Cao's words had hit her hard. After setting the dragon free, she had gone off on her own to a cave. She didn't want to see anybody right now. All she wanted was to be alone. Marcov. She was becoming like him. Her ambition was driving her to things that directly conflicted with her values. With the goals she set. The manacles were at her side, she looked over to them and frowned. First, she had to destroy these. Somehow. Using these was her first mistake. She didn't care about repenting to people. All she cared about was making sure she never did something like this again. The manacles were strong and wouldn't easily be destroyed. Dala picked up the manacles and threw them against the cave wall in anger. 

"This is your own fault." She reminded herself, "You really are stupid…Pillock." 

Dala sat down and held her knees up to her chest. Her thoughts ran her actions through her mind over and over again. The part where she messed up was when she tried to force the dragon to be her ally. She'd already set the dragon free. So that was one person that she had made things better for. Myouga got what she wanted out of the whole arrangement, which was to question the dragon. Then there was Cao…. Dala didn't have anything to offer her. There wasn't any thing she had that would make things better for her ex-teacher. The little girl pushed herself to her feet. First she had to make sure she never did anything like this again. 

It took her some time but she managed to make a bonfire out of the materials in her purple bag. Taking the manacles, she dropped them into the flames, hoping that the fire would prevent any usage out of it ever again. Her head reached to the dagger at her side and unsheathed it. Bringing it up to the wall, she began to carve words into the stone. The carving was difficult and took her a long time. But she wouldn't stop. This was something she wished she could ingrain into her mind, to make it a permanent scar inside her head so that she would never forget. Eventually she finished the phrase that she wanted to carve into the wall.

Treat others how you want to be treated.

That was her law. She wouldn't allow herself to forget it again. Dala would have to find a way to burn that message into her mind.

"Now its time to stop whining like a little brat." Dala muttered to herself as she placed the knife on the ground. 

Taking a quill from her bag and a parchment then she began to write. 

-Dear Cao, 

I'm sorry for what I said and did. I'm not asking for you to be my teacher again, I'm just asking for your forgiveness. I've made an arrangement with the dragon, without the manacles or magical contract, so you don't have to worry about him attacking anybody. And I wrote this letter…..because I know I won't be able to speak right. I'll say something stupid or my temper will get the best of me.

You were right. I'm very sorry for brushing your words off. I was angry. I've had more than my share of mistakes. But its going to be okay cause I'm gonna repair it. This problem is of my own making. I know there's things to change. Our fates are not yet written so I'll take your warning and ensure that I don't become like Marcov. I'm going to head back and remind myself of what it was like. I cannot be allowed to forget. 

Again, this isn't to try to convince you to become my teacher again or anything. Its just to apologize to you. As a person. Thank you for being a great teacher and friend…. As for the dress, please give it to somebody who deserves it. I'm sure that you'll find a student who will make you proud. 

Sincerely, 
Dala Asher Nesca.- 

After finishing the letter, she folded it up and brought out the beautiful light blue dress that Cao had given her. She folded it up neatly and used some thin rope to wrap around it to hold it together. Then she placed the letter on top of the package. Now it was time to find her ex-teacher to return the items and give her the letter. Then she would have to return to where it all started. Putting the dress into her bag, she began to walk towards the village. Her clothes and her ring protected herself from the cold. She managed to get to the village and began to head to the inn. The innkeeper might know where Cao went. And there was something she had to say to the people in the inn as well. 

Shuffling through the snow felt harder than it did before, even the wind itself felt sharper as it cut through her core. With her promise broken to Dala, she felt empty as the Undead finally thought that she had found a purpose a need instead of just being a blight upon the world. I promised to guide her, where did I go wrong. Did I not realize something? Even as she dragged herself through the storm all she could think about was her former student and whether or not she was alright. Running over everything that had happened over and over again in her mind as she reached the village. What could I have done better? I should have not lost myself to my emotions. Was I too soft on her? Should I have left?

Entering the inn that the portal led to as her mind bounced around her failings as a teacher. As she entered the staff's natural greeting halted as they recoil slightly as the memory of Lixue's deathly stare was still fresh in their minds. While her mistakes with her student cannot be solved at the moment her actions towards others can be. Placing at least ten times the cost for a room and bowing to the staff. "I'm sorry for my actions, you had nothing to do with the cause of my distress please accept this as an apology". Lifting her head and turning around to leave as no doubt the owner and their employees did not want anything to do with her.

"This is far too generous, please at least accept a room for the night you must be freezing in that outfit. I cannot and refuse to be known as the innkeeper who threw out such an ill dressed lady out in the cold". The owner made their way over to Lixue and placed a key into her hand as she felt the coldness of the Undead's touch. "Oh, this will not do young lady your as cold as ice"! Looking over to one of the servers. "Laíla start a bath for this young lady before the cold takes her"! As the Younger Woman ran off the Owner held onto Lixue in what could only be described as offensive hospitality as she led the Undead to her room.

Somehow, unknown to Lixue the Owner had managed to get her into the room and tucked into bed before she could even protest or respond. With the owner gone, for now, Lixue removed herself from the covers and sat down on the floor cross legged. With all that had happened, she had forgotten to reseal her pact. Closing her eyes and focusing her mind as she needed to remove all her fears and worries. Pushing aside all of her worries for Dala and fears of harming others, as nothing mattered but control and a clear mind.

Placing a hand on her chest as she passed magic along the seal as she attempted to reseal her pact fully. Placing more and more magic into the seal did nothing as the gaes remained the same. No matter how much she wished to recreate the seal it remained the same. Even as she tried to force the spell to work nothing happened as a pact cannot be forced if the party does not truly wish for it. Ending the spell she undid her cheongsam as she looked at the open maw that refused to be chained down. Why is it not working? I want to seal my hunger away, what is stopping the pact from resealing? If I lose myself in this state I don't think it will be able to stop me.

Dala managed to get through the snow and started asking around if people had seen Cao. They all pointed her to the inn and she headed over there. She asked the innkeeper if Cao had been there and explained that she just needed to deliver a package to her. The inkeeper told her the room and Dala headed up towards the room. The child placed the package in front of the door then knocked three times. Then she rushed back to the main lobby, as she didn't want to get in a fight with Cao again. She was afraid that Cao would be mad still and start yelling at her again, which she knew was deserved but Dala didn't want her temper to get the best of her. Instead she headed back to the main room of the inn and got on the small stage that they had for performers. 

"Excuse me!" She shouted as loudly as possible. 

The inn quieted down. 

"Thank you." Dala said, "I would like to apologize for a mess that I have made. I thought I could handle taking on a dragon alone but I could have made a mess for you all. I've made an arrangement with him so that he won't hurt anybody anymore. But I cannot guarantee that he will keep his promise. Um…so I'm very sorry again. And uh yeah." 

With that Dala ran off the stage and out of the inn, as she knew there wasn't a reason to stay there anymore. She also just wanted to leave as fast as possible. Her next spot was to head to the main merchant area, where she apologized in the same way to a group of people. Once she was done with that, she decided to head back to the cave. There was still more to be done and she had forgotten her dagger. As she was heading back, there was the sound of flying in the distance. Looking up, the child was surprised to see Garelu fly down to her. The child crossed her arms and looked at the creature. 

"What do you want?" She asked. 

"What you promised me…remember?" The dragon growled. 

"Right. Well let me pack up and then I can help you with that." Dala said heading over to the edge of the cave. 

"Can you hurry it up? I'd rather leave as fast as possible." Garelu responded. 

A look of confusion crossed Dala's face, as she didn't understand why the dragon wanted to leave so quickly. In fact, it seemed that the dragon was…..anxious? She didn't know if that was the right word. But there was something up with him that she decided she wouldn't question. She headed over to her bag and packed up her stuff. Then she looked over to the dagger and the phrase on the wall. Underneath the phrase, she quickly carved in the words, -Learned by a fool- Once she was done, she sheathed her now dull dagger and walked over to the dragon. 

"I'm surprised you aren't still mad at me." Dala said. 

"If I was in your shoes I would have done the same." The dragon said, "Honestly I don't know what kind of idiot would have set me free without making a contract. I could have easily killed you. But I guess that'll be another thing I won't understand about you humans." 

"I guess I just didn't want to be like you." Dala said, "Or like other people. If I caught you, it would have been the same as owning a slave. And I am never going to do that. Not now. Not ever. Anyway, where did you want to go?"

"Anywhere is fine." The dragon responded. 

"Lets head to Adeluna then. I have some things to do there." Dala responded. 

Hearing three knocks at her door, Lixue rushed back into the bed as she did not want any more of the Owner's hospitality. Waiting for a moment as there was no answer after the knocks. Waiting for a bit as she wondered why the Knocker did not respond after. Sliding out of bed and slowly opening the door to see the clothes she had bought Dala tied held together with rope with a letter upon it. Looking to both sides of the hallway before bringing the package in disappointed that Dala did not face her personally.

Placing the clothes on the desk and looking over the note, she was glad that Dala had to try and earn the dragon's respect instead of forcing him into though if the Undead had to be picky ellipses in a formal apology or letter for that matter was not proper and how she repeatedly admonished herself would do no good when dealing with the upper class and nobles. Even with the rather embarrassing apology she understood Dala's words and was surprised that the fiery girl did not or could not approach her as this was the first time she had seemed so timid.

Making her way down the stairs with the package in tow the Owner would look over to Lixue. "Did you meet with your student"?

Shaking her head the Undead would raise the letter.

"What a shame, though she did come down to apology to all of us for nothing though she did mention that the dragon may be still around a bit worried about that, but I'm not leaving even if there is a dragon about as my Grandfather built this inn with nothing but an axe and no dragons going to scare me off my families inn"! Holding her head up high the Owner rested her arms on her hips proudly defying the giant beast that could easily wipe out the entire village and her inn.

A bell chimed as the door opened as five men entered the inn. All of them looked to be well off considering the area as they were draped in fine furs with silver chains and rings. "Oh, what brings you five here so early, closed up shop so soon the sun's still out". The group shook their head and stood in the entryway while one of the men approached Lixue an handed her a letter. "I take it you are the girl's teacher? She came to the market not long ago to apologize for what trouble she might have caused. Though that is not why we are here. We are here as she has left with the dragon". Nearly forcing it into her hand before she could even say anything. "This is a letter to prove that the dragon has been dealt with. We would have given it to your student, but she left before we could do anything". With their business done the men left, leaving a very confused and surprised Lixue.

Looking at the letter of confirmation than back to where the men had once been as she was lost for words. "Looks like it worked out after all there Teacher. So what are you going to do"?

Opening a gate to Adeluna the Undead thought of the perfect use for the reward that came from this entire mess. Ever since she new life she had been trying to her undeath into something beneficial for others. So much so that turning a negative into a positive has been at the core of her being and Lixue knew exactly what to do to turn this negative into a positive. Entering the portal and returning to Adeluna, Lixue headed to the guild to acquire the reward needed to begin her plans.