Gyaar's Downlander
- Gyaar tells his dad that people are burning Ryuu flags in the marketplace. After his dad asks him about a million follow ups (Who? Why? How long has this been going on?), Gyaar says he doesn't really know much more.
- They've heard that the guy who everyone calls "Gyaar's Downlander" (a.k.a. Cam) is watching over the hill.
- Gyaar's dad doesn't care for this. He's not sure what Cam is up to, but he doesn't think it's any good.
- His mom comes to him one day and mentions his Downlander. They're going to go see a new shrine built in Gyodan's honor.
- Gyaar's mom tells him that the Downlander is not the spirit of her son Gyodan, and Gyaar should stop treating him like he is. It's gone on long enough.
- During the census, Gyaar writes down the word information. That's what he's really interested in. His dad doesn't really get why he's so curious, but that's just how Gyaar is.
- A few days later, the Guard Captain (Ursau) tells Gyaar that he tracked the Downlander to an inn called The White Mule.
- He can arrange for the innkeeper to come in for some questioning, and Gyaar asks him to arrange it.
- Ursau and Gyaar tell the innkeeper that the Downlander has three days to come to them—they offer to pay her, but she's more interested in assuring Cam's safety than anything else. Nice innkeeper.
- They promise that he'll be kept alive if he comes to them, but if he doesn't, then he'll be killed.
- The next day, the word on the street is that an Uplander girl was raped, and a Downlander man was killed in front of his family because of it. (We're guessing Cam, Diido and Tseri have a little something to do with this.)
- The Downlander is brought before Gyaar and his dad—Gyaar's not sure what to do though, and his father thinks he's weak because of it. He has to decide whether the guy should be a soldier or be killed. It's not an easy decision for him. (Nor should it be, right? Forced servitude that may lead to death or certain death aren't exactly great options for someone who saved your life.)
- Gyaar orders Urasu to teach the Downlander the sword. So, service it is (not death). It's tricky because Cam's got to learn everything with his left hand (he's only got the one arm, remember), but he has mad skills already, so it's not too hard.
- A little while later, Gyaar's dad takes off to do a tour of the area—now that his lands are so large, he leaves the area four times a year to spend time elsewhere and see what's going down.
- He doesn't want to leave Dorn-Lannet, but he leaves Gyaar in charge, which means Gyaar can't spend as much time with Cam because he's busy doing other stuff.
- One day, Cam and Gyaar have a drink together and talk about old times. Gyaar knew Cam would be back when he left—he just knew it.
- Cam confesses that there was tension when he went home. Things aren't what they used to be, and his family was different—heck, he was different.
- He tells Gyaar that he's not his brother, and Gyaar says he knows.
- The next morning, Gyaar is called to the council, where his father tells him that a Downlander girl from Fenister Fort showed up. He wants to make sure there is still peace, and the only way to do that is to terrify people into spilling the beans on their neighbors.
- Cam doesn't want to take this approach—he knows there might be trouble in the future, but he doesn't want to kill people just to avoid it.
- His father mentions that Gyaar could marry the girl. He won't force him, but he won't leave his kingdom to a bachelor either.
- Gyaar asks Cam if he knows of Graceful Fenister—she's supposed to marry Gyaar now.
- Cam is surprised, especially since he was betrothed to Graceful not that long ago, and he gets all tight-lipped and awkward with Gyaar, whom he's become friends with. Jealous, much?
- Gyaar's not sure what he's done wrong, but pretty soon he's supposed to go to Fenister Fort to meet Graceful.
- This marriage will unite Uplander and Downlander, so hopefully it will keep the peace. Let's all cross our fingers, shall we?
- As they are riding, Cam confesses that he saw Gyaar fighting a bunch of times in the battle, and asks why he himself was spared.
- Gyaar responds that because he was spared by Cam, Gyaar wanted to spare him. A life for a life—it's as simple as that. This was the first bond between them.
- Cam admits that he was scared when he spared Gyaar. It was really just fear that overcame him. Then he says looking at Gyaar was like looking in the mirror of what he would be like later on, and this confession is another (count 'em: two) bond between them.
- Now it's Gyaar's turn for a confession: He thought Cam was his brother's ghost and that's why he saved them. They've now shared three secrets, so they both say they have three bonds, which is some bro-tastic math if we've ever seen it.
- Gyaar finally asks Cam about Diido. He heard the story about her and what happened to Tseri, and he wants to know if the rumors are true. It turns out they are. (Go, Cam.)
- They keep riding, and when they see seven Uplander bodies on the side of the road, Cam advises Gyaar to go back to a safe place.
- After that, Gyaar promotes Cam to Advisor.
- Cam agrees to travel to Kayforl with Gyaar when he visits Graceful. He'd like to see his homeland again.