As the Sword God, Cain was always the first to protect Eris when danger struck. Every so often, he even brought her little surprises in everyday life.
He had personally taught her everything she knew about swordsmanship and magic.
Come to think of it, Cain had spent far more time with her than her father or grandfather ever had.
Her days with Cain in the Fittoa Region were Eris's happiest memories.
And now, Cain was the only family she had left by her side.
Her father, her mother, her grandfather, Ghislaine, Auber... Something terrible might have happened to them...
Eris knew that all too well. She had long since prepared herself for the worst.
She had even made up her mind: even if she had to resort to underhanded means, she would keep Cain by her side forever.
After losing so many loved ones, Cain was her only source of strength. She never wanted to lose another family member.
She wouldn't mind offering herself to him, either. If it was Cain, she would do so gladly. She was only afraid of causing him trouble.
I wish I could grow up sooner... I wonder if there's a spell that could make me an adult in an instant.
Eris clung to Cain like an octopus. She sniffed gently until she was sure her scent had rubbed off on him, then nestled against his chest, satisfied, and fell fast asleep again.
Fortunately, the party had two mages skilled in household magic, so heating water for baths was no trouble. None of them carried the stale smell of a long journey.
The next morning.
Cain yawned and quietly waited for his apprentice, still sprawled across him, to wake up.
Eris lay pressed against him like a loyal dog guarding its greatest treasure.
The comparison