Jules couldn't hear what his mother and Troy were talking about from where he was hanging upside-down on one of the thicker branches of the hazel tree, but he could see what they were doing and wasn't quite sure what to make of Troy deciding that eating the dandelions was a good idea.

Antheia shook her head and sighed before looking up at Jules. "For the record, yes, he does do this at home."

"What, eating the garden weeds?" Jules asked.

"Yep."

"Well, I can't say surprised."

"Me, neither."

"Well, which is more common? This, or the peanut-cereal?"

"Oh, this. By far. The peanut-cereal happened three times. He used rice once. Accidentally used heavy cream in actual cereal twice. Mixed up the eggnog and heavy cream last Christmas."

"This explains why Dad once told me Troy was never punished with mess duty during the war. If anything, it would've been punishment for everyone if Troy was ever on mess duty." Jules shifted to let Antheia sit and hang down from the branch with him. He grinned a little at her short, red ponytail dangling.

"What?" Antheia asked.

"Nothing. It's sort of cute how your ponytail hangs down."

"Well, don't pull it."

"I won't."

"Someone did that in school once. I punched him."

"Did you get in trouble?"

"Of course I did. Dad was proud, though."

"I can't say that's a big surprise."

"Yeah. It meant I couldn't go on the end-of-year field trip to an amusement park in Casper. On one hand, that was okay, because Dad said we could just go on our own at some point." Antheia looked at Jules. "Have you ever gone on a roller coaster that goes upside-down?"

"A few times, actually. You know what else is fun? Water slides. We all went to a park in North Carolina with Hitch and his family a few years ago. There was this really tall slide that starts with a drop. I remember Dietrich wasn't expecting it to be a drop. The look on his face when the trapdoor opened was priceless."

"Was this also the park where you almost lost Anah?"

Jules laughed. "Yeah, it was. She somehow fell out when we were on a roller coaster. Luckily, she landed in water, and we tried not to panic because we didn't want the park getting shut down over a loose venomous snake. We found her on an inflatable chair, floating in the park's river."

"Your dad must've been really mad."

"Oh, no, he was just relieved that she was okay." Jules adjusted himself on the branch to keep his legs from falling asleep. "That park was fun. I wouldn't mind going with you sometime. Hey, maybe when all this tosh with the magpies is over, we can talk to the adults about planning a trip there."

"I like that idea." Antheia's grin quickly faded when she looked over at where her father and Vanora were. "Hey, Jules? Your mother looks really upset."

Jules dropped down from the tree to get a better look, but he stayed by Antheia. "You're right, she is upset," he said.

"She's been acting off all morning."

Jules nodded. "Yeah… she has. I still don't understand why she snapped at me." A sinking feeling started in his chest. It wasn't often that he saw his mother upset, and now was the second time in roughly a week that he had seen or heard her in tears.

Antheia came down from the tree. "Looks like Dad's trying to comfort her. You okay?"

"Not really." Jules sat under the tree. "Maybe we should go looking for the island now so we can get this over with."

"I thought the ravens ordered us to rest."

"It's not like they'll do anything if we go searching for the island. We just won't be protected anymore." Jules sighed. "Not like it matters. Whether we wait three days or go now, we'll be vulnerable to the magpies."

"I want this to be over as much as anyone, but the ravens did have a point about giving yourself a chance to rest."

"I know."

Antheia sat next to Jules, and squeezed his hand. "Please don't run away again."

Her voice had trembled a little, and Jules could see in the corner of his eye that Antheia's face had reddened. Her grip on his hand was tight. "I was going to come back," he said.

"There was a chance you wouldn't." Antheia interlocked her fingers with his. "I don't want to lose my best friend."

Jules knew running away would upset his friends and family. It ended up being worth the effort, as now he knew where he would have to go to find the silver sword and its sharpening stone. That didn't make it any less upsetting for anyone. "I highly doubt something like this will happen again, so I don't think you'll have to worry about it."

"I hope not."

Jules wasn't sure that was something he could promise. If something had to be done, he would do it, but to what extant? Was it worth making everyone he cared about worry? I'll ask Dad. I'm sure he's got advice on that. Jules rested his head against Antheia's after she put her chin on his shoulder. For now, there was nothing to worry about. I'm not going anywhere for a few days, so we can enjoy each other's company until then. He gave a soft sigh, hoping that they could stay like that for a little while longer.

He lifted his head when he saw the Land Rover pulling into the driveway, followed by his father stepping out of the driver's seat. Moffitt headed over to the yard, stopping by Vanora and Troy. The three talked for a moment, then Vanora and Moffitt went into the house, while Troy headed over to where Jules and Antheia were sitting.

"Jules? Could you go inside for a minute?" Troy asked.

"Yeah. Is everything alright?" Jules replied.

"Mostly. Just… you should know about what's going on with your dad."

A nervous knot started tightening in Jules's stomach. "Is he alright?"

"Dietrich will explain when you go in. It's nothing that anyone needs to panic over, okay?"

Jules didn't hesitate to stand and dash over to the back door. He closed the door behind him when he entered the house, and didn't bother taking his boots off when he went into the kitchen. Dietrich glanced at him first, which prompted Moffitt and Vanora to turned and see their son approaching from behind.

"He shouldn't have to hear this," Vanora said.

"I disagree," Dietrich said. "It is not exactly a secret that Jules has asked the rest of us about his father's behavior."

Moffitt faced Jules. "You've… You've asked people about why I frequently apologize?"

"Yeah," Jules replied. "It's not difficult to see it. Or to see that it's a problem."

"A problem that is not without a solution." Dietrich motioned for the three to sit. "Moffitt, I talked to your parents today about what occurred while you were growing up."

"Were they actually able to tell you anything?" Moffitt asked. "As much as I love them, they did contribute to why I apologize all the time."

"They were able to tell me a fair amount, but I would like to know your side of the story. I want to try using hypnosis to see and discuss some of what happened."

"I can tell you plenty without the use of hypnosis."

"But can you tell me calmly?"

"Probably not."

"Exactly. That is why I would like to try this—to put you in a calm state so we can discuss this as rationally as possible." Dietrich switched his gaze between Moffitt, Vanora, and Jules. "If you do not want to, I will not force you. We can try something else."

"I think you should do it, Dad," Jules said. "If anyone can help, it's Dietrich."

Vanora squeezed her husband's shoulder. "I'll leave this decision up to you, love."

Moffitt didn't say anything right away. He looked first at Vanora, then focused on Jules. "Dietrich, if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to Jules alone."

"Go ahead," Dietrich said.

Moffitt motioned for Jules to follow him outside. They walked out to the stables, which were empty as the horses were all out grazing. Jules paused at Nightrunner's stall, instinctively looking inside to see if it needed any spot-cleaning.

"I suppose it's a stupid thing for me to be even remotely surprised that you've noticed everything wrong with me," Moffitt said.

"I wouldn't say it's stupid," Jules replied. "Like I said, it's hard not to see it. Remember when we went to North Africa last year? How I snapped and you just sat there and took it? I yelled at you. I was fully prepared to be punished for it, but you did nothing. You acted like it was your fault when it really wasn't. I told you, I wanted to go to the desert with you. I wanted to see what you loved so much about it. I can't blame you for being excited that I wanted to share that with you. You explained a lot to me before we went, but nothing could prepare me for actually being there. I knew it was going to be hard, but I got angry anyway. That was all me. I-I just don't understand why you feel the need to take everything as being your fault. Why should you take everything, and let a genuinely guilty person get away with something?"

Moffitt paced the stables, looking unsure as to how to word his response. He then went into the tack room, and Jules followed.

"What did Grandma and Grandpa do?" Jules asked. "Why did you say they contributed to why you feel guilty?"

"When I was your age, I didn't have very many of the freedoms you do. My family has a two-hundred-year history of attending the University of Cambridge. I had to uphold that, especially since my father was a professor there. It was either work to get in, and go for the highest possible degree, or be a disgrace. Everything needed to be perfect. Everything." Moffitt leaned against his workbench. "If something wasn't right, it was because I wasn't studying hard enough. Everything was on me. Fine. I could work with it. I tried. There were things I couldn't get the hang of, so I tried to find workarounds, lies, shortcuts. Anything to just get it done and over with. Of course, I got caught. My father was furious, but still made an attempt to work with me so the assignment could get done properly."

"It's weird thinking about this, because you have a good relationship with Grandpa."

"I do now. Things did change, shortly before I graduated." Moffitt drew in a breath, then opened a chest under the workbench. He pulled out a black stick with a rounded strip of leather at the end. "Do you know what this is?"

"It's a riding crop. I didn't know you had one."

"Someone gave it to me many years ago, not knowing that I don't use whips or crops when working with horses. I never said anything to anything, and I never sought to get rid of it or give it away, because of the fear that whoever received it would assume I used it." Moffitt looked over the crop, a distant look passing through his gray eyes. "Do you remember what you were hit with in school?"

"Rulers, mostly. I was caned after complaining about the dead grass snake being dropped on me."

Moffitt nodded a little. "Yes. I remember the rulers, the canes." He held up the crop. "I had one secondary school teacher who struck me with this. Not this exact crop, but one like it. He also struck me with a belt a few times. On my hands, on my back. Why? Because I wasn't studying hard enough." He became quiet for a moment. "I snapped back once. I shouted, 'You didn't teach the material well enough!' That didn't go over well. That did not go over well at all. I was struck fifty times with the belt."

"You can remember that?"

"Like with being tortured during the war, I can't forget. And I couldn't say a bloody word to my parents, because back then, I was certain they would agree that I shouldn't have spoken out of turn." Moffitt put the crop back in the chest. "I don't know if I had been right to try calling my schoolteacher out on how he was presenting the material. I don't remember. I'm not even sure if that's relevant."

"He still shouldn't have done that to you."

"Logically, I should agree with you. Somehow, I don't, and I want it to stop. I was willing to just accept this as a nuisance behavior, but now it's threatening to tear apart my relationship with Anah. The last few days, I've been acting like I don't care about her, and that's not true. But, I am so terrified of things going wrong, either with her physical recovery or her emotional recovery, and I am convinced that either consequence is going to be my fault."

"But it's not—"

"I know, but something deep inside can't accept that. Just telling me that it isn't my fault isn't doing anything."

"So you really need Dietrich's help."

"Badly."

Jules went quiet. First, there had been learning about what happened during the war, after his father's younger brother had been killed. Then there was learning about his father being tortured. Now this. It was shocking that all that happened. It was shocking that his father hadn't gone completely mad.

And yet, Jules never would have guessed that things that bad had occurred. He had countless good memories with his father. He learned so much from him, and enjoyed so many unique experiences that he knew a lot of people his age would probably never have. Even though his trip to North Africa had its difficulties, it was still memorable, and Jules hoped to go back in the future. At least next time, he would know what to expect.

He got to handle non-magical snakes under his father's and Dr. Millington's supervision earlier that year, using a large snouted cobra named Sipho, who was typically used to start training interns on handling elapids due to his laid-back personality. It was vastly different to Anah, even with the knowledge that Moffitt was "talking" to the snake. Jules couldn't see or hear the conversation taking place, but he trusted that it was.

He never felt like he had a reason to not trust his father. They almost never argued, at least never over anything serious. Tea preferences and what biscuits went best with which tea didn't count, and it was amusing to have discussions about tea and biscuits in front of Troy, who would watch and listen in utter confusion. At the end of the day, Moffitt respected Jules's differences in opinion, and vice versa.

His father's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "You were bound to learn about this—and everything else—eventually, but I wish it hadn't been all within the last couple of weeks. You've grown up quite fast. Maybe a little too fast."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Well, sometimes your mother and I miss when you were little. Sometimes."

"I don't miss being little."

"There are things to miss, but I will admit that where you are now will be equally memorable. I know I've said this before, but I'm so proud of you, and… I hope my issues haven't made things difficult for you."

"It's difficult to understand, sometimes, because I haven't gone through what you did."

"And I hope you never do."

"I also… I-I also sometimes feel like you and Mum assume I'm not going to understand if you tell me something like this."

"That is typically our first response, and I apologize. It's not right, especially with how much you've proven yourself to be mature and responsible. Things like what you've been learning over the last few days aren't things that should be burdening you at this age."

"Well, it's a little late to take it all back. I know now, and I want to help. It bothers me to see you upset."

Jules expected his father to feel guilty over that. He could tell from the expression on Moffitt's face that he was fighting it. Eventually, Moffitt let out a sigh. "Alright. If you really want to help, we'll talk some more after we hear the rest of what Dietrich has to say."

"Okay."

"I haven't overwhelmed you?"

"No."

"Good. But, I want to make myself clear when I say that if all of this ever feels overwhelming, don't be ashamed of taking a step back. I have your mother. I have Anah, Troy, Dietrich, Hitch, and Tully to help me. It's okay to try, but it's also okay to say when something is too much." Moffitt squeezed Jules's shoulder. "Besides, we still have the magpies to worry about."

"We're almost there. Then things can get back to normal."

"Yes. Yes, they can."

Jules glanced out the window toward the hazel tree in the backyard. "Dad? Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Did I do the right thing by running away?"

Moffitt folded his arms over his chest as he thought. "Yes and no. It was reckless and extremely upsetting, but it did accomplish something. Why?"

"Antheia told me that she hoped I never did something like that again. I doubt I'll ever need to do something like that again, but… what if I do?"

"It depends on the situation."

"I don't want to make her worry."

"Loved ones will always worry. Even something as simple as going into work carries some risk. Riding a horse can be dangerous. Your mother works with magical artifacts on occasion, and some can carry curses or poisons. Doctor Millington works with some of the world's most dangerous snakes, but he's married and has children. Troy's work can be dangerous. He could get caught in a stampede if something sets off his cattle. Dietrich's work is especially dangerous. He could be killed in a training accident, or he could be sent to an active warzone and get killed there. Tully's work has him under heavy vehicles. Something could fail and that would be it. The same can be said for Hitch's work. We still have jobs to do, and even outside of work, we've taken risks that some could say are unnecessary. In your case, you firmly believed running away and searching for the sword on your own was the right thing to do."

"I did, and I planned on coming back. Antheia said there was a chance I wasn't, though."

"She's right. I was afraid of that, too. Doing something like that requires you to ask yourself, 'Is this worth it?'"

"I didn't ask that. I was more concerned about preventing the magpies from hurting you and the others any further."

"Which is understandable given what had happened to Anah that day. I certainly hope you never have to do something like that again, but as much as we were all worried about you, we all knew that we taught you everything you needed to know."

"I've had very good teachers," Jules said, smiling a little.

"Indeed you have."

"Still. I'll try to be more considerate of you all when it comes to things like that."

Moffitt suddenly looked lost in thought, then nodded and said, "Like I said, it's dependent on the situation. You might not be able to put a lot of thought into it."

"Okay. Thanks." Jules looked out the window again. "I want to make it up to Antheia. Since the ravens will be here, could we… go out to dinner?"

"Absolutely. Do you have a place in mind?"

"Not really. What do you recommend?"

"There's a lovely place that your mother and I went to on our first date. I can drop you two off there if you want."

"You mean, just me and her?"

"Do you want me or Troy there?"

"I don't mind if either of you come with us, but I'd like for me and Antheia to have our own table."

"Alright. We'll see what we can work out."

"Thanks, Dad."

"No problem. I suppose we should head back in."

Jules nodded. "I don't know much about hypnosis. It's not going to change you, is it?"

"No. The only thing it's going to change is my bad habit. I'll still be the same person when we're finished. Besides, Dietrich is the one conducting it. I highly doubt he'd consider it if there was a possibility I would be changed drastically, so there's nothing to worry about."

"Okay. I hope it helps, then."

"I hope so, too."

Jules turned to start heading back to the house, but decided to give his father a hug first. He held on tight, while thinking, Is it too much to ask for everyone I know to be happy?

Dietrich knew that what he was charged with doing for his prophecy was a much bigger deal. After all, he had all of Europe unknowingly counting on him to prevent a third major war from breaking out. Somehow, he had remained calmer while trying to persuade General Preisner to stand down than he was while going to the Kestle Institute to talk to Evelina about finding a place to hypnotize Moffitt. He wasn't quite sure why. Maybe it was because he was undertaking the task of breaking a bad habit that Moffitt had for decades. He had a lot of people he deeply cared about counting on him. It was strange, given the difference in scale, but the pressure here seemed far worse.

How exactly did I become the team psychologist? Dietrich thought while knocking on the door to Evelina's office. Moffitt and his family were with him, and Troy had decided to tag along. Tully and Hitch were back at the house with Anah. His mind turned to the fact that even though it had been nearly twenty years since really setting his differences with the Rats aside, this was the first time that they were all doing something together as a true team. They were fighting for something as one group, rather than simply being bound by a fragile truce. He much preferred this over fighting against the Rats.

Evelina opened the door. "Hello, Colonel!" she said. "What can I do for you?"

Dietrich couldn't think of a better way to describe what he needed. Then again, Evelina had been working with magic and magical objects her entire life. Surely, this wouldn't be the strangest thing she ever heard. "I would like to enquire about a place where I can hypnotize someone."

"Hypnotize? What exactly for?"

Dietrich gestured to Moffitt. "I am trying to help break a bad habit of his. I was told we need to be somewhere he cannot connect with snakes."

"I see. Well, we do have a basement laboratory with a specialized chamber designed to block out all outside interference, magical or not. However, you will only have about two hours to do what you need. Once you're inside, it will seal and start utilizing an isolated oxygen supply."

"I doubt I will need that much time."

"Alright. There is a call button inside so we can let you out." Evelina motioned for the group to follow her. "I'm sure you all know not to touch anything."

"Troy," Dietrich said.

"What?" Troy asked.

"Do not touch anything."

"Dietrich, do I look like I'm five years old to you?"

"No, but sometimes I cannot tell if you are five or sixty-five in your mind."

Troy cleared his throat before leaning over to whisper in Dietrich's ear, "The radish won, old man."

"Shut up." Dietrich nudged him away.

"Like I said this morning, you both act like children and old men sometimes," Moffitt hissed. "Stop it."

The chamber Evelina had mentioned was situated in a spacious, yet windowless room. She explained it was a section of the institute dedicated to exploring how magic interacted with various technologies, but Dietrich wasn't paying much attention. He didn't particularly care for how bland and sterile the room looked. It reminded him too much of being in a hospital. He paid more attention when Evelina explained that the chamber Dietrich and Moffitt would be sealed in was lined with sheets of silver to block any sort of magic from getting in, whether it be spells or psychics. They were shown where the emergency buttons were, as well as the light switch. The chamber itself was large enough for both of them to sit in, but Moffitt looked a little nervous.

"I've never done particularly well in small spaces," he said.

"I will do my best to get you hypnotized quickly," Dietrich replied.

"There are several methods of hypnosis," Evelina said. "Which one are you going to be using?"

"My own."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"I was able to get Troy to settle down and focus on something to start fighting his nightmares and lift the psychic orb toy, and I thought that would be impossible. Moffitt will be far easier to help."

Evelina looked at Troy, then back at Dietrich in surprise. "Those orbs are supposed to respond to any level of psychic ability. How did he—"

"Have you just met Troy?"

"No."

"He managed to push the orb off the disc until I got his mind to quiet down. Moffitt is a nervous wreck, but he will not be nearly as difficult."

"I'm not a nervous wreck," Moffitt said.

"Yes, you are."

Evelina didn't push the conversation further. She sighed and stepped over to the silver-lined chamber. "Remember, you have two hours. The door will automatically open once those two hours are up. You have everything you need?"

"I do," Dietrich replied.

"Alright. Good luck."

Dietrich stepped into the chamber first. It matched the ambient temperature outside, until the door closed after Moffitt stepped in. It gradually grew warmer, but it wasn't uncomfortable. There was dead silence until a crackling sound came from a speaker in one of the top corners of the chamber, followed by Evelina's voice saying, "Are you two comfortable in there?"

"As comfortable as we can be," Dietrich replied.

"Alright. I'm going to make sure it's actually working. Moffitt, try connecting to the snakes in the zoological department."

Moffitt stood quietly with his eyes closed. He winced a little. "Nothing."

"It's fully sealed. I'll leave you two be."

Dietrich sat on the floor, and reached up to put his hand over the light switch. "Have a seat, and we will get started."

"What are you doing?" Moffitt asked. "You're turning the bloody lights off?!"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes."

"Then have a seat." Dietrich turned off the lights once Moffitt was seated. He had already placed the little disc with the orb in between them. It was pitch-black in the chamber until Dietrich lifted the orb, illuminating the chamber with a soft, teal glow. "Now, I want you to try taking this from me."

"I'm not sure that's even possible."

"Well, you will never know unless you try."

Moffitt shrugged. He looked at the orb, following its movements with his head. When he stopped, a heartbeat passed before Dietrich felt a slight tugging sensation in his mind. He tried to maintain his hold on the orb, but Moffitt's hold wouldn't be easy to break. It was wrapped around the orb. Coiled tightly. Like a snake constricting its prey.

"You do not have to fight so hard for it," Dietrich said. "Gentler, more like how a mother snake will protect her eggs. Focus on that tranquil idea. A snake with her eggs. Put her in a setting. What setting do you imagine?"

"It's a… Mediterranean forest. A cobra has found a quiet little cave not too far from the shore to lay her eggs."

"Can you hear the water in your setting?"

"I can."

"Focus on that. The sound of the water, the breeze. There is safety here. The snake can rest now. She has no need to fear predators. Rest. Sleep. Sleep deeply and peacefully."

Moffitt's hold on the orb gradually loosened.

"I will count backwards from three, and you will enter a state of unconsciousness. However, you will be capable of hearing my voice and only my voice. Three… two… one." Dietrich took back the orb once Moffitt let go. He waited a couple of seconds, then snapped his fingers in Moffitt's right ear. When he got no response, he said, "Moffitt? Can you hear me?"

"I can hear you," Moffitt replied.

"Good. I want you to step back in time, to when you were a schoolboy. Step back into the classroom where you were confronted with the teacher who instilled fear into you. Fear and guilt."

A somewhat worried expression crossed Moffitt's face.

"Trust me. He cannot hurt you here."

"I… I am stepping into the classroom. Wait, I-I recognize this very day."

"What happened that day?"

"I had a poor mark on a test from the previous day. My… My teacher asked why I didn't do well. He accused me of not studying hard enough. That's not true! I crammed night and day for this bloody test!"

"What will happen next?"

"I snapped. I told him he didn't teach the material well… I was just telling Jules about this… I said it didn't end well."

"What specifically happened? Why did it not end well?"

"I was made to stand in front of the class. My teacher kept a belt in his desk specifically for discipline. He told me had been using his lesson plan for over twenty years and never had student do as poorly as I did, so it must have been my fault. Every failure was my fault. He kept shouting that at me while striking my back."

Dietrich kept his own anger under control. "You said you studied."

"Clearly, I didn't study well enough."

"You put forth your best effort, did you not?"

"I… I passed, but I was told my mark was disgraceful for someone whose father is a professor. I believed it. I believed I was a disgrace."

"I want you to step back forward for a moment. Look over your achievements. In spite of some of your marks not being the greatest, you acquired a doctorate. Are you still a disgrace?"

"I could have done better."

"That is still a serious accomplishment. You succeeded at enlisting, at passing basic training, and getting into the Scots Greys. Are you still a disgrace?"

"I was told I should've been an officer."

"You achieved the rank of sergeant. Nobody gets there by being a disgrace. You were chosen—you, specifically, were chosen by your commanding officer to help the Rat Patrol because of your knowledge of the desert. Clearly, your commanding officer respected you and your education to have thought you would be of great assistance. Are you still a disgrace?"

"You… You're right. I was respected because of my knowledge of the desert."

"You succeeded in the Rat Patrol, both on a professional and personal level. Troy respected your input. Hitch and Tully respected you as much as they did Troy. I saw you as a formidable opponent. Are you still a disgrace?"

"I got captured and tortured many times. I wasn't a hero."

"I never said you were. You survived. That matters. You survived to the end of one of the most brutal conflicts in human history. Combat fatigue has tried to kick you and keep you down, but have you stayed down?"

"No."

"Have you gone the way of many of your comrades and tried to get rid of your nightmares with pint after pint of beer?"

"No."

"No. You fought, and are continuing to fight. Are you still a disgrace?"

Moffitt was quiet for a moment. "You're… making good points."

"Out of every man in the world, Vanora fell in love with you. Eighteen years later, she still loves you. Still think you are a disgrace?"

"You're right. Vanora loves me, even though I feel like I don't deserve it sometimes."

"Your son looks up to you. Even in the face of learning what happened after you learned Michael was killed, he said to you that he doesn't hate you. He worries about you. He loves you. I will ask again, are you still a disgrace?"

"Jules has been handling everything better than I would have. I really am proud… Maybe I have been doing something right."

"Finally, we have Anah. Anah was shown visions of you two thousand years ago. She waited, patiently, for you. Two thousand years. For you. A time longer than our own lifespans. She waited that long for you." Dietrich paused to let that sink in. "She will never believe you are a disgrace, or a failure. Vanora and Jules will never believe it. None of us will. So, tell me, Moffitt, do you still think you are?"

Silence filled the chamber. A tear rolled down Moffitt's face, glinting in the glow of the orb. "No. No… No more. I'm not."

"Bring yourself back to that classroom. Look this man in the eye, and say it. Tell him, 'I am not a disgrace. I am not a failure. It is not my fault.'"

"I'm not a disgrace. I'm not a failure. It's not my fault."

"Once more. And really say it. Turn around and spit it in his face like a cobra."

"I'm not a disgrace! I'm not a failure! It's not my fault!"

"Did you put the effort into your work?!"

"I did!"

"Did you truly try your best!"

"Yes!"

"Then it is not your fault!"

"No, it's not!"

"Is it?!"

"NO!"

Dietrich waited until they both calmed down and caught their breaths. He let the orb darken and sink back down to the disc. "I will snap my fingers, and you will return to consciousness." He put his hand in front of Moffitt's face, and snapped his fingers. As Moffitt awoke, Dietrich turned the lights on in the chamber. "How do you feel?"

Moffitt looked around in mild confusion. "I… feel like I just threw up. I know throwing up isn't pleasant, but this… this was like a complete purging of some awful poison that had been sitting inside me for years. I feel… a lot better. H-How did you…?"

"Do you really want the truth?" Dietrich reached up to press the call button.

"Yes."

"I made things up as I went – used my best judgement."

"And you've claimed Troy is a bad influence."

"Sometimes, a bad influence produces good results." Dietrich stood, and held out his hand to help Moffitt up. "You really do feel better, though?"

"Yes. Thank you. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you for this."

Dietrich grinned a little. "One thing I forgot to mention when you were under was that you never gave up on me while I was recovering from my suicide attempt. I cannot look at someone who was willing to help me at my lowest and see a failure. You do not need to thank me. This was my way of thanking you."