7
—Follow the bird in the sky.
There was no evidence, and in a certain sense, it was an absolutely insane decision.
If it had been their first day in the dunes when Subaru saw the bird, he would never have thought to try to follow it based on what the tavern owner said.
But after several fruitless days, there was something he had noticed.
“The demon beasts are one thing, but there’s no way a normal bird could fly in the sky here.”
Of course, there were many reasons for that, including a lack of water and food to eat, but the biggest was the demon beasts and the miasma. Even a bird flying in the air would still be affected by the terrible environment and have to worry about predators.
So then why would a bird spread its wings in such a harsh environment?
“No matter how you look at it, that bird can’t be normal. There has to be some sort of trick to it.”
After having spent a few days out on the sands, that was the suspicion he felt about the bird flying over a hellscape like Auguria. And Ram’s clairvoyance was proving that his guess was right.
“Straight ahead. It isn’t letting the tower leave its sight at all. Barusu’s suspicion was correct. For once, his twisted, untrusting personality has paid off.”
“Phrasing!”
It wasn’t uncommon for migratory birds to fly for days at a time, but for it to keep focus on one place continuously was surely unusual.
However, following a bird that was flying without rest was a harsh task for those without wings.
—All the more so when trying to do it in the middle of a sandstorm.
“ ”
While they were chasing after the bird, the sand time had started up again.
The difference in the intensity of the winds during and outside of sand time was extreme. During the sand time, it was like a true sandstorm, to the point where it actually hurt anywhere the grains of sand in the air hit.
Beneath a cloak and hood, covering their faces and every bit of skin they could, they pressed forward through the sand and wind.
Through the black of night and the sand that filled their eyes, relying on Ram’s clairvoyance for guidance.
“ ”
Subaru and Beatrice were clinging to each other, braced against the sandstorm as they rode atop Patlash. They couldn’t open their eyes. Sand was everywhere. The carriage should have been right beside them, but they couldn’t even confirm that for sure. It was possible they were alone in a sandstorm.
In order to reassure himself, Subaru hugged the girl in his arms tighter.
“—Straight ahead. Straight ahead.”
Ram, who was the lifeline of the entire party, poured all her focus into her clairvoyance. Her voice should not have been audible from inside the carriage, but the steadfast advance of the carriage spoke for her.
Suddenly, it felt funny to Subaru. If he didn’t trust in his comrades, there was no way he could possibly make it through such a difficult journey. It was almost strange how he didn’t hesitate at all to entrust his life to Ram, to believe in her completely.
And—
“—hn?”
Grinning at the crazy situation, holding the cloth over his mouth, he felt a bit of air pass his lips.
The field of view suddenly cleared. The sandstorm that had been bellowing so loudly all around them could no longer be heard. The pelting grains of sand disappeared like an illusion.
There had always been more of a wind down when the sand time ended before.
The sandy wind gradually weakening until it withdrew like an ebbing tide and the smell of sand started to waft up. But that didn’t happen. It was as if it had cut off all of a sudden.
As they had been dragged onto a completely different stage from where the sandstorm was blowing.
“—Julius.”
Moving his dry lips as he turned, he saw the carriage sitting there.
Sitting on the driver’s bench, Julius was looking stunned at having escaped the sandstorm, just like Subaru. However, hearing Subaru, he adjusted his grip on the reins and nodded.
“ ”
And they both raised their fists, celebrating having broken through the sand time.
“We did it! We did it!”
“Yes! And I wonder why you were yelling so much in Betty’s ears?!”
As Subaru cheered, Beatrice’s palm stretched up from beneath him, sending his head back. Swinging back with the momentum of the hit, Subaru glared down at Beatrice.
“Wha’ w’s ’at all o’ a ’udd’n?! ’U ’ade ’e ’ite ’y ’ong’!”
“You were so annoying muttering to yourself while holding Betty! ‘Downburst’ this and ‘off-road’ that and whatever you were talking about! Always ringing in Betty’s ears!”
Beatrice responded to Subaru’s slurred complaint with a fierce objection.
Subaru blushed realizing that everything he had mumbled while clinging onto Beatrice for comfort to keep from losing hope had actually been said out loud. He coughed awkwardly.
“Uh, a-anyway. We managed to splendidly break through the sand time. Come on, three cheers! Hip hip hooray!”
“…Hooray…”
Even if Beatrice was sulking, that didn’t change the fact that they had managed to push through a major obstacle.
Rubbing Patlash and thanking her for her hard work, Subaru looked at the tower right in front of them, visible in the night sky. Perhaps because the effects of the miasma had lessened after getting through the sand time, the stars were visible in the night sky. And with that light, it was clear to see that the silhouette of the tower had gotten closer.
As proof, they could even see the foot of the tower that had not been visible before—
“See, it’s proof that the stage has changed. The desert has become a field of flowers—”
“ ”
“A field…of flowers…?”
As the excitement at making it through settled, Subaru’s cheek tensed. In his arms, Beatrice also froze, her big round eyes opening wide.
Having survived the menace of the sand time, the party had finally closed the distance with the Pleiades Watchtower.
And surrounding them now was a vibrant, beautiful paradise of flowers.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login