Strange days.

 

Nothing new for a wizard, for they barely have “normal” days. However, for Lennox, it felt stranger than usual. He thought about Faust a lot, but he thought about him a lot more. A certain tug in his heart called out to him, as if saying that his master is close by.

 

He had just arrived at a small town bordering the Central and Eastern countries, and the travelling wizard felt the need to take pause and rest at a tavern.

 

“First round is on the house.” the man on the other side of the bar table slid a tall mug of beer over to him. “You look like a rum kind of guy, but I can feel that you prefer beer.... or maybe wine, but I ran out of the kind that I would serve to you.”

 

Lennox couldn’t get a clear image of the bartender - just his wavy looking hair and average stature - for he was too distracted to look for his glasses before he left his room. “Thank you.”

 

He sipped his beer quietly. He thought about the days of the revolution. His regrets. His strange dreams. His seemingly endless search for his master.

 

Where would I be now if we emerged victorious alongside the humans?

 

He thought he might end up being a knight in Central Country, serving both Sir Alec and Sir Faust. Following their cause of keeping peace in the land.

 

But, things went awry.

 

Where would I be now if I had successfully saved Sir Faust?

 

Lennox didn’t know. Everything goes blank every time he asks himself that question. An answer that lost its way amidst the mist. However, he knew he’d always stay by Faust’s side. Protecting him like his life depended on it.

 

Lennox came back to reality after hearing the sound of beer being poured into his mug.

 

“You seem like a strong man.” the bartender spoke. Lennox knew he was still in front of him but didn’t expect him to start a conversation. “Can I request for your help here tomorrow? Late morning perhaps? Just some manual labor. I’ll pay you appropriately.”

 

Accustomed to such requests, Lennox agreed. I just have to be careful with my magic, he thought to himself, for he was in a small town where wizards weren’t that welcomed. 

 

“Thanks, see you tomorrow then. Hope you enjoy the rest of the night.”

 

​

 

The same dream once again. The third time that week.

 

Gas and dust filled the already gloomy atmosphere. Rough fragments of rocks and stone filled the ground where grass once rooted in. Fires crackled amongst the rubble, but not in the same pleasant way as those coming from bonfires and fireplaces - they weren’t there to embrace one in warmth, but rather they were there to cause harm. Those tangible things aside, the air was filled with screams, madness, and despair.

 

It was indeed a time of war.

 

Lennox held on to the key, as if his life depended on it. However, it wasn’t his life that was at stake - it was Faust’s. His master, the man he swore his loyalty to. 

 

He arrived at his cell, and Faust was there. Lennox knew exactly what happened back in the day - Faust would insist that there was no reason for him to escape, Faust would think that Alec’s faith in him would resurface,  Alec would not stop the execution, Faust would disappear.

 

Lennox would never forget.

 

The strange thing about the dream was that Faust agreed to escape. The stranger thing was that everything turned pitch black after that.

 

Another question lingered in Lennox’s mind: What would have been of the world if I saved Faust?

 

​

 

Lennox, thankfully, had his glasses on the next day. He finally had a clear image of the bartender’s appearance.

 

And it left him standing there with mouth agape.

 

Purple slanted eyes and wavy light brown hair that almost transitioned from light to dark. 

 

Sir Faust?

 

“You okay?” he laughed softly. “You seem like you haven’t fully recovered from last night.”

 

Lennox blinked. “I’m fine.”

 

“Ah, I have not introduced myself, haven't I?” the bartender offered his hand for a shake. “Archimedes. And you are?”

 

The wizard followed through with the handshake.  “Lennox.”

 

“Nice to meet you, Lennox.” Archimedes smiled. “Shall I run you through your duties for today?”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

Archimedes let out a soft sigh that’s almost like a laugh. “Please, no need to be proper. Just Archimedes is fine.”

 

“Okay.”

 

The bartender smiled. “First, I need help with carrying some of the wine barrels from the cellar to the back room. Second…” he spoke in a sheepish manner. “Can you help me deal with a strange bear lurking near the vineyard? Sorry if it’s too much….”

 

“Strange?” Lennox brushed that last statement off, for it wasn’t much for him and he didn’t dislike helping those in need. “What kind of strange?”

 

Archimedes furrowed his eyebrows, thinking hard. “It’s better if you see it yourself.” he shifted his frown into a smile. “Well, let’s deal with that later - after we’re through with the huge wine barrels.”

 

As they walked towards the storage house, Lennox looked closely at Archimedes' mannerisms: how he walked, how he talked, how he smiled, how his hair was styled. He could trace some similarities with his former master but…

 

This is not Sir Faust.

 

Faust's posture was beautiful, Lennox recalled. His gaze was cool, as if he was uninterested in so many things, but Faust carried himself with grace and nobility. The memory of Faust's demure yet warm smile stirred in Lennox's mind. 

 

Those qualities were pretty much far-off from Archimedes'.

 

His former master and the bartender do share the same modest and quiet tone whenever they talk one-on-one. That sweeping difference from when they have to be confident in front of a crowd.

 

Lennox, ever so courteous, opened the cellar’s door for Archimedes, who laughed softly at the gesture. "Thank you, Lennox. This way."

 

Stacks of wine barrels that lined across the room greeted the pair. Lennox carried what he had to, as instructed by the bartender.

 

Before long, something fluffy brushed Lennox's ankles. Then another. That was then followed by a few more.

 

(Meow~)

 

So many cats… Sir Faust, you would enjoy this. Lennox recalled his master’s not-so-secret love for these felines as a black cat pounced at him. “Hey, why’d you come over here?”

 

Archimedes grinned. “Jet likes you.” 

 

“Jet…” Lennox petted the cat, who in turn leaned into his touch. “I see it’s pretty obvious that you love cats.”

 

Just like Sir Faust too. It’s strange.

 

“I do.” Archimedes picked one up with one hand. “For someone who lives alone, they’re great company. The bar doesn’t open until the afternoon, so it gets pretty lonely in the mornings. I could wake up a little late, but cats are excellent at waking you up first thing in the morning.”

 

Lennox nodded. 

 

“Do you like cats, Lennox?”

 

The wizard froze for a moment, then shook his head. “Not particularly. I know… knew someone who did though.” he then smiled. “He never admitted it, but I’d catch him sitting under the shade, playing with cats of various colors.”

 

Coincidentally, Jet purred as Lennox scratched the cat’s ears. “He liked the black ones in particular.”

 

Despite the sympathy in his eyes, Archimedes' lips curved slightly upward. “Is that so…? Well, wherever he is, I hope there are plenty of cats that he could play with.”

 

Lennox nodded, and the cat seemed to agree when he licked the wizard’s cheek. “I hope so too.”

 

​

 

The vineyard was peaceful. Trees framed the open field with a small cottage situated at the middle - Lennox assumed it to be the rest house. Rows of arbors circled around, each one bearing beautiful vines. A stream occupied one side of the field, its loud gushes gradually turned into soft waves as the water flowed into the wider river.

 

“It’s there.” Archimedes' gaze was directed to a tree right by the river. “Can you see it?”

 

Lennox didn’t at first. He thought he might’ve dropped his glasses somewhere until he looked and sensed carefully once again. There it was: a towering ursine beast lurked behind the tree, its bark-like skin camouflaging it. A fiendish, eldritch aura surrounded the air around it.

 

No wonder it’s strange. Must be a calamity…

 

“I can handle this.” Lennox assured.

 

Archimedes’ worry started to show. “It’s bigger than you and I combined, Lennox!”

 

“It’s okay.” the wizard said as he calmly approached the creature. Sensing someone moving closer towards it, the creature turned towards them and bared its teeth. It then started to move slowly towards them. Lennox maintained his calm demeanor as he hauled a large bear trap from his shoulder bag, careful enough that the creature wouldn’t feel threatened by it. Archimedes, on the other, had a completely opposite energy: tense and fearful. Out of panic, he picked up a rock larger than his hand and hurled it at the beast.

 

That’s when it lurched forward at them.

 

“Stand back!” Lennox stood in front of Archimedes. He raised his fists, dropping the trap to the side, and shifted to a fighting stance, ready to challenge the creature.

 

At the back of his mind, Lennox thought: It’s like protecting Sir Faust.

 

It attacked Lennox with its piercing claws, who in turn shielded his body with his arms. The creature’s blow was dizzying and its body armor left a burning sensation on Lennox’s skin.

 

He can’t keep on fighting it with just martial arts.

 

The wizard had to use magic in front of the human.

 

Lennox focused. The landscape of a plateau in the place where I was born…

 

He started feeling at ease as his magical energy flowed in his veins. However, it wasn’t for long.

 

My mana area….. isn’t working?

 

Lennox thought harder and pictured a familiar scenery in his head: the crescent moon in a dark blue, starlit sky watching over a lit bonfire. Humans and wizards are gathering round, celebrating the small victories. The sounds of wine jugs, music, and laughter were all muted - but Lennox knew they were there.

 

Then he visualized a certain young man dancing gracefully by the fire.

 

And he felt it.

 

“Forsettao Meiuvat!”

 

​

 

“You were so valiant out there.” Archimedes spoke shyly as he wrapped Lennox's injuries with dressed bandages, still obviously surprised that he was with a wizard. "Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

 

"It's no problem. The vineyard is much safer now, that's what matters."

 

Archimedes’ never faltered even after they got back to the tavern. 

 

He assured Lennox that the drinks were on the house again for that night, and the bartender told the wizard more stories over drinks. About how Archimedes’ came from the Southern Country, and that his great great great grandfather was a wizard. About how much he idolized wizards because of the stories passed on to him. About how wizards helped his family whenever there was trouble back home.

 

He talks a lot. Lennox thought, but he still listened and conversed every once in a while, until the night ended.

 

He was a listener, after all.

 

Lennox had completely scrapped the thought of Archimedes being the same as Faust. Or so he thought, until Archimedes the bartender, in his slight insobriety at some point in the night, referred to him as “Leno” while handing him a small cat charm made of scrap clothing. 

 

Maybe Lennox was just thinking about Faust too much lately. Maybe he just missed him. Maybe it was because the anniversary of his master’s execution was drawing near.

 

Right…

 

He fell into slumber while holding on to his key later that night, right after taking a moment and gazing at the stars in the sky.

 

Dawn broke the next day, and the sun’s morning rays met his eyes - warmth and brightness combined. It was time to head out and travel again.

 

But before he continued his journey, he made a few pit stops.  

 

At those places where the bonfire celebrations were once held. 

 

At that prison. 

 

At that hill where the stake once stood.

 

At the Granvelle Castle.

 

Then, Lennox carried on, eyes open to more strange encounters that were in store.