At last, the pressure from the capital arrived—this time with drawn swords.

“Master Kanon, you will accompany us to the Royal Academy. Refusal is not permitted.”

Heavily armed knights and veteran monster tamers surrounded the village.
I stood firm, shielding Rabbichu—no, Arnea—behind me.

“And if I say no?”

“Then we take you by force.”

“Then—watch us show you how strong we are!”

“KyuUUUU!!”

The monster tamers unleashed their summons one after another.
But Arnea, now restored to her True Name, was a guardian reborn.

[Stellar Wing Torrent]
[Echo Strike]
[True Name Resonance: Arnea Mode]

Each time she struck, the enemy monsters fell.

“What is this thing!?”
“Our golem went down in a single hit!?”
“Pull the rear guard back! Front line, keep your distance!”

No one could stand against her.
Her winged ears sliced through the light, racing across the battlefield.

“You really are… the strongest.”

“Kyu!”

But then—

The knights themselves closed in around me from behind.

“…Tch.”

“Boy. Your monster can’t harm humans, can it?”

“…!”

The sound of steel drawn, the weight of armor, the speed of their movements.
I had never even held a sword. I didn’t know how to fight.

“—ah…!”

My arm was twisted, and the world tilted.

“KyuUUU!!”

Arnea tried to leap, but her wings faltered.
Bound by the soul’s laws, she could not strike a human.

“Stop! Don’t touch Kanon!”

Dill and Neel rushed forward, only to be pushed back by the knights.

“Kyu…!”

Tears and frustration burned in Arnea’s eyes.

“Enough.”

A sharp voice cut through the battlefield.

Black robes billowed—Sarius had arrived.
Behind him, my father and mother came running.

“Release Kanon! He is our son!”

“But the orders—”

“There are things that outweigh orders.”
Sarius’s voice was low, cold.

The knights faltered, loosening their grip on me.

“…Sarius…”

“I’ll give you a choice. Instead of going to the capital, take the role of my assistant. Walk as a researcher, officially.”

“Assistant…?”

“The phenomenon of ‘Name Release’—you and Arnea embody something even I cannot define.
Then the better path is to travel together and record it.”

My parents placed their hands on my shoulders.

“Kanon… go. Walk the path you’ve chosen.”

“…Mother… Father…”

I looked at Arnea.
Her ears trembled, but her eyes met mine, steady.

“We’ll go together.”

“Kyu!!”

At Sarius’s side, a great shadow spread its wings.

Bronze-red scales, eyes burning like flame.
A new monster—Heatdran—let out a low roar.

“This is my partner, Heatdran. From here on, he’ll be part of your team too.”

Heatdran stepped forward and pressed its nose gently to my hand.

“…Nice to meet you, Heatdran.”

“Gruooh…”

Arnea hopped beside him, her ears flicking in approval.

“Kyu!”

And so, I—

Kanon
Fragment Resonator / Assistant to Sarius
Companions: Arnea (Rabbichu), Heatdran

—set out on a new journey.

Defying the capital, bearing the hopes of my companions.

“Let’s go, partners.”

Sarius smiled faintly.

“Then let us begin—the journey to uncover the True Names of the Stars.”

And together, we stepped forward into the morning light.