"Hello again, my child."

Anna opens her eyes, looking around at the living room of the Ravenwood house. The fireplace glows softly from what cinders remain within, but the brightest light comes from the ethereal figure sitting opposite her. Samara's face smiles at Anna, who returns the smile. "Sola-Ret. I wasn't expecting you."

"Such is the way with people in our kind of relationship. I wanted to check on you and see how you were faring." The figure relaxes into the chair, the fireplace roaring to life with fresh flames.

"Well, it's been...interesting. Alot of weird stuff going on I don't quite understand; fought off an oathbreaker and sorta saved Kaina. Now we're in Amadeo's hometown, solving the mystery of a ghost and dealing with...well, I dunno what's up with him, this guy who used to own their land and now he lives alone in his house. But when we went there, things got weird."

The figure nods her head, fingers folded in her lap. "Yes, Nelos Ondra. A good man, once. But consumed by greed as all too many are. He had a feeling to him, an air I've felt a few times before."

"How do you mean? Did he stink?"

The figure laughs loudly and shakes her head. "Well, yes and no, my dear. He had a familiar, an imp. Judging by the general attitude of the creature and the feeling I got from him, I'd judge him to be a weaver in service to a dark power."

"A dark power? So not like you?"

"Very much not. The Sin Lord, mortals call him. Krustalght, I've known him as. The Shadow King, He Who Calls From Hell, Master of Tirna, he's got quite a few titles. He's a schemer, that one. I suspect Nelos is just another pawn in his thousand plots. Be wary around him, my dear."

"Of course." Anna nods her head in a sort of seated bow.

"Also, I have a gift for you." Sola-Ret rises and strides toward her, laying a hand on the elf's cheek and leaning down. Her lips brush Anna's forehead leaving a deep warmth that radiates through her spirit.

"I will grant you a part of my sight. Darkness will no longer be a refuge for anyone trying to hide from you, whether it be natural or magically made. Secondly, I am adding some new spells to your book." The tome appears in the figure's hand, and she runs her finger over the pages. There paper lights up, words and runes scrawling themselves into the pages in curling, elegant script. "I hope these gifts better prepare you for wherever your journey may take you, Anastrianna Leyawin."

She holds the book out, and Anna takes it with a grin, holding it to her chest. "Of course! Thank you so much!"

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"Stay on your path, my child. I will be by your side at all times." The figure dissipates, and Anna awakens in the darkness of the living room, the cinders turned to ashes. She looks around, then out the window to see it's still dark. across from her, the last specks of a soft glow evaporate into the air. With a soft yawn, Anna pulls the blanket up around herself and closes her eyes, drifting back to sleep.

****************************************

Hope relaxes against her chair, looking out the window of the party's old room at the Wild Hunt.

"Coming to see me in your dreams now, are you?" Valkyrie rests against the wall, the blade glimmering with an emerald shine.

Hope shrugs her shoulders. "You were right about Mercy Warren. Thought I'd let you know."

"Of course I was right. I could sense from her spiritual energies that she would make the right decision if you did. I provided the options, you steered the narrative."

"So you're what, my advisor?" The devilkin raises an eyebrow and huffs.

"I'm merely a voice you can choose to listen to or not listen to. As long as the strength you wield is used to smite evil and help those beneath you, I have no complaints even if you never speak to me again. You are my chosen champion, Hope. That is all I need."

"You don't get lonely? I can't imagine how bored you must have been for two decades."

The sword is silent for a brief moment, before its blade shimmers again. "I must admit, it was not fun to wait and watch as you underwent your own journey. Nor the way you looked at me like you were somehow a burden. But your training paid off, and you took up arms. For coin, of course, but still. I was most pleased to see you stick with this party for so long."

"I think Anna's the one who did that. Seeing her past come back to haunt her, and her willingness to confront it regardless of how scared she was...She's stronger than I think she realizes or we give her credit for."

"Just as you are. I see your heart, Hope of Loheim. I see the weakness you carry, the fear and doubt. And every day, I see it slowly ebb away into a kind of strength all your own. I see the person you want to become, and it makes me so proud."

Hope snorts. "What are you, my mom?"

Valkyrie continues unabated. "But I also see the person you wish to confront...I recommend you learn to let go of vengeance, Hope."

Hope looks to the sword, its blade dulled in shine. "Why are you telling me this? If I kill evil, does it matter why I'm doing it?"

"Only if you do not become what you kill in the process. Taking your oath in vengeance will only serve to further the darkness in your heart."

"What oath? What are you talking about?" Hope tilts her head, arms folding across her chest as the storm outside lessens.

The glow of the blade brightens a bit, seemingly reacting inversely to the storm. "You aren't just a mercenary now. You're a paladin, and more importantly a champion. somewhere, some day, someone will pray to a God, to anyone listening, their hour of need at hand and the darkest moment reached. And that prayer will be answered because you will arrive. Soon, it will be time to take your oath, what ideal to pledge yourself to. Some vow revenge, others swear fealty to the law or the crown. I've seen some pledge oaths of redemption or conquest, while more swear upon the entire concepts of good or evil. But there's another way."

"What other way?" Hope leans forward curiously, reaching out to touch the blade. As her finger grace the fine steel, she sits up with a start.

"Hey. You ok?" Amadeo rests a hand on her shoulder, the light from outside indicating morning has arrived. "Bad dream?"

Hope sighs, looking around at the rest of the party gathering their gear before shaking her head, resting her cheek against the wizard's hand. "Sort of...I'm better now, though."