"Sterk, you don't have to come with me every time that I want to gather materials," Rorona said. Her eyes seemed to be drawn to an ordinary rock to Sterkenburg, but he knew she could use it for something special. It seemed to glint with a yellow shine. "Cordy would come to get things with me," Rorona added as she picked it up and put it in her basket. She smiled as she did, and Sterkenburg thought it must have been a good item.

"Yes, I know that she would. But it is a knight's duty to protect," Sterkenburg said. His hand hovered over his sword, ready to draw it if needed.

"But Sterk, there are no knights now that Arland is a republic," Rorona said as she straightened. Her eyes spotted something in the distance- a special berry or a medicinal herb. He sighed and his hand dropped a little. "And Gio and I took care of the bandits that were around here, I think." She took off towards whatever she had seen.

Sterkenburg muttered, "The 'I think' is what worries me." He heard a noise that caused his body to stiffen and he followed close to Rorona, this time drawing his blade. No puni, rabbit, wolf, or squirrel stood a chance against him. He had already shown that he would throw himself in front of a dragon to protect her. What else was needed?

He did not find the source of the noise, but instead, heard something more frightening to him.

"Sterk! Come here! Quick!" Rorona shouted. Sterkenburg ran ahead, past Rorona and held his sword high, ready to strike. His eyes scanned the grass in front him. There was nothing. He looked back at Rorona, who held something in her hand. "It's a rare grass. I can use it to make a really good elixir," she said. She giggled a little at Sterkenburg's response.

Sterkenburg sighed as he sheathed his sword. He had been ready to be tested. "Don't worry me like that," he said. Rorona put the grass in her basket.

"I wish Totori were here to see this. She would really appreciate learning about this," Rorona said. "Too bad she went to Arls."

"You're the only good alchemist in Arland," he said.

"Master is here, too," Rorona said. She pouted for some reason unknown to Sterkenburg.

"I don't mean good as in skill level. I meant that that woman was evil," Sterkenburg explained. He knew better than anyone else.

"No, she's not evil. She just doesn't always show that she's good. She's helped out a bunch of people, including you." Sterkenburg knew that he shouldn't have said anything about Rorona's master. He hoped that someday she would see the truth about Astrid.

"I'm sorry," Sterkenburg said. "I shouldn't have brought it up." Rorona smiled as she looked at Sterkenburg, and he was glad to see that she was finally beginning to appreciate his protection. She ran up to him, with her arms outstretched, and he was sure that she was reaching out for a hug. He held out one of his arms as she ran past him. He watched as she stooped down low and threw her arms around a baby duck. Sterkenburg was unsure of how he had missed that before. At least she wouldn't be upset about Astrid anymore.

"Oh," he said as she hugged it tight. He swore that her eyes got twice as big as she hugged it.

"Can we keep him, Sterk?" Sterkenburg was taken aback. He wasn't sure why he was being asked. Sure he came to the Atelier a lot, but not every single day. He certainly didn't live there. Though he was unsure of what Rorona would do with a duck, he was pleased to see Rorona looking so happy. She held the yellow duckling close to her face. "It's sooo soft," she added.

"I can serve as a knight to a duck," Sterkenburg said. "Do you have enough materials?" Rorona nodded, and now held the duck in her hand where it chirped frequently. "Then, let's head back to Arland."