The sun was bright in the east over the mountains. I basked in it with a small shovel in hand. Instead of my usual outfit, I wore the pink maid’s outfit gifted to me years ago. The wind blew gently, tossing my curls as well as the frills in my apron. I smiled and got to work digging a hole not far from the house.

It took me a little while, but I eventually got it about a foot deep. Satisfied with my work, I retrieved the project that Namali had been working on in the past week. One that had been a necessity, in my eyes.

It looked something like a birdhouse, with soft material lining the inside. In this case, it was more of a mischief pixie house—complete with a little door to keep actual birds out. The outside was ornate, with intricately carved patterns etched into the wood.

Pasithea was certainly not a pet; she needed to be able to come and go as she pleased. Additionally, it was the role of her priestess to procure a shrine for her divinity.

I shook my head a little bit at how the thought had again felt pressed into the deepest recesses of my mind, and then shrugged it off.

“Looks like my pet is all finished with her outside work,” Daava said from the now-open door to our home. While the scars remained on her body and mind, I felt hopeful to see the Daava I knew still steadily returning. “Since you’re in the outfit already, I know a few more things that could be cleaned.”

I smiled, nodded eagerly, and followed her inside. Once there, I saw everyone’s clothing piled near a bucket of soapy water. I grimaced lightly.

Daava laughed. “Don’t worry. When you’re finished, I’ll let you at what you want to clean.

When Aamalyn saw me, she put down a letter she’d been reading in bed. For a moment, we both just looked at one another. Each of us recently having learned about a more dangerous part of the other. And yet ... somehow ... knowing only made me feel safer in her arms.

I took her hand and kissed it.

Aamalyn smiled tenderly, and then crouched to step out of a pair of black underwear—the only thing she’d been wearing. “Don’t forget these, little Clover,” she said and put them in the space between my breasts.

I nodded obediently, feeling a small trace of wetness from the fabric.

“The letter was from the Director,” Aamalyn said to the two of us, also perking up Zolreya’s and Namali’s attention as they cuddled together in bed. “Seems the Non-sorcerer dropped all the enchantments off at your University. Professor Ozgrub is enlisting the help of the students in healing classes to help them.”

Namali sent a sly smile in the direction of the Non-sorcerer.

Aamalyn returned it with a seductive one of her own—a flirtation which had become increasingly frequent.

“What of the Master?” Zolreya asked. “Working for the humans now?”

Aamalyn scoffed. “He put a few bounties on my alter-ego. But when nothing turned up, he left in a rage. Word is that he and the goblins that remained loyal set sail for the other side of the great Mist wall. They’ve left the continent for the Wild Seas.”

“But …” I said, perplexed by this. “They won’t be able to return.”

“Which means he’s not our problem,” Aamalyn said with a shrug. “And he’ll soon find out that he’s made quite the enemy out of our dear little pirate.”

I nodded, still feeling a bit melancholic about the matter. Of course, I would have no qualms about looting his ships when I rejoined the crew of the Seacow. But the finality of it for all who were misled into following him into self-exile still felt sad.

There was a knock at our door, interrupting our conversation. I stood from my cleaning and went to see who was outside. There I saw a trio of beings of races I’d never seen before.

The first was a man with warm brown skin, with eyes and feathered wings that shone like brilliant gold. The second a woman with red skin, equally rich black eyes and leathery wings, and four arms. The third was … some kind of cat person, with a muscled body completely covered in black fur, a tail longer than they were, and slit pupils that seemed to peer into my very soul.

“You must be Lilly,” said the angelic-looking man with a deep smile. “My name is Abha, this lovely creature is Maeva, and our jaguar friend is Zaas."

I could only blink.

"Sorry," said Abha, with a sort of self-aware chuckle. "We're the newest University graduates. We're the ones who volunteered for outreach in the established cities and villages."

"Oh!" I said, my expression warming a bit.

Abha smiled. "I hope we’re not intruding; Jagras and the Director said you might be pleased to meet us. It may not look it, but we're also from Earth.” He then sent a wave in Daava’s direction. "Just like you and your partner."

My mind immediately began to spin. These people were from earth? And … was he implying that goblins were as well?

“We’re running late, my bright and shining piece of man-meat,” the woman named Maeva said. She licked her teeth lustfully as she peered at him.

Wait ... was this ... an angel? And a demon? And what about the panther guy?

Before I could ask, Abha nodded and said, “She’s right. We are in a hurry. It's just that I heard about what happened over at Crudehook. Specifically, between you and the humans. If you ever need to ... speak to fellow earthlings ... please reach out to us.”

I didn't know how to respond. There were others ... people from Earth, just like me. Even if they weren't humans. Even if I found out that humanity had banished me. There were actual people on this world who were at least a little bit like me.

"We're going to be late," said the panther-thing named Zaas, twitching his tail impatiently.

Abha sighed, gave a slight bow, and then joined his companions back to the road.

Leaving me in the doorway, slack-jawed.

Daava joined me to watch them go. “What was that all about?”

It took me a moment, but I finally managed to shake my head. “Believe me when I say that I have no earthly idea. I think I may have had a brief stroke. Or a hallucination.”

Before I could give the matter more thought, I felt my collar being tugged. Breaking quickly out of my stupor, I turned and knelt.

From the position, Daava looked down at me. The look in her eyes was a happy one … a proud one even ... that made me forget everything else.

And I was proud of Daava too.

After everything that had happened, Daava had done something more than achieve her quest on behalf of the goblin people. She had managed to hold onto who she truly was. Maybe Daava didn’t quite realize the significance of that feat, but I did. And it made me truly happy to see.

Daava's grip on my collar softened, as she caressed the place between it and my neck. And, for just a moment, we both smiled at one another in a warm sense of knowing.