I approached Zojja during a vulnerable moment. Years of persistent fighting and tragic loss all surfaced in a moment laid bare under the false illusion of privacy. Everything is in the open now—from Zojja's early days in Destiny's Edge through her time recovering in Rata Sum, to the present. All laid out. We've...never spoken like that. Not even before her injury at Maguuma. She'd endured trauma and no longer had stature among the asura. She was sidelined—a scientist past her prime only mentioned in passing during history lectures. I'd occasionally thought of her all these years, and I would've jumped at the opportunity to see her. I just...lost track of time. Dealt with larger problems. I simply didn't know what she needed...or wanted. None of us did. After the blighting pod, Zojja needed to isolate herself. She hid from Logan. From all of us. She wasn't ready to talk. Not until now. Healing takes time. The Astral Ward is her home now; I know this. Neglect didn't drive her to them, but a search for a new beginning. She needed to find a new path with new people who didn't just see her for her past accolades or Destiny's Edge. People who could see her for who she is and what she offered. Mabon saw the spark in her, but his death threatened to extinguish it. But the wizards see her potential. Mabon wasn't alone in those thoughts. And now she has a big decision to make. Dagda offered her a place on the Wizard's Court. The group clearly wants her to stay. But...that choice comes with heavy consequences. When someone "ascends" to become a wizard, they lose memories from their past lives—not necessarily in their entirety, but you forget places, events, and people you were once close to. I can tell Zojja wants to do this, but I can also see that she might not be ready to leave her old life behind. She asked about Taimi, who, of all our companions, would have some pretty strong feelings about all this. When we had no choice but to kill Ceri, she called her—and by extension the Astral Ward—"found family." These people helped her to truly heal from her physical and mental injuries in ways that her contemporaries didn't. That her friends couldn't. The ward gave her an escape from the political trappings and dwindling cachet in Rata Sum. Zojja needed to leave the events of Maguuma behind, and the Astral Ward was the best thing she could've found. I told her that I'd support her no matter what and that I'll trust whatever decision she makes. Whoever she becomes after this, I will still call her my friend. I left Zojja to her thoughts. When I exited the barracks, I ran into Dagda lingering nearby. She dropped her hostile tone and instead treated me as someone concerned for a mutual friend. We both felt a little helpless in our attempts to comfort Zojja. I attempted to reassure her, emphasizing the weight of the decision she'd placed on our friend. It was the kindest interaction we've had yet. And I hope not the last. ***