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Cornelia clears her throat at the outburst, especially upon seeing the shift in Cassiel's demeanor. "Sweetheart, she did not mean for that to happen. I know it is not fair, but you should not blame your friend for the cruelness of fate. Junia is just as upset about it as you. Is that not right, Junia?" Cornelia looks over her shoulders to the rest of the party and a nod towards J in hopes that perhaps they could her shake her out of the stupor that has hold over the young woman. She then turns back to the ghost. "I am so very sorry this happened to you, dear. Such things should never happened to such a sweet child." She talks to the young girl like a mother might to her daughter.
The ghost girl looks confused. "But she got to live. And I died. All I want is not be alone any more!"
J seems to gather herself and steps forward, kneeling next to Cassiel. "Oh my friend, I am so sorry. I thought I was going to die, too. I just want you to be happy now. I think they're right: you need to move on. You don't need to stay here any more. The next life, there will be friends." The ghost and the girl who lived embrace, the ghost's glow expanding outward, to show the spectral outline of dozens of other pale ghostly children standing behind her.
Suddenly there is a swirl of light, illuminating only the souls of the dead. A woman appears, smiling. With lengthy curling hair, a dancer's dress, and a bouquet of flowers, this woman remains beautiful, despite having no flesh. She reaches out to Cassiel and smiles down at her, and then opens her arms and the souls of the children seem to flow into her. With hardly any glance to spare at the living, she fades away in a flowing swirl of light, gone in an instant.
J stands up and smiles back to you. "Thank you for helping me to give them rest. I think I'm finished here, now." Indeed, when you return above, you discover that the haunt in the classrooms has disappeared and does not reappear.
Exchanging talk of your adventures on the walk back to J's home, all of the sudden Grishan freezes, murmurs, "My brother!" and disappears into Junia. From around a corner strolls the regal figure of Major Colson Maldris, faction leader of the Freedom's Edge faction.
A man in a uniform similar to Junia’s, but with more medals and polish, emerges from a side alley at a brisk pace. "Finally, I found you. I heard around the lodge that a team of Pathfinders was headed in to the Tri-Towers Yard.” Colson bows his head. “My brother was one of many children who died when the earthquake hit. As a result, I take great interest in expeditions leading in to that cursed site. The last Pathfinder expedition seven years ago found his body, and as a result, my family was able to give him a proper burial. Those agents also found some...” Colson pauses, and then continues delicately, “reports about my brother’s after-school activities that would have been quite embarrassing if made public. Did you, by chance, find any information about my brother?”
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"M-major Maldris. Miltwyne Heatherstop, we met some time ago." Milt bows to the newcomer and then promptly continues, clearly nervous in the presence of an esteemed faction leader, "We have indeed learned something of your brother Grishan... though... I'm not sure that information is for us to reveal. We also read something that concerns you that unfortunately is not for us to reveal either, if you get my meaning, Sir. I'm terribly sorry I cannot be more specific."
He frowns and rubs his hands, the very picture of worry and concern.
Major Maldris frowns. "Please, if you found anything, I would request strongly that you turn it over to me. Please."
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Torrag steps up beside Miltwyne, "I'm afraid my halfling friend here is correct. The information we have is not ours to reveal . . ."pausing for a second, "unless someone else here thinks otherwise." Torrag looks back at the rest of the party his eyes stopping an extra second on J before finishing the sweep and eyes returning back upon Grishan's brother.
J keeps her face still and her eyes looking down. She doesn't seem to have anything to contribute.
Maldris shakes his head. "Very well. You're Pathfinders and I trust your judgement. I just wish you trusted mine, as well."
Colson Maldris nods, sighs deeply and shakes his head. "Goodbye, then." He moves off, walking a bit too quickly to be truly at ease.
After a moment passes, Grishan again materializes. He looks after his brother and sighs as well. “Now everyone will know. Colson said he trusted me, but he lied. He hid our family from me. Maybe some day I'll speak with him, but I need time. Time to think about all this. Until then, I guess it's you and me, Juni."
J smiles and turns to the rest of you. "I feel like today closed a chapter for me. Thank you for that. I think I'm ready to be an adult, but I don't think my mother's path is for me. Would you... Could you sponsor me in the Society?"
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Milt exhales as the faction leader leaves, and replies to J, "I would, for one. You showed your mettle and were strong under pressure and if you can pass your Confirmation, you could make a good agent."
The halfling turns his gaze, "As for you, Grishan, I urge you to reconsider. Your brother Colson made a mistake a long time ago, but he has been a good man and has worked for noble causes since then, and he deserves to get closure and to know that his brother's spirit is on this plane. Don't take my word though, ask around and you will find he is worthy of a second chance. He may well regret his lie so long ago."
J smiles broadly. "Thank you! Thank you all so much!"
Over the next couple of weeks you speak with Junia Dacilane several times, and find out she's fitting in well with the Society, though her mother still wishes she'd settle down into the family business. Grishan has not yet made contact with his brother, as he's still working through the feelings he felt and still feels.
The information Grishan uncovered is given to the Decemvirate via Drendle Dreng, who reports that subsequent explorations into the Drownyards report that the hauntings and spirits have disappeared.
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Cornelia stays quiet as Milt handles the business with Colson. Afterward she nods to Junia with a smile. "Of course, I will also vouch sponsor you in the Society. You proved your mettle and showed that you can keep a cool head in dire circumstances. I look forward to one day joining you and Grishan again one day. Until that day, farewell Junia."