I stare at the gate that appears to swirl into a point of depth. Unlike the usual flashy mages’ transportation spell, this is... meek. The only indication that it once hosed out a demon assault is the destruction of the city around it. If it were not so cordoned off, and was in the wild, you might not notice it at all.

Then again, void spells are rarely flashy despite the extraordinary effects.

Contrary to this, and to the silence of yesterday, there is a team of void mages now milling around, taking measurements of ambient spirits. Most of them the fairly weak sort. It can't be helped with most of us. There are few writings on the subject of our magic, and even fewer tutors. I guess it doesn't surprise me that the princess practically leapt on me for assistance. I am a relatively strong Void Mage, and I know how to lead people, though the second part is something I never really wanted. Not that I mind the task as such, this is more interesting to me right now and I get to try to find out why this thing summoned me. My estate can manage itself for a few months without my input these days, in any case. After all, I wouldn’t have been able to become a mercenary and hunt down bandits if it didn’t.

"I have to say, I didn't expect such support from the princess." I mutter to myself. "It sounded like she was bluffing before... maybe I'm getting rusty... or is this just the power of royalty?"

"It is both, right? Kurono always was a rusty sort, whereas silver things are sometimes competent."

Who the heck talks about me like that?

I swivel around, quite cross.

"Uwahhh! How scary! Kurono could kill foolish scorpion with glare alone!"

"Kali!?"

"One and the same. Or is the same as the one?"

Surely, one cannot mistake this deeply tanned and toned girl wearing queer bandages and a queerer smile. But when did she seriously increase her capacity to speak Tessan? And when did she lose her sense of childish... oh... it’s probably...

I sigh.

"You... came to see me... now?"

Kali has widened eyes and scratches her cheek.

"Is a day for foolish questions? Also, day for cold spikey Kuro? Is blood day as well? Really picked wrong day... what a blunder..."

I almost splutter at her ability to leap to incorrect conclusions.

But instead, I can't be mad at this girl of all girls, and my splutter turns into a snigger, and then a chortle behind my hand.

"Ah good. I am getting better at this 'bomb defusing' thing. Aniki is rubbing off on me? Well... all sorts of rubbing did happen, I suppose." She grins.

This bloody girl.

"I have no idea what you see in that pervert. But it’s good you're happy, I guess."

"Kali is indeed, surprisingly happy. Kuro is not the only one surprised, I guess? But enough of that... how is Yuuzuchi?"

Yes indeed... how is Yuuzu? I would like to know myself. She is very good at concealing her true thoughts sometimes. Wears her emotions on her sleeves, of course, and is even more impulsive than this punchy girl. But her true thoughts...

"I think she's fine. She was trying to escape seeing her grandfather. But I forced her to go."

Kali looks at me under her eyes whilst smiling. Opposite to Yuuzu, it’s very clear what this one thinks, and it creeps me out.

She shakes her head.

"Kuro is foolish scorpion. Yuuzuchi is probably nervous that she succumbed to your charms. She does very much concern herself with what her grandfather thinks, you know. And you have left her stranded in the desert. Haaaah..."

Oh.

I didn't even think about that. I have long since stopped caring what people think and I assumed she should simply connect with her family at any chance she has.

That was probably negligent of me.

"Kuro also brought Alicia to see Kako as well, right? Such thoughtlessness. Not sure if Kuro deserves her many cute girls after all..."

Yes. Okay. Damn this bloody girl.

"Uwahhh... there’s that scary look again. Heh... well harsh Kuro teaches harsh lessons like S'tavi. Reminds me muchly of mothers training." She nods and crosses her arms.

I... I didn't want to be some martial arts teacher! What are you making me! I have bad memories of people like that. They remind me of the hell I went through to become a competent noblewoman in absence of my parents and people who loved me.

But isn’t this laddish prodding exactly why I find Kali amusing?

Wait.

Suddenly this jiving is interrupted in an instant.

I feel the portal is reacting, and my gaze instantly snaps to it.

The others are slower by a hair, but immediately, with a crack noise, I withdraw a firework I had an alchemist make for me, light it, and send 50 feet upwards with momentum.

In less than ten seconds of it going off, two mages and a whole legion of troops surround us and the square, and I have drawn my bow. Kali has also taken on a deep posture, and even lacking her gauntlets, I am imagine her to still be threatening.

Early warning is the least we could do in our job here. But to think there was so little time...

There is a pop noise. I train my sights on the portal.

Suddenly, two women fall through, carrying two men. One is tanned with dark hair, and the other has flowing blonde locks. They look positively starved and exhausted.

The black haired one looks up and her eyes go wide. Then sighs as her hands shoot up in surrender.

"I'm sorry. I knew I shouldn't have used that door. But I'll explain everything."

Hmmm? This girl is also a void mage, isn't she?

"Oh! I know these ones! They're mercenaries." Kali says. She has now completely relaxed.

Well... isn't this a strange thing.