Once Frieren and the bird hovered in the air, they lowered slightly until an island drifted into view below.
Frieren stared at the building anchored at the island's heart, her cloak waving slightly in the air.
Once they lowered slightly, a large sign emerged into their view; 'Kraftsman Inc.' was written in a golden color. For a moment, she wondered if this was her old friend's doing.
The guide bird circled the sign once before darting toward the building's entrance, its job nearly complete... then vanished into one of the building's windows, leaving Frieren on her own.
Frieren stared at the spot where the bird had disappeared, then followed after it, her cloak rustling softly as she descended further.
This must be Kraft's place. He always did have a flair for the dramatic, even in naming, she thought.
Once she descended onto the island, the sand warmed beneath her boots.
A gentle, salty breeze brushed against her cheeks, carrying the scent of coconuts. As she stepped further, the roar of the waves softened to a hushed whisper,
then the sound of people shouting and cheering emerged as her ear twitched.
Some people were there playing volleyball; tables were filled with coconut juice cups. She watched them, her expression utterly impassive, then looked down at the sand.
She brushed her boots slightly on the warm crystals. She crouched and scooped up a handful of wet sand, watching as the grains twisted with water before the mud drifted from her hands.
The laughter and shouts of the humans were a stark contrast.
She paid them no more mind, her gaze lifting back toward the solitary building that stood apart from the beach's frivolity. The path to it was lined with smooth, dark stones, leading away from the noise.
They are so loud, she thought.
A blue volleyball, its white seams stark against the leather, bumped against her boots.
Once she turned her head to step forward, someone called, "Hey there! Throw the ball!"
Frieren turned to the person, then raised her arm.
She had almost begun to form the throwing spell in her mind... until she remembered that she was in the wrong place.
Seeing the island made her recall her old environment.
Her fingers, warm with gathering mana a moment before, fell still.. The familiar words of the spell dissolved on her tongue.
A faint sigh, not of annoyance, but of resignation, escaped her.
She simply bent down, picked up the ball with her hands, and tossed it back in a gentle, unmagical arc.
"Thanks!" a burly man called out as he caught the ball.
I must be more careful, she thought.
Once she turned, a hand patted her shoulder. "Nice hat!"
A man in sunglasses grinned at her, his eyes completely hidden behind dark lenses.
Where are his eyes? Is this some kind of new human equipment? she thought.
The guy casually slung an arm around Frieren's shoulder; she only blinked.
She stood perfectly still, analyzing the strange, dark lenses that completely obscured his eyes.
Her head tilted a fraction, a gesture so slight it was almost imperceptible. She was cataloging him,
her hand subtly checking that her ears were still safely hidden beneath the hat's brim.
Then she pushed his arm gently, her composed gesture making the man stare at her.
"H... hey!" The man's voice faltered
as she stepped forward like nothing had happened,
her gaze focused more on the footpath that led to the building than on the guy...
not ignoring, but misunderstanding.
Their entire interaction was already fading from her thoughts, less significant than the pattern of the waves on the shore.
From the window, the bird flapped its wings, its attention on the gulls more than Frieren.
A figure in elegant attire stepped to the window. "So she finally came?"
"Ah, this elf never feels the time... just as I do." He adjusted his necklace with a grin.
The bird stared at him, then at Frieren who stepped forward.
"It's been a while, Frieren!" Kraft said as he slammed the window's frame.