Lu and her great grandma waited for what felt like hours but in reality it was only two minutes before an ethereal voice came through the stone.

Sta--STALIDA? This can’t be you! How in the world….I thought you died in the last goblin raid that killed Tut-Man.

The room went silent. Even Lu’s mother seemed shocked. “How did she…”

Just then a projection came into view of a fine elven woman with midnight blue eyes and pure black hair. She stood about six feet one inch and wore a glorious deep purple gown that fit her body perfectly.

“It really is you!”

The projection reached out her hand to Staldia who just stared in shock. Meanwhile the woman looked around the room, taking in her surroundings. Realizing the type of room she was in, with the medical equipment and how somber everything looked, the woman bowed her head. “I’m sorry.”

“Who are you?”

Lu’s mother was the first to speak. Causing the woman to flinch and turn to face her. “Who are you?" is a better question.”

“I’m a friend of Stalida and her granddaughter’s mother, Harley.”

Astrid looked at the three women in the room, making a mental note of their ages. “Nice to meet you, I am esteemed wizard Master of Planar Travel, Astrid Vangof. I believe that is my rod, you have, there.”

Astrid sat on the edge of the bed and held out her hand. Lu willingly gave her the rod and watched as Astrid examined it fully. “Yes, this is mine. The star patterns give that away. They are my signature so to speak. I gave this rod to a young human girl who lived with goblins.” She looked up at Stalida, “That girl was you.” She smiled at her, “I’d hug you but this is just a projection. A spell I crafted called Planar Projection allows cross planar communication. It works way better than Sending ever did. At least this one is foolproof, as it is a guarantee success at communicating.” Astrid looked at Stalida then at Lu. Lu watched as she could feel Astrid study her closely. She nodded. “I see, your granddaughter wants to travel?”

Stalida nodded, “I have been telling her my story, as she was the only one that would listen. Her mind is beautiful.”

“What is your name dear?”

“Lu, Lu Aventin.”

“Do you wish to travel dear?”

“More than anything! But, I think I am needed here.”

Lu looked away from Astrid and found herself looking at the floor. She felt ashamed for even saying that, as her heart didn’t want them to see how she truly feels.

“Dear, I may be a master at planar travel, but that doesn’t mean I can’t snuff out a lie.”

Astrid said as she gave her metal rod back to Stalida. Lu still refused to look at her. She didn’t want to look at her as she was afraid she would start crying.

“It’s more that we don't want her to go.” Lu’s mother spoke up bringing the attention to her instead of Lu. “Stalida leaving was hard on her whole family. Not to mention her own brother got killed by that goblin. How many times did Stalida die herself?”

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“Two. By the looks of it. Reincarnation is a tricky spell. Often requiring sacrificing one's own life, but you get to choose what you get born into. It essentially gives you a second chance at life. It’s a very special gift, costly but worth it to some.”

Astrid spoke, explaining the spell.

“Did you do this to her?”

“No. Wizard’s carry a couple of scrolls that they possibly have purchased from esteemed healers. We can not cast the spell otherwise. As it is a healing focused spell. As I recall, the group of wizards that opened the portal that Stalida first came through had two of these scrolls and one of them was stolen. Then again when the portal that Stalida was forced into.”

“How did you know what the wizards had?”

“Those were my students, I don’t send my students out empty handed. Wizards are known to be a bit more of the squishy type and I wanted to make sure they all returned.”

Harley sighed, “So because of you, she got forced into a life as a goblin?”

Astrid shook her head, “Not because of me. The spell wouldn’t have worked if she chose not to come back as what was selected for her. She wanted that life. I would have been more than happy to save her from it, but she refused to leave the clan. I even gave her one of my few attuned metal rods I had for her plane of existence and a very expensive scroll. In case she ever wanted to leave. It was all by her choice.”

“Interesting.” That was all Harley could say. Lu knew if her father was here, he probably would have been pulling her out of the room by now, knowing that the rod and scroll was a gift from the wizard who tried to save her. Considering his reaction to knowing that she had the option to leave in the first place.

“Stalida, I can take you back there if you wish. The clan still exists. Your great great great grandchildren are ruling the clan.”

Stalida closed her eyes as she took a deep breath before saying her answer, “I would love to return to Aethria before my time is up.”

“That’s great! I can come and get you in a day’s time. I got to prepare the necessary spells for the travels and collect the correct rods from my selection.”

“Stalida, I don’t think that is a good idea.”

Harley said as all three women looked at her at the same time.

“It’s my choice.” Stalida’s cracked voice range, “I am dying Harley, I have no more life here. I want to see Aethria one more time before I go.”

“At least let Daniel see you before you go. You are his flesh and blood after all.”

Lu’s mother approached the bottom of the bed and placed her hands on it. Her eyes said it all as she held back her own tears. “Please.”

Stalida let out a breath, “Bring him here tomorrow. Tomorrow is when we say goodbye forever.”

“But Stalida…”

Lu began as she couldn’t hold back her tears anymore.

“You can come with me Lu. You don’t have to stay in the clan with me, you can study under Astrid.”

“She is more than welcome to join the Wizarding School of Planar Travel. We teach all sorts of magic, though planar travel is our prime focus.”

“Really? I can learn magic?”

Lu’s face lit up with a bit of excitement through her tears.

“You can learn any type of magic you wish. If you do not want to be a wizard I can take you to see The Sacred Grove of the Elders - a very old faction of druids. Or Celestia Sanctuary - the oldest temple in the realms if you wish to become a healer. There are many options for you Lu and a whole universe to explore.”

“That sounds amazing!”

Lu tried to reach out to hug Astrid but remembered that it was just a projection. “Thank you!”

“Anytime dear, now Stalida. I do have a proposition for you. I can give you one more life. A life of that of a goblin again. Yes, you will have to die and be reborn again. Though, you have said it yourself, you are at the end of this life.”

The room fell silent as they all waited for Stalida’s response. To live and to die again for the third and final time. It was her choice, that she knew. What she didn’t know was what the right choice was.