I've found you at last! Vandesdelca, you traitor!
What do you want with Master Van?!
What? What happened?
We were blown away.
This was your first real fight, wasn't it?
Is that bad?
There is a civilian coach in the way.
To the coach there, out of the way!
You'll be caught in the crossfire!
Awesome! What's that?
The army's chasing those bandits.
Bandits?
Remember, the ones I mistook you for. The Dark Wings.
Fon slot detected. The enemy has set off fonic artes using the Fifth Fonon!
Oh dear. They intend to escape by blowing up the bridge, do they?
Tartarus, full stop! Activate fonic barrier!
Roger! Tartarus, full stop! Fonic barrier, activated!
That's...!
The Malkuth military's newest land dreadnought, the Tartarus.
M-Malkuth military?!
Then, the capital we were heading to is...
The home to His Majesty Emperor Peony the Ninth, Grand Chokmah.
I was mistaken.
Whaaat?!
Do you really want to get off here?
Yes, we still have somewhere to go to.
Okay then, take care.
What do you mean, we're in the Malkuth Empire?!
It appears we were blown this far away.
What's that?
This is Engeve.
The Rotelro Bridge from earlier just got destroyed,
so our only choice would be to cross the border by sea.
Darn it, we have to walk again?
That's a small village.
If you compare it to Baticul, then I suppose it is.
What the heck is this?
What the hell are you doing?!
Engeve is famous for raising crops and livestock.
Oh, so cool...!
What's up with him? It's like he's...
Oh! These look good...
How about some? They're sweet and delicious.
Engeve's apples are the best in the world.
Sure, I'll take one.
Ah, sir! You forgot to pay!
Why do I have to pay?
What was that?!
You can get your payment at the manor later.
Don't mess with me, you thief!
This brat stole an apple from me!
What?
Could he be behind the recent storehouse robberies recently?
Hey!
Let me go! I didn't do anything!!
My, my.
I'm sorry for having you come all the way here.
Rose, we've got trouble!
Hush! I have an important guest from the military here. Keep it down!
It's the food thief!
He might be a member of the Dark Wings!
Let me go!
Huh? This kid?
He took from my shop without paying.
I told you, that's-
Gentlemen, calm down.
I understand the problem.
If he really is with the Dark Wings, I’ll be responsible of his interrogation.
And who are you?
I am from the Malkuth Imperial Forces, 3rd Division, Colonel Jade Curtiss.
And you are?
I'm Luke! Luke fon-
Have you forgotten? We're in enemy territory.
If you reveal who you are, you won't get off that easily.
We were on our way to Chesedonia, but we accidentally took the wrong coach and wound up here.
Also, the Dark Wings have been chased off by the Malkuth military to the other side of Rotelro Bridge.
Ah, I see.
You two were riding that coach I ran into earlier.
What is this about, Colonel?
Just as she said, what looked to be the Dark Wings had escaped to Kimlascan territory.
Besides, it seems that the food thieves aren't human.
Fon Master Ion...
I've investigated the food storehouse.
I found this in a corner of the room.
This is fur from a sacred cheagle.
Yes. It was probably a cheagle that raided your storehouses.
There, you see? I told you it wasn't me.
All right, all right, all right.
Now we know the truth, get back to work everyone.
Yeah, that's right...
Excuse me!
Here.
It's for the apple. Please forgive us.
Luke, you apologize as well.
Why should I?
Ah, it's fine.
I was at fault too.
Later.
I'm sorry about that, you two.
Food is the source of all our income, so we've all been uptight lately.
Tch. Why do these things happen to me?
Why is Fon Master Ion here...?
Fon Master Ion?
He's the supreme leader of the Order of Lorelei.
Hold on a sec.
I'm sure I heard Ion has gone missing.
What could this mean?
It didn’t look like he was kidnapped…
Master Ion!!
Ion?
Honestly, where could Master Ion have run off to?
Say.
Could you be his Fon Master Guardian?
Yep, I am!
Do you know where he is?
Fon Master Ion is over at Mrs. Rose's house.
Really?!
Thank you so much!
Master Ioooon~!
Ah, heeey!
We could've asked her...
But what is it, this Fon Master-something?
Fon Master Guardians are a special force of the Oracle Knights who serve as a personal guard for the Fon Master.
If she's accompanying him, that means his journey is officially recognized by the Order.
Then what was with that info about him missing?
Yes?
What's wrong?
Say, you have anything to write with?
To write with?
Here.
What are you going to do?
My diary.
A diary? You... keep one?
So what?
Personally, it's a bother, but the doctor said I have to, so...
The doctor...?
I don't have any memory of my childhood, from the time before I was kidnapped by Malkuth.
So, since I don't know when I might get amnesia again, they told me to keep a diary.
I'm sorry. I didn't know something like that happened...
Don't be so kind all of a sudden.
It doesn't sound right.
Oh yeah, what do you know about cheagles? Those sacred beasts or whatever.
They're herbivores that live in the woodlands of the East Rugnica Plains.
Along with the founder Yulia, they’re one of the symbols of the Order of Lorelei.
All right, we're going there tomorrow!
To do what?
Catch one and drag it back to the villagers here.
There's no way we could capture a wild animal in this forest!
But I won't be satisfied until we get one.
Hey, look! Isn't he that Ion kid?
Watch out!
Hey, are you all right?
I-I'm okay, I just used an overly strong Daathic fonic arte.
Here.
Thank you.
Ah, you two were in Engeve yesterday.
I'm Luke.
Luke. That means "light of the sacred flame" in Ancient Ispanian, doesn't it?
It's a nice name.
R-really?
I'm from the 1st Platoon, Oracle Knights Intelligence Division, under Grand Maestro Mohs,
Locrian Sergeant Tear Grants.
Are you Van's younger sister? I've heard about you.
You're Master's sister?!
Then why are you after his life?
What is the meaning of this?
Ah, no, this is between us-
Don't avoid the question!
What's that thing?
It's a cheagle.
How cute!
That little... I've finally found you! Just you wait...!
Would it be better not to inquire about Van?
I'm sorry, It relates to my hometown.
I understand.
Damn, where did it go?
What's wrong?
I lost it.
Their home should be further this way.
You seem to know a lot about them.
Cheagles are sacred to the Order of Lorelei,
That's why I would like to know what drives them to do such things.
So our goal is the same.
Then I guess there's no other way, come with us.
Thank you very much! Sir Luke, you are very kind.
Wh-who is kind? Stop talking nonsense and let's go.
Also, you can drop the honorifics.
Yes, Luke.
So it's here...
Wh-What the?!
They really are cute!
Please let us through. We wish to speak with the elder.
You think the monsters can understand you?
Legend has it that Yulia, the founder of the Order, made a pact with Cheagles and received their help.
Surely-
Are you related to Yulia Jue?
It really spoke!
This is the power of the ring we received from Yulia when the pact was formed.
Are you related to Yulia Jue?
Yes. I am Fon Master Ion, from the Order of Lorelei.
Are you the cheagle elder?
Yes, indeed.
Hey, monster, you're the ones who stole food from Engeve, right?
I see. So, you came to exterminate us?
Why have you done such a thing?
One of our members set fire to the northern region.
As a result, a pack of ligers who lived there moved to this forest in order to feed on us.
Then, the reason you took food from the village...
We are giving them those in place of our members.
There was no other way to save them.
That's...
It's no concern of mine.
It's a known fact that weaklings are the ones who are eaten.
That might be true, but...
What shall we do now?
What, you say? Take them to the village and-
If we do that, Engeve will be next for the ligers to prey upon.
I don't care about what happens to that village!
Let's negotiate with the Ligers.
What? There's no way you'd be able to speak with a monster!
It might be impossible for us, but we could bring a cheagle with us as an interpreter.
Well then, I shall lend my sorcerer's ring to that cheagle.
Ah wait, that's not the problem!
What's that little...?
This child is the one who caused the fire.
That little one? How?
Woah, he breathed fire!
We cheagles have the ability to breathe fire, although it usually only happens once we reach adulthood.
This child has managed to do it at this young age.
He wasn't able to control himself and set the forest on fire.
Even if he is a child, he must take responsibility for his actions.
I would like you to take him with you.
It can fly?
This is probably another power of the Sorcerer's Ring.
My name is Mieu, nice to meet you.
There's something very irritating about this thing.
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
Argh! That way of talking is so annoying!
I'll show you, you little-
I'm sorry! I'm sorry!
You bastard!!
Luke, stop that!
It's here. This is the liger queen's lair.
Hurry up and go in!
So that's the one.
Mieu, could you try to speak with the liger?
Okay!
Mieu!
She said "the eggs are just about to hatch, so go away!"
This is bad. Ligers guarding their eggs are more violent.
Her Highness is very angry because I burned her home down.
Maybe we'd better come back later.
But if we let the eggs hatch, her young will surely attack the village in search of food.
Then what should we do?
T-Thank you!
Don't get me wrong, I protected Ion, not you.
Oh no!
What did it say?
She said she'll kill us and give us to her children.
Then the negotiations are over.
Fon Master Ion, please stand back.
Luke!
Damn!
I, who stand in the full light of the heavens,
command thee, who opens the gates of hell.
Come forth, divine lightning!
This ends now.
Indignation!
You're...
Jade.
Master Ion!!
I'm so happy you're safe!
Anise, I'm sorry for worrying you.
You should be, I searched for you everywhere.
This left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.
You are kind...
or maybe just soft.
What did you say, you cold-hearted witch?!
My, my, a lover's quarrel, maybe?
Colonel Curtiss, we don't have that kind of relationship!
Who-
I was just joking.
And please call me "Jade", family names are too formal.
Jade, I'm sorry for acting on my own.
You used your power, didn't you, even though the doctor forbade you to?
I'm sorry.
Moreover, you have involved civilians.
Hey, he's apologizing, isn't he?
Stop complaining and forgive him already, old man!
Oh! And here I thought you would grumble about being involved.
This is unexpected.
It really is.
Anyway, let's get out of here.
Master Ion! Please wait!
Anise!
Yes, sir!
So cute!
Huh? What did you just say?
We are grateful that you have kept your promise, even after 2,000 years.
Aiding the cheagles is part of Yulia's teachings. It's only natural.
But the origin of the problem was Mieu causing a fire in the ligers' home.
I hereby banish Mieu from the cheagle tribe!
That's too severe!
Of course, I don't mean forever.
If I understand correctly, Mieu owes Master Luke his life.
Cheagles do not forget their debts.
Mieu will serve Master Luke for one cycle of seasons.
Whaaat?!
I'll do my best, Master.
Really, how did I get involved in this?
Please wait, Master!!
Don't follow me!
I wish I were in his place.
Master Ion!!
Welcome back, Master Ion.
Well done, Anise. Where's the Tartarus?
Just right in front of the forest.
You said to hurry, Colonel, so we all did our best to come as fast as we could.
Hey, what's the meaning of this?
Restrain them at once.
They are the ones who've been emitting the unknown Seventh Fonons!