Years have passed, and Habel continues her journey to nudge the elves into social interaction with other races. Her own interaction is her business. Habel has enjoyed learning all she could, gaining new skills and new friends. Her heart still aches to find a companion, but she doesn’t see one when she looks at the elves around her. When the dragon engineer asks to meet her for dinner, her heart beats a little faster. When she puts her hand in his, her pulse trips like a hammer. Her heart had chosen him years ago; she just hadn’t let him know. He had never asked.