GATE (Thus the JSDF fought there): Breakthrough

Chapter 15: Interview

Ryan stretched his left arm slightly, his arm almost pulsated in pain, he didn't know how bad the dagger cut was until his adrenaline wore off.

"You tight Tozz?" Aiden asks, putting on his hat as he fully turns his attention to Ryan.

"Yeah, I told her to meet us inside the inn, she seemed reasonable." Ryan and Aiden stop outside the door to the tavern as Aiden sighs in some sort of disappointment.

"You sure she's on our side? Didn't you say she's from the continent of the other mages? Doesn't any of that seem... you know, like some sort of movie cliche of a backstab waiting to happen?" Aiden had all of his gear on, only swapping his helmet for his hat.

"If she used magic in that ambush half of the town would've been destroyed, trust me, if she wasn't on our side I don't think she needed deception to get the job done." Ryan puts a hand on the front door as Aiden gives in, only giving a disappointed sigh yet again.

"Whatever, I could use as much info as I can get. She's a valuable asset for now." Aiden walks inside with Ryan.

The two gaze around the empty tavern, it seems most of everyone has left by now since the bombing, even most of the staff. Eventually, Ryan spots the mage in question as she gives a slight wave with a monotone face to the two, having gotten comfortable in a small secluded corner of the tavern.

"Should've brought backup." Aiden remarks, sighing and being the first to walk to the mage's table, calmly taking a seat.

Ryan follows Aiden, taking a seat next to him. "Thanks for meeting up with us, my partner next to me is Aiden Chambers."

Kali nods to the both of them, being seated calmly as she has one leg over another. "With such a travesty at hand, I think it's best that I give some information about the magic of our continent."

Aiden raises an eyebrow at Ryan with a surprised expression with Kali speaking English. "Oh- I'm sorry ma'am, you speak English?"

"In your language, you call it English, but for my people, I speak the old Ozoni language. My people don't have the need to speak in general, but since I'm half Ozoni and half Elf I- sorry for the ramblings, I will start answering questions. I'm sure time is of the essence for you two." Kali sits patiently, from the looks of it her manners definitely made her seem like a noble, but maybe manners are just something common in her world.

"Hm, well that makes it easier for the two of us then. What kind of affiliation do you have with the other mages? Do you work with them?" Aiden knew the last one was a bit of a dumb question, but he needed to get the obvious out of the way.

"Quite obvious questions aren't they? But to answer them no, I came here to this continent on my own accord..." Kali mutters her words on the last part, drawing some attention from Aiden.

"I don't mean to make you uncomfortable miss, but are you sure you went here on your own accord? Why would someone like you who has no affiliation with the other mages be here on their own accord? You're the first person I've met here from another continent who's here for 'pleasure'." Aiden keeps pressing the questions onto Kali.

Ryan simply watched the two, he didn't have much to bring to the table. This wasn't the bloody type of interrogation, so he didn't want to ruin Aiden's flow.

"I- I don't see why that's a question, Mr. Chambers. Why I'm here doesn't take away anything, I'm not with the other mages." Kali loses her composure for a second as Aiden uses this pressure to start peering through the cracks even more.

"Then you have nothing to hide ma'am. The other mages from your continent are here to assist the Empire with killing people, including innocent civilians just like that bombing. I'm sure you can understand why I'm concerned when another mage from that continent happens to be in this town around the time of the bombing?" Aiden kept his voice stern, not backing down once.