The six of them traveled through the night and into the next morning without stopping. They agreed that it was best to get as far away from Tiger Spires Monastery as possible. The closer to home they got, the safer they felt. Even still, they had learned how unpredictable Sano was, and so they alternated who among them would keep an eye behind them as they marched.

They stopped around midday, taking refuge under the shade of a large tree off the main road. They all sat down and dug through their packs, pulling out scraps of whatever food they had left and piecing together a humble feast. They had enough to get through this meal, but they would have to stop for the evening. After the night they'd had, none of them would object to a warm bed, either.

Artie sat down next to Jasper, their backs to the tree. "Can you believe all the stuff we've been through?" he asked.

Jasper replied, "It's been a busy couple of weeks."

Artie chuckled. "I'll say! Nearly executed by monks, attacked by a demon in a tomb, made all these new friends, broke into the Church of Rhore... I even almost got mugged!"

"Most of the stuff you listed wouldn't have happened if you had," Jasper said.

"Yeah... you know, I've been thinking about that..."

Artie trailed off, and Jasper raised his eyebrows in anticipation. Several moments passed with Artie's face scrunched in deep contemplation. Finally, Jasper said, "And?"

"Oh, I don't have any answers. Been thinking about it, though."

Jasper rolled his eyes and couldn't help but smile.

"Sorry to eavesdrop," Slade said, "but maybe you should ask Udai about it."

Artie looked at the dark elf, eyes wide with realization. "You saved me?"

Udai nodded. "I'm able to go invisible for short periods of time. It's a gift my kind are born with, though I've practiced and strengthened the power over the years."

Jasper said, "So you've been watching over us since after the church break-in?"

"Before that, really. I was in the almshouse, distracting people from going outside while you entered the well. That was rather difficult, but the rain did help convince people not to go out."

"Unbelievable!" Artie said.

Udai looked at Jasper and said, "Nice work with the bucket. Wasn't sure what I was going to do."

Jasper laughed. "I felt sorry for the poor guy."

The conversation lulled for a while. The six of them enjoyed their meager meal in peace. After a while, Rogue John began looking around at all of his companions. Finally, his gaze stopped on Ryujin. The dragonborn was sitting with his legs and arms crossed, his eyes closed as he meditated, focusing on his breathing. The halfling stared at him, eyes squinted and brow furrowed.

"All right," the rogue said, "what's wrong with you? We've eaten, we're restin', it's a beautiful day under this mighty shade tree. Circumstances like this usually make it difficult to shut you up. Why aren't you blabberin' on?""

"Sano still bothers me," Ryujin said, without opening his eyes. "He was quite deceptive."

"He's a coward," Rogue John said, taking one more aggressive bite out of the jerky he held. "If he shows himself again, we'll have to kill him."

Jasper nodded in agreement. "We were no harm to him, but he did everything he could to kill us. I'll not hold back if I see him again." His hand went to his wand. The wood felt comforting in his fingers.

"I feel sorry for him," Artie said. "He obviously loved his students, but he couldn't handle the tragedy that Murata caused. He tried to cope how he felt necessary, but he was all wrong... I guess a person can care so much that it warps their thinking."

Jasper's eyes dropped to his boots, and he removed his hand from his wand.

"And he blamed the Mask of Mandu for it," Udai said. "In a way he was right - the mask corrupts."

Jasper and Artie looked at one another with concerned and solemn expressions. Slade, Ryujin, and John all pondered silently.

Udai continued: "I don't mean to dissuade you from using it. I think your friend is running out of options, and if I were in her position, I would gamble on the mask. Just realize that's what it is - a gamble."

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"What do you mean?" Jasper asked, wrapping himself in his cloak.

"All you know about the mask is legend."

"Sano saw it work."

"Has he proven himself to be trustworthy and dependable?" Udai shrugged. "Again, I'm not trying to talk you out of it. I just want to know that you two have truly thought about the consequences of using the mask."

"We have," Jasper said with more force than intended.

"Have you? Or have you only thought of the consequences of not using it?"

Jasper did not answer. He had been sure for so long, but he was losing hope every day. He used to be the one to spur Artie along, but recently Artie had seemed the emboldened one.

Slade said, "A couple of us should keep watch while the other four rest for an hour. I'll take first watch. Udai, will you join me?"

"I will. I didn't have to fight a demon, after all."

Jasper rolled onto his side, still wrapped in his cloak. He shut his eyes, but he knew he wouldn't be getting any sleep. Something Sano said kept reverberating in his mind.

Having the mask will not stop bad things from happening, and when an occasion arises that the mask can't help, you will feel more powerless than ever.

----------------------------------------

Several days later, the six of them arrived back home.

"I'm going to check on Vesper and Shiva and pray that my tavern is still standing," Slade said as they passed through the gates of the city. The one-eyed mercenary put a hand on each of the young wizards' shoulders and grinned. "Give Cerana a big hug for me, and then bring her to the tavern so I can give her one myself."

"We will," Jasper said.

"Thank you for everything, Slade," Artie added. "We couldn't have done any of this if you hadn't helped us."

Slade laughed. "It was good! Reminded me I'm not too old, yet." Turning to the others, he said, "Who wants to join me? Victory drinks on me - first round only."

"You know I'm there," Rogue John said.

"I'll go," Ryujin said.

"I may join you later, but first I'm going to go check on Aurora and the girls," Udai said.

"John, Ryujin, Udai, thank you all," Artie said, clasping his hands together over his heart. He looked as if he were about to cry. "This all means so much to us, and Cerana, too."

"We'll be sure to introduce her to all of you," Jasper added, shaking hands with all of them. "C'mon, Art, let's go."

The four old friends watched with smiles as the young wizards hurried down the street. Udai said, "It's a good thing we did, gentlemen."

They all nodded before simultaneously sighing. Slade groaned and said, "My back hurts... And my neck... And one of my shoulders..."

"I believe I bruised one of my shins from a misjudged kick."

Rogue John nodded understanding and said, "I've come to realize I'm a bit out of shape."

Ryujin quipped: "I thought you felt pretty heavy when I threw you at the demon."

"...Shut up, ya' lizard..."

----------------------------------------

Jasper and Artie almost burst into the college infirmary, but were stopped by one of the healers on shift. The woman blocked the door and held her hands out, causing them to skid to a halt. "Jasper Hemlock and Arthur Gibberton... Where have you two been? You've neglected to visit Cerana for nearly two weeks."

"Yes, ma'am," Artie said, wheezing from the run. He reached up and straightened his wizard hat. "We were away on important business, but we've come straight here now that we're back."

"How is she?" Jasper asked.

"She's missed you both terribly," the woman replied, her head whipping between the two of them like a chicken. "There's been a noticeable decline in her health while you were away."

"Well, we're here now. We'd like to see her."

The woman nodded and walked away, a small smile on her face. In truth, she was glad to see the boys back. It would do wonders for Cerana's condition.

Jasper and Artie wasted no time running inside. They tried to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb the other patients, but shot forward straight toward Cerana's bed. They peeked around the privacy curtain to see that she was sleeping. They smiled at one another and sat down in the chairs next to her bed. Artie handed Jasper his pack, and while he dug around for the mask, Artie reached out, placing a gentle hand on Cerana's shoulder while he took her hand in the other.

Cerana's eyes flittered open and it took her a moment to realize the two of them were there in the flesh. Her face lit up immediately and she struggled to sit up. She pulled Artie over and threw her arms around his neck, and he returned the hug. Jasper smiled when he saw her tears of joy. Without saying anything, Cerana let go of Artie and waved Jasper over to hug him as well.

"Didn't think we'd come back, eh?" Jasper said.

"It felt like a lifetime!" she replied.

Artie said, "Look what we brought back for you. Show her, Jasper."

Jasper pulled out the Mask of Mandu and held it out to her.

"Is that it? You found it?" She looked from the mask to Jasper and Artie, who were nodding like fools. "Amazing..." She reached out with trembling hands and took it, running her fingers over the smooth, dark red dragon scale. "Does it work?"

Jasper and Artie exchanged glances. "All we've got are legends," Jasper said.

"I have a good feeling about it, though," Artie said, chuckling nervously.

"I suppose I don't have much to lose, do I?" Cerana asked. Her eyes had not lifted from the mask, and she seemed drawn to it. "Shall I try it now? Yes, I believe I will..."

"Go on. We're right here with you, no matter what."

Jasper moved to one side of the bed and placed a hand on her shoulder while Artie did the same on the other side. Cerana took a deep breath and nodded before lifting the mask and placing it over her face. A glowing white light flared from under the mask, trying to escape at the seams where the mask touched her flesh. Jasper and Artie both flinched, prepared to rip the mask off of her, but her sweet laughter from underneath made them hesitate.

Cerana let go of the mask and it stayed in place, as if the glowing light had seared it to her face. Still she laughed. "I feel stronger already!" she exclaimed. To their amazement, she threw the blankets aside and threw her legs over the side of the bed, leaping to her feet - something she hadn't done in months. "It works! It works!"

Both boys laughed in bewilderment. Relief rushed over their entire beings, and they grinned at one another. Artie rushed forward and wrapped Cerana in a bear hug as she continued to laugh. Jasper took a moment to enjoy the sight. All of their hard work had finally paid off, and the joy he felt from helping Cerana - like he had promised her so many times before - was unmatched.

Cerana kept laughing, and laughing, and laughing...

Jasper noticed a gradual change in the tone of the laugh. It went from her normal high-pitch to lower, deeper, more sinister. Jasper's smile faded as he realized he had heard that laugh before - inside the tomb...