| Euphoria, Backroad to Adelade, Present Day |

Aiyoma looks at the red-haired girl then back to me.

"You two know each other?"

I sigh. "Not really… It's a long story."

The red-haired girl smirks, advancing towards me. "We got a lot of catching up to do, 'friend.'"

Why do I feel like she's going to cause me some trouble?

Aiyoma sheathes her rapier into her scabbard.

"You're pretty brave to fight those beasts alone and quite skilled at that.?"

The girl relaxes her arms behind her hand.

"I am pretty awesome, aren't I. You guys aren't too bad yourselves!"

Aiyoma laughs.

"My name is Aiyoma, and this is Momoko."

"Yuumi…" She winced, covering her side.

Aiyoma looked at the covered wound.

"You're wounded, so that was your blood from earlier."

"Naw, this wasn't from them. In fact, they didn't land a single hit on me! I got a bit careless in a previous fight."

Looking down, I see blood dripping from her side. She's sporting a long-sleeved shirt that's slightly exposing her left shoulder and black bra. A blue metallic skirt hangs from her left side, and the other has a gold lining extruding from her back. Her boots are black with yellow laces.

"Oh, this." Yuumi looks down at her outfit. "Just something I borrowed from some people I generously saved!"

Yep. She's definitely trouble.

"Well, Aiyoma,"

I start walking past the injured girl.

"We better get going. Adelade is just a few minutes from here, right?"

Aiyoma grabs my arm.

"As knights… We should help those in need…."

I attempt to keep moving, but her strength makes me struggle.

"Well, technically, I'm not a knight yet, so I don't need to do anything!"

"Holy Knight, right?"

We turn back and look at Yuumi.

"How did you know—"

Yuumi grins.

The rays of light that I saw from her earlier...

"Helena!" We both shout in unison.

A ray of light appears around our body, and armor materializes around our torso.

Her armor is less bulky than mine or Aiyoma's, giving her a tighter fit. The arms are fully metal, with the hands being shaped like sharp claws. She held two broad but long blades in her hands; The tips of each were coated in a dark metal while the rest of it was iron. The chains that connected them glowed a dark red.

Yuumi raises her swords in the air. "Meet Yasuka! My trusty blades!"

I chuckle. "You named your weapon?"

"Yeah, you got a problem with it?"

"Not at all." I brush my hair back mockingly. "It's just that I thought my sword's name was a lot cooler."

Yuumi scoffed. "Oh, please. Enlighten me."

I raise my sword into the air. "I've decided to call my sword, 'The BUSTAH Blade.'

"BWAHAHA,"

Yuumi falls to the floor laughing uncontrollably.

"The only that needs busting is your taste in names, you nerd!"

Aiyoma turns to the side and chuckles.

"What? You too?!"

"I'm sorry, Momoko… But she is right… You may want to think up a better name for your sword."

And here I thought she was on my side!

Yuumi stands from the floor wiping a tear from her eye, her armor dematerializes.

"You're pretty interesting! Where you guys headed?"

Aiyoma gestured in front of us. "We're currently making way to Adelade to find out our current status."

"Status? Like strength and all of that?"

"Precisely."

"That sounds fun. Could I join you?"

I jump in between them and whisper to Aiyoma. "Woah, Woah, Woah! Ever heard of don't talk to strangers?"

Aiyoma looks over to Yuumi. "But you just said you were acquaintances. It would be rude just to leave her here."

"Yeah, Momoko, it would be extremely rude!" Yuumi grinned.

"Now, let me take a look at that wound." Aiyoma draws a circle in the air, and a green runic circle appears.

Yuumi opens up her shirt, and a bandaged stab wound gushes out blood.

Aiyoma put the runic circle over her bruise.

"It seems like it was already treated, but that fighting must've opened it back up."

The circle disappears, and the cut radiates a green light. The blood from the bruise starts to melt, and the bruise is healed within an instant.

"Woah! That's amazing!" Yuumi pats her side.

"Now,"

Aiyoma starts to walk forward,

"Let's venture on to Adelade!"

Yuumi walks over to her side.

"You're the boss!"

I groan and follow after them.

. . .

"So you've been here for a while training for this Rite of Passage thing, huh?"

Yuumi looks towards me.

"Yep! I plan to become a knight, so I can start fighting the Evil King and his minions."

"What? Why don't we fight them now? I don't need any backup."

"If you're planning to fight the Evil King, then you need to get permission from the capitol. Not even adventurers are allowed to fight them."

Yuumi rested her hands on the back of her head.

"Whaat? That's so messed up. I thought I could just come down here and start wailing on everyone."

I shook my head in agreement. "Same here, but just like our past life, I guess someone has to be in control."

Aiyoma gave me a puzzled look. "Past life?"

"I-I mean, the last place we came from was really strict. You couldn't do all that much without any laws or rules in place."

"… Oh, I see."

Aiyoma points up ahead to a blue and yellow arch ahead.

"We're here!"

We cross the arch and are greeted by a town with greenery, waterfalls, and elegant-looking housing. Unlike Lanier, this town seems a bit more sophisticated and intricate. The ground is coated in white-sand granite that shines radiantly in the light.

We continue following Aiyoma as we stop in front of an inn.

"I want to prepare some lodging for us, as I plan for us to stay the night. That fine with you, Momoko?"

"Sure… But what're we going to do about her?" I point towards Yuumi, who's staring at a nearby ironsmith who has his sword on display.

"Hey!"

Aiyoma gestured over to the window shopper.

"You mind if you book in with us?"

Yuumi flailed her hand in the air. "Yeah! Whatever!"

Aiyoma beamed. "Problem solved!"

I sigh.

She's too dam nice. I would've left this hothead out on the streets.

After we get settled into our room, we walk towards a large structure located in the city center.

Aiyoma takes a deep breath in.

"Ayuu is a town known for its healing water and many miracles. Just being here gives off such a tranquil feeling, dont'cha think?"

The townspeople all seem to be gentle with lighthearted looks on their faces. Even the innkeeper gave us a discount because he felt 'happier than usual today. Totally different from Lanier, where every adventurer looks like he wants to eat you up and spit you back out.

We reach the middle, and a large cathedral in beautiful white marble is beheld. Its many windows were outlined in blue while the arches at the top of each of its roofs were painted in gold. A large fountain sprayed water in front of the building.

As we walk up the stairs towering doors are opened revealing a large garden exploding in color. Statues made of marble surround us as bushes with fully bloomed flowers mark our walkway. We follow the stone path into the middle of the cathedral, where a geyser of water emits from the ground. The water flows into the air and evaporates leaving glimmering light in the area.

Surrounding the geyser are multiple stone benches with golden handles separating them each. On one of the benches, a girl dressed in a pure white veil with lavender hair sat with her hands in a prayer-like position.

"Sorry to interrupt you,"

Aiyoma steps towards the girl.

"Could we ask a quick favor of you, all-knowing and kind Sage?"

. . .