Demetrius, Ganzaya, Adriadne, Tomoe, and Theodora sat around a dinner table. Theodora talked about various subjects as slaves put pieces of food in front of her guests.

"These slaves are a temporary measure," she said. "Well, my family held slaves for centuries, but we're looking into ways to replace them with indentured servants. We just need to figure out which method is most economical."

Tomoe nodded. There was a blank expression on her face. It was the look of someone who was bored out of their skull. She glanced at Demetrius with a pleading expression, but he kept his gaze away from her.

"I've never been so bored in my entire life. Theodora's probably trying to impress me, but I can't understand most of what she's saying. And even if I could, would that make this any better? She just keeps going on and on. Demetrius, please, say something! Anything! Relieve me from this!" Tomoe thought. "Is this my punishment, rather than an honorable death?"

Theodora turned to Demetrius with a slightly smug expression.

"So, Stratigos Demetrius, what do you think of my family's wealth? It will only increase with our most recent magical device," she said.

"Ah, yes, the freezing box. Basil told me about it," Demetrius replied with a nod.

Tomoe breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank the kami, she's talking to Demetrius now," the onna bugeisha thought.

"Your family's wealth is impressive, Stratigos Theodora," the dark magic user stated. "It is what is expected of one of the four magician families."

He shrugged and took a bite out of a roast olive. Theodora gave Demetrius an appraising expression. She turned her attention to Tomoe before looking back at him.

"What sort of person are you, Demetrius? I will figure it out while you stay at Cea. And hopefully, I'll get that barbarian girl you brought with you too," Theodora thought before speaking. "And yet, it is greater than your family's wealth, is it not?"

Demetrius shrugged.

"It is, but my family's magic is limited to combat. It has no uses outside of that," he said.

Then, the stratigos paused a moment before speaking.

"That is, aside from hunting. But hunting is one step removed from warfare anyway. So, there is little reason to separate the concepts," Demetrius stated.

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"I suppose there is not," Theodora replied.

She was about to ask another question, but Demetrius spoke first.

"And speaking of your family's wealth, I have a favor to ask of you, Stratigos Tagaris," he said.

Suspicion passed over Theodora's eyes.

"A favor, you say? What is it?" she questioned.

"There is a woman I am looking for on behalf of Ganzaya," Demetrius explained. "His wife, who was captured and sold into slavery by an enemy tribe."

Theodora blinked in shock. She just sat a moment in stunned silence. Demetrius took that as a sign to continue.

"Has your family purchased any Ulv slaves recently? I understand that they are trying to replace their slaves with indentured servants, but that does not mean they aren't buying new slaves in the meantime," he said.

After another moment of silence, Theodora spoke.

"It is true that my family bought a few new slaves recently. I am not sure if any of them are Ulvs. However, I could look in our records to make sure of it. We keep great details on everyone who enters our household, whether they want to or not," she stated.

Demetrius nodded.

"Thank you, Theodora. If she is in your household, I will buy her freedom at three times the price you bought her for," he said.

Theodora's jaw dropped.

"I never thought a Kallergis would do something like this, not for anyone. By the gods, Demetrius is still a rube, but he isn't anywhere near as bad as I thought he was," she pondered.

Then, a voice entered Demetrius' head.

"You have found a new fated bond, Capricorn. May it bring you aid in hardship and joy in sorrow. Your fate is now intertwined with Sagittarius, the centaur."

At the same time, the exact same voice entered Theodora's head.

"You have found a new fated bond, Sagittarius. May it bring you aid in hardship and joy in sorrow. Your fate is now intertwined with Capricorn, the ram."

Demetrius and Theodora stood up at the exact same time. Looks of shock crossed their faces. The dark magician was also filled with an incredible amount of frustration.

"Dammit! By the gods, why? Why did this have to happen now of all times? My magic's already going to be painfully weak, and now I've gained another fate bond! How pathetic will my magic be now? How can I serve the Remen Empire like this?" Demetrius' mind filled to the brim with total despair.

He slammed one of his fists down on the table hard, making everyone at the table jump.

"Damn it all!" the stratigos almost shouted.

Theodora was having her own freakout.

"By the gods, a Kallergis of all people? A fate bond forged between me and a Kallergis? Why one of them? Even if he isn't as bad as the rest of his family, Demetrius is still a Kallergis! By the gods, I hate this!" she thought.

Demetrius started marching towards the door. Confusion crossed over Theodora's face.

"Stratigos Demetrius, where are you going?" the ice magician asked.

"Out," he answered. "I just remembered that I have business to attend to for my family. The rest of you, stay here or attend to your own affairs or do whatever. I will be away until nightfall."

With that, Demetrius left the room. An awkward silence overtook the room.

"Well...umm...I will send a letter to ask for my family's records," Theodora wasn't sure what else to do at that point. "Then, I will rejoin the rest of you."

Things only became more awkward when she left the room. The others just went back to eating in silence, only two of them having any idea of what Demetrius and Theodora's meltdowns could have been about.