The two men slowly stepped out of the shadows. Kaguolet looked at one of them—a powerfully built, broad-shouldered figure who seemed vaguely familiar. As he drew closer, Kaguolet finally made out the yellow markings and the head of a lion.
The escort officers also saw the newcomers. The two of them stared at the man tremblingly, unable to breathe beneath the kingly aura emanating from the beastkin.
"Long time no see, Kaguolet," the beastkin man said.
"Golden Lion Asheer." Kaguolet recognized him. Though they had met only once, that commanding presence had left a deep impression on him. This was the beastkin's next Beast King, the Golden Lion of the Elzeran Continent.
"So this is the legendary Kaguolet?" someone beside Asheer asked.
Kaguolet looked at the man, who seemed entirely shrouded in black mist. Though dawn had just broken and the view was clear, Kaguolet still could not make out the man's face.
"That's right." Asheer's voice was rough. "I just didn't expect you to have fallen so low. What a decline in the times."
"Then let's get started." As he spoke, the man concealed within the black mist produced a black-and-red longsword in his hand.
"Ghost Sword!" Kaguolet said in surprise. "So you're the heir to Ghost Sword."
"Sharp eyes." Ghost Sword smiled.
"Ghost Sword has always been passed down to a single successor. Both the sword and the name are inherited—everyone who wields this sword is called Ghost Sword. But Ghost Sword hasn't appeared on the Elzeran Continent for many years," Kaguolet said.
"Not appearing doesn't mean disappearing." Ghost Sword looked at Kaguolet.
Kaguolet found the man deeply mysterious. Since the legend of Ghost Sword began, it was said that everyone who had seen Ghost Sword's true face had died.
"Y-you two came to take Lord Kaguolet back?"