"Hah... haaah..."
Kalia awoke with a start, drenched in sweat and still haunted by the echoes of a terrible nightmare.
Tendo had chosen Minami, and she was at their wedding. It was the worst thing she could have ever imagined.
"Nope! Not even in my dreams, Minami, you witch!"
Kalia slapped her face to clear the image from her head.
"Master Lia! You're finally awake!" Astra cried, bounding over to her bedside. "And... who's Minami the Witch? I don't think I've ever heard of her."
"Huh? Oh, nothing. Just a really bad dream, is all. Don't worry about it." Kalia replied dismissively, having realized she'd spoken out loud. "How long was I out?" she asked, wanting to change the subject.
"Oh... about three days or so," Astra responded casually.
"Three days?! Where are we?" Kalia exclaimed.
"Tuugo!" Astra replied triumphantly.
"Tuugo?! How did we get here without the cart?! Wasn't it completely destroyed?"
"Hehe..." Astra broke into a huge, fanged smile and puffed out her chest. "...I'm a lot stronger than I look, you know?"
Kalia stared at Astra.
There is no way she could have carried me...
Astra looked to be in her mid-twenties, with a slender frame. Shoulder-length silver-gray hair framed her face, held back on one side by a trinity-shaped hairpin. Her pointed ears, small fangs, and star-shaped pupils only made her look even less like someone capable of hauling another adult across the countryside.
Since when are scientists built like pack mules...
"You don't believe me, do ya?" Astra said, clearly taunting Kalia.
"Not at all..." Kalia stated flatly.
"How rude!" Astra huffed. "Fine, I'll prove it!"
"Aaaand... up!"
Astra heaved Kalia's bed above her head with such force that she nearly threw Kalia through the ceiling.
"Okay, okay! I get it! You can put me down now!"
"Ooookkay, Master Lia!"
"See! Told you!" Astra said, radiant with self-satisfaction.
"I could've gotten here faster if you weren't so heavy..." Astra muttered under her breath.
Her eyes drifted to Kalia's chest and then down to her own.
"You say something, Astra?" Kalia asked, only half listening.
"N-nothing! Y-you should get some rest!" Astra squeaked as her face turned beet red in embarrassment. "I will be excusing myself now."
Being oddly formal, Astra turned on her heel and rushed out the door.
"That one is something else..." Kalia thought with a weary yawn.
She'd already spent three full days unconscious, and even now, she could barely manage to sit upright. The aftereffects of manifesting relics from her Personal Armory still lingered, leaving her body feeling as though every ounce of strength had been drained from it.
"I knew I used a lot of mana... but being out for three whole days is ridiculous."
Her expression slowly darkened as another thought surfaced.
"If it weren't for that scroll... Astra would've died."
The image of Astra lying beneath the shattered wagon flashed through her mind.
Kalia clenched her fists.
"I need to get stronger. We might not get that lucky next time."
Kalia spent the next five days resting before she finally felt well enough to leave her room.
The moment Astra declared she was fully recovered, Kalia was out the door.
She couldn't remember the last time she'd been this excited.
She was finally in a demi-human nation.
Her old self might have died, but some things carried over into the next life.
She was an otaku.
And this...
This was holy ground.
The streets of Tuugo buzzed with life. Merchants shouted from colorful market stalls while wagons rumbled endlessly through the city gates. Travelers from every corner of Rela filled the roads, their voices blending into a constant roar that somehow felt welcoming rather than chaotic.
Kalia's eyes darted from one passerby to the next.
"Fox girls!"
A pair of fluffy ears twitched as their owner disappeared into the crowd.
"Cat girls!"
A striped tail lazily swayed behind another.
"Bunny girls!"
Long ears bounced above the sea of people.
"A wolf boy... an orc..."
Then something no bigger than her hand zipped past her face.
"Ohhh! A fairy!"
She spun around, watching the tiny winged girl vanish between the rooftops.
"They're everywhere..."
Kalia looked ready to burst from excitement, mentally checking species off an imaginary list.
"This definitely isn't Rivara."
As the initial excitement settled, she began noticing the city itself.
Humans were surprisingly rare. The few she spotted all appeared to be merchants, adventurers, or travelers passing through. Everyone else belonged to one demi-human race or another.
The buildings, however, painted a less cheerful picture. Many leaned with age, patched together countless times instead of properly repaired. Most of the roads were still packed dirt, and more than a few families sat begging along the roadside.
Her attention drifted toward the marketplace. Most of the grain, vegetables, and preserved foods were being sold by human merchants from Orenna.
"...Seriously?"
Kalia blinked at one of the price tags. She'd seen the exact same sack of flour back in Rivara. It had cost barely half as much.
Her gaze swept over the crowded market once more.
"...So that's how it is."
Kel'asa depended heavily on Orenna's trade, and Orenna clearly knew it.
No wonder the city looked so worn.
They were being squeezed dry.
"Huh?" Astra tilted her head, clearly having only half-listened.
"I was just thinking... I haven't seen many humans around here."
"Well... yeah." Astra blinked. "This is Tuugo, Master Lia."
She spread her arms as though that explained everything.
"Humans don't live here. The only ones you'll see are merchants, adventurers, or travelers passing through, and even they rarely stick around for long."
Kalia frowned.
"Really?"
Astra nodded.
"Humans and demi-humans have never exactly gotten along. There are people who can look past race and live peacefully, but..." She shrugged. "...they're the exception, not the rule."
Her usual cheerful expression dimmed ever so slightly.
"Most of the humans you'll meet come from Orenna. And I think you've already experienced firsthand how they feel about demi-humans."
Kalia instinctively rubbed the scars beneath her clothes.
"The ruling class encourages that hatred," Astra continued. "It's easier to convince people to support a war when you've spent generations teaching them their neighbors are monsters."
She sighed.
"Of course, some demi-human nations aren't much better. Hatred goes both ways."
Astra gestured toward the busy streets around them.
"Tuugo actually has more humans than most demi-human cities because it's the gateway between Orenna, Tomo, and the western nations. Trade's too important to shut everyone out completely."
She smiled again, her serious mood already fading.
"Still..." She looked Kalia up and down. "You don't feel everyone staring at you anymore, do you? It's different here."
"I guess you're right." Kalia smiled faintly. "Back in Orenna, it felt like everyone wanted me dead. Here..." She looked around at the busy streets. "I'm just another person."
"See?" Astra beamed. "Things are different here in Tuugo. Demis of every race live side by side, so nobody pays much attention to what you are."
She folded her hands behind her head as they continued down the crowded street.
"When I heard there was a demon openly staying at an inn in Orenna, I just had to investigate. Either that demon was unimaginably powerful..." She paused for dramatic effect, a grin spreading across her face. "...or the biggest idiot in the world."
Kalia groaned.
"Turns out," Astra continued with a mischievous giggle, "it was you, Master Lia. Though..." She tapped a finger against her chin, pretending to think. "I'm still not sure which one you are."
"Ha. Ha." Kalia gave an exaggerated bow. "Kalia Waywrenn, Great Demon of Stupidity, at your service."
Astra nodded solemnly.
"An impressive title."
"Don't encourage me."
They walked in comfortable silence for a moment before Kalia glanced over.
"So... where exactly are we going, anyway?"
"Oh!" Astra snapped her fingers. "Remember when I told you I had some business to take care of in Tuugo after I found you?"
"Yeah?"
"I called in a favor with the king a while back."
Kalia blinked.
"...The king?"
"Yep!"
"...As in, the king?"
"That's usually how kingdoms work."
Kalia froze mid-step.
"You probably should've led with that!"
She immediately began fussing with her clothes, brushing imaginary wrinkles from her tunic before frantically trying to smooth her hair.
"Look at me! I would've bought something nicer to wear! Done something with my hair! Why did you let me leave the inn looking like this?!"
"Oh, don't worry about it. You'll see when we get there. The king here is, um... different, you could say," Astra said as they headed toward the castle's main gate.
"Oh, Astra! So good to see you again!" the guard at the gate said, waving his hand. "How have you been?"
"Hello, Torin! I've been good. How about you?" Astra returned.
"As good as I can be, hehe. Still breathing, ha-ha. I take it you're here to see the king. Who's this you've brought with you?"
"Mm-hm!" Astra nodded enthusiastically. "This is my new teacher, Master Lia. She can come with me, right?"
Torin blinked.
"Teacher...?"
His gaze drifted from Astra to Kalia, then back again.
"...You're telling me you actually found someone smarter than you?"
Smarter? Me?
"Yup! Master Lia is amazing! She can—"
"Mmph?!"
Kalia clamped a hand over Astra's mouth before she could finish.
"You promised you wouldn't tell anyone about my powers," she whispered through gritted teeth.
"Mmm... sorry, Master Lia," Astra mumbled behind Kalia's hand.
Kalia offered Torin an awkward smile.
"Astra's studying to become an artificer under me. She has a habit of getting a little... overexcited."
"Mhm! Master Lia came all the way from Kasai, home of the best artificers in the world! I was super lucky to have run into her."
Nice save, Astra!
"Ah." Torin nodded in understanding. "That explains it." He shrugged. "Well, if Astra's vouching for you, that's good enough for me."
As the pair entered the main hall, a towering reptilian figure strode toward them, blue-green scales catching the light. He stood well over three feet taller than Kalia, his broad frame built from countless years of battle. A long, draconic snout curled into a surprisingly gentle smile.
Holy hell, he's HUGE...
"Astra! So good to see you again! How have you been?"
The giant waved, greeting Astra with a warm embrace.
"Oh, and who is this lovely lady you have with you?"
"Master Lia, this is King Modo Oji."
"It's an honor to meet you, Your Majesty." Kalia dipped into a polite bow.
"No need to be so formal. Any friend of Astra's is a friend of mine."
Modo bowed, took Kalia's hand, and kissed it.
"Especially one as charming as yourself."
"Master Lia is off-limits, Modo..."
Astra stepped between them as the mana around her sparked in the air.
"Wouldn't want any accidents in the throne room now, would we?"
...Astra's kinda scary when she's angry... noted...
"Hahaha! I'm just kidding, Astra. Cut this old Veltmaar some slack." Modo laughed, throwing his hands up in surrender.
"Fine..." Astra huffed, shooting him one last warning glare. "But I'm watching you."
"Now then," Modo said, turning back to Kalia. "What's this 'Master' business all about? Did our resident genius finally find someone stronger than herself?"
Kalia scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
"Uh... Astra's kind of my student now. Though I'm not entirely sure what that means." She shrugged. "I haven't actually taught her anything yet. Honestly, I feel more like a research specimen than a teacher..."
"Yup!" Astra beamed. "Master Lia is amazing! I've never seen anyone use magic like hers before!"
Kalia felt her cheeks warm.
"...I guess."
Her hand drifted to her tail, absentmindedly twirling it between her fingers.
Modo's smile softened, clearly noticing Kalia's embarrassment.
"I'm just glad to see Astra spending time with a person for once instead of buried neck-deep in dusty tomes."
"Now then, I assume you two didn't come all this way just to humor an old king." He chuckled. "You must've received my letter. We just put the finishing touches on it the other day. We even had a few materials left over, so..."
His grin widened.
"I had something extra added for you."
"Oh! Yay! Finally! Can we go see it?" Astra bounced excitedly on the balls of her feet.
"Of course." Modo laughed. "I'll have a carriage brought around. Why don't you wait for it out front?"
"Sure thing, Modo!" Astra called, already halfway out the door.
Once she was gone, Modo's smile faded.
"Kalia... may I have a word with you?"
"S-sure. What is it?"
The king folded his arms.
"Astra isn't like other people. Do not underestimate that girl. She's far stronger than her appearance lets on."
Kalia gave an awkward laugh.
"I know. She nearly threw me through the ceiling of an inn."
Modo shook his head.
"No. You misunderstand."
His expression turned grave.
"I'm not talking about physical strength."
"I'm talking about her magic."
"If Astra truly cut loose, she could erase an entire city without breaking a sweat."
Kalia's smile vanished.
"She calls herself a researcher, but that hardly does her justice. There are precious few people alive who could face her as an equal... and I doubt there's anyone who could defeat her alone. An army might slow her down."
Kalia stared at him.
"Seriously?"
She couldn't reconcile that image with the silver-haired girl who got excited over cooking pots and called her Master Lia every other sentence.
"That walking bundle of energy? I've never even seen her cast a spell. She mostly waves around old scrolls. I figured she was all talk."
Modo laughed.
"You'll see eventually. She'll probably challenge you to a duel before long."
"Astra has always enjoyed testing herself against people she finds interesting."
His grin returned.
"Though if she insists on calling you 'Master,' I doubt you have much to worry about."
"I'd rather not fight her at all," Kalia admitted.
What if he's serious...?
Someone who can level a city...
How am I supposed to deal with that?
Modo clapped her lightly on the shoulder.
"I've kept you long enough. She'll start tearing the castle apart if we leave her waiting."
He paused just before she turned to leave.
"One last thing."
Modo placed a hand on Kalia's shoulder.
"Be patient with Astra."
"She may be a genius... but she's never really had a real friend before. Most people are too afraid to even chat with her, let alone get closer."
Kalia glanced toward the doorway where Astra had disappeared.
She thought back to the girl's endless questions, boundless enthusiasm, and infectious smile.
A small smile tugged at the corner of her own lips.
"I can believe that."
She nodded.
"Don't worry, Modo. She can be a little overwhelming... but I don't mind."
"I've kept you long enough," Modo said with a chuckle. "She'll start tearing the castle apart if we leave her waiting much longer."
"Don't worry," Kalia replied with a smile. "I'll look after her."
As if on cue—
"Master Liaaa! What's taking so long?" Astra's voice echoed through the castle entrance.
Modo sighed.
"...See what I mean?"
Kalia couldn't help but laugh.
"I do."
Together, they headed outside, where a royal carriage already waited at the front gates. Astra was practically bouncing beside it, waving both arms the moment she spotted Kalia.
"There you are! Come on, come on! We have so much to do!"
Before Kalia could protest, Astra grabbed her wrist and practically dragged her into the carriage.
"Why are we heading so far out? What did you ask the king for, anyway?"
Kalia glanced back at the town fading into the distance.
"Oh, I needed a new place to do my research. I mayyy have had a small little accident at the last place I was living, hehe."
"So, you blew it up. Got it."
"No, I didn't blow it up! I just got a bit carried away testing a new spell." Astra pouted. "It's the Academy's fault for being built out of such flimsy materials."
"You blew it up..."
Astra looked away.
"Maybe just a little."
"Anyway," Astra continued much too quickly, "I did a few jobs for King Modo, and instead of taking money, I asked him to build me somewhere I could work."
Nearly an hour later, the carriage rolled through a pair of massive wrought-iron gates.
Kalia froze.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
Before them stood a sprawling manor that looked more suited to a duke than a lone researcher.
The main house alone was large enough to comfortably house dozens of people, while a separate guest residence sat off to one side of the estate. Behind the manor stood spacious stables and carriage houses, and beyond those stretched neatly arranged fields, training grounds, and workshops equipped for blacksmiths, fletchers, and countless other craftsmen.
It wasn't just a home.
It was a self-contained village.
"Astra..." Kalia slowly turned toward her. "...This is your laboratory?"
Astra nodded proudly.
"Mm-hm! I would've been fine with something simple, but Modo really outdid himself!"
This place rivals the royal palace...
Kalia wandered after her, taking in every corner of the estate as they explored.
Eventually, they reached the end of a long hallway.
A large wooden sign hung over a pair of ornate double doors.
A Gift From the King! To Astra, Hero of Tuugo!
So that's the surprise.
She looked over at Astra.
"...Hero of Tuugo?"
"Just what exactly did you do for the king?"
"Nothing special. There was an army of goblins attacking the city, so I took them out," Astra responded casually, tilting her head.
"An entire army?! How?!"
"I already told you I was strong, Master Lia. I took out thousands of them, and I did it with only one spell too!"
Astra beamed with pride.
"Wanna see it?"
"No. Please don't..." Kalia hastily replied. "Any spell capable of that kind of destruction would level the house at the very least..."
"Aww..." Astra pouted. "But it's one of my favorites."
Before Kalia could respond, Astra threw open the double doors.
Kalia's eyes widened.
"...Is that..."
Beyond the doorway lay an enormous bathhouse.
"It's... a..."
Kalia's eyes went wide.
"...Bath!"
She practically squealed as she rushed inside.
"Astra, look! It has running water!"
She hurried over to a brass spout and turned the handle. A steady stream of water poured into the stone basin. Kalia cautiously slipped a hand beneath it.
"...It's hot."
She stared in disbelief before looking back at Astra with sparkling eyes.
"It's actually hot!"
A grin spread across her face.
"I haven't had a proper hot bath since I got here..."
She looked longingly at the steaming water.
"...I kind of want to get in right now."
Astra watched her for a moment before a mischievous grin slowly spread across her own face.
"Say, Master Lia..."
Kalia immediately recognized that look.
"...I'm not going to like whatever you're about to say, am I?"
"We should have a sparring match first!" She pumped a fist into the air. "We'll work up a sweat, and then we can use the bath afterward!"
Kalia's shoulders slumped.
"...Astra... I'm really not sure that's a good idea."
As in, I really don't want to fight against apparently the strongest mage in the world...
"Oh, please! Please! I want to see more of your powers!" Astra pleaded. "Watching you manifest things is fun and all, but I want to see you fight! C'mon! Just one quick match!"
"Do we have to, Astra...?"
Kalia's resistance was growing weaker by the second.
She let out a defeated sigh.
"Please... Master Lia..."
Astra puffed her cheeks.
No fair. Weaponized cuteness... Astra's true ultimate ability...
"Fine. But one condition."
Astra's eyes sparkled.
"No dangerous magic. I'd like the bath to still be standing when we're finished."
"Yay!" Astra cheered, pumping both fists into the air. "I finally get to see Master Lia's powers!"
Before Kalia could say another word, Astra was already sprinting toward the training grounds.
Kalia watched her go before letting out another long sigh.
...I'm about to get destroyed.
She quietly took stock of what she had available.
Right now, I can only reliably manifest three Armory relics.
The Locked Case is purely defensive.
Haela's Well only works on free-floating mana, so it's useless against a living opponent.
Which leaves...
Her fingers twitched.
The Chime of Dusk. If it works on Astra, I can end this before she starts throwing city-level spells around.
...Assuming she doesn't flatten me first.
"All right, Master Lia! You ready?!" Astra called to Kalia from across the training field.
Yeah, yeah. Let's just get this over with... I want a bath...
"I'm not gonna hold back!" Astra raised her hand.
"Gormoc Shadal!"
Twin pillars of light erupted from the earth and tore across the field toward Kalia.
"Manifest!"
Countless steel plates erupted around her, locking together into The Locked Case mere instants before the spell struck.
BOOM!
The impact thundered across the training grounds.
Even inside the steel fortress, Kalia staggered as the shockwave rattled every plate of the Case. The deafening roar echoed through the enclosed space while the entire structure groaned under the force of the blast.
...She's serious. These aren't friendly sparring spells... This is combat magic.
"My turn."
"Manifest."
The Chime of Dusk appeared in Kalia's hand.
She rang it.
Chime...
"Now, Astra, how about we call this—"
Kalia froze.
Astra was still standing.
Worse...
She was already raising her hand for another spell.
"...Huh?"
Astra flashed a triumphant grin and held up a tiny wax earplug.
"Sorry, Master Lia! That won't work on me!" She tapped her ear proudly. "You said it only works if the target hears the chime!"
There goes my only plan... Of course she would've planned for that. Maybe I can just hold out until she gets tired...
Yeah, right...
Kalia dismissed the Chime.
Astra didn't even give her a chance to recover.
"Halcone Coron!"
A cascade of flames surged toward Kalia.
Kalia threw herself aside. The flames skimmed past her shoulder by little more than a hair's breadth before crashing into the ground behind her with an explosive roar.
She wasn't kidding about not holding back...
Astra never let up.
She's a monster...
Kalia gritted her teeth.
Think... She keeps calling me her master... but all I've done is prove how hopelessly outmatched I am.
She wasn't worried about losing.
She was worried Astra would finally realize she'd made a mistake.
If she sees how weak I really am... she'll leave.
"...I'm going to have to try something," Kalia muttered, wiping the sweat from her brow. "What's another three... four... maybe five days in bed?"
A bolt of lightning tore past her head.
"Whoa!"
She stumbled backward, heart pounding.
"Master Lia!" Astra called, lowering her hand with a pout. "It's no fun if you don't fight back!"
"I am fighting back!"
"No, you're surviving!" Astra protested. "Do you not take me seriously?"
"W-what? No, it's just..."
She didn't have a good excuse. She was barely defending herself, let alone fighting back.
It's not like I can shoot lightning bolts like you...
Astra folded her arms, clearly offended.
"...Fine, then."
Mana erupted around her, denser than anything Kalia had felt so far.
"I'm going to use real magic now." She smiled. "You'd better have an answer for this, Master Lia."
Kalia's stomach sank.
Wait, wait, wait! I thought you agreed. Nothing dangerous!
But Astra had already closed her eyes.
The incantation had begun.
"The sands of time flow through your fingers. Come to me, Keeper of the Desert Winds. Geeto Magiid!"
Astra finished her incantation and threw her hands forward.
A great tremor began to shake the ground beneath their feet as if it were an earthquake.
"Astra! What did you just do?!" Kalia cried, panic creeping into her voice.
Astra only grinned wider.
"Hehe! Here he comes, Master Lia! I told you to be ready!"
The rumbling grew louder.
Something enormous was moving beneath the ground.
Get it together, Kalia...
You have to do something.
Cracks spread across the training field as the spell reached its climax.
The earth exploded upward in a towering column of dust and shattered stone.
"...What in the..."
Kalia fell silent.
A colossal monster of sand loomed over the field.
"Here he is!" Astra cheered, bouncing excitedly. "Geeto, the Guardian of the Sands!"
"I can't fight that thing..." Kalia muttered, staring up at the giant. "I'd need a giant of my own..."
She froze.
"...A giant..."
A smile slowly spread across her face.
"Oh... wait."
"That could actually work."
"Manifest!"
A massive arm of sand came crashing down toward her.
At the last possible instant, an enormous block of steel materialized between Kalia and the attack.
BOOM!
"Oh!" Astra stood on tiptoe, trying to peer around the cloud of dust. "A new item! What is it? What is it?"
All she could make out was Geeto hammering the steel block again and again.
Then Geeto drew back both fists for one final blow.
"Haaaa!"
A metallic hand burst through the dust and caught both of Geeto's fists in its grasp.
The steel mass unfolded piece by piece into a towering mechanical guardian.
"Wooow!" Astra gasped, her eyes sparkling. "Look at the size of that! What is it, Master Lia?!"
Kalia couldn't help but grin.
"You showed me your giant, so I figured I'd show you mine."
She gestured toward the towering machine.
"Meet Nosra, the Gatekeeper of the Armory."
A towering mechanical sentinel forged from adamantine and mithril, Nosra's intricate gears were suspended within a body of living liquid metal. The fluid flowed through its frame like blood, shifting and reshaping itself to reinforce damaged armor or form new weapons whenever needed.
Kalia had originally designed Nosra as little more than a joke.
The imaginary guardian of her imaginary Armory.
She had never imagined she'd one day bring it to life.
Please let my mana hold out for this...
Kalia could only revel in her creation for a moment.
This one was going to cost her.
Astra stared at the construct in disbelief.
A summon... without an incantation?
And what exactly is this "Armory"...?
"Nosra!" Kalia called confidently. "Show Geeto what happens to uninvited guests in the Armory!"
The machine answered with a deep mechanical hum before stepping forward and unleashing a relentless barrage of punches.
Geeto blocked several before suddenly freezing.
"You..." The sand giant stared at Nosra. "...Gatekeeper."
Its booming voice echoed across the training grounds.
"You do not belong here."
"MMMM."
Nosra answered with another emotionless hum.
"...Wait."
Kalia's eyes widened.
"You can talk?"
"Indeed." Geeto's gaze shifted toward Kalia. "Was it you who summoned this being?"
Kalia instinctively took a step backward.
"Uh, yeah... That would be me."
"So this abomination was your doing, devil woman!" His voice hardened.
Devil woman... rude.
Kalia frowned.
"It's only a summoning spell, I swear. Nosra isn't even alive."
Geeto's expression darkened.
"Do not insult me with such an obvious lie."
The air around the guardian churned violently.
"That thing is no mere spell."
Its voice became thunderous.
"That thing does not belong in this world."
Geeto pointed a massive finger at Kalia.
"And you... will answer for bringing it into this world."
Kalia swallowed nervously.
"...Wait... what did I do?!"
"Master Lia... summoning magic only calls living beings. If Nosra isn't alive... then what did you summon?"
"Devil woman! How dare you desecrate the life of this once-proud being! DIE!"
"Master Lia! Look out!" Astra cried.
Geeto bellowed, bringing both fists down upon Kalia with a tremendous crash.
"Hngrhh!"
Geeto struggled against Nosra's grip.
His arms had been caught mid-swing.
"Release me, foul thing!"
"Master Lia! You're okay!"
"Geeto..." Astra's eyes grew cold. "...You tried to kill Master Lia."
Mana flooded from her body.
The air shimmered and warped around her as the ground beneath her feet began to tremble.
"Hold on!"
Kalia threw herself between them, waving her hands frantically.
"Everyone just stop for a second! I can explain!"
She pointed at Nosra.
"Nosra was never alive. It's a construct. Nothing more than gears, metal, and magic."
"Silence, devil woman!"
Geeto ignored Kalia and stepped toward Nosra with narrowed eyes. His massive hand traced over the giant's armored frame, studying the seams, joints, and impossibly precise craftsmanship.
Astra blinked.
"...A construct?"
Her murderous aura vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
"Master Lia, that's incredible! How did you make it? Every construct I've ever studied is primitive compared to this! How did you articulate the joints? This thing moves like it was made of living muscle!"
"...Remarkable."
After several long moments, Geeto stepped back and gave a slow nod.
"You spoke the truth, devil woman."
"See? I tried telling you."
Kalia folded her arms with a smug grin.
I'll take that as an apology!
Geeto snorted.
"I will admit..." His gaze lingered on Nosra. "Whoever forged this construct was a master beyond compare. There is no finer work of craftsmanship in this world."
Geeto rolled his shoulders until they cracked.
"Now then..."
His lips curled into a grin.
"I believe we have a duel to finish."
"...Seriously?" Kalia groaned. "I thought we settled this."
"Naturally." Geeto planted a fist against his chest. "How often does a warrior encounter something worthy of testing his strength? I would regret letting this opportunity pass."
Kalia sighed.
"...I do have one condition."
"Hm?"
"My name is Kalia. Not 'devil woman.'"
A grin spread across the guardian's face.
"Very well... if I lose—"
"When you lose," Kalia interrupted. "You will stop calling me names."
"Hah! Bold words, but I like your confidence. I accept!" Geeto laughed. "However, I have no intention of losing to a mindless golem."
Kalia's smile disappeared.
Geeto could call her "devil woman" all day if he wanted.
But calling Nosra mindless?
That was crossing the line.
Her expression hardened.
"Nosra."
The towering construct turned toward her.
"Your opponent has stolen something from the Armory."
A low mechanical hum answered.
"Retrieve it."
Nosra's hulking frame vanished in a flash of silver.
A deafening boom shook the training grounds as the construct slammed into Geeto like a cannonball.
"Hah!"
Geeto met the charge head-on, driving a heavy punch into Nosra's helmet.
The impact rang like a cathedral bell.
"There! Bet you felt that one..."
"Seriously..."
Geeto's smirk faded.
Nosra slowly turned its head back into place with a mechanical snap.
"MMMM."
"...Uh-oh."
Before Geeto could react, Nosra wrapped both arms around him.
The construct bent its knees and launched them both high into the sky.
"Whoa!" Astra leaned back so far she nearly toppled over. "They're still going!"
A tiny speck appeared overhead.
"...They're coming back."
Geeto's scream echoed across the estate.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
The impact rocked the entire training ground.
Earth exploded outward.
A crater spread beneath them as cracks raced across the field.
Silence followed.
Dust slowly drifted away.
Nosra climbed from the center of the crater, completely unharmed. It walked back to Kalia, bowed once, then dissolved into silver light.
A moment later, Geeto dragged himself over the edge of the crater with a groan.
"I... concede." He laughed weakly. "It has been many years since I was last defeated."
He inclined his head toward Kalia and smiled.
"My apologies..." Geeto bowed. "...Kalia Waywrenn."
"See? Was saying my name really so hard?"
"That being said, Kalia Waywrenn, I have another deal to offer."
"Really? What kind of deal?"
"Kalia Waywrenn. You defeated me fairly."
"As such, I wish to offer you a summoning contract."
"Should you accept, you may call upon me whenever you have need."
"I'll accept that offer, Geeto."
Having another way to fight would be extremely useful. Geeto wasn't part of her Armory, and being able to summon him might not take the same toll on her that Manifest did.
"Excellent! Simply extend your mana to me. I will bind a fragment of my own to yours. Once the pact is complete, speak the incantation, and I shall answer your call."
"Oh, sounds easy enough."
Kalia shut her eyes and concentrated on the flow of her mana, thankful that the ritual was so simple.
"This... isn't possible."
Geeto's brow furrowed.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No, nothing like that... but your mana is right here in front of me, and I can't touch it. It rejected the binding."
"Rejected it? How is that possible, Geeto?" Astra whispered.
"I don't know... I have never known a binding to fail before."
Geeto turned to Kalia.
"Even those with only a trace of mana can form a pact. A demon of your strength shouldn't have any problems."
"I knew something was strange when I first sensed your mana back in Orenna, but I couldn't quite place it." Astra frowned. "Master Lia, are you really a demon?"
"Of course I am. What else would I be? Would I have these if I wasn't?"
Kalia pointed to her horns and tail.
"Mere decoration. Anyone can don fake horns or use illusion magic for a tail. Your mana, however... that cannot lie."
Geeto waved his hand dismissively.
"There is definitely something odd about you."
"Basic history. Summoning magic. Even the way Manifest works. None of it adds up. It's like you don't belong here."
Damn it... I was really hoping to avoid this conversation, and this stupid sand genie just had to open his mouth.
Kalia let out a long sigh.
"..."
"Fine."
"I'll tell you everything. Just give me some time to collect my thoughts, Astra."
"Really?! You promise?"
"Sorry, Geeto... I guess that means we can't make a contract after all."
"It would appear not. What a shame. I had hoped to fight alongside you one day."
"Well, my time here is up. I'll be returning to the Spirit Realm."
He looked toward Kalia and laughed.
"Sorry I couldn't be of more help, Astra... though I suspect you've found someone far more interesting than I."
"Bye, Geeto! Thanks for helping me!"
"Until next time, Astra and Kalia!"
Geeto waved before disappearing completely.
"So, Master Lia, about that bath?"
"Way ahead of you."
Kalia waved without looking back. She was already halfway across the training grounds.
"H-hey! Wait for me!"
Astra bolted after her.
"Master Lia?! W-what are you d-doing?!"
Astra's face turned bright red at the sight of Kalia's "gifted" figure.
"Huh? Taking a bath, obviously. You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this."
"N-no... Y-you're naked!"
"What's the problem? We're both women. Just get in already."
"I-I couldn't... not with you in there..." Astra stammered.
"Too bad..."
Before Astra could react, Kalia lunged forward.
"In you go!"
"W-wait! Master Lia, don't—"
Splash.
"You're mean, Master Lia..." Astra said flatly, scooting as far away from Kalia as the bath would allow.
She couldn't even bring herself to look in her direction.
"You weren't going to get in unless I made you, and you know it. Consider it payback for almost throwing me through that roof. I mean, how could you do that to your beloved master while she was still recovering?"
"F-fine, b-but at least cover up!!!" Astra huffed.
"I still don't see the issue... but sure."
Kalia sighed and wrapped a towel around herself.
"Better? Now it's your turn."
She tossed a folded towel toward Astra.
"Y-yeah... but look away, okay? No peeking!"
"Okay, okay."
Kalia turned away.
"I'm done. You can look again."
"Finally, it took you—"
Kalia stopped, awestruck.
The wet towel clung to Astra, accentuating her curves, and Kalia was at a loss for words.
"What are you staring at, Master Lia?"
Astra's face turned deep scarlet again as Kalia slid closer to where she was sitting.
"You are really pretty, Astra."
"W-wh-what?!"
"What? I'm serious."
Kalia laughed, poking Astra's cheek.
"Stop teasing me, Master Lia!"
"But your reactions are just too funny."
Kalia laughed.
Astra puffed out her cheeks, her face somehow managing to turn an even deeper shade of red.
Kalia chuckled softly as she settled deeper into the warm water.
For the first time since arriving in this world, she felt herself truly relax.
"I guess now's as good a time as any."
She drew a slow breath.
"I'm not from Rela. I came from another world called Earth."
Astra blinked.
"Another... world?"
"A few weeks ago, I was caught in a summoning ritual. Before that..." Kalia smiled faintly. "I was just an ordinary human named Hazelle Celes."
"Wait..." Astra frowned. "If you were a human... how did you become a demon?"
"Because I died first."
"Wait... you died?!"
"Yeah, I was crushed by a traffic light while saving some kid. Next thing I knew, I woke up here looking like..."
Kalia gestured to her horns and tail.
"...this."
"Traffic light? What's that?"
"Think of it like a set of lanterns hanging over an intersection. They tell people when it's safe to cross. My world had vehicles that moved many times faster than horses or carriages, so they kept people from crashing into each other."
"That fast?! How? What kind of magic is it?"
"There is no magic in my world. Everything we have is powered by science and technology."
"No magic?! How, though?"
"It's easier to explain with an example. See the hot water here? It uses a fire rune. In my world, we would use electricity."
"Electricity? What's that, Master Lia?"
"Imagine capturing a tiny piece of lightning magic and making it do work for you."
"So, this electricity is your world's mana!"
"That's actually a pretty good way to think about it."
"So if your world has no magic, then that ritual really did pull you here from another world."
Astra's expression turned thoughtful.
"I remember reading about an ancient summoning ritual the High Priestesses of Orenna were supposedly capable of casting. I always dismissed it as a myth. There was never any record of it being used."
"You actually believe me?" Kalia asked, shocked at just how readily Astra was accepting her story.
"Of course, Master Lia. Did you think I wouldn't?"
"I mean, kind of... I barely believe my own story... and I was there when it happened."
"I'll always believe you, Master Lia. What kind of student wouldn't trust their master?"
"Thanks, Astra," Kalia replied warmly.
"Now, about my power, Manifest."
"Yes!"
Astra's excitement spread across her face as the conversation shifted to the topic she was most interested in.
"At first, I thought I could only manifest basic tools and weapons. It wasn't until I was attacked at the inn that I managed to summon The Chime of Dusk. It shouldn't have been possible. It was just an imaginary item I'd drawn in a notebook in my previous life."
"So you did create it! Just like The Locked Case or Haela's Well?"
"Yup. The Chime, the Locked Case, Haela's Well... even Nosra. They're all from what I call my Personal Armory."
"Fantastic, Master! How many items do you have in the Armory? Can I see them?!"
Always the test subject...
"Maybe a thousand or so, but I'm wary. New items always seem to drain me. You saw what happened after I used the Well."
"But you manifested so many things today already, and you seem fine to me...?" Astra frowned.
"I guess you have a point..."
Kalia had summoned the Case, the Chime, and Nosra, and she felt fine.
"Nosra alone should've put me down for the count."
"So will you show me one, then?! Just one! Please?"
Astra flashed her fanged smile.
That damned smile... cheater.
Kalia sighed.
"Okay, okay! Just one, though. Come by my room tonight and I'll show you. I need to think of one that's safe to try."
"Okay! I'll get my notebooks!"
Astra squealed, sprinting down the corridor.
Kalia couldn't help but laugh.
She's always full of energy.
"Uh, Master Lia? It's me. Can I come in?"
Astra asked, knocking gently on Kalia's door.
"You know, you don't have to be so formal, Astra. You can just come by whenever you want. We do live together."
"R-really?" Astra stammered.
"Of course... now come sit. I don't bite."
Kalia motioned for Astra to sit beside her.
"O-okay, then."
Astra could barely manage a whisper. Smoke practically pouring from her ears, she made her way over and sat beside Kalia.
"I believe I promised you a new item. Ready to see it?"
"Mm-hm."
"Then allow me to present to you..."
Kalia paused for dramatic effect.
"...this!"
She handed Astra a long object wrapped in cloth.
"What is it?"
Astra's curiosity quickly won out over her embarrassment.
"Open it. I think you're gonna like this one!" Kalia stated proudly.
"It's a staff?"
Astra held a five-foot-long, nondescript black wooden staff with a series of crystal rings set around the top.
"Yep! That is The Spire of Measured Exchange! In theory, it should be able to satisfy any of the costs associated with a spell."
"Say what?! You mean it allows the wielder to cast magic without mana or an incantation?!"
"Not exactly. The wielder still needs mana and the proper incantation, but say a spell requires the caster to use a catalyst or a sacrifice. The Spire fulfills those conditions instead of the caster."
"How, though? That shouldn't be possible... but it is you we're talking about, so maybe not."
"I wish I knew, Astra. As far as I can tell, the items in my Armory function the way I designed them, but I have no idea how they actually work. They only ever existed as sketches and notes."
"This is fantastic, Master Lia! Can I try using it tomorrow? There's this spell I've always wanted to cast, but it needed over a hundred human sacrifices to activate."
"Over a hundred?! What kind of spell needs that much death?" Kalia exclaimed in horror.
"According to my research, it was used by village priests in ancient times as a form of prayer to the gods to ensure a bountiful harvest."
A mountain of corpses... just to make the grass grow...
"I guess that's fine, seeing as that staff is yours now."
"Huh?"
Astra stuttered.
"I-I couldn't possibly accept this..."
It's the least I could do...
"I'm serious. Of all the items I could think of, this was the one that suited you the most. You already proved my point by asking to use it for such a crazy spell."
"But, Master, how long can you keep this activated? It has to be exhausting."
"Honestly, it isn't any trouble. I barely even notice that it's active."
Kalia forced a smile.
The Spire was draining her, but it was worth it.
"Are you sure?" Astra questioned again.
"Yes, Astra. It's the least I can do for you after giving me a place to live."
"Thank you! Thank you!"
Astra bowed repeatedly, admiring her gift.
"No worries, Astra. I'm happy you like it!"
"Naturally, Master Lia! It's a gift from you, after all!"
Astra beamed, flashing her dangerous smile.
Every time I see that smile...
"It's getting late, Astra. We should get some sleep."
Kalia quickly changed the subject.
"I guess you're right. Good night, Master Lia! Thank you again. I will treasure this more than anything."
Astra headed toward the door.
"Good night, Astra. I wanna see that spell tomorrow too."
"Yup!"
Astra closed the door before collapsing against the wall outside.
"A gift from Master!"
She clutched the staff close to her body and ran off toward her room.