Lydia's dearest friend and ruler of the forest, the panther Ciro, passed away. She had known him and the other forest creatures since childhood as she was eager to use her ability to communicate with animals, and she learned much from them. The townsfolk feared her as the "Onyx Beastmaster," yet they were her irreplaceable allies rather than mere servants. And it was for that reason Ciro entrusted her with the protection of the forest.