Hinata merely nods, effortlessly playing her role, though she mentally sends him a slight warning not to push his luck, too far.<em>Besides, I won't be going myself, since, without magic, I'm not much better than any of my daughters.</em><br/><br/>The women agree, and take his portal, back to their realm, mostly just wanting a chance to relax. "That world was nice, but sorely lacking in proper amenities."<br/><br/>The next five years pass mostly uneventfully. Life seems to settle into a holding pattern, as the various worlds continue to grow and adapt. On Cerul's home world, Maura and Daminor have, united, tamed the once-fierce Witchwood; the planar rift is healing, slowly, and they've moved into the newly refurbished keep, handling a steady stream of pilgrims, heading to the Fane of the Archdragon, high in the mountains. Drellin's Ferry has grown, considerably, and while it will never rival Brindol in size, the thick, stone walls ringing the city on the human side, and the walls of living trees on the elven side certain make a statement. The Temple of the Archdragon, and their Dragoons, have become a formidable and renowned force, in the region, while the reformed remnants of the Band of the Red Hand, the monstrous mercenary company, has started to see some acceptance, setting up a permanent lodge, outside Brindol's walls. Katrina's school, while still small and exclusive, has more than thirty applicants, every year. The sultan he knew was killed, only recently, sustaining a mortal wound on the battlefield. While he was raised from the dead, it cost him a fair amount of respect with his people, and his borders have weakened, causing him to lose some territory, as a young, strong leader in an adjacent country pushes for control.<br/><br/>Politics in his 'winter home' world have grown a bit dicier; with the birth of a nation of humans, many of the anthromorphs in power around the world have grown a little more uneasy, in their lofty positions. While it's a good ways from where he lives, there's a clear divide amongst the people on whether to crack down and restrict the humans more, or work to more fully integrate them in society, as closer to equals.<br/><br/>His Shadow Stalkers continue to root out Beyonder taints, across the planes, though they seem to be becoming harder to detect, as if the signature is changing, over time. Or they're learning his tracking methods, and slowly adopting to them. There is no sign of Verdelet, nor her two followers, though, in their hunts, his constructs do uncover evidence of their active participation in events, but nothing conclusive enough to track them.