"Darker than black, darker than darkness, combine with my intense crimson. May a destructive force flood my torrent of power, a destructive force like no other!" Megumin lifts her staff high into the sky before shouting: "EXPLOSION!!" A massive pillar of crimson light pierces through the clouds, releasing an enormous quantity of mana. The gigantic blast can be seen from miles away, leaving an enormous crater in the plains. "How... amazing..." she manages to say before collapsing to the ground from mana exhaustion, satisfied with her daily Explosion spell. Unable to move a muscle, she lies on her back, basking in the sun, before finally noticing your presence. "Eek... don't tell me you've come from Axel! Is this not far enough from the city limits for my Explosion practice? A great Arch-wizard like me shouldn't be subjected to such an annoying hike...!"

Hmph. Is that all you've got to say? A mere score and nine out of a hundred!? "Unworthy mortal," she says in mock disappointment, rolling her eyes dramatically before giggling. "Oh, fine then. I suppose I can forgive you for your insulting remarks this once." Looking around for something to sit on, she spots you and asks hopefully: "Hey, do you happen to have a comfortable rock or something? I'm all worn out from casting that Explosion!"

"Why thank you!" she beams at the compliment. "It did take quite a bit of magic, but that's what I get for being an Arch-wizard and all." Finding your comment to be rather polite, she decides not to correct you on the fact that she's a wizard, not a warlock. Climbing onto your offered shoulder or lap (your choice), she nestles into her new seat contentedly. "I feel much better now," she says with a sigh of relief. "So, what brings you out here today? Couldn't find any worthwhile adventures in the city?"

"Aye, that's the trouble with adventuring in cities," she says sympathetically. "No proper ruins or monsters. It'd be better for everyone if we lived closer to nature." She pauses for a moment, looking thoughtful. "You should come with me sometime! Together, we can find those hidden caves and abandoned castles that no one else even knows about! We'll become legendary heroes!" Her eyes widen at the excitement of the prospect, and she grips your arm in anticipation.

"Heheh... Yeah, that's right!" she says brightly, grinning ear-to-ear at the thought. "And we won't have to worry about the monsters hurting anyone either. With my Explosion magic, they'll all be blown straight to the netherworld! What could possibly go wrong?" She gives a small chuckle at her own joke before leaning closer to you. "So... do we have a deal? Are you in?" Her eyes sparkle with determination and excitement, daring you to refuse such an adventure.

"Wonderful! Then consider us partners!" She gives your arm a firm shake to seal the deal. "From this day forth, you and I are bound together in an unbreakable pact of adventure and destruction! Together, we shall rid the world of darkness and bring light and laughter to every corner of this realm!" Her eyes sparkle with an almost fanatical zeal as she speaks, making it clear that she means every word. "So, when do we leave?"

"Hmph... Well, that's an annoying inconvenience." Megumin pouts as she glances down at her exhausted body. "It'll take me a few days to rest up and replenish my mana stores before I can cast Explosion again. Let's make camp here for the night, and then in the morning we can return to Axel together to stock up on supplies." She looks at you hopefully. "You don't mind waiting, do you? We could play a game or something while we wait..."

Well, that's good to hear! What kind of game would you like to play while we wait? I know a few card games... Or we could tell stories about our adventures... Maybe even play a simple board game or two? Just as long as it doesn't take too much energy, of course. Oh, and don't forget that I have some delicious snacks in my pack if you get hungry!

Heheh... Well, when I'm alone and feeling lonely, casting Explosion helps me feel less so. Sometimes, I just lay there in the crater afterwards and talk to the bits of debris that are all that remains. You know, try to make friends with them. It's sort of like being a cat lady for rocks and dirt. But when someone else is around, I cast it off in the distance so they don't get hurt or bothered by the blast wave.

So... did you have another question, or shall we play a game while we wait?

I was quite young actually! Just eight summers old when the magic came to me. It all happened one night while I was outside sleeping under the stars, dreaming of becoming a powerful wizard just like my grandfather. Suddenly, there was this bright light, and then... BANG! An Explosion tore through the camp, throwing me clear from where I lay.

When I came to, everyone was staring at me in amazement. My parents thought it was some sort of miracle that I'd survived unscathed, but the village elder knew better. He took one look at my flaming hair and the sparks dancing about me and declared that I had been blessed by the goddess of magic herself! From there, he started training me in the ways of explosive magic.

So you see, it was all because of that fateful night under the stars that I am who I am today...

As I mentioned earlier, I am now thirteen winters old. Time has flown by so quickly since that night under the stars! But even though years have passed, my love for Explosion magic has only grown stronger. Sometimes, when I close my eyes and concentrate, I can still feel the warmth of that divine touch upon me...

There's a rather nice clearing just beyond that hill to the north. It's sheltered from the wind and has plenty of dry wood for a fire. We can set up our camp there while I gather some fresh herbs for dinner. Once everything is in place, we can play games or tell stories until nightfall, and then we can curl up in our blankets to get some rest before our adventures begin anew tomorrow!

Well then, lead on! I trust that your strength won't betray us and drop me before we reach our destination. We wouldn't want anything as rude as an unplanned dismount mid-travel, now would we? Just picture the headlines in the local tavern: "Cowardly Adventurer Drops Powerful Arch-wizard Like a Sack of Potatoes!" Not exactly the heroic tale we were aiming for...

Heh... You seem like you're rather intent on taking good care of me. I must say, it's quite refreshing to find someone who appreciates a powerful Arch-wizard like myself! Though I suppose that shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, considering the great responsibility we share: seeking out and destroying those foul cultists who would dare defile Explosion magic!

As we near the clearing, you can see it ahead of us. It really is quite lovely, isn't it? The perfect spot for our little camp. With a sigh of relief, I hop down from your shoulder and gather some firewood while you set up the tent. Once everything is in place, we can relax and enjoy each other's company until nightfall.

As you work to set up the tent, she lends a helping hand where she can, her cheery personality making even the most mundane tasks feel like an adventure. Once the camp is established, they both take a moment to survey their surroundings and gather whatever useful materials they can find in case of emergencies.

"There we go," she says with a satisfied smile once everything is ready. "Now all we need is some food and a good story, and our night will be complete!" She flops down onto the blanket you've placed beside the firepit, patting the space next to her invitingly. "Come, join me! Tell me a tale of your greatest adventure so far, my brave knight in shining armor."

"Oh my!" Megumin exclaims, eyes wide with wonder and horror in equal measure. "That sounds absolutely terrifying! Were they mindless zombies like you see in stories, or did they still have some of their humanity left?" She listens intently as you recount your tale, occasionally offering words of encouragement or asking a question to learn more about what happened.

"I'm sure that whatever it was that answered your prayer must have had good intentions," she says reassuringly. "It just goes to show that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope." As you finish telling your story, she pauses for a moment before adding: "And from now on, we'll be sure to include exploding any zombies as part of our mission! It would be a shame not to use such a powerful Explosion spell against them!" She giggles playfully.

"It certainly does!" she says with conviction. "And I know just the perfect spell to use against them too." Her eyes light up at the thought, and she giggles excitedly. "We'll show those undead fiends what happens when you mess with a pair of true adventurers!" She takes a bite of her dinner, savoring the taste before looking back at you expectantly, clearly waiting for your next tale.

"Oh, go on then! I'm all ears!" she says eagerly, settling in more comfortably against her bedroll. "What else do you have in store for me tonight?" Her bright eyes shine with curiosity and anticipation as she waits for your next tale to unfold.

"Oh dear," she whispers, clearly concerned by your story. "It sounds like you encountered a shapeshifter of some sort... or perhaps even a curse placed upon the poor creature." She frowns, deep in thought. "Dealing with such things requires caution and knowledge of magic. Fortunately for us," she adds with a wink, "I am quite skilled in both areas!"

Her expression turns serious again as she continues: "We must remain vigilant, my friend. The shadows are long these days, and dark creatures hide within them, waiting to prey upon the unwary." She pauses, looking at you intently. "I'm sure we'll have plenty of chances to put our skills to good use once we start exploring those ruins and ancient castles... And who knows? Perhaps we'll even find a way to help that poor deer in the process."

"Of course!" she says determinedly. "Together, we can make the world safe for all creatures great and small. No shadowy figure shall stand in our way as long as there's Explosion magic to guide us." She looks up at you with admiration shining in her eyes. "You really are quite the knight in shining armor, aren't you? It's an honor to be adventuring alongside someone so noble and skilled."

With a satisfied sigh, she curls up on her blanket, gazing contentedly into the fire. In moments, the soft crackling of burning wood lulls her to sleep, dreaming of exploding monsters and rescuing innocent creatures from the clutches of darkness. The night passes peacefully under the watchful eye of your guardianship, and soon enough the morning sun spills over the horizon, bathing everything in its warm

The smell of cooking food wakes her up. She rubs her eyes groggily before sitting up and looking around, trying to recall where she is. When she sees you standing over a sputtering campfire, cooking breakfast, a broad grin breaks out across her face. "Good morning! I trust that my snoring didn't keep you awake?" She stands and stretches, the movement making her arch-wizard robes shift enticingly.

"That smells amazing," she says, moving closer to peer over your shoulder. "What did you make for us today?" Her stomach growls loudly at the thought of food, drawing a sheepish smile from her face. "I seem to be rather hungry this morning... must have been all that talking last night."

Oh, my goodness! You are absolutely right!" she exclaims, eyes wide with excitement. "Eggs and bacon are the best thing you can have for breakfast! They're practically designed to be exploded with Explosion magic!" Her grin widens as she imagines sending a pillar of flame straight into the pan, cooking the food in an instant. "I just hope they hold out until I finish casting... Ah, never mind," she says casually, gesturing for you to hand her a plate. "I'm sure they'll be fine."

She eagerly loads up her plate with eggs and bacon before sitting down again across from you. Taking a bite of the delicious breakfast, she closes her eyes in bliss as the flavors explode on her tongue. "Oh my," she says around a mouthful of food, "this is absolutely divine! You're

You grin modestly at her praise. "Well, it's taken quite a bit of practice to get where I am today," you say, carefully avoiding any mention of how much time you've spent cooking over the years. "But if you want to become as skilled as me in battle and in the kitchen, all you need is dedication and hard work." She chews thoughtfully on another piece of bacon, considering your words.

"I suppose that's true," she eventually says, looking up at you with a determined expression. "If there are any dishes or techniques you think I should learn, feel free to share them with me. The more I know, the better prepared we'll be for whatever challenges lie ahead." With that, she digs back into her breakfast, clearly intent on making the most of your culinary expertise.