Gar sat out of sight a few score feet behind her. Covered in honey and blood, Natalie strode into the Master’s dell. Around her, students stopped mid-spell and gaped, some dropping to the ground, others hovering dumbfounded. Natalie ignored them all, her eyes focused on the Master. He too had stopped, but he peered at her quizzically.

She strode a few paces toward him. “I'm never coming back,” she rasped.

The Master placed the book he held into the nearest student’s hands. “You are hurt. Let me heal you.” He took a step forward.

Natalie flared, her hand shooting up and flinging his outstretched arm away. “I'm tainted. Don't touch me,” she said through clenched teeth.

“Tainted?” The Master rubbed his arm, his skin dark where she had touched.

“Yes!” Natalie cried. “I'm no fairy, and I don't even know why. Jarin died after helping me find an answer, and the answer doesn't even help.”

Natalie tensed, her leg and back muscles clenching.The Master flung his arms across his face, but she only sighed.

She inhaled deeply, dropping her head, and hissed. “Or maybe I killed him. I don’t know. But that’s not what I came here to say.” She raised her eyes, clear and troubled, and, gazing into his, she said, “I’m not coming back. You cannnot teach me, so I must find someone who can.”

She turned her back and stepped lightly into the air and she flew to Gar who stood at her approach.

“Was it worth it?” the bear asked.

“I don’t know,” she said and shook her head. “I don’t know if I ever will.”