As they hurried through the throne room, Elsa suddenly stopped.

"Circe, wait," Elsa requested. "Before I leave, I want to ask you something... Why are you helping me?"

"There's a couple of reasons actually," Circe answered. "For one, you seem like a nice girl, and since I don't like innocent magic users being forced into unhealthy circumstances such as suppression, persecution, or exploitation, I figured helping you get home is the least I could do if you're not going to accept my help with solving your ice problems, especially considering that you were stranded alone on a lifeboat before I found you. Also, I'm trying to be more... benevolent since I've had my staff fixed."

Elsa did not know how to respond to this information, so she simply nodded.

As they were about to reach the exit, Elsa looked down and noticed her journal was still lying on the floor from when she had dropped it during her failed escape attempt. She quickly picked it up and placed it carefully inside the ocean bag before following Circe outside.

🦚🌺🦚

On the island's beach just outside the palace, the sun was beginning to set in the clear blue sky, with touches of purple slowly blending their way in.

"I'm going to give you a five minute's head start," Circe informed Elsa, "to get out of my sight before I officially decide that I want to take back my selkie coat, starting now."

Circe stopped smiling and her eyes narrowed, instantly signaling to Elsa that she had to leave immediately if she ever wanted to return home. She cautiously approached the shore's edge, not knowing how to prepare herself for going below the surface. Suddenly, Elsa's foot got caught on the selkie coat's long sleek fabric, causing her to trip and fall into the ocean, disappearing into the depths below.

Circe approached the spot where Elsa fell and watched the bubbles become smaller and smaller until not even ripples were visible among the waves that danced against the shore of her island.

"I suppose that went well," Circe sighed to herself. "I better not end up regretting this. Now, time to analyze some snowflakes..."

Taking one last glance at the ocean, Circe headed back inside and slammed the door behind her.