Editing Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 10 Prologue (section)

=== Part 1 ===
“You’re so slow, Lucca!”

Jumping from one branch to another branch — a young girl of the Ecbald Tribe moved with skill and agility, whilst also turning to look behind her.

“Kiira, you’re going too fast…”

Lucca replied, struggling to keep up far behind her. Although Lucca’s voice was so distant that it was as faint as the buzz of a mosquito, Kiira had particularly sensitive ears…. The crowing of wild birds, the chirping on insects, and the footsteps of small animals — even amidst the forest that was filled with an euphony of such noises, Kiira was still able to clearly distinguish Lucca’s voice.

“I guess it can’t be helped…”

Kiira used the elastic recoil of a supple branch to leap forward. The whistling of the wind entered her sharp, elf-like ears. Her native Ecbald outfit also fluttered gently with the wind. The sunlight which meandered through the foliage was soft and dimmed. The leaves all around them had begun to turn red. The scent of the moist earth could be detected in their nostrils. It was as if the entirety of their beings were submerged in the forest.

—Zoop!

In the blink of an eye, Kiira had returned to Lucca’s side. She stood calmly on a small branch with her hands on her hips.

“Are you okay? If you don’t display your true strength, you won’t gain the favour of the Mother Dragon, you know?”

“Uh…”

“You’re hopeless.”

Tears welled up in Lucca’s amethyst eyes as she firmly grasped hold of Kiira’s outstretched hand. Such a scene had been repeated countless times in the forest of their hometown. The warmth that she felt when holding hands with Lucca was undeniably dear to her—.

“Alright, let’s take a short break here then.”

Kiira took pause to allow Lucca some rest out of pity. After sitting down on a branch, she beckoned for Lucca to sit down beside her.

“Phew.”

Uttering that with a soft voice, Lucca carefully sat down. Every move she made was rather clumsy and inflexible, completely unlike what was normal for the Ecbald Tribe. However, Kiira believed this was also Lucca’s charm.

“Lucca. My adorable fairy…”

“I-If you look at me like that…I’ll feel embarrassed.”

Lucca’s cheeks turned red.

“You really are cute though.”

Kiira gazed at Lucca’s side profile with fascination as she grabbed the water bottle that was fastened to her belt. She popped the cap off and took a sip. The cool spring water reinvigorated her entire body.

“Here. Have a sip too, Lucca.”

“Thank you…”

Upon receiving the bottle with both hands, Lucca took small, graceful sips. Kiira couldn’t help but smile because she looked just like a hamster nibbling on a piece of fruit.

“By the way, Lucca. Have you decided on a name for your Pal?”

Returning the bottle, Lucca shook her head and replied,

“I can’t…. We don’t even know…whether the Mother Dragon will give us dragon larvae…”

“Huh!? What are you saying!? The Mother Dragon will definitely give them to us!”

“Uh…Kiira, you mean to say that…you’ve already decided?”

“That goes without saying.”

Kiira nodded confidently at Lucca.

“Can you tell me…the name that you thought of?”

After displaying a triumphant smile, Kirra blurted out a name that was well-known in history.

“Gawain! I’ve decided that my Pal will be called Gawain!”

Gawain — it was the name of a legendary hero that even children were familiar with in the Ecbald Village.