On the stage, Rain and Shadow are engaged in a fierce battle.
　Two people with the exact same abilities fight.
　There was no difference in power, it was almost an even match.

　Still.

　If I had to dare to say it, Rain was slightly pushed.
　This was an opponent he had never fought before.
　It would be the first time he would be fighting a battle with himself.
　That confusion had become a fetter and was slowing Rain's movements.

"Hmmm.......looks like Rain is being pushed.

　Al, who was watching the game, calmly analyzed the match.
　The elders seemed to have the same opinion and sniffed boringly at his opinion.

''Hm. You are just a human being. The fact that you are disturbed by the fact that you have to fight against yourself can only be called immature. I thought there would be a few highlights, but I guess I was wrong.
No. When it comes to fighting yourself, normally, anyone would be disturbed, wouldn't they?

　Al couldn't help but follow up on the elder's harsh words.
　The elder glared at Al like that.

''Is Al on that human's side?''
I don't know if I'm an ally or an ally at all, but I'm sure the girls will love it. You'll want to support them.
d*mn, you're indulging in some crazy-ass emotion.
'Parents love their children, and their children like those they like. Isn't that the natural order of things?
Nonsense.

　Even as they talked about it, the battle continued on the stage.

　Like a hungry beast, the shadows were persistently chasing Rain.
　Rain couldn't cope with it, and every now and then, he would get attacked by the shadow.
　He hadn't received any fatal blows yet, but...
　It seemed to be only a matter of time before it was too late.

'Sola, Luna. It seems that the person you call Lord doesn't have much power. To be cornered at this level is boring.
'Oh. Has the elder become blind?　The game is still up for grabs.
It's only a matter of time.
'It's not true. Lane will definitely win.

　Sora and Luna never looked away from the stage.
　They stare at the sight of their Lord in battle.

　There is an overflowing amount of trust in their eyes.
　They don't seem to think for a minute that Rain would lose.

　When the elder noticed this, he wondered about Sora and Luna.
　How could they put so much trust in each other?
　No matter how close they are to each other, if Rain is shown to be outmatched, they would normally doubt their victory.

　And yet, Sora and Luna believe in Rain's victory without hesitation.
　Why?

"...how can you trust that person so much?
Yeah?

　Luna tilted her face to the side, just like an owl.

'What do you mean by that?'
Don't play dumb. You don't doubt that man's victory, do you?　You'll know it when you see it. How can you believe that much?
"...oh...

　Luna popped her palm, as if she hadn't realized it until she was told.
　Sola nodded in agreement.

'If you ask me, the elders are right. I don't doubt Rain's victory as if it were a victory. Strange, I didn't realize it until you told me.
'But well maybe that's just a normal thing for Sora and Luna to do.

　Sola and Luna say it as if they are speaking the obvious.
　It's like they're talking about the truth of the world...
　They were unconcerned, as if they were saying something very commonplace.

　The elder was baffled by their attitude.

　What could possibly stir up these two people's thoughts to such an extent?
　What will it take to win that much trust?

　Sola and Luna are very young, but....
　Still, they are part of the spirit race.
　We grew up being taught that humans are incompatible with us...
　Before they left the village, they had never doubted that, and they believed it.

　And yet, what about now?

　Instead of doubting Rain, he trusts her 100%.
　It's the complete opposite of when I was in the village.

　What the hell happened?
　What would make Sora and Luna change so much?

　The elder became curious.

''........Is that human important to you guys?''
Yes.
"Mm.

　They nodded without hesitation and....
　Once again, the elder knows the strong feelings that Sora and Luna have for Rain.

Is that because that human helped you...?
That's part of it but it's not the only thing.
'I have so much fun with Rain!　Also, it makes my chest feel warm. It's going to make you feel warm.
'Yes. Luna is right. It makes me feel very comfortable.
I want to be around Lane for a long, long time.

　The words of Sola and Luna made the elder exclaim.

　The spirit race is completely pining for the humans.
　No, is it the level of pining for them?
　They don't seem to realize it yet, but...
　It might be within the realm of possibility to say that he is in love with her, which is not a problem.

　However, the elder could not understand their feelings for each other.

　Rain, fighting on the stage, was still trapped by his alter ego.
　He was being overpowered.

　How could he be so fascinated by such a weak existence?
　It's more satisfying to be told that the two of you are being duped.

　I've already heard that.
　Still, I can't help but ask the question again and again.

'Why do you trust that person so much?'
When you ask me why...
I can't explain that to you.
What?

　The elders were stunned by the two extremely inappropriate replies.

''For reasons like that, for reasons like this... how can you explain it that way?　I think Sola is different. Something that cannot be explained in words, but is felt in the heart... isn't that what trust is?
It's just what Sora says. I didn't think about all the trouble I'd have to go through with Rayne. I simply want to be with Rayne, that's all I really want. The desire to be with you is the trust I have in you.
....

　The elders were silent at the words of Sola and Luna.

　Somewhat later, he turned his attention to Rain, who continued to fight on the stage.

'How can that human be that much of a...'

　I don't understand the elders.
　I don't understand.

　Still, I don't know.

　This is the first time I've been interested in a person named Lane Shroud.