Night at camp.
By the firelight, I finally asked Sarius what had been on my mind.

“Hey, Sarius. That robe—you’re always hiding your face. Isn’t it hot under there?”

“…You are endlessly curious, aren’t you?”

“Well, we’re companions, right? You could at least show me your face.”

A pause. Then, with a soft sigh, Sarius replied:

“…Very well. For you.”

Slowly, he pulled back the hood of his robe.

What emerged—was a young man with sleek black hair falling to his shoulders, cool eyes, sharp features softened by a quiet gentleness.

“…W-whoa… you’re actually really handsome.”

If Dill and Neel had been here, they would’ve gone crazy, I thought with a laugh.

Sarius narrowed his eyes, holding his hands toward the fire.

“Does this satisfy you?”

“Yeah—uh, sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

“Heh. Think nothing of it. Hiding my face is part of my duty, after all.”

The next morning, Sarius and I began “language practice” with Rabbichu and Heatdran.

“Alright, Rabbichu. Try saying what we practiced yesterday.”

“Kanon… Tomodachi… Arigato…!”

“That’s amazing! You really said it!”

Rabbichu flicked his winged ears proudly.

“Okay, next… Heatdran, your turn.”

“Gruuu…”

“Come on, it’s ‘thank you.’”

“Gruu…”

“And ‘friend’?”

“Gruuuuu…”

“…Well, I guess it’s not gonna happen overnight.”

Sarius chuckled softly.

“Heatdran is of an ancient lineage. Words will take him longer to grasp.”

“But he’ll manage someday. Right, Heatdran?”

“Gruoh…”

He pressed his nose gently against my shoulder.
That warmth said more than words ever could.

Our journey continued astride Heatdran.
Cutting through the wind, parting the clouds, chasing the distant horizon.
Sarius and I rode with our supplies, while Rabbichu perched on the great beast’s back, ears swaying in the breeze.

“So we’re heading back to the capital?”
“No. Today we make for the western market. I need to gather research materials.”

Back home, the storage shed my father had converted into a makeshift lab waited.
A wooden desk built by him, test fabrics sewn by Mother, old tomes hauled in by Dill and Neel.

That would be our base—our place to study, and to set out from again and again.

That evening, as I stroked Heatdran’s neck, I suddenly felt it—

A faint glow, deep in my chest.

“…Hey, Sarius.”

“What is it?”

“Do you think Heatdran… has a True Name too?”

Sarius thought for a moment, then gazed up at the sky.

“…No doubt. Every soul begins nameless. Just as you called Rabbichu’s name… perhaps one day, you will discover Heatdran’s as well.”

“…Yeah.”

Heatdran rumbled softly, gently.

“Gruuu…”

I smiled, turning to my partner with winged ears.

“Hey, Rabbichu. Next, let’s find Heatdran’s True Name together.”

“Kyu!!”

The fire crackled. The night wind brushed my cheek.

And our journey went on—
With companions beside me, seeking names, and uncovering the world.