Takashi then teaches us how to gain XP. He tells us that if you complete a tough Quest, that's one way to do it. So we start there. Takashi and I look at the booklet he gave me all those weeks ago, looking for a Quest. Finally I point at one.

"Find and kill the Mizu Dragon?" asks Takashi. "That sounds a little dangerous..."

"Don't worry," I say. "We'll leave Rin-chan with someone here and go do it. I mean, two swordsmen of our skill? That Dragon doesn't stand a chance."

Takashi considers this for a little bit, then nods. "Rin-chan?" he calls. Her head appears in the doorway. "Get your armor. We're going out."

The three of us look around the Town of Beginnings for a safe place to leave Rin. Finally, we find a school with plenty of kids her age. The Sensei answers the door when I knock on it. She's a short, skinny woman with brown hair just past her shoulders. Her round glasses sit firmly up on her nose. She smiles at us.

"Konnichi wa," she says, bowing. "Welcome to my school. My name is Azumi. What can I do for you?"

"Good morning," I say. "My brother and I are going on a Quest, and we need a place for our little sister to stay. Do you think you could take care of her for a while until we get back?"

"Don't worry," says Azumi, "she'll be safe with me. What's your name, love?"

Rin hides behind me, too shy to talk to the Sensei. I pat her on the head. "It's okay. Go with Azumi-sensei."

Slowly but surely, she comes out. "R-Rin..." she says.

"Rin Arie," Takashi interjects. "She's ten."

"All right," says Azumi, smiling. She tucks a strand of brown hair behind her glasses and puts her hand behind Rin's shoulder. "Come on, sweetie. I'll introduce you to the other children." As they walk away, Rin looks back at us and waves. Takashi and I wave back at her and look at each other.

"Well," I say, "this should be fun."