Elaine shook her head. "It's not working."

The viridian-haired princess sat beside a bed, her hands emitting a lucid crystal glow over the slumbering form of Salome.

Llew nodded grimly. The results had been the same with Sanctuary Guard Dragon. The wounds inflicted by the mysterious stranger never seemed to heal, even when treated by the divine powers of the Yggdrasil Maiden.

Elaine rose. "You should get some rest."

It had been three long days since Alfred's coronation. Llew had awoken unharmed on the first and spent his every hour keeping vigil over the girl.

A knock on the door.

"Alfred, " Elaine greeted as the King entered the bedchamber.

"Your majesty," he bowed, then glanced at Llew. "Pardon my intrusion but may I have a word in private with Llew?"

Acceding to his request, she made her way to the door and departed.

The two knights remained in an uncomfortable silence, Alfred gazing out the window at the orange-dyed cityscape and Llew sitting with his head hung low.

Finally, the boy knight decided to break the silence. "What are we going to do, Alfred? Salome is dying and nothing seems to work."

Alfred turned. Llew had raised his head, unrelenting tears pouring down the contours of his face.

For a second, the King's expression softened, but then it was back to the severe and stoic eyes that were demanded of his position.

His great armor clinked as he walked forward. "Pull yourself together, Llew. You are a member of the Royal Paladins, hold yourself with the pride of a knight."

Llew's facade darkened. "And what use is that? Will that save Salome?"

Pausing for a moment, Alfred swallowed a deep breath, then smashed his fist into Llew's face viciously.

The impact flung him to the wooden floorboards where he crumpled, his back against the wall.

"Stop behaving like a spoiled child. I didn't save the two of you when we were kids for you to end up like this," Alfred seethed.

As Llew smeared some blood away, he murmured. "I just want to save her.. no matter what."

"And what if I told you that you can?"

Llew's gaze bounced to the King without a moment of hesitation. His eyes burned with curiosity, confusion, suspicion, doubt, excitement, but most of all, desire.

Alfred tossed a leather package at Llew's feet. "All you need is in here. I'm sure you know about the Angel Feathers. They told me about a great healer known as Ergodiel who can heal any wound and even bring the dead to life. This map will lead you to her. I would go myself, but Kiriel of the Circular Saw told me that this Ergodiel lives in a protected part of the Angel Feather territory where us knights are forbidden from entering."

"Then how will I get there?"

"Knights cannot go there. But heroes can."

"I don't understand."

At that moment, Alfred unlatched the Blaster Blade from behind him and handed it out to Llew.

As Llew grabbed hold of the legendary weapon, he shook his head slightly. "So this is what you're after."

"Listen, Llew. You know that i don't want Salome to die either. The three of us have been friends since forever. But I can't just ignore this issue regarding you and the Blaster Blade. This sword has been the nation's greatest asset since its birth and it is my duty as the King of the Knights to ensure that it continues to serve its purpose."

"Well, it doesn't really matter. If this is what it takes to save Salome's life, then I'll do it."

Alfred nodded.

…

The morning after, just as dawn was breaking over the lofty clouds, Llew approached the gates of the Capital.

A pair of guards yawned as they hailed him from afar, then proceeded to work the levers that lifted the gate with a massive groan.

Llew halted before the gateway, taking in the sights of the world that lay beyond the city he had been trapped in for the past five years.

The young pegasus he was towing neighed excitedly as it spotted the vast meadows of grass stretching endlessly towards to the horizon.

"So this is.. the outside world," Wingal whispered in awe.

Slightly overwhelmed by the view beyond, Flogal brushed her torso lightly against Wingal's to comfort her nerves.

Llew felt around the belt on his waist. Map. Check. Blaster Blade. Check. And the rucksack of food and supplies were securely strapped to the pegasus' back. Everything was ready.

"Hey! Wait!"

Turning around, Llew was stunned to see a humongous rhinoceros beetle clad in golden armor buzzing through the air towards him.

Hovering slightly, it landed. And a head popped out from its back.

"Hey, there! You must be Llew!" A young girl was sitting at the reins of the insect, short and covered in blue armor.

"That's me. Who are you?"

"Alfred sent us to help you on your journey." A brunette in light armor made her appearance next to the young girl. "Nice to meet you. They call me the Knight of Roses, Morgana."

A grey-armored man popped out behind her. "I'm Randolf!"

"And I'm Epona! But people like to call me the Bringer of Good Luck!" announced the small girl. "And this is my goldbeetle. I call him Mushi!"

Llew smiled, grateful for the unprecedented companionship. "Well, good luck is something that we'll definitely need. Nice to meet you guys. I'm Llew, and these two over here are my partners, Flogal and Wingal."

The two High Dogs stepped forward to meet their new comrades.

And after a bout of light chatter, the newly assembled team mounted their steeds and glided out into the fields of Planet Cray.

A soft wind blew across the land.

And so the journey began.