Namali, Zolreya, Aamalyn, Daava, and I went back inside to talk amongst ourselves, while our guests discussed the details of the meeting. I knew that Daava was strong, stronger by far than me. But going back already to face the Master? In front of her family and the whole town? I knew I probably couldn't have handled anything like that, so I was more than a little trepidatious for her to.

As soon as the front door was closed, I turned and said, “Daava, you don’t need to do this. I can tell them about everything that happened.”

Zolreya placed a hand on Daava’s shoulder and nodded in agreement. “Often, the only right answer lies in one’s refusal to engage further with a situation that has done them such harm.”

Daava did not reply, at first; the reemergence of all this was already weighing visibly on her. But then she simply said, “I have to go.” Her voice was entirely monotone and her eyes distant as they’d been in the last few days.

Aamalyn knelt and took her hands. “My love, I would … I would really feel better if you didn’t.”

“I need to warn my family,” Daava said, her jaw tight. “And I need to make sure that … that the Master doesn’t win.”

“Oh, he won’t,” Aamalyn said, her throat tight, and her eyes carrying whatever it was that she'd managed to hide from us.

For a moment, we were all silent.

“Even if we all do everything right," I said, breaking the silence softly. "There’s a chance that … not everyone will believe us. Or … think any of it matters.”

Daava was quiet for a moment before nodding. “I know. But I need to try.”

It took a moment, but we all began to give silent nods, quietly resigned ourselves to her decision. Then, without another word, each of us went to gather a few things for the journey—food, water, a change of clothes, and weapons.

Except, of course, for Zolreya—whose magic was still not enough to make an inland journey safe for merfolk. So I changed into a copy of my original armor with cowprint cloth trimmings and pink skirt. “I’ll walk Zolreya to the water.”

Together, we exited the house, waved at our guests, and then began walking with hands clasped to the sea.

“It’s okay to be worried,” Zolreya said, her tentacles flowing over the ground in motions that made her look like she was floating. “You’re going to be there for her.”

I finally replied with a heavy breath, “Just like before." I looked over the still ocean for a moment. "When some people don’t believe her … even after everything ... it’ll be the worst part.”

Zolreya replied with a sort of imploring gaze, as we stepped into a small wave rising over the wet sand. When I didn't know what to say, she turned me around and kissed me gently on the lips.

I leaned my body into Zolreya, and she wrapped her long arms around me. Then she let go, turned, and made her way into the water.

With that, I returned to the main house.

As I approached, I saw all the others looking ready to go. Pasithea was there too, darting around faces all wary of her presence, until she saw me approaching. She flew towards me and landed on my shoulder. Those who had not yet seen her just watched with perplexed expressions.

Instead of answering all their unspoken questions, I continued as if I hadn't noticed.

It was bad enough that they thought I had a pet mischief pixie. I didn't even know how to begin to explain that ... I had devoted to her ... my soul. Just like my darkness, it was becoming another secret. Not one that I wanted to keep, but one I didn't know how to stop.

Namali approached, a familiar leather saddle pack in hand. It seemed that she had retrieved it when she’d gone on her mysterious excursion. Namali helped to strap it to me and then lifted Daava to place her on the seat.

While it was a good feeling to have Daava there again, the moment was made more melancholic by the fact that this was now more of a necessity than a pleasure. Daava was in no state to be walking even the short distance to Crudehook.

All the same, I reached back until she interlocked her fingers with mine.

The journey was quiet for many of us. It was mostly the Kink University staff and Jagras who talked amongst themselves. This mostly involved the order of events once we arrived. The rest of us simply prepared internally for what was to come.

At some point, the Director and Jagras approached me.

"Lilly," the Director said, their voice deep and every-gentle. “In the letter you sent, you mentioned the idea of a long-term solution for the underlying issues that caused this catastrophe. A solution in line with your previous efforts in uniting the University and Other Place?”

Oh, I had done that, hadn't I? I barely remembered sending the letters, the first day after I'd woken up. It had was something that had been scraping at my mind away during my adventure, ever since the Twinn Cities. And even more so after having met Relni. Still, to call any of my ramblings on the situation a "solution" was a stretch.

Jagras spoke before I could express any of that. “Director, know that Lilly already has the full support of the Other Place in her plan. If you do not wish to involve the University, I would still like her to present her idea on my behalf.”

The Director bristled their feathers at this, “But I could not agree more with Lilly's plan! What, do you think the University takes ideas and just sits on them? We had a faculty meeting about it the very next day!"

I couldn't help but smile at their bickering; it seemed that there was at least still a friendly rivalry between my two schools.

The Director harumphed and then calmed down enough to address me again. "As a secondary witness, your testimony is not strictly needed. I would instead prefer that you use your time to present your plan. Would that seem appropriate to you?”

I nodded and then gathered my courage to ask, “Don’t you … want to hear my ... solution? Give feedback? I’m not sure that it’s really formed enough to-”

The Director again shook their head. “I don't even want you to think about it. There will be time for finer details later. I wish for us to preserve the rawest form of it.”

I nodded, still unsure, but willing to try my best.

-O-

It wasn’t long before we reached Crudehook.

When we did, I could already see the preparations that had been made. The large stretch of road that had previously accommodated the night market was now surrounded by a series of wooden benches—enough to seat most the town.

Many goblins had already sat down. Even from a distance, I could see the glimmers of much more enchanted jewelry than before. Rings, charms, pendants, bands, and everything else.

Seeing it gave me surprisingly mixed feelings.

Of course, I felt horrified by the idea of so many tormented creatures trapped within. As well as at so many goblins being in danger and not even knowing. On the other hand ... every enchantment was clearly goblin-made, and beautifully so. There was a clear sense of pride here that. One that … well … should have always been.

I then felt Daava tug on my reins, pulling me unexpectedly to the right. I went as directed, feeling a lump form in my throat when I saw the little home that was our destination. Daava’s childhood home.

Namali and Aamalyn continued along with us. Mystery, however, broke off to speak to the others. Pasithea also took flight to ... go do whatever it was that pixies did.

When we were at the doorstep, I knelt so that Daava could dismount. I would have wanted to speak to her. However, Daava took my hand in hers and began walking straight for the door.

Even before she touched the handle, Momma Hoz had thrown it open to greet us. Rushing to her daughter and pulling her into an embrace. The moment felt ... encouraging … as did the fact that I could see no enchantments on her person.

When Momma Hoz finally released her, she said, “Your Uncle Gree told me … what happened to you. Baby, I'm so sorry for what happened.”

Daava looked at her with a surprised expression. Her eyes welled with tears and her body loosened a bit from all its tension. “I … didn’t think you would believe me.”

Momma Hoz immediately shook her head and replied, “I’ve spoken with your siblings as well. We’re here to support you—whatever you need.” She then beckoned the rest of us warmly into the house.

Namali, Aamalyn, Daava and I soon found ourselves in the midst of the goblin family. Sure enough, Daava’s siblings lost no time greeting their sister with a barrage of hugs and softly spoken words.

The only exception was her young nibling, Day, who waited uncomfortably in the back of the room. I thought this odd since they had previously seemed so fond of Daava.

Momma Hoz then said, “We’re so glad to meet Daava’s little family. Except for … oh, I know I'll remember it … Zolreya! Yes, we’ll all have to plan a day trip to the northern coast to meet her soon. But, for now, I think we all could use a nice meal.”

“Actually, Mother,” Daava said, closing her eyes for a moment as if to collect herself. “I’d really like to … talk … about what happened?”

Momma Hoz nodded heavily and replied, “That makes sense. Alright, we’re all here to listen.”

I nearly sat down too.

However, Momma Hoz turned to me with a sweet smile and said, “Lilly, dear, most of the children are outside. But could you keep Day company until we’re ready to eat? They’ve got clever little ears, but the topic has caused more than a few nightmares.”

I looked at Daava, but she nodded at me with a small smile.

Aamalyn moved to her side and said, “I’ve got her.”

I nodded and went back to the entryway of the home, where I had last seen Day. Sure enough, they were still there, looking particularly shy.

I knelt and said, “I think you remember me. I’m ... your Aunt Daava’s partner?”

Day gave a small nod.

"You can call me Aunty Lilly, if you like," I said, maybe even a little hopeful in my tone.

This seemed to make Day, my new goblin nibbling, smile a little. With a small wave for me to follow, they went through an open entryway to a room I hadn’t seen before.

The next room seemed to be a common area—with cushions and wooden rockers throughout. In the corner of the room, I noticed a table so small that not even the goblin adults could have used it. It was covered with pieces of charcoal and crude papers with pictures sketched on them. They were of various different styles and quality, no doubt the works of various children of different ages.

“Would you like to show me which ones are yours?” I asked with a smile.

Day nodded and then quietly shuffled the papers to gather specific ones. Once they had gone through them all, they brought them back and handed them to me.

I was surprised by the first one. Not by any particular feature, but by the quality of it. Day had shaded nearly the entire page in charcoal—leaving light the object in the center.

It was … a ring … etched with an impressive level of geometric precision, except maybe a little more of an oval than a circle.

“This is really good!”

Day gave another small smile—their little canines sticking out in a way that adorably reminded me of their aunt.

I returned my attention to the pictures, and then shuffled to the next one. In a similar style, they had drawn a fish scale pendant. Only this one had a bit of a haunting face etched into what would have been the grooves of the scale.

Furrowing my brow, I went back to the previous picture. What I had thought to be an oval now seemed suspiciously like the ring had been purposely shaped as a mouth … crying out.

I imagined that Day had overheard what their Uncle Gree had said about everything that had happened. Except … the timeline didn't make sense. Day could have only heard in the last few days. All these pictures ... wouldn't they have taken at least a couple weeks?

I knelt to Dee’s level again and asked, “Are … these the new jewelry that your family was wearing before?”

Day nodded, their smile fading a bit.

I pursed my lips in an empathetic frown and asked, “What about them gave you nightmares?”

Day paused for a moment. Then, with a quiet voice, they said, “I don’t like what they sound like, Aunty Lilly.”

What they sound like?

Of course, Day was too young to have any sort of sensitivity to magic. But Momma Hoz had spoken about their “clever” ears. Maybe Day was physically hearing something we couldn’t?

“Don’t worry,” I said, with a small smile. “We’re here to help fix the enchantments so they don’t make that sound anymore.” I slid my foot forward on the ground to show off Bunny, the pink enchantment that Pasithea had healed. “Like this one. Can you hear her screaming?”

Day cupped a hand to their ear, then smiled and shook their head. “It’s purring.”

I nodded, feeling encouraged to hear that it was still doing well. “We’re going to make the rest of the enchantments just like that.”

“Can you fix Gramma Hoz’s ring first?” Day asked. “It screams the most.”

I paused. “Does she have it put away somewhere?”

Day shook their head. “Gramma Hoz told everybody to put them in their pockets so Daava wouldn’t see. She said that Aunt Daava would be really mad if she saw them.”

I froze, unsure for a moment of what I should do. Finally, I looked down and said, “Can you go to your room for me? I need to check on the grown-ups.”

Day nodded and went through a door with their papers in hand.

I made my way toward the kitchen, my heart racing as I tried to figure out what to do. Already, I could hear a change of tone coming from the other room. The same tension and voices a note short of being raised as before.

“I think what your sister means,” said Momma Hoz, clearly trying to keep her tone soft, “-is that Mr. Pepperweed kept that sword apart for a reason. If you’d asked him, I’m sure he would have given you a nice enchantment that would have worked for you. Really, I don't know why you kept it, especially after what it did.”

The only reply was dead silence.

I sped up my walking, throwing the door open.

Daava was staring with unmistakable confusion at the ground. Namali and Aamalyn were in a silent glaring match with Daava’s siblings.

Momma Hoz still spoke with her soft smile. “I just think that you should think about it before talking against Mr. Pepperweed. His enchantments have done a lot for us. We've never had all that fancy magic stuff that makes everyone else’s lives so much better.”

“No, Mom,” said Oztra, the severe sister from before. “I actually feel bad for the sword. After everything it went through, it sounds like it was trying its best. You knew it was a damaged. Maybe you should have taken care of it instead of damaging it more.”

Namali took an intimidating step toward her.

However, their beckoned her to calm down. “Oztra's just being emotional. But Daava … you’re supposed to be smart. Yes, one enchantment hurt you. So now you want all goblin enchantments to get a bad name?”

“We’re fucking leaving!” I said, my tone loud even as it cracked under my nervousness. Despite my slight tunnel vision, I moved toward Daava. My chest absolutely burning from the darkness trying to leech out.

“Lilly, we’re just trying to help!” Momma Hoz said, looking hurt by my outburst. “All we know is what we've been told. Sometimes a story isn't as simple as just one side. If you could all just understand-”

“Understand what!” Aamalyn shouted, her voice sharp as a blade. “Daava told you what happened to her, that should be good enough!”

Oztra bared her teeth and opened her mouth to say somethin.

But I couldn't hold on any longer. Though I remained in control of everything else, I allowed the darkness to let out its rage through my voice. Letting out an otherworldly screech that drowned out all else.

For a moment, everyone was quiet. Even Namali and Aamalyn ... didn't know what to make of what had just come out of me.

I felt a twitch in my face. Even so, I took a breath and put my arms protectively around Daava to help her up. Then, the four of us made our way to the door.

Momma Hoz was already sobbing loud enough to drown most coherency out of her children, already fighting amongst themselves.

Soon, we were outside, and Namali slammed the door behind us.

After we’d gone a little ways, Daava stopped—her face clearly displaying all the pain she must have felt. However, she did not allow herself to cry. “I’m sorry I came back.” Her words carried a finality that was unmistakable.

I knelt in front of her. “Daava, we believe you. I mean, I saw it for myself. But Namali, Aamalyn, Zolreya, the professors, our friends—we all believe you.”

From her expression, I wasn't sure if Daava even heard me.

So I added, "Day knows the truth."

This last bit brought the smallest hint of relief to Daava’s tight expression. But then she looked at me, as if finally remembering how I'd screamed in the room. It looked like she was about to ask, but then looked at my other partners before stopping herself. Like she was trying not to force anything I wasn't ready to share.

I felt myself exhale a bit at this, even as another twitch hit my face. Knowing that I must have looked utterly unhinged.

But Namali put a steady arm on each of our shoulders.

Then Aamalyn joined us and whispered, “We’re here for you." Her eyes caught mine, in a way that made me feel that she didn't just mean one of us.