Lana's heart thumps soundly in her chest. She is certain Jim can hear it. Cru can certainly sense her excitement. The goblin is a talented druid with an acute awareness of people's feelings. How can her heart not beat rapidly, though? She found him. Kip was her best friend. They were going to grow old together. In a world of doubt and uncertainty, he was her constant. And then, just as she feared, and as it always happened, her life was torn to pieces. Kip vanished. Her senses told her he was dead. Her heart and soul were not convinced. He was missing. Something happened to him, and it was up to Lana to find him.

Ever since their last mission together, she has been searching for him. By all accounts, he died in a skirmish at the hands of the Alderian Emperor. Despite Kip's warnings and begging, Lana's squad pushed on ahead. He left them in hopes it would finally sway them to turn back. They pursued their mission without their guide.

The mana pulsing from the bloody forest ground was angry. Horrors manifested, and Lana's squad found themselves fighting for their lives. Rocky was the first to perish. His life dissolved into nothing. Then it was Sasha. While she was being slaughtered, Flint used all of his miracles and magic to get Lana to safety. Sasha was still crying for help when they crawled through the portal. Sometimes, she can still hear her cries. Flint might as well have died that day. He chose his adopted daughter over his fiance.

Now Kip was here, and they were conversing with each other just like her favorite memories. Except… he didn't have his memories. Such a tragedy was incomprehensible. At the same time, she was so glad to see and talk to him. It is Kip. She is sure of that. His memories might be gone. His mannerisms are different. Even his soul is changed. Everything is different about him and similar at the same time. His quiet confidence is one of the most telling. Kip always had a secret… It was like knowing something someone else didn't gave him higher ground to stand on.

"You came here looking for a home?" Kip… Jim asks.

"A home and other things." Lana does not want to be secretive but does not think it is the right time to tell Jim he is who she is looking for. She is still trying to understand the turn of events.

"You can live here if you want… All of you," Jim quietly curses. Lana didn't notice before, but he is about to break into a sweat. That is unexpected. Is she making him uncomfortable? She must change the conversation and not pick on him for his forward invitation.

"Thank you, Jim. That is kind of you to offer. I can not speak for the people, but I will mention it to them. Of course, where we end up also depends on Genevieve's decision.

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"Right, right. She's the queen, and these are her lands… sorta. I mean, yeah, these are her lands.

"You all do have a wonderful location." Lana suppresses a smile and leans into sincerity. Kip had so many secrets. Most of them were made up… like his name. Still, he held onto secrets like they were gold. Luckily, Lana also got to hold onto several of his secrets. Hearing Jim create a layer of mystery so casually felt like a fond memory.

"Thanks. I'm a bit torn between here and the ocean. Not that I'm kicking you out of your place at the ocean… I mean, we did have plans to live there as well. I mean…" Jim falls silent. This time, Lana can not entirely suppress her smile.

"Being island born as you are, I imagine you have a strong pull to the ocean. Back home, my old home in Luminary, we didn't live on the coast, but trips to the beach happened often. One island, called The Horn, had the most perfect swells. The water is cold, but if you can endure that, you could have the perfect day at the beach."

"Did you play in the water much?" Jim asks with a distant smile. She is sure he's thinking of ocean waves right now.

"Not so much when I was younger. I could not endure the cold waters for the waves to be fun. When I moved to Greia, I spent many days cultivating on the beach. A close friend swore that beach days doubled cultivating efficiency."

"Smart man!"

"He would say the same, himself." Lana let out a small chuckle. He was different, but it was still Kip. Even the way he brushes his hair back is the same. Not that there are many variations of brushing one's hair back. Jim's version is very low-key dramatic.

"So, not to be more forward than asking you to move in with me, not that I asked you to move into my home. I don't even have a home. This is a home, and y'all can live here, but we need to have a meeting."

"Oh?" Lana tries to play it off like this is new information. The quick change of conversation is unexpected, so she leans into that- just when things were starting to flow naturally, too.

"Yeah. It will be a small meeting. Our leaders and I want to talk to you and your leaders… but you already knew that… that's why you're here." Jim shakes his head a little, and in the background, a skeleton laughs. "What I mean to say is that the meeting is happening now. Care to follow me?"

"Gladly," she responds. Jim smiles like a weight is lifted from him and nods to Cru. The goblin nods back and leads Becky to the room Gavin, Scotty, and Gene are walking into. Bones and Nette are talking just outside of the meeting room. Jim leads her through a few food stations on his way to the meeting. Lana forgot the man hadn't eaten yet and chides herself for not giving him a chance to eat. After grabbing a few rolls and some meat herself, the two also make their way to the meeting room.