Ragna's ears angled forward. Mira's fingers tightened around the hem of her sleeve. Lyris met his gaze, searching for any sign of threat behind the calm words.
Ward broke the silence first.
"Relax. Nobody's shoving you into a uniform today," he said. "Integration just means figuring out where you fit into all of this."
"All of… what?" Mira asked.
Albert gestured around them. "This base. This region. The larger situation with the Demon Lord. You three are the first organized locals we've spoken to who aren't goblins, raiders, or panicked villagers. That makes you valuable."
Ragna raised a brow. "Valuable how? As soldiers?"
"Not yet," Albert said. "As guides. Translators. Cultural anchors. People who know how your world actually works when it isn't on fire."
Mira exhaled slowly. "What does this 'integration' require from us?"
Albert nodded once to Ward. "First step is standard. Medical check. Baseline data. No needles bigger than a dagger, I promise."
