The Unspoken Wish

Hm? And what do we have here...?

Hmph. Who is that Lynx guy anyway?

I knew it. Zey are talking about Monsieur Lynx.

Lynx is the guy you were saying might be here, right?

Oui. And ze fact zat zis beast knows his nom must mean zat I was correct.

What is he like anyway?

Lynx, huh? It seems he's up to something, but he's supposed to be a friend of yours, right? What's he like anyway?

Hm... How can I say zis?

Of course he's up to no good!

That fool went and got close to the Beast King before we knew it! Like it was nothing!

And this is the king we're talking about! I don't know what's gotten into him, putting his trust in a guy like that.

Oh lah lah, I cannot stand zis vulgaire mouth any longer.

Hey! Wait, Harle!

Huh? What do you want?

Monsieurs, you are quite bold to speak in such disrespect about Monsieur Lynx. I need only to tell him of zis, and you will be squashed like little flies!

Tch... You one of his underlings or something?

I'll tell you one thing. She's a fool if she thinks we'd let her get off easy being a snitch.

Non non, I am no snitch. What good will zis do for moi?

Harle! What were you thinking picking a fight with beastfolk all by yourself?

Oh, Aldo. You worry for moi? I am fine. You must worry for ze beasts instead. Zey do not seem to be much of a challenge for Harle.

We don't know that. There are all sort of things that are different here compared to the world we know. But I'm thinking that Lynx must be really important to you. Important enough for you to run off like that and stand up to beastfolk.

Stop s'il vous plaît. I only meant to tease zem. And as for what iz important to moi...

It iz ze wish I want to come true. And I need Monsieur Lynx to make zis happen.

A wish? You have a wish?

Exactement. And so, not even I can say when I will leave to take ze side of Monsieur Lynx.

Exactement. So even if you become ze enemy to Monsieur Lynx, I will still take his side.

Really?! That's a little cruel, don't you think?

Haha! It iz as you say...no hard feelings, oui? Ze friend today may be ze enemy tomorrow, and ze vice versa!

Allies and memories and ze worlds we inhabit... Weighed on ze scale against mon deepest wish, zere iz nothing more important.

Harle? You okay?

Ah! I recognize you!

Huh?

I know just from your appearance! There's no mistake. I have a message from Lynx. He told me that if I see a jester in this town, then to tell her to come to this place...

That's the gates of Unigalna.

Hoho! Monsieur Lynx iz so lonely without moi! So he zought to send a message!

Let us go, Aldo! Tout suite!

According to the message, this should be about the place.

But where is Monsieur Lynx? I do not see him here.

That's because he's not coming.

Hey! You're the guys from before!

Heheh! We fooled you good!

How stupid can you be? All it took was a fake message to get you out here alone.

Oh lah lah, zis is quite ze trap we are in!

Lynx's underling or no, you're not getting outta here with this many of us surrounding you. And once we rough you up a bit, we'll make you hostages to lure out Lynx.

Zis is a bit trickier zan mon usual. I cannot do zis alone, so you will help moi, won't you Aldo?

Yeah, you know it!

Grrr...! You won't get away with this next time!

If you learned your lesson, zen do not ever play games with ze nom of Monsieur Lynx again!

Mon Dieu. Let us go, Aldo. Oh?

Hey, you're the messenger from earlier, right?

Y-Yes... I'm so sorry! My master threatened me, so I had to do it.

I see. Zis means you are ze servant to zat beast, oui? Zen what brings you all ze way here?

Truthfully, I was worried about you. I knew there was nothing I could do, but I couldn't help but follow you here. You must think that's strange, I know. I'm the one who got you into this trouble after all.

Zis iz strange, indeed. Only one so curious would do such ze curious zing, non?

Harle?

But...it can be said zat it meant a lot to you zat you should do it. Oui?

......!

Take it from moi, now iz ze perfect time to give zat weak little beast boss your two weeks notice!

Heheh! You might be right. If I mustered up the courage to sneak out this far over my worry, then I should've done the right thing from the start. But I felt bound by the difference in power between humans and beastfolk. I was convinced this was the only life for me, you see.

You are bound by nothing, mademoiselle. So you must only choose ze path zat you desire.

Exactly! And right now, what I desire most is to quit this job and go back to my hometown. Hee hee! Thank you so much for giving me the courage I needed!

Ah! Actually, I know a better way to thank you...

Wait, are you sure you about that? Don't you want to have it for yourself?

I mean it! Please accept it as a token of my gratitude. I plan to leave this very moment, and I have myself, which is all I need. And I won't be returning to that house again.

I won't have him finding me only to end up being servant once more!

Hoho! Mademoiselle has grown ze backbone in zis short time.

I sure have! I'll be taking my leave now, so good luck to you!

Good for you, Harle. She seemed really grateful for what you did, encouraging her and all.

Se taire! I do not know what you mean by zat as I only say what I feel. You know zis!

And zat is absolument how I feel. Zere is no such zing as being tied to such a measly fate. How foolish it iz to choose zis way of life over such a zing.

Oh, so it's like, you shouldn't choose how to live your life only based on things you're bound by?

Exactement. Fate or destiny... Sometimes zey call it ze mission for which we are born. Zere are all sorts of zings to hold us back.

I think that we can still choose how we live, beyond the things bind us. No matter what fate we hold, we are still free to wonder and wish on what our lives could be. And beyond that wish is a changing future. I've seen more of those moments than I can count.

Oh? What a funny life you have lived, monsieur. And I should know zince I am a jester, after all.

Heheh! I am starting to like you, Aldo. Oui, you are quite fascinating... Let us become more acquainted, zat iz, while we are still friends.

Seriously?! You might still decide to turn against me?

What iz it you say? Beyond ze wish iz a changing future? In zat case...

Perhaps what brought moi to zis world has nothing to do wiz ze wishes of others. Perhaps it was but ze tiny wish zat was within moi all along.