Sitting up with an adrenaline rush from nearly passing out, Cer tries to refocus on the faint voice. Is that voice in my head?

“Get up, Cer!! Help me find Pupu,” yells a confused and desperate Kala from a distance.

Preoccupied by the growing fear of another attack, Cer looks around frantically and calls out, “Kala? What happened? Did you see or feel that? Where did it go?”

Stumbling to get up and prepare for another attack, Cer scans the immediate area for any signs of threats and searches for the aura-less presence.

While still looking around for Punkin, Kala quickly approaches Cer with an equal amount of surprise, “What are you doing here on the Valkyrie? You are supposed to be in The Mecca. How did you even get here?”

Now realizing that Punkin is not with Kala, Cer responds with panic and urgency while scanning the area for Punkin’s aura and scent, “What are you doing here and where is Pupu?”

Placing her hand on Cer’s shoulder to stop Cer’s fruitless efforts, Kala tries to redirect Cer’s panic and focus. “That won’t work here. Our senses are distorted here. You have to call out to her. She will be okay. She is stronger and braver than you know.”

Continuing to call out in hopes that somebody would respond, Kala looks to the other passing ships, “PUNKIN?!?! Eve!!! Akiraion! Runt! La Gateau! Kali! Where are you?”

Feeling a sense of protectiveness and anger, Cer begins to successfully gather mana and energy “Wait…You actually lost Pupu?”

As Cer turns to face Kala with a fear-driven anger growing, Cer and Kala hear a barely audible plea in the distance, catching them both off guard and replacing Cer’s anger with alarm.

“NO!!!! Don’t hurt them!! That’s my friends!!!” Screams the voice in the distance.

Looking to the direction of the screaming, Cer sees a visibly large aura in the distance through the mist.

Running across the bow of another ship, the figure rapidly approaches Cer and Kala, with Akiraion, Cherub, Runt, Belle, and Kali chasing after it.

“Stop! Don’t make us chase you” shout the crew, as they chase the figure with the large aura.

Ignoring the shouts of the others calling out to warn of any danger, Punkin continues dashing towards Cer and Kala screaming “Leave them alone!”

Arriving to Cer’s side, Punkin stops abruptly and eagerly searches for someone or something before turning to yell at Cer, “Daddy!!! You came! Did you see them? Did you see my friends? They were here. Where are my friends? You scared my friends! Bad Daddy!”

Picking up Punkin and embracing her tightly, Cer swings Punkin around as tears dribble down Cer’s face and fall to the floor where they sprout flowers. “I thought I lost you. I am so happy you are okay.”

“Owww that hurts. Stop it. That hurts. Too tight. I am right here. I am not lost. You are. I was waiting for you to come home.” Pouts Punkin with both anger and sadness.

Cupping her face in Cer’s hand, Cer calms Punkin’s anger and sadness, “Sometimes we get lost looking for the very thing right in front of us. I am sorry for taking so long to find my way back home.”

Giggling, Punkin squeezes Cer’s cheeks, trying to cup Cer’s cheeks in her small hands, “We’re not home, silly daddy. We need to go home.”

With a forced smile, Cer looks into Punkin's eyes and corrects her, “I am home; right here, with you.”

Continuing to comfort Punkin, Cer reiterates, “I am not leaving you again if I don’t have to. The world is too dangerous for us not to be together, We shouldn’t journey alone.”

“You are dangerous. You scared my friends away. They were alone and I was gonna play with them. ” whines Punkin.

Looking confused, Cer asks Kala what Punkin is referring to, “What friends? Kala what is she talking about?”

Feeling as confused by Punkin’s questions, Kala responds to Cer as the others approach, “I honestly don’t know. We were about to fight a monster but it attacked us all and knocked the air out of me. Then we couldn’t find each other. I was looking for Pupu when I saw you laying on the floor.”

Growing increasingly impatient from not getting an answer from Cer while growing excited to share her adventures, Punkin interrupts their conversation with a burst of words without taking a breath. “Daddy! We are on madman Eve’s explosive shit. She is making a spooky monkey on mommy’s shit. She teaches me magic and we played hide and seek and catch and release with ghosties. And Awryn and her doggies gave me mommy’s presents. FOR ME! Her doggies talk in my brain. I hear them and Arwyn talk soft. Then the earthshaked and a big rock eated me and ninja cat man made me fly like woooweeee here.”

Chuckling, Cer looks briefly to Kala with growing confusion, then turns back to Punkin, “What?!?! Calm down. Breathe. You don’t make much sense when you are excited or upset. ”

Suddenly, hearing a loud cry, “Nya,” a appearance of an aura apperates right in front of Cer’s face as dodges an apparent attack. Cer jumps back and sets Punkin down and couches to shield her from an attack while scanning for the offender.

“NINJA CAT MAN! My friends!! These are my pet friends, daddy! It’s NINJA CAT!” screams Punkin while clapping her hands with excitement.

“Relax. We aren’t in danger. The monster is gone, Cer. That was La Gateau.” chuckles Kala. “Seems like even La Gateau can’t even sneak up on you. La Gateau you are not very good at that surprise attack.”

“It was the ‘Nya’ wasn’t it. I add that for dramatic effect but it gives me away every time. How are you Cer? Long time no see!” chuckles La Gateau.

“Very funny. So you heard I’m cursed with blindness. Since when did you start porting La Gateau? And what are you doing outside the tower?” chuckles Cer joyfully at meeting La Gateau after a long time away.

“I kind of woke up one day like this. I cough fur balls now. But I actually like my new form.” Chuckles La Gateau.

Smiling with amusement at La Gateau’s coyness, Cer offers solidarity, “You know Neko is a cat too. That’s how she brought me here. It seems you and her were cursed too. So you’ve finally met Pupu too. I am sorry for being away for so long.”

“He’s not the only one. I’m a red fox panda now and Akiraion is a weirdo,” chimes in Runt.

“And Kali? Is that you? What are you doing outside the Western Woods of Haeven?” Cer asks while refocusing attention to examine Kali’s aura.

Interrupting before anyone can respond, Eve jumps from a passing ship and lands near the party. “So, that was interesting folks. My other guest is finally awake. Surprise! It’s Cer! How did you all like that game?”

“What game?” asks Cer with a bit of annoyance. “I’ve been told I was asleep here, thinking it was the Lakrimos Mountains. You could have visited and welcomed me.”

“Wait, you knew Cer was here and didn’t tell us? And you didn’t tell Cer where he was?” snaps Kali in an accusatory tone.

“Well, you never asked. We did have fun though. AND it looks like Cer found his way home to you Pupu! We all win! This is the most fun I’ve had in years!”

“YES. We had fun. Look what I can do!” Summoning her wand from her necklace, Punkin swings it around releasing thick heavy bubbles. Drawing out her bubble blade from her waist sash, Punkin begins popping the bubbles.

“That aura and energy. Is that the aether whisk? Eve you gave her the aether whisk?” asks Cer, partially vexed, concerned, and yet appreciative that the blade was passed down to Punkin.

“Let’s just say I have my own upgrades so I figured she’d do best to learn with it.” remarks Eve, proud of her contribution to Punkin’s development.

“I am glad you are safe. I didn't know what became of you after the shrouding of our home. It has been very long since we have seen each other, my young pupil. I am also happy to sense you have immense magic capacity at your disposal”

Now examining the mana of the remaining bubbles as Punkin continues to pop them, Cer notices the auric viscosity of the tears, “Nice, I can see these bubbles have heavy tears. Whose tears did you use?”

Nervously backing away to hide behind Kali, Kala responds, “So about that. We are going to need some help from Chisiki. We kind of used a bit of Claira’s tears.”

“YOU DID WHAT?!?!” Cer exclaims with a sudden eruption of anger.

Running in front of Cer and outstreching her arms like a wall, Punkin intercepts Cer. Pointing to her wand and her chest, Punkin smiles gleefully and innocently, “DADDY! SHH!! It’s okay. Mommy is in here and here. I saw her. She is in my book. Can you read me to sleep? I want to see mommy.”

With anger melting away from both gratitude that Punkin has the essence of Claira, Cer’s sorrow grows from the memory of Claira. Crouching down to look Punkin in the eyes. “Yes, I can read to you.”

“I knew it! I knows it all along!! You are pranking me. YOU CAN SEE!” pouts Punkin.

“I don’t have to see to read her memories and energy. Your mother’s book has no words, only memories, images, knowledge, and spirit. I will share her life with you.” smiles Cer.

“How do you look in my eyes if you can’t see?” Punkin inquires with pursed lips of confusion.

“I can’t see your eyes, I can only see your intentions where your eyes are.” Cer responds not breaking eye contact.

Closing her eyes and scrunching her face, Punkin challenges Cer, “What if I closed my eyes?”

Releasing a warm chuckle, Cer pats Punkin on her head, “I can still see your intentions, silly bee.”

Speaking aloud without drawing attention away from Punkin, Cer addresses the others. “After I put her to bed, we all have a lot of catching up to do. The problems in The Mecca are foreboding to any semblance of goodness left of this world. I’ll update you so you all can go help The Mecca and the populaces to the West. I’m useless like this and Punkin needs me to stay with her.”

Standing up, Cer picks up Punkin and begins to aimlessly walk away, trusting that the vessels would not fail to guide their journey, as Punkin and Cer listen to each other share their adventures. “We’ll catch up later. May mana flow in our favor.”