To fulfill that girl's wish, he put his own life in danger.
What a foolish boy.
However...
Ash Blake.
Being left here to die is not the fate you deserve.
Let us take a chance on the potential that you possess.
Dragonar Academy
Presented by Hatsuyuki
What's going on?
I-I can't move!
It's all right. There is no need to be afraid, Ash Blake.
I'll tend to every last inch of your body just right.
H-How do you know my name? Wh-Who are you?
Why are you doing this?
I am Navi.
I am conducting a ceremony of sorts.
So I may entrust you with my unborn self.
What a dream.
A Boy and His Dragon
Good morning.
I hope we end up in the same class again!
It's almost here.
The Aries Dragonar Festival.
I can't wait!
Will you be competing, Jessica-sama?
Perhaps. I have yet to decide.
Hey, look.
That's Ash Blake.
The school's number-one problem child.
I can't believe he made it into Senios.
His Pal hasn't even been born yet.
You know what they say: "Like owner, like dragon."
I bet his Pal'll be a problem child, too.
Raymond!
Don't you think you should do something about that short temper of yours?
I'm not going to just stand idly by and let them mock my Pal!
I see you haven't changed a bit.
Hey, Max.
Ash,
we're Senios now.
It's about time you developed some self-restraint.
I... I know, but...
Anyway, I sure hope we've got some cute girls in our class this semester!
You said the same thing last year.
Talk about arrested development.
The new semester has begun,
and everyone who has completed the basic Unios course
will now spend the next three years in the advanced Senios course.
At this stage, it goes without saying,
but dragons are exceptionally special entities.
The Seikoku mark you all bear
denotes your status as Breeders, and also acts as a portal to the astral flow,
linking you to your Pal, which is the partner dragon born from within you,
where it has been residing since the Orphan's Rite that bound you to your role.
Thus, no one but the master with whom it shares its life-force can ride a Pal.
Well, there are exceptions.
Lautreamont Knight Country gained its independence
when the Chevron Kingdom tasked it with dragon rearing and management.
Known for its proficiency in mechanical and magical engineering,
the Zepharos Empire is located to the north,
and we currently have a ceasefire agreement with them.
War, huh? That's such a foreign concept that it may as well exist on a different planet.
With that in mind, please conduct yourselves with the pride and responsibility befitting students
of Ansullivan Dragonar Academy.
Yes, ma'am!
Don't let it get to you, Ash.
Let what get to me?
Being an exception.
I don't care about that at all.
Still, how come you're the only one who can ride other people's Pals?
Don't ask me.
Out of my way!
Just standing around chit-chatting here, of all places?
Don't you realize how annoying that is?
S-Sorry!
What's with her attitude?
So stuck-up!
Oh, boy...
That was her, wasn't it? She'll be in our class for the first time this semester.
Yep.
Silvia Lautreamont.
The fourth princess of Lautreamont Knight Country.
Her grades are superb, but due to her pompous attitude and royal lineage,
people tend to steer clear of her.
So, you're not entering in the race, then?
Race?
That race.
The Aries Dragonar Festival.
Oh, no. I can't enter without a Pal of my own.
Don't tell me your left arm is still worrying you.
If you ask me, your Seikoku is really cool!
Yes, I'm worried!
President?
President Rebecca!
Here comes third-year class president Rebecca Randall.
The Archdragonar who commands Cu Chulainn,
the mightiest Maestro in the whole academy!
Not to mention the fact that she boasts a gorgeous face and a seductive body.
Just once, I'd love to take her on...
If you know what I mean.
You idiot.
Yikes! Do you think she heard me?
Don't ask me!
You traitor!
We will now commence our Dragonar battle training!
The weaponless techniques taught in this class form the basis of all Dragonar battle skills.
Thanks, Raymond.
Don't sweat it.
Good girl, Brigid.
Again, it is imperative that you touch no other dragon than your practice partner, so exercise extreme caution.
Doing so could cause a major accident.
Ready? Mount up!
Begin!
Whoa! Seeing so many dragons active at once is really something!
Go, Lancelot!
I'd expect nothing less of the Ice Blue Princess. What incredible power!
How's Ash faring?
Hey, this is fun!
Ah, seems his switch has been flipped.
Go, Brigid!
That's the way! Perform a body slam, then a rear dodge,
and then go straight for the jugular!
Yes!
Ash! Behind you!
It's okay, Lancelot!
Calm down!
I'm sorry, Brigid! So sorry!
Hang on! Hold it right there!
What do you think you're doing, Ash Blake?
I told you to be careful not to touch any dragon other than your own partner.
I'm sorry.
At least it seems that neither pair has sustained any serious injuries.
But don't let this happen again, all right?
Yes, sir.
Sorry, Your Highness. It was my fa—
What exactly do you think skill practice is for, anyway?
It's certainly not an opportunity for you to horse around on a dragon!
I-I wasn't horsing around.
This only happened because you were riding someone else's dragon.
Now just hang on a moment! He has his reasons for that...
That's right. You haven't been graced with a Pal yet, have you?
If it's anything like its master, that'll be one boneheaded dragon.
Or maybe it already died long ago.
Hey.
Is that supposed so be some sort of joke?
What did you just say?
Did I stutter?
I said, maybe your Pal is already dead.
Ash!
Sorry. When people poke fun at his Pal, he sort of flies off the handle.
That's why he's been dubbed a problem child.
You take that back!
What?
I'm not a nice enough guy to let that comment fly!
Then how about this?
If you can place higher than me at the upcoming Aries Dragonar Festival,
I'll take back what I said, and apologize to boot.
Sounds interesting.
I accept.
It's high time someone put you in your place.
Dragonar Academy
Again...
Don't make such a scary face.
Where's the fun in touching the body of a man who can't even move?
It is very fun. I find your reactions amusing.
So innocent.
Why are you doing this?
I've already told you.
I am doing this so I can entrust my unborn self to you.
I'm examining your body.
Examining?
Would you like to try examining my body, as well?
If only you could move your hands.
Stop making that scary face.
This will be the final night.
So let's have fun.
Final?
That's why tonight, I'm going to examine an area that I have yet to touch.
I'm going to measure the size of your most sensitive part.
Using my mouth.
W-Wait!
Navi...
Ash, are you awake?
Ash?
I'm awake! Just give me a minute.
Good morning, everyone!
We are fortunate to have been blessed with such fine weather today.
But let us dispense with the pleasantries.
The Aries Dragonar Festival is no ordinary race.
I'm counting on you again, Brigid.
For posterity, the results of this traditional Ansullivan event become public record.
Enter, and your sights should be firmly set on the center of the winners' podium.
But perhaps the prospect of winning alone is not motivation enough.
Therefore, to the winner, I shall present a ticket that will grant them one day-long date
with yours truly, Rebecca Randall!
Is she serious?
Hey, Ash, give Brigid back! I'm in!
Come on, now...
Silence!
Now a word from the competitors' representative.
First-year Senios student:
Her Highness, the Princess Silvia Lautreamont.
"One must do one's utmost, no matter the contest."
So goes my family motto.
That is all.
What was that? How disturbing!
She may be royalty, but don't you think she's acting a little too high and mighty?
Like brother, like sister.
Oh, yeah. Julius the dragonslayer.
Didn't he get his ass thrown in prison for breaking the biggest taboo?
Not so loud.
What an awful atmosphere.
To dredge up something from over a decade ago.
I bet she's suffering more than you'd think.
On your mark!
Go get 'em, Ash!
Here they come!
Go for it!
Don't lose!
Bringing up the rear was not the ideal start...
Lancelot's already flown far ahead.
Is that...
the princess and Lancelot?!
Those girls...
Hey, what is all this?
Let me be.
Blocking and team play aren't against the rules.
Oh, is that so?
What are you doing?!
Sorry! It's a borrowed dragon. Kinda hard to control.
Hey, that's Ash Blake.
The problem child?
Stay away from us!
Get back!
Looks like that problem-child reputation can come in handy!
Don't expect me to thank you.
Fine by me.
C'mon, Brigid!
I'm sorry, Brigid.
I shouldn't have tried to make an Earthia like you keep up with a Maestro.
So much for my match against the princess.
I wonder why I don't feel so bad about losing.
Maybe because I had a lot of fun back there, racing with her.
Is someone there?
Could be a dropout? Wait here. I'll go take a look.
That's weird.
What is this?
It's a Zapharos airship.
They were used in the last war.
Is that one of the Empire's mechanical weapons?
Are you an Imperial soldier?
Is that what you think?
Young man, how old are you?
Sixteen... but what does that matter?
How odd. To still have an immature dragon within you at your age...
How do you know that?
I can see it.
The curse I am afflicted with has granted me that ability.
Curse...?
Get away from Master Milgauss!
What's going on?
What did I do?!
Your luck ran out when you met us!
This is insane!
That's war for you!
But there's a ceasefire in place!
The Empire and the Kingdom are still at war behind the scenes!
She could've killed me. Why did she hesitate?
Let's go, Anya.
Right.
Am I really going to die like this?
Could this be... my Pal?
It's human... Not a dragon?
Why did a human appear? Although my Seikoku mark did react to it.
So I may entrust you with my unborn self.
It can't be... No, this isn't Navi. I mean, it looks like her, but... no.
Is this girl...
Is she my Pal?
Our super high-level love is really naughty
I demand attention, so I might just kiss you
Bring it on
Good evening
I want you to give me a supernova called love
How cliché
I think getting eloped would be a big thrill
Only my worldly desires are increasing
Despite my usually somber demeanor, I'm showing a hint of my girly side
I want to tell you how I really feel
Agreed? Acid? Neutral?
Can you really call yourself Homo sapiens?
Let's create a storm out of love
An avant-garde rhapsody
The fighting spirit of a heart in love
Is more powerful than anything else
I dreamt up a preemptive strategy
So our love doesn't fade away
As long as it's okay with you, I'll put my plan into action
Our super high-level love is really naughty
I demand attention, so I might just kiss you
Yes locking on
Next Time
Hey, Ash, what's with that cutie?
How did you manage to get such a cute girl as your Pal?!
I have no idea! I was hoping someone could tell me!
Lucky you, sharing a room with a girl like that.
Such heart-throbbing, blood-pumping adventures await!
Next Episode
Ties That Bind: The Astral Flow
Yeah, if only.
What's that supposed to mean?