"Oh, I haven't had much luck with it either," she admitted, "especially not as of late. All's well then; no places to 'save' and no trouble to stick my nose into." Her smile was self-deprecating, but with enough humor glittering in her eyes as she poked fun of her past endeavors to show she wasn't seriously down about it.
Maea listened without comment until Jigano had finished, mulling over what he said, his suggestion. It didn't sound half bad, to be honest. And it would give her a purpose, regardless of which side of the portal she chose to spend her LongNight. "Well, I've definitely not come so far in my studies that I'll pretend to be a match for all the powers of the Ground combined," she noted, deeply amused at the arrogance that kind of hubris would require. "It sounds like a good compromise. Perhaps I'll see if some others will join me in the task, when I know where I'll be staying. I'll keep you informed," she promised. Already her mind whirred with ideas, thoughts of recruitment and structure planning and accommodations shattering the gloom far more efficiently than any consolations ever could.
Sensing her brightened mood, Shii came zooming back, and made loops around her head like an oversized firefly. It reminded her of something she'd wanted to ask, and Maea turned back to Jigano. Pointing a finger at her glowing companion. "Speaking of monsters, how much do you know about will-o-wisps?" she asked the Provost. "Because I've only the barest understanding of them. That they live in the Greatwood, they're creatures of nature, and they don't have mouths... and like to play pranks on people, to lead them astray." Hardly enough to keep her new friend alive with, should it ever have trouble.
Maea
this too shall pass
