Merleawe used the walk home to tell Vaith how she missed her friends and, most of all, him. She clasped his hand tightly and had trouble looking in front of her; she wanted to keep looking into his eyes. He also glanced down at her frequently. At one point he looked up just in time to see he had almost tripped over a tall wagon.

"Merleawe," he said, his voice now sounding like it caressed the name, "I'm sure everyone misses you, too! Don't you think maybe they've been giving you space to get started? You're a very important person, now!"

"But," she realized she sounded slightly exasperated and tried to calm her voice, "I'm still the same person I was before, too." Vaith took her hand and raised it to his lips, smiling brightly at her.

And, of course, it had to be at that moment that they heard an outburst of some sort coming from their left. They had made their way into a street lined with stores, more than halfway to the castle. Two men appeared to have stolen something from a store and the owner of the store had grabbed one of them, yelling at the other. The man he had a hold of was wearing a Black Knights uniform.

"Oh, no," Vaith groaned. He turned to Merleawe.

"I know," she sighed, "you have to deal with this, right?"

"Yes, I'm so sorry. I want to stay with you, but — " suddenly, he smiled, "I know! Meet me where you used to have your magic lessons with Yue tonight when it gets dark. No earlier, though! Come down right when the sun has fully set." She nodded, and he ran off.

Merleawe suddenly felt brave. She turned and walked quickly, head held high. She was going to visit Louie, and tell her to stop being ridiculous. She bought a scarf at a store along the way and tucked her silver hair inside of it to stop people in the streets from approaching her with requests, or simply looking at her with awe.

She arrived at Louie's door and knocked loudly. Someone inside yelled, "Just a second!" and Merleawe heard footsteps on the stairs. A young man about her own age opened the door, "Can I help you?" he asked.

"I was looking for Louie — " she started.

"Oh, I'm sorry, she stepped out for a bit of shopping, should I tell her you were looking for her, um.." he paused "Sorry, may I ask who you are?"

"I'll just have to come back another day," Merleawe tugged at her scarf and looked down, "um, no need to tell her I was here. I'll just… Surprise her a different time." And with that she turned and left, running back to the castle. She wasn't sure if she would have the confidence to go up to Louie's house another time, but at least she had tried it one more time.

Sundown seemed to approach slower than it ever had before. Merleawe wandered around the city as long as she could with the scarf wrapped around her head. Then she returned to the castle and practiced her magic. She had practiced for at least a short while since her first time living in the castle, and she felt it was more important ever now that she was the Master Wizard. She grinned as she thought to herself that anyone who thought it was easy to get this position was sorely wrong.

Finally, she could no longer see the sun from her window. She looked down at her clothes, dusty from the wind spells she had been using, and walked quickly to her closet. She withdrew a light purple dress, flattering to her shape as well as her hair and eyes. She smiled to herself, remembering how Vaith had once mistaken her for Sylthfarn. Nobody would make that mistake now!

The stairs leading down to Merleawe's old place of learning were dark. She held a magical flame before her, lighting the way. She had thought it would be hard to evade Fern's following her, but he had been curiously absent when she left her room. She placed a hand against the wall, and recoiled quickly when she felt dust collecting on her fingertips. Finally, she reached the bottom of the stairs and looked at the door before her. She held her breath and opened it.

"SURPRISE!" Merleawe gasped, shocked. All of her friends were here! A cake sat on the table where she had studied so long ago, and everyone she had missed so dearly beamed at her. Fern approached first.

"Sorry I've been so distant with you," he said, looking at his feet, "we were all trying to get everything settled with Caldia as quickly as possible, so we could have this congratulations party for you! Congratulations on becoming the Master Wizard!" He looked up and beamed at her, and Merleawe reached forward to squeeze him in a tight embrace. Fern blushed scarlet.

Yue coughed slightly, trying to get her attention, "We wanted to avoid giving you any more trouble, so we decided to do these trivial things ourselves. You already saved Viegald by stepping up last month. Everything that remained was simply politics." Merleawe stepped over to him and hugged him as well. She then hugged Lenolora, who was smiling at her. Merleawe knew Lenolora had worked hard this past month, as well. She saw Yue reach for Lenolora's hand and smiled.

Seraphia walked up to her next and hugged her, "I'm sorry we've spent so little time together, please come over for tea whenever now that we are in a country full of peace!" Merleawe nodded her agreement and Seraphia continued, "Princess Fia Luka also sends her regards and wishes you the best of luck! You are well-liked by everyone you meet, Mel!"

"Se - Seraphia," Merleawe stammered slightly, "I, um, really don't wish to be in a political marriage —"

"Oh don't be silly!" Seraphia laughed, "I only said that to Vaith to try to get you two to stop being silly and admit your feelings to each other! I guess you bringing it up means it worked?" She winked at Merleawe, and Merleawe blushed.

She almost expected to see Glenn there, and was slightly sad that he wasn't. She was shocked by two additions to the crowd, though. One was her brother.

"I came to make sure you were doing well here in the city, Mel!" he said happily and smiled, "I'm considering staying for a bit, while I'm still young enough to travel!" he laughed and kissed her on the cheek.

"I'm so glad you came to visit! You can stay in the castle, now. If you want, that is!" she kissed him on the cheek as well. And then she ran out of things to say. Because the girl standing next to Edel was the last one Merleawe had expected to see tonight.

"I'm so sorry I've been avoiding you," Louie said softly, her eyes shining maybe a bit too brightly, "Vaith found me while I was shopping today and said how lonely you'd been. I should have realized that you becoming the Master Wizard didn't mean that you suddenly hated the people you loved before! Forgive me?" a tear slid down Louie's cheek, and Merleawe grabbed her hands.

"Of course! Just as long as you plan to stay around now," Merleawe smiled at Louie and Louie smiled back.

"I plan to try to get work in the castle, actually! I'm living with a man who was Lecto's classmate years ago, so maybe that will help!" Louie said excitedly.

"Oh, I met him today! Are you — seeing him?" Merleawe asked. She didn't want to touch on the subject of Louie's tragic past love, but had always hoped the girl could find love again.

"Yes," Louie had a huge smile on her face, "he really is wonderful! Oh, I almost forgot! I have letters here for you from Lia, Yoshino and Tirika. None of them are in Viegald now, but they all heard about you becoming the Master Wizard and are all so proud. They miss the days of seeing the clumsy Mel at school!" Louie passed three brightly coloured envelopes to Merleawe, who accepted them eagerly. She would read them after she calmed down from the excitement of seeing everyone here. She noticed one more plain envelope sitting on the table.

"Who —" and then she recognized the elegant script in which her name was written on the front. Glenn!

"Glenn seems to have begun traveling with Francis," Yue said, judging by her warm smile that Merleawe had figured out who the letter was from. Merleawe opened this letter now and read silently:

Dearest Mel,

I regret that I cannot be with you as you grow accustomed to your position as Master Wizard, but I am sure you are performing wonderfully. I met up with Francis shortly after beginning my journey, and we decided to travel and bring medicine to many towns in need. I estimate I will not be home for a year or so, and I will miss you dearly, but I will write to you as frequently as possible!

I have one request of you: please visit the orphaned children I used to care for every now and then. Children love you so, and I will miss them as well, while I am away.

Francis has enclosed a small pouch of tea made of herbs we found here; he says it is some of the best he has ever had. He also says he wishes you the best and knows you will do well. I am very glad to know somebody as selfless and courageous as you, Merleawe, and I will rush to see you as soon as I return home.

Best of luck in the coming months,

Glenn

Mel smiled and held the small pouch up to her nose. She closed her eyes and imagined she was sitting at a table, drinking tea with Glenn and Francis. Of course Glenn wouldn't forget about her! She had been so silly recently. Her friends were wonderful.

Merleawe looked around the room for Vaith. Clearly, he had gathered everyone here. But he was nowhere to be found. "Where is Vaith?" She asked nobody in particular. She looked around and realized that everyone looked troubled by her question.

"He said he would be right back," said Fern, "He was called out by one of the Black Knights who said 'the soldier from earlier is causing a commotion.'" Merleawe remembered the man who had stolen something from a store earlier.

"Truthfully, he has been gone for quite a while now," Yue said, "but he may simply be talking to a prison guard. Let us have some of your congratulatory cake and then go to the prison if he still has not returned."