"Master, is something the matter?"
"…Ah, no. It's nothing. I was just lost in thought. Nothing important."
"Sorry for holding you up so long. It's been a while since Mariel's come home. Take your time and enjoy it, Mariel."
"Thank you. Everyone, I kept you waiting for me. Let's get going now."
"Yeah, first, let's find an inn. I'm not used to horseback riding—my legs are shaking."
Wataru tried to act normal, but his heart was pounding hard in his chest. He could feel it—he was on the verge of uncovering something significant.
But what exactly that was, he didn't know yet.
There simply weren't enough pieces to see the full picture, not yet. Still, one thing was certain: something ominous was lurking beneath the surface, and that alone made him uneasy.
"Don't worry, Master. If anything happens, we'll protect you," said Air.
