#i'm sure tbh there was also Ashley's own excitement for aeor coming through but who could blame her

[utilitycaster]

I really do like that Fearne is the first person to enthusiastically express a desire to take the Aeor mission. It makes a lot of sense: she knows they're going to be in danger anywhere so may as well fight back. Awful as Zathuda's attempt to exalt her was, it did inadvertently give her a major symbolic win against her huge fear: her forlarren self, whom she told Chetney led her to be scared of power and making bad decisions. She also finally activated her shard and used it for good, validating that decision as well, and overall setting her up for new confidence in her abilities despite Zathuda's treatment of her as unrealized in her potential. I'm sure it doesn't hurt that she knows Orym always has her back and had that proven again as well, and that she had that moment with Ashton, and, to be honest, that she thrived on the moon between being the one to test the portal, lead away the slivers, and charm people on Ira's mission. But I think Zathuda might find he's accidentally inspiring her to become someone more able to destroy him and his allies, unfriendly as they may be with each other.