"Look at that. Now you really look like presentable people", Philippa said euphorically, looking contentedly at the four figures in front of her.

"Right? I've made our men look beautiful, haven't I? Look at Ben, how well that light-colored shirt accentuates his body and makes him look grown-up!", Aletta gleefully admitted, pointing more than conspicuously at Ben's muscular upper arms.

"I'm an adult?", Ben interjected, but Aletta ignored him completely.

"Or our prince. The dark blue shirt with the black vest and black hair only accentuates his beautiful face and especially those bright blue eyes", she continued speaking, holding William's face with both her hands before turning it representatively left and right.

"You say that as if we don't pay attention to our appearance", William complained, mumbling as Aletta let go of him and stepped up to the mage.

"Look at that masterpiece. The soft hair, which floats lightly over the shoulder in contrast with the tight white collar of the shirt. No comparison to before, truly a natural beauty, if I may be so free."

"People always say I look like a living corpse", Cale commented dryly, which is why everyone turned to him at the same time.

"Well, you do! You need to eat more and get out in the sun, Cale. You'd think the skin was about to fall off your bones!", Philippa shouted between them, which caused Ben to clear his throat in amusement.

Cale would probably never understand that reaction. He wasn't anorexic, just a little thin. He did have muscles and fat, otherwise how could he hold his own against attackers without magic? Whereby, he did not necessarily focus on his strength here, but rather on his tactics and knowledge.

"But you two also look beautiful. Aletta your long dress has the same, blue color as your eyes and makes you look amazingly harmless with that hairstyle", Ben spoke up, which is why Aletta quickly turned to him.

"What do you mean by seem harmless? I'm harmless, especially compared to you guys."

Ben, Philippa and Cale had to laugh, while the youngest and smallest of them turned red with anger.

"Philippa, you look elegant too. I never thought I'd see you in a tight red dress", Cale politely admitted, letting his gaze slide over the archer in front of him. She was wearing a long-sleeved dress that went down to the floor and had a long tear on the sides that revealed her legs. You wouldn't think she was a Winstest huntress at that sight.

"Pervert", Philippa announced gruffly, covering her hands in front of her chest as if she were hiding.

"Eh?"

Ben's laughter abruptly grew several notches louder, prompting Philippa to cast an appraising glance at the swordsman before giving a satisfied smile. Except for Cale, no one knew she had a dagger hidden under her dress, because unlike the two swordsmen, she didn't want to go to the dinner with her bow.

"Well then, shall we get going?", Cale finally raised his voice and received affirmative nods from everyone.

"Gee, I'm really curious to see what kind of restaurant this is, if you appreciate it so much!"

"I'm sure you'll love it, Aletta", Cale replied, leading everyone present out of the apartment.

After Cale's warning this morning, William had not broached the subject again, nor did he make any great sign that it would concern him. He was acting relatively normal, which relieved the magician. Cale had spent the rest of the day doing his work and helping Grischa develop the flying crystal. They had actually had a small breakthrough, which was why Grischa couldn't stop jumping for joy. While Grischa spent the afternoon increasing the power of the crystal, Cale tried to find a solution to time travel with the help of Fengari and Palaios.

Unsuccessfully.

"This is, if I may say so, the best cuisine in all of Altona. The restaurant is so popular that you have to book at least a week in advance to get a table. I'm very relieved that they're still open despite the current situation."

"Then how did you get a seat on such short notice?", Ben inquired as the group walked down the hallway of the Magistrat.

"I doubt anyone would deny a High-Magician's request", Cale explained mockingly, even if it was only half the truth. After all, he knew the owner personally, which was why he had received an immediate commitment.

"That's abuse of power", William reported, which is why Cale merely smiled.

"You fight with the means at your disposal."

"Oh please leave the topic of fighting for today. We've had more than enough of that today", Ben interjected. "Sir Heriog is a real animal when it comes to the sword. I haven't even come close to him, such is the difference between his skills and mine."

"Quite right, my fiancé is the best swordsman of our people. Hardly anyone can hold a candle to him", Aletta proudly reported, walking a few steps ahead and opening the front door.

"You seem to get along well with him, Aletta", Philippa remarked, causing the healer to become embarrassed.

"Well, he is a nice and accommodating person. Now that I've met him, I almost feel foolish for having treated him so dismissively."

"You should have taken him with you on your trip, I'm sure it would have been funny", William admitted.

"Looking back, yes. Could have really done that. He's a pretty open guy about it, very different from what I expected."

"Is there a reason you Frignezers avoid strangers so much?", Philippa indicated questioningly, stepping up to Aletta. Cale did likewise, and the three of them led their little group through the town.

"The older residents always say that outsiders want to use our abilities for their own purposes, so they basically don't trust strangers. Altona is about the only country that has built a closer relationship over the years, which is why my father had been pretty quick to send support to Exarion", Aletta explained calmly as Cale turned his attention to the packed streets. Indeed, the relationship of Altona and Frignez was one of the points he had effectively strengthened over the past 6 years. The Eldest had played no less a major role in it, as he had also begun trading with the nation to the north. It could be argued that the Magistrat was now at the heart of the friendly relationship between Altona, Sylve and Frignez.

"Must have been pretty hard growing up there", Philippa replied.

"It was fine, even if it was their dismissive behavior that first got me interested in the other countries. Besides... you must have had a similar experience."

"Partly, but I was never really part of the family. One of the reasons I distanced myself from my tribe."

"Did you never reconnect with them?", Ben asked, causing the tall woman to turn backwards.

"Not from my side, no. Only my sister has inquired with me a few times, although that was also a few years ago."

"Your siblings are alive?", William asked puzzled and the other two seemed no less surprised.

"One of them. I guess I never mentioned that, did I? Fida is her name, she should be 19 or 20 now. We're only half-sisters. My father had many wives and some children, but only the two of us survived", Philippa explained calmly, as if what she just said wasn't scary.

"What happened to your other siblings, if you don't mind me asking?", Aletta interjected again, looking at her friend with wide eyes.

"My tribe...is.... a little barbaric. I don't know if I won't spoil your appetite if I tell you about it", Philippa replied, causing Aletta to flinch in fright. It didn't take a genius to understand that her siblings were probably all dead.

"Probably better before than after."

Cale shrugged demonstratively at his statement. He already knew what the Kratunga tribe was all about. He had heard the story a few times before, and yet the thought disgusted him every time.

"Well... if it's all right with you...?", Philippa inquired, letting her gaze wander searchingly over the group, as if hoping that someone would object. "Well then, at your own risk. I had, as far as I've been informed at least, five older brothers and one older sister, and Fida was my only younger sister. My brothers were offered as sacrifices to the three gods shortly after birth and my older sister was impregnated by my father after she became a woman. She did not survive the birth, nor did the child. I was still too young, and Fida anyway, for the same fate to befall us. I fled to the north as a child, which is why Fida was the only girl left in the tribe. My father, as I found out later, died a year later, so nothing else happened to Fida... I hope. I never brought it up to her."

When Cale cast an appraising glance at Aletta, she held her tongue in horror. Ben and especially William seemed to be horrified as well, for they turned pale, almost green in the face.

"What about your mother?", Ben finally spoke up and stood behind William, as the crowds were increasing and he didn't want to interrupt the flow.

"I don't know which of the women present was my mother. Maybe none at all", Philippa replied nonchalantly, walking behind Cale with Aletta holding her hand.

"Sorry, Phil. I didn't know your family... I didn't mean to bring up any unpleasant memories", Aletta meekly admitted, tightening her grip.

"It's okay. These people aren't really family to me. Blood relatives, yes, but family is what I would consider the four of you", the archer confessed, causing Cale to turn backwards in surprise. He hadn't heard that statement from Philippa in a long time, and definitely didn't expect to hear it so early in the relationship. Philippa had known Aletta for a lot longer, but Ben, William and he himself were almost strangers. They had known each other barely a few months, how did she come to the conclusion so quickly?

"Philippa!", Aletta shouted her name with embarrassment, throwing herself against her body, which made the tall woman stop jerkily and look towards the young girl.

"Don't cry here in the middle of the street!", Philippa complained , but caringly stroked her head with her hand.

Cale smiled in satisfaction and the other two also seemed to relax at the healer's reaction. However, when some residents asked the group not to block the way, the five quickly got moving again.

"Come to think of it...you never told us your last name", William remarked.

"Philippa of the Transient Sun Tribe, Kratunga. However, since I left the faith community, I no longer carry that part of my name. I therefore simply do not have a surname, as you do."

"I see", William replied thoughtfully, watching the blonde-haired girl wipe tears from her face. His eyes then moved over Philippa to Cale, who listened silently to the conversation for most of the time. He led the group up the path to the higher area of the city that William had barely seen before.

"Family is kind of weird, isn't it?", Cale suddenly spoke up, without turning to look back. "I feel the same way you do, Philippa. I didn't really mourn my birth parents either, which is why I didn't count anyone as family for years, even though there were some people who were pretty close to it. But now I can say with certainty that I would count the four of you, along with Grischa, as my own family, if I may be so direct."

At the last sentence, Cale turned backward and had a big, nostalgic smile on his face, which abruptly filled William with warmth. He didn't know why, but William could feel exactly how happy and at the same time sad Cale was at that statement.