Elven fashion, it turned out, was comprised of long, flowing garments in natural colors. Jade stepped out of the small clothing store feeling more like she was cosplaying than properly dressed, but there was no denying it was an improvement over the tattered remains of her Earth wear. The shopkeeper, a grandmotherly elven woman who had not once stopped sewing during their time with her, refused any payment for the purchases and had even modified Jade's garments to accommodate her succubus form.

"See? That wasn't so bad." Naomi said to Luis.

"Speak for yourself." The large man grumbled, pulling on the front of his tunic. "I don't think they make anything in my size."

"Jade couldn't find a perfect fit either, don't complain."

"Yeah, but she just shrank an inch so it didn't matter!"

They both turned to look at Jade, and she gave them her best innocent smile.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I've always been this height."

They continued exploring the marketplace in the upper levels of Lysara, crossing from tree to tree on magnificent bridges that seamlessly melded form and function. Some of the buildings and structures were so well integrated into the enormous trees that Jade had a hard time telling where nature ended and building began, if such a distinction even existed. Upon spotting a bookstore, Jade insisted on stopping to peruse the stock.

"It's been way too long since I've had anything to read." She complained, eyeing the rows of bookshelves with a hungry gaze. "That library sanctuary on the first floor was awful, I couldn't take anything from it."

Since none of the books were overly expensive, a fact that surprised Jade considering her admittedly limited knowledge of medieval printing costs, she purchased several with the intention of looking over them more closely later. Luis followed suit, acquiring a couple of books of his own. Their next destination was more practical: A shop that specialized in defensive equipment and armor.

None of the available gear was any better than the 'D' rank enchanted armor they already possessed, but Jade inquired about commissioning custom-made protective wear that could make use of her 'Seducer's Mantle' ability. It took some time, and no small amount of humiliation, to explain to the confused armorer why exactly she needed 'armor' that barely covered any of her body, but Jade eventually managed to get the point across. At that point, the craftsman became oddly enthusiastic about the task, promising Jade it'd be his top priority and instructing her to return in a few days to collect it. His response confused Jade, and appeared to highly amuse Naomi, but she was just glad that she'd finally start getting some utility out of her most recent ridiculous racial power.

After that, they made their way to the town's only magic shop, where they found Aylin poring over a collection of scrolls.

"Ah, good timing." The mage said distractedly, hardly taking her attention away from the topmost scroll. Jade peeked at its contents, but it was just a series of complicated symbols and diagrams that she didn't understand. "I've been meaning to find you."

"What for?" Luis asked.

"I'll be leaving soon, and I didn't want to go without letting you know."

"Where are you going?" Jade asked.

"Back to Illysport, with the splinter of divine death energy we found in the stronghold. A connection between the Labyrinth and divine essences has long been hypothesized, but evidence is hard to come by. This needs to be studied. A better understanding of the Labyrinth's underlying mechanisms may lead to an explanation for its recent, erratic behavior."

"That sounds important." Naomi said. "Is there anything we can do to help?"

This time, Aylin did look up.

"No." She said, with a slight smile. "You've done more than enough already, thank you. You're still going to Estelhelm, yes?"

"Probably." Jade said, glancing at her companions. "I don't think we have a set schedule."

"I'd recommend it. It's the best place to gear up before heading to the third floor, if that's still your destination. It's also something of a hub for wayfarers, you may find more of your own people there, or others looking to team up."

"Thanks for the tip."

Aylin placed a few coins on the countertop and started rolling up the scroll she'd been reading. When she was finished putting it away, she turned to face Jade.

"I was wrong about you." she said bluntly. "Again, please forgive my actions when we first met. They were unbecoming of a member of my Order. I like to think that a life dedicated to learning makes me resistant to the trap of prejudice, but that very belief may make me more prone to it. You've done more to help these people than most would have."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Jade was caught off-guard by Aylin's straightforward sincerity. "Don't worry about it." she said, a little awkwardly. "You've done a lot for us, too."

"I'll leave word with the Mystic Order's branch in Estelhelm, endorsing you and your team. If anyone gives you any trouble, check in with councilman Merrik. He'll help you."

"Thanks, amiga!" Luis said, slapping her on the back. "And travelling with us helped you learn about this weird magic thing. I knew it'd all work out."

It didn't work out for the people who died. Jade thought, remembering the elves they hadn't been able to save. Then she recalled what Fenrin had told her the night before and forced her cynicism down.

We did what we could.

"I spoke to Serrethis Rhysten when I was discussing the stronghold excursion with the council this morning." Aylin continued. "He knows you'll be seeking his tutelage, Jade."

"Do you have any advice?"

"I knew him only by reputation before, but he's very selective with his students. He's a master swordsman, and I have no doubt he could teach you a great deal. Be genuine and respectful, and I think you'll have a good chance."

Aylin finished by inviting them to visit her in Illysport when they reached the third floor. She wasn't leaving Lysara quite yet, Jade knew they'd probably see her around while she continued to study the stronghold, but it felt like a farewell. Despite getting off on the wrong foot they'd learned a lot from the mage, and Jade had come to like her practical, no-nonsense personality.

"Well, if Fenrin joins like you said this morning, we'll be at four now." Luis said, watching her go.

"Five, if Siora still wants to tag along." Naomi added. "Do you think she will?"

"She said something about wanting her node access back, so she'll probably come along as far as Estelhelm." Jade replied.

"It was nice having someone who knew what they were doing." Naomi sighed, watching Aylin leave.

"And who understood magic." Jade added, nodding in agreement.

"You know what this means?" Luis asked. The others turned questioning looks on him, and he grinned. "Now we've gotta find ourselves another mage."

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Fourth Floor - Geothermal Chasm Quadrant, Windswept Caldera Zone. Tek'Kalla city-ship 'Intrepid'

Present Day

"For the last time, Tara, nobody is looking for a mage these days."

Tara'lynn Clan Kasta sat in the mess hall of the Expeditionary Taskforce Academy, arms crossed, staring defiantly across the table at the friend who was making yet another effort to change her mind. She had the violet skin and lithe frame common to all Tek'Kalla, her angular face framed by a pattern of bone that ran across her forehead and down along her cheeks. She shifted in her seat and brushed aside a loose strand of her long straight hair, stubbornly refusing to yield.

Elyth'ven Clan Wurn sighed in exasperation, slumping back in her seat. Her skin was a shade darker than Tara's, and her hair much shorter. Unlike Tara's hair, which was predominantly white and streaked with strands of pale red, Elyth's was a solid shade of light lavender. Tara had always admired the way it matched her complexion, although currently all she felt was frustration. They'd been over this.

"I've made my intentions quite clear, and they haven't changed." Tara announced, for what felt like the twelfth time this week. "The art of spellcraft is my vocation. When I receive my wayfarer mark, I will select a mage class. Nothing you or the instructors can say will change my mind."

"Tara'lynn…" Elyth sounded more exasperated than upset. "Most of our classmates have already formed their teams. If you can't be a little more flexible, you're going to end up without anyone. We've been training with magitech weapons for years, our entire tactical playbook is structured around them. If you keep insisting on waving a staff around and taking the time to weave the magic yourself, no one will want to deal with you."

"If no one in this academy can appreciate the distinct advantages traditional spellcraft holds over mass produced, talent restricting mana focuses, then I would be better off without them."

"That's the attitude that has everyone turning their backs on you…" Elyth sighed, letting her head fall forward to rest in her hands, elbows propped up on the table. She lowered her voice as another group of uniformed students passed, all wearing the same black-on-gold fatigues of Taskforce trainees. "Look, I know you want to continue your family's legacy, that's great! But there's a middle ground here. Take a hybrid class, you'll still be able to imprint a few spells yourself. I'll talk to my team leader, we haven't finalized the roster yet. I'm sure I can help smooth things over and get you onboard. As long as you at least use a pulsecaster, we can-"

"Sorry Elyth." Tara cut her off, shaking her head. "I've made my decision."

"What will your parents say?"

"It's not up to them. No one gets a say in class or team selection but the individual in question. Academy Handbook, section eighteen dash five."

Elyth just stared blankly at her.

"I checked." Tara added, helpfully.

"But you don't have a team." Elyth reminded her. "What are you going to do? Wander into the Labyrinth alone? You're good, Tara, gods know none of us doubt your skill, but you can't just take on your wayfarer trial by yourself."

"Then I'll find a team who appreciates my skills somewhere else."

Judging by her expression, it took Elyth several moments to understand Tara's intention. She drew a small amount of satisfaction from the look of surprise that crossed her face when she finally did.

"You're going to the lower floors?! Tara, you know the lowlanders really don't like us, right?"

"Their conflicts are with the Drakken Conclave. Our people barely ever head down there." Tara pointed out.

"Maybe so…" Elyth sighed again, shoulders slumping in defeat. "But you should think this through a little more. I don't think most of them know the difference..."

Tara shrugged. She'd figure it out. This was the most logical course of action. Besides, if she was going to start her journey alone, then the lower floors were an objectively safer place to begin. The favored scion of the Lynn family had every confidence in her ability to navigate whatever obstacles lay before her. Barring that, there was always the fallback plan of blowing them up with a judicious application of her magical talent. Really, what was everyone so worried about?

It didn’t matter. It was time for Tara to remind her people what real spellcraft could do.