Mist blinked against brightness, shreds of azure magic wisping into nothing all around. To her right there was an untidy workbench lit by the glow of scattered crystals, and soft lantern light beckoned from beyond an open door. There was a broken bookshelf nearby, and a few chairs scattered around, and an elf sniper with a dark-glowing bow upon his back.

"Oh," Mist said. "I'm with you."

"Yeah," Sly said. "Uh, I was hoping to, y'know, get in with one of you guys, thought it might be easier to talk or whatever if it was just us..."

"Huh." Mist walked to the doorway, peeked out to the corridor beyond. "I don't know if I want to hear anything from you."

"Yeah, but, uh—hey," Sly said, as he followed Mist into the dim hallway. "I know it was kind of crummy, just like ditching you guys or whatever, but it wasn't like I had much of a choice or anything."

Mist said nothing, just kept walking, eyes fixed ahead—there were doors along the hallway, but she didn't do more than glance at them.

"I mean," Sly was continuing, from behind Mist, "I don't know if you, like, know elves or whatever, but when a bunch of them—us, I guess—all get together and start, like, pushing for something ... it's just real hard to ignore, that's all. And I was cheesed off at Nala for all the crap she pulls—you get what I'm saying, don't you? It bugs you too, right?"

Mist glanced back, then turned a corner and started walking up a new corridor—this one had windows along the right wall, tall and arched, looking out past overgrown grass to the drop beyond. The east wing was perched on the edge of the island—over the edge, as a ruined section ahead showed; part of the wall was missing, with nothing beyond or beneath but empty air and the glittering night ocean.

"Damn," Sly muttered, as he peered over. "Be a bitch to fall, yeah? Guess they've got some kind of magic or something in case that happens ... wouldn't want to rely on it, though."

Mist was trying doors. Most were locked, but one handle turned beneath her hand.

"So, uh, anyway," Sly said, as he followed Mist into this new room—some kind of dining hall stretching into darkness, the feeble light of candles not near enough to fight the gloom. "I just kind of wanted you to know that, y'know, I feel real bad about the whole thing and, uh, if I could change stuff I would and all that ... but it's just how it is, yeah? Elves and vampires win, everyone else loses. That's, like, the world. I know it sucks and I know I can't really talk because, y'know, I'm part of the 'privileged' or whatever, but ... yeah, just, sorry, you know? Wish it could be different."

Mist glanced back at Sly.

"I'm not smart like Nala, or even Praetorian or Amanda," she said, her voice tight. "I know I'm young and don't know anything about the world or, or anything really. I only know my island, and the people on it. It's a much nicer place than this." Mist paused to open a cupboard, going on tiptoes to examine the broken plates and overturned mugs on the higher shelves. Sly watched from behind, hands in pockets, looking up through his floppy fringe. "I just don't understand," Mist continued. "Was it really such a good trade? Abandoning us to join the elf team, is that really such a good deal for you? Maybe doing that was okay according to the rules, and maybe you'll do better with them than with us, but ... is it worth it?"

Mist's expression softened when she saw the hurt on Sly's face.

"Meant what I said," he muttered, looking away. "I'd change it if I could. Sometimes you just don't get a choice. If it was just me then nah, I wouldn't have done it. But it wasn't just me. I dunno if you get what I'm saying, but ... yeah, can't really say more. It's just, like, things are happening, y'know? Big things. And I'm just, like, small."

Sly glanced up at Mist, standing there in her oversized armour, wearing a dress that was too big and too pretty and too grown-up for her.

"I'm small," Mist said, and for a fleeting moment nothing about her seemed out of place. "And Nala's even smaller than me. But so what? She never even thinks about that stuff, I bet. Being big or small or ... or anything like that. She just does things. Do you know what she said to me, about this game? She said she didn't expect anything from me. She thinks Tzugakk will be able to make something with his crafting ability, and that's how we'll win. Probably she's right. She usually is. But I'm going to try anyway. I'm going to do my best, just like her. Even if I don't win, even if I probably can't win ... I'm still going to try."

Mist glanced back at the cupboard, then pushed the door shut.

"Not out in the open," she said. "Right? It wouldn't be so obvious. What we should look for are hidden things..."