Two people entered the city. In a city with a high population and numbers increasing as the festival day approached closer, no one paid attention to them. The two passed through the bustling streets and stopped in front of a restaurant. They sat on the tables outside, facing each other, and ordered a light meal. People were chattering loudly around them. The two craned their ears toward the conversations and heard people fuss about the elves, mages, and other dragon slayers that had begun to gather in this city one by one.

“Quite a lot of people came here earlier than us.”

“I wonder if they changed a lot?”

“It’s only been a year since we separated. I don’t think they would’ve changed that much.” Hans received the food and drinks the store owner handed to him and added, “We didn’t change too much either.”

“Who knows? Maybe we just don’t realize it, but other people would think that we changed a bit.” Lara took a sip of her drink and continued, “I want to meet them quickly. I wonder how they spent the past year.”

“I thought this before, but you place great meaning on this idea of ‘companions.’”

“Well, that’s what I always looked forward to the most when I left my family. I dreamed of going...