Chapter 60.

- Is there a problem with this sir ?, asked Magnire, confused.

- We'll deal with it later., mumbled Enora in a foul mood.

Wanting to change subject out of embarrassment, Rose continued.

- You said the Blaze School sent you, does that mean you are a fire mage ?

- Obviously. I am the second-best fire mage of this city, which is not saying much knowing the very low number of mages here all in all.

- We've been training in fire magic too !, exclaimed Enora to make conversation.

However, among all the reactions she imagined, scoff and disdain were not the first she had in mind. It was not even that in fact, more like a laugh in front of a cute child's blunder.

- Well, don't take it as an insult or anything, but, Otherworlders or not, you are still only humans.

The two women were shocked by such 'venomous' words, and Magnire looked very lost in front of this. It seemed like he had not expected them to be this affected by a simple comment. In one sentence that man managed to make Enora lose the entirety of her interest about him. Well done ! Remembering that they were not knowledgeable about those matters and probably not wanting to lose clients, he began explaining.

- Look, it is notorious that humans are among the weakest race of the Conjunction in general. You make up for that with numbers I guess …

He was not making things better, so he went with an example.

- I mean, there are around a dozen human homeworlds and only three of those are actually ruled by the locals. If you don't like to be called weak, let's just say this is because the other races are particularly strong. We all have advantages when it comes to magic, and yours is the least helpful, which makes you last.

- You're digging deeper and deeper dude …, said Enora while looking away in annoyance.

She was also getting a bit restless because of Nick's absence. Seeing that, Rose kept going, trying to get more information out of the slightly panicking merchant :

- What about the three homeworlds that you mentioned, those that are still controlled by humans ? How did this happen ?

- Special regimes and rules., he answered matter-of-factly. If nature does not favour you, then you have to change nature to suit yourself. One of them decided to use the human's numbers and spread magic studies to produce as many mages as possible. So they let go of the competition for personal strength to focus on a more global view. It has worked until now. Another chose to welcome immigrants and foreign workforce, taking their knowledge and educating their own people with it. The last just walled off, taking extreme and violent measure against any foreign incursion.

- That's bleak., commented the blond.

- Well, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe in a few centuries humans will have adapted better to the Magical Flow and become significantly more powerful, but for now …

(Enora) I don't want to listen to that guy one more second. Let's go find Nick.

Rose fished out a few silver nuggets and asked the blacksmith to repair the hauberk and brigandine. They did not even bother asking him the race he belonged to : it did not matter at all to them anymore. Enora went ahead and looked for the skinny man outside while Rose waited for their stuff. Only after ten minutes could she follow. They both headed towards the inn, as it was the most likely place where their friend would go.

When entering the large dining room, Enora and Rose found Nick simply sitting at their usual table, sipping a drink. They sat in front of him, different emotions going around their respective heads. Enora felt like an idiot to have begun an argument over such a jerk, even if Nick's reaction was a bit much, while Rose felt better knowing he was okay.

- Sorry girls. I'm stupid …, the man said with a wry smile.

He rejoined the Nexus and shared his shame. He also had in there the beginning of a made-up excuse for his behaviour but dropped it before they arrived as it was quite ridiculous.

(Rose) You both overreacted, you dimwits.

(Enora) Yeah …

Seeing what had happened when he was not there, Nick frowned but did not push it. Though it was tempting, he did not try and use Magnire's attitude to justify his. They stayed at the table for a bit, the two women seeing that Nick was, in fact, drinking herbal tea. They had honestly thought he went to get drunk.

(Nick) I don't like alcohol.

A few more seconds before Rose began :

(Rose) You sure you two are not in love with each other or something ?

(Enora) What ?!

(Nick) What are you saying ?!

(Rose) It would explain a lot, that's all ! I mean, first, you are uncomfortable when I am in the room during your sexy time, and now you both act weird when competition appears. You have to see it, right ?

(Nick) It's not … Why did you drop the 'L' bomb ?

(Enora) Not cool sister.

Their respective shock and embarrassment shocked and embarrassed Rose more than she was expecting.

(Rose) Aren't you a pair of prudes ? You do remember we share that link twenty-four seven ? I know what you both think and feel about pretty much everything. I just wanted to wake you up a bit. Calm down.

(Nick) … it is too difficult to gauge those things with the Nexus of Minds active. That's why I tried to get away and clear my head, but it did not work that well.

(Enora) No shit.

(Nick) Don't be a bitch, please.

(Enora) Sorry … I'm as lost as you, you know.

(Rose) I realise that this is a new challenge for us all, as it could have never happened in the Maze : there was no one else that could disturb us in that manner. We will need to think about how to manage this. In the meantime, you two need to control yourselves, to avoid that kind of situation again. It was SO embarrassing.