"What was there to do?" asks Zoi.

"Hiking and hot springs and swimming, and the restaurants looked nice - I bet we can get someplace to cook up some magic spren for us - and I haven't checked what it's like underwater but I could do a waterbreathing spell for us if you want to go see, some places have neat coral reefs and things."

"Ooh, a waterbreathing spell, that sounds amazing," says Uamok, "I'd love to go."

"I'll let you know when I can fit you into my schedule, then."

And then he pauses, practically mid-stride, and holds up a hand in what Uamok can probably recognize as a request to wait.

"- is he okay," murmurs Iss.

"Probably?" she whispers back.

He stays that way for a few seconds, breaks into a grin, and says a few words in what's presumably Common.

"Message from Prince Maziar - he found someone who can teleport to a couple days from where I was, and an expert to send with him. We should have an idea of how long it'll take to get transportation set up within a couple weeks."

"That's so exciting!" cries Uamok. "When will the other hummun arive? - or are they hummun, are they noam or elv or something -"

"He didn't say, the message spell doesn't give us very many words. In his area I'd expect human, maybe gnome, maybe goblin - have I told you about goblins? - but there's always a chance of something else."

"I don't think you mentioned goblin! What a nice pronounceable name. Are you going to want to hang out where you landed so you can meet them there?"

"I'm not sure they will turn up here, if they have to cast their own spell they might land anywhere. But they'll come prepared, and they know where I am, and I told him I'll check for them at Volcano Atoll, too, I'd expect it to be pretty easy to get there from anyplace with people."

"Would it? Why?"

"It's a tourist place, isn't it? They'd want people coming there from all over. It might take a while if they end up on the other side of the world or something but they'll have trouble if that happens no matter what they do."

"Huh. I mean, it's touristy but you do have to get on a boat. If you can't fly."

"That's not usually a problem - do you have trouble preserving spren meat, on boats?"

"They can put it in cans, or freezers if the boat's big enough to have its own freezer. Sausages and jerky work too but less reliably."

"That sounds like it works," he shrugs. "I don't know. They should be fine to get there, anyway, I wasn't prepared for this at all but they will be and that helps a lot."

"I hope they make it to you soon, I wanna go be a wizard! And I have enough mates now though I think I can probably bag Skon too."

"You totally can," says Iss confidently.

"Good luck!" And they can settle in for Common lessons.

They study Common. Uamok bags Skon. A fun time at the Volcano Atoll is had by all.

Raafi continues teaching and providing spren, and expands his repertoire of vacation destinations to the southern caves and big city, and a little over a month later he's waiting outside the school, bouncing gently on the balls of his feet, when Uamok gets there. "They're here!"

"Ooh! Here-here or on the other side of the planet."

"On the other side of the planet, but they told me where they are. It'll be a few days' flight to get there."

"Are they coming to you or are you going to them?"

"I'm going to them - they have a flying carpet but I can go much faster than that. -you can come with me if you'd like, the spell does take passengers."