SWNOVELXO Chapter 5 Part 17
The day of the parade.
As the sun set and a beautiful full moon rose into the sky, Sophie stood before the gate.
Once the parade ended, the gate would be closed.
Perhaps that also meant the long dream was finally coming to an end.
A large crowd had gathered around Sophie, forming a loose circle at a respectful distance, their eyes filled with anticipation. I, too, was among them.
Here, people and beings from another realm stood side by side as one.
As tension filled the air, Sophie raised her hand towards the sky and began to twirl, almost like a fairy.
Her movements resembled a graceful dance.
Then, I noticed orbs of light gathering around her—those were light spirits.
Spirits rarely showed themselves to people, yet here they were, willingly revealing their presence. She must have called them with magic.
Sometimes, when performing large-scale magic, borrowing the power of spirits could enhance both the scale and quality of the spell.
But it was extremely difficult, and the magical energy required was immense, so it was rarely attempted. This was my first time seeing it done in practice.
The light spirits Sophie had summoned were about to become powerful supporters for the grand parade.
As the spirits gathered and the tension reached its peak, they suddenly shot up into the sky.
A flash of light streaked across the heavens, painting an exquisite illusion.
The light stretched upwards before dispersing in all directions, transforming into countless shimmering fragments.
Then, those fragments fluttered and wavered, shifting into something more organic—glowing butterflies.
Born from magic, the colorful butterflies filled the sky, decorating it with a breathtaking beauty.
At the same time, the town square where we stood was suddenly bathed in a radiant moonlight.
The ground itself emitted a faint glow. It seemed that Sophie had used magic to reflect the moonlight.
It felt as though we were standing atop a vast water surface reflecting the full moon.
A chorus of awe rose from the crowd as Sophie snapped her fingers.
In that instant, a luminous flash spread across the dimly lit city of Lapis, bathing it in magical light.
The city mayor, Carter, had agreed in advance to dim the streetlights, making the magical glow all the more dazzling.
But the magic did not stop there.
Next, flames ignited beneath Sophie’s feet and began to spread outward in a radial pattern.
The phantom flames, which did not burn, slithered across the ground like waves, spreading and vanishing in mesmerizing patterns.
Magic after magic layered upon each other at a dizzying pace, turning both sky and earth into a world of miracles.
Her skill was beyond anything I had ever seen, as if she had drawn us all into a waking dream.
Every single person present had fallen under the spell of Sophie’s magic.
At this moment, the city of Lapis was being beautifully transformed by the power of a single witch.
She unleashed grand-scale magic in continuous succession, causing them to interlock and resonate with each other seamlessly.
So precise and effortless was her execution that it was impossible to tell when one spell ended and another began.
Her mastery truly befitted the title of one of the Seven Sages.
Before I knew it, I had been completely entranced by her stunning display.
But as soon as I realized this, I quickly shook my head and lightly slapped my cheeks.
Now was my turn to act.
Breaking away from the crowd, I ran up to Sophie and whistled.
At my call, Carbuncle came bounding towards me from somewhere in the crowd.
Placing my thumb gently against its forehead, I quietly recited a spell of twelve verses.
In an instant, Carbuncle’s body grew exponentially, transforming into an enormous beast unlike anything I had ever seen.
I leaped onto its back and shouted,
“Come forth, all of you!”
At my command, hundreds of small animals appeared.
They were all my master’s familiars.
As they gathered before me, they neatly lined up in formation.
The magical parade had begun.
“Move forward, Carbuncle. Take us through the city.”
“Kyui!”
With me on its back, Carbuncle slowly began to walk down the main street.
The small animals followed in step, forming an enchanting procession.
The spectators let out delighted squeals at the sight of the adorable creatures.
Good, they were enjoying it.
As we moved through the city, I activated the minor phenomenon spells I had prepared in advance.
Colorful clouds formed, bricks shimmered faintly, and the city of Lapis transformed into an even more magical spectacle.
Carbuncle’s beautiful fur absorbed the moonlight, emitting a faint green glow, adding to the surreal atmosphere.
Above, Sophie continued to weave even greater spells from the town square, creating breathtaking magic that made one reluctant to even blink.
While she worked her wonders in the square, I traveled through the city, casting small-scale spells to push the parade forward.
Once we had made a full circuit and returned to the square, the grand finale would begin.
By now, every corner of the city had been immersed in the world of magic.
Then, from atop Carbuncle’s back, I spotted a familiar silhouette.
That figure stood in the very place where we had first met.
“I’ll leave the rest to you,” I said.
“Kyui? Kyui?!”
Carbuncle let out a flustered cry, but I paid it no mind.
As long as the parade of animals continued, everything would be fine for now.
There was something else I needed to do.
Leaping off Carbuncle’s back, I ran after the figure.
“Woof, you came.”
At my call, the werewolf before me removed his hood and greeted me with a, “Hey, Witch.”
Perhaps because of the full moon, I could feel an even stronger energy radiating from him than usual.
“I made a promise, after all. But are you sure it’s okay to be meeting me now? The magic parade is still going on.”
“It’s fine. This won’t take long. I have a message for you.”
“A message?”
“Yes. ‘On the night of the fireworks, I’ll be waiting for you at the little square.’”
Woof’s eyes widened in surprise.
“She wants to see you. So please, go to her.”
“But I…”
“She doesn’t care that you’re a werewolf. Marie isn’t concerned about that. She just wants to watch the fireworks with you, like last year.”
“But this year, there won’t be any fireworks, right?”
I shook my head.
“There will be. I promise.”
“Really…?”
“I swear.”
Woof looked up at the sky.
“For years, those fireworks gave me courage and hope. No matter how hard things got, watching them always lifted my spirits…”
He fell silent for a moment before whispering,
“Maybe, if the fireworks go up, I’ll find the courage to be honest with myself.”
“You will. I know it.”
Glancing at my watch, I saw it was time.
“Woof, I hope you make a choice you won’t regret. And if you can, watch the parade finale together. Because this year, the fireworks will be unlike any before.”
“Witch…”
“I have to go now. Just don’t forget—no regrets.”
“…Alright.”
As he nodded, I grinned.
Now, it was time for the grand finale.