Episode 97 - A Humble Invitation

## Synopsis

### Flashback (SWIM + Artis)

The night the students defeated Neska they returned to Artis’s cottage victorious, only to find the destruction she had left behind. The cottage had been wrecked, and Delnys badly injured. Outside in his garden, Artis found Teb lying on the ground, dead.

The next day, they stood in the rain under a tall elm tree. Underneath was a small mound of earth where the body of Teb had been laid to rest. Artis knelt down and placed his hand on the earth, “*Goodbye old friend, I hope you can find some peace now in death.*”

Integrity knelt down beside her mentor, “*Teb, even though we didn’t know who you truly were, based on what everyone has told us about you, you were a good Tebothy. All I can promise is I will take care of your precious stone, and I hope that you find peace, and happiness, wherever you are now.*”

As tears began to fall down their faces, Mira also knelt down, “*I didn’t know Teb that well, but he was always nice to us and he always tried to keep us safe from some of the more dangerous things that he knew about. I don’t know everything about him, but I know that he was a good friend to Artis and to everyone, and I think the world will be a little bit of a worse place without him.*”

Serinepth joined her friends, “I *wasn’t here for the introduction of Teb myself, I came here later. But people I care about are mourning him, and they cared about him, and for that I know he was a good person, and I hope that he can finally rest.*”

Winsler conjured a small flower and placed it onto the grave. As it slowly faded out of existence, Artis turned to his old friend, tears flowing freely down his face. In Elvish, he whispered, “*Say hi to the two of them for me, I won’t be joining the rest of you just yet, I’m not quite ready.*”

The group walked back to Artis’ cottage in silence. They sat for a few moments before Artis stood up, and went to the shed to find what he could to fix his home. Seeing what he was trying to do, his students all got up, and tried to help repair  some of the damage Neska had left behind.

While cleaning, Integrity gave Artis the net Teb had given her in the sewers. Upon seeing it he shuddered, and reached out to take it. He thanked her, and placed it upstairs next to his desk.

### Present

Back on campus, Artis told the students a new headmaster was being chosen, so interplanar travel might be allowed again. With everything that had happened recently, he asked if they were ok with going back. When no-one voiced any hesitations, he told them what they would be doing. He had been trying to contact a marsh spirit regarding some elemental disturbances, and joked that they wouldn’t be going to a town in the middle of a revolution this time.

Artis awkwardly left after making a few jokes, and the students headed to the Dining Hall. Looking in, Serinepth saw Phillip sitting with his friends, and brought some notes that she’d taken on their shared classes. The rest of SWIM got food and settled in. Integrity went over to Silvi to pay off the snack debt she owed her. Seemingly appeased, she allowed Integrity to join them.

As well as the notes, Serinepth pulled out one of the parent information sheets for Phillip, who told her Yexim had already given him one. He asked if she was going to tell her parents, and she responded that  she would probably have to. She also mentioned having to warn her friends about her parents, as they had a complicated relationship.

Meanwhile, Mira was eating and doing homework. Winsler worked on making a book wagon to carry his catch-up material. Integrity was eating, chatting, and hanging out with Ida, who was still in her fancy new gi.

After dinner, the students returned to their dorms. Allena helped Mira with her arm, Serinpeth spent time with Virgil, Winsler returned to his chaos-filled dorm, and Integrity wondered why Silvi could smell things that weren’t there.

Kurt explained that he had been teaching Yog to read, write, and do maths. Before going to sleep, Integrity read through her *Scroll of Conjure Memory*. It said that it could be used once to conjure the physical image of a magical item’s memory, though it had to be used in an area of “*high arcane flow*”.

During the night, the students slept soundly with their dreams. Winsler went through a montage of all the ideas floating around in his head, Mira took herself to court over whether the use of the *Suggestion* spell should need a license to use, Integrity flew on a fiery phoenix, and Serinepth had a nightmare about her parents meeting her friends.

They woke up refreshed, and got breakfast from the Dining Hall. Suddenly through the doors came a figure dressed in an extravagant, high-collared, plum dress with poofy sleeves. Walking through the Dining Hall and stopping right beside SWIM was Penny Royal. Clearly very embarrassed, she unrolled a large scroll and read:

“*Mira Marchand, Winsler Wallaby, Integrity Idleberry, and Serinepth Sinderman.*

*You are invited to Raethran Estate for an evening of intrigue and delight. Please arrive in the afternoon, with all your senses ready. And bring Artisian, the man deserves a break.*

*Yours,*

*Professor Elrich Raethran*”