Moonlight passed through the woods beneath the afternoon sun, its rippling glow not dazzling in the slightest. The unfamiliar lady seemed to raise a hand and touch that cluster of light, then sighed again with her back to Shade beneath the sunlight:
"So pure a Silver Moon. It reminds me of the Ancient Ones' praise for the Beginning Moon in those ancient texts.
"You possess pure moonlight and exceptional talent for time. Even if you were not chosen by her, once you obtained a lifetime professorship at the Academy, you might well be qualified to compete for the headmaster's seat. Very good. Seeing that the Academy has successors, and that each generation surpasses the last, I can finally rest easy."
"It isn't that my talent is exceptional; it's that Miss Danist has a good eye. Forgive my presumption, but do you truly not wish to meet Miss Danist?"
Shade asked again. After all, if she had wanted to meet her, she would not have waited until after Shade cast Time Stop to speak.
The unfamiliar lady did indeed shake her head.
"No. Sometimes, it is better not to meet. I do not know what will happen in the future, but I must do my best to avoid affecting temporal stability. You and I are not from the same era, which is why I can speak with you, but Daniste and I are entangled far too deeply."
She hesitated before continuing:
"But since you have already touched those strange Tree Hollows, you have become involved in the affairs of Creekwood Town.
"There are things I must tell you. Creekwood Town and Vesta Woodland are truly strange places. If temporal stability elsewhere is like tightly layered tapestry, then the temporal stability here is like a sieve with large holes.
"I did not