June Bride 2022 Nero: Together Forever

[cursedspirit]

In the Place You Desire

Chapter 1

It was after the request had been resolved, and everyone had celebrated Elliot and An’s reunion.

Akira: (Huh…. What is Nero doing over there all by himself?)
Akira: Nero, what are you looking at?

Nero: ‘S a bird’s feather. It was real pretty, I ended up pickin’ it up.

What Nero had been looking at was a lapis lazuli feather. It had a beautiful deep blue-purple color and a very elegant shape.

Akira: Wow, it is very pretty. I wonder what kind of bird would have this feather.

Nero: Yeah, I wonder.

wind blowing

Nero: Ah….

Akira: The wind is blowing the feather away…!

Bradley: Adnopotensum

As I reached my hand out, a spell rang out in the air. The feather that had drifted high into the air floated into Bradley’s hand.

Nero: Bradley….

Akira: Thank you for catching it for us.

Bradley looked at the feather and then shot Nero a meaningful glance.

Bradley: I was wondering what kinda treasure you’d lost, but it was just a feather, huh.

Nero: Mhm. Got no worth to you, right.

Bradley: Well, yeah. Makes for decent smalltalk though. Like…
Bradley: Oi, Sage. You wanna learn about a lil’ spell you can make with this thing?

Akira: A spell?

Bradley: Yup. Only real socially outcast losers use it though.

Nero: Oi.

Bradley: ‘S not really a big deal if I spill, is it. Looks like they’re interested anyway.
Bradley: Like I said, jus’ some smalltalk. Got nothin’ to do with you, does it?

Nero: ….. Well, that’s true, I guess.

Seeing as Nero had no intention of fighting back, as soon as he got the ok Bradley waved the feather in my face lightly.

Bradley: Spell’s real easy. Just need a feather, long as it’s from a bird.
Bradley: You put it on the palm of your hand, close your eyes, ‘n make a wish.
Bradley: Then you burn the thing. Thas’ all.

Akira: Eh, we’re burning something even though we made a wish on it….?


Chapter 2

Bradley: Somethin’ wrong with that?

Akira: No, not really. I just thought that if it was something you put a wish on, you would want to keep it….

Nero: You’re a real messed up jerk, huh. If you’re gonna let ‘em know at least explain it better.
Nero: …. See, this kinda spell is one that puts meaning into not leaving things behind.

Akira: Eh?

Nero: There're some types of people in the world that aren’t real good at holding onto to stuff like this.
Nero: People whose future isn’t guaranteed, people who don’t have a place to settle down. Basically, people who can’t live without bein’ real carefree.

Bradley: ………….

Nero: But tryna live without having something to believe in is hard. ‘Specially for weak guys.
Nero: Basically, the point of this spell is to imprint your wish into your heart as you burn the feather, so you’ll never forget it, so you can remember your desire. Kinda like a ritual.

Nero’s words held a sort of authenticity, as if he had seen those kinds of people before, or that he himself had experienced it.

Akira: I see….

Bradley: Real knowledgeable, aren’t you.

Nero: Haha…. Just heard it around. Something from one of my old customers.

Akira: I was able to understand it very well, though. Thank you, Nero.
Akira: Actually, it’s quite surprising that Bradley would know about a spell like this.
Akira: I can’t imagine Bradley entrusting a wish to anything.

Bradley: Ha, same as this guy. Heard it from one of my bandits.
Bradley: I don’t need some spell to keep living. I trust myself more than gods or anything, after all.

Nero smiled bitterly at the arrogant way Bradley declared this.

Nero: Yeah, I guess you are.
Nero: But, you know… I said this earlier, but there are guys who find a lotta support in spells ‘n wishes like that.

Bradley: I know.

Smirking, Bradley handed the feather in his hand to Nero.

Nero: …. Huh?

Bradley: A while back, one of my bandits ran off with some witch. Bet they’d’ve been real happy if we’d sent ‘em off with this spell.
Bradley: How ‘bout you do it for those two that’re getting hitched. They live in this dreary ass town, I bet it’d suit them.

Bradley left us with those words as he walked away.

Nero: …. That guy, just doin’ whatever he wants again…….
Nero: The hell am I supposed to do with this.

Nero looked down at the feather that was passed on to him with a troubled expression.

Akira: …. Should we go to the couple?

Nero: Guess so…..

Lifting his head, Nero focused his gaze a little far away.
Past his eyes, squinted like he was looking at something dazzlingly bright, were Elliot and An, exchanging intimate smiles.

Chapter 3

Nero, who had been looking at the couple, changed his mind with a shake of his head.

Nero: Although those two might come across some real terrible shit from now on…
Nero: There’s no reason to tell ‘em about this lame ass spell to send ‘em off.

Akira: Nero…..

Looking at the couple as if they were somewhere very far away, my chest got somewhat tight.

Nero: …. So let’s do it here in secret instead. Like, “So they’ll always walk on the path well-lit.”
Nero: Come on, if we don’t do it, bet Bradley’s gonna have somethin’ to say about it, too.

Akira: … That’s true! Let’s do it together.

Smiling back at me, Nero puts the feather in the palm of his hand. We close our eyes together.

Akira: (I wish Elliot and An a happy life…..)
Akira: (.....And……)

Nero: Adnodis Omnis

As I made a second wish in my heart, I heard the sound of something burning as Nero recited his spell.
When I opened my eyes, the feather, dressed in flames, was floating above the palm of Nero’s hand.

Nero: ….. Humans and wizards have different lifespans. No matter what, as a witch An will be left behind.
Nero: Choosing to stay together, even after knowing that, I think that’s pretty amazing.
Nero: So, at least as long as that husband is alive, it’d be nice if they could live peacefully.

Akira: …. Yes.
Akira: Actually, I made another wish on this feather.

Nero: Another one?

Akira: Yes. Except, the wish wasn’t for the couple…. it was for you.
Akira: Whether it be in the sun or the shade, I hope Nero will be happy in whatever place he desires.

Nero: …….

Akira: I’m sorry. I know it was selfish of me, but…

Nero: …. Hey. So basically, does that mean you see me as a socially outcast loser?

Akira: Eh!? That’s not what I meant at all! Does it come across that way?

Nero: Hey, chill out a little. Not really something you have to go ‘n apologize for. …….Ah.

The feather in Nero’s hand had burned out, the wavering flame disappearing into the air.
We watched as the remaining ashes scattered away.*

Nero: …. Thanks, Sage.
Nero: Wishing for happiness, feel like that sort of stuff is kinda beyond me, ‘n honestly I’m not so sure about it.
Nero: Hearing you made that wish for me, though, makes me pretty happy.

Akira: Nero…. I’m glad you feel that way.

Nero: …..So? What d’you wanna eat next time?

Akira: Eeh, I didn’t make the wish for that reason….!

Nero: Haha, I’m joking, I’m joking. I can’t imagine you’d pull something like that guy.

Awkwardly, Nero clears his throat. The sky peeking through the clouds was clear, and the sunlight was gentle.
Something about that made me happy, and I smiled from the bottom of my heart.

*until now the bg was all cloudy and grey but as this happens the sun starts to peek through the clouds and lights everything up :-)

Card Episode: Gap underneath the Formal Wear

Akira: The clothes that were prepared for the mission the other day were very beautiful, weren’t they.
Akira: They had a very neat and clean feel but were also very flowery…. They suited you very well.

Nero: Pretty embarrassing hearing you say that again. That was all that Western tailor’s work, makin’ it look good on someone like me.
Nero: But, honestly, I don’t think that neat ‘n tidy kind of feel really suits me, ‘n I’m not really used to it either……
Nero: I felt like I had to act in a way that matched the clothes I was wearin’, so I got kinda nervous.

Akira: So that’s how you felt about it.
Akira: I think you would have been ok even without being so conscious of it, though…

Nero: ‘S that so. It’d be nice if I could…… Mm?
Nero: Half of the soup I made is gone. Ah, the bread, too!

Akira: Eh. …. Actually, earlier Bradley said he was hungry and went to the kitchen….

Akira - Nero: ………..

Nero: That fucker! Stealin’ food again!
Nero: I’ll cut him into three pieces ‘n fry him!

Akira: Ah, Nero…! He ran off with a kitchen knife…
Akira: (There was a definite gap between his vibe just now and the other day….)

Homescreen Voiceline:

Real prim ‘n proper clothes, honestly, make my shoulders stiff ‘n don’t really match with me. But wearing them from time to time might not be so bad. Like, on a day that’s special to me, or something. Haha, what am I even saying.