The road to the Southern Pearls stretched long and quiet beneath the morning sun.
Fields slowly replaced the busy streets of the capital, and the air grew warmer as June Astral and Lucas de Hein rode side by side.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The only sounds were the steady rhythm of horses and the wind moving through the trees.
June finally broke the silence.
"So, Tower Master."
Lucas glanced at her.
"Yes?"
June leaned slightly forward on her horse.
"You've never been to my land before, right?"
Lucas shook his head.
"No."
June smiled a little.
"You'll like it."
Her brown eyes looked ahead toward the distant hills.
"The people there are honest."
Then her expression hardened slightly.
"And they don't deserve someone using black magic near their homes."
Lucas studied her quietly.
The playful princess from the palace had completely disappeared.
Now she looked like a ruler protecting her territory.
Lucas spoke calmly.
"You care about them."
June glanced sideways at him.
"Of course."
She shrugged lightly.
"They're my people."
Lucas nodded once.
"…Good."
June raised an eyebrow.
"That sounded almost like praise."
Lucas looked forward again.
"It was an observation."
June laughed softly.
"You really are serious all the time."
Lucas didn't respond.
But after a moment he said something unexpected.
"Why did you jump from the balcony this morning?"
June blinked.
"Hmm?"
Lucas continued calmly.
"You could have used the stairs."
June stared at him for a second.
Then she laughed again.
"Because it's faster."
Lucas looked at her briefly.
"You are unusual."
June grinned.
"And yet you keep following me."
Lucas did not deny it.
The road continued south, slowly leading them toward darker forests and unknown danger.
Somewhere ahead, hidden in the shadows of the Southern lands, the black mage and their mysterious warrior were waiting.