Volume 4
1st Anniversary Story
Snow Candle
Engagement
Long time no post...
To commemorate the
one-year anniversary of the release of the fourth volume of the books, I've
written a little story.
If you'd like, please
read it.
---
A blizzard rattled the
windows.
Arcazam has been hit
by the coldest wave of the year.
The city, nestled in
the forest, was battered by unusual snow and wind, and had fallen completely
silent.
The same is true for
the guest house where Nozomu and Irisdina live.
The vast garden had
turned into a silver world, and the academy's school buildings were completely
covered in snow.
In one of these rooms
in the guesthouse, the two were engrossed in their work in front of a fireplace
where firewood crackled.
A sweet scent filled
the room. Two pots, one large and one small, hung over the fireplace, and
several strands of thread dangled into the smaller pot.
Irisdina picked up one
of the threads.
It absorbed the
contents of the pot and became glossy. What should have been soft solidified
instantly when exposed to the cold air of the room, taking on a milky white
coating.
"Phew... Nozomu,
how about this?"
"Looks good.
Mine's almost ready too..."
Nozomu received the
thread Irisdina brought.
In front of him was a
slender cylindrical mold. He placed the solidified thread in it and slowly
poured in the amber liquid from the large pot.
The mold was filled.
It was also exposed to the winter cold, and the contents solidified
immediately.
Nozomu removed it from
the mold and shaped it.
When he lit the thread
that peeked out slightly from the top with the firelight, a faint sweet scent
began to drift through the room. The two nodded in satisfaction with the
result.
"Hmm, that's a
nice aroma."
"Yeah, I think
it's not bad."
They were making
candles. Arcazam had developed magic lamps and other such devices for use in
its facilities, but these old-fashioned candles still had demand.
However, the two were
making something a little elaborate.
A pot hung over the
fireplace where logs crackled. Molten wax swirled inside, but beside the pot of
wax, another, smaller pot was hung.
The contents of the
small pot were scented oil. It was made by simmering herbs in oil, and they
were using it to scent the candles.
The reason why the two
were making candles was that Irisdina had asked Nozomu about his life in his
hometown.
Nozomu's hometown was
a farming village that was sometimes hit by heavy snow in winter, and on such
days, they would make everyday items inside their homes.
Candles were one of
the items made during that time. The ones they made could be put into storage,
or they could be sold to merchants who visited the village after the snow
melted.
Irisdina, after
hearing about Nozomu's life in his village, said that she wanted to try it too.
As a result, they ended
up making candles together.
This is just a teaser.
The full chapter is currently only available for my Patrons.
This chapter will be available for free on April 24, 2025.
