Three days later the ballroom had been completely repaired. More impressively, it had been done without much magic. Helena and her friends had helped with the wall shattered by the dragon, but the rest had been cleaned up by mundane hands.

There were a few other exceptions. The heavy metals that had been carelessly thrown about had been cleaned by the few kobolds that had lingered. Helena was watching as the leader consumed the last traces of her arsenic arrow. "Good work," she said as the poison vanished.

"Next battle, take more care," the flame replied.

"I'm hoping there won't be a next battle," Helena replied. "By the way, did your comrades get freed?"

The flame bobbed up and down. "All are free. Much thanks."

"You're welcome," Helena replied.

"I owe you a debt as well." Helena turned to find Grete standing behind her. The woman looked subdued, which was perhaps to be expected after the the last week. "A debt and an apology. My misplaced rage caused you much grief, and I am ashamed."

Helena folded her arms. "You should apologize to the Cochrans. They're the ones whose children you nearly murdered." Miasma gathered, but Helena kept it under control

The woman bowed deeply. "I am even more ashamed of that." She held out two pouches that rang of silver. "I despise the fact that I must try to settle my debts with money, but there is another person I have wronged who demands my service here."

"So they're taking you on as a knight?" Helena asked.

"As you told them repeatedly, they'll need someone with skill fighting magical opponents. Especially now that our hidden mine is public knowledge." Grete smoothed out her silver lined cape. "And since you and your friends aren't going to stay, that leaves me to battle everything that can't just be shot by the guards. Those emboldened by the fact that the von Strausfen family doesn't have a court wizard might be deterred by the knowledge they have a mystic assassin."

The kobold moved up. "We will help. Defend our silver."

Helena nodded. "I suppose that's the best I can hope for then. May you guard this land well."

"We will. After all, it is our home." The swordswoman gestured towards the window. "In any case it is getting towards noon. Lady Alexis is waiting outside with your friends."

"I guess I should go then. Goodbye." Helena began walking towards the door, then paused. "Oh, and Grete. If you ever decide you need to curse someone again, please, find a competent witch."

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The woman snorted. "Should that transpire, I will send a note to you."

Helena blinked then shook her head. "Fine. I suppose I could use the money anyway."

She worked her way to the front gates and out into the courtyard. Alexis, Lyudmila and Kseniya were all standing there, surrounded by bags with the magical reagents and books that they'd looted from Nedvarious' labs. Shizuka was almost certainly there as well, though the spirit's presence was too small to notice.

Lyudmila waved. "Ready, Helena?"

Helena checked to make sure she'd completely given up her domain. Her mind poked at the corners of her 'self' but the links that she'd created were gone. "Yeah."

Alexis wrung her hands. "Must you really leave, Helena? With Margarete gone the land does have room for a witch. It would be good to have one we could trust. For that matter the position of court wizard is open as well." She looked over at Lyudmila and Kseniya. "That goes for all of you. You've done so much for us."

"Sorry, but I've still got a god after me," Helena said. "I can do trips, but long term I need to stay somewhere with stringent laws towards deities."

"And we have our own domain," Kseniya said.

Lyudmila shook her head. "Besides, the church gets really, really touchy when a woman takes the position of court wizard. You've got enough problems with the clergy, I bet."

Alexis sighed. "I suppose so."

Kseniya hugged the noblewoman. "But if you need help, don't hesitate to use the charms we gave you to call."

"Yeah. And don't worry about wasting it. They're cheap for us," Helena said.

"We'll tell some of the better wandering witches about the opening too," Lyudmila said. "There are always a few people who need a new place when the locals decide they don't want a witch around."

Alexis hugged Kseniya, then bowed to them all. "I owe you all so much. Please, should you ever come by, consider Strausfen as a second home."

Helena smiled. "I'll be sure to take you up on that offer sometime, Alexis."

Alexis smiled sadly, then stepped back. "Well... goodbye."

"Goodbye," Helena said. "May we meet again soon."

"Goodbye and good fortune," Kseniya said with a wave.

Lyudmila nodded. "Farewell."

Helena moved to stand next to both sisters and they linked hands. She looked at both of them and saw they were ready. "Alright. Shall we go?"

"No, I need a moment to be disgusted at how teleporting between dimensions is easier then teleporting within my own home realm," Lyudmila said with a mock frown. She paused a moment. "Okay, done."

"Shizuka and I are ready," Kseniya said.

Helena led the spell, bringing the simple magic circle leading 'home' to mind and calling it to life. The field of falling stars surrounded them for a moment.

And then, with little fuss, they were all standing in Helena's apartment. The spare bed was still sitting at the side, but otherwise it looked the same as always.

Lyudmila folded her arms and looked around the apartment. "This is a good place to live?"

"It is a city, sister," Kseniya said.

"The rent's low and the landlord's nice," Helena replied.

"Well I suppose that's the best you can get sometimes." Lyudmila looked at her. "So what's the plan?"

Helena pulled out the pouches of silver Grete had handed her. "I go settle a small debt, then we fight over who gets the best books until dinner time."

Kseniya smiled. "A good plan."

Lyudmila stretched. "Can't argue with that. We've got a lot of stuff to go over before we have our victory party, along with the celebration of Helena paying her own rent for the first time."

"No fair starting the fighting early," Helena replied as she started for the door. But she was smiling.

It was good to be home and with friends.