A Sliver of Hope

The hazy night had passed, and dawn was approaching through the twilight mist.

Outside a half-abandoned town, at the end of an unnoticed path, a beautiful young girl in neat leather armor gently helped a handsome young man in armor onto the back of a towering Horned Dragon Beast.

"Ganatica, don't worry. I'll lead the troops to help Mr. Tauno. Your mission is more important than mine now. Our family's last remaining treasure needs you to retrieve it. That is the key to saving everyone."

As she watched Ganatica seated atop the Horned Dragon Beast, Pandora smiled like a modest young wife awaiting her husband's triumphant return. Yet while she spoke, her gaze never left the young man's face, as though she wanted to etch every trace of Ganatica's expression deep into her soul.

"Pandora... is this really all right? There may be considerable danger on Tauno's side. Although that guy Axe has tied down the Knight Order's main force, still..."

Feeling slightly embarrassed beneath Pandora's gaze, Ganatica turned his head aside a little as he worriedly reminded her.

In truth, Ganatica had found Pandora somewhat strange recently. Just a day ago, she had suddenly become absent-minded. Then, when Tauno's letter asking for help arrived, Pandora had anxiously stopped Ganatica from personally leading the army to rescue their companion. Her reasons had also been persuasive enough that the anxious "hero" could not refute them.

Pandora's original words had roughly meant this:

"Ganatica, you're so weak right now that you can't even use battle aura. You need someone to support you just to stand up. Wouldn't going to the battlefield in that condition only damage morale? It would be better for me to command the army and organize the rescue in your place, while you take our family heirloom and help