Mmmm.

"So are we just about done with this vacation?"

"I think so. I feel very relaxed."

"Let's get our new toys bundled up for transport and back to the ship, then."

"Alright."

Magic is nicely efficient for that - and for healing the soloist they're keeping all the way back to full (physical) health.

Her Acererak is very convenient.

With the unwilling passengers secreted away, they can go return the hovercraft and get back to their ship without having to burn the port behind them.

Makes things a bit easier, especially since Acererak's gotten most of the destructiveness out of her system (for now).

She thinks they should set up their helper with her own (small) room as a 'reward' (modified to be lockable from the outside, of course, and to be hard to kill oneself in). Ahmi can sleep at their feet or in a cage, perhaps? And they can make a nice pretty cage for their little songbird...

A room for their helper seems well-earned. Perhaps one of the supply closets. (And they might want to think about giving her a name...)

They should put their songbird's cage on a float, to easily move it to wherever they desire music. For Ahmi, Eliese favors keeping her in the leash and collar, nothing else, no cage.

Acererak's terrible at names, sadly... But those sound like excellent ideas.

Perhaps 'Starjay', a common bird on Eliese's homeworld.

"I like it."

"We can scribe it on her door."

"Make it easier to find her later."

"Indeed."

And then to set up Starjay's new room and inform her of it, and her new name.

She nods, a bit miserably, and thanks them.

"Cheer up, Starjay. You'll have lots of fun with us."

Quicker nod. "Yes ma'am."

"Good girl. Off to your room, now."

She scurries off.

"So," she says to Acererak. "New recruits and a ship at your command. Where shall we venture next, my lady?"

"I'd like to teach you some of my magic," she says, stretching languidly. "So you can make yourself immortal. It'll take a while to get more than the basics, probably, so it's best to start soon... And of course wandering around the universe finding targets to practice on is always fun."

"That sounds good to me. I'll set a course, and we can get started."

Kiss. "I can't wait."

That task is accomplished swiftly enough, and then they can get to the important business.

Eliese is an eager and diligent student. Learning about magic was always her favorite thing to do, and a new magic system is even better.

It's been a very, very long time since Acererak actually taught someone from the ground up - usually she's more doling out secrets to the powerful.

She - enjoys it. A lot.

She's a good teacher, despite how her experience is far in the hazy recesses of her memory. Knowledgeable, aware of her student's level, demanding...

Her teaching is well-matched to Eliese. By the time two months have gone by, she's mastered a handful of basic spells and planned out what she needs to create her own phylactery.

She books them a night at a fancy hotel in their most recent port of call. The penthouse suite, with a catered dinner.