"No... I can deal with a year." There's a calm resolve in her voice. Rita was already prepared to put up with all kinds of crap for the contract period... provided it's actually limited to that period.

"I just didn't know how I'd go back and face everyone as some freak of nature." She was only just beginning to shed her reputation as a freak with the other mages. This sure as hell wouldn't help. That, and trying to imagine what Estelle and the others would think if they saw her...