"What have you planned?" Manoban asked, her voice filled with a mixture of fear and hope.
Ray held her close. "Tomorrow, I'm going to meet your parents. I'll tell them I love you, and that I'll save all of us from the danger we're facing."
He then explained his theory. "The feudal lord's sudden visit, the city lord giving Belar the easy job of caring for the Feudal lord's horses, the ruining of your fields… it all feels like a big conspiracy."
Manoban nodded, a new wave of fear washing over her. "It does. It all feels so sudden, and now that you mention it, it's all connected."
Ray then showed her the Hybrid-Armor. "Wear this before you leave in the morning. And tell your parents to wait for me. I need to speak with them."
She nodded, her eyes shining. "I feel so proud that I chose you as my man."
They kissed and spent the night together. In the morning, Ray woke to see Manoban already dressed, the armor he gave her fitting perfectly beneath her clothes.
