Return to home and report on the "successful" completion of the diplomatic mission.

The Inhabitants of Meram gave Sage and Aurora some supplies and explained how to find a safer route to travel home.

The two rabbit-girls left the territory of the underground settlement of Meram and headed towards the settlement of The Warren.

The return journey was less dangerous due to the fact that they had become more experienced and due to the information of the meramian's inhabitants regarding a safer route.

Perhaps this journey took longer. But it was justified - in their situation, safety is clearly more important than speed.

Four days later, Sage and Aurora returned to home.

The familiar underground corridors of the settlement of The Warren...

A large crowd of local inhabitants...

Noisy cries of wandering merchants in the territory of the trading square...

So, the report on the completion of the diplomatic mission was announced in the office of the one who sent the group.

Chief-researcher Zephyr looked worried and listened inattentively. Sage noticed that his gaze was wandering and that he was clearly thinking about some unknown, more important problems.

Information about the **** of Luna briefly allowed him to focus his attention. He began to ask about what happened in more detail. However, as a result, Zephyr limited himself to verbal expressions of grief and criticism of the actions of Sage and Aurora. Moreover, he criticized Sage's actions much more.

"You should have taken care of more thorough reconnaissance... You should have slowed down and found a detour... To increase safety, you should have taken at least one escort from the Burnsyde settlement..." - all these reproaches of chief-researcher Zephyr only caused a wave of indignation and carefully concealed outrage in the mind of Sage.

With great difficulty restraining her emotions, Sage thought: "This arrogant bastard dares to criticize my actions... It's easy for him to say - he was not there! He did not risk his health and life in the fight against a swarm of aggressive flying insectoid monsters! Stinking hypocrite..."

When the report and discussion of the results of the diplomatic mission were completed, Sage and Aurora went to rest.

Aurora went to the elite home of her wealthy family, which was located in the most comfortable underground corridors in the northern part of the settlement.

Walking along the crowded streets, she examined her new melee weapon - a brass knuckle knife made of light and durable metal of a silvery-white hue. A gift from Leonard. A strange image of a small skull on the metal and small mysterious symbols nearby... This weapon is unusual - it is light and durable and does not have a grain of rust... This item, one look at which awakens in the mind of Aurora memories of the dangerous journey through the wastelands.

Resting at home, Aurora tells her family about the Meram settlement. This story is almost no different from what she told chief-researcher Zephyr.

The main meaning of her words: the Meram settlement is inhabited by quite friendly and honest persons, relations with whom will be profitable. What Aurora saw and heard in this settlement is quite consistent with this perception.

What does Sage do during her rest?

She met her brother, who works at one of the underground mushroom farms (unlike his sister, he is a homester who is not at all interested in exploring the terrain on the surface).

She also spreads positive information about the Meram settlement among the residents of The Warren.

But she does this for other reasons: on the one hand, she remembers Naomi's threatening words about the need to keep the secret; on the other hand, Sage thinks with some hidden, insidious satisfaction that this mysterious cult can help someone else in "liberating" the psyche.

Her thoughts: "Let everyone think that Meram is a good and hospitable place... Let new travelers come there... Some of them will be deemed worthy to undergo the Ritual of Dark Ascension..."

Sage's views on life and her moral "compass" have undergone significant changes due to the events that have taken place. She has become more liberated, selfish and less shy.

During the days of rest, her communication with her many friends has acquired a more... "vivid" character.

Massive drunken parties every night...

Sage has begun to practice sexual relations with some of her friends, not paying attention to such abstract concepts as "loyalty", "chastity" or "sense of decency"...

Rumors about Sage's depraved behavior have quickly spread among the inhabitants of The Warren during these days.

Surprisingly, in addition to the contempt of more intelligent and older persons, these defamatory rumors only attracted an additional number of new "friends". These "friends" were mostly young persons who wanted fun, drinking and sex... But it is obvious that the circle of social connections of Sage began to expand significantly.