Rio and Latifa have entered a forest in the Wilderness. While she's sleeping, they're surrounded by a band of what appear to be demi-humans. The girls reveal themselves to be People of the Spirits. Rio tries to talk things out with them, but Uzuma, a winged beast person, finds Latifa and assumes that Rio has abducted her. Uzuma swoops down on Rio without giving him a chance to explain. Her sudden attack renders Rio unconscious. In his dreams, a beautiful girl with pink blonde hair appears to him as well as Amakawa Hayato's childhood friend, Ayase Miharu.

It's been over a year since Rio began living in the village, and now the day of the Grand Spirit Festival has arrived. With the blessing of the great tree spirit Dryas, Rio is recognized as a sworn friend to the People of the Spirits. That night, while everyone is having fun and feasting, Rio tells Latifa that he intends to leave the village. Unable to accept it, Latifa runs off into the forest. Meanwhile, an airborne intruder is detected and the warriors of the village go to investigate suspicious od reactions. What they discover is a huge flight of wyverns headed straight for the village.

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.