One month later…

  Sarah

  As the days passed, everyone began settling into things. Sarah’s alchemy training was even more interesting than she had thought it would be, and she found she rather enjoyed it.

  The types of ingredients used in both potions and enchantments were endless. It wasn’t just about having the right ingredients, either; applying the correct ratios in the correct ways was equally important.

  Both alchemists and enchanters often worked with the same tools and materials, but how those things were used was entirely different. An alchemist would use their knowledge and skills to create potions, and an enchanter would use theirs to apply magical effects to items. Because of the overlap, many people did both.

  The profession of an enchanter also further branched out into a magic tool craftsman, which was someone who specialized in enchanting things for daily life, and also worked to invent tools and improve what already existed.

  Another aspect of all of that was that the nature of mana itself was something that was always slowly changing. A practice that is common today might be irrelevant in a century because the same methods no longer produce the same result. People had to always refine their skills and broaden their knowledge to keep up.

  Though Sarah did still enjoy writing and had no intention of stopping, she found that the complex nature of her alchemy work really suited her, and not just because of her Gift. She had initially thought that it would just be good for powderizing ingredients, but was beginning to realize that she could mix things in precise ways with it as well, something her coworkers were envious of.

  It didn’t just save time; it allowed Sarah to feel what she was doing to her concoction directly. Everyone else had to rely solely on their tools, which wasn’t a bad thing, but it meant they always needed to keep a careful eye on things and properly manage their tools. It was important for her to learn how the basics were done, as well as how and why people used specific tools, so she didn’t use it very often yet.

  Amber and Michelle were both having just as much fun in their blacksmithing apprenticeships, and had been eagerly comparing notes and experiences every single night. One of them had mentioned at their apprenticeship the nature of their girlfriend’s magic, and was then told to train with her.

  So Amber would melt stone into lava and do her best to melt Michelle’s ice, and Michelle would create ice and try to freeze Amber’s lava. They were basically the perfect people to train their magic control with, having to always fight against the other magic. It wasn’t just about power, but applying their spells in ways that would cause the other’s to fail.

  Another thing all three of them were learning was about how businesses were run here. It was encouraged for them to learn this as part of their training.

  This got them thinking about what they should do after their apprenticeships were done. They each had ideas for projects they wanted to work on, but if they all worked at different places, making them would prove difficult.

  If they started their own store, then that problem would be solved, though it also meant they would have to run a business, which came with an endless amount of difficulties. Sarah had taken writing commissions in the past, and Amber had taken her own commissions for creating cosplay pieces, but that still wasn’t the same thing as actually owning and operating a business.

  Diamond and Luna had both settled into school, as well. Luna had practically melded into the classes there as if she had been there before. Diamond was doing much better than she had on her first day, but was still shy and nowhere near as social as her sister.

  The five of them soon began looking for a more permanent place to live. The houses near the school were still out of their budget, but they could afford something smaller, like an apartment.

  Although Sarah had become quite close friends with all of them over the past year, she had wondered if it made sense for her to share a living space with them. Though Amber and Michelle had only been dating for a few months, they had still been friends with each other for many years before that. Sarah had only met them after they all ended up here.

  But the couple went looking for three-bedroom apartments without even a second thought. One for them, one for the girls, and one for Sarah. She was quite touched that they saw her as a member of the family and not just a friend.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  They then shopped for secondhand furniture and other necessities. They couldn’t fully furnish the whole apartment just yet, but they still needed to get the essentials. For now, their beds were just thin, roll-up mattresses laid on the floor. They were still thick enough to be comfortable, though, especially after having spent so much of the past year camping and sleeping on even thinner material.

  Sarah drifted off to sleep, thinking about all the good changes to her life recently. She still felt an ache in her heart from being separated from those she cared about on Earth, but her friends here had been immeasurably comforting and supportive of her all this time.

  I don’t know what I would’ve done without them…

  ———

  Amber

  Two elves were currently lying on their shared mattress, sweaty and somewhat out of breath.

  “Mana really improves your stamina, doesn’t it?” Amber commented amazedly.

  “For sure, that was wild,” Michelle replied. “Is the device still working?”

  Amber pushed herself up to look at the innocuous cube on the floor next to them, still glowing a faint green color. “It’s still glowing, so yeah.”

  The cube was designed to prevent sound from escaping its range, but sound from outside its range could still be heard, meaning it would let sound in, but not out.

  “Good,” Michelle replied simply.

  I’m pretty sure someone would’ve come knocking earlier if it hadn’t been. Especially when I realized elf ears have so much more to nibble on!

  From her raised position, Amber could get a good look at her girlfriend’s body in the dimly lit bedroom.

  “You know, I knew you had muscles, but they were always hidden beneath armor and clothes before. I might have to make some adjustments to your armor to make them more visible…”

  “I’d rather not have my gear turn into a bikini armor situation,” Michelle retorted.

  “What if it did, but only in private?” Amber jokingly asked.

  “…F-Fine.”

  “That was a surprisingly adorable reaction! …Wait, you’re serious?!”

  “Um… Y-Yeah? But I can’t be the only one to wear weird stuff!”

  “Deal!” she fervently finalized. She had gone back to laying done, now with her head on her amazing girlfriend’s bare chest.

  She agreed! Ohh, there’s so much I want to see her put on! And take off!

  Amber got lost in her fantasies about all the sexy fun that awaited her in the future.

  “Can you not drool on my boobs?” Michelle asked with an eyebrow raised.

  “Sorry. No, wait. I’m not sorry, I’m motivated! And that expression you made just now was incredible!”

  “What?”

  “One eyebrow up with that smirk and annoyed glare combined with your face that just naturally looks evil and menacing? I’m ready to go again!”

  Michelle chuckled exasperatedly. “You’re insatiable. But I’ve still got plenty of energy, myself. Now, you made a mess on my chest, and I expect you to clean it up.”

  “Yes, ma’am!”

  ———

  ? ? ?

  Elsewhere, in a lavish and tastefully-decorated office, a woman was still sitting at her desk, despite the late hour. She tried to avoid nights like this, but sometimes, there was simply too much work to be done.

  As she was reading through yet another document, there was a knock at the door.

  “Enter,” she announced.

  A person wearing bland clothing to appear forgettable came through the door. The overworked woman behind the desk recognized them as one of her investigators, one who had requested more time on their assignment due to some surprises.

  “Ah, you’re back. How did it go?”

  “It went well,” the investigator replied. “I’m here to give my report on the people you asked me to look into. Your information about their strangeness was more correct than I ever would’ve guessed, which is why it took me a while.”

  The investigator handed over a written report, which would be read through later. The woman would still get a brief summary from them now, however.

  “What did you find out?” she asked.

  “They are a group of five who were victims of the Praexoent Empire incident last year, which I pieced together from conversations they had.”

  Yep, that matches what I already heard about them.

  “Really now? That’s quite the distance. Was it a Gift that allowed them to make it here in that amount of time?”

  “Yes. The woman known as Michelle has a Gift that allows her to create a vehicle of some sort. Given the unusual design, it’s likely based on something from her world.”

  “I see. What do you make of them?”

  “They are a group of ordinary people caught up in a horrific event, but are making the best of it. The three adults have begun apprenticeships, and the children have both been enrolled in school. Six days ago, they all got an apartment together. They apparently hope to eventually open a store related to the blacksmithing and alchemy skills they are learning.”

  “It’s amazing what people can adapt to… Do you see them as a threat at all?”

  “The adults have large mana pools, but that’s hardly anything special. Their combat capability is in the average range, from what I saw during one of their training sessions at the Slayer’s Guild.

  “As for dangerous non-combat skills, I didn’t notice any. They’re too clueless and new to everything to have made even a passable attempt at hiding some sort of scheme, if that was even what they had been up to.

  “It’s been nothing but mundane activities since the day they arrived. The information I got on their activities before their arrival here indicated more of the same.”

  “Is there anything of note to mention?”

  “Michelle appears incensed at first glance, but that’s just how her face is.”

  “I see…” the woman blinked, not expecting an answer like that. “Why tell me that?”

  “If you ever see her in person, you’ll understand.”

  Hmm… Perhaps I should do that.

  “Is there anything else immediately relevant?”

  “No. All other details are in my written report.”

  “Good, thank you. I’ll have you keep an eye on them for a while longer yet, however.”

  “Understood. Her safety is paramount, after all.”

  She smiled. “Indeed.”