“Release him!” Dia slashed out at the shadow, who dodged her blow like a professional dancer. Schwarz, however, didn’t appreciate the graceful dodge, and his yells grew as the shadow darted around and fended off her strikes.

She glanced at Risti, who was closing in on the shadow from the other end, and then nodded at her. Gliding forward smoothly, she parried the incoming stab by diverting it to the side, and then smashed her elbow into the shadow’s chest.

Schwarz screamed again as he and the shadow turned into a rolling ball that slammed into the rippling shield.

` “Come on! I’m still here!”

“Just take it like an adult!” Dia replied, her sword snaking out with a deadly glint. The shadow stiffened a moment later, and an arm fell onto the ground.

Dropping into a forward roll, Dia kicked off the ground and swept past the shadow. The blade glinted again, and the shadow let out a shriek, before turning into mist.

She winced as a certain bartender dropped like a sack of potatoes. Instead of helping him up on the spot, however, Dia looked around cautiously, before signalling at Risti, who gave her the thumbs-up.

“All clear, then.” She rubbed her hands. “Did you stick that thing on the shadow?”

Schwarz scowled at her as he got up. “Yeah. Got a good stab in. He probably didn’t realise it, but they might check afterwards.”

“How’s your combat ability?” Dia pressed on, looking at his unwounded body.

“Let’s be honest here; I can lose an arm, and I’ll still be equally useless here,” Schwarz replied. “I can’t believe that the stupid thing got me so easily.”

“Well, that shadow did carry you like a bride,” Risti quipped, before handing him a sword. “How does it feel to experience something only noblewomen experience on their big days?”

“Very uncomfortable.”

“Oh.” Risti made a face. “How unromantic.”

“W-well, maybe it’s because the shadow was rough?” Dia replied. “Don’t discount that fantasy so quickly!”

“Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?” Risti asked. “And it’s not like you show any interest in romance anyway. I’ve been watching you for a long time, but it’s as if you don’t have any attraction to anyone at all. Other than your family, is there anyone who has managed to move your heart?”

“Maybe, but after I saw Claud and Lily, it got a bit hard,” Dia replied.

“Wait, what—”

“Don’t misunderstand me, you idiots.” Dia rolled her eyes. “Those two just messed up my progression of romance or something. I’m sure it’s a sequential thing, but these two felt like they jumped right into it and skipped all the progression.”

“Huh?” Schwarz looked at her. “I think there was a lot of progression, though? They worked together in the Julan Barony, hung out lots of times…oh. Well, they were hiding it quite well, though. Until they didn’t.”

He made a face. “Yeah. And then that idiot raises the bar so high I don’t even dare to start. It’s as if they live for each other wholly, at this point. I’ve seen them doing all kinds of…stuff whenever they think we aren’t looking, and they don’t even hide it either.”

Dia nodded. The little interactions that the duo had was also making her think that romance was devoting oneself to the other entirely, but…was that truly possible? Was it possible to truly devote oneself for the sake of the other person?

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She didn’t think so. Again, however, both Lily and Claud had their own backgrounds and influences, so…

“Meh.” Dia shook her head. “Anyway, we better track that shadow down. Risti?”

“Why else do you think I’m just making idle banter?” she replied. “The shadow is still moving at high speeds, and chasing it will just make it flee more. We should let it settle down first, at which point it will head towards its safe point, the hideout where all the other men are at…hmm. Why are these shadows capturing men, though? What do the Dark Heralds want from them?”

She looked at Schwarz. “No, that’s too cruel.”

“All that friendship finally came to good use, I see.” Schwarz touched his chest.

“Indeed. It’s not like you can put up a fight against either of us if we really wanted you to be bait,” Dia replied. “Be grateful and make lighter drinks for us.”

“Stop rubbing it in! And okay.” Schwarz sighed. “So, we’re just going to hang around here for a while?”

“To check on you,” Risti replied. “Maybe that shadow did something to you too, so just stay here while I use a bunch of skills on you.”

After breaking a few skillsticks, she nodded. “All clear. Anyway, I suppose we should start moving towards that fellow now. The shadow has, surprisingly enough, moved to someplace close to the Farah Palace, despite running so far out to kidnap a bartender.”

“It’s darkest under the Moons, after all.”

“Mhm.” Dia thought for a moment. “We should first inform Farah about this, at least. And then mobilise everyone for good measure.”

“Yeah.”

The three of them began to head back. This battle had taken place in one of the most concentrated areas where men had been abducted by shadows, mostly labourers who were making their way out into the fields. It was pretty much the boundary where the city and the fields met…

But why weren’t there any walls?

Shaking her head, Dia followed the others back into the Farah capital, which was bustling with people selling all sorts of items.

“What’chu looking at me for, huh?” Dia glared at Schwarz. “I just brought a little pastry, and you’re already not happy?”

“No, I just forgot that I didn’t bring money,” Schwarz replied, swallowing once. “I thought we were going to duke it out with the great Dark, so I didn’t bring money with me at all. That curry puff smells really nice, by the way.”

“Ugh.” Dia handed him her little pastry and turned back to the vendor, before passing another one to Risti, who also didn’t bring money, apparently.

“You kids…”

“We’re all around the same age, though. And didn’t you say we were going to be dealing with that?” Schwarz asked, before walking off.

“Well, dealing with a shadow doesn’t mean you don’t need to bring money, right?” Dia replied. “Still, if you two really felt inadequate…I suppose I can’t really blame you. Anyway, I got you two your curry puffs, so stop looking at me sadly. We’re going to fight after this, you know!”

“Yeah, well…”

After making sure that the two idiots were in a fighting state once more, Dia herded them towards the Farah Palace…well, the little mansion that served as the palace, anyway. Farah, Lloyd and Beth were sitting in the front garden, with the two adults…holding up picture books for some reason.

“You’re teaching the kid?” Dia asked, eyeing the colourful picture book. “Wait, I said you can’t have her in your family registry.”

“Doesn’t mean we can’t teach her,” Farah replied. “Besides, don’t be such a stick in the mud. She can be the new Countess Farah and I won’t blink an eye.”

“Dada!”

Dia shot a glance full of superiority at Farah. “Teaching her is my responsibility.”

“Your role in the Seekers of Life is one of external affairs,” Farah replied. “You won’t have much of a chance to teach her, compared to me. Think about the kid, alright?”

Dia wanted to retort, but…

It wasn’t as if she didn’t know what it was like to be left alone. It was painful, scary, and…Beth had lived through enough of that for a few lifetimes, hadn’t she? Farah had a point, despite Dia’s own thoughts, and after a while, she nodded.

“Yeah. I suppose you’re right.”

Farah smiled. “That’s why you’re the princess we all look up to, you know.”

It sure didn’t feel like it, but Dia knew that Farah made very sound arguments. Besides, she didn’t think her father would accept little Beth into the family easily; she was not of his blood, after all. And with the loss of a son…could he really accept Beth as his daughter’s substitute? And if he could…

Dia nodded again. “Yeah. I suppose you’re right. I can’t do all that for her.”

“Dada?” Beth looked at Dia, and Dia hurried over. “I want a hug!”

“Hug, okay.” Dia squished her gently, and then pointed at the book. “Study hard, okay?”

She nodded.

Farah lifted the kid off her lap, and then said, “Uncle Lloyd will teach you for now, okay? I have something to do with your…Dada and the others. Be a good girl, alright?”

Dia patted Beth’s head at the same time. “Go on.”

The little kid nodded, and then Farah turned to the three of them. “Alright, what’s going on now?”

“We’ve discovered their hideout,” Risti replied. “Mind moving some people with us?”

“Sure.” Farah rubbed her hands. “Let’s see what the Dark is up to, shall we?”