Tesseract is a mysterious fabric that binds the other four dimensions together and enables travel between them. In sorcerical terms, it's known as the "lunar fabric".

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Micah struggled to keep up with his old teacher; Shadow Weaver's steps moved with frightening poise, and she hummed softly to the music as she guided them across the dance floor.

He stumbled on a few steps, and amusement shone behind her mask. Micah needed to stay with her in order to learn why she dared enter Rebellion territory.

"Whatever it is you're after," he hissed, "I'll stop you."

"And what are you going to do? Attack me, and throw these people into a frenzy?" Shadow Weaver leaned in close, her blank eyes turning ever so slightly into a smile. "Can't you feel their fear?" she whispered. "They are one step from explosion."

Micah gritted his teeth – he couldn't let her get to him. She spun him around, and he stumbled, bumping into Princess Spinnerella – who narrowed her eyes at Shadow Weaver. Then the Horde's second pulled him close again, all the while humming in a mocking tone.

Why betray Etheria? Why betray him? But if Micah asked, he would break down in tears. Besides, he already knew the answer...

He met Angella's eyes as she moved through the crowd; she had not picked a partner. "Carmen is gone," Shadow Weaver sang. "How curious."

"You sent her to steal again, didn't you?"

"I would be a fool to steal from the Snows."

"Then why are you here?" Micah demanded. "Why show your face?"

"You tremble," she observed. "Do you consider me a monster, as everyone in this room does?" Shadow Weaver tilted her head as the dance ended. "Shall I leave you be? That would check out, considering the last parting we shared..."

Truth be told, Micah didn't. He was torn between opposite poles: elation that she was alive, and anger for what she'd become. So he joined Shadow Weaver near the snack bar. His old teacher ordered a glass of wine so dark it was almost black. Micah was unsure why she did, seeing as how her mask covered her entire face. "Might I treat you to a drink as well?" she asked cordially.

"I told you, I find wine disgusting."

"They have cider."

Micah sighed. "Spiced?"

She nodded, then ordered it for him. Shadow Weaver kept a firm grip on her glass. "You're wondering something. Your eyes give so much away, old friend."

"Why do you continue to taunt me?" Micah said softly. "What more can you take from me?"

"Oh, many things. Particularly your life."

"You wouldn't dare – you spared me when I was a kid."

"Perhaps I was feeling gracious that day. It was the least I could do, after you left me." Her fingers tightened around the glass.

"Or maybe you're a prisoner, and you're putting on an act to cover it up."

She snorted. "What do you know about freedom? About power?"

"Lots. You yourself said I was stronger in sorcery."

"That was before I became your equal."

"And this is strength?" Micah retorted. "Hiding for two years before striking a party of innocent people? You should be ashamed of yourself."

"I should be a lot of things, but I suppose I live to disappoint."

Micah frowned. "I'm not leaving you alone here. I won't let you destroy the Snows –"

A chuckle burst from Shadow Weaver's throat. "You can sit here and 'distract' me all night, if you please. I am not here to destroy."

"Then why are you here?"

She tsked. "Such a direct question. Ask me again, and my mockery shall reach a new level of quality." She lifted her mask just slightly, taking a sip of her wine, but underneath Micah saw only pale skin. An illusion.

Yet he sensed that she was telling the truth for once in her life. She was here for a reason – Shadow Weaver always had a reason – but it was not to wreak havoc. The Horde's second wouldn't warn him about stirring up the crowd only to attack them herself.

He wanted to pry the truth out of his old teacher. But Micah resisted as her screams echoed in his mind. He'd been responsible for her suffering too much already – he couldn't use his power again without harming her.

Shadow Weaver simply sat there a long while, and though Micah wished to investigate Carmen's disappearance, he didn't have the heart to leave. Each time she spoke to him, it brought back a flood of memories – all tainted bittersweet now.

"You stay. Why?"

Micah couldn't let on his turmoil. "I'm bored."

Shadow Weaver rolled her eyes. "I should warn you – I have grown incredibly stuffy over the years, and will make your condition worse."

"You're anything but boring. Unfortunately, it's in the wrong ways. You're interesting in the same way as a moldy piece of bread."

He'd expected her to take it as an insult, but Shadow Weaver burst out laughing suddenly, practically wheezing as she banged the table with her fist. "What...gave you...the audacity?" she gasped.

Her laughter was contagious. "Glad you enjoy my insults. Time to go back to dad jokes."

"Dear me..."

The pain in Micah's gut continued to twist. "Imagine if you walked into a bar and there was a long line of people waiting to swing at you."

"You wouldn't dare –"

Micah snickered. "That's the punch line."

Shadow Weaver groaned. "You dared."

"I'm going to indulge you with my terrible sense of humor until you tell me your plans. It's a form of humane torture."

"I see you've perfected your use of oxymorons."

"What's that?"

"It's paradoxon in Etherian Standard. It means a contradiction, two ideas that should not exist in tune, but somehow do anyway."

"Like you and me, right?"

"You and I, Micah. I might be part of a colonizing alien army, but I am still your teacher."

"You're splitting hairs."

"No, just bodies. But not tonight. You should probably find your wife. Spending too much time with another old lady might make her jealous," Shadow Weaver joked with a wink.

"Oh, please."

"You're welcome. Now, go."

Micah took her advice and left.

✧✧✧

Carmen wept in the Fractal Flake's storage room.

She gathered all the information she possibly could on the runestone – all the questions her lady had posed were answered on the holo-pad. But Carmen couldn't get herself to return to the festivities.

In six months, her lady would kill these people. Although they cursed her as she walked past, she cried for them. They were good people. Her enemies, Raiya's enemies.

A whisper came from the door. "Lady Carmen, why are you back here?"

The voice spoke Ramish. Carmen found the angel queen, once again, standing in the doorway. She grabbed her electrical rod, but Angella put her hands up. "I am not here to harm you."

Carmen lowered the weapon. "You're...not?" Shads would have called her naïve for trusting Angella, but the Meyan queen radiated kindness and goodness, and Carmen always felt completely safe around her...

Angella sat next to her. "Why are you here?" she said.

"My lady ordered me to attend the ball."

"No. Why are you here?" the angel queen pressed.

"Does...it matter?"

"Of course." Her violet eyes were so gentle...

Carmen bit her lip, then shuddered, sniffling as she placed her head in her arms and hugged her knees. "I...I can't say."

"Why not?"

"I'll die."

"Has Shadow Weaver hurt you?" Angella asked. Her Ramish was perfect – but then, Carmen supposed that a being her age had time to keep up with languages as they changed.

Carmen shook her head. "My god will. He don't like traitors much."

"How would you be a traitor?"

"Dont'cha know the teachings of Kryteya?"

Angella tilted her head. "I do. But I was under the impression that service is prized above all else."

"It is. I'm just a bad servant."

"Why?"

Carmen sniffed. "Raiya...he's real," she whispered. "I...I serve him in the Horde."

"Raiya is Hordak?"

She shook her head. "His boss."

The queen's eyes lit with sudden interest. "Is he on Etheria?"

"No. But Shads and Hordak...they're workin' on it. He's real..." She kept crying. "But I...I'm scared. To keep servin', I mean."

Angella was silent for a long moment. "In Seraphism, Amenity does not abuse her followers."

"It ain't abuse. It's justice. My ancestors sinned, so –"

"And do you think it's moral," Angella said, "to punish you for what your ancestors did?"

"Who am I to say what's moral? To go 'gainst God himself?"

"If he is no god at all, he can be immoral."

"But he is God. He created us – the Felali. He –"

"Is that what you have observed, or what you have been told?"

Carmen stared downward. A long moment passed. "What I've been told," she admitted.

Angella edged closer. Then, to Carmen's surprise, she embraced her. "You've been hurt, Carmen. And I'm here to tell you you don't deserve that pain – you never did."

Carmen sniffed. "There's somethin' out there, Angie. I won't be an atheist like my lady."

Angella smiled. "I know, and agree. To think there's no mind behind the universe is foolish. But perhaps this higher power is not what you assume it to be."

"How d'ya mean?"

"My parents," Angella said softly. "They were in direct communication with Mother Seran – Amenity, the Meyans call her. She sometimes spoke to me through them. She is good. Worth following."

God spoke directly to people? Raiya...he never did that...

"I wish it could be true," Carmen murmured. "But if I left..." She shook her head. "I would die. If the Horde didn't kill me, my own priest would."

Angella set a hand on her shoulder. "I understand," she said softly. "I have seen religion kill people. But you must decide, Carmen, what is worth dying for. What truly matters to you – service, or truth?"

Carmen clenched her fists. "Gotcha, Angie. Loud an' clear."

Angella stood at the door. "Come now. I think your mistress awaits you. And Carmen..." She sighed. "If you need someone to talk to, search in the right place and you will find me."

Carmen lowered her eyes, nodding as they went down the corridors and back to the ballroom. Guilt stabbed her. Angella thought she was hiding in the Fractal Flake's chambers to cry, but in truth, Carmen had her information. She had a duty to fulfill in spite of her grief.

For Catra, she thought, I have to stay. So Carmen sent the information back to the Fright Zone, then wiped the memory of her holo-pad so no one would know she'd committed another crime.

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Did you know...

- I always love the chapters where Carmen struggles with her faith. I think both she and Angella are correct in this instance - I believe that while it is foolish to "disagree" with God, it is also foolish to ignore the role that conscience plays in evidence for God.

- While I did make a reference to Micahweaver, I do not ship them. I don't judge people who do, because they're consenting adults by now, but the age gap plus the whole "teacher thing" is just...off to me.

Tell me what you think...

- Who do you agree with more - Carmen, Angella, both, or neither? Why?

- How might Shadow Weaver and Micah's interactions differ in the future?