"Looks like everything's fine."
Back in his office, Lorne immediately spotted the gemstone on his desk.
"Phew..." He let out a long breath, as though a heavy burden had been lifted, then sank into the broad-backed chair and closed his eyes.
After a while, he seemed to remember something. Addressing the apparently empty room, he called in a voice that was quiet but clear enough, "Teacher Sharron, are you there?"
About two or three seconds later, a slightly ethereal voice came from behind him.
"I'm here."
Lorne opened his eyes and turned around. A figure took shape in the air. Dressed in an elaborate Gothic Court Gown and wearing a delicate little bonnet, Miss Sharron floated silently in midair, her icy blue eyes watching him quietly.
The familiar outfit brought Lorne an inexplicable sense of comfort.
"This is much easier to get used to..." he muttered.
Sharron's cold expression and aloof bearing, paired with Hazel's somewhat youthful and petulant face, had been far too jarring.
"Looks like you didn't run into any trouble." Lorne activated Spirit Vision and glanced over Sharron. Her spirituality was relatively calm, with no signs of injury.
"I didn't encounter anyone on the way back." Sharron's tone was as cool as ever.
"Not even the Royal Family's bodyguards?"
"There were a few around the party, but they didn't notice me." Sharron recalled the details for a moment before adding.
"But on my way back, I spotted some people who seemed to be from MI9..."
"Were they searching for someone?" Lorne asked.
"Judging by their movements, yes," Sharron confirmed. "Why?"
Lorne briefly recounted what had happened later that evening.
"Hopefully, none of that trouble will come back to burn me." He rubbed his brow. "My spiritual intuition hasn't reacted much, but it seems less sensitive lately."
"By