Extra: Ripple’s Return
Ambassador Theodore’s ship was stationed in eastern Karelia, near the border with Venefic.
In the face of Venefic’s army and the rime-bound Prismer, things were tense for the Paladins, but today was about to become a lot brighter.
“I’m back!” In a hangar below decks, Ripple, descending from a Flygear, greeted the knights around her with a bright smile.
“Ah, it’s Lady Ripple!”
“Welcome back!”
As the knights shouted in joy, a figure rushed through the crowd. “Ripple!”
“Eris! I’m baaack! ♪”
“You seem well... I’m so glad.”
“How’ve you been, Eris? Lonely without me?”
“Don’t be silly. I’m not a little kid. I took care of everything while you were gone, so everything’s been fine.”
“Is she telling the truth? Guys?” Ripple asked the surrounding knights.
“Y-Yes, it’s as Lady Eris says...”
“No real problems.”
“And if I pressed you on that?” Ripple said.
“She was more tense than she needed to be.”
“Like she was forcing herself to hold out until you came back... It was a little scary.”
“Wh—?! Y-You don’t need to tell her that!” Eris objected.
“I see, I see. But I’m back now! You’re not alone anymore. There, there.” Ripple hugged Eris tightly.
“S-Stop it! This is embarrassing!”
“Now, now. It’s fine. This is our emotional reunion! Aren’t you happy? I’m over the moon!”
“That’s, um... Anyway, how did they manage to heal you?”
“Well...”
“To be precise, they didn’t,” said Ambassador Theodore, who had returned with Ripple on the same Flygear. He walked over to the two of them.
“Lord Theodore, what happened?” Eris asked.
“Ripple herself hasn’t changed in any way. However, the phenomenon that was summoning demihuman magicite beasts is at an end. They’ve been wiped out, which means it will no longer occur. Therefore, it’s not so much a change in Lady Ripple as a change in her environment.”
“Wha—?! Someone hunted down each and every one of the magicite beasts she could summon?! What a brute-force method! It had to have been that girl!”
“Inglis?” Ripple prompted.
“Yes, her! That’s exactly the kind of plan she’d come up with!”
Rafael arrived with a smile. “Lady Ripple, welcome back! I’m so glad you’re okay!”
“Rafael! Yeah, I’m back! Your little sister and her friends got me back on my feet!”
“That’s wonderful! I’m so proud of them—Rani and Chris are doing well, right?”
“They sure are! They’re full of energy. Especially Inglis. Her eyes lit up when she went after the magicite beasts. She’s usually such a cute little sweetheart, but when it comes to fighting, she’s a little hellion, isn’t she?”
“Ha ha ha. Yeah, Chris has always been like that.”
“If she hasn’t changed, then that makes her still a kid at heart,” Eris grumbled. “Maybe she should grow up. It’s a little annoying when I go back and she just keeps wanting to spar.”
“Grow up, huh. Maybe if she finds a boyfriend, she’ll change?” Ripple asked.
“Well, maybe, but...” Rafael said.
Ripple and Eris shared a glance.
“Well, it’s a tough job...” Eris began.
“But someone’s gotta do it,” Ripple finished.
They each clapped a hand on Rafael’s shoulders.
“Wh-What?! I don’t—”
“I think you’d look great together,” Ripple said.
“A beautiful couple,” Eris said.
“D-Don’t be silly! Chris is Rani’s age! She’s only fifteen! She’s way too young!” Rafael protested.
“But she’s mature, and she’s more than pretty enough, don’t you think?” Ripple asked.
“Well, uhh, how should I put it...” Rafael replied.
“Sheesh, Rafael’s turning into a tomato. Are you sure you’re not the kid here? Someone’s got to teach Inglis about growing up,” Ripple said.
“If you take your time, someone might beat you to her,” Eris added.
“Worry less about age and place a greater importance on how you feel about each other. You need to address your own feelings. You give yourself over to this country and its people—you need someone who’ll support you,” Theodore remarked.
“Even you, Theodore?! But I—” Rafael stammered.
Just then, a knight who had been on guard in the area rushed in. “Sir Rafael! We have a situation!”
“Ah...yes! What is it?!” Rafael gratefully turned to the new arrival.
“He’s getting away...” Ripple muttered.
As did Eris. “He’s escaping...”
However, the expressions on their faces soon became more serious.
“What?! Large numbers of magicite beasts around the Prismer?!” Rafael shouted.
“Yes! They just keep appearing! What are your orders?”
“Understood! Let’s take the fight to them! I’ll be right there! Inform Prince Wayne as well!”
The peaceful atmosphere aboard the ship from Ripple’s arrival suddenly became much more chaotic.
“I’m glad we hurried back. Looks like things are about to get busy,” she remarked.
“Looks like you’ve got some work to catch up on,” Eris chided.
“Sure, leave it to me! This is my place in the world. I’m here to protect it.”
“Eh? Did you just say something?”
“Nope! C’mon, let’s go!”
Eris and Ripple scrambled aboard their Flygears.
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