Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles

Rio and the others have traveled to the royal capital of the Kingdom of Karasuki with the village's annual tribute as guards. With their duties fulfilled, Rio and Sayo head into the castle town. They enjoy a meal and are doing some shopping when wandering warriors attempt to abduct a young girl. Rio jumps into the fray and easily defeats them, saving the girl. Her name is Komomo and she's the tax examiner Hayate's younger sister. Hayate's father Gouki receives a letter from Yuba. What he reads astonishes him and he and his wife, Kayoko, visit the lodgings where Rio is staying. They reveal to Rio that they once served his mother, Ayame.

Having once again firmed his resolve to avenge his mother, Rio tells Yuba that he intends to return to the Strahl region. But prior to that journey, he passes peaceful, happy days in the village, keeping his royal heritage a secret from everyone but his cousin Ruri. Spring arrives, and after learning of Rio's eventual departure, Sayo returns home and collapses in tears. When her older brother Shin sees her like that, he can't just sit still. He goes to beg Rio to stay in the village, but...

Rio returns home to the village of the People of the Spirits. The next day, he wakes to find an unknown, beautiful, naked girl beside him...?! Latifa and the others peek into the room and chaos ensues, but it turns out that the girl is Rio's bond spirit. As she doesn't have a name, Rio gives her one-Aishia. Dryas, a spirit of great trees, appears after sensing the presence of a powerful spirit. At her urging, Rio and Aishia agree to fight in order to determine her combat capabilities.

Rio is shocked when he learns of Celia's marriage of convenience to Charles Arbor. The wedding is closing in quickly. It's to be held the next day. Rio uses Aishia's powers to sneak into the palace guest house to reunite with Celia. The sight of Rio's face makes Celia overflow with joy, but when she's asked if the wedding is something she truly wants, she replies by saying it's something she's agreed to. From beginning to end, Celia's smiling demeanor never falters. Rio is unable to discern her true feelings. The next day, a magnificent parade begins, heading toward the great temple where the wedding will be held.

The moment the carriage carrying Celia arrives at the great temple where the wedding is being held, a dark figure darts toward her, threading nimbly through the crowd. The figure who so easily overpowers the knights acting as guards in order to steal Celia away is Rio. In the face of Rio's straight-forward emotions, asking Celia once again what her will in the matter is, she finally speaks her true feelings... Then, a beam of light shoots upward from the royal capital. The same thing happens in other places in the Strahl region until six pillars of light pierce the sky...!