Ash was silent, and raised an eyebrow.

'Hmmm.' he thought.

This would be a challenge. He was sure of it. But if there was anyone that could understand what she was going through, even a little, it was him.

He didn't want to see her go down a road that made things worse. He wanted to show her a better way. A way that showed her happiness was an option.

He vowed to do so.

-About a week later-

Ash stepped into the medical wing, a small smile on his face, and sighed lightly.

Today was the day. Desiree would be allowed to leave and go home with him. He was nervous, definitely, but eager to start a new life... for the both of them.

He looked around for a moment, before making his way towards where Emma said she would be..

Ash was silent as Emma said all she did.

"....right." he said.

"How?" he asked.

"I can buy that you knew I was coming, and close enough to speak to, but the nightmares is something I haven't told ANYONE about." he commented.

"You gonna tell me how you know this?" he asked.

"Or is that part of the grander mystery for me to ponder as I go get Desiree in the courtyard?"

"One would think I would be." Ash responded.

"But you still manage to blindside me with the stuff you know." he told her.

"Anyway..." he then mumbled.

"Cass told me I can ditch early today, so that's cool." he continued.

"And today's the day, huh?" he asked.

"I can officially take Desiree home with me, as her legal guardian?"

Ash just sighed.

"Of course." he said.

"Just... ugh. Of course." he repeated.

"Oh well." he muttered.

"Just gotta focus on the happy." he told himself.

"And the courtyard? Cool." he then said. "It's a beautiful place."

Ash raised an eyebrow when he heard the last statement.

"Vyn's with her?" he asked.

"Huh." he mumbled.

"Regardless, yeah, I'll be going. See ya, Emma." he finished, before they parted ways, and he left the medical wing.

He then made his way through the halls, before stopping at the door of the courtyard. He opened the door, which revealed the veritable green paradise of plants and vegetation before him. A Draydin or Elf's dream come true. And Cass's mana made it seem like it was straight out of heaven.

Ash quickly stepped through the door and closed it behind him, before looking around, seeing if he couldn't find where Vyn and/or Desiree were immediately.

Ash paused as she saw Desiree surrounded by the tornado.

"...woah." he muttered.

"I figured she was a mage, but... a wind mage, eh?" he mumbled, before shaking his head and shrugging.

"Hey! Vyn!" he called out to the woman, as he started to make his way towards the females.

"Training her in her mana, eh?" he asked.

"Hmmmm..." Ash mumbled, scratching his chin.

"I see." he said.

"Wind mana, eh?" he then asked. "Interesting." he muttered.

"I suppose a wind mage would be best to help her out with that, as far as fine-tuning as such." he commented, thinking about it some.

"Don't you know a wind mage?" he asked her.

"Like... intimately?"

"Well, Emma said I could." Ash responded.

"But if you two are busy, it can wait a little longer." he told her.

"Mana training is very important, and I don't want to interrupt a lesson." he reasoned with a small shrug.

"But if you're done, or she's good to go, then yeah. I'm here to take her... home." he then finished with a light but sincere smile.

Ash just nodded in response.

"Cool." he said.

"Hey." he then said to Desiree when she could see him, making sure to sign out what he was saying as well. He'd been learning ASL ever since he started considering adopting her, and he was starting to get a little decent at it.

"It's time to head home." he told her.

"You ready to go?" he asked.

"Judging from her past, yeah. I'd say she is." Ash agreed.

"And hey, seems you and her seem to get along. If you want to come see her at any time, feel free." he told her. "Shouldn't be an issue." he reasoned.

"Anyway, come on." he then said and signed to Desiree.

"We need to head to the teleport pads to leave."