[S3] Chapter 41: Criminals

"I'm honestly glad you're leaving again."

"That's pretty harsh, isn't it? Didn't you have fun?" I ask.

"I'm not as young as you anymore."

"Don't be like that, grandpa."

To some extent, I feel a little sorry for Jora. After he had invited us to dinner yesterday, Maisy suggested that we do something afterward. In the end, we were out all night. Even though I feel like I'm in my thirties, I can handle a night without sleep better than I expected.

"I hope the ladies don't mind if I refrain from accompanying you to the station. I have a few meetings today and would like to get a few hours' sleep in before that."

It was a bit suspicious how Jora guided us toward his guild's location, but he definitely deserves some rest.

"That's fine. Thanks again for treating us." Miko says and flashes a soft smile.

She was pretty quiet throughout the night. But she seemed in a good mood, and it's also difficult to get a word in when Maisy is on a roll. At the latest, after she had an energy drink mixed with vodka, she was talking non-stop. Thanks to our convincing, she stuck to one of those drinks.

"Enjoy your time. Honestly, seeing you two makes me want to take some time off, too."

I look at Jora and notice that he has his hair down, and the shirt under his blazer is also undone a bit. If I hadn't been by his side all this time, I'd think he'd had quite a wild night.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asks, and I try not to let on that I've been caught. But I can't think of a good answer quickly either.

"That's all right. I don't blame you for not saying anything. I don't want to be responsible for you and Miko getting into relationship problems."

Almost at the same time, Miko and I start laughing. I'm not quite sure if any kind of problem is even possible between us. Our worst trait is definitely jealousy, but after a moment's thought, we both agree that another person would hardly be able to handle either of us. I dare to say that we are made for each other.

"Thank you for your mercy, Jora. I hope we meet again someday. "

"Are you flirting with me? "

"Yes, definitely." With a big grin, we say goodbye to him and head towards the train station with Maisy.

"Now that we're alone, I can finally say it. I'm dead tired." Maisy giggles at her own words and seamlessly transitions into a yawn.

"Me too," Miko says, rubbing her eyes quite vigorously.

How is that possible? Until a minute ago, they both seemed so lively. It's crazy what a difference it makes to want to appear young and energetic in front of a hundred-year-old elf. By the way, I'm really doing good. I'm better than those youngsters, stronger.

Even though the two of them are strolling a bit, we are slowly but surely getting closer to the station. Although we are not greeted by flashing blue lights this time, the police are still very much present, more so than yesterday. According to the media, it turned out that the aggressor was also a mage, so you can imagine the headlines. As soon as we mages are involved in the police work, this incident occurs. Before I can comment on this, I hear Miko sigh loudly.

"They better not talk to us."

I really try not to look suspicious, though I'm not sure if it's more suspicious to stare or not stare. Maisy and Miko definitely seem more inclined to confront the officers, giving them gloomy glances that seem all the more menacing due to their tired expressions.

Fortunately, we can enter the station building without being stopped. I was seriously worried, but apparently, the two of them looked intimidating enough. The train station itself is as crowded as ever. However, it is still striking how there seems to be police on every corner, both magical and conventional.

We stop briefly near the entrance and look up at the enormous digital timetable hanging above us. The train we want to take arrives in just under twenty minutes, so we'll easily catch it.

"Good morning. I'd like to ask you to accompany me for a routine check." I hear a male voice, and before I can be sure if we were addressed or not, I turn towards Miko. She stares at the floor and completely ignores the police officer in the poncho, which identifies him as a mage. Maisy breathes a little too fast and loudly through her nose, in and out, in and out.

"Can we please just go along with this?" I say quietly but distinctly. I really don't feel like it, but we haven't done anything wrong, so we have nothing to worry about. My gaze wanders back to Miko, who is now staring conspicuously at her black magic ore ring. I furrow my brows and take her by the hand. Why is she making such a scene?

"Okay, hurry up, our train's about to arrive." Miko hisses, and so we follow the police officers into a small back room. Since I once worked in a shopping center, I know such rooms. We also had one where the store detective held thieves until the police arrived. Somehow, I'm starting to feel like a criminal.

"ID and licenses, please."

"What licenses?"

"Your magic license."

"Why? Besides, how do you even know we're witches?" Maisy is the one who does the talking. She is calm, but you can tell she isn't happy.

"They've set up veils that scan people all over. I wonder if something like that is even legal," Miko mutters, looking around with a smug expression on her face. Meanwhile, I am surprised that mana can be discovered without it being used. In the same thought, however, it also occurs to me that it is quite an infringement of personal rights when someone pries on you like that.

Even before we can get our IDs out, someone barges through the door. The assembled team, consisting of the three of us and five police officers, turn around and look at the intruder. I need a moment, but I immediately realize that the face looks familiar.

"Sami?"

"Kayla, Miko. Good to see you."

Sami, the former guild leader of Krystoff. The man who asked us for help after they ran into Kajsa's trap. Because of him, I was sent on my first mission. Because of him, I learned the limits of my mana system. In a way, he is also responsible for me being the person I am today. Okay, maybe I'm getting a little sappy, but this whole situation is a little surreal anyway.

"What's going on?" the policeman who had initially stopped us asks.

"I saw you walk in here and recognize who you picked up. On what basis did you decide to interrogate these girls?"

Sami is wearing a uniform similar to the other magical policemen, except that he additionally wears a yellow armband.

"The scout told us that one of the three has an insanely large amount of mana and that we should be wary of this."

Sami slaps his own hand into his face.

"You are aware that this fact should encourage you to be more cautious. Imagine a mage with such an abnormally large mana pool is one of the people we are looking for. Be glad that Miko is extremely reasonable."

Is she? If you ask me, she's acting like a petulant child. But basically, I agree with him. Miko isn't really someone who would ignore the law. However, she would probably be a rather frightening criminal based on her power alone. And I would be her healer, waiting at home to tend to her wounds when she comes back from yet another fierce fight. The idea has something going for it.

"What should we do now, Captain?"

"Apologize and let them go. I stake my name and position on the fact that the three of them had nothing to do with any of this."

From guild leader to mage police captain? Seems like he also had to shut down his guild, but with his leadership abilities, he'll fit right in here. I feel a little weight lift from my shoulders, and with a relieved smile, I look over at Miko, who is starting to pout. I glance down at her and see how she is holding her mage license. Someone definitely wanted to show off their A-rank. What a cute idiot.

Uh-oh. The policeman doesn't seem happy with the order to apologize. And I can understand why. Just because Sami knows us doesn't mean we're innocent or aren't up to no good. But it could also be that Sami made this decision for entirely different reasons.

Without an apology, the crew finally marched out of the room, leaving us alone with Sami. There is definitely bad blood between them. If not before, then now. No idea to what extent they are to blame. To be honest, I don't care either way.

"What are you doing here?" So, it is an interrogation, after all!

"Vacation."

"Lilith allows vacations?

"Our guild doesn't exist anymore, so we didn't have to ask anyone," Miko explains in a shockingly polite tone.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"May I ask who you are?" Sami looks at Maisy, who is completely spaced out. I empathize with her, standing around like that when all the others know each other, and she is the only one who feels left out.

"This is Maisy, a good friend of mine. Also, jobless.

"You make it sound like it's a good thing."

"It is. For now."

Come on, Sami, stop it. I want to enjoy my freedom and not worry about my future. I have to think about my father for a moment, whom I have not yet told that I have lost my job. Maybe it's better that way. He would certainly urge my brother to find me a new guild.

"If you say so. I don't want to keep you from your vacation. But take care of yourselves. I don't know if you heard about yesterday's incident, but we assume that something like this could happen again. There is a lot of frustration among the mages, and although the government is trying to create options for the future, there are some who have had enough. Try not to get involved if you encounter someone like this. Just stay away and report it to the authorities."

Why does it sound like he worries about everything and everyone but not us? Yes, I understand. Miko is strong. But I'm a small, weak, unimposing healer. But all joking aside, it's horrifying that there are people who, driven by frustration, decide to cause suffering and destruction for no apparent reason. Violence will neither bring back the dungeons nor improve one's own future, but it will most likely ruin all opportunities.

"The train is about to arrive," Maisy says while she glances at her phone. I look at Sami, who then opens the door for us. Maisy walks past him and nods goodbye. Miko just rolls past him with her suitcase without saying a word.

"Thanks for the rescue," I tell him with a smile and leave him alone in the room. Outside, the police officers who had previously accompanied us are staring at us with gloomy expressions. I notice their glances but decide to just concentrate on making my way through the crowds to our platform.

Miko and Maisy stride ahead and walk side by side while I just trail behind them. I have no idea if it's just that I lack the experience of being a witch to feel as offended as they do. The discrimination that mages experience in our country has so far passed me by completely. Unlike them, however, I didn't grow up as a witch.

"There it is." Maisy points to our train, and then she literally falls around my neck and hugs me tightly." Take care of each other. And have lots of fun. The next time we see each other, I'll probably already be a teacher. So, you know where to find me."

After Maisy lets go of me, she glances conspicuously at Miko, who pretends for a few moments not to notice. Instead of offering the practically begging Maisy a hug, she sticks out her fist, which Maisy reluctantly ends up bumping.

"See you around," Miko says, getting on the train with me.

We travel for almost four hours to the north of the country. Once there, we board a ship that takes us to an island within another hour. Although fewer people live on this island than in our rural hometown, it is considerably larger due to its many beaches and dunes. We dock at the island's only port, which is located in the largest city and is the main holiday destination for most tourists.

"The air is so nice," I remark before inhaling deeply through my nose.

"Compared to this stinking big city, any sort of air is nice."

Miko sits down on her suitcase and takes out her phone. She clicks and scrolls before yawning loudly. She certainly looks worn out, and our first day of vacation will probably consist of an afternoon nap. Which, by the way, I'm totally open to, as the rocking of the boat and the fresh wind despite the high temperatures have also stirred up a longing for a cozy bed.

"How much further do we have to walk?"

"About ten minutes. But do you want to go to the beach before that?"

I reach out and pull Miko up.

"No, I'd rather get some rest. Same for you, isn't it?"

"Maybe," she says quietly, taking my free hand and leading me in the direction of our house. What strikes me is how few streets and cars there are in general. It feels like the whole city is a pedestrian zone, which is why you hardly hear any sounds except for the seagulls crying in the distance. It's a welcome change after all the hustle and bustle of the big city.

"This is it." Miko stops in front of a detached bungalow that looks a bit too big for two people from the outside. She walks over to an electric key box next to the front door, enters a code that she received by email, and takes out the key. A few moments later, we are standing inside our vacation home.

From the inside, the interior looks relatively modern and, above all, clean. It has a penchant for minimalism, which I personally like very much because, as is well known, I am not a fan of too much decoration.

We take off our shoes in the entrance area and go to find the bedroom, but instead, we end up in the living room, where I notice a door that leads to a conservatory with a pool. You're on an island surrounded by water but still enjoy a personal pool right by the house.

Wait a minute, this looks pretty luxurious. How much are we paying for this place anyway? My frightened gaze wanders to Miko, who just grins wide and proud.

"Don't ask. I know what you were just wondering about."

"I was wondering how badly we need a new job."

"I'll go look for the bedroom." And with that, Miko disappears.

Meanwhile, I leave my suitcase and enter the conservatory, which has warmed up nicely thanks to the sun coming in through the glass roof. The pool is relatively small, so you can't swim laps here, but that's certainly not what it's meant for. The garden outside is surrounded by a relatively small fence, which, however, should be enough to prevent outsiders from looking inside.

On a whim, I take off my socks, sit down at the edge of the pool, dip my feet first, and then my legs up to my knees into the water. The cold refreshment gives me a little kick, and my tiredness disappears for a moment. I close my eyes, breathe in deeply, and try to enjoy the moment of absolute calm. Suddenly, I hear the loud splash of water, and at the same moment, I get completely soaked.

I open my eyes wide and see Miko emerging from the water.

"Don't look at me like that. I had the choice between falling asleep alone on the huge, super-cuddly bed or jumping into the pool."

She didn't even bother to put on a bikini and instead jumped in with her T-shirt on. As a precaution, I pull my legs out of the water, suspecting that she could pull me into the pool at any time. I'm wet anyway, but I don't really feel like swimming with my clothes on.

Miko comes over to me and climbs out at the edge. She sits down next to me and nudges me with her shoulder. I look over and notice her smug face. She briefly lowers her head and looks down at herself before I do it as well.

I have seen this woman naked a few times, but nevertheless, seeing her soaked white T-shirt clinging to her skin and revealing the shape of her boobs makes my cheeks heat up. While I am distracted, she grabs one of my hands, presses it into her squishiness, and gives me a kiss.

Wow, that was devious. Hopefully, she'll do it again.