To Hildegard, the Ryan before her was utterly unfamiliar. The only thing she could sense was that he was not a subject of Nostria.
He did not look like one of those Bull-men who would go mad, either.
"Who are you?"
The question made Ryan pause briefly. Then he raised his head and looked toward the blazing sun.
"We are all the chosen of the Sun."
Hildegard accepted that explanation and shook her head.
"The Monarch's throne belongs to my brothers. I do not wish to let the conflict grow."
Ryan was not in a hurry. He came before Hildegard and pressed a hand to his chest.
"Ryan Clayton."
"Hildegard Augustus."
"Forgive my bluntness, Your Highness, but those brothers of yours may not be as brave as you imagine. If you could become the new Monarch, that would be for the best."
Ryan had not decided whether having a Monarch with the Sun's Divine Blessing rule this world would be good or bad for him, but that did not stop him from testing the waters.
He still knew far too little about the Hildegard before him.
Hildegard still shook her head.
"Then, Your Highness, if you change your mind, you can come find me in Count Elias City at any time."
Ryan offered no more advice, instead looking toward the north of Glorious Fortress.
"Those vanished monsters will soon appear before the subjects of Nostria once again."
"I hope this world is already prepared."
Ryan had only just finished speaking, and before his gaze could withdraw, his pupils had already contracted and widened with the light and shadow in the distance.
An enormous creature appeared at the end of the horizon. As the dust shook off, smooth prism-like shapes were gradually exposed beneath it. Two floating crystal-like stone pillars gave