"So, what kind of place is this country called Yamato?"
Yugo asked his friends about the nation as he savored a bowl of freshly made crab tomato cream pasta and salad.
The one to answer his question was his younger brother, Fee.
"As Marcos mentioned, it’s a nation to the east of here. It’s often called the Country of Storms and Dragons."
"Storms and Dragons...?"
"Yeah. In Yamato, dragons are deified, and the dragons themselves coexist with the humans who worship them. Their faith supposedly began when a creature known as the Storm Dragon brought blessings to the people. The three elements that make up a storm—water, wind, and thunder—are sacred to them, so you'll find many people there who use magic items with those attributes."
"I see, so that explains the name. Just curious, though—are Ryū and dragons actually different things?"
"They're completely different from the magic beasts we call dragons. Ryū don't have wings, and they have slender, elegant silhouettes. More than anything, the fact that Ryū coexist with humans makes them feel like a completely different species from the dragons we know."
I see, Yugo thought, nodding as he confirmed that Ryū and dragons were indeed distinct.
He mused to himself that the dragon summoned by a wizard of rings was certainly a different beast than the one contracted by a knight who had to fight to survive—though in the latter's case, fighting didn't necessarily guarantee survival. As he reached this conclusion, Anhel spoke up.
"Fee touched on it, but I’m fascinated by their gear—their weapons in particular. I'd love to get my hands on a katana. They're thinner than our swords, yet they're supposed to be flexible, durable, and incredibly sharp."
"Whoa! Is Yamato a land of katanas, too?"
"It seems so. They also have naginata, talismans, and plenty of other magic items that differ from the ones we use here. Apparently, dragons are involved in the creation of those items, too. It’s said that magic items forged from things like dragon claws or scales end up imbued with a special magic power."
"If you use materials taken from a powerful dragon’s body, you can create a correspondingly powerful magic item. However, the people don't hunt the dragons; they wait for the creatures to grant them parts of their bodies as a blessing."
"That sounds pretty cool. It gives everything a sense of being special, and the elemental vibes are maxed out."
"There are all sorts of other interesting things, too! It seems rice is the staple food in Yamato, and there are lots of dishes that go with it. I'd love to try my hand at making some while we have the chance!" Melt added enthusiastically.
"I’ve heard it’s a land that excels in martial arts, especially swordsmanship," Claire noted. "There’s a school that uses techniques based on the three types of weather associated with the Storm Dragon: rain, wind, and thunder. It's said to be the finest style in all of Yamato. I truly hope to see it with my own eyes."
From everything he’d heard so far, Yugo understood that Yamato was a country that somewhat resembled Japan. In terms of atmosphere, it felt like a fantasy version of the Edo period, though he doubted he’d see any samurai with topknots walking around. As Yugo gave a wry smile, Marcos weighed in.
"The academy couldn't very well let exchange students arriving from such a country see one of our own living like a vagrant in the courtyard. It would bring Luminous Academy's dignity into question. The faculty likely realized this and decided to approve Professor Castle’s proposal."
"I see. Well, that makes sense. I don't know what kind of people are coming, but it'd be trouble if they thought someone like me was the academy standard."
Even if they didn't think he was the "standard," simply letting exchange students see that the school allowed its pupils to camp in the courtyard could tarnish the academy's reputation.
Yugo, now fully understanding why the school had finally allowed him into the dormitory, turned back to his friends with another question.
"So, do we know what kind of people these exchange students are? I'm guessing there'll be a lot of warrior types... you know, swordsmen?"
"No, apparently that's not the case. Though it's only at the level of rumors, word of their backgrounds has started to spread."
"I think Hex would be the one to ask for the details, but of course, he’s not here when we actually need him," someone remarked.
It was a shame that Hex, their best information gatherer, wasn't around, but any information was better than none.
Yugo listened as Marcos shared what the students were saying about the newcomers.
"For starters, there are five exchange students in total. Three of them are said to come from distinguished families with a lineage of Shrine Maidens who serve the dragons."