Latina sent another letter!
Is she doing okay?
Sounds like it. You know how she is.
It seems to be a good time.
They said the letter's from Latina!
It is? I bet she's eating all kinds of interesting new food!
Well, as long as she's doing okay.
"How are you all?"
"We've finally arrived in the village of Teathrow."
It's surrounded by mountains, and there are big fields of flowers,
and tall waterfalls.
The village where Dale grew up is a wonderful place.
There's no big school like there is in Kreuz,
but I'm taking lessons from the priest, Mr. Cornelio.
He taught Dale a lot before, too.
And his daughter, Clarissa, is teaching me how to make sweets.
Dale's grandma, father, and mother are very kind to me.
And his younger brother, Yorck, is getting married soon.
I get to dress up for the wedding to help them celebrate.
I'm really looking forward to it.
I'll make sure to stay healthy and come back to Kreuz.
Rita, be sure to take good care of yourself, and the baby.
Let Kenneth and the customers know how I'm doing.
The Young Man Attends His Brother's Wedding with the Young Girl.
You don't eat bread much in Teathrow, huh?
Do you prefer the kind of food they serve in the city, Latina?
Nope. I think getting to try all kinds of different food, in different places, is fun.
I want to learn a bunch from you,
so I can make this kind of food for Dale in Kreuz!
Oh, my. Well, I'd better make sure I teach you all his favorites, then.
Yeah!
The men around here are all a little simple,
so if you can feed them well, they'll do whatever you want.
How old are you again, Latina?
I'm going to be ten soon.
I see. Ten years old, then? Well, well.
Kids grow up in a flash, too.
Latina! When you finish up, you want to come along to the Sunas' place?
"Suna"?
They look after and train our hunting dogs.
There are dogs?
Yep, a whole bunch!
I love dogs!
Look at all of them!
We've got lots of wild critters here in the mountains,
so we put the pups here to work.
Can I pet one of them?
Good question...
They usually don't warm up to anyone but the Sunas.
What do you say, Izabine?
This one should be fine.
So cute!
Some brushing usually makes them happy.
Okay!
All right.
Go!
Looks like you're still a good shot, Dale.
You sure you wouldn't rather take charge around here, Bro?
Don't be stupid. You're taking over as village leader, Yorck.
I'm a Reki.
I fight on the outside to keep this place safe.
And the puppy was so cute!
I see, I see! You wanna drop by again tomorrow?
Yes, I do!
Already got her on your side...
You know, Latina helped me make that.
She did?!
It's good!
I just helped a little.
Oh, come on! Just knowing you made it makes it taste better.
So good! What kind of meat is this?
It's one of the mountain birds we caught today.
From when you went hunting?
Yeah. Bro was the big star.
That's great, Dale!
Yeah. He really is something.
We were all working together on the hunt.
I just handled the bow.
You're still amazing, though.
Does Yorck still feel guilty about all this?
The idea of you taking over as leader...
was something that everyone took for granted. Even you, at the time.
Yeah.
And originally, Yorck was going to be the Reki.
Having the chance to negotiate with the duke...
It wouldn't have been possible if it weren't someone gifted, like me.
The old bag made the right call.
And now, though it's not quite official, the fact that Teathrow has royal backing
has become an open secret among people in positions of authority.
The Rekis in other locations have confirmed as much.
I'm just doing my job.
And Yorck should focus on doing his.
You seem to have gotten over it.
Yeah. I'm okay now.
Did that little girl help snap you out of it?
Latina helped me feel better.
She always seems to know what to say.
Hey, Latina.
Are you happy right now?
Dale?
I'm happy. Because I'm with you.
What about you, Dale?
Yeah.
If you're happy, then I'm really happy.
You're looking at that notebook all the time.
It's your diary, right?
Yeah. I'm really happy right now,
and I'm writing it down, so I won't forget.
So that one day, even if I have to leave you and the others, or if you start to hate me...
I'll still remember how happy I am now.
I want to make sure I don't forget.
How could I ever come to hate you?
You never know how that might change when I grow up.
But, if I do grow up and become bad,
then I want you to tell me what I'm doing is wrong.
If you're the one who says so,
I'll know it's for my own sake.
Y'know, I might not be as perfect as you think I am.
Even so, you're still my favorite!
You're way more amazing than I am, Latina.
Well, isn't that something?
The dogs have all latched onto her.
I've never seen anything like it.
It took longer to make friends with him than the others.
Because he's the leader,
and he's usually not supposed to make such good friends.
You really must love pups, Latina!
Yeah! They're so cute.
And they seem to have taken a shine to you, too.
I think I'll take you someplace you might like tomorrow.
A place I might like?
Yeah! And don't tell nobody, got it?
Not even Dale?
If he knew, I bet he'd say you shouldn't go.
Is it dangerous?
You really think I'd put my darling little Latina in any danger?
Grandma, you're just like Dale.
Where are we going?
To see a friend of mine.
A friend?
Yep. We've known each other a long time,
and I think I want to introduce you to him.
Here, this is it.
Dried meat?
She's been going out with some every day, lately.
I'm pretty sure she's been snacking at Grandma's place,
so I'm curious where it's going.
She's been going to the Sunas, right?
Maybe she's feeding it to the dogs.
But those dogs are trained to take food only from the Sunas.
I think Grandma might know what's going on, but...
It'd be a waste of time to ask.
If it's some game of hers, she'll never tell.
Exactly.
I'll check it out.
Mrs. Magda!
I'm going out for a little bit.
Sure, take care. Don't stay out too late.
Can I take some dried meat again?
Take as much as you like.
Thank you!
I never would've guessed Latina would go into the mountains alone.
I'd better scold her for this one.
This marking... that old bag!
Even I've never been in these parts before. Where's she going?
I brought some dried meat again today. Want some?
You like it? That's good! Want more?
Latina!
You can't feed wild animals!
It's bad for them, too, if they get too used to it.
Dale...
And some of them might carry diseases.
So it's not a good idea to touch them unless you have to.
You should keep your distance and watch—
Not wild.
Mad! Real mad!
A phantasmic beast?
Your fur's standing up?!
What's wrong? Are you mad? Did Dale do something wrong?
I'm sorry!
Not mad.
Latina...
I'm sorry.
Grandma said it was a secret,
but I wanted to come,
and I kept coming back.
I'm so sorry.
He mean? Want get mad?
Dale was just worried about me.
He's not being mean.
I knew that old bag was behind this.
For there to be a phantasmic beast so close to the village...
Is that strange?
They usually don't come near human settlements.
They don't?
Phantasmic beasts are a higher order of creature than magic beasts.
Very intelligent.
They don't like getting involved with humans,
because they're cautious about the trouble it can cause.
But his family lives nearby.
Wha?!
A phantasmic pack... I've never seen anything like it.
They're called soaring wolves.
Grandma said they're a secret passed down between village leaders.
So the Teathrow and these phantasmic beasts have been co-existing in secret
by not prying into each other's territory?
Indeed.
We soaring wolves have formed a pact with the Teathrow that dates back to the distant past.
As long as neither side breaks it, it remains.
That's one hell of a deal my ancestors brokered.
I've never heard about anyone arranging a deal
that results in having phantasmic beasts as neighbors!
Not to mention...
Right here.
Or here?
I see. This is quite pleasant.
A phantasmic beast letting someone touch them in and of itself is bizarre!
Really bizarre! And this one seems like the leader, too!
A phantasmic beast with the kind of power that could wipe out a village with ease...
And she's managed to tame him this much, without any magic?
You really are something, Latina.
I'm closest with this one!
And he's got the fluffiest tummy!
That old bag...
I love petting them.
The fluffiness feels really good!
Atia! Atia!
I seem to remember something similar happening recently.
I'm friends with the dogs in Teathrow, too.
I see.
And Latina's only going to keep growing.
Ta-dah!
How you like that?
Does it look good on me?
It's not weird, is it?
You're such a doll, Latina. It looks great on you!
She seriously is cute!
Our traditional clothes really come alive when she wears them!
She might outshine the actual bride!
Hey, stupid brother!
You too, Grandma, get a grip!
You look neat too, Dale.
I feel kinda lame, though.
See how Yorck's belt has fruit in addition to the flowers?
That's the sign that he's the groom.
It's so pretty.
That's the bride! She's beautiful!
The idea of Latina getting married to someone...
As if I'd let some random bonehead take her away...
I'm marrying him!
Not without breaking every one of their bones, anyway.
Maybe even turn him to ashes...
But if I object, maybe she'll hate me?
Why are you acting all torn up?
Thank you so much.
Congratulations.
Thank you!
Dale?
Latina.
If you want that idiot, he's gone outside.
Make sure to get a warm coat if you chase after him.
Okay!
Dale?
What's up, Latina?
It's cold out here. You should stay inside.
Dale, I was taught...
That if you don't want to smile, you don't have to.
It's okay, Latina.
Sorry for worrying you!
Are you sad, Dale?
Today's a celebration!
How could I be?
I wish I could grow up sooner.
I think you can take all the time you need.
Don't try too hard.
You're so kind, Latina.
To defend my clan... to protect the Teathrow...
I accepted the title of Reki, and chose to keep this place safe from the outside.
But if I didn't have this power,
I might've stayed here my entire life.
I'm just a little drunk, that's all.
Think maybe I'll go on a stroll to sober up some.
Wanna come with me?
Yeah.
Yorck and Frida were here for the ceremony before.
I'm sure he'll become a good leader.
Our clan has its own culture and laws that we live by.
We're not even considered part of the nation of Laband.
Thanks to the strength we wield and the magic gear we produce,
we've been able to maintain our position,
without coming into conflict with the surrounding lords.
But new lords come along,
and it's clear that some of them take issue with us being here.
So we invited a high-ranked priest in the Church of Asfar to the village,
and through him, forged a pact with Duke Eldstedt,
a major player in Laband's politics.
To keep outsiders from meddling with Teathrow,
we offered the services of someone said to be beloved by the gods.
Gifted with multiple divine providences,
one of the few said to be a threat to the Demon Lords.
One with the kind of powers that designates him a hero.
Namely, you, the eldest son of our leading family.
This is to protect my clan!
Don't hesitate!
Don't hesitate.
Don't hesitate...
Am I really protecting anything by doing this?
It never really felt that way, until one day...
I met someone who needed my protection.
It's okay, Latina.
You saved me, you know.
Dale?
I'm really glad I met you.
I'm really glad I met you, too, Dale.
If I'm helping you in any way,
I'm glad.
What kind of adult is this girl going to grow into?
Will she be able to smile like this
if she's standing with someone else someday?
Nope! I'm not letting some other bonehead take Latina!
You want her, you gotta go through me!
And I'm not going down! Nobody can beat me!
Are you okay?
Aw, you're worried about me?!
You really are so nice, Latina!
Such a good girl! So cute!
I'm not letting you go! You're not marrying anybody!
Latina, you ever wanna get married, talk to me.
I'll find someone tough enough to whoop this idiot for you.
Don't! If you're involved, it actually seems plausible!