It took most of the day for Beauty to fill out the paperwork, taking breaks for food and the restroom. In that time, she grew quite fond of Joanna and her infectious laughter as she answered phones, spoke via orb or mirror, and didn't pause a second between computers and letters from the postman and taking mail from varying birds' legs.

"Isn't mail that way slow?"

"Oh, it depends, dear. Some like Perry's magnificent falcon Gilden here have been clocked going incredible speeds, though I daresay both prefer Gilden to not push himself. Perry is head of MagCa these days and he will be very interested to meet you."

"Seems like everyone says that a lot. You are close with him?"

"You could say that, I suppose." Joanna sighed. "Since he tried to date me. At the time, I was on my last year there, and my relationship with Tydal was on the rocks. Even in that moment of vulnerability, I told him no, and he was absolutely livid to be turned down for a "beast". Thankfully, my older sister Aggie was with me at the time as a guest, and she didn't hold back in her ferocity as she told him off."

"Good for her. I always wanted siblings."

"I imagine it was terribly lonely for you. Not to mention the shock of learning about your father, since he most likely didn't share what he was until you showed you had magic."

"That's spot on. You knew him well, didn't you?"

"Best friends usually do. From his behavior, I am not sure he feels we still are."

Beauty noticed how sad she looked. "Because of my mom?"

"He told you about her?" Joanna tidied her desk. "How much did he say?"

"That it was his fault the Hunters found us."

"I cannot say I would feel much different. I tried to warn him it wasn't a good idea to live the way he was, though blinded by love he didn't see the reasoning. Perhaps now he thinks that I should have done more."

"He is too stubborn sometimes, though I am not sure what he would expect you to do barring tying him up and forcing him."

Joanna laughed. "That is definitely not my nature. While I have inherited my parents' fire magic, my gift lies in the calm and cool spectrum of the element unlike my sister, who as you may guess correctly has the more volatile side."

"Elemental magic? I thought that was only in stories."

"Almost. It is considered a rare ability to pass on these days. My father searched the ends of the Earth to find a bride who could give him children strong in it. Usually, that means marrying one of the Otherkin. Has your father mentioned them yet?"

Beauty remembered her promise to keep Seiko Wendell between her father and herself, torn because she also wanted to be truthful with Joanna. "I think so."

"Either way, you will learn more at MagCa. To continue the story, my father's ship was caught in a terrible typhoon that left them at the mercy of the tempest. Once the storm cleared, they couldn't find their bearings and spotted a cluster of islands. Taking a rowboat to the biggest one, they found themselves in what is now called Hawaii. My father stood up against their erupting volcano, finding my mother in the process. She is what the locals referred to as a deity, albeit she truly was one of the fey from the Flame Court. Impressed by the spark in my father, she agreed to marry him."

"Sounds like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

Joanna giggled. "As you clearly got your father's silver tongue. Speak of the devil..."

"Haha, very funny." The slightest upturn of Maurice's lips showed his good nature at being teased. "And how many embarrassing stories about me did you tell?"

"Actually, we spoke of my past and parents."

Maurice raised his eyebrows in surprise. "I never thought you would share such things with a stranger."

"Come now, Maur, it is not as if she is. After all, she reminds me of a very bright, hopeful, yet stubborn friend of mine."

"Let's pray to all the existing gods she is nothing close to as headstrong as me, nevertheless, I have seen the same steel look in her eyes."

"I would expect nothing less from a child of yours. Now go get some sleep, your daughter certainly earned it by finishing this daunting stack."

"Indeed. Come along, Beauty."

She rose, hugging Joanna on an impulse. "Thank you for your help and the cocoa...and talking."

"Your father can attest I will talk your ears off if you let me." Joanna returned the embrace. "Safe travels."

Maurice hesitated a moment, then held out a hand. "Sorry for earlier, I-"

"Don't worry, Beauty explained what happened." Joanna hugged him. "It is good you two are safe."

"Thank you. See you when we pass back through." He walked back out to the car with Beauty. "Later, Tydal."

"Until the tide brings us back together, Maurice."

Beauty belted up in unison with her father. "So where are we staying?"

"One of the lodges just down the road is a good spot for us. It's a neutral zone like the Council office back there." He replied as he drove them further up the road to a resort much farther away from the others. "Now that you have signed all of the necessary paperwork, you will feel a tingle as we get on the property. It's rather like being touched by sunlight after getting too cold from swimming."

She blinked as they turned off onto the entryway and passed through an open wrought iron gate with an ivy pattern on its brass-polished surface. "You were right about that. Are those the wards?"

"Yes and no. The protection spells here are ancient, and enhancements were added to restrict gifts for defense only. For example- Hunters can stay here, however, their beasts cannot unless it's the blue-eyed ones."

"So anyone intending harm can't enter?"

"That is the general idea. Even so, like all neutral zones, it has someone to make certain nothing slips in as well as a security patrol. I hate to meet the one who has to answer to the Protector General here. Did Joanna mention her sister?"

"Aggie? Yeah. Flame elemental magician with the fiery side of the gift."

Maurice chuckled. "Of course, she would say such things. Joanna is very modest and practically worships her elder sibling. Can't blame her, seeing as Aggie always backed her."

"She told me something to that effect."

"Don't tell me she talked about Perry."

"The whole him trying to date her tantrum?"

"Dear Merlin." He laughed as he parked. "She must have gotten quite attached to you to tell you that story."

"The feeling was mutual. I wanted to reciprocate, though was not sure I should yet."

"Soon, perhaps. Let's go check in."