Iskall watched Xisuma lead Scar down a path, the wizard nervous-sure- but still bubbly and happy.
When he came back, he was alone, his mood sullen as he shuffled slowly along.

He knew he'd tell Xisuma off later, but for now? Scar came first.
"Scar? What's going on up there?" He found himself asking, tapping the wizards forehead gently.

"I...Xisuma...he- he said I can't fail. That's all." Scar brushed off Iskall.

"I know that's not the truth, but I won't force you to talk right now. When you're ready, come find me?"
Scar nodded at the offer, his slippers shuffling away as he made his way down to the jungle floor, sitting next to the faerie ring in silence.

Iskall found Scar doing that a lot nowadays. He couldn't blame him either- it was killing everything that stepped inside and their only way to save Grian and Mumbo. Everything they had- all their plans and preparations were wrapped around Scar and the faerie ring. It was hard to ignore the pressure from it all.

If Iskall was a betting man (which he wasn't, that role fell to Keralis), he'd bet that Xisuma raised the stakes even higher on Scar. Sooner or later, the wizard wouldn't be able to succeed, wouldn't be able to keep everyone happy. Already there were too many variables that none of them could account for- the state of the fae realm, how to get back to this world, or where the prankster even was. How did anyone expect this to actually work? Hell, there was magic involved. Nothing ever went according to plan when it came to magic.

Iskall sighed, shaking away his thoughts and went to find Xisuma, following the rope-swing bridges until he saw the founder climbing down a tree.

"Oh uhh..hi Iskall. Everything good?"

Iskall cut straight to the point. "What did you say to him?"

He didn't expect Xisuma to look so...guilty. Everything about him seemed to crumple under Iskalls gaze.
"I shouldn't have said it. I'm sorry- I'm so sorry..."

"If it's that bad- why are you apologising to me? Say that to the person who needs to hear it. He's by the faerie ring, like always. I'm not sure if he'll be too happy about seeing you at the moment, but I don't think he has the heart to push you away."

Xisuma nodded as he quickly gathered himself, brushing past Iskall on the narrow bridge before stopping after he took a few steps and turned to look at the other.
"I...I said that if he lost anyone in the process..that he shouldn't come back.
"Since you asked, and I kinda dodged the question."

He took a deep breath, waiting to hear the founders footsteps fade away.
They didn't.

"You're...not going to yell at me?" He asked hesitantly.

Iskall found that he had to bite back the bitter words 'do you want me to' and replace them with a much tamer "Its not my place to tell you off."

Xisuma nodded slowly, taking a few backwards steps before he spun around and hurried along to find Scar.