story_iris_1_1

Hm-hmm~♪ And this is the place?

Yep.

Raymond Bernard. He left his keepsake with us 37 years ago.

A fairytale collection?

Hm. It must be written by the child himself. It's very callow...

But it leaves a deep impression in parts, too.

Hm?

Show me, show me.

'One day, I will make everyone read the fairytales that I write.'

Verbatim by him, on the first page.

Fairytales...

What I'll say is, I could choke on the smell of this place. And all the hooligans we've crossed! Shameful manners.

Beautiful childhood dreams, and wretched present.

Every undertaking feels just as disharmonious as this.

Whoever's outside, you can come in.

I've told you, I've got no money! I'm flat broke!

I'm sorry... I'm not saying I won't repay...

But soon! Real soon, I'll have the money! Cross my heart!

(Er... he shouldn't be in at this time.)

(Did Granny get something wrong?)

(I don't know. We certainly don't tend to run into things like this.)

(But there's a chance Granny set this up on purpose.)

(Why?)

(Because this is a fairytale.)

(And the fairy always shows up to the right person, at the right time.)

I am Iris, Master of the Castle of Dreams, Keeper of the Cradle.

As per our agreement, I've come to return something once left to the castle.

Oh, you're door-to-door people... Sorry, I'm not buying, couldn't afford it anyway.

And to be deathly honest, I'm surprised your boss is sending little girls out to this lonely a place.

Honestly, why can nobody just listen politely until someone is done speaking?

This is the fairytale collection you agreed to leave with the Castle of Dreams.

...Castle of Dreams? Sorry, not a brand I've heard of.

Where... Where did you get this?

You're pulling my leg!

Hey, what are you flustered for? The Castle of Dreams, the one from the fairytales, you know.

Iris is the heir, the fairy who gives children wonderful hopes.

Ting-a-ling! Fairytales are in fact real.

Seeing as the agreement is fulfilled...

I think we'll be leaving now. We hope the fairytales you wrote stay with you forevermore.

The fairy... Hold on, wait!

Stop right there!

What do you think you're up to?!

Sorry... misunderstanding.

I've no clue if you're real or not... but—you look so much like it! So much!

Your clothes... your speech, everything.

What utterly rude remarks.

We're not concoctors of lies here. Do you think we're swindling you?

Should we punish him?

No, no, okay.

Today is... a child's birthday, here at the orphanage.

I want you, as fairies, to come celebrate his birthday with me.

Give him... give him something as fine as a fairytale to remember.

That's... what he wishes for, and all.

The wish of a child?

If what you're saying is true...

It is, true as all!

Creating and safeguarding wonderful memories for each and every child...

Yes, it <i>is</i> a fairy's duty.

Um... I need to tell you in advance, though, the boy might be a little... different.

Well, no, he's a good kid. But...

Anyway, no matter what happens, please don't get mad at him.

And most importantly, don't blow the act! I beg you!

What's his name? How old is he this year?

Jurian.

He's turning... seven, no... let's say eight.

You don't even remember his age?

Ugh...

Eight... eight.

(I think something's not quite normal about this man. Are you sure about going?)

(I'll be covering you, of course.)

(Grown-up or child, no one can fool a fairy when they lie.)

(He's not entirely told us the truth...)

(But what I'm more concerned about is the boy.)

Jurian.

Where are you hiding?

He's been sneaking glances at us the whole time. Maybe something's up with him?

It might be... because you've been holding onto your scissors.

Hmph. Well, somebody's got to be keeping an eye on the grown-ups.

Careful!

Bena, you've scared him.

He's just a child.

You're... blue. Pretty.

Purple... dangerous...

(Hey!)

(No wonder Raymond said he was only eight.)

(He's been left to remain in that period, forever... a child.)

Good evening, Jurian.

I'm Iris, the blue one.

Just like the sky when there's no sign of Catastrophe.

Iris... sky.

That's Bena, the purple one. Poisonous wisteria.

But her poison is only for bad people, who try to be sneaky.

Heheh.

(You... Don't give me that!)

Baddie...

Uncle isn't baddie.

(He's hiding from us on purpose, and especially Raymond.)

(Is Jurian calling himself a bad person?)

Jurian, bad people don't meet the fairy from the stories.

Your uncle told me today was your birthday.

...Birthday.

That's right, your birthday!

Yes, birthday!

Today's my birthday! Uncle.

So the fairy from the stories is here, to celebrate your birthday.

Stories... fairy. New friend?

Um... yes, yes, yes!

Hello...

Jurian, might hurt... dangerous.

Can't meet.

Oh, Jurian!

He's done a runner.

You didn't frighten him, did you?

It wasn't me that scared him off.

(Why haven't I seen any more of the orphanage's children?)

(Are the two of them the only ones here?)

Jurian, listen now.

Open up the door, okay?

Leave him be for a while.

You'll only make him more nervous at this rate.

Sorry... I think it's been too long since he's seen a stranger.

He's not usually like this... he's good.

Meet a fairy from the stories. Celebrate a birthday together.

Raymond, was that really Jurian's wish?

I'll be frank, I've noticed how he avoided you the whole time.

Keeping a distance on purpose, even denying contact.

He... fears you.

No!

No he doesn't!

Chop-chop!

Agh... I'm sorry. I mean...

Jurian's just a bit...

Uncomfortable.

I haven't spent time with him in a long while, too, so...

(It seems I'm right.)

(The one longing for a fairytale here is Raymond, not Jurian.)

You know liars are bad people, and bad people get banished from fairytale worlds.

I'm not, I'm not!

If you don't want this story to end like that...

Is it just the two of you here? Where are the rest of the children?

Be honest this time.

*sigh*...

If you must ask.

It was years and years ago, I only adopted a child out of a moment of softheartedness.

But after that... well, more and more children came in, and before I even knew it, my place became an orphanage.

I didn't realize... my home would get so run-down over time, though. The state it's in now...

With so many years gone by, most of the children have left. Jurian's the only one who's stayed here.

You've seen—how he is.

Oh, I think that's the cake people come to deliver.

Just hang around a while longer, just until we're done celebrating. Please, I'm begging you!

You're such professionals, honestly, I can pay you extra! You have my thanks a million times!

How overboard.

What are we, actors for hire from some flimsy Victorian theater? I hardly think we have hourly rates.

They're all such lovers of the exquisite craft that makes up those stories—and yet they don't believe the fairytale happening right in their faces.

The more elaborate stories are always married to reality in some form. It comes in clear indicators, like signs on emergency exits, the kinds of things that make people jump for joy as if they've been redeemed.

But fairytales are too free, freeform to the point you might want to pray for something, but wouldn't even know how to start going about it.

That's why grown-ups don't believe. What they're after is help that comes with a clear price tag, anywhere, anytime.

But children will believe, because fairytales are the friends that accompany them. Even in the gloomy vales, there's no fear they're alone.

That said, haven't you realized?

Raymond is the one who's truly hoping for a fairy.

Him? You can tell he doesn't believe in fairytales from a mile away.

'Fairies' always bring miracles, after all. The fact he doesn't credit fairytales hardly matters.

As long as Jurian can believe, as long as he can have 'a perfect birthday'...

He'll accept it.

Sounds like he's using us.

I'll tail him.

Just don't do anything rash, Bena.

What about you?

I'll take a look around. If we're going to construct a fairytale dreamland, we need to feel things out, think them through, know them top to bottom.

And need I say, this is quite real. The child isn't feigning it. I can't just toss this aside.

If Raymond does intend on doing anything bad...

I'll be punishing him.

Chop-chop!

You really can't just hang on one moment?

We're in a hurry to get rich, us brothers.

Fork it over. Whatcha got this time?

Wait.

Just this much.

Oh, yeah!

Quiet!

What? Scared your dumb boy's going to find out?

What's it matter if he does? Just do him in, job's done.

And my money?

Here.

You really are...

A bunch of terrible children.

The hell are you?!

By the looks of things, plenty of children did once live here.

Almost all the rooms have been turned into child's bedrooms, and the place is littered with child-sized odds and ends.

It's odd though... Jurian's room is so far away from all the rest of them.

It's not even on the same floor.

But it is very close to Raymond's.

Oh?

Is this a group photo of them all?

One... two...

Thirteen children.

And Jurian's absent?

Hmm, hmm~♪ Why do we always travel so far flung, out from the city, through village old and young~♪

No soul to answer, no soul to care, the shepherds leave the beasts in the wild to fare~♪

Don't shed a tear now, don't let it hurt...

Audrey, sit here.

Peewee, next to you.

A rusted silver-gray teapot, a faded building block...

These items lacking any life are, one by one, given names by Jurian.

In Jurian's nebulous perception, they are, and have always been, his playmates.

Good evening, Jurian.

Ah!

Oh, what's wrong?

Mess! Mess!

You can't make messy!

Spoon, knife...

Fork, fork...

Ah, I'm so sorry about that.

There, now we're all in place.

Mmm... can't make messy...

Do you remember me?

Mm. Blue.

Color like no Catastrophe. Friend.

That's right. No Catastrophe in the sky.

Won't you introduce me to all your lovely little friends?

...Jurian, can't touch.

Really, what a way to treat a fairy who's come to visit. It's incredibly rude, you know.

If that's how it must be...

Ah...

Now come wisplight and lamplight, come light up the way~♪

Come to our little tea party to stay~♪

The eyes of the 'children' are like a stage growing in all directions.

From afar comes a fairytale forest's morning breeze, wafting through the curtains.

The flames upon the candlesticks entwine like partners for the ball.

Here come the guards, and they dance and sing for us~♪

Carrying scissors to chop-chop away~♪

Jubilation.

Hops, skips, and jumps.

This is the magic that children are given.

Really beautiful! Pretty!

Not every child is lucky enough to witness a fairy's magic, you know.

So you must be a tremendously exceptional one.

Fairy, new friend...

Of course Miss Fairy is your friend.

Jurian, scared, to hurt friend.

A fairy is a friend that can't be hurt, you know. Not by anyone.

A friend who'll always be by your side.

Mmm?

If you lie, you're a gloompincer.

Audrey, this one. Talks a lot.

Peewee, always plays with me. Friend.

Ronnie, angry. Loud.

(The teapot with no lid is the talkative Audrey.)

(The faded building block, his best friend Peewee.)

(The necklace inlaid with jewels, the tempersome Ronnie.)

(These must be the things his past friends left behind.)

Jurian, can you answer a few questions for me?

Remember, if you lie, you're a gloompincer.

Mmm! If you lie, you're a gloompincer!

Well, then...

Raymond. Uncle. What is he?

...Uncle, always looking after Jurian. Looking after family.

So why do you always hide from him?

Uncle, won't see me.

I'm... a bad person, hurt Uncle.

Your friends, the other children. Where did they go?

Friends. Friends all gone.

Jurian hurt friends! Gone!

All gone!

Chop-chop!

Bad child caught!

Bad child! Jurian, bad child!

She doesn't mean you.

Jurian, bad child!

Bena, what's going on?

I sneaked my way over, but never saw even a hint of delicious birthday cake.

Instead, I found this rotten boy selling off any valuables here to a bunch of awful silly billies.

Wait! Listen, I can explain!

You're not exactly a first-timer either, are you?

Where are the other children? You can't have sold them off too, can you?

Uncle...

Jurian?! What are you doing out here?!

(Hushed) Can we please talk about this in private?

(Hushed) At least not in front of Jurian.

Heheh! Not a chance.

Purple... bad.

Jurian!

Goodness!

Arts?! He doesn't even have an Arts Unit!

Jurian! No!

Watch out!

Bena, you said Raymond was selling things off?

Quite right.

Jurian, wait!

Let go! Uncle can't touch!

You won't hit me!

Bena, no making a scene!

Really, the lot of you are incorrigible children.

Raymond, come here.

*sigh*.

Were those your partners in crime?

(No!)

Baddie!

Chop-chop!

Jurian, you must listen to the fairy.

We're off to find your friends.

Friends!

(There's still children here? Where?)

(Hmph. Nowhere. You <i>did</i> sell them all off, after all.)

(Inside every shipment of goods you sent off, I imagine.)

(No, that's ridiculous! I was only selling...)

(The longing and yearning Jurian has for his friends...)

(...is placed within the objects that signify them.)

(Eh?)

(What exactly was it that happened?)

Well?

Hm... I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but he's been infected.

How? All the other children are clearly fine.

How bad is it? Serious?

Serious or not, that's not your concern right now. You should be worried for yourself.

If... they find you've got an Infected here, then you won't just be legally hamstrung...

You'll put the rest of the children in peril.

Uncle, going out? Going out!

I, I'll carry stuff, this luggage.

Jurian, come with me.

You're moving onto this floor now. It'll be... easier, for your Uncle to look after you.

But...

And you have to tell me before you go downstairs.

If you want to go play, I'll play with you.

But...

No buts!

Bleeding... Uncle, you're bleeding.

Did I do a—do a bad thing?

Sorry... Jurian, bad child.

You never realized?

How hurt, how panicked he'd be when he couldn't find his friends?

I... I thought it was just stuff he couldn't find.

I thought he just talked to those things because he was so bored.

They're not things. They're friends.

His most precious friends, ever since you drove everyone away from him.

Save it!

What choice did I have?

Look at the state of me, a noble... heheh, heh...

I don't think anyone else except me would have even taken him in.

But I'm threadbare... selling valuables is the only way I can get by.

Raymond...

There was nothing I could do! Nothing!

I don't have the first clue about Oripathy... I was scared it'd spread to the other children.

But I... I couldn't abandon Jurian.

I...

Hurt... friends...

If you get close, hurt.

Uncle is, good person.

Sorry... I know you mean well.

You're professionals through and through.

But fake, in the end, is fake.

Fake...

Can't find... friends?

No need for pretenses now. You can take all the money I got selling the stuff.

I'd be lost for anything on the off-chance you got infected. You'd best go.

Fairy... blue, is fake?

Sorry, Jurian. I shouldn't be lying to you.

I just wanted to...

Jurian! Come back!

Jurian!

Where are you going?!

Leave... Jurian wants to leave.

Then... Audrey, and Peewee, and... they'll come back.

Jurian is leaving.

Don't, get close!

Jurian, just hold it!

Blue, color like no Catastrophe.

I really like, the stories in, dining hall.

Thank you.

Jurian, can't control.

Dangerous purple, dangerous.

Drastic measures it is.

It seems naughty children need to be taught a little lesson!

(Bena, drag Raymond over as well!)

Dark! Where is Jurian?

Where is this?

Don't be afraid. I'm by your side.

Blue.

There is a person holding onto you. Are they hurt?

Hand... blue... not like blue.

Answer me, now. Are they hurt?

No... very warm.

Holding tight... Jurian can feel, pulse.

Very fast pulse.

Then you can open your eyes now.

The one holding your hand is your uncle, Raymond.

Do you see? You won't hurt anyone.

*cough* Ahem...

Well, this is a little... embarrassing.

Jurian, not purple.

You're blue too. Okay?

Mmm. No Catastrophe in the sky.

The purest, clearest sky.

But... Jurian's friends.

Remember the wish you made to me?

That's your agreement with the fairy now.

Once made, it's never to be broken.

As for you. Hmph.

Me?

As is perfectly clear, you built a candy house straight from a fairytale by your own two hands.

Even as it melted and crumbled bit by bit, you never chose to leave.

But somehow, you forgot the most important thing.

What... What did I forget?

*sigh*... What a stubborn, blind grown-up you are.

No wonder nobody of age has found their way to the Castle of Dreams in so long.

Do you have on you, right now, the item you left with the Castle?

Eh? Oh, oh, oh.

The children hid inside their home, but with a single puff, the terrible beast blew off their roof.

The children panicked and ran outside, but with a single tap, the ferocious beast destroyed the last things they had.

With nowhere left to go, the children followed a trail of breadcrumbs, and in the forest they found a candy house.

That candy house you built for them was as sturdy as a castle.

And that is a fairytale ending.

Mhm.

But what kind of ending is it, really, to have nothing aside from a castle?

The evil witch may well gobble up everyone within.

The tyrant king would soon make slaves of them all.

What really matters is what stories take place inside the castle.

What did you write on the first page?

'One day, I will make everyone read the fairytales that I write.'

Yes, fairytales.

We see to it that wonderful, hopeful fairytales take place, inside those tiniest castles in the depths of every child's heart.

We use the castle to keep them safe and sound, to protect them.

Don't we?

And yet all I gave them was fear.

I'd forgotten the fairytales I wrote myself.

But you still believe.

How else would Bena and I be here?

And of course, it isn't just for your sake.

It's for Jurian's, too.

Blue... Iris. Blue is called Iris.

A fairy, right?

Are... you really real?

Indeed I am.

'Where am I?'

So thought Jurian as he woke up in the forest. He remembered how if he followed the forest trail, he would find the way to the Castle of Dreams.

Jurian walked and walked, until he found a teapot with no lid.

It was the talkative Audrey.

'Jurian, Jurian! You've got to hear this, yesterday, I saw a manglerbeast in the forest burying honey in the ground.'

'And then! And then!'

'And then he walked around and around, and around and around, waiting for the honey to grow, hahahaha!'

Jurian and Audrey walked and walked, until they found a necklace inlaid with jewels.

It was the tempersome Ronnie.

'Hmph! I was waiting forever for you.'

'Are you thick, Jurian? Manglers don't bury honey, they wouldn't do that.'

Jurian and Audrey and Ronnie walked and walked, until they found a faded building block.

It was the faithful playmate Peewee.

'Come on, come on!'

'We're almost to the Castle of Dreams!'

Jurian and Audrey and Ronnie and Peewee walked and walked.

Until a path in the forest opened up before them.

There, the castle, every bit as dreamlike as its name, opened its grand gate wide.

Out before them came but a fairy dressed in blue, who gave an elegant greeting.

'Welcome to the Castle of Dreams.'

'I am Iris, Master of the Castle of Dreams, Keeper of the Cradle.'

I've had a talk with Granny. Jurian will be staying at the Castle of Dreams.

He'll greet and guide every child lucky enough to pay the Castle a visit.

Thank you. Really, I don't know how to thank you enough. That you'd do all this for Jurian.

You needn't thank us.

It's the fairytale ending children ought to have.

Mm, mhm.

I've sold off the manor and the rest of my belongings, and found a new place in the city, and a new job.

I'll be working with orphanages for as long as I live.

I'll see that every child hears my fairytales.

Once something is returned from the Castle of Dreams, the time magic loses its effect.

You'll have to take care of your fairytale collection yourself from now on.

I will.

Then I believe Jurian, and the rest of the children, will very much look forward to the day they can hear of the fairytales you write.