Lovely Memories Summoned Forth from a Flower

When Akira lived in Tokyo, he was surrounded by looming skyscrapers and the rush of traffic. Everything was always so busy that Akira felt he barely had time to stop and catch his breath. The scenery all but flew by as he spent his days coming and going from university.

 

His main source of solace was found with the many stray cats he befriended in his neighborhood. Even if he didn’t have his family with him, or anyone he could call a true friend, the cats’ companionship was more than enough. His heart always grew warm whenever the cats cuddled up to him as he stroked their soft fur. Even when they meowed continuously, begging for food, Akira always smiled as he fed them. It was a happy routine, and Akira was finally blessed with true friends he could look forward to seeing every day.

 

It was a night like any other when Akira was whisked away to the world of the wizards. He stopped to feed and play with the cats before he went home, expecting to see them the next day as usual. His new and fantastic world and the wizards within were wonderful in their own ways, but in the back of his mind, Akira had hoped he could return home soon so that the cats could be fed and didn’t have to worry about him.

 

However, he’d slowly learned to adapt himself to the new world and role he was thrust into. Akira had bonded with the wizards and came to consider them his friends, and in little ways, they reminded him of the cats back home. Nonetheless, there were still days he felt homesick for Tokyo and his thoughts would inevitably wander to his feline friends.

 

“If only there were a way I could see them again. I hope they’re doing alright without me.”

 

–

 

One day, when Akira was studying in the library, he found a mysterious amulet hidden in the back corner of a shelf, discovered after he’d pulled out several books. As Akira reached back into the shelf to grab the amulet, he found himself coughing from the dust that flew into his face. Once the amulet was firmly in his grasp, he stared at it, his eyes drawn to the dark navy gem in the center of a golden frame. However, as he brushed more of the dust away, he saw traces of what seemed to be something caught inside the gem.

 

In order to better discern what could be hidden within the depths of the amulet, Akira moved next to a window to catch the sunlight. The gem sparkled with flecks of purple, blue, and green, illuminating it like a small globe full of stars. 

 

“Wow…” He turned the amulet around in his hands, admiring how the reflected lights danced off the gem, painting him into a mosaic. When he turned the amulet at just the right angle, he could see the inside more clearly and found a miniature flower encased within.

 

Akira tried to squint his eyes to better discern the flower’s features. Five wide petals of a violet shade sprouting from the center could be made out within the darkness, though Akira couldn’t identify the flower itself.

 

“Hmm, maybe I should consult the older wizards. Snow and White, perhaps?”

 

Just as Akira muttered his thoughts aloud, the doors to the library opened, revealing the Northern twins themselves.

 

“Good afternoon, dear Sage.”

 

“What are you reading today?”

 

“I was looking for books to learn more about this world, but I found this,” Akira said as he held out his hand to show them the amulet.

 

“Hohoho, you’ve found quite the precious relic!”

 

“Really?”

 

“‘Twas a gift from a friend long ago. ‘Should you ever be separated from one another, use this amulet to remind yourself of the memories you’ve shared,’” White said.

 

“But as you know, we have no need for this, and never will. Therefore, we hid it away to help us forget about what can never be,” Snow added, with a hint of sadness in his voice. Akira nodded in solemn understanding.

 

“How does this work to remind one of their memories?”

 

“You see the flower preserved inside, yes? It is a periwinkle, or as some like to call it, the sorcerer’s violet. It aids in the recollection of precious memories, particularly those of love and friendship.”

 

“With the amulet as a catalyst, it responds to the holder’s heart and conjures up an image of their memories of a someone or someones close to them. The one who made and gifted this amulet described it as akin to walking in a dream.”

 

“However, it works best if you use it in a place of significance to both you and those who you wish to see.”

 

“Is that so…” Akira lowered his head in defeat. There was no way for him to return to the little Tokyo park where the cats played. He might not ever see them again.

 

“Well, dear Sage, ‘tis only a recommendation,” Snow said, in an attempt to comfort Akira.

 

Smiling, White added, “We said ‘works best,’ but it should not be wholly necessary.” 

 

Akira nodded and looked back down at the periwinkle within the amulet. If a simple flower could be imbued with the power to manifest any individual’s memories, then the rules for its magic must be as flexible as the wizards’ spells. An idea struck him. 

 

​

–

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The next day, Akira prepared to go into Central Country’s main city with a map of the country and the amulet in tow. However, before he could set foot outside of the Magic Headquarters, Snow and White caught up with him.

 

“We will watch over you from afar.”

 

“It would break our hearts should any danger befall you.”

 

“Snow, White. Thank you.” With that, Akira waved them goodbye and exited the manor. As he began walking on the stone path outside, Akira heard the fluttering of bird wings behind him.

 

Following his map, Akira began the journey towards his chosen destination: the Central Tower. Even if he couldn’t return to his world, Akira figured the tower would be effective enough as a catalyst. The elevator there brought him from his world to this one, after all.

 

He walked at a brisk pace, barely stopping to admire Central Country’s European-style buildings or make note of the bustling crowds of people strolling through the city. He desperately hoped that the amulet would respond to his heart. He needed to see his dearest friends again.

 

When Akira arrived in front of the Central Tower, the sky was bathed in shades of orange and pink. He stopped to catch his breath, his weariness from walking nonstop finally catching up to him. Once some energy returned to him, Akira took out the amulet from his bag. Then he rushed inside to the elevator, holding the amulet close to his heart.

 

Inside the elevator, Akira held out the amulet in front of him, watching the shards of color dance along the walls. However, with each moment the elevator soared higher and higher, nothing else around Akira changed. He remained within the elevator’s ornate walls, grounded in reality.

 

“Ah. Maybe I needed a spell…” As much as this was a personal undertaking, Akira wished he had the Sage’s Wizards by his side now. Snow and White couldn’t be far, but Akira was made anxious by the fact they haven’t appeared to him at all. In that way, he knew they were being considerate. Nevertheless, Akira’s loneliness grew, and he had to stop himself from crying.

 

Upon arriving at the top floor, Akira looked out the windows wistfully as the sun sank behind the horizon. What if all this were for naught, simply because he wasn’t a wizard?

 

“I’m sorry, everyone.” Akira’s fingers closed around the amulet and he brought his hand down to his side in defeat.

 

“Kuro. Tama. Hanako. Tora. I just wanted to see you again…”

 

Suddenly, the periwinkle within the amulet emitted a faint glow. The petals were shimmering in brilliant violet waves, slowly spreading out from the confines of the gem and the gold frame. A rush of warmth spread through the amulet, startling Akira.

 

He watched  as the flower pulsed with magical energy and the waves radiated across his palm and spread to his body, then enveloped the whole room, casting it in a starry veil.

 

The stony walls and floor of the tower faded, giving way to trees and grassy fields. Akira wondered for a moment if the amulet had transported him elsewhere in the world until he saw sleek gray buildings behind the tree tops.

 

“Is this… Tokyo?”

 

Suddenly, Akira heard a faint mew from behind him. A brown striped tabby was sitting gracefully and looking up at Akira with wide green eyes.

 

“Tora!” The tiger-like cat stood up and trotted towards Akira. He knelt down to pet Tora and gasped at the softness of his fur against his hand.

 

Soon he felt other familiar beings rub against his legs, vying for his attention. Akira smiled and sat down so he could more comfortably indulge in the cats’ affection. Even if this was a projection of a memory, this moment with the cats felt just as real as it had in the past.

 

He took a moment to look up to see if any other feline friends would approach, but was met with the sight of vibrant flowers in the grass. Numerous sparkling periwinkles had bloomed all over, taking Akira’s breath away.

 

“Those flowers… They never grew in the park.”

 

“I see,” a familiar voice said. When Akira turned around, he saw Snow and White materialize into their usual human forms.

 

“The amulet doesn’t just reflect your memories as you saw them. It also reflects your feelings surrounding them.”

 

“Look, I see more flowers blooming over there.” When Akira glanced over to where White was looking, he saw threads of pink begonia buds sprouting up around a small golden cat, who was sitting under the shade of a large tree.

 

“Ah, Hanako!” Akira got up carefully, so as not to agitate the cats that cuddled around him, then walked to where Hanako was sitting and gently reached a hand out towards her.

 

Hanako shrunk back from Akira with fear bright in her eyes. Akira slowly knelt down.

 

“It’s okay.” Akira stayed where he was, waiting patiently for the young cat to approach him. Hanako cautiously stepped forward, stretching her head to sniff Akira’s hand. Satisfied, she rubbed her head affectionately against his palm. When Akira scratched under her chin, a few geraniums burst forth around Hanako.

 

“My, I almost feel quite envious.”

 

“You had very lovely friends, dear Sage.” The twins were wearing their usual mischievous smiles on their faces, but their eyes sparkled with kindness.

 

Akira hummed in agreement. 

 

As Hanako rolled over, she and the rest of Akira’s friends dissipated in a flurry of stardust, with the park and flowers soon following suit: Akira and the twins were now standing in the middle of the night sky. 

 

Akira suddenly felt his heart drop to his stomach as he fell through the sky. When he looked down, he was sitting upon a broom whose handle looked like a twisted lollipop. Then Akira looked around him and saw Murr, Cain, Heathcliff, and Shylock flying in front of the Great Catastrophe.

 

A twinkling sound like wind chimes resounded to signal the appearance of the Trail of Flowershards flowing gently like a starry river. But instead of broken petals scattered through the wind, each shard bloomed into a whole flower, creating a flower-laden path through the sky.

 

“These are…?” Akira asked as he tried to reach out to touch the flowers in the sky, just as he did with the shards from that first night in this world.

 

“Lilacs. They’re also connected to memories. But more importantly, they represent the first occurrences of love.”

 

“We’re quite touched, dear Sage.”

 

The night sky brightened from a dark navy blue into a vibrant cerulean and loud cheers could be heard in the air. The white walls of Granvelle Castle appeared on Akira’s sides and the white-clad figures of all the wizards appeared one by one.

 

They all waved down at the citizens of Central Country, and Akira found himself smiling as proudly as he did back at the actual ceremony. He and his wizards were finally united for the first time as one. And he hoped their various fates would weave together towards a happy ending.

 

Vines grew out from underneath the wizards, enveloping the walls in green. Then the people of Central Country, the wizards, and the palace all faded away into the green one by one. The vines disintegrated into the brick walls of Central Tower, bringing Akira and the twins back into reality. The amulet’s glow faded and the gem returned to a dull navy. However, the periwinkle seemed to shine in a brighter purple than before.

 

Akira stood in awe.

 

“Dear Sage, are you alright?” Snow asked.

 

Akira turned around with a content smile. “Yes.” Then he glanced at the amulet before looking back at Snow and White.

 

“Thank you for watching over me all this time. And for becoming my precious friends,” Akira said while bowing, trying to pour all the gratitude in his heart out to them.

 

He would always miss his best friends back in Tokyo. But even so, the wizards filled his heart in their own way. Akira was never alone, whether in his own world or this one.