After walking for some time, Cer notices the air growing colder and the ley lines across the landscape increase their ebb and flow in intensity. "Pupu, is it still snowing?"

Sitting down to pick up and toss snow into the air to watch it fall, Punkin responds. "Uh huh. Yep."

Tracing the outline of the ley lines across the unseen landscape in Cer's eyes, Cer thinks aloud, " When will we reach a sunny side again or is the island covered in snow altogether?"

"She was right. It is the land of summer snow!" says a voice hidden in the breeze.

"Miyas? Is that you? Show yourself!" respond Cer while scanning for an aura.

"You can't find me?" asks the child-like voice as bright airy bells jingle as it speaks. "I am not making it difficult for you to find me, you just have to know how to look, to see what you want to see...Sometimes it is not where we look, but how we look at things that changes what we can see."

Suddenly, Punkin jumps up with exclamation while pointing. "I saw it daddy. It's a bunny! It's over there in the snow. It's playing hide and seek. Let's catch it!"

Running in the direction of the bunny sighting with her arms outstretched in front of her, Punkin yells "I like bunny pets! We can be friends and play!"

"Hold up! Wait, Pupu! It's dangerous!" yells Cer chasing after Punkin while scanning and fervently tapping Fang against the unbeaten path for obstacles.

In the distance, behind some snow covered rocks, the sound of shuffling feet scurry away.

Suddenly Punkin sees the bunny jump high into the air and fly off like a giant sparrow.

"OOOOOOOOO.... Daddy, look! The bunny flies!" screams Punkin as she jumps up and down while clapping her hands with excitement.

Brandishing Fang in preparation of a fight, Cer scans the area with caution, "What?! I didn't see anything! It has no aura" Taking deep breaths and listening keenly for danger, Cer examines the ley lines. "Wait! I see a trail. I think the ley lines are following it. Whatever it is, it's attached to the ley lines. Let's follow the ley lines!"

"Huh. Nobody's laying in line?!?! I don't see any lines. My bunny's gone.You scared the bunny." Punkins responds while scratching her head.

"The lines are everywhere. You can't see them?" questions Cer.

"Daddy, you silly. It's only summer snow now. " giggles Punkin as she picks up the snow and forms a snowball. "It feels mushy and funny."

Reaching out for Punkin's help, Cer nudges in the direction towards where the ley lines flow. "I'll point us where to go, help me walk the path of the ley lines and."

-break-

After walking uneventfully for what felt like over an hour, Cer turns to Punkin and asks her what she sees. "I smell palm trees and the ocean again. Where are we?"

Pouting while dragging her tired legs, Punkin sits down and answers Cer. "We are at the beach daddy. It's sand and trees. The water is gone. It's boring. Can I have a coo-coo-nuts?"

Stopping to scan the area, Cer grapples with confusion. " What coconuts? What do you mean there is no water? Why do I smell the ocean then? And why do I still feel the cold- crisp air, much like biting into a crunchy cold apple. In fact the air tastes like apples."

Squealing, Punkin runs towards Cer holding a coconut. "I like apples. I want the apple! You take the coo-coo-nuts."

Being handed a coconut, Cer examines its weight and knocks it. This is a heavy coconut.

Grabbing at Cer's hands, Punkin whines, "Where's my apple. I want my apple. Not fair. Gimme that coo-coo-nuts back!"

"Pupu, this is not a coconut. It feels like a..." Surprising Punkin, Cer stops mid sentences and then covers Punkin's eyes and mutters, "Mesma Epithet Efata."

"Hey! Why you doing that? No scaring me." yells Punkin as she pushes Cer's hands off her eyes. "Oooooh everything is snowed on. Where the trees, sun, and sand go daddy? What did you do? You made it snow! And hided the sun! "

Placing a hand on Punkin's shoulder and stepping in front of her, Cer warns Punkin of danger. "No, Pupu. That's a rock. We have been walking in an illusion. There may have never been any sand or trees or sunshine. Somebody is casting a very strong magic and now that I can smell clearly, I can smell them. They are near!

Looking up, Cer sneers at the air. "Whoever you are, come out."

Stepping out of a patch of snow, a small childish figure with bunny ears approaches and speaks in a light child-like tone. "Aww. Well that was fun while it lasted. Welcome to the mystic evermore."

"Miyas, you seem different. That was a nice trick. So the ley lines were not following you were they?"

Circling around Cer and Punkin from a distance, Miyas examines them without revealing herself. "Interesting Cer, seems like you have less senses but aren't dull or senseless. It's not an illusion. You ever try transmuting? Some witches transmute themselves with ease and do it well. I am transmuting the land. Or at least trying...I have the Mystic, but can't gather enough Mana to spread the ley lines and I don't have the proper Materia to sustain a conduit to maintain the transmutation. That's why it seems like an illusion. But believe me, everything was and is real, even though temporary."

Relaxing, Cer steps forward towards Miyas' voice. "That takes a lot of magic. Explains the ley lines. But why can't I see your aura, Miyas?"

Giggling with the sound of jingling bells, Miyas reminds Cer of her observation with her child like voice. "So you only see auras now. Interesting. I am not making it difficult for you to see me, you really have to know how to look and to see what you want to see...Sometimes it is not what you look for, but how we look at things that changes what we can see. You were so focused on the land, you couldn't see how my aura blends in with this land. It started as an illusion of sorts. But my vision and dream became real to me. We make our own reality."

Stepping shyly forward into their field of vision, Miyas jingles again, "If you want something enough, you can make it real. You focus on it, and you Will it with your heart, and then you do everything you can to make it happen."

Clapping her hands, Punkin jumps in excitement. "There she is! So pretty! Magical pew pew. Is that your friend Me-Ass? Can she play with me? She is small like me."

Still glaring in the direction of Miyas' voice, Cer scans for traces of her aura. " Small? Why do you sound like a kid and what is this place?"

Looking down in embarrassment, Miyas, donning a white bunny-eared hooded mantle tied to her wrists and ankles responds, "Uhm. I was stranded here after being asked to wait here. Then I was cursed for who-knows-what. So there's that! So the islands were cursed too around the same time. It started snowing slowly and just never stopped. It is like it got stuck and froze. It became sad and lonely. All the ferried are gone. I am trying to turn it back to how it used to be."

Running up to Miyas as she speaks, Punkin hugs her tightly and squeezes her while stroking the bunny ears on Miyas' cloak. "You have a bunny blanket. So comfy cozy. I love it! I love you! I want one! Can I keep you?"

Giggling with appreciation for Punkin's enthusiasm towards her, Miyas speaks to Cer while looking Punkin in the eyes. "So she must be yours and Claira's. I can see her mother in her." Smiling coyly, Miyas shrugs at Punkin. "I'm Miyas. Seems like you already know about me. I am truly sorry we've never met, and I am honored to meet you now. Your mother is a dear friend. How is she? I am awaiting a letter from her."

Interrupting Miyas and Punkin's conversation, Cer delivers circuitous tragic news to Miyas . "That won't be happening. Sorry, I have no letter to deliver. May her Mystic know peace. "

Looking towards the sky in spacious thought, Miyas thinks aloud, "Oh... I miss her. That explains why she never came back for me. I guess I can't be mad at Eve now either."

How can I stay mad at someone for leaving me behind when they aren;t even here to live and move forward. How can I stay sad for being left alone when they found me all alone to begin with? The joy of finding family feels like it isn't worth the pain and longing for them to come back. It would have been better to have never been found at all, rather than being found, and then left behind and lost again. Like my magic, maybe love is all just an illusion?

Looking around confused, Cer shifts the direction of the conversation. "So what is the Mystic Evermore?"

Redirecting her attention back to Cer, Miyas responds with a matter-of-fact tone. "There are 9 islands of the Mystic Evermore. This is where the ferried souls have traveled or sent when either ferried by Eve or sent to the sorters. The souls end up between the eight Dhomoh Isles and the ninth isle of Pekah Tum. We are on none of the islands right now. We are somewhere between Pekah Tum and the island of Mind and Memory. Since the curse, the islands and the water that flows between them have frozen and become one large island. I am trying to make it one big paradise!

Oooh I have an idea! Since you are here, you can help me try to transmute the islands back to paradise and maybe we can separate them again or keep it one big island. You are the strongest demon shriver there is. Doesn't that make you a powerful witch too? You and I can create a reality we want and a world where we can be happy."

Walking up to Punkin to approach Miyas with caution, Cer reaches out and is met with Miyas reaching back with her small hands. "Oh. Your hand is as small as Pupu's. Seems like you are cursed like many of the other witches. Don't worry we have a plan to break our curses.

Your desire to create our own paradise is very tempting. Our homeland is plagued with restless souls and the demons we fought have begun to come back. The demons found their way back to us. It is bad. Kala fought a Legion of Morrighan and I fought something almost as big as the west wall of The Mecca. Strange things have been happening across the land. It seems it has reached the Mystic Evermore as well. I was told this place was out of reach from the curses and demons. We are gathering the covens to re-unite to fight for the sake of humanity. Will you come back home with us?"

Pouting with both anger and sadness, Miyas reactively yells at Cer. "Claira left me here! She never came back. I left Ursa Domus. I am not part of her coven anymore. I am of Siren's Caw now after Eve found me and then she left me here too! Nobody wants me! Why would I go home with you two if you are going to leave me outside like everyone else?!?!? What good is it to be found and come home when you are not loved or wanted there?"

Seeing Miyas' aura for the first time, Cer discerns an inner wavering aura of profound sadness, melancholy, and longing, surrounded by the intensity of an aura reverberating with anger and anguish.

"I know you are hurt. I know it is hard to trust others when you have been let down. I know you are angry and melancholic. Your anger is your sadness turned outward towards the world that has contributed to your pain; and your sadness is your shame and anger turned on yourself. You can feel anger and anguish, sadness and defeat, loneliness and longing, and still be loved. It is hard to see that love, when you fear the joy that can be lost once you've found it.

A wise witch once told me, 'I am not making it difficult for you to see, you really have to know how to look and to see what you want to see...Sometimes it is not what you look for, but how we look at things that changes what we can see.'

I hope you can see the love we have for you. I am sorry you have been left behind. We are here to bring you home.

Will you come home with us?"

Even if you choose not to trust us or come with us, our door will always be open for you to come home, my beloved friend.