Aurana began to knit her brow. Her eyes started to glisten. "Look, I just don't know. I don't know if I can convince them at all. If it doesn't-"

"Aurana, look at me." Janius took a turn for the serious.

She reluctantly obeyed.

"This is your best chance. I need you to take it, even if you're uncertain." Janius stood up, stepped forward, and put a hand on Aurana's shoulder. "I think at this point all of this planning is just making you more scared of it. How about we stop to calm down and wait for mother and father to get home. Remember, we'll be here to support you."

"Okay," Aurana nodded.

With fortunate timing, Jatinha returned with a tray of tea. She laid it on a table and began to serve everyone. She and Rhazii continued to exchange smiles.

Aurana held her tea glumly in both hands. She wasn't getting any worse for now. "I wish you all could stay for longer," she said.

[hr]
Lunise did not return Meesei's look. "It has only been recently that I have considered Meesei a friend. There was no time for social interactions over the past few years, even with all the work we have done."

Meesei's question caused Lunise's eyes to lower once more. "I never saw the island for myself, no," she explained quietly. "All I know was what mother told me. It was a similarly built place to an Altmer city by its architecture, but everything else was different. Buildings clung to precipices without regard to the gravity that would normally collapse them. Floating platforms were commonplace. It was always well lit with magic that had not dimmed in its entire history. There were many places for learning and teaching. Many, many secrets. And all else was about watching the world and the stars. The power that the order has drives many responsibilities that bring its members together. I always know that my mother is helping to keep the world safe." She sipped her tea again. "Even if the island is not present."

"She is still watching," Pircalmo said. "No one know when or if she will be back, but Nytala is still watching."