So then, Kali... is a Veranian? I guess her tan implies she is from this hotter part of the world.

Hold up a sec... didn't Seria say something about hot-blooded men with bushy eyebrows?

I envisaged some muscley barbarian type.

Wait... I suppose that’s still not far off. She has strong looking abs and legs. She wears a feathery shawl with a big necklace of beads. Let's not focus on her lack of upper-wear. Err... she punches things. Not an axe... but...

It's been awhile since I did this... I identify her.

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S'TAVI KALIASTA MEENAORA

FIRE HAWK

LEVEL 7 MARTIAL ARTIST

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HP>> 77/145 (=STR+END+50)

MP>> 8/17 (=INT+PER)

13 YEARS OLD

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Strength 25

Agility 22

Endurance 40 (+30)

Intellect 11

Perception 6

Charisma 13

> (A powerful martial artist, she can channel Fire Spirits into unarmed attacks and as power for her limbs, using her own endurance as a cost, rather than magical power.)

> (Martial Attack, costs 12 HP, A special jump attack made with temporary super strength.)

> (Martial Attack, costs 9 HP, A special uppercut made with the imbuement of a mythical flaming bird.)

> (Martial Attack, costs 3 MP, A combat kata, restores vitality with a vampiric multi-strike impact.)

> (Martial Skill, Instantaneous Movement, costs 6 MP)

> (Long martial training regime for years, gives a +20 bonus to Endurance)

> (Long desert training fosters exceptional resilience beyond norms and appearance, +10 bonus to Endurance and bonus +50 HP.)

> (Grants bright red hair, +3 bonus to Charisma and Strength).

> (Gains +15 bonus Endurance to resist pain and unconsciousness. Does not apply to confusion or fear.)

> (Gains +6 bonus intellect to calculate financial sums and conversion rates, to haggle, and to appraise the value of goods).

> (Has basic knowledge of glass-working, but no practical experience).

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Well, that's somewhat of a surprise. I guess she's the HP tank type, with an overwhelmingly higher HP amount than me or the rest of the girls. She attacks using her own vitality for powering her stronger attacks, so I guess it’s needed.

"Ahaha! To have the filthy gaze of a strong man makes Kali shudder! How fun!"

Oh crap... I forgot appraisal did that.

Aria chops me on the head. I go swirly-eyed since she didn't hold back much of her strength.

"Well... since Elijah accepting new girls is a foregone conclusion, and having further frontline support is always appreciated, welcome to the team, Kaliasta. I hope we'll get along." Aria says.

Kali observes her closely.

"Kali likewise thinks."

They shake hands.

"But Aria. Why not show if love Elij... kakakaka!"

What was that!? ...I was still dizzy. I look around and see Kali's hand is being shaken very intensely, and I think it's almost turned into arm wrestling. What on earth?

"C-crushing through even desert blue steel!? Aria is worthy oppon... friend after all."

"Yes, yes... I'm sure we'll be good friends, Kaliasta." Aria grins.

My thunder spirit wants to leap out of my chest to make sparks again.

Aria's tsundere is pretty adorable at times. But every day I feel I'm closer to an early death before I even catch a whiff of the demon lord.

But whatever should we do now? Actually...

"What were you girls doing before over the remains of the skull beast?" I ask.

"Um... it was my suggestion. We need to bring proof of the beast’s demise to the local guild. Ah! And report about the dead in the rest stop."

"The... dead in the rest stop? We didn't stay there long but..." Yuuzu asks, gulping.

"They were slaughtered by the skull beast. I wonder if it was stalking all of the survivors, yes?" Kaede says, deadpan.

Yuuzu sighs.

"I did wonder why it was chasing us. We had barely come out of a fight with three skeleton knights when it ambushed us in that chamber. How did it get ahead... the wings... hah..." she thinks out loud.

"All void based creatures are malicious." Seria shrugs.

"True of Kuro-chan too! Hahaha!"

Yuuzu snickers at Kali's rude comment, but Kurono is still off sulking in the corner and doesn't notice.

Well, I guess we should make time for this nearby city. We're all still fairly exhausted, so backtracking our steps and hoping for a smooth ride upwards is our best bet, and we should escort Yuuzu and Kurono back as well.

"Shall we go back to the nearby city, then? We can continue to delve further tomorrow, but as Kiku says, we should make a report. And... we should take Yuuzu back."

Yuuzu sighs and nods. She then looks at me.

"The escort will be... the least you can do after poaching my front-liner." She smiles wryly.

"Kali is extra sorrys, Yuuzu!" She bows in twain, leaving Aria aside.

Yeah, there is that. I shrug and grin. Yuuzu looks to the corner of the room.

"Will you be alright carrying that skull, Kurono?"

"...yes..." she whispers, barely audible.

"Errr... she's going to carry... ah!" I begin to question.

A void mage. So she can hold more than Rishya's little bag, right? But that things entire skull!? I... I guess she carries that massive longbow in her pocket dimension?

So they were prying the skull off earlier.

Well... it's likely already night outside, and we should make haste.