The months since Thepa had emerged from the jungle alone, felt like an eternity. Defeated and almost without hope, she pushed forward. Since then, her life had spiraled into an emotional storm so chaotic that she barely recognized the Saintian she'd once been. Thepa, a Youngling of the Mountains, had once stood tall as the first satyr captain of the Goldale Guard and leader of Elite Team Zero. But that chapter of her life had closed. Now, the weight of a far greater title pressed upon her—Matriarch of the Beachwick and Ruler of the Sisterhood.

The shift from leading soldiers into battle to leading a fractured nation settled heavily on her horns. Decisions were no longer about tactics or warfare but about the future of her people. Even now, as Sister Vivian delivered a status report on Beachwick, her thoughts were tangled with doubt. The upheaval caused by Zelphina's betrayal, the disappearance of Elite Team One, and Rory's death haunted her every step. Yet, somehow, she pressed on.

In a weird way, dealing with the fallout of Zelphina's coup had been the easiest of the three.

Once Thepa's dagger had found Zelphina's heart, the matrons who'd sided with her crumbled. Some minor skirmishes flared up in the following weeks, led mostly by those unwilling to forgive the traitors, but Thepa had kept her word. None were to be harmed. She personally mediated every conflict, emphasizing unity above all else. As a sign of reconciliation, albeit with some persuasion from her mother, Sister Vivian, and Sister Onna, she elevated Zelphina's second-in-command, Ciary to the Council of Sisters as Zelphina's replacement.

"In addition to the wall's repair, Sister Ciary requests your presence at the range."

Thepa stiffened at Ciary's name. A knot of unease tightened in her chest. "Are Sister Onna's people stirring up trouble again?"

Vivian paused, her gaze drifting towards the range. "Not openly. I've heard rumors, but no one's come forward. So far, the Sisters of the Beachwood seem content to keep to themselves."

"That's a bad sign," Thepa muttered, furrowing her brow. "If the rest of the Matrons refuse to accept them, we're right back where we were ten months ago. We need to make them feel like they belong in the Sisterhood."

"As you've said before," Vivian responded, her tone devoid of warmth.

Thepa cast a quick glance at the scars where Vivian's horns once were—stripped from her during Zelphina's coup. The absence marked a deep shame for Vivian, and though she didn't fully agree with Thepa's approach to reintegration, she upheld it with an almost fanatical loyalty. Vivian had even issued a brutal decree: anyone caught removing another matron's horns—whether a youngling, a Sister of Blood, or even a Sister of Skirret—would pay with their head.

"As you have said before, Sister." Thepa echoed, sensing the tension. She stretched her hands wide and bent her head in a low, humble bow, a gesture far beneath her status as Matriarch. "Still, I'm grateful for your support. You have my thanks."

Vivian smiled and returned the gesture bowing only slightly higher than her. Knowing she was content with the conversation for the moment, Thepa shifted the conversation back to the matter at hand. "Did Sister Ciary say why she wants to see me?" Thepa asked.

Sulack," Vivian replied as they continued their walk toward Thepa's ancestral home. "She was hoping you could be the guest of honor for the Sisters of the Beachwoods."

Sulack was a tradition, a game played in three parts once every completion by the guild recruits. The nature of the game varied depending on the guild, as each had its own unique culture. The Sisters of Blood prided themselves on their brute strength and relentless offensive tactics. The Sisters of Skirret, largely comprised of druids, relied on their mastery of animal and wild shapes. The Sisters of the Beachwood often emphasized long-range attacks. For the games, each recruit would compete to be guild champion, but the game was always a game of showmanship.

Participation in Sulack was mandatory for every recruit, but the events were carefully tailored to their skills, ensuring a balance between challenge for the recruit and enjoyment for the crowd. It wasn't just a test of strength or magic—it was a day for the recruits to showcase their progress, earning personal guidance from the Council of Sisters, enjoy a feast in their honor, and obtain bragging rights until the next game.

For the matrons, it was a brief respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A small guard watched the perimeter, ensuring safety while the rest took a rare moment to relax. In addtion, to the games, each guild selected a guest of honor, and if the recruits managed to defeat that guest, they would earn the prestigious title of "Sister" for the week. As far as Thepa knew, only one matron had ever earned such a title—the one that now walked beside her.

"Anyone I should be worried about?" Thepa asked, her curiosity piqued as she thought of the recruits under Sister Ciary's tutelage.

Truth be told, Thepa was excited at the prospect of being an honored guest. Suluk was the biggest event all matrons looked forward to and she had missed her own chances to participate during her youth. Of the four chances she might have had to participate, one opportunity had passed right before she joined, another while she was on a diplomatic mission with her mother, and two more after her transfer to the Wildehaven Hunters. Being the guest of honor might not have been the same as being a recruit, but it was a chance to make up for lost time, something she had been doing a lot lately.

"There's one recruit who's been stirring talk among the Matrons. They say her skill with a bow might even surpass yours. Perhaps Sister Ciary hopes to embarrass you," Vivian said with a teasing glint.

"Hmm," Thepa mused, though a grin crept to her lips. "If that's Sister Ciary's plan, she doesn't know me at all. The Sisterhood should be proud to have such a gifted warrior....or perhaps your deflecting. Perhaps you're the one worried a new champion might finally break your own title."

Vivian snorted, a rare show of amusement. "Let them try. Back in my day, I had more grit than any other Matron. Today's recruits are a little too soft. Sister Franne once told me she thought I aimed to kill during our match, and truthfully, I did. I was reckless then." She paused, stretching her arms and cracking her joints. "Fifteen completions make a difference."

The familiar silhouette of Thepa's ancestral home came into view. Yet thoughts of Sulack had pulled her mind away from her burdens, providing a welcomed distraction. Not wanting the conversation to end, she turned fully toward Vivian, her back now facing the door of her home.

"Do you know who Sister Onna has chosen as her guest of honor?"

"I'm not sure," Vivian replied thoughtfully. "Last I heard, she was still holding out hope we'd find Matron Zuna. But seeing as she's still missing, I imagine it'll be either herself or Matron Niako. Have you heard anything?"

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"No, but I still have hope," Thepa said softly.

Since her abrupt teleportation from Lilith's temple to the newly discovered and destroyed Esha ionic crystal, she had failed to see or even contact most of Elite Team One. The only one she'd seen was Julius, who had stopped by Beachwick two months ago on his way home to Swampspell. He reported waking up in a bed at Clayborn outpost, having been found unconscious near the Clayborn ionic crystal, which had also been destroyed.

Yenry had contacted her much earlier by the Message Spell. Mistress Deeprabbit sent word through a diplomatic pouch, informing her that scouts had discovered Yenry's unconscious body atop a third destroyed ionic crystal near Pearlview, surrounded by a small group of hobgoblins. It had taken him nearly a month to recover from the ordeal, and when she finally heard from him, he had no new information about what had happened.

As for Wilran and Zuna... Thepa feared the worst. No messages had come, no reports had surfaced, and both physical and magical searches yielded nothing. It was possible they hadn't teleported like the others, but Thepa found that unlikely. She hadn't seen Wilran in those final moments, but she had been sure she saw the magic arc around Zuna.

True, she'd been distracted by the sudden appearance and death of Claudia, but she knew what she saw. And if they had teleported, where had they gone? She thought there could be more undiscovered ionic crystals, but if that were the case, why hadn't they returned or reported in? Thepa's mind churned through the possibilities, but her heart refused to accept the most logical conclusion.

There not gone. They've just got to be okay. As long as there is hope, I won't give up on them.

Vivian nodded in agreement and said, "Hope is something we can never afford to lose."

Thepa smiled faintly but quickly sought to change the subject. "And what about you, Sister? Will you defend your title, or are you going to give someone else a chance?"

Vivian gave her a sideways smile as she shifted both her shoulders back and forth, popping them in the process.

"You can be sure I'll be the one standing in the champion's circle," she said. "I feel some of the more promising recruits have been holding back for fear of hurting me. I think it's about time I change that, and remind them this body still has spark left in it. Might even get out the polish for the great axe here." She said, gesturing towards the large axe slung across her back.

For the second time, Thepa's gaze shifted briefly to the place where Vivian's horns once were. She understood the unspoken weight of it. Many of the Matrons were careful in how they spoke or acted around Vivian or her mother. It would have been unthinkable to humiliate them any further.

"And if you lose?" Thepa asked.

"Then I'll lose with the grace of a warrior. There's no shame in that."

It was moments like the ones Thepa was now experiencing that made her grateful to have Vivian by her side. Thepa didn't know if Vivian was the reckless youth she claimed to have been, but her time as a Sister has been nothing but a fountain of wisdom for Thepa to tap upon. Thepa had to make all the tough decisions, but at least she was glad to have a mentor standing by her side to help her weather the storm.

"Alright, why don't you look into those repairs after Sulack. At the moment, I don't think they sound too pressing. I'll meet with Sister Ciary—"

"Thepa!Thepa!Thepa!Thepa!Thepa!"

A youngling, no more than seven completions, rushed around the corner, her excitement radiating in every step. Her skin was fairer than most in the Sisterhood, many of whom had the bronze or olive complexions of those seasoned by the sun. But the younger ones, like the youngling that now rushed her, hadn't seen as much of the outdoors. She had the telltale signs of youth in Beachwick—wild, dark hair, disheveled clothing, and brown eyes brimming with adventure.

With a commanding voice, Vivian sternly corrected the young satyr. "Matron Keylee! Have you no manners?"

Keylee froze, her name spoken in that tone sending a wave of terror through her. She hadn't noticed Vivian's presence, and Thepa doubted they had interacted before. From her own experience, it wasn't something she would wish on anyone.

A small 'eep' escaped Keylee's mouth and she looked towards the ground and mumbled an apology. Knowing a cry for help when she heard it, Thepa decided to save the poor Matron from a fiercer scolding.

"Sister Vivian's right, Matron Keylee. It's Sister Thepa or Matriarch. Good manners are the rules by which we live by."

"Sorry, Sister Vivian. Sorry, Sister Thepa," Keylee stammered, her voice trembling. "I will try to be better."

"I'll make sure the repairs happen as discussed," said Vivian, giving a nod to Thepa. "For now, I'll bid you leave. Don't forget to bow next time, Matron Keylee."

As Vivian departed, Keylee gave a small nod of acknowledgment. But the moment Vivian was out of earshot, the young matron's excitement returned as if the scolding had never happened.

"Can you do it? You promised me if I waited until the end of the day, you would do it."

"Well, Matron Keylee," Thepa teased, "you also promised me you wouldn't call me Thepa in front of others. You almost gave away our little secret. If you can't keep a small secret, how can I trust you with a big one?"

Keylee's eyes went wide, and another tiny squeak escaped her lips, much to Thepa's amusement.

"I promise I'll call you Sister Thepa forever if you don't take the big secret from me."

Thepa rolled her eyes playfully, smiling as she led Keylee inside her ancestral home. After closing the door behind them, she made sure her mother wasn't around before pulling out the necklace Rory had given her months ago. Turning to the wide-eyed youth, Thepa winked, and with a flick of her hand, she stepped out of sync.

It had taken her some time to fully understand the power of the necklace. The first time she activated it, during the battle with Zelphina, had been purely by accident. The loud boom, the purple light, and the smoke from the Goldale outpost had caught her off guard, allowing Zelphina to drive her dagger into Thepa's shoulder. She had collapsed, and as Zelphina taunted her to the gasps of the crowd, Thepa resigned herself to her fate.

Sorry sister, she thought. Once again, I failed you.

But Rory hadn't failed her. Just as the second dagger was about to pierce her heart, a flash of blue light froze everything around her. Time stood still. The audience became a hazy blur, and Thepa saw a world largely obscured by mist.

The experience was extraordinary. It was if the people around her were frozen solid. Not even the air or wind could be heard except the beating of her own heart which pounded away in her chest all the while attempting to flush blood around the knife that wasn't even oozing. Not sure what she should do, and as carefully as she could, she slid out from underneath Zelphina and stepped a few feet away.

Still, nothing stirred. The faces in the crowd she could see were frozen mid-reaction, hung in varying states of fear, shock, and satisfaction. Not knowing how long her situation would last, Thepa steeled herself and charged at the unsuspecting Zelphina.

Over time, Thepa came to realize that the necklace was deeply tied to her bond with Rory. It only worked when she had the desire to use it and if she concentrated on a memory of sister. As she showed it off for Keylee, she recalled the time Rory had healed her wounds from a particular hard day of training. It wasn't a grand moment, but when she wanted to think about Rory, she wanted to think the kind heart and loving disposition of the person she lost.

The more she used the pendant, the more the cloudy haze peeled itself back, as if its usage was revealing more of its world to her. In it, especially when she focused on strong positive memories, she felt familiarity and comfort to the sister she no longer had. Often, there were moments where she wanted to stay in it forever, but no matter how much she tried, the pendant would always push her out as if staying too long would have upset the balance of her world or the one contained within.

This time, Thepa didn't linger. She snapped back to the task of entertaining Keylee, and with a mischievous grin, she appeared behind the youngling and shouted, "Boo!"

"Eep!" Keylee squeeked. She jumped off the ground almost knocking in to Thepa, but that didn't seem to bother the youngling. Almost immediately, she fell to the ground and giggled herself into a tizzy. Thepa onsidered playfully kicking her with the side of her hoof, but the ringing of the bell signifying the change of day brought the youngling back to her senses.

"Eep! I gotta go!" Keylee exclaimed, scrambling to her hooves. She bolted for the door, slamming it open and shut with such force that it rattled on its hinges. Just before she disappeared, Thepa heard her familiar parting words.

"Same time tomorrow, Thepa?"

"Sure," Thepa called out, knowing full well Keylee hadn't heard her.

She lingered in the doorway, absently fingering the necklace.

"Well, Rory, perhaps entertaining younglings isn't exactly becoming of a Matriarch," she mused softly. "But somehow, I think you'd approve."

In response, the pendant pulsed with a faint, reassuring glow.