Chapter 1: Encounter
On the road

A trailer is driving off from a port town and inside there are six people riding. The driver is a young long blond-haired man that is falling down on either side of his face, while he ties the back in a long ponytail. He wears casual clothes and a white suit. The person sitting a young girl who has short reddish-brown hair and brown eyes. She wears a coat over her black shirt that and blue jeans; she also wears a red hat. In the back, there are four people. One of them is a dark skinned woman who has black hair and red eyes. She wears arm length gloves revealing clothes. A young man who has spiky blonde-brown hair and blue eyes, and wears a red jacket over his black shirt, red pants, red shoes, and gloves. A young girl with long light purple hair and green eyes. She has a dark purple ribbon tied around her neck and wears a knee-length, long sleeved, dark-purple dress and metallic platform boots secured together with two black buckles. A young girl with long purple hair that is braided into two and large glasses. They are Rowen, Cisqua, Kuea, Cou, Ren, and Viro.

The purple-haired girl, Viro, looks at the blonde-brown haired boy, Cou.

"Thank you." Viro says. "Are you sure I'm not intruding?"

Cou then looks at Viro. "Well, it can't be helped, can it? Always a pleasure to provide a helping hand."

The reddish-brown haired girl, Cisqua, looks back. "Cou-san! Can I have a word?"

Cou looks at Cisqua and walks up to her.

"What is it?" He asks.

"Why did you let her on without consulting us first?"

"It couldn't be helped." He replies. "Those guys appeared to be sailors, she couldn't return to the harbor, could she?"

"Still, we're not here on some sightseeing tour, you know. I'm thinking in terms of what lies ahead."

"Excuse me." Viro says. "Where are you all going?"

"Um... N-no place of anything significance..." Cisqua hesitates.

"We're going to Edel Garden." Cou answers.

"C-Cou-san!" Cisqua exclaims.

"What's wrong with telling her?" Cou asks. "Viro might even know something about the place."

"Edel Garden?" Viro says. "I doubt too many people have ever gone there. It's said that there are great difficulties to getting anywhere close."

"Do you know which direction it is from here?" Cou asks.

"Well, you should actually be able to see it from this district."

"You sure?!"

~Later~

Once they reach to a cliff, the light purple-haired girl, Ren, points at a giant piece of land floating in the air and they see it. However, the ground collapse where Viro stands and someone catches her by the collar of her dress and that person has a weapon on his arm.

"Marl!" Cou exclaims.

"He's still alive." Ciqua says.

"But what is he doing here?" The blonde-haired man, Rowen, asks.

"Cou-sama, it hurts, help." Viro cries.

"Let go of Viro!" Cou demands.

Marl laughs and points his weapon at them and a mace launches toward them. However, they split up and both Ren and the black-haired woman, Kuea, start to chant and become weapons for Cou and Rowen. Cisqua points her gun at Marl.

"Be careful, he's acting strangely!" Cisqua points out.

"I noticed that!" Kuea says as Rowen charges at Marl. Marl also charges at Rowen, but passes and jumps.

"He's fast!" Rowen thought.

Cisqua then points her gun at Marl while he is in the air, but Marl launches the mace towards her and she dodges it. Rowen then turns around and Cisqua regroups Cou.

"Take a closer look!" Cisqua tells Cou. "His body's been taken over by a Sting Raid!"

"Viro, hang in there!" Cou tells Viro.

Suddenly, a wave of water appears and hits Marl, causing him to let go of Viro and Rowen catches her. Cisqua uses this chance to fire her gun at Marl as he block the bullets with the weapon and he jumps off the cliff as Cou runs after him.

"Stop!" Cou demands and he doesn't see Marl beyond the cliff. "Tch, he got away."

Ren starts to revert back to her human form and stands next to Cou. Behind them, Kuea already returns to her human form and Viro stands next to Rowen as Cisqua runs toward her.

"Are you all right?" Cisqua asks.

"Yes, we're okay." Rowen answers.

"But who made that wave just now?" Kuea asks.

"We did." A man's voice says.

They turn around and see a man wearing a cloak and holding a sword.

"You guys look like you're having trouble with that guy, so we helped." He says.

"Who are you?" Cisqua questions as she points her gun at him.

"Hey, hey, we're not your enemies." He says before his sword turns into a woman and gets the hood off showing his face. "I'm Takeshi and this is Mizuki." He points at the woman as she bows.

"Thank goodness that everyone is okay." Mizuki says.

"Viro!" Cou calls. "Are you all right?"

"Y-yes, thank you very much." Viro says and looks at Takeshi and Mizuki. "And thank you too."

"No problem." Takeshi says.

"You are an Edel Raid, is that correct?" Cisqua asks Mizuki.

"Yes." Mizuki lifts her arm, showing her Elemental Gerade.

"We were traveling around the world and saw you guys having trouble fighting that guy just now." Takeshi explains.

"Well, if you like, you can come with us for dinner." Rowen offers.

"We would like too, right, Takeshi?" She asks.

"Yeah." Takeshi replies.

~Night~
At a cottage

Viro is cutting the cabbage and makes a pile of the cabbage that was cut.

"Everybody, just give me a little bore time." She tells them. "Dinner will be ready shortly."

"Ah, I'll take care of dinner..." Rowen suggests.

"No, please allow me!" Viro says. "I've already cause you all so much trouble. This is about all I can do to help!"

"But..." Rowen trails off.

"Rowen, let's let Viro prepare dinner for us today." Cisqua tells him.

"Y-you think so?" Rowen asks nervously.

Then they walk out of the kitchen.

"I don't care, as long as there's a lot to eat." Kuea says.

"Then we'll leave it to you, Viro." Cou tells her.

"Thanks, I'll do my best!" Viro replies.

~Later~

Viro serves a large pile of fried rice.

"Th-this is what I call a hearty meal!" Cisqua remarks.

"Now everyone, dig in!" Viro tells them.

"Thanks for dinner!" Kuea scoops a part of the pile, which is still big, and puts it on her plate before she eats it. "Delicious!"

"I-it's delicious." Rowen complements. "There's nothing about the taste of this that I can be critical about."

"What is the matter?" Cisqua asks.

"Why am I feeling a sense of defeat?"

"This man can be difficult at times." Cisqua points out and she notices Cou is staring into space. "Cou-san? Cou-san!" Cou then looks at Cisqua. "Why are you staring into a distance? You'd better have some or there will be none left."

"I-I'm not staring into the distance!" Cou says and scoops a part of the pile.

"Cou-san." Viro calls as a blush appears on her face. "Please have lots."

Cou starts to blush

"This is really good." Takeshi complements. "But Mizuki's cooking is still number one to me."

Mizuki quickly blushes from Takeshi's complement and Kuea quickly eats the pile that she is eating. "Yum, this is great!"

Kuea then scoops more rice to her plate, subsequently, the pile starts to wobble and collapse on Cou.

"Wow, it's Cou-san dressed in liquid starch!" Cisqua points out.

"Cou-san! Cou-san! Are you all right?!" Viro asks.

~After dinner~
At the hot spring; the female side

"This hits the spot." Cisqua says.

"I never would the thought we'd find a hot spring out here." Kuea says.

"Hot spring?" Ren repeats.

"Yes, this is called a hot spring." Mizuki says.

"Hot spring... feels nice." Ren says.

Male side

Cou is submerge into the water and comes out and rubs his head.

"Boy, that was quite the ordeal!" Cou exclaims.

"We're you able to wash off the liquid starch and oil?" Rowen asks.

"Yeah, somehow." Cou replies and sighs.

"What's wrong?" Takeshi asks. "You've been like that since dinner."

"N-no, it's nothing at all." Cou says.

"Really?" Takeshi says.

Cou closes his eyes with a blush and opens them again.

"Hey, Ro, Takeshi." Cou calls. "Have you two ever had a girl make a confession of love to you? Hey, Ro, Takeshi." Cou turns around and sees Viro standing behind him with a towel covering her body.

"Cou-san." Viro calls.

"V-Viro!" Cou flusters.

"Let me wash your back for you." Viro asks.

Female side

Mizuki leaves the bath earlier and then Cisqua, Kuea, and Ren hear Cou screaming.

"What are you doing in here, this is the men's bath!" Cou yells.

"I wanted to apologize for earlier." Viro tells him.

"Apologize?" Cou repeats. "Where'd Rowen and Takeshi go?! Where's Rowen and Takeshi?!"

"The both of them got out a little earlier." Viro informs. "Let me scrub the oil of you."

"No, never mind! It's washed off! It's gone!"

"But look, there's still some..."

"Hey! Stay back!"

Cou continues to decline Viro's request and suddenly the wall that separates the women and men baths falls over.

~Later~

Cisqua, Rowen, and Kuea stands in front of Cou as Mizuki and Takeshi stands on the sidelines. Cisqua hits Cou on the cheek.

"Ridiculous! I can't believe it!" Cisqua scolds.

"Still, there's no reason why you should kick me!" Cou shouts and touches his cheek before sitting down. "I think my jaw got dislocated."

"It's a justified penalty!" Cisqua says. "Actually, you should consider yourself lucky that that was all you had to go through!"

"Cisqua-san! I think Cou had enough already!" Mizuki says "and walks toward where Cou is and places her hand on his cheek, and causing her hand to glow. Once her hand stops glowing, she brings hand back and the bruise from Cisqua's kick is healed, surprising them.

"It's healed!" Cisqua exclaims.

"Yes. I have healing abilities since I was born." Mizuki says.

"Thanks, Mizuki." Cou says. "Keh! How arrogant! It's not as if you've got anything worth seeing!"

"I've never been so insulted. There's no sign of regret reflected in your attitude. I shall pass judgement in the name of righteousness!" Cisqua takes out her gun and points it at Cou before firing it.

"No way! Stop it!" Cou shouts and he runs away from the room and sees Ren standing in the middle of the hallway. "Ren."

Ren brings up a first aid kit and Cou sees it. "Medicine."

~Later~
Outside

Ren rubs ointment on Cou's forehead and Cou flinches.

"Are you all right?" Ren asks.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine." Cou reassures.

"Hey, Cou." Ren calls. You like...?"

"Wh-what about?" Cou flusters.

"You were with Viro earlier, right?"

"Ah, well, that's..."

"You like her?"

Then Viro comes out with medicine in her hands. "Oh, Cou-san! I was wondering where you were. I brought some medicine. Ren-san, would you excuse me for a moment?"

"Wait a minute..." Cou says and both Takeshi and Mizuki hide from the wall of the cottage.

"Apply this to your wounds, and they'll heal quickly." Viro says as she rubs the medicine onto her finger. She then rubs the medicine on Cou's forehead.

"Stop it." Cou says and Ren stands up.

"Cou-san, don't move."

Ren then walks away and into the forest.

Ah, Ren!" Cou calls. "Hey, Ren!"

"Huh? What's the matter with Ren-san?" Viro then looks at the first aid kit. "Why, this is..."

"Ren brought it here for me." Cou explains and Viro looks at him. "Sorry, I need to go and talk with Ren."

Cou walks away to follow where Ren is and Viro brings her head down.

"I'm sorry." Viro apologizes. "I've once again caused you trouble. I am such a klutz. I'm clumsy, and I keep causing everyone trouble."

Cou turns his head to see Viro. "But you always give everything your best." Viro looks up at Cou. "I don't dislike you, Viro. Later."

Cou begins to run into the forest as Viro watches him.

"What do you think, Takeshi?" Mizuki whispers.

"Well, the moment I saw her, she look suspicious." Takeshi whispers back.

Mizuki then sees Viro following Cou.

"Takeshi!" Mizuki calls and he sees Viro moving.

"Let's go." Takeshi says and Mizuki nods. Then they follow her at a distance.

Once Viro reaches to the ruins, she hides away from Cou and Ren as Takeshi and Mizuki hide in the forest. After Cou leaves Ren to find Edel Garden, Ren rubs her eyes and sleeps. Suddenly, a mace flies toward where Cou is and destroys the pillar. After the mace hits Cou by the stomach, he looks up and sees Marl while the mace reattaches.

"M-Marl!" Cou exclaims and Ren wakes up.

Marl then fires the mace towards the pillar that Ren slept against before it destroys the pillar and Ren runs away from it.

"Ren!" Cou shouts as he run towards her.

Ren stops and sees Cou. "Cou!"

Then mace then hits another pillar, causing it to block Cou's path towards Ren.

"Damn, he's making sure we won't able to React!" Cou says out loud and jumps on the pillar. Cou then sees Marl cornering Ren to a pillar and they look at Cou while he jumps off the pillar. "Marl!"

"Cou-san!" Viro shouts and Cou sees Viro running towards him.

"Viro?! Stay back!" Cou shouts.

"Cou-san! I... I...!" Viro cries.

VIro then hugs Cou, causing her body to shine. Once the light dies down everyone in the area sees a Viro turns into a weapon on Cou's arm.

"Wh-why... this is a React!"