Reconciliation

There was understandably a lot of chatter around the academy after the hearing was over. That was predictable, humans were inherently and incessantly social creatures. Such short lives, and they spend so much of it simply talking, though Dwarves, Orcs, and the Halflings were admittedly not much better. Still, this was event that surpassed normal expectations for gossip and intrigue. What had started out as an event to stare and laugh at the supposedly loose student had turned into something so much greater; the corruption and nepotism inherent in the academy. It was a complete surprise to everyone...

...Almost everyone, you reconsider. Siobhan's questions and pressure during the hearing seemed to suggest she knew exactly what to ask or say, and when to do it. She was right, seemingly every part of the organization needs to be shaken up, but you're also afraid of what you are helping along with. Siobhan may not be as overtly corrupt as the dean, whose tenure here will probably come to a swift end now, but she is as secretive and manipulative, and you have to wonder what will come at the end game of all this. There are secrets of magic and the arcane to be learned here, far more in this academy than any other place you could consider a reasonable alternative, but are the secrets worth the cost you're paying to gain them? That answer does not come easily, and so you return to your teacher's office.

Once again, she returned to her office faster than you did, along with Tyrlo. You come into the end of a conversation

"You're sure this is what you want?" Siobhan asks the young student.

"Yes, very much. There's nothing for me here except painful reminders." Hearing those words does tip the scales in the other direction, remembering that for all the acts behind the scenes, there is some real good coming out of it. A forged book has been destroyed, a band of brigands have been dealt with, and a young lady has her freedom and her life back.

"What did I miss?" You ask as you walk in slowly and quietly.

"Ahhh, Verigas. I'm very glad that you're here, and glad that you were able to see the hearing." You nod silently as Siobhan continues "As you heard, Tyrlo was brought here against her will and wants nothing to do with this place or wizardry of any kind. We're going to put things right."

"How do you plan on doing that?" You ask.

Tyrlo speaks up for herself, with a chipper, friendlier voice than you remember her having before "Siobhan is going to send me to a Bard's College. I'm so excited!"

"We were talking about it for a little while before you came in." Siobhan continued "She remembered how happy her father was around the Bard lady as a child, and wanted to bring that kind of happiness to others."

"Who knows, it may even help me find him one day."

"That sounds great" You say genuinely, with a smile on your face "Did you need me for something?"

"Indeed, yes. Would you be so kind as to accompany her on her journey?" Siobhan asks as she digs around her cluttered office until she finds a wooden staff.

"You're asking me to walk her to a Bard's College and back? Why that would be Mon-"

Siobhan cuts you off "Years, actually, if you factor in the return trip. I'm disappointed in you Verigas, thinking too narrowly," She pointed her staff at the doorway and cast a strange spell at it. A huge blue ball of energy leapt from the tip and changed the doorway into a magical portal. "Why walk when you don't have to?" She reached into her pocket and pulled out two small silver rings, each with a curious blue stone on them.

"Now, each of you put these on. These are enchanted with a relocation spell. Whenever you take the ring off, it will transport you to the exact place you were when you put it on. Verigas, please come back as soon as you are sure that Tyrlo is comfortable and established in her new future. Tyrlo, you are free to return here at any time. If the college does not work out for you, I'll happily help find other avenues for you."

"Thank you Siobhan." She said quietly "This is, really great. I don't know how I can ever pay you back."

"You don't have to. This is us paying you back. Now, get going before the portal closes, and make sure you learn something while you're there."

"I will!" Tyrlo practically races off into the portal, dragging you behind by the wrist. As you pass through the portal, you have a sickening sense that there's something going on that Siobhan didn't tell you about...