The Great Forest's rainy season was renowned throughout the world for its peculiar persistence and length.
Endless threads of rain pattered against the Beastfolk's towering treehouses, and against the hearts of every traveler taking temporary shelter there.
Ever since Cui Ciyou had defeated Gyes Dedoldia with overwhelming strength at the training grounds and cleared Ghislaine's name that day,
the young chief of the Dedoldia Tribe, the cat tribe, had fallen into a prolonged silence.
Thanks to the Beastfolk's powerful natural healing, his injuries had largely healed within a few days, but the shock deep within him was far more difficult to settle.
Cui Ciyou's words-"I defeated you using the fighting style Ghislaine taught me, using Ghislaine's fists!"-echoed over and over in his mind like a curse.
His daughter, Mini Tona, clamoring every day to learn "Aunt Ghislaine's swordsmanship" only left him more agitated.
Yet he also had no choice but to begin reassessing the younger sister he had long since branded a disgrace to the family.
The two chiefs of the Doldia Tribe, Gustav and Bruddo,
had also spoken privately with Gyes after learning the full story.
They had not reproached him much. They had merely sighed and told him about Ghislaine's isolation and struggles when she was younger.
And about the astonishment her talent had inspired in the Swordsman who had taken her away all those years ago.
These scattered pieces of information gradually intertwined in Gyes's heart with the image Cui Ciyou and Alice described: a strong, dependable Ghislaine who could even be called gentle. For the first time, his perception of his sister began to shift.
Meanwhile, the members of the Saviors had their own things to do during the long rainy season.
"Alice! How many times have I told you? The heat! Controlling the heat is