Tactical Embarrassment

The morning sun crested over the eastern hills as our party departed from Crossroads. I glanced back at the now-familiar wooden gates of the settlement, which had been our home for the past few weeks. Our group numbered exactly forty: my classmates, Amakata-sensei, and our new Voluptarian companions. Quite the motley crew we'd become; from lost high schoolers to a proper fantasy adventuring party in just over a month.

"Everyone stay together," I called, my voice carrying across the assembled travelers. "It's about eight hours to the sanctuary if we maintain a good pace."

Miyako stepped up beside me, her gel blaster holstered at her hip. "We should organise into travel formations. Combat-capable members on the perimeter, support in the centre."

I nodded in agreement. The journey through the forest wasn't particularly dangerous with our numbers, but after everything we'd experienced, caution had become second nature. No more charging blindly into trouble like I did during those first few days alone.

"Felinari team, would you mind taking point?" I asked, looking to Vinera, Fryevia, and Mediena.

Vinera nodded, her platinum-blonde hair catching the morning light. "Of course. I'll scout ahead periodically." Without another word, she seemed to fade into the shadows between the trees, her Nyxashi stealth abilities as impressive as ever.

Fryevia smiled warmly. "I'll establish a protective barrier at the front of our formation." Her teal-highlighted cat ears twitched as she concentrated, and a shimmering field of energy materialized before us.

"And I'll provide auditory surveillance," Mediena added cheerfully, her golden cat ears pivoting to capture sounds from the surrounding forest. "No one will sneak up on us without me hearing them first!"

Our procession began moving along the forest path, with Viktora efficiently organising the rear guard. "I've calculated the optimal rest intervals based on group stamina," she explained, her fox ears flicking as she scanned our surroundings. "We should stop every two hours for ten minutes."

The familiarity of the path struck me as we walked. It had been nearly a month since we'd left the sanctuary to establish ourselves at Crossroads. Now we were returning with purpose: to build a vehicle that could transport us to the Takejin territory in search of Naomi-san.

"This path feels different now," I commented to Miyako as we walked side by side. "Last time I returned to the sanctuary, I was rushing to save the jocks after they'd been attacked."

Miyako gave me a sly sideways glance. "And now you're strolling back with a harem of both earthlings and locals, huh?" she teased, keeping her voice low.

I felt my face flush. "That's not—"

"Ara ara," Ruri chimed in from just behind us, her rabbit ears twitching with amusement. "I wouldn't call it a harem exactly. More like... an appreciative entourage."

Noel shook her head, her cream-coloured ears swaying gently. "Don't encourage them, Ruri. Though I must say," she added with a diplomatic smile, "it is remarkable how quickly you've gathered such diverse allies, Andie-san."

Two hours into our journey, we stopped in a small clearing for our first rest. The familiar sound of rushing water greeted us before the clearing came into view, and I felt a strange tightness in my chest at the sight. This had been a spot where I'd once gathered herbs, fished, and planned my survival alone, before everything changed.

"Ten-minute break!" Amakata-sensei announced, taking charge of the logistics while I consulted with Miyako about our route.

As everyone settled onto fallen logs and stones, Noel approached the centre of the gathering, her cream-coloured rabbit ears catching everyone's attention.

"Since we'll be traveling to Takejin territory soon," she began, her melodious voice carrying easily through the clearing, "it would be beneficial for everyone to understand their culture and customs."

Ruri joined her, bouncing slightly with enthusiasm that made her silver-patterned rabbit ears sway. "The Takejin are quite different from the tribes you've encountered thus far," she explained. "They're a warrior culture with a deep distrust of magic."

"Why do they hate magic?" Miyuki asked, looking up from where she was helping Mochi distribute water canteens.

Noel tilted her head thoughtfully. "It's not precisely hatred; more like cultural avoidance. Their society developed without reliance on magical arts, focusing instead on physical training and martial discipline."

"They believe magical power corrupts," Ruri added, her expression growing uncharacteristically serious. "Their history tells of ancient mages who nearly destroyed their civilisation through hubris. Now they consider magic users, particularly those who practice openly, to be inherently untrustworthy."

"It's not rejection so much as containment," Ruri continued, somehow making even this educational moment seem provocative as she leaned forward, her platinum hair cascading over her shoulder. "They believe magic should be studied, contained, and controlled; never freely practiced."

I frowned, thinking about our group. "That's going to be a problem. Most of us have magical abilities of some kind."

"Indeed," Noel nodded. "Which is why we must approach with diplomacy first. The Takejin respect strength and honesty, but they also have strict protocols for outsiders."

"Their settlements are typically fortified," Noel continued, "with distinctive architecture designed to inhibit magical flow. When we arrive, you'll notice arch-like constructs that actually serve as magical dampening mechanisms."

"Will our abilities still work there?" Kurenai asked, concerned about her enchanting powers.

"Yes, but weaklier," Ruri replied. "And demonstrating them openly may cause... diplomatic complications."

Miyako raised her hand. "What about Naomi-san? If she's been there all this time..."

"If she's there," Ruri said, "she's likely been careful about displaying any magical abilities. The Takejin won't harm visitors simply for existing, but open spell-casting would be viewed as hostile."

"We should probably leave most of our magical gear behind," I suggested, considering the logistics. "At least for initial contact."

Our conversation continued as we resumed walking. Throughout the day, during our scheduled rest breaks, Noel and Ruri took turns sharing more about Takejin culture: their architectural style of wood and stone without magical reinforcement, their caste system of warriors and artisans, their traditional weapons, and their ancestral territories.

By late afternoon, the forest had grown increasingly familiar. We passed landmarks I recognised from our earlier explorations: the twisted oak with three trunks, the small stream with water-smoothed stones, the ridge of exposed granite that looked like a sleeping giant.

"We're close," I announced, feeling a strange mix of nostalgia and anticipation. "The sanctuary should be just beyond that rise."

As we crested the hill, the cave entrance came into view. I felt a tightness in my chest at the sight. Not only had vines begun to creep across the stone entryway during our absence, but the battle damage from my fight with Shinji was clearly visible. Large chunks of stone had been blown away from the entrance, and scorch marks marred the once-smooth façade.

"That looks... significant," Fryevia observed, her green eyes assessing the damage.

"Shinji did this?" Miyako asked quietly, her expression darkening at the memory.

I nodded grimly. "His time magic was powerful. When it collided with my barriers..." I gestured at the destruction.

"It's worse than I remembered," Miyuki said softly, her mnemonic abilities likely supplying her with perfect recall of the destruction.

"Can you repair it?" Noel asked, studying the damaged entrance with concern.

"Yes," I confirmed. "But it'll take some work. The structural integrity of the entire front section might be compromised."

Ryota stepped forward, rolling up his sleeves. "Just tell us what to do. We'll help however we can."

I appreciated his enthusiasm, but this was a job that required my specific abilities. "Thanks, but the actual repairs need my Transform skill. What would help is clearing the debris so I can see what I'm working with."

The group quickly organised into teams. The jocks (Tatsuya, Ryota, Kenta, Shohei, Masato, and Naoki) began clearing the larger chunks of stone, while others removed the vines and vegetation that had grown over the damaged areas.

It took nearly an hour of concentrated work to clear enough of the entrance for me to assess the full extent of the damage. The stone doorway I'd created had partially collapsed, and the surrounding framework showed significant structural weakening.

Once the entrance was clear, I approached the wall, placing my hands against the fractured stone. "Everyone stand back," I instructed. "This could be unstable."

I closed my eyes, concentrating on my Transform skill. Energy flowed from my core into the stone, connecting me to the structure I had originally shaped. I could feel the fractures and weaknesses, not just in the visible entrance, but spreading deep into the ceiling and walls of the first chamber.

The stone responded to my will; fragments rejoining, cracks sealing, and the overall structure strengthening as I reinforced the critical support points. I guided the transformation, knitting together broken sections, reinforcing weakened areas, and reshaping the entrance to its original form. The work was delicate, requiring precise control to prevent further collapse.

The entrance glowed faintly with my magic, stone flowing and reshaping until the doorway stood solid once more, the damage from Shinji's attack erased by my abilities. With a final push, I renewed the magical enchantments that protected the entrance, feeling the familiar tingle as they recognised my magical signature.

After nearly twenty minutes of intense concentration, I stepped back, wiping sweat from my brow. The entrance now appeared as it had before the battle: a smooth archway leading to stone steps that descended into the sanctuary.

"Impressive," Vinera commented, examining my work with a professional eye. "You can't even tell it was damaged."

"The stone remembers its original form," I explained, feeling somewhat drained from the effort. "That makes it easier to restore."

I placed my hand against the newly repaired stone surface, feeling the familiar tingle of my enchantments recognising me. With a low rumble, the door slid open, revealing the darkened interior of what had once been our refuge.

"Welcome back," I whispered, more to myself than anyone else, as I stepped inside.

With the entrance repaired, we could finally enter our first home in this world. I led the way down the central staircase; twenty stone steps descending into the main entry hall. The familiar weight of the stone walls around us felt both comforting and nostalgic.

"Watch your step," I cautioned our Voluptarian companions. "The lighting gets better once we're inside."

As we entered the Great Hall, I triggered the luminescent crystals I'd embedded in the ceiling during my initial construction. They flickered to life, bathing the space in a warm, golden glow.

"Impressive craftsmanship," Vinera commented, her amber eyes taking in every detail of the room. "You created this with transformation magic?"

"Yes," I nodded. "It started as a natural cave, but I reshaped it using my skills."

The Great Hall looked smaller than I remembered; perhaps because our group had grown, or maybe because I'd grown accustomed to the more spacious buildings of Crossroads. The spacious dining area with its long stone tables and benches remained functional, though with forty people now, our original sanctuary felt increasingly cramped.

"This is the central gathering area," I explained, gesturing around us. "Through there is the kitchen and storage," I pointed to the western side of the hall, "and over there is the workshop," indicating the eastern section.

Miyako took over the tour, slipping naturally into her leadership role. "The sanctuary is divided into two wings: male and female. The staircases on either side lead down to the sleeping quarters."

I watched as our new companions took in the layout, noting their reactions. Ruri seemed particularly interested in the stone carvings along the walls, while Viktora was already mapping the space with her analytical gaze.

"Let's show you the sleeping quarters," I offered. "We should get everyone settled before nightfall."

"I'll accompany you," Miyako said, falling in step beside me as I led the group toward the eastern staircase, the access to the female wing.

Descending into the basement level of the female wing, we indicated the long corridor with rooms arranged along both sides.

"Each room has a bed and basic storage," I explained. "The larger rooms at the ends of the hallways are washing facilities."

"We have twenty-four individual rooms and six twin rooms in the female wing," I expanded as we walked through the hallways. "The single rooms each with its own bed and small storage space with the double room having twice of those. Bathroom and shower facilities are positioned here at the entrance to the wing."

Noel nodded appreciatively. "Very practical design. How many can it accommodate?"

"The female wing can accommodate thirty individuals," I replied, referencing the layout I knew well. "The male wing is smaller; only ten rooms, since we have fewer male students."

As we toured the female wing, our guests selected their rooms. Ruri chose one closest to the bathing facilities, naturally, while Noel selected a room that offered a bit more privacy at the end of a corridor. Viktora and the three Felinari (Fryevia, Mediena, and Vinera) chose the twin rooms next to each other along the same hallway, maintaining the team's proximity.

"Where do you sleep, Andie?" Ruri asked with a playful smile, her long silver-patterned ears twitching forward with interest.

I felt my face warm slightly. "I have a room in the male wing."

"All alone in a wing with just nine other men?" Ruri said with an exaggerated sigh, giving me a deliberate wink. "Such a waste."

I continued the tour, leading the group toward the female onsen area. The natural hot springs I'd discovered and expanded had been one of the sanctuary's most appreciated features.

"And here is the onsen," I said, leading them into the spacious bathing area I'd created using thermal vents beneath the cave system.

"Onsen?" Mediena looked confused, her cat ears perking up with curiosity.

"Hot spring bath," Miyako explained. "It's a Japanese bathing tradition. Andie created them in both wings by tapping into underground thermal sources."

"This is remarkable," Fryevia commented, her teal-tipped ears twitching with interest. "A natural hot spring?"

"Yes," I nodded. "There's an identical one in the male wing. I expanded them both and added stone benches around the edges."

Steam rose from the naturally heated pool, filling the space with warmth and mineral-rich humidity. I demonstrated how the water system worked, careful to keep a professional demeanour despite Ruri's suggestive smiles and winks in my direction.

"In our culture," Miyako explained as we moved through the bathing area, "you always shower first before entering the bath. It keeps the water clean for everyone."

Ruri nodded appreciatively. "That makes perfect sense. For Lunethnari, we practice similar rituals. Cleanliness is essential to purifying both body and spirit." She leaned closer to me, lowering her voice. "I still remember our first meeting at the moonpool, Andie-kun. Such... purification we experienced."

I cleared my throat, ignoring the heat rising to my face. "The water is kept at a consistent temperature by the thermal vents below."

"I heard that Takejin had similar onsen facilities that were popular with their tribe," Noel added thoughtfully, mercifully changing the subject.

"Fascinating," Fryevia commented. "The Hestashi have our own bathing traditions, though they emphasise communal warmth rather than purification."

"Will you be joining us for a demonstration later?" Ruri asked innocently, though her eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Separate bathing areas," Miyako interjected firmly, though I caught the slight curve of amusement at her lips. "We maintain strict segregation for bathing."

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

"How disappointing," Ruri sighed, her ears drooping theatrically. "For educational purposes only, of course."

"Of course," Noel echoed, not even attempting to hide her smile.

Once everyone had deposited their packs, we returned to the entrance to finish clearing away the remaining debris. With everyone working together, the task was quickly completed.

As dusk fell, we gathered in the Great Hall for an evening meal prepared by Emi, whose Cook abilities had reached impressive levels. The space felt crowded but alive with energy as everyone settled in for our first night back at the sanctuary. The conversation naturally turned to our plans for the coming days.

"Tomorrow," I announced, "we'll begin expanding the sanctuary to better accommodate everyone and create the specialised spaces we'll need for our journey planning."

"Will you be using your Transform ability?" Vinera asked, her eyes reflecting a genuine curiosity.

I nodded. "It's the most efficient way to reshape the space. Though it will take considerable energy."

"The sanctuary will need expansion," Hina pointed out practically. "We have more people now, and we'll need space to build the vehicle."

"I'll begin the transformation tomorrow morning. We should make a list of what spaces we need to add."

"A dedicated medical area would be helpful," Mochi suggested. "Something better than just using the dining hall when someone's injured."

"And a proper workshop for vehicle construction," Kazuki added.

"I can help craft proper furniture once you've created the spaces," Ayaka offered. "My woodworking skills have improved significantly."

"And I can make cushions and bedding for the infirmary," Haruka added. "Something more comfortable than stone benches."

"Don't forget a laundry area," Emi added practically. "Washing clothes in the river was fine when we were first stranded, but we should have proper facilities now."

"And a training space," Hitomi suggested. "Somewhere we can practice combat techniques safely."

As ideas flowed around the table, I found myself studying the familiar stone walls of our first real home in this world. Tomorrow they would change, expanding to meet our new needs. Part of me felt nostalgic for the simpler space we'd first created, but I knew that growth was necessary.

Miyako seemed to sense my thoughts, reaching under the table to squeeze my hand. "It'll still be home," she said quietly. "Just bigger."

I smiled, grateful for her understanding. "Home is where we are together," I replied.

As conversation flowed around the Great Hall and people began settling into their sleeping arrangements for the night, I found myself standing at the entrance, looking out at the stars visible through the doorway. The sanctuary had been my first real achievement in Voluptaria; a place of safety created through my initially "useless" abilities. Tomorrow, I would transform it again, expanding it to meet our growing needs.

But for tonight, it was enough to be home.

Morning sunlight streamed through the entrance, casting long shadows across the Great Hall as everyone gathered after breakfast. The crowded space filled with animated discussions as people shared their ideas for the expansion.

I stood at the centre of the room, ready to coordinate the day's efforts.

"Before I start transforming the space," I began, "we should finalise exactly what we need."

Miyako stepped forward with a notebook. "I've compiled everyone's suggestions from last night. Priority additions include a dedicated infirmary, expanded workshop space for vehicle construction, a laundry facility, and a library for research."

"I can do it, but it will take most of the day. The more detailed your requirements, the better I can match them."

"Medical facility is non-negotiable," Amakata-sensei said firmly. "We're heading into potentially dangerous territory, and proper treatment space is essential."

"We should also consider outdoor space," Hitomi added. "The vehicle will need somewhere to be constructed and tested."

For the next hour, we refined our plans, with each specialist contributing details for their area of expertise. Mochi and Miyuki described the ideal layout for a medical facility. Kazuki, Sora, and Yuto detailed workshop requirements. Hina efficiently organised everything into priority order.

"Ready?" I asked, once we'd finalised the plans.

At their nods, I moved to the southern wall of the Great Hall. "Everyone stand back, please. This will take significant concentration."

I placed my palms against the cool stone, feeling the structure of the sanctuary through my connection to it. This place was partially my creation, shaped by my Transform skill when I first discovered it. That connection made what I was about to do easier, but no less demanding.

"Transform," I whispered, activating my skill.

Power surged through me, flowing into the stone. I visualised the sanctuary's current layout: the Great Hall with the kitchen and workshop to either side, the discussion rooms flanking the central space, the staircases leading down to the sleeping quarters. Then I overlaid that mental image with our new plans, focusing on extending the structure southward.

The stone beneath my hands grew warm, then soft like clay. A deep rumbling filled the sanctuary as the southern wall began to recede, the ceiling extending with it. I guided the transformation carefully, ensuring structural integrity while creating new chambers according to our design.

Starting with the central Great Hall itself, I extended my awareness into the stone around us. With careful precision, I began to expand it, pushing the walls outward. The stone groaned and shifted, flowing like clay under my magical manipulation. Dust fell from the ceiling as the room expanded, but the structural integrity remained sound thanks to my careful reinforcement of key support points.

"Incredible," Mochi whispered, watching as the walls physically moved before her eyes.

I formed the new chambers branching off from the main hall: a laundry room to the west, a spare room to the east, both of similar size. The process was mentally exhausting, requiring precise visualisation of every detail: doorways, support structures, ventilation, lighting recesses.

Sweat beaded on my forehead as I pushed deeper, forming the southern extension with four rooms arranged in a row: the alchemical/medical workshop with storage in the southwest corner, recovery room/infirmary beside it, lounge in the southeast, with the planned library in the easternmost corner.

As I worked on forming the library, something unexpected happened. My ability encountered a void; a natural cavern hidden within the stone that I hadn't detected during my initial construction of the sanctuary. It was positioned exactly where I had planned to create the library.

"Wait," I said, pausing my transformation efforts. "There's something here."

"What is it?" Miyako asked, moving closer.

"A natural chamber. It wasn't connected to the main cave system before."

The stone under my hands seemed to resist, then yield in an unfamiliar way. Rather than shaping new space, I felt my power connecting with something already present; a cavity within the rock that I hadn't created.

"There's something here," I repeated, my voice strained with concentration. "A hidden chamber..."

Carefully, I guided my transformation around this unexpected discovery, incorporating it into the library design rather than overwriting it. As the walls of the new library took shape, a connection formed to the hidden chamber, creating an archway where there had been solid stone.

The effort of maintaining control while adapting to this discovery was immense. I completed the transformation of the main level, then sagged against the newly formed wall, exhausted.

"Andie!" Miyako was at my side immediately, supporting me. "Are you alright?"

I nodded, too drained to speak immediately. After catching my breath, I gestured toward the newly formed archway. "There was a hidden chamber. I incorporated it into the library design."

Excitement rippled through the group as everyone crowded around the newly revealed doorway.

"Should we check it out?" Miyuki asked, her eyes bright with curiosity as she peered through the archway.

"Give me a moment," I said, slowly regaining my strength. "I want to be there when we explore it."

After resting briefly and drinking water that Mochi brought me, I felt ready to continue. I led the way through the stone archway, conjuring a light to illuminate what lay beyond.

We stepped through into a space that hadn't seen visitors in centuries, perhaps millennia. The chamber was roughly circular, with smooth walls that bore faint traces of ancient carvings. What immediately caught our attention were the shelves carved directly into the rock walls, and what rested upon them.

"Ancient texts!" Hiroko exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement as she moved toward the nearest shelf.

The shelves held dozens of ancient tomes and scrolls, their covers and cases made from materials I couldn't immediately identify. Some appeared to be bound in leather or parchment, others in thin sheets of metal or crystalline substances that caught and refracted the light.

Ruri moved forward, her expression unusually serious as she carefully examined one of the tomes without touching it. "These are magical texts," she said, her voice hushed with awe. "Very old ones, by the look of them."

"By all the divine," Noel breathed, her diplomat's composure completely forgotten. "These are pre-Convergence writings. Some of these texts are over two thousand years old."

I moved closer to one of the tomes, activating my Arcane Interface Lenses. Symbols flickered across my vision as the lenses analysed the ancient text. To my surprise, the writing began to transform before my eyes, the indecipherable symbols rearranging into readable text.

"I can read these," I said, astonished. "My lenses are translating the text automatically."

"What does it say?" Miyuki asked eagerly.

"'Principles of Dimensional Traversal,'" I read aloud from one tome. "'Foundations of Portal Crafting.' 'The Veil Between: Theory and Application.'"

"That's remarkable," Ruri breathed, clearly impressed. "Some of these scripts haven't been used in centuries. Even I can only recognise fragments."

"These aren't just books," Mediena said softly. "They're a complete magical heritage that's been lost for millennia."

Amakata-sensei stepped forward, her eyes alight with scholarly interest. "As a Bookbinder, I might be able to help with the translation and preservation of these texts," she offered. "My abilities allow me to sense the magical properties in written works and restore damaged pages."

"You're a Bookbinder?" Noel asked with obvious interest. "That's an incredibly rare specialisation."

"It seemed appropriate for a teacher," Amakata-sensei replied modestly. "Though I had no idea I'd be dealing with pre-Convergence magical texts."

"That would be invaluable, Sensei," I said gratefully. "Some of these looks quite fragile."

"Let's bring them to that table," Miyako suggested. "We can examine them safely there."

With careful hands, we transported the ancient texts within the newly created library. Watching my classmates handling the books with such reverence, I felt a surge of pride in how far we'd all come; from frightened teenagers dropped into a strange world to organised explorers discovering ancient knowledge.

"I need to finish the expansion," I said. "There's still the outdoor workshop to create."

Returning to my transformation work, I shaped the exterior space east of the sanctuary entrance, creating a large, partially enclosed area suitable for vehicle construction. The work went more smoothly now that I'd recovered some energy, and within an hour, I'd completed the basic structure of all our planned additions.

The final step was adding finishing touches and magical enhancements. I worked methodically through each new room, adding sound isolation enchantments to the walls; a tradition I'd established with the original rooms to ensure privacy. In the alchemical/medicinal workshop, I created specialised storage for potions and ingredients that would be used in the infirmary.

By midday, the transformation was complete. Standing in the expanded Great Hall, I felt a mixture of exhaustion and satisfaction.

"It's perfect," Miyako said, coming to stand beside me. "You've outdone yourself."

The new layout sprawled across nearly double our original footprint. The Great Hall was now large enough for our enlarged group to gather comfortably. The kitchen remained unchanged (Emi had pronounced it perfectly functional).

The Recovery Room/Infirmary took shape along the western wall: dedicated medical space with storage for supplies, and easy access from both the main hall and the basement stairs. Mochi and Miyuki had supervised its construction with the focused intensity of professional healers.

Ayaka immediately began taking measurements in the new spaces. "I'll create proper workbenches for the alchemical workshop," she said, sketching designs in a notebook. "And beds for the infirmary with storage underneath and easy cleaning surfaces."

"And I'll handle the cushions and bedding," Haruka added, examining the spaces with a professional eye. "The infirmary will need comfortable but washable fabrics, and the lounge should have proper cushioned seating if we're going to have recreational space."

The others began exploring the new areas, exclaiming over details and immediately planning how to use each space. The sanctuary had evolved from our initial refuge into a proper base of operations; a testament to how much we'd grown as a group.

After a brief lunch break to recover my energy, curiosity drew most of us back to the newly created library. The ancient texts we'd discovered had been carefully arranged on shelves and tables, creating an impromptu research station.

"I've sorted them by apparent language and condition," Hiroko explained, gesturing to the organised piles. "The ones that appear to be in the same script are grouped together."

Amakata-sensei was carefully examining one of the more fragile scrolls, her fingers hovering just above the surface. "This is extraordinary," she murmured. "I can sense layered enchantments within the text itself. The knowledge is protected, preserved through magical means. Whoever created them intended for this knowledge to survive indefinitely."

I activated my Arcane Interface Lenses again, focusing on a particularly ornate tome that Ruri had identified as important. The symbols swirled and transformed before my eyes, becoming readable text.

"This one contains detailed information about transportation magic," I said, carefully turning a brittle page. "Very advanced applications beyond simple movement spells."

"Can you read all of it?" Kazuki asked, peering over my shoulder.

"The lenses translate in real-time, though some concepts don't have direct equivalents in our language."

Ruri moved closer, her ears twitching with excitement. "What does it say about the transportation method?"

I scanned the pages, absorbing the information as the lenses translated. "It appears to describe a method of creating fixed transportation portals between established locations. Not instantaneous teleportation like celestials might use, but more like... permanent doorways between places."

"Like a magical doorway," Miyako suggested.

"Precisely," I nodded. "The user steps in one portal and emerges from another, with the actual transit occurring through a dimension called the 'Veil Between.'"

"Point-to-point connections, just like in the games we played" Kazuki added, looking over my shoulder as I translated another section. "Once established, travel between the points becomes relatively simple. But creating the initial connection requires both anchors to be prepared simultaneously by trained practitioners."

Excitement spread through our group as the implications became clear. "If we could establish portals," Miyako said thoughtfully, "we could connect the sanctuary to Crossroads, or eventually to other locations we discover."

"That would be incredibly useful," Hina agreed. "Especially for emergency situations or rapid deployment."

"Can we learn to create these portals?" Sora asked, adjusting his glasses.

I bit my lip, considering the complex diagrams and instructions my lenses were revealing. "Possibly. The principles are explained here, though the actual implementation would require significant magical energy and precision. It's not a simple spell by any means."

"But worth attempting," Noel added, joining our discussion. "Such a capability would give your group a substantial advantage in this world."

As the afternoon progressed, I continued translating key passages, while Amakata-sensei used her Bookbinder abilities to carefully preserve and strengthen the fragile pages. The concept seemed straightforward in theory: establish two anchor points with matching magical signatures, then create a stable pathway between them through the Veil Between.

"Should we try a practical experiment?" I suggested after several hours of study.

The group exchanged glances, a mixture of excitement and caution on their faces.

"I think we should," Miyako nodded decisively. "But we should use a dedicated space for it. If something goes wrong, we don't want to damage the library or other critical areas."

"The spare room could work," I offered. "It's empty right now, and I designed it with magical practice in mind."

We moved to the newly created spare room, a spacious area with reinforced walls and a clear central space. Following the translations from my lenses, we began preparing for our first teleportation experiment.

"The spell requires two distinct anchor points," I explained, directing everyone to opposite corners of the room. "Each must be marked with identical runic configurations."

Kurenai, our most skilled enchanter, carefully drew the complex symbols on the floor using chalk infused with magical essence. The runes formed a circle approximately one metre in diameter at each location.

"The incantation must be performed simultaneously at both locations," Ruri explained, reviewing the scroll one last time. "The anchors must be attuned to each other through a resonant magical frequency."

"Now comes the difficult part," I continued, still reading from the translated text. "We need to establish the connection between the two points. This requires a sustained channelling of energy while maintaining perfect visualisation of both locations."

I stepped forward. "I'll try. My Transform ability might help with the visualisation component."

"I'll go to the basement with half the team," Miyako volunteered. "Andie, you stay here with the others. We'll coordinate the incantation through communication tokens."

With our plan in place, Miyako led her group down to the basement while we prepared the anchor in the Great Hall. The stone arch I'd created stood about two metres high, inscribed with the symbols Ruri had identified from the scroll.

Taking a deep breath, I positioned myself between the two runic circles. Following the instructions revealed by my lenses, I extended my hands toward both anchor points and began channelling magical energy. I pictured the two locations in my mind, imagining a tunnel or pathway connecting them through an unseen dimension.

"Ready when you are," Miyako's voice came through the communication token a few minutes later.

"On my count," I replied. "Three, two, one..."

Together, our two groups began the incantation, a strange melodic chant in a language none of us recognised. The runes began to glow faintly, first with a blue light, then shifting to purple. A soft humming filled the air as the magic built, and I felt resistance against my efforts; not a hostile force, but the natural difficulty of bending space itself.

"It's working!" someone whispered excitedly.

But just as the connection seemed to be forming, the energy fluctuated wildly. The runes flashed brightly, then faded back to inert chalk marks. The humming ceased, and the sense of potential collapsed.

"What happened?" Miyako asked, returning to the training room with her group.

I frowned, consulting the translated text again. "The connection began to form but couldn't stabilise. Perhaps we're missing something, or our power output isn't sufficient."

"The resonance wasn't strong enough," Ruri theorised, examining the runes carefully. "These symbols need to be more precisely aligned with the magical frequency we're trying to establish."

"And we likely need more magical power," Noel added. "The texts mention that the first portal is always the most difficult to create."

We tried several more times throughout the afternoon, with different combinations of magic users channelling energy. Each attempt showed promising signs: glowing runes, humming energy, even a brief visual distortion in the air above one circle, but none succeeded in establishing a stable portal.

"It's progress," I said encouragingly after our fifth failed attempt. "We're getting closer each time."

"We should create a dedicated Tele-Portal Room," Miyako suggested. "A space specifically designed for this purpose, with permanent rune circles and energy conductors."

"That's an excellent idea," Noel agreed. "Many complex magical systems require specialised environments to function properly."

That's how we ended up spending the late afternoon creating a dedicated space for our portal experiments. Using Transform, I converted the spare room into a specialised chamber with built-in safety features and energy conduits.

As we discussed potential modifications to improve our chances of success, Viktora's fox ears suddenly twitched and swivelled toward the sanctuary entrance.

"Someone's coming," she said sharply, cutting through our conversation. "Moving down the main staircase."

We fell silent, listening. Sure enough, footsteps echoed from the direction of the entrance; deliberate and unhurried, as if the visitor felt no need for stealth.

"Did anyone stay outside?" I asked quietly, receiving head shakes in response.

"Everyone's accounted for," Miyako confirmed, her hand moving to her gel blaster.

We moved quickly but cautiously from the training room, through the expanded Great Hall, toward the entrance staircase. As we reached the central area, a hooded figure came into view, descending the last few steps into our sanctuary.

The figure paused, surveying our assembled group with what seemed like amusement, though their face remained hidden in shadow.

Everyone immediately moved into defensive positions; forty people suddenly tense and ready for trouble. Weapons appeared in hands with practiced ease, while our magical specialists began gathering energy for combat spells.

"You disappoint me, Andie Ryuu," the figure said, its voice neither male nor female but somehow both at once.

I studied the hooded figure carefully, recognising the distinctive patterns on the hem of their cloak. "Oh, it's you," I said, my shoulders relaxing slightly.

"Huh?" Miyako looked at me in confusion.

"It's Seven," I explained.

"The one that kidnapped you?" Miyako demanded, stepping protectively closer to me.

The figure shook its head. "No, that is Twelve. We are quite distinct."

"I don't care if you're Seven, Eleven, or Six and Nine; you're all the same to me," Miyako shot back, anger evident in her voice.

"Now, now, relax," Seven said, sounding genuinely offended. "Don't lump us together like that. We have very different portfolios."

I noticed our Voluptarian companions staring at the figure with expressions of shock and awe. Unlike us earthlings who had at least encountered the divine beings once before, for them, this was likely their first time in the presence of one of the Twelve.

"Is that...?" Vinera whispered, her normally composed demeanour cracking.

"Yeah," I confirmed with a sigh. "One of the twelve."

Their eyes widened further, and Noel actually took a step back, her rabbit ears flat against her head in what appeared to be instinctive deference.

Seven turned their attention back to me. "Did you forget what I told you in the Rubicon?"

"I've been busy!" I protested. How was I supposed to keep track of cryptic divine instructions with everything else going on?

"I did leave you my number," Seven replied, sounding remarkably like a disappointed friend. "You should have called."

"I really didn't have the time," I said, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly. Being scolded by a deity was a unique experience.

Seven sighed dramatically. "Now I need to bring you—"

Miyako immediately stepped in front of me, her stance protective and defiant. "You cannot take him. Not over my dead body."

"Don't be so serious," Seven said, sounding amused. "Actually, what I mean is, I need to bring you all in."

Before anyone could react further, the sanctuary around us began to fade. The stone walls, the newly expanded chambers, the ancient texts; all dissolved into whiteness. The solid ground beneath our feet remained, but everything else transformed into an endless white void that I recognised from previous divine encounters.

Seven had transported not just me, but our entire group, to the realm of the divine.