Jake found himself at a loss for words. Part of him longed to rise to her banter, yet he feared escalating the situation further, forcing him to prove his mettle right here, right now.
Not that it bothered him, but given their circumstances, they undoubtedly had other priorities...
Thankfully, the timely return of Cekt, Saros, and the two Brain-Eaters saved Jake from his predicament. He instantly noticed that the cage holding the parasitic Brain-Eater, Syrbarun, had vanished, but the real Syrbarun was back. He had entrusted the Vrusug's body to his master at his request before their separation.
"Good job, Jake. It's quicker and more miraculous than I anticipated," the alien elder praised, noticing that all his disciples and even the Sinewshades had reverted to their original forms. Noting the peculiar atmosphere between Jake and Lucia, he chuckled, "Am I interrupting something?"
For those who are good at math, yes, the period of diplomatic immunity has already ended. Of course, I could have chosen a less 'convenient' date, but that would have meant writing the story in a way that doesn't necessarily suit me.
For those worried that Jake is four years behind the others, don't get too excited. Don't forget, he still got the Nexus from the same Dungeon Digestor responsible for his situation, which I think is worth it.