Darkness fades, as color breaks into view through the small opening of eyes.

What just happened?

Where is everybody? I hope everyone is still okay. I need to find Pupu. She better be okay.

Did I finally… die…?

Is anyone there? I need to get to Pupu.

Sigh.

I can feel my limbs…so I can’t be dead. That was one hell of an onslaught… my body hurts. Ugh. I can’t make anything out.

Where am I? This isn’t where we all were. Where is everyone else?

Confused and in a daze, Cer stumbles to stand. “Hello? Is anyone there? Where am I?”

“You are somewhere in between where nothing living willingly goes and where the dead avoid,” responds a familiar voice in a soft tone.

Hearing Neko’s voice strikes Cer with surprise, “ Strange, I couldn’t sense you. How did we end up here Neko?”

“I brought us here. You were getting beat up pretty bad. If I didn’t take you far away, the damned would have killed you and continued to batter our bubble. They would’ve broken through and that dark mass would have followed. I took us where nobody finds anything. You recovered pretty fast. You’ve been out for a couple days.”

“Ugh, that explains why I’m so sore and hungry. Where is this place?”

“Don’t worry. You are safe. As long as you don’t physically leave this room, you should be fine. I can’t say the same for your astral self. It left a while ago.”

“Astral self? I can’t astral or planes walk…I’ve never been able to do that before and never trained in it.”

“You sure? Because a dark shadow left your body and has been running amuck yelling all kinds of things. Sure sounded like you too.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about. I can’t see anything, or smell anything, or taste anything in the air. I can’t even smell or taste your scent. I was beaten so badly my senses are numb. Can you help me? We need to get home, Neko.”

“I don’t think it is safe outside of here. I am not taking you back to The Mecca either.. I am not gonna die here.”

“Until you spoke, I thought I was dead and I was okay with it, so I am ready to die,” chides Cer

“As alive as you are, you sound very much dead inside. It’s like you gave up,” responds Neko with concern.

Feeling a familiar pain of longing in Cer’s chest, Cer avoids entertaining Neko’s concern, “Well as long as Pupu is out there, I have to survive.”

“Living for someone else is not enough- you will lose yourself. If you leave this room, you might actually die. It’s dangerous out there. You can’t blame me if I port out of here and leave you behind.”

“Deal. Let’s go Neko.”

“Can you tether? Because you are kind of useless, weak and without any senses. Just hold me and I’ll guide you by pressing your fingers- you are like my old school robot.”

Pressing forward and pushing open what seems like a door, Car steps into open air, with a cool breeze blowing.

Sucks. I wish I could smell or taste the air. I can’t tell where I am just feeling this air.

“This is gonna be tricky Cer. Hold me with one hand and use your cane with the other. The walk is uneven and there is no clear path.”

“Actually I think I got it. There are a lot of auras around. I can use them to navigate the area. I can see the auras on different levels. The cane will help me avoid surprises if I scan objects with it.”

“Sweet, then I’ll see you later. I ain’t sticking around to find out if we are welcome here or not. I’ll be back later with your box. Can you find your way back here to this room, Cer? I can leave the box in the room.”

“I can try. That shouldn’t be too hard. Everything is starting to seem vaguely familiar. I feel like I have been here before.”

“Great. C’ya” Neko shouts as she steps into a port and disappears from detection.

Looking around, Cer realizes that there are way more auras than expected. “Strange, I can see auras out here but not in that room. I need to avoid running into people or they will for sure know I am blind. Oh no! Where is my hoodie? I was wearing my hoodie? Where is it? I need to take my vest off before someone recognizes the Demon Shriver sigil. I can’t take any more requests to shrive.”

Taking off the marked vest and placing it over the shoulder, Cer continues walking in what feels like a straight path despite the uneven and obstacle-filled terrain, determined to move away from their safe space while also making sure to avoid running into any of the energies and auras detected.

While traversing the space, Cer tries to create a mental image of the surrounding area by tuning into various senses and by mentally mapping the auras of anyone in close proximity.

Moist cold air-mist? Wooden bridges? Wooden scaffolds and stairs. Am I in the Northern Mountains? I AM BACK IN HAEVEN? I’m coming home, Pupu!

With a zealous stride, Cer begins walking intuitively like strolling by memory through a familiar place.

Hmmm. The wind is picking up and it feels like the mountains are rumbling beneath me. This is odd. Is the Manchineel tree weeping again? I should ask someone how far the closest village is.

Looking around, Cer notices several auras moving as if they were tending to some unidentifiable menial task.

“Hello there. I am from The Apiary and have lost my way. Can you tell me where the nearest village is? I need to get back to The Apiary!”

No response.

The auras turn to face Cer and change color from a focused and friendly feeling to a sense of curiosity and then to a feeling of fear.

Quickly the auras disperse in different directions in a fashion indicating expert mobility and navigation of the obstacles and uneven path.

Damn! Either, they must recognize me, I am in actively hostile territory, or they do not get outsiders often. Best if I don’t draw any more attention. I wish I had my hoodie. Time to look like a hiker with this cane.

Continuing the journey, Cer walks for what feels like several hours, following wherever the mana and mystic pulls Cer, across more bridges and several short wooden staircases.

After crossing several wooden bridges, Cer hears several voices in the distance shouting.

I need to find out what they are shouting about. Are they shouting about me? Is this an alarm? I need to be prepared just in case I get ambushed.

Continuing the journey cautiously and slowly, Cer edges towards the sounds of the distant and faint shouting.

As Cer draws in closer, Cer can discern various strong auras as the source of the shouting.

Seeing the colors of hostility and fear while sensing growing concentrations of mana being gathered by the voices, Cer crouches down, hoping an object would obscure Cer from detection or view.

Are they fighting something else? Something else is in the mountains threatening them? How did anything get into Haeven to threaten the mountains and its inhabitants? This place is a natural fortress. Is Pupu safe?

Looking around, Cer scans the area for a possible threat, just in case Cer would be in danger as well.

Sensing an aura-less mass of pulsating energy, Cer trembles with fear.

What is that? It feels familiar. It has no aura and is sucking energy and mana inwards like a vacuum. Could that be a Demon or Daemon in these mountains?

Listening more carefully, Cer tunes in to try to discern what the voices are shouting in the distance against the massive aura-less mass of energy.

“BRACE YOURSELVES” shouts a distant faint voice.

They sound distressed and afraid. I need to help them. This thing is going to consume them!

Trying to remain in control and calm enough to fight, Cer stands up slowly and begins to try to focus mystic will into the cane.

As Cer attempts to draw mana into the cane, Cer feels mana being siphoned into the distance in the direction of the aura-less mass.

It is siphoning my mana. Its mystic is even stronger than mine. Wait, is it tethering to me? Shit…I need to attack now or get out of here!

Making a split second decision, Cer jumps up and begins running towards the aura-less mass with Fang drawn ready to attack.

No chance to run now that it is tethered to me. I wish I had talon or my beads. I survived the earlier onslaught, maybe I’ll survive this.

How do I know I will succeed? What will happen if I fail? What is worse; losing myself to fear or holding onto a reckless hope despite the circumstances?

When I have nothing left to lose, I might as well try, since I have nothing left to lose.

I have everything to gain. I have to find my way back to Pupu.

Hoping to summon mystic, mana, and spirit for support, Cer makes a final attempt to draw on energy and mana as Cer rapidly approaches the aura-less mass. “You will not harm these people! You will go back to whence you came, or be consumed by my sacred names. Famished after our Fallow! The third eye calls upon you! AWAKEN! It is time to Feast.”

Suddenly, as Cer launches into the air towards the aura-less mass, a brilliant flash of energy that even Cer can see flashes before Cer’s eyes, and a loud thunderous clap snatches Cer out of the air, snapping Cer onto the ground.

Ugh. What just happened? I can’t move.

As Cer’s consciousness fades into darkness, a faint voice haunts Cer’s senses. “Pupu, where are you? Cer… get up! Get Up! Pupu needs you!”