An invitation from the enemy

You go about your day as normal, breakfast dance session aside. At around noon, however, Anna comes to you with a concerned look on her face.

“Master, this was left on the front door. Someone knocked, but left before I could answer.”

She hands you an envelope. It is labeled, ‘The mage Josh’. “Well, that’s super subtle, isn’t it. I’m sure this will be just as pleasant as the last note I got. I wonder how they want to threaten us this time...”

You sit down on your couch and open the letter. Maya wanders in and reads over your shoulder, idly playing with your hair as you read.

The fight we have seems to be at a bit of a stalemate, fledgling mage. I do not have any desire to continue wasting resources. I would speak with you to see if we can come to some kind of arrangement. Perhaps no more people need to be hurt. If you are willing to meet with me, alone, I would be willing to negotiate a peace between us. Should you refuse, however, you will deal with a renewed attack, and this time not even your little friends at the AWIO can protect you and your girls. If you accept, meet me tomorrow, alone, at the cafe on fifth avenue. Again, come alone or I will consider it a threat. You won’t enjoy my response.

-Kali

You feel even more confused after reading, and a look at Maya shows the same confusion. She leans over you, hugging you from behind. “You’re not planning on actually meeting with this psycho, right? She’s tried to kill us! Why would she be willing to talk now?”

You read the letter again, and sigh. “It could be a chance to go back to living normally, no more fighting. I need to take the chance. I can’t take the chance that next time someone gets hurt!”

“Next time?! Last time you ended up in a coma! I can’t handle losing you, my Josh, I can’t! Please think about this...”

“Maya, please...I need to try. It’s in public, it’s as safe as it can be. I have a few useful abilities if things go south, I promise to be careful.”

Maya sighs, giving you a squeeze and a kiss on the cheek. “I know that tone. There’s nothing that will dissuade you once you’ve made this kind of decision. If that demon bitch hurts a single hair on your head though, I will personally feed her her own fingers...”

You laugh, “You can be scary when you’re protective. It’s endearing and cute, and I’m glad you’re on my side.”