"Walk away.

　I hear voices.
　I look around, but there's no one there but us.

'Nyah, nyah nyah?　Who's there?
I don't see anybody but a ghost?
Meow!　I don't want to talk about that!
Oh dear. Are you sure you're not good at that kind of talk, Kanade?　Even though you're a cat spirit race?
Because ghosts can't take a beating...
Quiet, you two.

　I braced myself for whatever was going to happen.

　Now, what would come out of it?
　Was Tania right about this being a ghost?
　Or.....

"Walk away.

　With a third warning, particles of light flooded from the surrounding trees.
　They drifted through the air regularly, as if each one had a will.
　Eventually, they gathered in one place and took the form of a person.

''........''

　As the light cleared, a girl appeared.

　She was short, and if she were to be mistaken for a child, she might be mistaken for a child.
　Contrary to such an appearance, she has a dignified expression, contradictory, yet somehow mature looking.
　Her flaxen hair was tied up in a flower ornament, which looked good on her.

　Most striking of all.......the wings.
　On the girl's back, two pairs of light feathers are growing.



　Tania murmured in disbelief.

　The spirit race.
　Along with Kanade and Tania, they are one of the strongest species.
　Rare among them are the tree spirits.......dryads.

　They are a mild-mannered race, but they are tough on people.
　In fact, they don't like people.
　For the spirit race, who live in mountains, forests and nature, humans who clear mountains and cut down trees are like natural enemies.
　Because of this, they have clashed with each other many times.

　And then........the spirit tribe disappeared.
　It seems that they hated to get involved with people and hid in the backcountry, where people couldn't reach them.

　That was about 200 years ago.
　Since then, no one has seen the spirit race.

　And yet........I didn't expect to meet them in a place like this.
　I'm so surprised that I can't say a word.

''Well........hello.
Walk away.
Would you like to have a word with him?
Walk away.
I'm Rain. These two are Kanade and Tania. They're with me.
Walk away.
Well, I came here for a little while and I was wondering if you made these wards?
Walk away.

　It's not working.
　We don't have an island.

"If you're not going to leave then you're not going to...

　A girl from the spirit race softly emerges.
　As she points her palm towards us, the light converges.

''I will eliminate them by force.''
Meow!
We're falling back!
Okay, okay!

　We turned back to the entrance in a hurry.



----------



Are they not following us...?

　Kanade looks back fearfully.

'Yeah, I'm fine. There doesn't seem to be any chase or anything.'
What is it all about?　Trying to attack me out of the blue.
I don't think I'd want to hear that from Tania, who tried to burn down the forest.
What did you say?
I didn't do anything.

　Strange?
　I haven't heard anything from Arios about the spirit race leaving.
　Either they were lying to you, or we just happened to run into each other.

　...or maybe we just happened to run into each other?
　It's not a coincidence.
　This is a race of misanthropic spirits who hated people and disappeared 200 years ago.
　They must have a good reason for appearing in our presence.

　And that reason, as I thought........

Warding...?
Meow?
''Why did that spirit tribe show up in front of us?　I don't care if it's just Kanade and Tania, but I'm a human. That's the funny part... but it makes sense if you think it's because they were about to break the wards.
''Well you didn't show up when we were walking around the forest at all, but as soon as we tried to break the wards, you showed up. I think Rayne is right.
'So you're saying that the girl from the spirit race is guarding the wards?　But wouldn't that mean........indirectly, that you're protecting the demons in the deepest part of the world?
'I know...'

　Who would be in trouble if the wards were lifted?
　The answer is the demon that would be in the deepest part of the world.

　In order to make his own dwelling place a robust fortress, he set up a ward.
　On top of that, he had the spirit race protect the wards.
　It makes sense when you think of it that way.

　Just because it makes sense, why did he do that?　The question remains.
　Sure, the spirit race hates humans, but that doesn't mean they are the kind of species that will cooperate with demons.
　Demons trample nature and reap down trees for no reason.
　In a way, the spirit race is much more hostile to demons than to humans.
　So there is no way that the spirit race would cooperate with the demons.

''Is there some kind of a deal made... or do they have a weakness?　Ummm ... no. None of this is a stretch of the imagination.
I'm not very good at thinking.
Try a little harder, you stupid cat.
Pussycat?
'I don't know the true intentions, but it sounds like the spirit race is definitely involved with the demons. Then why don't we just defeat them?　It wouldn't hurt Rayne's heart if it was just to incapacitate her.
You think it's easy to say that to that spirit race?
There's a cat spirit race and a dragon race over here. And there's no way I'm going to lose.

　With a look of "Hmmm," Tania puffs her chest out.
　As usual, she has great confidence.
　It seems that she doesn't even think that she will lose at all.
　Well, you could say that is typical of Tania.

It's not a good idea to have a good time with them. The power of the spirit race is unknown. It's a good thing that you're not the only one. We can't afford to put Kanade and Tania in danger.
What's that? You don't trust me with anything?
'No. I'm genuinely concerned.
Yeah, well she's worried about you... well, you know. If you're so inclined, I'll let you stay out of it.
Meow. I'll do what Lane says.
Thanks, you two.
But what are you going to do?　Unless we can do something about the spirit race, we won't be able to reach the deepest part.

　Tania is right.
　We can't proceed to the back without convincing the girl of the spirit race.
　There's also a way to see an opening and destroy only the wards, but.......
　I'd refrain from doing this if I could, as it would provoke anger.

Will you let me take care of it?
What do you have in mind?
No, not really.
Meow?
I think I'm going to talk to him again.
"I don't think I'm in the mood for a chat, okay?
'I'm sure you were taken aback by the suddenness of the situation and it made you feel defensive too.　This time, if we can show that there is no hostility and show good faith ... or maybe we can have a dialogue.
That's a good-natured opinion.
No?
No. I'm not afraid of that.
It's just like Lane, isn't it, Nyan?

　Kanade and Tania chuckled, as if I hadn't made the wrong choice.