The following day the group decides to relax and visit the famous Halipawa beaches, famed for their multi-colored glassy sands, and their gentle sloping which is perfect for swimming or just bathing in the calm waters. The man they are looking for is a ferryman and he's currently out at sea, and won't return till the following day.

  They've barely made it to the beach and Ennius has already ran off to talk to a pair of Sanoran catgirls, to charm them with his music.

  Baldric starts setting up a parasol. Today is a hot day like any other at Halipawa, but the gentle breeze and oceanic smell make it a comfortable one. Alina slathers herself in a special cream to protect her from the sun's warm rays and Mona does the same. It's especially important for Mona, her skin is pale from wearing robes all the time.

  Hmm, these fruits are really delicious Zad, tastes like jelly.

  What are they? Alina asks.

  They're known as Plileple, it's a desert fruit but they sell them at the markets here, it's my favorite at home! Great and it hydrates you well.

  Here, try one Foley and Kilian.

  Foley reluctantly tries the fruit. For some reason whenever he has to try something unknown to him he does it with hesitance.

  Hmm these taste good, so sweet and flavorful! Kilian remarks. Baldric has already started to eat his 4th.

  So Mona, what's it like, growing up in the Arcana kingdom, Foley asks, whilst sharpening some arrowheads with his sharpener.

  Pretty normal I guess.. I went to school before being recruited.

  I'm sure it's normal to you, but you're from Satharak right, is it true that they eat human flesh? Amaru inquires, he too wants to know what it's like on the inside.

  Wait, what do you mean? Human flesh? No, we rarely eat meat and we mostly eat pork but sometimes beef.

  Are you sure it was pork? Rumor has it the people of Satharak are cannibals. He playfully pokes Mona in her side. But she doesn't laugh, she seems rather shocked.

  Well how would I know, I've only had pork I don't know what human meat tastes like to compare it to, obviously.

  What cut of meat was it?

  I don't know really, can we talk about something else. Mona says, becoming visibly uncomfortable.

  How about the religions, is it true that they perform sacrifices to the god of light even though the sacred texts clearly state he's against it?

  He's against it? Yeah they perform sacrifices all the time.. but I'm not a follower of light, I'm a follower of the god of wisdom myself. We didn't do any human sacrifices that I know of, just animals occasionally.

  Good choice! I follow the god of wisdom too. So could you leave Satharak freely to explore? Zad asks, to him the prospect of being stuck in a city seems horrible, no matter its size.

  Well, I never really tried to leave the city. I was just a kid so it's not like I could travel alone. We went to forests and some old village ruins for combat practice sometimes though. But when I was sent to war we had to stand on a huge teleport platform and we were instantly transported to some old Sanoran city. It was quite exotic looking and very hot. And all the food tasted very different but not necessarily better..

  Wow so it's true about the teleporters, that's crazy, imagine the potential. Kilian remarks.

  Well I can teleport on my own too! Mona says. But it's very energy intensive, I can do it maybe three times a day.

  Really?

  Yeah, look! Mona touches the palms of her hands and recites a long spell, then she starts to materialise into a bright lilac energy and instantly reverses the process about 20 meters away, the whole process doesn't take more than about 5 seconds.

  Wow, that's so cool!

  Thanks! It took a really long time to learn that, its one of the more advanced Arcane spells. But its range is limited, I can't teleport back to our inn for example, that'd take an insane amount of mana I simply do not have.

  Still, you can easily traverse buildings or get behind walls that way, I wish I could teleport, Zad says with a slightly saddened tone.

  But you're exposed for a good 5 seconds, Foley scuffs.

  Can you create magic portals to let others teleport? Amaru asks.

  No I can't, that's extremely difficult and I think that requires multiple powerful arcane mages, I've never heard of someone doing that by themselves.

  What about the festivals, do they even have parties in Satharak? Baldric asks, whilst still stuffing himself with the Sanoran fruits. Hey I would like to save some of those for tomorrow too Baldric, don't eat all of them! Zad says, somewhat panicking.

  Mona uses her magic to magically float the basket of fruits away from him.

  Hey, my fruits! Baldric says, it's barely comprehensible because his mouth is stuffed.

  Everyone laughs.

  There's few festivals, but we celebrated the day of peace and kindness with family each year.

  Peace and kindness? I guess they don't celebrate harvest seasons in such a large city, since there's no farms and all. You missed out, Zad says.

  Well it was fun with the family.

  So what about politics, who rules the Arcana kingdom, rumor here has it your king is just a puppet, Amaru further inquiries.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  I don't really know anything about politics, we met the king once before we were sent off for combat he blessed all of us. Almost nobody talked about politics that I know of. I think that's something only old people do.

  Ah I see, well that's unfortunate, I would've liked to know. Still, what a fascinating experience it is to meet someone who grew up in Satharak. Here on the outside we never meet anyone from there, I suppose they are all in the military. Satharak doesn't really export anything either besides combatants.

  How big is your family?

  I have a younger brother and sister, Zad says.

  I've got a brother and 3 sisters, and 2 younger brothers and another sister, but she's just a baby. I haven't seen them in a long time. I hope they're alright.

  In Satharak the first 3 girls and first boy are exempt from military training, but I can't complain, they paid for my education so they got me a safer job as a mage, and I did so well in school I was added to a special program to become an arcane mage. My siblings won't be so lucky I'm afraid.

  That's quite insane, in most kingdoms every family just has to supply 1 or 2 men to fight when there's recruitment going on. I suppose it is because the Arcana kingdom is relatively small in size that they are so militarised, Kilian thinks aloud.

  The gentle and pleasing sounds of a string instrument draw closer, the group turns around and its Ennius, he's returned, with the two young pretty cat girls on his arms.

  Hello guys, sorry it took so long, this here is Kiki and this is Cici, they're my new friends. One of them winks at the group. They're tall and slender, with long dark brown hair, but Kiki wears her hair in a ponytail and Cici wears it straight down, they're twins and you can tell Kiki is the serious one and Cici the more adventurous playful type. It seems like everywhere they go Ennius manages to befriend some young ladies, sometimes it's like that the only reason he travels with them.

  They say there's a magic show over there we can check out together. And afterward we can have a banquet at Kiki's and Cici's place, their father owns the inn we stay in and much more around here.

  Nice to meet you guys! They say at the same time.

  But first, let's go swimming!

  Baldric jumps in the water and nearly causes a tsunami, splashing everyone, especially Alina who didn't want to get wet.

  Baldriiiiiic. You should watch out!

  Don't be so uptight Alina, Zad says, before splashing her with more water.

  This magic show is bound to be something, it's got a REAL magician, says on the poster he's a retired wizard who fought for the Arcana kingdom. You know this guy Mona? His name is Magicus. Probably a stage name. Ennius says.

  Yeah we went to the same school together, he cheated on the tests. We used to be friends.

  Wow, really?

  No of course not, the Arcana kingdom is huge, and he's way older than I am.

  They take seats at the wooden tribune.

  The show starts with the man magically floating in the air, although to those with functional eyes it is clear he is using ropes painted in the same colour as the background to mimic flight.

  Ah this sucks, it's going to be one of those boring fake magicians. I feel scammed. This stuff is for kids.

  But even the children sitting on the floor in front of the front row don't seem entertained by the man's lackluster attempts and illusionary magic.

  Next I'm going to make someone disappear. Any volunteers?

  Alina sticks her hand out.

  They only pick beautiful volunteers, you're wasting your time Alina, haha.

  What's that supposed to mean Zad? I'm sorry Alina, I was just joking! She slaps him in his face. She doesn't take kindly to insults, playful or not.

  The "magician" picks one of the girls on the front row.

  He carefully places her above a carpet on the stage.

  There's a trapdoor under the cloth! One of the children yells.

  Damn this is boring, why did we pay for this?

  Mona you should teleport the volunteer back to her seat, that'd be so funny, Zad says.

  I don't know, I can't really teleport someone unless they stand still.

  Ah come on just try it, please Mona!

  Alright then I'll try.

  Right as the "magician" prepares to hide his "random volunteer" Mona starts casting her spell.

  The volunteer looks shocked as she dematerialises into purple energy and reappears at the other side of the tribune, hidden in the darkness. She plays along however and just hides, thinking its part of the show.

  Wow amazing, the kids on the floor stand up in excitement.

  The entertainer looks shocked with an expression of horror on his face.

  Ehh.. where did she go? Then he bows, trying to play along, although he is clearly deeply frightened.

  Okay.. Ehh next.. next I'm going to summon a rabbit out of my hat.

  He walks over to a wooden stand and places his hat on it.

  Why is it always rabbits or doves? Wouldn't it be more exciting if he summoned a tiger out of a hat or a dragon?

  That'd be a tough fit now wouldn't it, how would you hide one of those in a box?

  Mona, can you-

  Look I can't summon animals and especially not dragons, they taught us combat spells at the academy, not party tricks.

  Be a lot cooler if they did though. Imagine a squad of mages entering your village and they start performing all sorts of magic tricks like summoning dragons and what not. I'd join them in a heartbeat, no fighting necessary, Zad imagines.

  I could teleport Avias, my pet raven into his hat though, that'd be silly.

  Yeah go for it Mona!

  Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: A rabbit!

  As the man reaches into his hat Avias flies out and back to Mona.

  The crowd starts laughing and clapping.

  You're saving his show Mona, keep going.

  For my final trick.. I will saw someone in half. I'm going to need another volunteer.

  He "randomly" selects another girl from the front row.

  Then he places her in a large box that he saws in half, but as he starts sawing Mona teleports one of the boxes to the back of the tribune.

  The crowd is amazed. They start clapping. They don't even care about the other half of the woman anymore.

  He bows and quickly closes the curtains. He has no idea what the hell just happened to him.

  You saved his show Mona. You ever thought about doing some magic acts? Imagine it, I'll play music and tell stories, then you use your magic to perform tricks, Kiki and Cici could be our beautiful assistants.

  I don't really like being the center of attention, I'd get embarrassed. And I don't like crowds, they're scary, I'd get way too nervous and anxious.

  You have stage fright? Don't worry, you'll get over it soon, and alcohol can help with that.

  I'd rather not Ennius, I'm not cut out to be an entertainer.

  Consider it, let me know if you change your mind.

  Let's go back to the hotel, dinner should be ready by now! Kiki says.

  Great, I'm starving! Baldric says. Well you don't look like you're starving Baldric. Alina says.

  They walk back to the hotel where a feast has been prepared.

  There's all sorts of delicious local specialities on the table, mostly seafood related but there's meat too.

  Here, try some of these pork rolls Mona, they're roasted in a sweet honey sauce, its delicious! Baldric says, before stuffing another one in his mouth.

  Anyway, as I was saying, Kiki here told me we should go north on the island. There's a special school for lightmages, it could really help you out Alina! Supposedly it was set up recently, people are really becoming far more accepting of magic users aren't they?

  What's the matter Mona? Are you getting sick? Baldric inquires. Mona tries to contain her vomit with her hand covering her mouth and looks disgusted.

  These rolls.. they don't taste anything like the pork I've had.