Panting and trying to catch her breath, Cassandra sheathed her sword finally as the strange bulbous animal disappeared into the trees.

"A-Are we...", she took a couple of more breaths before finishing, trying to get her voice working properly. "Are we close yet?"

She was exhausted.
The animal had completely taken them off guard, attacking them and forcing her to fight their way past it. Luckily she was able to scare it off and it barely did any damage to her, but she was getting worn out from the constant unknown forces she had to face throughout the past several days.

Adira meanwhile had done absolutely nothing to help, claiming that since she didn't have a mortal body she wouldn't be much good. Cass suspected that Adira had enjoyed her being chased around by that thing a little too much though. And who could blame her if that were true?
Cass knew without a doubt she'd have let Eugene run around for a little bit before coming in and saving him for Raps.

She stood up straight and calmed down her heartbeat, the adrenaline she had before now dissipating.

Adira nodded, pointing ahead, "It's just over that hill, or it should be. It's been quite a long time since I've visited... and I don't even know if he's stayed or left. Hopefully he hasn't decided to leave.
But, yes I believe we are close now."

"Who is this person we're going to see anyway?", Cass asked as they started moving again, Adira walking at her ever unchanging pace. "Why do you think he'll know where Varian is and powerful is this guy? Also how do you know him?"

Adore didn't even glance at her as she strided over the uneven ground, "You'll know all the answers to that once we find him Shorthair, just be patient. And a tip of advice, maybe you should talk less and move faster."

She grimaced at her back, "I can talk just fine without slowing up Adira; and I just want to know what kind of guy I'm about to meet. The last thing I want is to be trying to make deals with some shadowy thief and idiot who thinks they're a big shot. Or just some creep."
Cass then caught up with her, running up and standing shoulder to shoulder, "This is to be helpful to Varian, not go against him.", she said looking straight into her eyes.

"I know.", Adira sighed, "You'll just have to trust me here though. He helped me stay here in your realm, he's good. Some of the things I know he's searched for I can't say I agree with, but the intentions are always good."

She stared up at the taller woman angrily, her mind whirling with worry and now concern, "What the hell is that supposed to mean??! What did he do, kill some criminal in order to give you his life or some shit like that so you could stay?!"

"No! No, nothing like that.", Adira said shocked, "Why would you think that?"

"I don't know, the way you're being vague here I can only assume the worst.", she said forging ahead past the cluster of low tree branches, "Also I've learned that people who tend to have power can and will do horrible things in order to get to a certain goal.
Also the kind of magic needed to make you stay in the mortal realm with us probably wasn't cheap. Someone probably died in order for you to take their place."

Cass felt her shoulder grabbed, the contact surprising her as she looked down at it angrily.

"Listen Shorthair, no one was killed in order for me to be human. All that was done was me giving up any of my demon advantages, giving them up forever. It was simple and good for everyone.", she said offended, her translucent-green skin glowing warningly, "Why do you assume the worst out of my help for you? Why would I bring to my friend just to hurt you or hurt other people?! Stop and think for once!"

Cass pulled away roughly, turning her back to the woman, "I'm just being realistic, no one does anything good for someone else without a price."

"I'm not here to punish you for hurting me Cassandra.", Adira said quietly, "I thought you'd know that."

Clenching her fist, she whirled back toward her, raven hair lashing out over her face as she shouted, "HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT ADIRA?! I KILLED YOU!! MURDERED YOU WITHOUT MERCY!! How you honestly say... HOW CAN SAY YOU'RE NOT HERE TO PUNISH ME?!"

"Because I choose to not be angry about it, that's how.", she replied evenly, "And besides... Forgiveness in itself seems to be enough of a punishment to you then anything else I could've done anyway.", she half-grinned.

Cass took in her words, her anger draining away as she she just turned away again, continuing up the steep hill. Replaying everything Adira had just said.

Forgiveness being a punishment.

How ironic.
Cass couldn't even deny that forgiveness sometimes felt worse then someone being angry with her. Hating her even. That's how she always felt, ever since she was little and made mistakes to right now where she knew she messed up bigger then anyone else by bringing back Zhan Tiri.

She had committed treason and murder. Even attempted genocide among the Separatists setting them up for death, a sacrifice for the power she was so hungry for.

She knew she deserved it. Deserved hatred forever.

So why did they let go?! How could they let go?

Tears formed into her eyes as she tried to grasp it, to understand as her heart burned for that forgiveness in herself. Something she could never do... or even think about trying to do until she got Varian back.

It would be wrong and selfish of her to forget him. To forgive herself of all her crimes when she made countless people suffer and suffer.

Forgiveness was selfish and it was cruel.

Cass slashed the thick branches down before looking forward, her eyes resting on the hidden glade for a moment as she stared at the old building.

This couldn't be the place Adira wanted them to go... could it?!

"There it is... he should be in there.", Adira said walking past her toward the door.

"You're kidding..", she wrinkled her nose at the rotting surface of the old wood and stone house, "The guy who can help us... lives in that thing?! Are you sure?"
She walked up over to it, her hopes feeling squashed flat as disappointment and, again, anger washed over her.

She had to work hard not to punch Adira in the face.

"It's not as bad as it looks Shorthair, I promise. And as for if he's still here, I'm not a hundred percent sure... but at least everything looks the same, so I think there's a good chance he is.", she said knocking on the moldy door. "Not everything is as it seems all the time."

"You're telling me.", she muttered crossing her hand over her sword arm annoyed.

They waited for a moment before Adira knocked again, the smelly door shaking from her fist.

"I think it's safe to say this place is abandoned Adira. And if he lived in this dump with it actually looking like this.", she gestured to it giving a small laugh, "He might've just been some crack who somehow found some magical plant that made you human. I don't know, but what I do know is that this was a giant waste of my time."

She then walked away before Adira could say anything, but then was stopped abruptly as Adira grabbed her wrist.

"Hey- let go!", Cass demanded as she was suddenly shoved through the now open moldy doorway.

She stumbled as she looked up, ready to give Adira a fight, but instead her breath now taken away from the proportions inside. She stared in wonder at the unexpected entryway.

She then looked down at the dusty marble floor that lay under her feet and and back up at the impressive high ceilings decked with chandeliers of little glowing balls.

Cass took everything in, wondering how the inside was a palace.

Some chairs were set up randomly along with reading tables filled with dusty forgotten books as she sat down in one of them, overwhelmed.
All around her, intricate swirling lines tapered into little gears that lined the whole place and a giant stairway beckoning before her tapering off into different directions.

The inside was expensive and lavish... everything much bigger then the outside displayed. It was impossible...

But there was something else about this place... something eerily bad forced her to take a seat that was not just from shock. Something she couldn't place.

She then noticed Adira watching her and standing right next to her off to the side, a small smile on her green face.

"So Shorthair, believe me now?", she asked motioning around with an I-told-you-so look.

She pushed herself up from the chair, looking around the impressive and expensive place, "Well you were right about it not being as bad as it looked... but Adira, there's something not right about this place.", she said in a hushed tone, "Not right at all."

Adira looked at her, "Well... if my memory serves me correct, he has a special containment room for demons, maybe two.
That's probably what's throwing you off and giving you that feeling.", she said climbing up the stairs, gesturing for her to follow, "As you already know, demons are creatures of death, destruction and chaos. They invoke illness and insanity and even though that room is enchanted, I know I could feel the tension that it placed over here once I wasn't one of them.
Besides that, this place is alright. And you should be safe as long as we steer clear of that place."

"Why does he have a room full of demons instead of destroying them?", she questioned, following her as the sunset's rays filtered through the gold framed windows, "Doesn't seem like the best idea of you ask me, also how the heck are you not in there with them?"

They took the steps two at a time, the bronze and scarlet carpet letting out little puffs of dust as Adira rounded a corner after they reached the top.

"I'm not sure why he doesn't just get rid of them... I feel like it's part of his moral code in not killing creatures that are already defeated, but there's a chance I could be wrong. He's hard to read if I'm being honest.", she said quietly, "Also I'm not like my brethren... I seek life, not death. When I escaped he saw and felt that in me, and helped me achieve the dream of helping humankind against Zhan Tiri just like I always wanted to do when I first heard about humans."

Cass snorted, "What made you think humankind was so great anyway? I'm human and I can hardly stand it and myself." She glanced at the carvings in the wall of some unknown and ancient language as they walked through the long hallway, "We probably cause more death and destruction then demons do."

Quiet silence filled the air as they continued to walk around the beautiful but dusty place as Cass looked at all the paintings and carvings, until Adira finally spoke up, her words hushed and thoughtful.

"Sometimes, yes... yes some humans are destructive, selfish and carry death. Sometimes they are worse then demons themselves as they destroy a person's mentality...", Adira took a deep breath as she stopped and looked at her, "But they're worth saving because so much of you ARE good. And can become good.
Humans have the ability to change, to become whatever they want to be instead of living the life they're set to be, unlike an animal or a demon. You find purpose out of the strangest things and give joy out of just a smile. You cry and love and hate. Humans are capable of so much and give so much to the world in the very short time they're in it. And it's fascinating..."
She paused as she looked at her stunned face, a small smile coming onto her lips again, "That's why I wanted to be human. To forge my own path and to protect what my kind can't stand because they will never understand it."

"And that is...?"

"Love.", she said simply, "As cheesy as it sounds it is true. The light and life that you all possess comes from love and that's what Zhan Tiri wants to take away... that's his purpose."

Cass looked away, "I wish you would've told me that before I went evil.", she half-laughed, "Might've woken me up."

Adira raises an eyebrow, "I doubt it would've, I'm pretty sure that would've only got me killed faster."

"Yeah you're probably right.", she said laughing for real, looking back up at her, "I would just have ignored it anyway."

Adira gazed steadily back at her, "Yet here you are, a person trying to redeem her past pushing everything else to the sidelines. You've grown... and you've changed.", she said before turning and starting down the hall again, leading the way, "Everyone has the chance to change Shorthair, and I for one am glad you took it."

"Yeah... I am to.", she replied following her as they climbed another staircase, "I just hope it isn't for nothing."

"It won't be.", Adira reassured as they finally came to the top after several fast minutes of climbing, "No matter what happens, you're a better person for this journey."

"I- thanks...", she paused before looking at her, feeling a little warm inside, "Thank you Adira."

They then stopped at the short hallway from the stairway, which led to a giant and heavy closed door, patterns of threaded gears and more strange symbols engraved upon its surface.

Adira pressed her hands against it, ready to push it open as she glanced at her, "You ready?"

Cass nodded, her face determined as her heart beat loudly, the answers possibly waiting for her behind that door.

"Ready as I'll ever be."