--Tina''s side--


    Today is the day that Eric''s father, Dian and the others are coming back from the capital.


    They came back a while ago and brought back tools and other things that everyone in the village had been waiting for.


    I also asked Dian-san to get me the knives I asked him to get.


    My old knife was useless because the blade broke off when I tried to cut something a little hard.


    But now I can finally cook with the knife I got this time.


    Now I can cook for Eric...!


    I can''t wait to get Eric to eat!


    I wanted to make a quick dinner at Eric''s house and looked around to talk to Eric.


    ''Huh ... no?''


    He was supposed to be behind me earlier, but I couldn''t see Eric.


    ''Miss Diane, where''s Eric?''


    I talk to Diane, who is still handing out the things I bought to everyone in the village.


    ''Hmm?　Oh, it seems Eric would have a talk with the guy I brought with me. I''m back home.


    The man who brought you here?


    Yeah, he''s from the Royal Guard. They want to talk to you about the last demon attack.


    The Knights of the Order...?


    I''m not sure, but Dian-san was also interviewed by the knights, and when I told her about Eric at that time, she followed me to this village.


    ''''Is that so........''''


    They''re talking at Eric''s house right now, so I''ll be there.


    I might interrupt him, so I''ll have to look out the window for a minute to see what''s going on inside before I decide whether to go in.


    I don''t want to be interrupted when we''re talking about something important.


    Yes, I''m not asking because I''m worried about it, I''m just saying that you shouldn''t interrupt me.


    With that in mind, I leave the place where everyone in the village is still getting excited about receiving things from Dian and the others and head to Eric''s house.


    When I get to Eric''s house, I don''t go inside, I go to the backyard.


    When you get there, there''s a window in the living room so you can see what''s going on inside.


    As I creep along to avoid making footsteps, I hear voices coming from inside the living room.


    Sometimes I can hear Eric''s voice, but I''ve never heard the person Eric is talking to.


    Maybe the person he''s talking to is from the Order.


    I walk up to the window and take a peek inside to make sure they don''t know what''s going on.


    Eric is sitting at a table in the living room, with a man sitting across from him and two men standing by his side.


    The man sitting there - his face is expressionless and a kind of scary image.


    And - I can hear that person''s voice.


    ''''I would like you to join our Begonia Kingdom Knights--I would like you to join our Begonia Kingdom Knights.


    ....What?


    Suddenly I hear those words and I get upset.


    Join the group and want...?　You mean for Eric?


    Eric seemed surprised by the words, and he was asking that person..........Yele-san.


    Yele-san said that he was looking for excellent people........


    Yeah, I don''t know much about knights, but I guess it''s like a profession that protects the kingdom.......


    And so I can see why they are looking for excellent people.


    I know most of all that asking Eric out means that Eric is strong and excellent.


    I''ve been with him for years, and I know more than anyone else how great Eric is.


    So I''m glad Eric is being recognized as much as I am, but....


    As I think about it, it seems the conversation is over and Yelle and the two people behind her are going somewhere.


    Eric goes outside to see them off as well.


    I go around to the front door, hiding in the backyard, too, so as not to get caught.


    Eric sees Yelle and the others off at the front door I''m outside for a while, thinking.


    Then when he turns around to go inside the house he catches a glimpse of Eric''s face.


    That face - it was a face that had made up its mind to do something.


    I was with him all the time and I could tell.


    Eric will - I guess Eric will join the Order.


    No matter what I...................no matter what Diane and Serena-san say, Eric will join the Order.


    I see.........Eric is going to join the Knights.......


    If he joins the knightly order, Eric will probably go to the royal capital........


    And then.........we won''t see each other much.......


    ''''.........eh?''''


    As I thought about it that much, I noticed something running down my cheek.


    I put my hand to my cheek it was a tear.


    I had been crying without realizing it.


    The moment I realized that - the only thing that flooded my heart was sadness.


    ''Oh no.........!　I don''t want to leave Eric...!


    As I say that, tears start to flow at once.


    Eric.........!


    We were always together. Ever since I was a kid.


    There were times when I consciously tried to be next to him, and other times he was next to me without my conscious awareness.


    Just the other day, I thought Eric was dying and the tears had been shed to the point of exhaustion....


    Why are the tears flowing again, so much more?


    ........probably because I already know that Eric is definitely going to the royal capital.


    Then I walked into the woods so that no one could see me crying.