Not until a voice came from the entrance to the deck.
"Shining, Liz?"
The newcomer seemed to have spotted her companions gazing into the distance long ago, along with the somewhat unfamiliar figure beside them.
Thus, Kazimierz's Radiant Knight approached with a hint of confusion and curiosity, coming to stand beside the three of them.
Then she saw a face she knew better than any other.
By the time she reacted, the wind had already lifted her into the air. Her feet dangled above the ground, and every bit of strength she might have used to keep moving was utterly ground away by the wind.
"Just as I expected. You really are an interesting person."
Gerald silently took in Shining's hand moving toward the hilt of her sword. Whether it was the urge to fight or the desire to test each other's skills, it was now overwhelmed by the anger of their reunion, leaving him with only a cold remark—
"Interesting enough to abandon your own sister and leave someone else to clean up your mess. And you just happened to stir up all this trouble while I was away from Kazimierz, then didn't come back even once for years."
"Tell me, Margaret."
Gerald brought his golden eyes close to the face of the Pegasus so similar to himself. Looking at her stunned expression, he asked each word distinctly:
"When will you, this irresponsible sister, be ready to return to your homeland?"
Interlude: Idle Chatter
"No, Shining."
As she was lifted into the air, Margaret's first thought was not to break free of the wind binding her, but to stop her companion. "He means no harm."
"I do," Gerald said expressionlessly. He caught the little Pegasus hanging in midair and viciously grabbed her ears, kneading them in his hands. "I'm