Stell was shocked that, right after Tak, Unie, and Carla released Stell from their embrace, Kabuto suggested they return to Uncle Happy's village before returning home. She was even more surprised when Tianlong offered to fly them there until they reached a stop where he could transform back into his human form.

However, Reuben declined the offer and told them that he and his associates had finished their quest in finding the Grimorie and thought it best to return home.

"While this was a rather... Interesting adventure," Reuben explained, "I'm afraid we've seen all we've needed to see. We met Lady Wendy herself, went on an exciting and hazardous trip, and got a chance to not only see the Grimorie, but see it in action at the hands of its new owner." Stell clutched the book closer to her chest.

"We are very grateful to you Miss Mooney," Reuben went on, "if it weren't for you literally falling into our lives, we would never have known who was truly meant to take the Grimorie from this mountain."

"And thank you for saving me from drowning without knowing who I was," Stell bowed, "if it weren't for you I'd be at the bottom of a lake or maybe even back in Kespain with nowhere to go."

"Until we meet again," Reuben bowed back to Stell before looking to Kabuto. "And I do hope we meet again."

"Good riddance, creep," Kabuto shot.

Reuben responded with a flirtatious wink before waving his staff up, creating a wooden door standing out of the ground. He gripped the door knob and opened it to reveal a kitchen filled with papers and books, scattered all over the place. Thorne and Alia waved goodbye before stepping through the door, followed by Reuben who gave one last wave before shutting the door behind him, it vanishing as it closed.

"What a weird guy." Carla commented.

"At least he's out of our hair now," Kabuto growled.

"And I don't have to carry too many of you mortals," Tianlong agreed before he turned himself into his dragon form.

Tak, Unie, and Carla climbed up onto the dragon's back, followed by Stell and Kabuto. Stell looked the shadow who looked back and immediately looked away.

"I just... I'm just making sure the kids don't fall off, that's all." the shadow explained defensively.

Stell shrugged before looking back ahead of her to the back of Tianlong's head.

The dragon flapped his giant wings and shot off from the ground, the wind blowing against Stell's face. However, it felt different from the other times when Tianlong flew her around. A completely new feeling washed over her with the gentle breeze against her face as she and her friends flew back to Happy.

The next morning, Happy and his family greeted the group happily after Tianlong landed in the woods nearby and changed for them to walk the rest of the way to it and to the village. Hopper and Topper immediately jumped up on Stell in a greeting hug while Brian just nodded to her coolly. Happy then lifted up his family and Stell in a breath taking hug, all of them laughing except for Brian.

The leader of the village then offered to celebrate their return with another feast, to which the village cheered in agreement. Stell turned to the others and pleaded for them to stay for a while longer in Sefloria for the feast, pleadingly looking to Tianlong. Luckily, everyone in her group agreed to stay, admitting that they didn't want the adventure to end too soon. Tianlong, however, remained silent but agreed to stay should food be given to him. He then ran off when the same group of older women ran after him, giggling under their breaths to one another.

"Poor bastard," Kabuto shook his head.

"It's the curse of having good looks, I guess," chuckled Stell.

"None of these women are chasing me." Kabuto pointed out.

"Like I said, it's the curse of having good looks," Stell joked.

Kabuto then made a gesture as if he had been stabbed in the chest by a dagger to which Stell giggled at his nonsense while Tak and Unie looked to the two back and forth.

"Okay, now you two are just being weird!" Tak spat as he stormed off to join the children who were preparing for the feast. Unie rolled her eyes before following after the mage spitefully.

"I should probably go see if Selena will help me bake that cake for those two!" Stell smiled as she went to go find her aunt. Kabuto grabbing her arm then stopped her and she turned to see the shadow look baffled by his movements. He released her and looked around quickly as if trying to think of something.

"Would... Can you bake two for Tak?" Kabuto finally asked, scratching the back of his head. "It's just... Well... I mean... He deserves it. He's learned a lot on this journey and he just got his fire and..."

When he trailed off, Stell stopped him by gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "Of course I can!" she beamed. "I'll make some for everyone and a little extra so you can take it home with you!"

Kabuto looked at the young witch for a moment before looking away from her, though Stell could still see his pale face begin to grow red. "J-Just out of curiosity," he coughed, "now that you have the book and you want to use it to stop Alabaster... Would you ever consider going back to Kespain?" he quickly added "only to visit of course! I know you're still probably against that place after what you've experienced there."

Stell blinked in confusion. She thought their truce was still fully planned out, but now that she went through the journey, she wondered if the outcome of the truce would lead to her having to say goodbye to Tak and Unie. Now that Carla was free, Stell hoped the vampire would visit from time to time when she wasn't treasure hunting with the Night Raider. As for Tianlong, the dragon was most likely planning on putting everything he had went through with Stell and returning to his mountain home to prove himself a great dragon to his fellow dragons. The idea made Stell suddenly feel lonely. She could make new friends now that she was free herself, but she loved getting to know everyone. Even Kabuto.

"Of course I would," Stell smiled, "I couldn't imagine not ever seeing Tak or Unie again and maybe Carla will give me a ride on the ship to Kespain too!"

"Even after-" Kabuto looked to her in shock.

"Even after what happened," Stell interrupted. "I have the Grimorie now, I'm not afraid of the Mallors anymore. The only thing I'm afraid of now is letting them win."

Kabuto looked at Stell for a moment before smiling. "Well, you're certainly braver than me. If the book cut my hair, I'd be burning it the moment I got it."

"What?" Stell raised an eyebrow. "Cut your hair?"

"Your hair," Kabuto frowned, "it's short now."

"It cut my hair?" Stell exclaimed as she put her hands on her hair, running her fingers to the bottoms and finding it had been cut to her shoulders. She then took out her mirror to see that her long, purple hair was truly chopped up to her shoulders. She looked to the book in her other hand. Why had it cut her hair? How could it have cut her hair?

"I like it," Stell jumped at the sudden new voice from directly behind her. She spun to see Wendy and Cuan standing nearby, a broom in Wendy's hand. "Hello again!" the older witch smiled.

"Lady Wendy?" Stell blinked. "What are you doing here?"

"Why, I came to see you of course," Wendy replied. "I see you accomplished in getting the Grimorie. You certainly do impress!"

"Is there a spell you need from it?" Stell asked.

"Oh, no, not at all," Wendy laughed, "I'm here for just you actually."

Stell froze. "Me, what would you want with me?"

"I'll be honest, the book did choose you, it was an amazing coincidence," Wendy began, "but this was also a test and you passed. You proved you have some great potential to become an amazing witch, but you need to learn to control the abilities you'll learn as you get older, especially when you possess the Grimorie's power."

It was at this point when Happy, Selena, Tak, Unie, and Carla stepped up next to Kabuto to hear what was being exchanged. Stell's heart beat against her chest quickly, wondering what Wendy was getting at by telling her all this, though Stell had a feeling as to what that certain thing was. Up until she got the Grimorie, Stell thought she'd return to her old life back home, but now she really wanted to take a huge step and keep anyone else from suffering at the hands of Alabaster.

"So, I've decided to make you my own personal student in the ways of magic," Wendy went on proudly, "I'd like to help you unleash your potential and use it to protect Trapario. What do you say?"

"You want to make me your personal student?" Stell gasped. Wendy and when Stell looked to her uncle, the village leader and his wide gestured for her to accept the rare opportunity to be taken under a great witch like Wendy's wing. "Yes! Yes, I'd love to be your student!"

"Perfect!" Wendy beamed, clapping her hands together. "Come August, I will have you enrolled at my old school in the West, Crystal Wings Academy. It will be there where you will learn everything magic and you will share each new spell you learn with me and I will teach you spells of my own. If this journey is an example of your future as a student, you'll be known in history as a great witch in no time."

The ground beneath Stell's feet was then immediately taken from her as Happy lifted her up in another bone crushing hug. Selena joining in while she called for her sons to come in as well.

"That's our girl!" Happy exclaimed proudly. "You're parents would be so proud!"

When the villagers set Stell down, Tak and Unie ran up and wrapped their arms around Stell's waist. Carla then jumped over and squeezed her arms around Stell's neck. Meanwhile, Tianlong and Kabuto stayed back, the shadow smiling as he watched the witch get hugged to death in just one day.

"Would y'all like to stay for dinner?" Happy asked Wendy and Cuan.

"That sounds lovely," Wendy accepted before taking Stell's arm, "let's get to baking that cake you were planning on making for your little friends!"

Stell didn't question how Wendy knew she was planning on baking a cake for her friends. The older witch was gifted with omnipotence by her husband after all. Though, Stell wondered if being Wendy's student would make her know everything, something Stell was sure Wendy liked, but Stell couldn't imagine what knowing everything would be like. She enjoyed the surprises she'd seen on her trip.

The night of the feast went just as well as the last one. Stell felt like a completely different person, sharing the food with her friends and the village. Wendy spoke to Stell about what the academy Stell would be sent to was like, the library being filled with books on magic and the history behind it and being one of the main meeting spots for Stell to exchange knowledge with Wendy at.

Dancing made her feel lighter as well, as if a chain had been broken off of her. The feeling of freedom was amazing and it felt like Stell could jump to the sky and fly among the stars. She never realized how great freedom could feel. She wanted it to last forever. She wanted to go on more adventures to see if this feeling was made from being able to travel across all of Trapario. She even accepted Kabuto's offer to dance with him, despite him being a shadow. He had defended her when Alabaster ordered her to return with him. It made her feel bad for being cruel and unfair to him and hoped that her next journey to Kespain would prove Kabuto right about its beauty.

The next day, the others thought it best Stell remain with Happy when they prepared themselves to return home. Carla was able to contact Brick using her powers to tell him where she was through her mental telepathy last night. The Night Raider soon appeared over the village by the sun began rising over the trees and Carla signaled for Brick to wait before letting down the latter to allow her to climb up to the ship.

"Well," the vampire shrugged to the traveling group, "I guess this is goodbye."

"We'll see each other again," Stell vowed as she placed a hand on the captain's shoulder, "if you're going to fight Alabaster for your and everyone else's freedom, I'm sure we'll meet in battle against him one day. Hopefully, I'll be stronger than I've been on this trip."

"Stell, you're the strongest witch I know," Carla commented, taking her hand on her shoulder, "you pushed me to get my crew back on their feet even when we were hired to take you back to Kespain. If our roles were switched, I'm sure I would have frozen up the moment someone pointed a gun at me. I'd follow you into any battle!" the vampire then stomped her feet and saluted Stell with her index and middle finger to her forehead while her thumb, pinkie, and ring finger remained pressed to her palm.

Stell mimiced the salute with a smile. The witch then wrapped her arms around Clara's neck in one last hug. Carla hugged back, a warmth of friendship passing between the two before they released themselves from each other's embraces. Carla's eyes were wet as she called for Brick to let down the latter, grabbing on tightly once the Unnatural did, and waved goodbye as she was lifted up off the ground and to the ship, which began sailing off into the horizon.

Tianlong then stepped up to Stell, not a hint of sadness on his face. "If my debt my debt has been paid, then I shall return home now."

Stell bowed deeply to the dragon. "Thank you for everything, Tianlong," she told the dragon, "I know it wasn't easy to help a lower being like myself."

Tianlong shrugged. "Well, I suppose you're not as low as most mortals. You did save a dragon's life and you are now the Guardian's wife's student. Perhaps you have the potential to be even better than a dragon. Although, I wouldn't tell the rest of my kind that."

Stell chuckled before giving the dragon a hug, Tianlong tensing up under her hold. He patted her head awkwardly before gently pushing her away.

"Right," Tianlong coughed, "I should go. Thank you again for assisting in my escape, Stell Mooney."

With that, the dragon returned to his normal form and flew off into the sky, leaving a great gust of wind behind him. Luckily, the group had moved far enough away from the village for anyone to get too frightened by the sight of the dragon flying away.

Stell turned to look down at Unie, who was holding a box that held the extra cake Stell had baked for her. The nymph looked down sadly as she walked up closer to Stell as the witch kneeled down to her height.

"Thank you for the cake," Unie held up the box solemnly, "I'm sure my mom and Rapario will love it."

"And they'll be very proud of you when you get home," Stell assured, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder, "you were really brave and next time we fight that bully, Alabaster, we'll get as much gold as we can carry and return it to your home."

Unie smiled before giving Stell a hug, Stell returning the embrace and trying not to cry at the thought of saying goodbye to the nymph and Tak.

When Unie let go, she stepped aside to see Tak pouting as he kept his eyes away from Stell. Kabuto then nudged the mage toward Stell with his leg, making Tak stumble to stand before Stell.

Tak sighed frustratingly, still keeping his eye contact away from Stell with arms crossed. "Thank you for the cake and saving us back in the cave," he rolled his eyes, "I guess."

Stell giggled. "And thank you for being my brave little knight on this trip."

She then pulled Tak closer in for a hug to which Tak he hugged back after a moment. Stell felt something wet and warm fall on the sleeve of her shirt and soak down to her shoulder and heard the mage sniff next to her. She held back her own tears as she tightened her embrace around Tak, praying for the day she'd see him again.

Once the two pulled apart, Tak quickly shook his head quickly and took a deep breath, hiding his red eyes and acting as if nothing had happened. He stepped aside to stand proudly next to Unie, who rolled her eyes, knowing he was just acting tough.

Stell then stood straight and went to stand before Kabuto. The shadow rubbed the back of his neck before sighing and looking down at the young witch.

"Quite the journey, I'd say," Kabuto commented, "I'll admit, I'd never imagine going this far with a witch for a book. But, it was interesting. Sefloria isn't that bad a place either, a lot brighter than Kespain, wouldn't mind visiting it again someday." Stell smiled up at the shadow. Kabuto quickly looked away, trying to hide his blush. "A-Anyway, it was a pleasure working with you," he stuttered as he looked back and held out his hand, "I hope we meet again, Miss Mooney."

Stell looked at his hand for a moment before looking back to Kabuto with a smile and stepping up and giving him one last hug. The shadow tensed under her sudden embrace and took a shakey moment before hugging her back, wrapping his arms around her in an equally tight hug.

As the two held one another, another new feeling overcame Stell. Before all this, she'd never even think about hugging a shadow, much less going anywhere with one. But this was different. She had seen something she thought was rare. A kind-hearted shadow who took in an orphan fire mage and gave a witch, his enemy, his shirt so she wouldn't freeze. She wondered if the book had seen the war that started the hate between witches and shadows and this new feeling had something to do with it. Perhaps this was a sign the two species needed each other now that they had a common enemy. Perhaps the book knew more than even Wendy.

Either way, the feeling was warm and different from the others' hugs. It was the release of hate from two natural born enemies. And even if they were probably not the first, Stell would remember how she let go her hate of all shadows and befriended one after a long journey through a world that didn't know it was blaming her for being forced into slavery.

Finally, the two let go of one another and Kabuto stepped back, looking down at Stell in surprise.

"Until we meet again, Mr. Stryker." Stell bowed. "Thank you for showing me the brighter side of the shadow kingdom."

Kabuto bowed back before quickly walking over to the kids and turning his shadow into wings on his back. He helped Tak and Unie up on to his back and began flapping his wings. Tak and Unie looked back and waved goodbye to Stell as Kabuto rose up off the ground and off into the sky.

Stell waved back to the three and watched as they disappeared into the horizon.

"So, what now?" Stell turned to see Wendy leaning against her broom, a half eaten apple in her other hand.

Stell smiled. "I think I'd like to start my first lesson a little early," she said, "how to make my own magic broom?"