The next thing Rani saw was the roof of a house. That was odd. Outside the city the only homes belonged to nomads or hermits, who understood the value in ones you could pack up in a few minutes notice.

On second thought, it was probably odder that Rani had eyeballs to see this, and a brain to consider it. Two arms and two legs, as well. Sitting up made it clear they were in a sturdy bed, in one corner of a room with wooden walls.

“Finally awake, are you?” said a fair-haired woman of some years sitting nearby. She was dressed in a simple, dark dress. As their gazes met, Rani took note of how sharp her eyes were.

“I suppose I can’t blame you for the rest, but I can’t have you taking up one of my beds for too much longer.” She rose, gesturing for Rani to do the same. “Come on, up - don’t tell me I had the bad luck to grab someone who can’t understand me-”

“I do,” Rani said, getting up. They were still dressed in their uniform. “Where is this. Why-”

The woman smiled at the verbal fumble. “’Why am I still alive’, you mean? It is a fair question. You certainly would have in that situation, if an angel hadn’t appeared.”

“And that would be you?”

“Metaphorically, at least.” Rani’s host turned and walked over to a window on the far wall. “I’m sure you’re confused about a few different things right now, one of which is how a home like this could possibly be anywhere near the wasteland you were fighting in, hm?” She opened it and gestured to Rani.

She didn’t look dangerous, but she also didn’t seem to think Rani was anything to fear, either. On the other hand, if she’d had murder on her mind it wasn’t like she hadn’t had the chance before. Rani stepped forward and looked out.

They didn’t say anything for some time. “You really haven’t seen anything like that where you come from, have you?” the woman murmured happily, patting Rani on the shoulder. “Come outside in the garden, and we’ll chat.”

Outside the window was - green. Other colors as well, but the trees outside may as well have been an ocean to someone used to the city, where even jarred flowers were a sign of the wealthy. It was unthinkable that a garden like this one could exist on the world Rani knew.

As it turned out, that couldn’t have been a more accurate thought.

---

Soon after, they were in the garden, sitting at a table. A pot of tea and two cups had been prepared. Rani wasn’t intending to touch theirs, but both were empty.

“I suppose introductions are in order first, aren’t they?” the woman smiled. “I have a few names and titles, but Constance will do for now.”

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“Rani.”

“A lovely name,” Constance replied. “I’m sure one look out here was enough to tell you you’re no longer at home - but I’m also sure you want to know how. Correct?”

Rani nodded.

Constance beamed. “I love dealing with direct people.” She suddenly snapped her fingers. A few moments later both cups were fill.

Rani stared at the teapot, floating a foot off the table, and continued to do even after it had lowered back down. “That wasn’t some kind of trick,” they said after a moment.

“Well, depends on your perspective. Some might say magic is the biggest trick of all,” Constance said smoothly. Evidently that changed something in Rani’s face, because she shook her head. “No, I’m not trying to trick you.”

She flicked her wrist off to one side: a crackle of bright lights flashed in mid-air before vanishing. “Of course, bringing a person to another world was a bit more of a work-out. If I were a less great wizard, it’d have been me lying in that bed, at best.”

Rani took a sip, partly on the grounds that someone who liked the sound of their voice this much probably wouldn’t poison someone she could subject to it. The tea tasted fine enough, not that they were the best person to judge. “Why?”

“Hm?” Constance tilted her head.

“No games, please,” Rani said, setting the cup down. “If it was that difficult to bring me here, you obviously wanted something. Or do you make a habit of eavesdropping on people and deciding whether or not to save them?”

It came out angrier than they’d intended, but Constance didn’t appear bothered. “Does the idea of being saved out of goodwill not make you happy?” she asked, sounding genuinely curious. “Then I don’t mind saying that yes, I did summon you here with a specific task in mind.”

“What?” Rani asked when that seemed to be it. “There’s plenty of things I’m capable of, but I can’t know if this falls under them unless you say what it is.”

“So you will do it, then?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Constance sighed. “I suppose that’s reasonable.” She stood up, gesturing for Rani to follow again. “Explaining why would take too much of the day for my tastes. For now, you can do me a favor - but not while wearing that.”

Rani looked down at their pilot uniform, skintight and dark. “What’s wrong with them?”

“Goodness gracious.”

---

Laid out on a table in Constance’s cabin was a set of clothes in Rani’s size: a shirt, pants, boots, and a cloak. Nothing fancy, but once Rani had tugged them on they fit nice and felt warm. They’d also been cleaned recently, which while a luxury by their standards wasn’t an unwelcome one.

“Now, don’t you look dashing,” Constance murmured, walking around them. “They’re made for a man, technically, but you didn’t seem like the kind of woman who would mind that.”

Rani kept quiet. It would take too long to explain. “They’re not bad. What do you need me to do in them?”

A tiny, yet quite solid bag was dropped into their hand, producing the sound of metal clinking against itself. “Head through the path out of the woods and there will be a town nearby,” Constance began. “You can’t miss it. I have an order with a local blacksmith by the name of Emrick Mudrock. He might grumble a bit, but this is more than enough for the work.”

“Anything else?”

“Well, it’s all I need,” Constance said frankly. “But while you’re there I wouldn’t mind if you took a look around. It would explain some things better than I could.”

Rani was handed a backpack in addition. “There’s some food in there if you get hungry, and a bit of extra coin if you feel like a drink. Have a pleasant walk.”

It didn’t sound like she’d be explaining anything further. Feeling more than a bit foolish for it, Rani left. At least there would be a bit of quiet.