped me from reaching him.
Fortuneteller: “Hmph…how pathetic.”
OO: “…!”
As the fortuneteller grabbed me and tried to pull me away…-
Sharon: “Fairy! Damnit! You get away from her!”
Sharon had been running away until then, but now he hacked through the sand snakes with his dagger and ran towards me.
Fortuneteller: “Wha…”
Sharon: “It’s obvious the Fairy would be disgusted by just looking at someone as ugly as you!”
Sharon cut the fortuneteller’s flute in two.
Sharon: “Get away!”
The fortuneteller let me go in surprise, and in that break, Sharon grabbed me.
Fortuneteller: “…damn!”
With an annoyed click of his tongue, the fortuneteller vanished along with the sandstorm.
OO: “…thanks Sharon.”
Sharon: “…could it be you aren’t really a fairy?”
Sharon muttered quietly as he slowly let me go.
Sharon: “That guy said something about Traumere but…”
OO: “Yes, like I’ve been saying from the beginning…-“
Sharon: “A~h, I really am just going to have to make an honest living.”
Sharon looked crestfallen and his shoulders slumped.
OO: “Hey…why do you need money so badly? And why do you work even though you’re a prince?”
Sharon: “…I want to make the town wealthy. The desert is a harsh place. We don’t have goods or much commerce, and it’s hard to get our hands on stuff. On top of that, my family’s really big. They may by the royal family, but they’re doing all they can to get enough to eat. That’s why I have the most freedom as the first son, and I do all sorts of stuff to get my hands on 1000 gold pieces. If I had the money, we could get access to underground water, and get heating equipment. I could make the people’s lives easier.”
(So that’s how it is…)
OO: “…I’m sorry. I can’t do what you want.”
Sharon: “W-what are you apologizing for? I was the one who kept getting it wrong. The legend turned out to be wrong. And I’m sorry for dragging you into this.”
OO: “No, it’s ok. If there’s something I can do, I want to help.”
Sharon: “…I see, thanks!”
As the two of us smiled…-
??: “Heeey Sharon!”
Looking, the caravan group we had seen the day before happened to pass by.
Caravan Man: “Ya hear? They say a town in the west found a magic flying carpet. It’s from an old legend, one of the rarest of the rare articles. If you sell it, do ya think you could get some good money for it!?”
Sharon: “What’s that!?”
Sharon’s eyes sparkled and shone.
Caravan Man: “We were heading out there from here, you wanna come along?”
Sharon: “You bet!”
Sharon proudly put his hands on his hips.
Sharon: “Course we’re comin! Yeah!!”
OO: “Eh!?”
Sharon: “You just said you wanted to help, right?”
OO: “W-well yeah but…”
Sharon: “I look forward to workin’ with ya!”
Sharon’s whole face lit up in a smile, and I couldn’t seem to bring myself to say no.
END