What I first thought was some kind of earthquake was just someone trying to shake me back to consciousness.

It took a few moments to peel back the layers of darkness and return to the land of the living. When my eyes opened, they met a pair of sardonic ones, and I jolted awake.

"Hey, she's awake," said my attendant, announcing my return to reality. She seemed even less moved by decorum than she usually did and immediately left once she was sure I was back.

"You know, I was taking a bath, and not only did you wake me up from it, but you weren't there to help." I caught her gaze and held it. "That was a joke." I paused, raised an eyebrow, and put some force behind my words in the same way Celistar did. "Your rudeness, however, is not a laughing matter."

Her mouth worked a few times, like her brain had broke, and before anything could come out of it, Celistar cut her off. The Ancient One gave me a bit of an odd look as she did so.

"Benefactor didn't directly invite you here," said the Moon Fairy, "As I recall, you asked to join."

"Well, I didn't think it was going to be like this," Qīwù said, huffing and waving her arms around, a gesture that included the whole group. "All this strange stuff and things attacking us."

"I signed up for an adventure," said Viktor, "I got an adventure." He shrugged. "The contents were accurate to the label. Not sure what you are on about." His usual brusque manner was even more clipped than normal. It was clear even he was getting annoyed with her.

"I have no need of an inattentive attendant," I further clarified, mincing no words. I then looked at Celistar. "Do we just send her back?" Qīwù seemed to realize that her returning without us would be taken poorly, and she paled a bit at the thought.

The Ancient One thought a bit. "It's likely doable if we're outside of the sphere of influence of the city."

"That's our next goal then," I said, before remembering what a pain it had been to get this far. "You know, if it lets us."

"Right," said István, although it was clear that he was more interested in what would happen if it didn't let us, if his expression was anything to go off of.

"Do lead on, Elder Scholar," I said, getting a bit of a childish grin from him. I definitely wasn't above exploiting his curiosity for my own benefit. I needed to talk with Celistar, not guide the group.

I'm sorry about her, Celistar told me mentally before I could even get the thought off, I wouldn't have let her come along if I knew she was going to do this.

I'm not sure what her major malfunction is, I replied, getting a giggle, But it's not your fault, don't worry about it. I smiled at her, With luck, we'll only have to deal with her petulant self a little while longer.

Celistar went quiet for a bit at that, still looking off put by the whole situation. Not that I blamed her. She probably felt as though her whole sect had fallen apart in her absence. Which, I mean, it kind of did - but she'd been gone for a very long time, relatively speaking. Not of her own volition, either.

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Is everything alright with you? She continued. You were out for quite a while.

I'm fine, I told her, trying to figure out if 'soothing voice' worked telepathically. I think I made some sort of breakthrough. You'll have to check out the place sometime soon.

That I will, came the reply, and we both returned our attentions to the path ahead of us.

It wasn't only because I'd tripped trying to walk and talk, either.

Celistar stopped briefly at the exit to the gardens, turning around and going to her knees. She'd then bowed three times towards the center, whispering something that I chose not to hear.

There are times when you know something isn't your business. This was one of them.

My Elders did the same, as expected.

If only I could say the same for the one who was on a fast track to being my former assistant.

When Qīwù attempted to move closer to eavesdrop on what the Moon Fairy was saying, I blocked her mouth and ears then bodily motivated her down the tunnel. I wasn't even nice about it.

She was a cultivator, she could survive a few bounces.

Sure enough, she was standing, absolutely fuming, at the exit of the tunnel, looking only a little worse for the wear. Tousled, let's call it. No cuts, bruises, and not even any real dirt on her.

"What was that!?" She started in on me as soon as the rest of us came out of the tunnel. I completely ignored her, as did everyone else. Still refusing to get the point, she ramped up her noise. I'd tell you what she said, but I stopped paying attention and used my Nebula to solidify the air in an expanded bubble around her, essentially locking any noise she made inside it. The precise control necessary to do so came easily, almost effortlessly.

Who knew that the first major benefit of my breakthrough would be the functional equivalent of earplugs.

Surprisingly, it only took a few minutes before she seemed to get the point, following behind us in a sullen state that I can only assume was silence. I remembered to keep the air cycled - I might not like her behavior but I wasn't about to hurt her.

By the time we got to the thatched roof cottages, I dropped it. The energy had really gone out of her at this point, and she was no longer even standing straight.

When the edge of the city appeared, with the flagstones returning to grass, she had a vaguely panicked look about her.

Celistar looked at her hands as we passed over the boundary - I had assumed this was because she'd changed back to her Nature Alignment, but her next words immediately disabused me of this notion.

"It's still there…" she said, holding out her hand. An orb of pale light formed there - the Moon Alignment in full view.

"Will this cause a problem in sending Qīwù back?" I said.

"But I don't want to go back!" The subject of the conversation rudely interrupted Celistar's reply to make her thoughts heard, as if to prove the choice correct.

"You will be quiet, Disciple Qīwù. You've been released from Benefactors service, we no longer require your presence."

My former attendant's expression looked like she just witnessed her own death. It seemed a little over the top to me, but apparently there was a subtext I wasn't familiar with. Celistar had no such issues though.

"There will be no further consequences should you promptly report that we're entering an area too perilous for you to journey any further." Celistar moved in front of her, a motion so quick it was clear Qīwù hadn't seen it. Before the she could even register the new position, Celistar's voice was exploding into her ears with enough Nebula-driven power I could see it in my aura vision.

"It goes without saying that my presence here and anything you witnessed thereof will never be spoken of again."

Qīwù nodded like her life depended on it, and the Moon Fairy seemed satisfied. Her gaze shifted from the disciple to me.

"I will need your assistance to power the seal," she said, before turning to István, "And yours to scribe it."

István looked as ecstatic as Qīwù did depressed. It was quite the contrast.

"What about me?" Viktor asked, looking a little put out.

"You can go nap," she said, giving him a warm smile that could melt the iciest heart.

A giant grin split the man's face.

"I knew I liked you from the moment I saw you."

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