Karta and Rhea undergo rather extensive magical training. They did not proceed further through the intricacies of casting higher-level spells, rather improving on Rhea’s fundamentals. 

Rhea unleashes a small ball of fire that hits the metal dummy afar, but it lacks a great impact; the flames hardly stay on its target before completely dissipating. The woman shook her head, wiping the sweat from her brow.

“Urgh! This is so annoying,” she sighs, catching her breath.  And I’m already starting to feel a bit tired…” 

Karta, who was watching at her side, steps forward.

“Here,” he says, holding out his hand. “Allow me the staff for a moment.” 

“Y-yeah… careful, it’s a little hot…”

Rhea hands the Trickster staff over. Karta struggles a bit, due to the heat from the metal, but he stands his ground. He takes the staff and aims it at one of the metal dummies. His eyes become sharper, focusing on his target, and within a few seconds, the sprite gem begins to glow. 

“Hrmph!” 

He utters a hearty cry as a fireball of decent size launches out of the Trickster Staff. The flames engulf the metal dummy, and the fire crackles resonating from some ways away. Rhea is utterly amazed. Karta hands the staff back. 

“Here you are.”

Rhea shakes her amazement off and stomps her foot, looking a bit irritated. 

“What was that? Were you trying to show off or something?

A muddled Karta calmly denies the accusation.  

“Not at all. I was trying to set an example. Recall when I said the Kroliq are naturally calm people, yet don’t you find it strange I was able to cast a spell that beckons the thoughts of fury?” 

Rhea scratched her head. 

“A-actually, yeah, now that you mention it, that’s a bit weird.”

“The answer is quite simple. Remember, I have a much higher proficiency in magic than you do. Even if I am composed, and trying to get angry isn’t as easy, I can still think of something minute that irritates me slightly, and use the rest of my magical reserves to transform that angry thought into a decent spell. Whereas someone like you lacks magical prowess and practice, you will have to think of infuriating, even traumatic recollections to cast something decent. I know not what you thought of the other night, but if it was enough to erupt a fire pillar, then I suppose it must’ve been something quite bad.”

“Yeah… I try not to think about it. But when you told me I had to think of something that makes me mad, that’s one of the first things I thought of.”

“Right. Then try not to think of that unless you are in a very delicate situation,” Karta starts smiling. “If you can practice your magic prowess while learning to master control of your emotions, then you’d make a fine mage.”

Rhea smiles. 

“Thanks, Karta,” she bows slightly. “I don’t know if being a mage is my endgame, but it’ll definitely help me in the long run, I’m sure.”

“We should conclude practice for now. Let’s return to my hut. I hope Row and Lucerna aren’t doing anything problematic.”

“Yeah,” Rhea laughs. “Let’s hope not.”

Karta and Rhea go through the portal and return to Fiolet. 

Later, the two are on the way to Karta’s hut. On the way there, Karta looks up and sees Fujiko standing by her lonesome, leaning against the thick bark as the gentle wind carries the purple leaves past her obscured face. Rhea sees her as well and feels the need to comment. 

“Guess she was waiting for you, huh?”

“I suppose she was,” he answers. “Here, why don’t you go inside the hut while I talk with Fujiko again.”

“Sounds like you’re gonna talk to a brick wall. Are you sure you wanna do that?” 

“It’s not something I want to do, but it feels like something that I must do.”

Karta breaks in the other direction, making his way to the second level of Fiolet. Rhea looked a bit troubled to see him talk to her, but she did as she was told, and entered his home. She parts the brown curtain to his hut and is immediately met with familiar faces seated at the dining table, Lucerna, Row, and Vanessa.  

“Rhea!” Lucerna softly greets with excitement. “You’re back! How was your training?” 

“It went well, I think. If I keep it up I’m sure I’ll be able to carry my weight anywhere we go!” 

“That’s good to hear,” Row said, appearing rather distracted. “That’s not to say you’ve been a liability the whole time. You’ve definitely been more help than harm.”

“Rheaaaaaa,” Vanessa whined with a monotone cadence. “Fooood.”

Rhea rolled her eyes. 

“Y-yeah, Vanessa, I’ll make you something in a second…” 

After setting her belongings down, Rhea goes into the kitchen and whips up something with Fiolet ingredients. Rhea was quick to figure out that the ingredients used on Ziemia shared many similarities to the ingredients she worked with on Earth. Although the names of some foods were a tad different, and a slight variance in flavor, when combining familiar ingredients, Rhea was capable of creating dishes that resembled a healthy, hearty, and tasty breakfast back when she was alive. 

Being a very proficient cook, she is in and out of the kitchen in thirty minutes, cooking food for all four of them. She passes through the kitchen curtain holding two massive plates of scrambled yeggs, crispy pacon, and brown thoast. The hearty smell of fresh breakfast permeates through the room, its warm, alluring fragrance massaging the nostrils of the Kotka, their ears and tail gradually standing tall. 

“Food’s ready!” Rhea exclaimed. 

Those at the table found their stomachs grumbling like mad. 

“Wh-what’s that smell?” Lucerna asked. 

“Er…” Rhea looked side to side. “Pacon, yeggs, and thoast?” 

“You really are something, Rhea! Even though you just got here, you combine a lot of our foods so well! Were you a professional cook in your past life or something?”

“No,” Rhea shook her head, setting the plates down on the table. “Nothin’ like that. I just cooked a lotta different recipes. I guess I got pretty good since I’ve been cooking for so long.” 

Vanessa looks at the plate. The pacon was steamy and hot, yet she still grabbed it with her bare hand and took a bite. 

Crunch!

A thunderous crunch erupts within the room. She chews for a bit, taking in the rich, salty taste that bounces around her teeth and dances on her tongue. 

Gulp. 

She swallows, and everyone in the room waits in anticipation for a reaction. Vanessa raises her head and looks at Rhea. 

“Marriage.”

“You wanna marry me or my food?! Besides, didn’t you call me a bitch yesterday?!” 

Vanessa lowers her head. Her long black hair covers her eyes.  

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.” 

Eh?! Another full sentence!   

“I had no doubt you’d cook something nice when you first cooked us pizza,” Lucerna cheers, scooping most of the food from one of the plates.

“You’d better save some for me, Lu!” 

Rhea’s eyes fall upon Row, who sits with his arms crossed, not even attempting to look at the food. 

“Row? Are you gonna take anything? If you don't, Vanessa's gonna eat everything.” 

“Sorry, Rhea,” Row said. “But I’m not hungry.”

“Let me guess,” Rhea says, planting her hand on her hip. “Can’t get Fujiko outta your mind?” 

“D-don’t say it like that!” Row exclaimed. “But yes… you are correct. Her being here is still… bothering me. I saw her standing outside and almost leaped at her. I’m glad Lu was there to stop me.” 

“Hm, I understand. Just try not to let it obsess your mind. We need our crafter one hundred percent!” 

“Right…” 

Despite her light pep talk, it did not do much to motivate Row. To make matters worse, Karta returns home with Fujiko right behind him. 

“Pardon the intrusion…” Karta says.

Fujiko stays silent and keeps her arms crossed and gaze sharp, despite the wounds on her face still being apparent. Row glances over at her for a short moment. He says nothing, but the action of balling his fist was noticed by Fujiko. Still, she said nothing. 

Rhea takes a step back and Lucerna stops eating her food to stare coldly at the tall woman. Vanessa did not care for the situation and continued to rapidly gorge on her meal. 

“I apologize for thrusting this on the three of you so suddenly but…” 

Fujiko turns her body away. Rhea raises her eyebrow, wondering why Karta looks so apprehensive.

“Fujiko needs a favor.”

There was a sudden pause in the room; a silence strong enough to choke their ears deaf.

“A… favor…?” Rhea repeated. 

“Absolutely not,” Row said without making eye contact. 

“P-please, hear me out,” Karta said.

“Piss off, Karta,” she says calmly. “I don’t need a favor.”

“Stop acting so tough,” Karta says before turning his attention back to the adventurers. “Fujiko is still weak, and we have no weapons to provide her to defend herself. She even lost her weapon on the way here. I beg you to escort her past the Hollow Hollows so she may return to her ship. When she does, she promises to leave Miasto. Isn’t that right, Fujiko?”

“Tch,” Fujiko sucked her teeth. “Whatever.”

“The Hollow Hollows?” Lucerna repeated. “That leads back to Miasto?” 

“I was informed by Fujiko that the Hollow Hollows are what the Kotka call the ‘Loot Cavern’. That area was once the first home of the Kroliq but was quickly abandoned due to the obscene amount of monsters lurking within. And since it was our previous home, Fujiko knows how to navigate them.”

“That’s how you were able to go from Miasto to here, huh?” Rhea asked. 

“I refuse.” 

Row interjects, turning the eyes of everyone but Vanessa on him. 

“I will not help this woman return to her ship so she can pirate and kill as she pleases. Leave her to the caverns. If she dies, while traversing them, then she dies.”

“Oh?” Fujiko smirks. “And you are to leave those in Miasto to die by my men's hands? As we speak they may be pillaging as they please. But if I make it to the other side, I can call them off and have them return with me.”

“Fat chance!” Rhea exclaimed. “I overheard the conversation you had earlier with Karta! You said all of your men were killed!”

Fujiko’s smirk grows more devilish. 

“True… I have no more men… on Miasto. But they are plentiful overseas. Imagine what they would do if I took too long to report back to them. Why, they would easily sail over to Miasto, and who knows what would happen next? I must warn you, they are far more devastating in combat than me.” 

Row shot up from his seat. He stomped his way to Fujiko, but Karta stood in front of her. 

“You maniac! Death is not a suitable punishment for your wickedness!” 

Karta sighs.

“I… apologize for her behavior. This is the only favor I will ask of you three, and you can consider yourself honorary Kroliq. I will teach you anything and everything when you return here.”

Karta bows, holding his head low.

“Please… she may not admit it… but she needs help…”

Fujiko looks down at Karta, the smirk on her face gone. Her gaze became softer, and a bit puzzled. Rhea gathers the strength to answer him. 

“Fine… we’ll do it.” 

Row snaps his body toward Rhea, almost snarling rabidly.  

“Excuse you?!”