“Better. I’ll still be punching with my left for another day maybe, but I can move it better now,” Kire said after a sip of coffee. She spotted Elva writing down a list. “Did you mention that you have a different alphabet from ours, even for the same language? It’s so peculiar.” 
“It came up,” Elva replied. “We’ll finish up here while you nurse your mug, then.”
Kire nodded, and was quiet, half-listening to the two talk about their list while her mind drifted to the report Ed had given about the aftermath of the battle. By the time she had finished her cup, she was so deep in her own thoughts that it took Elva two attempts to call her attention. “Huh?”
“We’re done, dear,” Elva replied, an amused grin on her face. “Time for you to go, then? When will you return?”
“Tomorrow, maybe,” Kire replied. 
“Ah. Don’t strain yourselves too much then,” Elva commented, and Kire raised a brow, wondering if she meant anything behind that statement. Elva merely smiled and waved them off. “Go get ready to leave.” 

“Okay.” Like with Narda, Kire didn’t hold onto Ruli just yet. “Test run first.” She raised her hand, and a moment later a portal opened. The headache wasn’t as bad as it had been in her first try that morning. “All good,” she said, taking his hand with her left.
	They emerged in the cave, and Kire immediately looked around, bracing herself for an attack from a very irate elf. “If I made a big deal out of my injury, will she go easy on me?” Kire whispered. “Or do I turn you into a human shield?”