Ch. 7: An Unexpected Event
After that, Foia went and talked with the people of the town, and the construction of the Ark Plant continued to move forward.
But one day…
Worker: “My Prince! The building…something terrible has happened…!!”
The workers rushed into the castle hall, out of breath.
OO: “!?”
Foia: “What’s going on!? What happened!?”
Worker: “The plant…”
The man spoke of how the people who were against the construction of the facility had somehow burned down the entire storage area near the building using magic.
OO: “That’s awful…and when it was so near completion. We have to go check on it!”
Foia: “Wait! Stay here, it’ll be too dangerous.”
OO: “I’ll be fine! Please, let me go with you.”
Foia: “…fine. But you have to do exactly as I say. Got it?”
And so we hurried towards the Ark Plant construction site.
Ch. 8: A Lonely, Wavering Voice
We had been informed of the emergency around the Ark Plant construction site.
Then we went there in a hurry, and what we saw was…
Foia: “No…there’s no way…right? The facility was this damaged…”
Foia’s legs gave out and fell to his knees in front of the burned down storage area.
(Foia…)
Unable to find the right words, I gently placed my hand on his back.
Foia: “…OO.”
The workers rushed passed Foia, who was numb with shock.
Worker 1: “Move! Move! There are still some unaccounted for!”
Worker 2: “We can’t find the young guy from our team! Has anyone seen him!?”
Worker 3: “And are those guys from the opposing faction still around…”
Foia stood up, looking to the people whose voices were raised in shouts.
Foia: “…this is no time to be sitting around. First, check if anyone was injured…!”
Straightening his back, Foia raised his voice and began to take control of the area.
Yet while he gave out instructions, his fist was clenched in frustration…
…
……
After a little while…
Foia: “…so, no one was killed, and there are no major injuries?”
Worker: “Yes sir. But the people that did this…. Seems some had gathered behind the building for some kind of sit-in protest.”
Foia: “Were any of them injured?”
Worker: “You’re actually worried about those people!?”
Foia: “No matter who they are, they’re people under my family. Now go check on them!”
Worker: “Y-yes!”
The workers raced off to the back of the site.
After confirming that no one else had died, the leader of the attack was caught by the castle soldiers.
…
……
Having reached a tentative conclusion, our shoulders slumped and we stopped walking.
Foia: “It’s a small miracle…no one was hurt.”
OO: “Yeah. But…”
Foia: “…”
Pale, Foia looked out to the area were plumes of smoke still billowed.
It had been so lively only yesterday, and now a bleak mood hung in the air.
(Even though Foia and everyone else had been working so hard to finish it…)
Foia: “…guess I’ll have to start again from scratch…”
His voice was small as he spoke, and his words seemed to echo the loneliness of the burned remains of the facility.
Ch. 9: Feelings of Frustration
Foia and I returned to the castle…
The soldier who had capture the leader of the attack ran up to us.
Soldier: “My Prince, how would you have us deal with the captive?”
Foia: “…treat him if he’s injured. I’ll talk to him face to face later, since everything’s still such a mess. Till then, I’m withholding judgment.”
Soldier: “Yes sir!”
The soldier bowed and left in a hurry.
Foia crumpled into a chair in the hall.
OO: “Foia…”
Foia: “…”
Turning to me, he gave a listless smile and I could see the fatigue around his eyes.
Foia: “That must’ve been rough for you too. Go ahead and rest. Seems I’ll be kinda busy for a while…. I won’t really be able to keep you company after tomorrow, even though you went through the trouble of coming all the way here…”
I shook my head at Foia’s concern.
(I want to be at his side…but if I am, I’m sure he’d fret over me.)
I pushed down my feelings of wanting to stay, and returned to the guest room.
Ch. 10: Determination and a Promise
That day, sleep eluded me.
I sat on the bed, gazing out the window at the moon, the light of which seemed so sad.
(I wonder what Foia’s doing?)
(He had been trying so hard for so long, I’m sure he’s feeling depressed…)
I remembered how his eyes had always sparkled as he spoke of his dreams.
———————
Foia: “I want to develop this country’s magic, spiritual power, and science even more, together. That way, I can create a world where no family will be worse off, and everyone can laugh together…”
———————
As I remembered his radiant smile, I couldn’t stop my chest from aching.
(Foia…)
At that time…
There was a sound, and the door to the room opened.
OO: “…!”
Foia: “…”
Foia stood there, his forehead creased in earnestness.
OO: “Foia, I…”
I clenched my fist in front of my chest and…
In the next instant, Foia had embraced me with his large arms.
OO: “Foia…?”
I called his name, and his grip on me tightened.
Foia: “Don’t make that face…”
OO: “But…I was thinking of how you’ve been trying so hard until now.”
Foia: “So like I said, there’s no need for your heart to be hurting like that.”
While the embrace tightened, I could feel his throat move as he breathed.
His stiff hair tickled the nape of my neck…
My heart started to beat louder.
OO: “Foia…”
Foia: “…”
I gingerly wrapped my hands around his broad back as he remained silent.
We were like that for a little while, then I heard a small voice near my ear.
Foia: “I’m a little…out of it. To be honest, I was so surprised…I was so overwhelmed…”
His voice lacked any strength, and I gently rubbed his back.
Foia, who was always shining so brilliantly and looking forward with such determination, now looked very small.
OO: “…it’ll be alright. I’m sure you can start over again Foia.”
Foia: “Will people come with me again…? Can I still start over…?”
OO: “Yes…”
I gave a deep nod and squeezed him tightly.
Foia returned the embrace.
Foia: “I wasn’t wrong…about this. I’ll get through it, and turn it into a positive…!”
His blunt words, and the strong volition to overcome any obstacle…
All of it made my chest ache so much it became hot.
Then I felt tears prick the corners of my eyes…
Foia: “Actually…there’s something I wanted to say to you once the facility was finished but…”
OO: “What is it?”
Foia: “Mm…I’ll hold onto that until it’s finished after all.”
OO: “Ah…”
His fingers gently wiped away the tears beneath my eyes.
Foia: “So when that happens…will you be beside me, and show me that smile?”
He took my hand and placed a small kiss on it.
It was like a symbol of that promise…
Foia: “I’ll definitely start over…and then I can tell you. Definitely…”
His softly spoken words were so kind that they echoed in my ears and my heart.
END