Raelle watched her disappear in the dark, standing frozen by the tree even as the third bell tolled. She clutched her hand over her heart before breaking out of her trance to her unit calling out for her. Unwillingly, Collar turned around and fled the woods where Josephine was struggling with threading the string through the front of her dress.

"There you are. I tell you, these boys really fuck with me, in more ways than one," she added as a joke. A realization hit her when she noticed Raelle's tousled hair and flush hickey speckled skin. "Looks like you got some, too. Wanna dish now or wait until we're all together?" They heard the bell ring for the witches as a final warning. "Come on before we get in trouble."

Leviolet gave up on threading it and tossed it around her neck while droning on about her night with a fellow witch whom she shared with. Most of the details the Healer prodigy ignored as she focused on Scylla's taste that lingered on her tongue and lips. Finally, they made their way on their bus, shuffling to the back through the various conversations that filled the vehicle. Salacious details of their encounter with traded secrets and tricks of the trade flooded Collar's ears, pulling her back into reality long enough to hear Tally recount her own romp that afternoon. She nodded and smiled at her friend's fun, but an emptiness ate away at her stomach. The moment she had shared with her soulmate was beautiful and long-awaited, but now she wanted more, she wanted to stay and cuddle with her, talk and joke about the military like they did when she was still in basic. It almost made her sick at the thought that that may have been their last moment together, still bickering but loving each other.

A tender hand brushed across her shoulder blades, not Scylla's, and drew her from her toxic regrets. Tally gave her a kind, yet worried grin.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"I saw her," she managed to choke out. Her heart ached at the mere thought.

"Who?" Tally leaned in enough to hopefully not wake the sleeping Bellweather beside her.

Raelle shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose to stave off any harsh emotion while they were on the bus. Quickly wrapped in her friend's embrace, she broke down into a sniffling mess in her arms. She hated having to deal with emotions like that, anything that wasn't anger was almost impossible for her to comprehend and as much as she wanted to push Craven away, it felt like the only place she could have a moment of grief for once again leaving her love.

It only lasted a few minutes, but the remainder of the ride was just as torturous. It wasn't until they reconvened in Raelle's room, her current unit leaving them to sleep up their cum drunk, and alcohol drunk, state. Tally sat beside her melancholy friend while Abi watched from the desk below her new Spree-free mirror. With the window open, a few conversations could be heard below while other witches chattered in the halls. High-strung silence drifted amongst the young soldiers before

Abi finally asked, "Who is 'her'?" With no answer, she began to guess. "Scylla?" Earning a tense stare, she leaned back in the chair. "Are you sure you didn't have… I don't know, a bad trip?"

"It was weed, not shrooms," Craven corrected her. "You don't trip on weed, you just get relaxed."

"I don't know much about drugs, High Atlantic society looks down upon non-witch made products."

"Wait don't you have a-"

"How did neither of you see her. She was dancing with us. I danced with her. She probably had a turn with or near one of you?" Raelle finally interrupted. "I had her in my arms and- how- why did I let her go again?" Frustrated tears began to peak over her lashes before drying again. Tears got her nowhere, they only made it harder to think. "Errg, I feel like I'm going crazy." She took a breath in her hands before continuing, "She was there, it really was her."

"We aren't saying we don't believe you, we're just as confused as you are. How did she escape that prison?" Tally carefully inquired.

"Someone released her before she was supposed to be transferred."

"Who broke her out? Where has she been for the past year?" Bellweather cut in.

"With the Spree."

"Excuse me? We have to tell someone." Abigail stood up, reaching out for the door until Raelle plastered herself across to block her.

"Wait, don't, she isn't hurting anyone. I swear."

"How would you know what she's been up to if you haven't seen her since we were deployed?"

"Abigail," Tally corrected her.

"God, you're just like Anacostia, you've always had it out for her," Collar accused her old leader.

"Not always."

"You're right, not when she was locked up and had a possibility of rotting away in a prison!"

"Maybe if you weren't so easily controlled by your vag, we wouldn't have to intervene."

"Guys, stop," Craven protested.

Ignoring her words, the Blaster continued, "You mean when she was going to get justice for sneaking onto a military base and trying to steal you. And you almost went with her! If you forgot, she got you in trouble on more than one occasion."

"Don't rat on her, she's one of us!"

"She's a traitor, and so is the person who let her go."

"She's a closer cousin to you than I am, that's for damn sure."

"What, you mean just because she's pure and not a Cur like you I should just let her off easy?"

"What did you just call me!" Raelle spat with a firm shove.

Abigail stumbled back, fury in her eyes. "I'm just trying to protect you, Raelle."

"I know what's best for me."

"You know what, I'm sorry I even went to Beltane, you always cause some sort of drama." Abigail opened the door, sending Raelle flying from her position, and stomped out of the room.

"Wait, Abi!" their ball of sunshine called after her. "I'm sorry, I'll see you tomorrow though."

Raelle sat on the ground, her eyes to the ceiling while she listened to Tally try to calm their friend down. Once their voices faded, she kicked the door closed with a firm slam. She slowly rose to her feet, spotting Craven's bag on the bed. She lifted it up and three flasks came tumbling out of it. In all of the drama, Collar burst out into a fit of laughter, opening one with an intoxicatingly sweet scent of fermented fruit. She took a quick swig of the brew and relaxed into her uncomfortable cot.

"Fuck, I'm… in deep shit," Scylla breathlessly sighed in realization out of the woods. She glanced over her shoulder still seeing the silvery hair in the distance, whether it was her lover's. Stopping in her tracks, she whispered, "I love you." At the utterance of those words, she felt a wave of comfort take the edge off of her escape.

Shuffling witches neared her in the darkness and boisterous laughter filled the woods. Scylla tore through the night until she reached the edge of the Salem forest, finding her car waiting behind a bush. She leaped into the driver's side and turned over the engine, hoping to not get caught on her way off of Pageant ground. Her heart pounded in her chest from escaping the military to now having to face Willa back home. She blasted the radio, some civilian music station that was talking about the attacks from the Camarilla. One of the DJs was in valliant support while the other angrily argued that the fault was by the Spree's hand and that the Camarilla were killing innocent witches who may not have even presented as witches. She nervously switched stations until she found one playing a commercial rather than reporting on the fall of the United States.

Scylla replayed the moments in her head, the movements and motions that culminated in their night at Beltane. She finally pulled up before the flat and drove into the narrow garage. She could already spot Willa's silhouette on the second landing, pacing around as she waited in the hope of finally seeing her daughter. She took a few breaths before entering the hidden headquarters.

It was almost vacant save for the hushed voices she heard in the backyard and the normal guards making their rounds in the neighbourhood. Scylla ascended the staircase to the second landing and where their leader anxiously awaited. She knocked on the office door and waited at attention when it was opened.

She carefully read her reaction, anxious hope, and love instantly falling from her familiar features. Disappointment then took over before anger began to peer through. Like mother, like daughter as Ramshorn's heart sank at the memories that resurfaced.

"Raelle doesn't want to leave anymore."

"Thank you, you are dismissed," Willa stated in a final tone.

Scylla blinked a few times then went to her quarters in surprise at how easily she was let off. She went through her belongings and pulled out the small mirror she had connected with the younger Collar, signaling to talk, but earning no response. She tipped her head back to the bed above her and escaped to the back lot to talk with her peers.

They were huddled around a fire pit making s'mores and drinking. She took a spot between a younger witch, Khalia Grennich, and a male witch, Tadgh Neil. They weren't her friends, but it was better than being alone surrounded by secretive and emotionally bereft veterans and dodgers. She was passed a brew while Neil impressed the women around him with some simple works he had cooked up during passing period.

"So, where were you off to? You have a certain glow about you tonight," Khalia mentioned.

"I just got back from a mission."

"Looks like it went well?"

"For better or worse, yes. What are you doing out here?"

"Masters was going over spatial manipulation but she was pulled away by General Collar."

"Great," Scylla murmured. "Hey, pass me a stick-thing." Khalia rolled her eyes and tossed a roasting fork at her. "Chill."

One of the girls leaned around the pyre of smoke that rolled in her direction. "Hey, have you guys heard that we may be joining the military's forces?"

"Why?" Tadgh interjected.

"I don't know, Murare was talking about creating our own force against the Camarilla instead of joining Alder."

"I'd rather do that than ever join that woman," another witch chimed in. Scylla sank back into her seat, roasting a marshmallow until it charred into a black and gooey mess. "Hey, you good there Euryale?"

"Huh, yeah," Scylla nodded, letting it burn out before squishing it between graham crackers.

"Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, I know it isn't my place, but we shouldn't be led by a witch willing to submit to the military. We've worked too hard for too long to let it happen."

"You're literally a secretary, Tadgh does more and he just flirts with us," Grennich pointed out.

"Well do you want to bow to Alder and that Civ President?"

"Hell no."

"Exactly," the young witch nodded. "What do you think?"

Scylla looked up from her snack, licking the liquid chocolate from her fingers. "Oh, I would hate to be under her thumb, she's a nightmare. Seems like one at least."

"Enough questioning, this isn't the fucking Spanish Inquisition," Khalia interrupted.

"But no one expects a Spanish Inquisition!" Tadgh laughed.

"Let's just relax. I got Incohearent while I was out." Greenwich pulled the card game from the table.

"Finally, some real fun," Scylla noted.

"Are we not company enough?" Tadgh prodded her.

"Not when I'm only one drink in," she continued, holding out her empty bottle for him to switch out. "Thank you, swain. So, how do you play this game?"

Hangovers were the worst for Scylla. She turned her head, instantly face to face with Tadgh then turned the other way to Khalia. She rolled her eyes and slid out from under the blanket, letting the other witches resettle themselves while she left the frozen yard. Dew covered the grass and teenagers, glittering in the sun while they snoozed in the few minutes of silence before they had to report to their superiors. Scylla regarded their motionless bodies, imagining that's what Raelle must have looked like when they airlifted her from the battlefield. Her heart uncontrollably ached at the idea before she sat on the porch step.

"Ramshorn," Willa quietly interrupted. "I've had some time to think about how to… deal with my daughter's response. I want you to stay in contact with her since she actually listens to you. Tell your contact that I am willing to meet with Alder no matter the consequence. You are dismissed."

"Yes, ma'am," Scylla nodded.

Ramshorn listened to her patterned footsteps retreat into the house before she went back to her somber thoughts. She recounted last night's excursion from sneaking onto sacred ground to touching Raelle again. At reliving that moment, her heart began to beat furiously in her chest, echoing in her ears while she thought about the moments after. Their fiery passion then subsequently fulfilled desires tore through her recent memories, staining her subconscious to hold her over until they met again.

She shot up and followed her leader to her office. "Wait, may I ask you something?"

"Of course, come in." Collar closed the door behind her.

"How do you keep hope in all of this?"

"Because I must. I have hope that we'll live in harmony, no longer slaves, or hunted down like animals. I hold onto the hope that Raelle will be allowed to like a normal person. Something we aren't allowed, something you and Raelle, Edwin, and I have, to love someone, to have a companion there for more than just creating new life."

"Why did you leave him behind, why not take everyone with you?"

"Being a dodger is much harder than the world thinking you're dead."

"I understand."

"I'm going to brew some tea. Come by in a while instead of class so we can talk."

"Being commanded to skip class, how unconventional."

"It's more of a pardon than getting to play hooky."

"Yes, ma'am."

Raelle awoke with a raging hangover and cold in her bed. She closed her eyes again then willed herself to get out of her room and clean up. Her head pulsed while she pulled on her uniform, buttoning up her jacket and braiding her hair. Collar's fingers felt clumsy in her sleepy stupor while she fixed herself up. Recounting the events from the night prior, she smiled at their festivities but soon cringed at her argument with Abigail, one of her closest friends and savior. She shook her head like she wanted to be saved, now she was stuck as a war hero, no longer allowed to screw up being under close scrutiny by her peers and instructors. For the first time in months, Raelle pondered her own existence, worried that it was all a cruel mistake, but deep inside, she felt that unbreakable connection to the one she loved. She saw death, the born from the ashes was a soldier, prepared to die for her country.

The young private took a deep breath before collecting Tally's belongings, returning them to the second floor where she was greeted by her friend.

"Naughty naughty, you took a page out of my book," she chuckled, returning the bag of booze. "I'm proud." She read the concerned look on her face, not even needing to connect to know something happened after Abigail stormed out. "What did she do?"

"She… she didn't do anything. She just went to be with her unit."

"Mhm," Raelle nodded. "Then what did you do?"

"Nothing," she obviously lied.

"Don't make me connect with you."

"That's unfair… and invasive!" Tally claimed.

"Did you tell someone about Scylla?" Craven bit her lip and shrugged. "You can't be indecisive about it, it's yes or no."

"Then no, I didn't say that Scylla was there, but I did tell her that you and Abigail were fighting about her again."

"Who did you tell?" Raelle seethed.

Tally shook her head. "It doesn't matter, she doesn't know that Scylla was there."

"You two always go over my head, like you think you're protecting me! I don't need protecting, I've been pretty good on my own." Raelle put her hand on Tally's shoulder and began to connect with her, reciting the familiar verse while she read her. "You told Anacostia."

Scylla left for the kitchen, anything to forget about having to battle wills with Quartermaine early in the morning. Through the parlor room's window, Scylla spotted the nosy drill sergeant walking past in her usual rounds. Ramshorn grabbed her belongings from the third landing then jogged out to catch her in a more secluded portion of her route.

Hidden in the nook of a pet shop and record store, she waited until the soldier passed.

"Hey, Costia," she called from the alley.

Quartermaine's footsteps abruptly stopped before returning. "Scylla," she nodded. "You're looking quite vibrant today."

"That makes it sound like you know something."

The drill sergeant smirked and nodded, "Let's grab a drink."

She agreed with a brief nod as they walked to the coffee shop. Usual orders in and their secluded spot by the jukebox, Anacostia relaxed in her chair.

"Breakfast instead of coffee, finally cutting back?"

"I thought I'd try something different."

"I heard you found your way on Pageant ground." She earned an annoyed glance from Scylla. "You're lucky it was only me who found out. If someone caught you, if Alder caught you, you would be killed on the spot. What were you doing there anyway, trying to get to Raelle again?"

"As a matter of fact, yes besides, what does it matter to you? Is the army still after me?"

"You are an open tab, but I was more concerned if Raelle, a star pupil were to go missing after Beltane. The raucous would cause even more of a strain on our current predicament."

"Okay mom," Scylla agreed. Anacostia produced a letter from her inner jacket pocket. "What is that?"

"A proposal from the general herself."

"Oh, so she knows about this? A great day to be mom's favorite?"

"Take it to your leader or I can tell the General you have refused her gracious offer."

"Perfect timing, I'm in a good mood today." She accepted the letter, twirling it in her hands as they waited to be served. "I always hate when we finish ahead of schedule."

"Do you have any questions I may be able to answer?"

"Is there any way that at the end of this we could be allowed to live among the civilians?"

"I highly doubt it. Many have died at your hands, consider your consequences postponed until our enemy has been dealt with." Quartermaine pulled out another paper. "You put up such a harsh front, but I now understand we are not very different from one another."

"Did you go digging into my past, or are you going-" Scylla looked down at the photograph, one stolen from her belongings. "More into my stuff. Why did you keep this?"

"I thought you wouldn't want it to burn."

"Do you have anything else?"

"I might have rescued a few things, but I know that Raelle did the same."

"Raelle," she whispered. "How is she?"

"I only know her grades."

"Do you not talk?"

"I have no time to talk personally with her."

"Too busy training your next victims?"

"Soldiers, like you, and probably many of your new friends."

Scylla took her drink and nodded, "Well, I appreciate our time together, I will catch up with you later with a response." She pulled out a few folded bills from her pocket and placed them on the table. "My treat, do what you want with the extra."

"You don't want the picture?"

"Yes," she agreed, swiping the photo from her fingertips. "Thank you. I will get this to our general."

"General?"

Scylla only rolled her eyes and meandered back to the house, stopping at a convenience store to pick up some tea cookies. Upon entering the house, she could hear the tea kettle whistling from the kitchen, then the rushed footsteps from the second landing. Willa revealed herself, going past her to pour their drinks.

"You're back in time. Here, pick one," she offered, sliding over a glass box of dried flowers and leaves. "Rosehip, that's my favorite, too." She put them in a metal clasp and let the tea steep until the water turned a vibrant pink and red. "Come follow me."

"Oh, I also got some biscotti," Scylla offered.

"I haven't had that in years."

Ramshorn followed her close behind, watching her housemates bustle around to their lessons. She entered the simple office and sat across from the general.

"So, this isn't hooky, it's a pardon?" Scylla inquired.

"Think of it more as a private lesson. My generals are great teachers to students with little to no experience with works like Tadgh and Rya, but for students like you, they tend to be better sparring partners. I thought I'd try to help you with my vast knowledge," she teased, ending with a calming sip of tea. "I had an awakening years ago on tour in the east, it was the first place I was stationed fresh out of college. I must say I learned a lot from the witches there. They have mastered a very special type of work that focuses on one's inner peace and is expelled through your hands."

"Work done without their voices, how?"

"That is your first lesson. A lieutenant taught me techniques far more powerful than anything taught to our special forces. They rely on resolving inner turmoil, voiding oneself of fear, and anguish. Come, join me on the floor." Willa pleasantly invited, kneeling on the floor after stealing another sip from her cup. When Scylla joined her, she began. "They call them chakras, you have seven total and the great witches of India have honed all seven and thus have mastered works without wearing down their vocal cords."

"Do they use seed sounds at all?"

"They do, but it's seen as archaic and brutish, kind of like how our military views Christo-Pagan works. I want you to close your eyes and take a breath." Silence filled the room before she continued.

"Does this work for necromancy?" she inquired through a peaked eye.

"You can do more than what Alder believes. Sure the Indian witches have those who excel in healing and those who have a great sense of their surroundings, but they believe in a well-rounded witch. One who on her own can keep balance in their environment. Close your eyes and straighten your back. Take a deep breath to the pit of your stomach, then feel it rise through your sinuses and finally out of your nose. In... and out." She took a few deep breaths with her. "Clear your mind," her voice took on a calming tremor, lower and quieter than before. "Let go of your earthly pleasures and focus on your fears, your anxieties. Where does your darkness come from?"

Scylla furrowed her brows and pondered her question. "My parents' deaths."

"What else do you see."

"I see… darkness, hatred, and anger."

"Emotions are rooted in two reactions, love and fear."

"Then fear. Dark fear," Scylla murmured. She felt emotions begin to surface. "It's all I see, murky like a swamp. I feel afraid of it like it's run rampant."

"Why does it scare you?"

"It's too powerful, I can't stop it."

"But there is light, you can see it, what does it look like?"

"It's…" Scylla cleared her throat. "Nevermind."

"It's Raelle isn't it? She's my hope, too." Scylla nodded at Willa's words. "Center yourself again and straighten your back." Ramshorn took a few more breaths. "Hope is rooted in love, and while it may not seem it now, love is a powerful emotion, deeply rooted in humanity, in all life around us. It works alongside fear in harmony. Without darkness, we wouldn't know light, and without light, we wouldn't be alive. Use your light to dim the darkness."

"I can't, it's too dark."

"Take deep breaths, Scylla," Willa whispered.

She nodded and continued to breathe, relaxing her muscles while still forcing them to be stiff. Cooling fingertips were pressed against her temples. She felt the world suddenly drop beneath her. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach while she tried to figure out how to stop.

"Scylla, relax, find your hope."

She covered her face, shaking her head. "I can't!"

Her heart pounded in her chest, waiting to stop until hands pulled her wrists down. She opened her eyes, now looking at the calm features of Raelle.

Collar sprinted from Tally's room to the main building their instructors resided in. She raced through the hallways to Anacostia's office, knocking fervently to hopefully get her. No sign and no light, she wasn't there. Raelle took a few deep breaths and rested her forehead against the dense window with Quartermaine's name on it.

"Private Collar?"

Raelle turned around to Isadora. "Ma'am, good morning." She quickly saluted the necromancy teacher.

"Good morning, how are you doing?"

"I'm good, I just wanted to ask Anacostia something. She's not here, though."

"No, she's out, but I'm sure she'll be back before the day's up."

"Maybe I can ask you, then."

"I have about twenty minutes before my office hours, so why don't you follow me."

"Yes, ma'am."

"So, what is your query?"

"I was wondering…" Raelle took a moment to form a thought around Scylla, and hopefully not waste the necromance teacher's time. "What do we do with your students? You work with the dead and Healers are trying to keep people alive?"

"Life's interesting in that sense," she noted, opening the door down to the Necromancy building. "Our works are complex and diverse in nature. General Alder has based the works we use off of the Tarim Nomads whose works can shape the world as you probably witnessed in person." She let Raelle into her office and began to brew tea. "Is jasmine tea alright with you? Or are you more of a green tea gal?"

"Which has more caffeine?"

"Green tea," she informed her, taking out a jar from her desk drawer. Isadora took a few more moments of searching to find a package of tea cookies, the sound of wrappers shuffling before she took out a box of macaroons

"Do you only have food in your desk?"

"I don't see why not? While we wait for this to steep to perfection, I'll go ahead and answer your question. We pair you together to work alongside the cycle of life. Necromancers are a curious breed of sorts. We can reanimate the dead and create life from corpses on the battlefield, our main job now. The upcoming unit is mostly for educational purposes rather than practical. In combat, we are separated, but we found that Necromancers and Healers who understand more about the cycle and delicacy of life are better soldiers." She began pouring their drinks. "Understanding what death means is a gift, one that goes under-appreciated, in my opinion. I have to prep the lab, I'll leave you to your thoughts. Please, help yourself to the macaroons, they're delicious."

As suddenly as she had plummeted through the floor, she stopped. Scylla closed her eyes and took a few breaths.

"Good, use the light to guide you and follow your fears," the spirit echoed in comfort. She took her hand and led her through the darkness, stumbling over rubble and trees. "What do you fear most?"

"Losing you." Scylla felt everything grow darker. "I fear who I am. All I know is darkness and death. I understand that life and death are cyclical, but why can't I feel it? It all seems to stop for me. Death is born from light, but light doesn't come from death."

"Everything is connected, even we are connected." Raelle produced her hand with the deep scar embedded in her palm. "Look within yourself, through the darkness, you are light."

Scylla closed her eyes and began to center herself. She recounted her life, sorrow tearing through her at the memory of watching her parents before Alder's firing line, slaughtered with other parents she grew up learning from. Ancient techniques were lost to senseless deaths. Anger fueled her heart again and she squeezed onto Raelle's hand harder.

"Let go of your fears."

"I don't want to lose you, too, Raelle," she began to weep. "I've already lost so much."

"Find hope, I will be fine. You'll always know where I am and how I am," she smiled, placing a hand over her heart.

Scylla nodded and took a few breaths, her fears satiated by Raelle's light. The land warmed and brightened, revealing a decaying landscape, dead trees weeping, and bending to the cracked roads.

"What is this place?" She knelt down to pick a mushroom that instantly disintegrated in her palm. "Everything is dead."

"Not dead, but not thriving. You must find balance within yourself," her voice echoed. "Next we will work on your second chakra. Where do you source your works from?"

"You," Scylla whispered.

"Your sacral chakra is deeply rooted in sexual and creative energies, something you excel in."

"I only create darkness."

"You can change your outlook, you told me about how life comes from death which follows in a constant cycle. You are life incarnate."

"Why do you still love me? Our initial love was a lie?"

"But does that still hold true?"

"Not at all. I found something in you I couldn't find in myself."

"What did you find?"

"Life." At those words, the ash in her hand manifested into a death cap. "Creative energies, like life?"

"Exactly. Onto your third chakra, centered in your stomach, this is your power and sense of self. Where do you find your power?"

"In hope for everything to change. I do what I do to create change."

"Good, very sure of your answer. What stands in your way and how will you overcome it?"

"I'm not sure what my obstacle is, but I'm willing to do anything to create the change I want to see," Scylla confidently answered. Looking into Raelle's glowing blue eyes made her more sure of her answer. She did everything for her, she would even die for her at this point. The world began to glow with renewing life as carian bugs crept from the soil and a variety of plants growing from the ashes.

"The heart is the source of your fourth chakra, this is where the physical and the spiritual meet," the spirit explained. "When your chakras are aligned, love, and compassion flow through you in brilliant harmony. Blocked by grief and anger, self-hate, and fear of betrayal. What befuddles your heart?"

"My parents being gone and seeing you hurt by those vile Camarilla."

"You must let go of these malicious thoughts. Those at fault will pay for their actions but you will not be satisfied until you forgive yourself. These were not your fault."

"I shouldn't have gone back, they would still be alive if I hadn't been so damn stubborn and gone back," Scylla shamefully confessed. "And I can't help but think your early deployment was also my fault. Being in such close proximity to a Spree member, and you almost died, I felt your heart stop," she teared up. "Goddess, forgive me for all I've done because I can't."

"You must, it takes time, but you must forgive yourself."

Scylla shook her head and pulled away. Her head spun in a vertigo-inducing rush when she was sucked back into the real world. "I can't do it."

Willa was sitting at her desk, looking at the letter in Scylla's possession. "It's alright, Ramshorn. Mastering all seven chakras is almost impossible especially for the first time. Just as well you came to, I heard the clock strike three, so I will release you to eat something and spend time with your peers. Thank you for the letter, too."

"It's already three o'clock? I was only in there for fifteen minutes."

"Time works differently in your subconscious, like your dreams, time can go by quickly or slowly."

Scylla warmed her tea while her leader read Alder's words. "Have you realigned all seven of your chakras?"

"Once, but the crown and the heart can be hard to get past. Would you like to talk about your experience?"

"No thank you. So should I come back?"

"Tomorrow, I'll show you some works I learned after our meditation session."

"Yes, ma'am."