Lost Sword story · Character episode
Tiamat Episode
4 scenes, 222 lines
1. Oh! My Goddess
66 linesIt had been quite some time since I began my journey in search of the Holy Sword.
I'd been through so much that I thought nothing could surprise me anymore...
...
At least that's what I thought until I ran into the Goddess of Destruction right in the middle of town.
Tiamat?! What are you doing here?
...I was simply walking.
What? Why...?
Just a light stroll.
(What is she up to...?)
Tiamat kept circling the same area, as if she were looking for something.
You must have somewhere in mind, right?
Not even a place you'd like to visit?
...
(The more I talk to her, the more lost I feel...)
So, is there anything you wanna do? I can recommend you a good spot.
I want nothing.
Take your time to think about it. There's got to be something you want to do, something you'd like to eat, maybe...
...I have no interest in such things.
...
I kept asking questions, but all I got were curt, dry replies.
Surprisingly, it really did seem like Tiamat had just gone out for a walk.
(Maybe I was overreacting after all...)
If you're going for a walk, you should check out the meadow outside town.
The stars are beautiful there at night, perfect for a peaceful stroll.
...
...
I gave a quick goodbye and turned away.
But as I was walking, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me.
(I feel like someone's watching me...)
...
I turned around just in case, but Tiamat was already walking in the opposite direction.
So then... who's watching me?
I shrugged it off and continued my errand, heading to the maid café to pick up the sweets.
Morgana... how dare she send me on an errand on my day off. I swear, I'll get her back for this.
Just as I was about to step inside...
...
I spotted Tiamat wandering out front.
Tiamat...? Why are you here...?
Yet as she spoke, her gaze was clearly fixed on the donuts inside the café.
So... you like donuts?
Want me to buy one for you?
Still, she kept staring at the donuts.
Even though she was denying it, it was clear she wanted one, so I went into the café and ordered two sets of chocolate donuts.
Here, take one.
...I don't need it.
Help me out here. I only meant to buy one set, but I accidentally ordered two.
If you don't take them, they'll just go to waste.
Pretending to give in, Tiamat took a bite.
Then another. And another... Before I knew it, the donut had vanished.
...?
Her eyes went right back to the remaining donuts. I pulled one out and handed it to her.
... ...
This time, she accepted it without a word.
(Yeah, she definitely likes them...)
2. The Goddess's Hobby
49 linesAfter finishing the donuts, something unexpected caught Tiamat's attention, music.
...
She didn't say a word, but watched the bards with their instruments pass by, her gaze fixed with intense focus.
So, I offered to take her to a local performance hall.
(It's on the way, and besides, who knows where she'll wander if I leave her alone.)
Conveniently, the show began just as we arrived.
Didn't expect you to be into music. Is it because of your followers?
Songs born of false promises and blind faith... I do not enjoy.
Then what kind of music do you like?
...That is not something you need to know.
Tiamat turned her attention to the bard's performance.
...
And when the music ended, she remained staring at the spot where the bard had stood.
She seemed lost in the moment... or perhaps searching for something.
Tiamat? The performance is over.
...
Let's head back now.
...
Tiamat continued to stare at the empty stage.
Then, after an extended silence, she finally spoke, something I hadn't expected at all.
...The meadow.
Huh? What did you say?
The meadow you spoke of... where is it?
Back then, I thought she'd ignored me. Turns out she hadn't.
Just head out of town and go left. It's a bit of a walk, but... I'm sure that's no problem for you.
...
Tiamat didn't budge.
She simply looked at me... then turned her head toward the town's entrance.
...Wait, do you want me to take you there?
...
This is the same goddess who claimed she didn't like donuts, only to devour them moments later.
That silence... had to mean yes.
Alright then. It's a bit of a walk, so I'll take you there myself this time.
...
There's something that always comes to mind whenever I come to this place.
The stars, countless stars, bigger and brighter than any I ever saw on Earth, welcoming me back.
...
Tiamat quietly gazed at the sea of stars above us. I sat beside her, tilting my head back to look up at the night sky.
Unexpectedly, it was Tiamat who broke the silence first.
Do you... like music?
I do.
Back in my world, there were so many different kinds of music.
Eventually, I grew to like them all.
...
I do not.
I don't hate music... but I wouldn't say I like it either.
...
No more words followed.
Tiamat's gaze slowly drifted back to the stars.
3. Starlight Beneath the Silence
48 linesBeneath the beautifully shining night sky, she couldn't look away.
Does she... like the stars, the same way she secretly liked the donuts... and maybe even the music?
I watched her quietly stare up. She was different from her usual cold, imposing self.
This new side of Tiamat was both mysterious and...
beautiful.
H-Huh?! You...! What did you just say?
N-Nothing! I meant, the night sky! The stars! I said the sky's beautiful!
...You are unbeliveable.
A long silence followed.
We'd only just started to have a real conversation, and now it had gone awkward again.
I wonder what'll catch her interest...
Tiamat, want to hear something interesting?
In my world, some people believed that when a person dies... they become a star in the night sky.
Do you think that's possible? Could something like that really happen?
...Foolish question.
Stars are merely beacons of the universe.
The souls of mortals cannot dwell within them.
...Thought so. What about constellations, then?
...Constellations?
Hmm... how should I explain this... it's kind of like naming the stars.
In my world, people would look up at the sky and draw shapes with the stars. They'd call them things like Taurus, Aries...
A dull joke.
That too is nothing more than an illusion conjured by humans.
The stars were with me long before your kind ever appeared.
I guess reality isn't exactly a bed of roses, huh?
Tiamat lifted her eyes to the night sky once more.
A cool breeze swept by, her silver hair dancing gracefully in the wind.
I sat quietly beside her, gazing at the stars.
...Yeah, beautiful.
...
I, I meant the stars! This time I really meant the stars!
...
I complimented Tiamat.
...Yeah, beautiful.
...! You... dare mock me?!
Tiamat's fingertip began to glow with a faint violet light.
W-Wait! I wasn't mocking you! I really meant it!
When I have my eyes on you... I can't seem to look away...!
...Hmph.
Tiamat didn't respond. But she didn't seem angry either.
Relieved, I shifted my gaze back to the stars...
wondering just what her silence truly meant.
4. And Once Again
59 linesA few days later, I went back to the maid café to pick up more desserts.
And when I walked in...
...
I ran into a goddess, munching on a chocolate donut.
Looks like you really like them, huh?
Take the bite.
...It's delicious.
If this is only "tolerable..." what in the world is your standard for good food?
It's not about the taste.
Refuse the offer.
...Why refuse?
Oh... I mean, I came here to buy my own donuts, so I don't really need to...
Hmm...
...Ah, okay, okay! I'll take one!
And so, the two of us shared donuts as we strolled through town.
...?
While she was busy with her donuts, Tiamat came to a halt in the town square, something had caught her eye.
It was the same performance stage as last time, where the bards were playing.
The musicians poured their hearts into their music; children laughed and sang along joyfully.
We watched together, enjoying the warm, gentle scene.
Tiamat... don't those kids kind of look like fairies?
...? They're clearly humans.
W-Well yeah, I know... but you know how, in fairy tales, there are always those forest fairies who bless the hero before he sets off...
Watching these kids singing heroic ballads... it just kinda reminded me of that.
...
Tiamat?
Tiamat didn't respond. Did I annoy her by talking over the music?
...How amusing.
Huh? What did you say?
...I was just talking to myself.
Tiamat left those cryptic words hanging in the air and turned her attention back to the music.
A little while later.
Wow! Miss, you're so pretty!
A young girl hurried over as we were about to leave, her eyes wide and sparkling as she stared up at Tiamat.
You look just like a goddess from a fairy tale! Did you two come to watch the performance together?
Ah, um... yeah, I guess...
Then... that must make you the brave hero who protects the goddess!
You two look perfect together!
No, I, uh, we're not really...
Oh! And next week I'm going to perform here too!
The bards heard me sing and invited me to join them! Ehehe!
Will you both come watch me perform?
Uh... I don't know if we'll...
...We will.
Tiamat?!
I had never seen Tiamat willingly make plans like that.
The Goddess of Destruction had no reason to follow human schedules, after all.
Every encounter we'd had until now had been pure coincidence.
And yet, she had promised to return...
We'll be here. Sing us a good song.
I will! I'll practice really hard! Ehehe!
With a beaming smile, the girl ran off to join the other children.
...Fascinating.
Fascinating? What is?
...I was just talking to myself.
Once again leaving me puzzled, Tiamat quietly began to walk.
Her steps, heading once more toward the meadow of stars, felt somehow lighter than usual.