Katherine and I arrive at Belle Forest a short distance from the entrance near where her mother grows mana plants. It’s already dark outside, but I can see that the square gardening plots where she grows the mana plants are covered in thick tarps for the winter. Moving beyond them, we head straight for her mother’s house. Katherine raps her knuckles against the front door and waits for her mother to answer. A few moments later, Margaret comes and opens the door. Predictably, she’s surprised to see her daughter so late in the evening on a random day when she’s supposed to be studying abroad.

“Katherine!” she exclaims. “What are you doing here? And Souladonis too?”

“Hi mom. Can we come in?”

“Of course! Come in.”

Katherine’s mother leads us into her dining room where we sit at the rectangular wooden table. There’s a thick book on the resilient plants that live in the Kanabo desert resting on the table in front of the spot where her mother usually sits. Margaret is a botanical science nerd with comically large glasses looming over her eyes. She generally wears sweaters and squeezes her belt entirely too tightly on brown pants that are hiked up entirely too high on her short thin body. Fortunately, I’m now used enough to seeing her to not smirk at her over-the-top nerdy appearance. I think Katherine appreciates the fact.

“Have you kids had dinner?” Margaret asks.

“We ate back at Winterspring. We’re fine mom,” Katherine answers. “The reason we came is because something bad has happened and we need your help.”

“Okay,” Margaret says, adjusting in her chair, “What happened?”

Katherine takes the direct approach. “Mom, today in Magali King Barthalamos declared war on Ouroboros. He’s sending his army to eradicate the Yugalla tribe.”

Right away, Margaret sinks her hands into her hair in distress. “Oh no. My Terranostra. How could this happen?”

She soon breaks down into bitter sobbing. Katherine does her best to console her mother by laying a supportive hand on her shoulder. As for me, I simply sit beside Katherine observing silently. Thanks to my close relationship with Katherine, I already know what happened to Margaret all those years ago, so I understand her reaction. Margaret was a young widow, no more than 22 when her husband was killed. He left her with a child although they had scarcely been married for a year. To hear about the revival of the war that decimated her hopes and dreams as a newlywed must stir up some unimaginably painful feelings and memories for her. Quite frankly, I’m sorry that we’re even having this conversation.

Yet before long, she wipes her tears and puts her thick glasses back on. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to become so emotional. It’s just that hearing your words reminded me of watching my Terranostra stand up to the Aimé army by himself. He held all of them at bay with his Pacifism spell, allowing the rest of us to escape. Yet while he held the spell, he couldn’t move. As soon as it ended, they captured him. They brought him here to Âme Kingdom and executed him like he was some sort of criminal. In the end, he saved everyone except himself.”

Katherine leans her upper body towards her mother. “Mom, Souladonis and I want to go to Ouroboros to warn Chief Hekima about what’s happening. Do you still have the map of the Ouroban rain forest that you used to show me?”

“I do,ˮ Margaret answers, She rises from her chair and moves to a cupboard. The cupboard has three drawers in addition to the space at the top for plates and various dishes. She opens the lowermost drawer and searches through it. Underneath some other miscellaneous items, she finds the map. She brings it to the table and lays it out flat.

“Look here,” she says. “This x marks the Yugallan village. They call it Ouro, meaning ‘snake.’ It’s defended by its natural position deep in the Ouroban rain forest. The main river ways to reach the village are here, here, and here. These rivers flow towards the village whereas the others flow away from it. They navigate these waters on their giant snakes called marsh skippers. Without a marsh skipper, you’ll need a sturdy canoe or any other type of small boat. You must never enter the water without a boat. There are unspeakable monsters in the water. Those who fall in it are rarely seen again. Also, the forests are engrossed with viney plants and they’re confusing like a maze. If you land on the northern beach of Ouroboros, then follow this path to the western river way. It’s just a short journey to reach Ouro village from there. I strongly recommend that you stick only to the instructions that I’ve given you. Don’t wander off or stray from the path. The Ouroban rain forest is a very dangerous place. Do you two understand?”

“Understood,” I say.

“Got it,” Katherine answers.

“Good. But kids, what happens in Ouroboros isn’t your responsibility. It’s sweet that you want to give them a warning, but this isn’t your fight. I want you to return home immediately after you give them your warning. Okay?ˮ

Katherine takes the map off the table and stashes it into one of her inventory bags. She then stares her mother in the eyes silently and intensely. Neither of them speaks for a full ten seconds. Eventually Margaret comments, “You’re not going to do what I say, are you?”

Katherine answers, “We’ll find a way to save the Yugallans, mom. I promise.”

Margaret sighs and turns her attention to me. “Make sure that she returns safely Souladonis.”

I nod to agree although in my heart I’m not entirely confident. Still, I make the promise. “Yes ma’am. I will.”

“Good,” she says smiling and pinching my cheek. “But it’s already late. Why don’t you kids stay for the night and leave in the morning?”

I answer, “Actually Margaret, I think we’ll stay at a resort in Foudre tonight. I want to be able to go to the docks in the morning and see if we can hitch a ride to Ouroboros on a fishing boat or something.”

She lowers her eyes, her shoulders droop, and she pouts her lips. “Right,ˮ she says in a sad tone of voice. “Staying at a fancy beach-side resort in Foudre is much nicer than spending the night in my little house.”

Her hurt response alarms me. I wasn’t trying to offend her or make any sort of commentary about the quality of her house. I was just thinking from a purely pragmatic point of view. But if it means that much to her, then we can stay. We still might be able to find a boat even if we arrive in Foudre a few hours later. To do damage control, I apologize, “I’m sorry Margaret. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Of course not,” she murmurs, still pouting her lips with lowered eyes.

I start to announce a change of plans, but Katherine suddenly cuts me off. “Nevermind her Master,ˮ she says casually. “She’s just trying to make you feel guilty. I do it to you all the time.”

“Yes you do!ˮ I quip, slightly put off not just by the fact that she does it, but that she does it and admits it openly.

Both mother and daughter have a laugh at my expense. Margaret adds, “Terranostra was always vulnerable to a good guilt trip too.” This causes the two women to laugh all the more. I cross my arms, feeling a bit had. I see where Katherine gets her cunning from.

“In any case, we should go,” I say. “We have to stay a step ahead of the Aimé army or else our warning’s not going to count for much.”

“Alright kids. Good luck.”

We exchange a round of hugs with Katherine’s mother and then vacate the house. Once more, using the Portal spell we travel to the island nation known as Foudre. This tiny island was actually the original homeland of King Barthalamos. Before usurping the throne by murdering King Lionel Lenoir and most of the royal family, Barthalamos was merely a barbarian chieftain. To begin our journey from the homeland of the enemy might be a bad omen, but it’s the most convenient thing to do since it’s directly north of Ouroboros. If we’re able to hitch a ride on a fast boat, we could be there in as little as a day. I don’t know how long it will take the Aimé army to transfer their attack force to Ouroboros, but I do know that we don’t have any time to waste.

Katherine and I book two rooms at a luxury hotel on the beach and call it a night. We’ll resume our quest in the morning, and if we’re lucky, we’ll reach the Yugallan people in time.