Ausia looked at the communication device in her hand. Its puzzle-like seams fitted together layer upon layer, gleaming under the sunlight with a luster somewhere between metal and crystal. Countless tiny Magic Runes, almost invisible to the naked eye, wandered and flickered through the seams without ever stopping.
It represented Tide's highest level of magic today.
Ausia put away the communication device again, found a stone at random, and sat down, quietly staring blankly at the distant mountains.
This was her usual habit.
Whenever she had nothing to do, she would sit quietly somewhere and think of nothing at all. Perhaps only at such times did time truly belong to her alone.
She did not need to think about matters that required handling, did not need to consider heading to unfamiliar cities, and did not need to concern herself with the subsequent cleanup...
A black-haired woman clad in Tide combat armor walked over. Seeing that Ausia seemed to be lost in thought, she did not disturb her, instead standing to one side and waiting silently.
"Ah, are the preparations complete?"
After a long while, Ausia came back to herself and rose to her feet, asking casually.
"We successfully contacted Steel City's Magic Teleportation Core. We can travel there directly," the black-haired woman answered.
"Then let's set off." Ausia nodded, stretched lazily, and let out a long breath. "I can finally get some proper rest."
Beyond her identity as Tide Commander, she was also an utterly ordinary woman.
"I heard Steel City has plenty of famous local specialties, and the Origin Crystals there are of excellent quality," the black-haired woman said with a smile.
In the hearts of Tide's members, Ausia was not cold and unapproachable. On the contrary, she got along well with most of them. Only when work and