After being out at sea for a week, they finally saw land.

"There it is! The port city of Hinata!"

They can see the port city as it’s filled with several Japanese and Buddhist-styled buildings.

When they docked, Ai was the first one to land on the docks.

"Home!!!!" she shouted. She then ran off.

"Better go after the kid." Said Williams. "We're already well paid, so get going."

"Hm." Cirrus jumped off the ship and went after Ai.

Seeing so much Japanese stuff, Cirrus felt as though someone from Japan had reincarnated here.

'She's over here, Cirrus!' Nox said, flying overhead.

"Head over now!"

Cirrus could see Nox flying overhead, and he quickly arrived to find Ai stuffing her face.

"*Ah Cirrus!"

*Being translated from her stuffed mouth.

"*Sorry I ran, I just wanted to eat some dango’s!"

"…At the very least, you're going to share, right?"

"…*Maybe." She said as she was stuffing more in like a chipmunk.

After a while, the 3 of them set out to go to Ai’s home village.

"So, uh, how far is it?" Cirrus asked.

"Shouldn’t take too long if we run. Do you think you can carry me there?"

"Is this why you didn’t want horses?"

"…Could you blame a girl for wanting to be carried by her prince?"

"….No…"

"Aww~ are you embarrassed I called you my prince!"

"More embarrassed that you actually said it."

"Well am I not your princess?"

"...Fuck I picked a losing battle." He said coming up to her and scooping her off her feet.

"Hehe!"

'Not so fast!!' Nox flapped down and landed on Ai. 'I am always on top! Also she is very warm.'

 

Rushing through the foreign land, Cirrus finds it rather beautiful. Clear streams, lush trees, and bountiful mountains.

"This place…it’s really pretty." He said in his Ceryneian armor.

"Well for all its beauty there is bound to be ugliness equal to it. Look over there."

Cirrus looks to find smoke, followed by a soft breeze carrying with it the scent of iron and smoke.

"…War."

"Hm, this nation is constantly at war with each other and with monsters. Can you go and see it? I can tell where we are by the armies fighting."

They quickly climbed up the mountain, and they saw two warring factions fighting against one another.

"Hmm, it’s the Homusubi Familia and Kahaku Familia, so we must be around the left of the center of the country."

"I thought Amaterasu was in charge of the whole nation?"

"Not entirely no, she has control of the north and some of the middle of the country, while the Izanami Familia has full control of the bottom and some of the middle as well. What we have now is essentially land fought over by warring Familias in an all-out brawl in which you are either the conqueror or the conquered.

"And what of the port? Does a Familia have control of that?"

"No, port cities are not under Familia rule; they serve as supply points for gods to come and buy things from outside the country; if any god violates this, they will be targeted by every other god and will no longer receive support. Hinata is the port city further north. The further south you go along the seaboard, the more they pop up."

"That’s…hmm, to be honest, this country is a lot more…annoying when you look into the politics."

"As I said, for all of its beauty, there is bound to be ugliness equal to it."

Nox hopped from her seat and reverted to her human form and gazed out over the battleground.

"…Ah this reminds me of the brutal war conditions of my era…ah see, monsters showed up."

They watched as from the battle of people came monsters, causing more death to both sides.

"Let’s get going. Keep heading north. I really don’t want to see more."

As Cirrus runs through the land, locals spot a deer with golden antlers, carrying a white-haired maiden and an owl as pure as snow.

 

They kept going until they reached a town called Kou.

"It’s a good thing this country uses Valis." said Cirrus.

"I am as well; it seems the trade deal changed the currency from coins to Valis." said Ai.

"Well they gotta buy stuff from the outside, so I’m sure they changed it to make it easier," said Nox. "Not the first time I saw the currency change."

"Well shall we rest? You said we are still a bit away from Fuyukusa Village." Cirrus said getting into the futon.

"Hm! I’m sure my father and mother would be happy to see you!"

"I hope so." said Cirrus. 

"Not to worry, my sweet little Cirrus!" said Nox, jumping onto Cirrus. "I’m sure any family would be lucky to have you! Plus, you can always make your own!" She said, looking at Ai.

"!!" Ai's ears perked up, and her face turned red. "W-we are not old enough to think about such things!"

"Boo~ I want to be called Aunty Nox someday. You two already really like each other, so why not get a jump start?"

"Nox," Cirrus said sternly. "We are not having this conversation."

"Aww~ Come on! Look how about this!"

She goes and puts Ai next to him and gets in between them on the futon.

"Look! Imagine a little version of you and her right here!" She said as she wrapped her arms around them both.

"...I'm going to put you out if you keep this up, Nox."

"You no fun. Well, I had my fun." She then leaned back and fell asleep with her arms still wrapped around Ai and Cirrus.

"...N-night!" Ai said as she laid her head on the pillow.

"Haa..."

Cirrus gets up to get some water. When he comes back, he finds Nox hugging Ai like a stuffed toy.

"...Now I feel like I'm the third wheel."