The brilliant sunlight poured down over the golden flower petals.
Hikage and Oka, Princes of Hourai, the Land of Four Seasons, were in a sunflower field in Summer where they met an unusual pair…-.
Oka: “So then, you two were the ones singing that beautiful song a moment ago.”
Hikage: “You guys have good voices! Though I was a little surprised at the singing frog.”
Kerota: “I’m not a frog, I’m Koetzel da Roderich Tali!”
Vicky: “Kerota for short.”
Stretched out atop the soft grass, Vicky gave a charming smile.
Vicky: “Is this your flower garden? Sorry for just walking in here.”
Kerota: “That’s right Vicky! Don’t go ‘Ooh, pretty~’ and come in of your own accord to just lie down!”
Vicky: “The breeze feels so good I ended up falling asleep… is what I recall you saying Kerota as you happily commented on the coolness beneath the flowers.”
Kerota: “Th-that’s completely different!”
Hikage: “Haha, don’t worry about it. The two of us also came to see the sunflower field.”
Oka: “If anything, Hikage was the one that followed me here.”
Hikage: “That’s because it’s hot today and I was worried about you going out alone.”
Hikage looked up at the bright sun and, as if remembering something, continued to speak.
Hikage: “You said you guys were on a journey, but where are you headed?”
Vicky: “Aah… we’re looking for the ‘Melody of Bliss’.”
Hikage: “What’s that?”
Oka: “I’ve never heard of it.”
Kerota: “…no clues here either then…”
Hikage: “Aah, well… we might not know but there might be a clue somewhere in this country!”
As Kerota heaved a great sigh, Oka smiled at him kindly.
Oka: “That’s right, I’m sure you’ll find it Vicky, and Koetzel da Roderich Tali.”
Vicky: “Thanks. You two are nice.”
Kerota: “Yeah… and you even called me by my proper name…”
Vicky grinned, and beside him, Kerota spoke to himself as if deeply moved.
Hikage: “Well, I don’t know anything about this melody but… I think us meeting here is an encounter worth remembering!”
Oka: “Yes. If there’s anything we can do to help, you can come to us anytime.”
At his cordial words, the two travelers looked at each other.
Vicky: “You saying that…”
Kerota: “You’re telling us that even though we just met? You don’t have to go that far to help us…-.”
Hikage: “Well then, how about as thanks for the song earlier?”
Oka: “That’s right, it was a really wonderful song.”
Vicky and Kerota: “!”
Vicky: “Haha… there you have it Kerota.”
Kerota: “…alrighty, let’s celebrate meeting some good guys! How about I give you a special performance from the Kerota Theater of Friendship!”
Kerota’s merry song echoed across the sunflower field.
The cheerful laughter of the four newly-made friends drifted up into the clear blue sky.
END
Sunlight poured down from the sky, its reflection glittering off the surface of the water as it moved.
In order to participate in the Dream Vow Ceremony, members of the royal family from every country had gathered together… and in one corner of Traumere, three princes came face-to-face.
Corail: “Woooow! You’re really flying!”
Adiel: “Hehe, this is nothing!”
Corail: “Can everyone in your country fly like that?”
Micaela: “That’s right. Everyone has wings and can fly as they please.”
Corail: “That’s so awesome! I bet the sea is really pretty when seen from way up high.”
Corail’s eyes sparkled as he smiled amiably, and Micaela smiled back.
Micaela: “I’m sure the Land of Coral is beautiful too. We can’t judge as we’ve never seen under the sea though… we can’t even really imagine it.”
Adiel: “Yeah. Seeing the sea from high up is definitely way different from seeing it from underwater.”
Corail: “The coral reef in Coralia is really pretty! And at the bottom of the sea there’s lots of shells and rare fish…-“
Corail spoke excitedly, then stopped as he looked at Adiel and Micaela.
Adiel: “Why’d you stop all of a sudden?”
Corail: “Hehe, it just made me real happy that your eyes were so sparkly as you listened to me talk.”
Adiel: “M-my eyes were sparkling?”
Micaela: “Hmm… well, it’s like a world out of a story, and I guess I just got caught up in it.”
Micaela and Adiel, there eyes glinting, looked to each other and tilted their heads in puzzlement. A sense of warmth enveloped the place.
Coral: “I’ll have to thank OO.”
Micaela: “Eh?”
Corail: “I mean, we live in totally different places. If it weren’t for the Dream Vow Ceremony, we probably would have never met, right?”
Adiel: “You’ve got a point. I’d have probably always been wondering what it was like under the sea if I hadn’t met you Corail.”
Micaela: “Yes, that’s true.”
Micaela came closer to Corail as he kicked his feet in the water.
Micaela: “Prince Corail. Would you mind letting us listen to more of your stories?”
Corail: “My stories?”
Micaela: “Yes. About the things living in the sea, about the stars when you look up at them from the sea… We have finally met, and I would like to cherish this meeting.”
Corail: “Yeah sure! And in exchange, will you tell me more about you?”
Adiel: “Yeah! If you want, do you wanna try flying? I should be able to carry you by myself.”
Corail: “Really? I want to fly!”
The sun reflected off the water and brightened their smiles.
And the three princes enjoyed an exchange of stories.
END