Both Will and Bart followed Teresa into the house, the interior was big and comfy, with much furniture, religious paraphernalia, and a section where plants were grown and medical equipment was kept. Both Will and Bart were impressed at the interior.

"You all must be tired, so why don't you give your stuff to the serving maids and they'll carry it to your respective rooms. Come, follow me to the living room where you can relax and have refreshments, and where I will keep you company until Derry and your friend come back" Teresa offered.

All this while, Bart's face had turned red, and he was staring at the floor intensely, and followed Will and Teresa listlessly. Will noticed this and worried Bart's lust would be getting the better of him, and so needed an excuse to speak with him.

"Miss Teresa, your house is lovely, but it would be a shame if we sullied it with the muck and dust of the road. Can you direct us to a chamber where we can wash and clean ourselves?" Will requested.

"Ah! Of course! Very thoughtful of you, it's down the hall yonder, you can't miss it. Please join me in the living chamber later" She directed.

The duo made their way into the chamber as soon as Will closed the door he cautiously confronted Bart.

"Bart, I've noticed the look in your eye, and by your facial and body language I can see you are up to no good. What's going on? Didn't you receive a wakeup call in the swamp where your crown jewels were almost torn to shreds? Spit it out man!" Will argued.

"Honestly Will, you're right. I have had the urge to try and seduce Teresa, and I am aware that I've already seduced a married woman and had to pay a hefty price, not to mention my lusts have gotten the better of me. I am ashamed, but I don't know how to control my urges" Bart muttered gloomily.

"Well, if what you guys told me about your misadventures in the swamp were true, instead of focusing on your lusts why don't you focus on, well, love. Do you respect and love Topher? You both have been through a lot together, and you know how he is, in that you'll devastate him by destroying his brother's marriage. We could also talk to Teresa and ask her about her life and interests which might allow you to see her more as a person rather than an object of pleasure. Also think of little Trevor, do you really want to seduce his own mother in front of his eyes, imagine how much that'll mess him up! Focus on love and responsibility, Bart! For Goodness sake!" counselled Will.

"Right, that is good advice, I'll give it a shot" Bart promised

"You'd better or this quest is on the road to failure" advised Will

Will and Bart finished washing up and went to join Teresa in the living room. They shared pleasantries with her, and told her of their journey and the sights and lands they'd seen, while omitting many details including any mention of Bart's infidelities or of anything magical.

"My, you gents have traveled a while, and to think you came here just to cheerlead your friend on his future career path. I myself once belonged to the church" she stated offhandedly.

"Really?" interjected Will "If I may be so forward, could you tell us about it, and what you do now? I noticed a herb garden and medical tools. May I be correct in assuming they belong to you?" he asked

"You have a keen eye, and yes they belong to me, I currently work as a healer. I didn't have parents, so I was adopted by the Church and grew up with a stern Mother Superior and a strict regimen in a boarding school. I suppose I felt a level of camaraderie with my fellow sisters, but really, one day felt like the next and life was hard, and with no real love. I thankfully did receive an education, and really enjoyed the healing arts, but to pursue them I would have had to become a formal priestess of the church, and then be part of it forever. I was planning on leaving when I came of age and going wherever the world would take me, which is where I became very lucky and met Derik. You see, Derik was hired to do routine fixing in the dormitory where I lived; I bumped into him by accident in the courtyard, and our eyes met. It felt like an instant connection. We began talking and I told him my plans on leaving the Church because I was about to come of age, and that I'd be taking menial jobs to support myself. He told me that it would be a shame and a pity considering my passions were in healing, and that the world is especially cruel to women who have no support system. Now, I know I'm making this sound like this happened then and there but this happened over the course of weeks where we would meet in secret, and Derik would choose the location since he could make an excuse that that area needed repairs. We knew we were in love, but I wasn't about to run away with him, not until he proposed to me, and we made it official at the church notary's office. I thank God everyday for meeting Derik, I really don't know what would have become of me without him. He has treated me with such love and kindness, and has always treated me as his better half. His greatest blessing to me was my son, Trevor. Haha, I know I've shared too much information, but it's not everyday that I get company to divert me from the grind of being a healer and a mother. Tell me more about yourselves".

Teresa and Will made more small talk while discussing herbs, animals, books, the geography of the town, politics of the church, and details of the inquistorship. All this while Bart sat silently, looking down, embarrassed and disgusted with himself. Teresa so much resembled him in growing up in an environment where there wasn't any love, and seemed destined to live a hard and uncertain life without the intervention of someone in their life who believed in them. In her, he found a kindred spirit, and with that his lust began to evaporate.

Teresa began to notice Bart's silence and began: "Sir, if I recall correctly, Will told me you were a bard. I suppose the stereotype is true, performers tend to be introverted offstage. Could you tell me about your profession, and of the beautiful lute that you have?" she smiled encouragingly.

Will gave Bart a meaningful look, one which seemed to suggest that he not make any mention of the incidents of Fair n' Square, the swamp, or of his history with the witch. Bart smiled reassuringly and said "Sure.." to which he began to explain his profession, the places he visited, the technical bits on how to play an instrument and the like. It really was a pleasant sitting. Soon, Derik and Topher came back to the house, and everyone went to have dinner. It was later decided that the trio could stay in Derik's house, unless they chose otherwise. And so everyone retired to bed.

As morning broke, Bart felt the demons of his lust probe and drive him. Though Will had successfully evaporated his lust for Teresa, his ego wanted him to seduce anyone, and so he left early in the morning to the market square. In the busy market, he found a young maiden, who was buying vegetables and who unbeknownst to Bart was a sister of the Silent Order, which was a branch of the church that believed that the Divine was to be worshipped quietly, and where music was prohibited; she at the time had not yet taken her vows and was not in uniform. Bart tried his seductive tactics by complimenting her, and trying to use his music to stir her mood, but she found him repulsive despite his good looks. She backed away disgustedly with a sneer on her face, spat on the ground and left. This event shattered Bart's ego because up to this point no girl had ever refused him, because where he was from no one really had a higher sense of purpose and lived life merely to exist to the next day. He began to feel sick, and rushed to the tavern to get drunk, but found no matter how much he drank his sense of self loathing would not leave him. In a drunken stupor he had a vision of all the women in his life who had given him a higher sense of purpose like his mom, the witch, and now, in a way, Teresa Rosemary. When he woke up, he dejectedly tried to make his way back home to Derik's house, where on the way he passed by a seller of religious icons. One of the icons was of the Divine Mother, a figure who represented universal and unconditional love. Her image struck a chord with Bart, and he purchased the necklace with the locket. In a secluded spot he stared at the image and wept.

"Whenever I feel like I am slipping, and that my lusts are overpowering me, I have but to look at this image to be reminded of my goals, to find true love, and give pure unselfish love to others. As of now I love both Topher and Will, the closest things that I have to real brothers who actually care for me and my wellbeing. I have a quest and a prophecy I need to fulfil, which could save the world. I will do better and control myself from here on out!" he ruminated. And so Bart made his way back to the house with a renewed purpose, with a brightened face, and an upbeat gait.