They were now waiting outside a tall building. It had a very simple design, made out of stone, like most things in this city. It also had some of those banners that they saw on the wall and palace. It was just one of the many buildings in that area. All looking the same with each other. Some minor changes from building to building, but still the same.

This was the army's region and all those buildings were their many facilities. Further in the back, behind these buildings, where the camps. There the Red Empire's soldiers were training and living.

It was already sunset at the time and many soldiers were leaving their camps, going towards the residential area. Anna had told them that they were allowed to go to their homes at night. That happened only on rare occasions and now was one of them.

Soon after, Mira comes out. Anna sees her and goes to her side.

“ So, what happened?”

Mira is feeling a mix of both anger and sadness. She looks at her friend with darkened eyes.

“ I told them more in detail about Greyo. I also asked them for a mission to be carried out to capture him. But they just send me away. They told me that they didn't have the necessary troops for something like this. That it was a real tragedy, but that I should let go.”

Anna is also left speechless. How could they let someone like Greyo leave unpunished?

“ Well then. I don't want to disturb you with our personal matters. Should we go on?” Mira says towards the guys, forcing a weak smile.

Andrew, however, steps towards her. He holds her hands and speaks.

" Mira. I know how you feel. You want revenge... I know that feeling all too well. And I am going to help you achieve it. I promised you didn't I? That I will follow you and help you."

Ivan and Alex come forward as well.

“ We will help you too. We also promised you.” Alex tells her.

" It might have been Andrew who promised for us, but that doesn't change a thing. We are with you, Mira."

She looks at them with tears in her eyes. They just thought that she was moved by their speech, but it was something entirely different. They reminded her of her friends. Those that died not too long ago. She doesn't want a repeat of the same events. But she doesn't know if she has the power to do so.

Ivan notices her uneasiness and says to her.

“ Don't worry, Mira. You saw us yesterday. We are strong.”

The rest of the guys look at him in doubt. Why did he say something like that? But Mira knows the reason. She wipes her tears.

" Yes. You are. Thank you, Ivan." she thanks him with a smile.

Anna, who is happy as well seeing her friend finally smiling from her heart, jumps in their conversation.

“ You know Mira. We don't need the Empire to make a mission for hunting Greyo.” she says.

“ What do you mean?”

" It is simple. You heard that succubus from yesterday, right? She talked about their boss. Something bigger is going on. If we wait, something is guaranteed to happen. And when it does, the only thing we have to do is take that mission. That's where we will find Greyo. So we can avenge our comrades."

“ You are right!” she admits. “ And that's exactly what we are going to do.”

She then looks at the sun that had already set and at her new friends.

“ I am sorry guys, but it seems that your abilities will have to wait for tomorrow.”

" Well then. There is nothing we can do about it." Andrew says with a sigh. " So Mira? Do you have a place where we can stay? Like a nice comfortable bed or something?" he asks, his eyes shining like the ones of a puppy's.

“ Ye... yes. You could stay over at my house. Anna already lives with me. And it is a very big house, so it won't be a problem.”

“ That's just great.” He says as he is already leaving the camp. When he is far enough he shouts.

“ Well! Are you coming or not?!”

“ Man. What a drag.” Ivan points out. Alex agreeing with him. “ Like you can judge others. You little pervert.”

But Alex ignores his words and asks Mira.

“ Mira. Shouldn't we ride a carriage there? It took us long enough to get here, and I can only imagine it will take us longer to reach the residential area.”

“ Don't worry. My house isn't so far from the military area. As soon as you have exited it and entered the residential one, you would have found it already.” she answers him.

“ But aren't you a noble? Why would your family have their house so close to the army?” Ivan asks her. They take a left, as soon as they leave the camp.

“ Hey! Wait for me!” Andrew shouts as he is trying to catch up.

“ Why wouldn't they? They are imperial officers after all.”

“ They are?!”

“ Yes. I guess I should explain how politics work a little in this world after all, shouldn't I?”

Ivan nods his head. Andrew had just caught up and was listening as well.

" First of all, you already know about the internal war with monsters, as well as the never-ending conflicts with the other empires. In a world like that, filled with war and hatred, the only thing people really respect, is power. Power is the main moving force in this world. Throughout history, people that had power ruled over the others. And our age is no different. In this world, it doesn't matter where you come from, what your status used to be. None of that matters. The one who ends up ruling is the one who has the most power. The noble households are like that. Remember when I told you that abilities are hereditary? Now then, when someone with great power is born, it is only natural for him to want to keep that power. That's why they marry many people and have a lot of children, in order to make the one heir, that will inherit that ability. And that's a household. It is simply a mean of transferring power to the next generation. These nobles, are battle experts. Always at the front lines, using their powers to honor their household."

“ So. Nobility in this world, is decided by military status?” Ivan asks.

" Yes. The more power you have, the bigger your rank in the army. The bigger your rank, the more powerful your household becomes. That, of course, doesn't end there. The same thing applies to the emperor as well."

" But wait. If social status is decided by power, then that would mean that the emperor stands above all the others. Not only in rank, but in strength as well." Andrew points out.

“ That would be true. But this isn't the case with the emperors. An emperor must be strong, that's for sure. But he must also have some other things. He must be able to gather people around him. He has to rely on others. Because unlike a household, he holds the responsibility for an entire empire. He must have a vision, and make others follow his lead. So yes, our emperor is strong, but he isn't the strongest here.”

" I wasn't expecting a system like that. That means that everyone can reach the top if they work hard enough." Alex says.

“ I have a question about the households.” Andrew asks Mira.

“ Yes?”

“ I remember you saying that an ability is given to someone from birth. What happens when a child with a different ability than the one the household has, is born?”

“ Two things can happen. First, the child stays with the household and uses its power to boost the household's name, despite having different powers. Or secondly and more frequently, it abandons the household and creates one of its own.”

" I see. Then what is your case, Mira?" Andrew asks her, surprising Anna who was walking beside them.

“ Hey! That's a rude thing to ask!”

" It's fine Anna. I have no problem talking about it." She stops Anna and turns back to Andrew.

" You know, the main head of a household can marry someone from other households as well. If that person happens to be another ability user, then the household will become stronger, and it will have two abilities to pass down. That's the case with my family, at least it was. One of my ancestors was in the possession of the ability now laying inside me. But throughout the years, it was lost. So only one ability remained, which was inherited by my elder brother. As for me, I happened to be born with the lost ability of my family. This ability used to be the one of the main house, so father made me the next heir before he died. But our mother couldn't accept it. She said that our family was now gathered around my brother's ability. And that I had two choices. Other leave the household, or stay and use my ability for their sake. I choose the later. But! I haven't given up. I will raise my status and make them accept me by force.” she says tightening her fist.

Andrew looks at her with sadness.

“ Why do you keep fighting for them? They abandoned you. And you still want them to accept you?”

" Yes. Because it is my duty as the rightful heir." she says with a smile." But enough about me. What I am really interested in, is your world. Would you please tell me about it?" she begs them with her eyes sparkling.

The guys look at her in discomfort.

“ I guess we could. So... who wants to have the honor of talking about our world?” Andrew asks but sees both Alex and Ivan backing off behind him.

“ And the short straw falls on me. Well then, listen to me Mira, and pay attention. It will be difficult to understand at first.” He makes a long sigh and then continues.

" In our world, there are no monsters, or magic or anything like that. You see in our world, through the many species that occupy it, humans were the only ones to develop complex societies and evolve. Our only enemies were ourselves. Wars were happening all the time before. However, in the age we were born in, war was something rare. Economical wars though were a whole different deal. In that environment, human society flourished. The fact that we had no natural dangers pushed humans to knowledge. Science was created and evolved even further. Things we didn't know about were now clear. And used them to make our everyday lives better. Always trying our best to expand that knowledge."

Mira listens to his story with enthusiasm while nodding.

“ So, what did you do with that knowledge?”

“ Well then, it was used to ease everyone's life. Everyday chores became an easy task with the introduction of machines. We could communicate and exchange information from really long distances. Travel from place to place, covering great distances, in only a few hours. And much more.”

“ So you can basically do the same things as us, but without magic?”

" What... don't be silly. We might not be able to use magic, but we were far ahead of you in the technological department." Alex steps in.

“ Why do you say that? You say that you have machines do the work for you. We do too. You saw those armors Arben was using.” Anna also steps in their conversation. “ As for long-range communications, we have communication magic circles, that do the same job. And when we are talking about really long distances, we have communication magic altars.”

" But our difference is that we can mass produce them. Most citizens have these devices at their houses or on themselves. This isn't a competition to see whose world is better." Ivan now steps in. " Besides, if it was, we have gone to space and we know so many things about the world outside our planet"

“ We also know some things about the outside of our planet. Like other planets and such.” Mira says.” How primitive you guys think we are?” she asks them.

" Well then, let's not fight. We are talking about two completely different worlds here. One that has magic, and one that doesn't. So could we call it a day and never again talk about our world. Because it will only bring more conflicts between us." Andrew stops them.

“ I guess we could. But I want to know more. Promise me that you will tell me everything about your world one of these days!” she demands. Andrew can see that she isn't willing to give up.

“ Ok. I promise you.”

Mira nods in satisfaction and moves forward towards her house. The rest follow.

Alex goes to Ivan and whispers in his ear.

“ So Ivan. You can see that these people have skills almost equal to our worlds. But I have never seen anyone carrying a gun, or something similar. Why don't we teach them how to make them? If they had guns, their war against the monsters would be an easy win.”

“ I don't think this is such a good idea. First of all, do you know how to make a gun? Because I don't. And I am sure Andrew doesn't either. And secondly, they have already reached too far, with only their magic and no technology. You should let them evolve in their own way.” He says with a serious face. “ You know... Andrew is probably right. We shouldn't be comparing our world with theirs. They are way too different. We should just get used to this place, rather than try to change it to suit our needs.”

“ Yea, you right. “ He says with a sigh. He then goes to Anna and speaks.

“ Hey, Anna. I wanted to apologise to you. I was a little carried away by the conversation. I am sorry.”

“ I get it Alex. And I am also sorry.” She smiles back at him.

The rest of the way was spent in silence.