Acting on suspicion that Illya might actually still be alive, the Crown Prince of Egdoalm dispatches his personal guard Ekval to investigate the matter. Ekval quickly tracks down the missing wizard, confirming their suspicions. Illya bolts, worried that she might get sanctioned for desertion or worse, get dragged back to Egdoalm. But to her and Berial's surprise, Ekval instead volunteers to be her bodyguard! He then proceeds to involve them in adventures and even drags them into the middle of a war?! What exactly is Ekval after?