“I made it to Mysthaven after about a week in the wild. I’ve been here a whole day just about, and somehow they’ve already found me. Maybe I was wrong to come here, to run away from home.” Anna pulls her knees to her chest.

“Maybe.” Tyrion speaks, pulling up a chair and hopping up into it. “Or maybe you’re right where you’re needed. You found a peaceful-ish way to get the ostriches to go live somewhere else. You helped save innocent people. You can’t deny the good you did today, nor the good you want to do.”

“Yeah, but-“ Anna begins. “But nothing.” Amadeo sits up with some assistance from Hope. “You ran away from a bad place. If they’re so keen on taking you back, let em try. Don’t lose faith that your path is the right one. If you do, then everyone you helped sacrifice, those people died in vain. Every step you’ve taken has led you here. Just keep moving forward.”

The elf remains silent, huddled in her chair as lunch is served. Tyrion chows down on small sandwiches, happy to have a meal he didn’t have to “acquire”. Amadeo slurps some soup gingerly, still feeling the pain of his wound. Hope pours hot tea into a few cups and sits to eat. After several quiet minutes, Anna finally speaks up. “So, Amadeo…You’re not mad?”

The wizard doesn’t even look up from his soup. “Did you stab me?” “No.” “Did you hold two people hostage and threaten their lives?” “No.” “Then no, I’m not mad at you.” “But you got hurt cause I-“ “Nope.” “Amadeo-“ “I said no. You don’t get to take the blame for any of that. Now just hush up and eat something.”

“Not as tactful as Tyrion, but he has a point. You made your choice. This Sola-Ret, she chose to give you her power so you could make up for your mistakes. So enough moping. It doesn’t suit you.” Hope sets a cup of tea down in front of Anna. The elf frowns for a moment, then sighs and sips her tea. “I…I will try.”

"You'll be alright." Hope leans down, giving Anna a soft hug around the neck. "One step at a time, yeah?" The elf's skin brightens a few shades, but she nods. "Yeah, ok. I think I get it." Hope lets her go and Anna goes back to her drink.

"Now about that glow. What was that all about?" Tyrion grins. Anna shrugs. "I dunno. I guess it was more of her power. It's not like I can access it all at once. I think as I grow and learn from experience, she fills my spirit a bit more with this...this light." Her hand shines with the colorful force from before, and she smiles.

"Perhaps it was desperation. When did you first realize you could do that?" Amadeo sits with his back against the headboard of Hope's bed.

"When... When you were laying on the ground. I heard a voice calling out to me, and I felt instilled with a vigor I'd thought lost. I couldn't let it happen again, not while I had the power and will to stop it." Anna smiles a little and sets her cup down.

"That just proves it then. You were motivated not for your own concern, but that of others. No monster cares about someone else." Hope holds a cup of tea to Amadeo, who gingerly takes it.

Tyrion finishes eating and stretches. "And you healed him too. You've got magic hands, Anna. Good hands for a good person."

"Maybe you're right. It's gonna take me a while to get over what I've done. But I think I can at least try to forgive myself." Anna looks out the window, the sun shining through the glass. As she looks to the sky, a soft voice rings out in her ears. "Good girl. One little step at a time, my child." She can feel warmth radiate through to her very soul, bringing a full grin back to her as the noon sun turns toward afternoon.