"...so, uh, where are you from?" wonders Astrid.

"Brasilis!"

"Oh, that's near Moscovia," says Natalya.

Bjorn looks at him out of the corner of his eyes. "Is that why, uh..."

"There are plenty of people in Brasilis who wear as much as everyone here in Rune-Midgard," Vallynn says wryly. "But, uh, there is zero nudity taboo for cultural reasons related to traditional customs and also because of the weather so it is unremarkable to, say, be only in a skirt and sandals or whatever."

"People from the Dancers' Guild wear stuff like that too," Bjorn offers. "It's why I thought you were going there."

"What is it with mages and the long, thick, flowing robes?"

"I think it's just cultural?" speculates Bjorn.

"When you cast powerful spells that come with eldritch wind they swish in a cool way," offers Astrid.

"...there is that."

"'Eldritch wind'."

"You know, when you cast some spells there's this wind coming from nowhere all around you," Magnhild explains. "It's not even especially powerful ones, just, ones a bit more powerful than Lightning Bolt."

"Whenever you cast one of those spells you'll be flashing everyone," says Astrid.

"Oh, I will, won't I. Maybe that's a good reason to get long flowy robes, if everyone around here will be as shocked by the sight of balls as this."

"It also gets cold some places."

"I had hoped to get this enchanted, actually. It's not really necessary back home but I figured it would be here and a fire enchantment seems useful in general."

"It'd make you more vulnerable to water and especially ice spells, though," he counters.

"I can shore up my magical defence, how about."

"You really want to be naked, huh," says Astrid.

"I like looking hot and I think I look really hot wearing this. Plus I'm used to it."

"Speaking of, how did you get to look like that?" wonders Magnhild. "Most mages look, well..."

"Thin? Twinky? Emaciated?"

"Yeah, kinda."

"Ouch," says Pierre.

"Well, like I said, I like looking hot. Plus it's not like I could really practise all that much magic on my own, trying to keep my Skill slots open and all, and I figure if I'm going to go around being an adventurer I might as well be physically fit. It's not like I'm going to waste my Stats on constitution and strength, so I'll get what I can from what my actual biology can give me."