The air at night was very relieving after a day whose weather was once again very warm. Karsh and Dario lay on their backs on the hillside, with a very still Riddel between them, staring into the dark sky. They had been silent for several minutes, when Karsh sat up slowly, bending his knees and wrapping his arms around them, and looking over at the other two.

Riddel wore her new, white summer dress, and though she was raised with the manners of a noble, had no objection to lying on the wet grass in her recently sewn attire with her two true friends. On the other side of her lay Dario and it had been one of the few times that he was not wearing his armor or training gear. The two of them were still as though Karsh had not moved.

"Hey," Karsh said, quietly. They both turned slightly to look at Karsh's face. "This may be out of th' blue, but... Where do ya think we'll be in ten years? Dario, you think we'll end up succeeding ol' man Viper?"

Riddel smiled. "You always feel the same about Daddy don't you, Karsh?"

"It's not how you think," Karsh replied. "I respect the man almost more than my own father. I can't speak for Dario, but he's been a second father for me." Dario remained silent and closed his eyes. The wind picked up speed for a moment, and then fell dormant again. "Oh, Dario... I'm sorry, I didn't--"

"It's been a long time, Karsh," Dario said, not angered or saddened in the least. "I understand. But you are right. The General has been more than influential to me."

Karsh nodded, but Dario did not see him. "So back to my question! You think we'll be as well known as Cyrus someday?"

Dario turned his head toward Karsh and smiled. "We very well may be, Karsh. But that does not mean we can be apathetic to our training or our mission."

Karsh recited in a mocking fashion, "To preserve the land, guard its people, and---"

"Bring pride to the Acacia Dragoons?" Riddel interjected. "Both of you are so obsessed with orders. What if something truly dangerous was asked of you?"

Dario playfully suggested, "Like if we had been given an order to tell you your hair was not in order?" Karsh and Dario simultaneously gave hearty laughs, as Riddel jokingly hit Dario for his comment.

"I'm serious!" She said. "I... don't know what I would do if I lost either of you." Her tone radiated onto both Dario and Karsh, leaving the trio with a feeling of solemnity. Karsh lay back down to relax. He spoke again, breaking the silence.

"Then may it be that we'll still be together... forever. Right?" The words Karsh spoke seemed almost unusual for him, but his intent was true, and the words slipped regardless.

"Right," said Dario, giving a sense of finality to the subject.

Riddel sighed, gazing back up into the stars, and added, "Forever."