Izel ruptured the bead curtain, and there she found the locus of the excitement: young women surrounded the fireplace, standing, while progeny perched, lips pallid with sugar, and jaws working overtime at taming the chewiness of mochi and dango. They mirthfully responded to the demonstration enacted by the crimson-haired lass before them.

"...Having queried a jester, a woodsman, a pastry baker, a library clerk, a scholar, and a hermit, Oliver travelled further into the forest and happened upon a cavern. Therein, he heard the echo of heavy footfalls...'" Alicia modelled the form of a stooped creature with splayed legs, tramping across the grassy ground. "The steps got closer... closer... and suddenly... raawrrrr!"

The children scattered, guffawing and shrieking, but Alicia was a feline of prey, impossible not to find prey. Her hand managed to seize one lad by the neck and a tickling onslaught ensued until he burst out laughing.

"I'm a shug monkey!" Alicia declared. "'And I pine for sweetness beyond moss and mushrooms!' It looked at the banana slice in Oliver's hand and exclaimed again, 'Oh, how the Silent Divine bless me that you've brought a banana!'

"'You are a shug monkey!' echoed Oliver 'But are you truly a monkey?'

"'Monkey is my given name, thus it holds true that I am a monkey!'

"'Then answer my question, and I shall yield my entire banana,' Oliver proposed.

"'I am the shug monkey, the wisest of all monkeys. Test me with your enquiry!'

"Oliver then issued his ultimate question, 'Why do monkeys love bananas so?'

"'Why do monkeys love banana so?' the monkey confirmed again.

"'Yes. Why, tell me!' Oliver urged again.

"'For monkeys possess taste receptors attuned to sugar more keenly than mortals!" the monkey replied bluntly. 'Sugar sensitivity in our taste buds aids in discerning and selecting ripe fruit, often laden with natural sugars. Our tongues wield influence in gauging the palatability and allure of sustenance, as sweetness typically heralds energy-rich, nutrient-dense fare. There you have it, simplicity in essence.’

"'Oliver simply didn't expect that the answer made so much sense that his heart felt a thrill of satisfaction. From then on, humanity grasped the rationale behind monkey’s fanciness over bananas! As promised, he gave all his bananas to the monkey. The monkey was happy, Oliver was happy, both were winning!"

"Hooray!" exulted some of the youngest children.

"Hold on, that's not the end of it," Alicia continued. "As the shug monkey peeled and ate the delicious bananas, it asked Oliver, 'I was expecting enigmas of the world and questions about the secrets of the universe. But why do I receive questions about such an obvious thing instead, young one?'

"Oliver simply replied, 'Because...,'" Alicia tilted her neck and shrugged her shoulders in mock confusion, "'I don't like bananas,'"

The hiatus did not last too long as children began to sport smiles and emit childlike laughter. However, it was the women whose peals of laughter resounded the most.

Izel could not fathom such a scenario. Since when did this bookworm girl become a comedian? she wondered. Not to mention there were children who appreciated the irony and cruelty of the light-hearted joke and giggled!

Ere long, no more oral tapestry glided out of the storyteller's mouth, for the night had turned concrete and the children had yawned. Matrons and dames guided them back to their respective tents. Alicia herself had noticed the crunching behind her and pivoted to find Izel nonchalantly leaning against the tent poles.

"Thought you were rested," Alicia remarked. "Where’ve ye been?"

The Orange Witch let out a scornful chortle. "A great warrior does not sleep early. They have to train at night too."

"Oh," Alicia nodded in comprehension. "Yet, a warrior must also get enough sleep."

"That stands to reason. So, you've met the practitioners of the Kagatsean Magisterium. Were you treated amicably?"

"Well, they were a bit weird at first. I mean, they're all practitioners, of course, they look and behave weird," Alicia giggled, but Izel seemed unswayed. "Wisesa and myself, we've got an invite to the palace for a war meeting tomorrow."

"Young people like you discussing a war meeting?"

"It's a request from Her Imperial Highness Dajō Daijin."

Izel appeared to emit a subtle gasp, swallowed, then nodded. "Great. A bookworm like you immersing in discussions of war. Then you too should rest. Have you secured an inn?"

"Her Imperial Highness Dajō Daijin offered me to stay in the palace."

"Fortuitous news, isn't it? Haste then, it's not prudent to roam at night—"

"But Kaito and Tome feel at home here. So I suppose I'll be with them a while longer."

"Thoughtful of you. But they're in good hands. You saw their smiles, didn't you? Among the elders, women, and children of Tamoanchan. Perhaps you need not be overly vigilant on their behalf any longer."

Their discourse was punctuated by the intrusive creak of a tent with a wooden door. Tome's visage poked out from within. "Alicia-neesan! Not going to bed?"

Alicia played a grin on her lips as she turned and said, "I'll be right there!" then redirected her attention to Izel again. "Well, if ye dinnae mind if me and Wisesa... crash here first?"

"You know what? You made the right choice in choosing the Tamoanchanese camp," Izel expressed. "Though not a fortress, our place is as warm as dawn and dusk. Oh, I don't lay claim to this place. If Nantli allows it, then who am I, another temporary lodger?" Izel grabbed Alicia by the shoulders before leaving her and entering an orange-coloured camp. Alicia nearly recoiled from how strong her grip was.

"Okay!" Alicia turned to Kaito and Tome. "Time to rest, kids—"

Tome suddenly erupted, thrusting an index finger that prompted the lass to pivot once more.

"Oh, no! What happened to yer face?" asked Alicia to another arrival to the camp.

Xochitl, the subject in question, strolled past Alicia, trailed by companions. "Pay me no mind. I'll just wait for the healer to arrive with a fresh supply of Healing Fire."

But perhaps due to the burst blood vessels, he did not notice the unfamiliar appearance of the bespectacled girl. "Do I recognise you?" He looked closely at Alicia again, just to trigger a prickling sensation on his face. "I don't remember any Western faces in the Tamoanchanese camp, let alone in the entire Takamagahara district."

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"No, ye haven’t. I'm new here." Her silk-gloved hand extended. "Alicia Crimsonmane of Camelot. Pleased to meet you!"

Xochitl, on the other hand, did not even flinch. "I am... Xochitl. They're all my friends."

Alicia dropped her unconsidered hand. "Nice to meet you, Xochitl! And now yer face must be fixed. Come!" Alicia impelled the man to take a seat in front of the fireplace.

"Hey, slow down, I haven't even given my consent yet—"

The lass' waist bag opened and out came a brilliant blue radiance that clashed vividly with the campfire. Orb sprang forth.

"That's..."

"Arcane!"

"The might that claimed many victims in Onogoro."

"Aye...," Alicia conceded. "I ken most Tamoanchanese folks hold a bit of disdain for Arcane, and it's gaining more hate for its unpredictable impact on past waves. But judging by yer tale, it takes time to snag that Healing Fire. I hope quicker healing won't ruffle yer feathers. I certainly didnae mean to sow chaos in yer midst."

Xochitl’s heart softened at her words. A bitter chuckle escaped his azure-hued mouth. "We are not your typical Tamoanchanese. And you're just a mere girl. So by all means, go ahead."

Alicia nodded. She promptly pulled blue tendrils from Orb. "Arcane healing will hurt. Cling to something."

"We'll hold your hand," offered one of Xochitl’s comrades, the one wearing the monkey mask.

"Yes. Yes, I need to hold on to you." Each of Xochitl's hands reached out to his comrades.

Alicia did not give a follow-up cue. As soon as Xochitl gathered his nerve, the lass thrust the Arcane into his face, reliving the agony of Izel's dragon staff’s blows time and time again. But it was not just that particular promise that was kept; the bruises plaguing his eyes and lips were eased, and the colour of his skin was restored from the dreary jet blue.

When the Arcane influx ceased, Xochitl ventured to explore his face. He looked down and shook his head, giggling contentedly. "There is a different feeling that I cannot express compared to using the Healing Fire, but that makes Arcane superior. At least one thing that makes my hatred for Arcane less. I am grateful to you."

"Dinnae fash yerself," Alicia replied as she put Orb back into the bag.

"You are indeed a good stranger. And a good stranger should no longer stay a stranger. However, I met another stranger sitting at the camp’s entrance, and he was far from good. Perhaps you are related to him?"

"I reckon ye meant Wisesa." Alicia gasped suddenly. "Yer wound didnae come from him, did it?"

"No, not by him. It was from another beast. But he does possess a scoffer's tongue."

"His tongue could use a bit of leash, aye, but trust me, I wouldnae be pals with him if he wasnae a decent soul. He just cannae find common ground with everyone."

"Does that mean you're Izel's friend too? Because Izel is an acquaintance of his," asked the Xochitl’s comrade, the Monkey-Masked.

Alicia cast a quick glance at the orange tent where the person in question lodged. "Izel, eh? Wisesa and I haven't known her long, but as you said, Xochitl: a good stranger shouldn’t stay a stranger. She lent a hand to us and the bairns driving mujinos away on our journey to Takamagahara."

"How lucky for you. Izel was the beast who disfigured Xochitl's face!"

"It's fine, Acalan," Xochitl halted his friend. "I think I deserve this for linking her intense training with her fertility. I can't help it. Her rigorous training not only threatens that, but could cause strife with the Kagatseans."

"Practising Tlemauayolotli can affect fertility…? Interesting… She does fancy to practice even when we’re on the road. Sometimes it irked me a wee bit, too." Alicia then leaned in towards the group of gentle men, her voice fainting. "Perhaps ye could enlighten me if ye dinnae mind. She seems reluctant to tell me why!"

Xochitl's entire group tensed, not just because Alicia's face was too close to them. Their speech turned to stone. "Ah, t-that's..." Xochitl's words were choked off by Acalan's cough. "She's just obsessed with becoming the strongest pyromancer like her ancestor. That's all. She aspires to revive Tamoanchan from its heyday. Hence her extreme training."

"I see...," Alicia was actually disappointed for receiving the same reception. People who were unaccustomed to deception always resorted to the same gestures.

"A profound passion for something can sometimes burn people. A pun from my mama, by the way." Alicia laughed to herself. Part of the group of men stared at each other in confusion. while the remainder, including Xochitl, smiled in comprehension.

"But really. Izel cannae stop boastin’ about being a Tamoanchanese, blethering on about how they strength from cradle days, singing praises of Tlemauayolotli, and shouting prayers to him for all to hear! It grates on my nerves, but I guess I have to put up with it because it's all she’s got left since her homeland, yer homeland, vanished. And losing your identity can be... terrifying."

"Yes, it is terrifying."

"By the way. I thought Izel mentioned that all the men fought on the Otnagochi front?”

"Yes. Izel excluded us as men." A rueful chuckle came from Xochitl. "We do not consent to entangling our people in others' wars. As refugees, it is only natural for us to evacuate and ensure the safety of our families.”

"But... isn't that what Tamoanchanese warriors do? Defending this land so that the rest of their families are safe?"

"Are you suggesting that desiring a tranquil life in refuge is an act of cowardice?”

"No, I'm not. I understand," Alicia replied. "You refugees have lived through hard times. It's just that, arenae the Kagatseans the same? They fought Mujino for five years, didn't they?"

"Y-yes... I think... Well, Kagatse was also in trouble. But they managed to endure until now, even dared to welcome refugees like us. To harness our strength, of course.”

"But precisely why did your community decide to accept the offer and take refuge here?"

"Where else could we flee? The entire continent of Mu is reluctant to accept us, fearing that the same curse would befall them if they took us into their homes. Meanwhile, I hear others sneering at us as the 'Arrogant Nation that bore the brunt of it'."

"So you help Kagatse in return for yer folk being protected and cared for by the state, and Kagatse gaining more help from the practitioners of the mighty fire nation. Sounds like a fair trade, don't ye think?"

"No! They already have the Magisterium as a defence."

"Magisterium, eh? That's a good point. But why do ye no have an issue with mages from other countries being sent to fight in others’ battles, while ye resist when it's yer turn to be called upon for aid?”

"Because it's their duty as the Magisterium, isn't it? To keep the world in Thaumaturgy in balance."

"And that gives you the right to overlook their challenges? What if at any time Kagatse fails to defend the land? What if this plague spreads throughout the world?"

This time, Xochitl was speechless.

Alicia swiftly regained her senses, stuttering with a wave of her hand. "Silly of me. It's not my place to say things like that. Sorry if it felt like I was putting pressure on you," Alicia resumed. "A profound passion for something can sometimes burn people, yes? The warriors do this so that their kins have shelter. Kagatse does this so that their families will be safe. The Magisterium does this to keep the world of thaumaturgy from spiralin' into more chaos. I believe that in these uncertain times, everyone should pull together. That's why the Magisterium is still straining its resources, even with major conflicts elsewhere. And that's what pushes me to join in.”

"You... joined the effort? They accept you, an Arcane wielder, to participate in this battle?"

"All thanks to the Rikaiha's Head Priest. If it werenae for his coaxing, a second shot for Arcane might have been nigh impossible. He said my powers could be used to find out the origin of this scunnered mujinos and stop the plague. Ye dinnae have to fight anymore. Kaito and Tome may reunite with their parents."

Seeing the grim faces of the two children when their parents were mentioned, Xochitl sighed heavily. "The Elders always bring this up as a means of Kagatse's survival. But you may have a point."

Alicia's subtle smile returned to them all, hypnotising them. "And bringing up a woman's fertility is indeed not something that can be discussed freely like a picnic topic. If ye've learnt yer lesson, then I'm glad to hear it. I'll talk to Izel to apologise for having yer face battered."

"That's really kind of you. But I'll deal with it myself. I thank you again." Suddenly Xochitl's eyes widened slightly. "I think your children are waiting for you to enter the tent."

Indeed, Kaito and Tome were already lined up alongside Alicia, with Tome gently tugging at the lass’ sleeve. "When Alicia*-neesan* will stop talking to them?"

"Your sister need not utter another word, because the conversation is over." With that, Xochitl stood up from the log. "Apologies to disturb your rest, Little One. Rest with sweet dreams."

"It was nice talking with all of you. Allow me and the children to retire." Alicia bowed and escorted the children to the tent. Their ears still caught Alicia's distant scolding delivered in a playful tone. "Oh, I just remembered! How many mochi have ye eaten, Tome? We should clean those sweet teeth before bedtime!"

"I think even a modest woman like her still needs a stalwart man as her fortress, as that is the ideal, after all," Acalan muttered to himself. "Should we start changing course and training for war?"

A chuckle from Xochitll. "Don't be foolish, Acalan. Our principles should not waver due to a woman's kindness. Besides, even if I were more robust, I doubt I’d be deemed worthy of a woman of Arcane's choosing." []