Saix nodded, just the once. "I've met them before; they're part of the usual group." Their previous meeting had been with an unusual group, but not an entirely unknown one.

This was not, however, the whole of the usual group. They were short; the one that had given Saix issue last time was absent.

"Weaker than the last ones we encountered," he added, looking towards Axel, "but not necessarily less dangerous." Last time there had been a woman, a white mage of their own, who had appeared to be in command, and had seemed to try to keep a lid on things. She wasn't present this time, which meant that there would be no one trying to control them.