A...Bear?

Anabel! Deirdre! Are you on patrol?

Yes, just making the rounds around town...

Something wrong, Deirdre? You seem a little restless.

Of course I'm restless! How can I relax when some stranger is following my sister around, making weird advances on her?!

Let me guess...Verdanta?

Verdanta. But it's really not such a big deal, Deirdre.

Yes, it is! Every day, she shows up at around this time and starts...

Lady Anabel! Aldo!

Oh? You're not Verdanta... Wait, aren't you...

Yes, my name is Jard. I work under Verdanta.

You do not look the part. How can I trust you to be who you say you are?

I beg your forgiveness... My face was injured in the war and left me this scar. It is my shame...

My apologies. I was out of line...

No. It is okay. I am used to it.

So, where is she?

About that...I was actually wondering if you could help me.

Would you mind coming with me to the tavern?

Something must've happened. Come on, let's go see what's going on.

What's with the big ball of fur?

What in the...

Not enough what? Drinks? Pathetic. I'd expect better from a special envoy than to be drinking like a fish.

Healing?

Yes! Healing!

What is she talking about?

Luza and Miko are the names of her pet nornbears. Ah, nornbears are a type of white bear native to our continent.

She keeps bears as PETS?! That's intense.

I know how it sounds, but they're actually really cute! Verdanta is always so stressed and demanding, both of herself and everyone else... The only time she can truly relax is when she's with her two bears. She even takes them into camp during battles.

Ah I see... Yes I suppose two bears would be hard to take on such a long trip by sea...

Exactly. And this is the consequence...

Hmph. Pathetic.

I don't think you get how serious this is! If she doesn't improve soon, it could badly impact our negotiations.

Healing... Is that why she's always trying to sweet-talk me? Would it help if I paid her a little more attention?

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Are you out of your mind, Sis? Why would you offer to do that?!

I-It's not like it would be for real! I wouldn't be taking her advances seriously or anything... But she IS an important envoy. I can't just leave her like this.

But that doesn't mean you have to do THAT! Ugh...this is giving me a headache!

Why don't we hear Jard out before we start making rash decisions...

Oh, be quiet, moron!

I'm sorry to interrupt this, um, lively discussion... But I'm afraid that cannot replace the healing the bears provide her.

Oh, really?

I'm afraid so... When Verdanta offers up words of love and romance, she doesn't do it in the hopes of being soothed... She does it because she wants to give love and healing to others.

The more you talk, the more confusing you make this...

Yes, I think that might need some clarification...

The cold gets extremely harsh where we come from. Sometimes, the only way to keep warm in winter is to huddle together. And one winter night...

Verdanta was out doing an inspection when a blizzard hit. She was forced to take shelter at a nearby house.

But the house was very old, and the strong drafts chilled the poor girl who lived there right to the bone. Verdanta was sure that if the girl fell asleep that night, she would never wake up again.

And so, she comforted her until day broke and the blizzard subsided.

When she left the house, Verdanta told the girl that she had endured the cold well. But the girl replied... "I didn't even feel the cold. I felt so unbelievably warm. It was almost like love had lit a fire in my body." In that moment, Verdanta realized. Making people feel love made their lives that little bit warmer. And that in the brutal colds of the north, that was the best thing she could do for them. So from that day forth, Verdanta started to speak of love to everyone she met.

Somehow, that explanation only made it worse...

So her romantic affection is just an expression of devotion to her people? How pure, how admirable...

Anabel!

Is there a reason why she only acts this way towards women?

I wouldn't say she does. It's just that she only acts this way towards those she finds appealing or "sweet." After all, in order to make others feel love, she has to put on the charm for real. So, far from being a way of healing, it's much more of a burden for her.

Wait a minute. Our land is much warmer than the North. Why would she need to go around melting people's hearts here, when there's no real cold to begin with?

Well...I guess it's just become ingrained in her now. It's simply who she is.

Okay, so it's not a selfless gesture. She's just hitting on everyone she finds attractive...

A-Anyway, let's move on! Can you think of anything that might work as a substitute for a nornbear?

Hmm... How about one of the cats in Baruoki?

Verdanta, are you able to walk?

We'll come with you.

*sigh* Fine...

Well?

No... It's not the same...

How's this?

Wh-What's going on?!

Close...but no.

What do you think?

Well, the size is right, but...

What about her?

No.

Teehee. I don't mind so much...

This time for sure!

He's nice and fluffy...but otherwise he's all wrong.

Another no-go...

I don't know what you young'uns are up to, but somehow, I feel insulted.

In that case, maybe we should get Hydra to take us to a different era?

Okay, then follow me!

I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we must return to our official duties now. We've been summoned by the king.

That's fine, I understand.

Thank you for all your help.

Sorry for getting you involved in all this...

Hehe. If only you were always this humble.

Okay, let's go introduce Verdanta to Synth Hydra.

Your ship sails through the sky?! I've never seen anything like this!

Do I amaze you, young lady?

And it talks?! Your ship has a will of its own?

Synth Hydra at your service. If a cool and confident young lady such as yourself should ever need anything... A gentleman battleship like myself could never possibly deny you.

Aldo...I come from a land of shipbuilders. Where I'm from, ships are the very definition of power. So tell me. Just what exactly are you planning to do with this ship?

Do with him? Nothing, really. Hydra's just my traveling companion. I ask him for help when I need it, that's all.

I see... How lucky it is that this ship ended up with someone like you.

Hey, I exist too, you know! Don't give that Hydra guy all the attention!

Oh?

That's more like it! Interested in the big guns, are you?

Yes...he'll do!

Huh?

What's your name?

Me? Um... They call me the Dimension Cannon.

Then I'll call you Dim-Dim!

Dim-Dim?!

No... THAT'S her bear substitute?!

I think so, yes.

Does he look like a nornbear, or something?

Not even slightly. But given how she's acting...

There, there! There's a good Dim-Dim!

AHHH! What is happening?! Stop that!

Sorry about this. She's just really missing her pets right now... Do you mind taking one for the team and pretending to be her pet for a little while?

WHAT?! Why me?! Why do I have to be her pet?

Okay, who wants a treat? I have some tasty bread from the tavern! Now, go fetch!

And how am I supposed to do that?! I can't even move!

Hydraaa! Help meee!

Lucky you...getting all that attention... ......

Ugh! You're sulking? Seriously?

You are a selfish little thing, aren't you, Dim-Dim... Don't worry, I'll take good care of you!

Now, time to train! I'm not going to hold back, okay?

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait a minute!

Why is she attacking me?!

Oh, Verdanta always fights with her pet bears. She wants them to be as strong as they are cute.

You gotta be kidding me!

For today's training session... let's bring Aldo in to help!

Um...sure...

Okay, here we go!

Hold on, hold on! I give up!

My, my. So weak...

Sorry about that, Dimension Cannon...

If you're going to call it quits so soon... Why don't we talk instead? Tell me about yourself.

Um, okay... I think I can do that.

What did you just say?!

So Verdanta and Jard came alone?

Something seems off to me...

She made it a point to mention that there were other envoys from her country with her. Why would she lie about that? What would she have to gain?

Verdanta... Just who are you?

So, did you have a nice chat?

We did! Dim-Dim is such a sweet thing. For the first time since coming to your land, I finally feel healed.

Heheh... I'm just...glad I could... help you...

(I've never seen him looking so exhausted before...)

He told me all about your adventures, Aldo.

I never realized I was standing on a ship that could travel across time and space! Changing the past and future, huh... How very arrogant of you, Aldo.

It's not like I went around changing history on a whim!

But there were people fighting, and things that needed protecting... And for them, I wanted to...no, I HAD to make sure time could progress.

That's why I changed history.

Oh...I guess I had you wrong. You weren't trampling on anyone's pride after all.

How about you, li'l lady? Any era you'd like to visit?

Me? ......

No... I'm not interested.

Now is the only time that concerns me.