Author's Note:

It's finally here, chapter fifty! Hooray! How exciting! A big thank you to everyone who has been here since chapter one! I know my updates have been erratic at best, so thanks for sticking with me. I love you all. Thank you for the favorites, follows, and the reviews. They never fail to put a little spring into my step. I don't think any of you realize how happy you make me. Thank you! :D

I was worried the fiftieth chapter wasn't going to be special, but it is. A certain someone finally makes her entrance.

Enjoy!

Shulk eagerly followed Ra'Kasha around the Exile Sanctuary. The Ignas' home was a massive network of tunnels and caverns and he was sure he would get lost if he didn't have someone as a guide. The entire time Qu'La walked with them, the volff turned out to be even friendlier than Shulk originally thought.

"Ssshulk the day growsss late, ssso I ssshall ssshow you where you will retire for the night." Ra'Kasha led him up a set of stairs and they were back in the hallway they had been in that morning. Shulk identified the room he had awoken in from the color of the drapes in the doorway.

"I tended to you in my chamber," Ra'Kasha informed him when she saw his gaze. "Your quartersss are jussst down the hall."

"Thank you for everything you've done for me. It's been a great honor to see your home. And thank you for the weapon." Shulk touched the hilt of the sword and he smiled slightly. The blade reminded him of a certain seer and he couldn't help but to wonder if that's why the Claymore had been there in the first place.

"It isss my pleasssure." Ra'Kasha smiled at him. Shulk had finally gotten used to the sharp toothed grin. "Ssspeaking with you about the other racesss hasss helped me to underssstand much."

"I learned a lot about the Ignas too." Shulk nodded in agreement. The two hadn't stopped talking since their sparring match.

Ra'Kasha stopped and pulled aside the dark curtains to a room. She held them open and stepped to the side. She motioned Shulk into the room.

"I hope you do not mind sssharing the ssspace."

Shulk entered and his eyes widened when he saw who roomed with him. A flush entered his cheeks. The other occupant smiled and stood.

"Hello there, I'm Eleanor." She held out her hand and her twilight colored eyes sparkled. Her coppery brown hair was short and hung close to her face. A scar ran from the center of her right cheek and down her neck. Currently, she wore a plain white sheath dress, her nightclothes.

"I-I'm Shulk," He took her hand and shook it. His eyes trailed to her left shoulder and down her arm. The mark of ether burn scars marred her tawny skin.

"It looks like we'll be rooming together. Mer'Rik told me." She released his hand and pointed to the bed nearest the entrance. "I've claimed this one, I hope you don't mind. It's easier for me to take visitors that way." Eleanor grinned and knelt down, "Isn't that right, Qu'La?"

The volff went over to her open arms and Eleanor began to pet her vigorously. Ra'Kasha chuckled.

"Qu'La will ssstay with you two. My room isss mere ssstepsss away if you need anything. Good night." The Chieftess bowed her head to them before dropping the curtains back into place and disappearing from sight. Her footsteps faded away down the hall.

Eleanor played with the volff until Qu'La turned away and curled up by the doorway. The Homs girl pouted and then got back to her feet. Shulk still stood awkwardly in his spot, not having moved since entering. Eleanor eyed him for a moment and then laughed.

"Don't be so nervous, just because I've been living with the Ignas doesn't mean I bite."

"Oh, sorry." Shulk rubbed the back of his head. "I'm still a little surprised that I'm sharing a room with you, that's all."

"Go ahead and get settled in," Eleanor returned to her place at the desk in the corner. She plopped down onto the wooden chair and huddled closer to the carved stone. Shulk moved to the other side of the room and leaned the Claymore beside the bed.

He felt a little silly being so apprehensive about sharing a room with Eleanor. He had traveled with Sharla, Melia, and Fiora, so it shouldn't have bothered him. The feeling was familiar however, he remembered feeling a bit nervous when he had first met Sharla on Bionis Leg. Things had been awkward at first, but he quickly learned when and how to give the woman her privacy. That wasn't the main reason for his hesitance…

Shulk fingered the clasps of his chest plate and glanced over his shoulder at Eleanor. He blushed as he thought about having to change clothing. He removed his armor and set it down next to the Claymore. He rubbed his head again as he looked around the room.

It was very similar to Ra'Kasha's but lacked some of the ornamentation. Shelves lined the walls, filled with the familiar clay pots, which Shulk had learned was an Ignan specialty. A wooden table and chair were nestled in the corner opposite Eleanor. It was obvious that's where she had stolen her chair from. In one of the shelves nearest Eleanor's bed, the girl had stashed her clothing. Shulk glanced down at his chest plate and quickly tossed it into a cubby.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and kicked off his shoes.

"How long have you been living with the Ignas?"

"Hm?" Eleanor stopped whatever she was working on to raise her head. She didn't turn around when she replied. "I've been here ever since the world was reshaped, so about two years. You'll find that the Ignas aren't very accepting of Homs, but once they warm up to you, they're all very nice people."

"Ra'Kasha already warned me…" Shulk sighed and his thoughts trailed back to every Igna he had ever defeated. His hands clenched into fists from frustration. Guilt and anger towards himself flared through his heart. "I don't think they'll like me too much."

"Don't be that way," Eleanor turned in her seat and flashed him a comforting smile. "It takes a while, but you can do it."

Shulk shook his head.

"You don't understand. I killed their last leader. I've defeated their best warriors. Had I known everything I do now, then I wouldn't have-"

"You're being too hard on yourself." Eleanor interrupted him. Shulk looked up at her in surprise. "I'm sure had your reasons for doing what you did. There's no way to change the past, so you've got to accept it and move on. I've done some pretty crazy things, but I've learned from my mistakes." Eleanor tapped the scar on her cheek knowingly. "You can't change the way people judge you for your mistakes, but that doesn't mean you can't learn from them. You'll never kill another Igna again and that's the important thing, right?"

"Yeah." Shulk couldn't keep himself from matching her smile, it was contagious. "Thanks. You're right."

She nodded approvingly and turned back to her work. Shulk watched her for a moment and his curiosity got the better of him. He got to his feet and went over to her. He peered over her shoulder and asked.

"What are you working on?" Any bit of research interested him.

"I'm taking notes on Ignan society. A friend of mine is really interested in anthropology, actually that's about the only thing he's interested in." She laughed and held up her notes. "I can't wait to show him everything I've learned. He'll quiz me, I just know it."

Shulk took the papers from her hands and his eyes skimmed over her stringy handwriting. He flipped through the pages and stopped on one of the sketches. Qu'La sat at the bottom of the page, the lines crafting her rough and at points, not connected. Notes about the volff were jotted above and around the image. Shulk smiled wistfully as it reminded him of his research notes back at the colony.

"So you research animals?"

"I find animals amazing and fascinating. I love learning everything I can about them, but they're not the only thing I research. I just like learning new things." Eleanor took the notes back when Shulk held them out. She tapped the pages on the desk to even them out. "Actually, I'm learning meditation from the Ignas. Would you like to come with me?"

"Meditation?" Shulk tipped his head. "What's that?"

Eleanor beamed up at him.

"You'll just have to see. So are you in or not?"

"Um…" Shulk hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Sure."