To her surprise, Renvi already had papers for her to sign ready with him. They really expected her to say yes. That being done, they agreed to meet in two days for her to get introduced to the rest of the band.

In the end, after so much arguing and deciding, the decision and the execution were that simple. A simple three-letter word and a signature were all it took. This left her with two days to get ready. The military usually assigned gear and weapons to those that joined, unless they had their own. With Nathaniel insisting on her getting her own, she got the second day free.

And they didn’t waste time, first thing in the morning they went to visit the armorsmith, who took her measurements and Lia’s instructions. She had no idea what the spirit was talking about or what kinds of armor existed here.

Lia had already picked a branch that the two reworked into a staff some months back, but with her learning to fight with swords Nathaniel led her to a weaponsmith. Hearing the prices made Ana work hard to remember them, as one day she was sure to repay Nathaniel for all of his kindness.

The swords he got for her were similar to the ones she trained with, while plain they had a certain beauty in the lack of detail. The crossguards were curved upwards, and the handles were long enough for two hands. After that was done they went to another shop and after another round of measurements and Lia’s instructions, they left the tailor. It only took a few hours but it was exhausting, she wasn’t a fan of shopping before, and certainly wasn’t now.

Back at the house, Nathaniel left to see to his duties, while Ana prepared a little surprise for her friends. After tinkering with the railgun, she continued to practice controlling the voltage of her spell. But she did so only when Nathaniel could join her, so both of them could do the spell equally.

After that, she sketched a design and had a jeweler make it. The short old woman got confused when Ana explained what she wanted, but her experience won over the confusion, and the gadget was completed. With a few finishing touches she put her idea to the test.

Using her spell in conjunction with the copper charger the woman had made, a familiar sketch of a lightning bolt appeared on her phone. It took a while to charge up, and it most certainly wasn’t good for the battery, but it worked. After a few hours of concentrating on the spell and meditating, the battery finally reached 100%.

After which she promptly started deleting her personal pictures and video clips, some too embarrassing to be shared. It was also nice to see Nicole’s pictures again, to see pictures of her parents and siblings. It had been a while since she visited but they talked at least once a week. Seeing their faces only increased her motivation to find a way back home.

That night her armor was delivered. She thought it was odd how fast it was done, but when she saw it she knew why. Lia was ecstatic while Ana just looked confused. Besides the armor, her clothes arrived also.

Following the instructions, she started getting dressed. As Lia was in charge of physical combat, she got to pick the best ensemble that she knew would work with her style. Her wrists and ankles were wrapped in long strips of cloth that resembled bandages, keeping them from injuries if it came to a fistfight. After a simple tunic came the body armor, a vest made from leather that felt as hard as metal to her hand. Normal pants got tied into the cloth on her ankles, as did the shirt with the wrists.

Around her waist came another series of bandages, over which came a leather belt that would hold her swords. Over everything came a loose shirt that was open in the front and reminded Ana of a kimono. It was made from water-resistant fabric and had a hood on top of it. It looked and felt like a raincoat.

From the same leather, as her vest was made, a few pieces with straps went around her shins and thighs. Only her head and neck lacked protection but there wasn’t a good way around it while keeping her ears free. Still, she had some protection and if she ever got into a melee fight, something was terribly wrong anyway.

She hooked up her two swords to one side but it felt odd to have them there. Thinking about it she didn’t need them to be in a handy position to grab as she didn’t use her hands in the first place. So with some help from Lia and Lili who had a sewing kit, she was able to strap the two swords diagonally across her back.

She couldn’t draw them fully out by herself, but it did keep them out of her way. After running, jumping, and doing some exercises she went to join the others for dinner, fully decked out like that.

She did get a few nice comments from her friends, but they also advised that she cut her hair short which made Lia scream in protest. Ana agreed with her spirit, it felt amazing to have such long hair even if it meant a few downsides.

After the dinner, while they were discussing the time they had spent together, Ana brought up the phone. Immediate requests for music followed, but she slowly showed both of them how to use it too. After explaining how to recharge it, Nathaniel started refusing to take it.

Ana did want to keep it for herself, but considering where she was going it would be a miracle if it survived a few months. After a lot of persuading he accepted it as a loan only, even after Ana explained that there was a possibility that the phone could break down as the charging method was crude.

She showed them what it can do, and looking at their faces as they were realizing that it did more than just play music was amazing. Ana wanted to set the time to be with this world but after realizing that this world had longer days than on earth she gave up. But the other functions worked well, music, games, pictures, and video all worked like they were supposed to.

They took a few pictures of themselves and laughed at the first picture Ana had taken in this world, all shriveled and tortured, with torn hair and black skin under her eyes.

She couldn’t even compare herself to that image anymore, even if only half a year had passed.

They spent the time together until one by one each of them found the call for sleep to be irresistible. Morning came and she wasn’t woken up, sleeping in felt good for once. At least it would but she chose to sleep in her gear, to see how she would feel after a night’s rest. It was horrible, but her new body just shrugged that feeling off. Seeing that she could do it she took most everything off, going barefoot in her pants and shirt, unraveling her braids, and letting her hair flow free.

In her state, she was the depiction of the just woke up look, the only thing missing was coffee. Another mission to accomplish by traveling in the future. Walking down the stairs her ears picked up slight movement and a lot of people breathing. She got used to her enhanced hearing already, but in moments like these, it was odd. Figuring that Nathaniel had guests, she continued down in search of something to drink.

Turned out she was the one who had guests. Before she could ask what was going on music started, she was handed a cup and cheers went all around. As she learned while interrogating Silv a few minutes later, it was customary to see off soldiers with a party. An all-day party.

If nothing else this country loved its celebrations, holding them what seemed every week. And so instead of coffee, she started her day with a bourbon-like drink. Everything spiraled after that, with lunch passing by fast. With music, dancing, stories, and everyone wanting to talk to her it felt like she was at her own wedding for a few moments, and then when the cake arrived that feeling stuck.

In the evening after she got drunk and sober a few too many times, she used a hastily created spell to enhance the sound of her phone, letting it play music for a while. Nathaniel used a few of his spells to create swirling flames in the sky above them, something resembling fireworks.

Playing her music she expected shocked faces and gasps, as it was completely different from what they were hearing through the day. But not wanting to go off without visiting a few songs that were with her all her life, she played the music and released the spell to enhance the sound.

Instead of shocked faces, she got nods of approval. None of them knew the language the lyrics were playing on but Nathaniel helped with that. Nathaniel cast the spell that was woven into an amulet when she first met her two friends, and also one of the hardest spells she was taught.

He did with such skill that even barely heard the difference when it got activated. But the rest of the crowd did, as a sudden cheer erupted. It was quite a surprise to see that the population of this world consisted mostly of metalheads, or perhaps a drunk party would party with any music.

And so she turned herself into the official DJ of the party, playing fast powerful songs, but also switching with slower melodic ones, as her playlist consisted of many different genres.

As no one had explained the custom to her, she got cut off guard when in the middle of a slow song where she held a small flame above her fist instead of a lighter, Silv and several others picked her up and took her to her room.

Where she was told to get dressed and to get her gear. The rest of her clothes and things were already packed, and she only had to put the gear she slept in last night. Barely able to walk she got dressed once more, Lia correcting when she forgot a strap or when she messed up.

Finally, after what felt like forever she emerged and went with Silv and others downstairs. In the garden from the entrance to the house to the entrance of the property stood two lines of soldiers, with bright red shields in front of them and with their spears held above, making an archway for her to pass under.

Being too drunk to stand she was thankful Silv and a few others were there. Counting became difficult but there seemed to be a lot of them. So they exited the house she had grown fond of in the last few months, leaving behind the friends that had taken her in when she had nothing. While it made her feel sad, it also brought purpose to her heart.

But a few hundred meters from the house she promptly fell and puked on the street, garnering laughs behind her. Which in turn caused a few more pukes and more laughs.

They hobbled to the barracks and she fell asleep as soon as her head had hit the pillow. And she slept, for what felt like a few minutes before being woken up with a splash of cold water hitting her face.

Pissing off a wizard is a bad idea. Pissing off a tired and hungover wizard, who is still new to magic is even worse. So while she got a face full of water, whoever threw that water got hit by a metal pot that was in her room. Shaking the water from her ears she got up to find a weary man rubbing his head at the door.

“I get now why no one else wanted to wake you up. Come on.”

He motioned her outside and left before she could apologize. With her gear on her already she quickly left outside only to find the people from last night laughing at the man rubbing his head.

After a few moments, the laughter died down and she turned around to see Silv exit the building. The others saluted and she did the same, practicing after she finally accepted the offer. Nineteen people got into four lines around her and Silvanus. After nodding in agreement he spoke.

“Alright, some of you met last night but let's make it official. Introductions, Hammer, go.” The tallest person in the group responded. Over two and a half meters tall, with a short mane of beard and hair around his eyes. “Torstein. As Ghost puts it call me Hammer.” Looking at his side she saw a hammer with a square head so big, she doubted her capability to even lift the thing.

“Berrik Frostbeard. Call me Frost.” A dwarf with a short beard like Hammer, only his was streaked with white hairs.

“Virion.” An older looking human bowed. “At your service.” He had that sweet grandfatherly face. “Everyone just calls him Gramps. But don’t let that fool you, he has the hardest swing here, short only when compared to Hammer.” Silv added behind her.

“Jonik, but this fine company elected to call me Pops. A sorry man would wish for such offspring.” Boos and laughs echoed for a few moments after that. Jonik had that everyday face you would struggle to remember, nothing about the man memorable.

“Ena. But these fools call me Mane.” A member of the Leonid race, she had met a pair before at Nathaniel’s house, but it was nice to meet a woman for once. Though the large lioness had muscles that screamed bodybuilder.

Next up was a dark-skinned man with blue eyes that pierced the soul. “Saelih. But because of a minor incident, you can call me Coal.” His speech and mannerism seemed out of place, so it felt good to meet another foreigner.

“Sunny.” An older humanoid turtle for the lack of a better description croaked. She couldn’t read his face as this was the first time she met a member of his race, but his eyes somehow held compassion and warmth she couldn’t put into words.

“Folas Beican. But you can call me the Strong.” That brought another round of laughter from the group. “That’s the Pup for you, gotta wag his tail. Just call him Pup.” Silv added to the chagrin of Pup.

“Eliyen Quinora, but I’m called Ice.” An elvish woman standing strong in her shining armor, she had the aura of someone who would punch you if you looked at her the wrong way. “Hardass.” Several fake coughs resounded angering the woman.

“Neldor, or Dice.” A human chewing something with blue lips shrugged. With a mop replacing the hair on his head, she noticed that the hygiene wasn’t on his to-do list.

“Ellisar Iliren. Often called Nimble.” A beautiful elvish man bowed, his moves graceful and his voice divine.

“Llarm, but I prefer Rock.” Short, dark-skinned, with a gruff voice, long ears, and the ugliest face she had ever seen, made Rock into quite a sketch.

“Alvin Aenan, a name soon to be known across the rivers and seas. There isn’t an instrument this Bard can’t sway women over with.” He practically sang, but Ana had to give it to him. His voice was pleasing to the ears.

Heaving a massive crossbow in his shoulder a dwarf introduced himself. “Rurik Stoneborn, and this little sweaty is called Crash.” “Epic looking artillery you got there.” Ana added and that brought a smirk from the man and a few chuckles from the rest. “That’s how they call me.” Pride filling his voice.

Next to the short dwarf was a beauty that caused Ana to skip a beat. An elvish lady that resembled Ellisar slightly. “My name is Renna Iliren, I’m in charge of fixing bumps and scrapes.” A sheepish smile appeared on her face. “We call her Angel, as she saved our skin more than once.” Silv added.

The last group had four rather short members, two of whom spoke first.

“Jic!” “Zic!” The two what she assumed men spoke. They were short and looked like bipedal mice, quite adorable.

“Sym Zylgwyn. But that is a mouthful so call me Cookie.” The woman next to the mice men had long floppy ears, a big nose, and bluish skin. Her voice deep, contrasting the adorable features the woman held.

She couldn't see the face of the last man, as his whole body was covered and adorned with feathers and bird skulls.

“Crow.” He simply stated.

After a moment she noticed they all looked at her so she took a breath and introduced herself. “I am Doctor Anastasia DeRose, It's nice to meet you all. I hope we get along.”

Nods and grunts spread through the group. Silv took a step forward, ending next to Ana. “Doctor?” He asked. While knowing her full name he lacked the information about her doctorate and the details of her world. It was quite pretentious for her to use her title here, but it was something she was proud of.

“A title from where I am from, It signifies that I reached the top of my field.” A little bragging and exaggerating was good now and then.

“Alright, well you already know me but usually I’m called Ghost instead of Silvanus, and I get the bloody privilege to lead this merry band.” A chorus of heys and shocked faces went around before being replaced by chuckles. Ana nodded and he continued.

“We already know that you have magic, but you need to show us what spells you have so we can plan accordingly.” Ana blinked twice before answering.

“That could take a while, and I’m not even sure I can do everything without passing out.”

“Alright, show us the most useful ones then. The fastest to cast, the hardest to hit, some defensive spells as well. If you can do elemental manipulation that would be even better, especially earth. Those kinds of spells.

Ana nodded as the entire group took a few steps back. Apparently, a wizard’s reputation went far.