Entering the Nothing, Cer senses a familiar aura within the space though sound and light both dissipate as if the darkness consumes it.

“I see you.” Announces Cer with a tone of warmth and welcome. “How long have you been here?”

“Stay away!” hisses the demon Vorax. “I know you. She loathes you.”

“Nin… I see you” Cer responds compassionately. “I see you, in there. You know you are not alone. How long have you been here, all alone on your own?”

“Let me out if you want to live. You cannot keep me here.” Screams Vorax.

“There is nowhere else to go, but at least you are not alone anymore. You can come home now, Nin.” Cer says while reaching out a hand towards the aura in the center of the darkness.

Chuckling, Vorax attempts to inhale Cer to absorb Cer’s lifeforce. “I know no Nin. I am not alone AND I AM HOME. I am home to everyone forgotten and lonely. You see, I welcome them here where I am… their home. I am all they need. You are finally home with me.”

“I was never yours, Nin. I am sorry. You have become what you have filled your heart with…loneliness and longing. You are insatiable. I cannot let you leave. You will devour everyone to fill your emptiness, yet you can never be filled with what you actually want.” Cer says as an eminent glow radiates from Cer’s eyes, pushing back Vorax’s implosive energy.

“If you won’t let me out, I will consume you and this entire dark bubble. You think you know darkness, I am the darkness.” growls Vorax as it begins to inhale the edge of the dark bubble. “I can absorb it all and I only get stronger the more I devour! You can’t see?!?! I devoured your precious witch. I will consume your daughter just like I did her mother!”

Lifting Cer’s other hand to welcome Vorax with open arms, Cer speaks softly. “There is no use. Let the anguish go, Nin. It is me you want and I am here with you, in darkness. We are held by Nothing and you cannot devour Nothing without becoming Nothing. So please, stop trying to feed on Nothing, and come home to us.”

Feeling an aura of raising anguish full of regret, Cer senses the core of the aura shift its energy. “I am sorry Cer. Stay here with me, please. It’s been so dark and lonely and these souls cannot fill my need… for you”

Filling with sadness and nostalgic longing. “I have missed you. I cherish you now as much as I did before. I have never stopped loving you. You can love someone and not be in love with them, Nin. You don’t need me. You wanted the idea of me. Claira showed me with Clarity. I am sorry I did not see how much I hurt you. Come home.”

Feeling the familiar aura quiver, Cer perceives a silent whisper within the darkness as the energy of Vorax transforms to a more distinguishable familiar essence of Nin, a timid aura of longing. “How can you invite me home? You have never loved me… and the little witch of chaos will never forgive me.”

“Thank you for stepping forward, Nin. I am sorry you are hurt.” Responds Cer while slipping into melancholy with darkness seeping into Cer’s mind and heart.

Settling down to surrender, Nin abandons her anguish and resolves in despair“I can see what you did. I can feel it Cer. You poisoned me with this Nothing… this void. Is this your magic, or is this your soul? You are no different from that little witch of chaos. She promised me your love, and now Nothing will satiate me. Such irony that Nothing will end me.”

Reaching forward with both arms to embrace Nin’s aura, Cer accepts what must be done to end the reign of the insatiable demon Nin has become. “Nobody wants to live alone. Moreso, nobody wants to die knowing they are alone. We can die here together. Just let the souls go, and don’t hurt anymore people. I am here now, your longing can subside. Let’s die together in this darkness and become Nothing. Nobody else needs to suffer.”

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As Cer and Nin embrace in the middle of Nothing, darkness embraces them. Seeing a bright light pierce through the darkness, Cer’s eyes close and as Cer barely catches the sound of a distant whisper. “You said you’d never leave me…”

-Break-

Meanwhile, just outside of the bubble of Nothing…

“Let me in!” yells Punkin as she charges at the bubble yet again.

Placing her hand on Punkin’s shoulder, the adult form Miyas redirects Punkin away from the bubble. “Pupu, nothing can get in. Only Eve can help us now… unless…” snapping her fingers, Miyas summons her guardian lions. “Yama, Styx- send her in there. She has Cer’s blood and might be able to survive it.”

Reaching out and dismissing Miyas’ hand off Punkin’s shoulder, Kala admonishes Miyas. “WHOAH! She is not going anywhere! You have been out of touch with people for too long sister. You don’t even know if she can survive there. You said it was Nothing. That kind of magic may consume any light, hope, or life in her. We don’t even know if Cer can survive that kind of magic.”

Shrugging her shoulders, Miyas transforms into her child form and sits down on a nearby stone with her chins on her hands, contemplating aloud. “I know Cer can survive it. It isn’t magic for Cer, it is what Cer is that allows Cer to survive and even thrive in the void- physically at least. We’ll see if his spirit can stand the Nothing. Any other ideas? If we stick around hare, that void bubble can grow and consume us all.”

Interjecting, Kali steps forward petting Cherub. “We should probably evacuate everyone to the Mecca for safety and regroup there. We can come back and see how to settle this unexpected magic.”

Agreeing, the rest of the party regroups near the remnants of the house and prepares to leave.

Giving orders, Kala commands the team to port the people within Haeven to the Mecca. “Cherub, La Gateau, Akiraion, and Neko- we will rely on you to get us all there safely.”

Pushing her glasses up on her face, Arwyn interrupts the orders just in time before any of the Methi Gameers and Cherub port off. “Question…How do we convince all the villagers and people to step through the black mirrors? Remember, witches have been absent for decades, we can’t just show up with talking animals and flowers and hope they will welcome us openly.”

Beginning to weave a spell, Kali speaks as the wind begins to blow pollen from the calla lilies out. “Akiraion and I can handle that. It is a subtle spell that seems like it causes allergies, but it will cause a mass hallucination we can control and a deep longing for the people to migrate away from their allergies into areas we can port them- we can mask the ports with illusions Miyas creates.”

Touching her fingers together sheepishly with embarrassment, Miyas cuts off Kalo. “Ummm actually you all are on your own. I am on my own journey to find the chaos witch. I don’t know why I ported here, I am seeking the chaos witch to complete my mission. I was lucky enough to see you all and deliver the naga”

“I getta keep the lizard nag dragon?” screams Punkin with excitement. “Can I go on the adventure with you to find the kay-oz witch?”

Turning back into an adult, Miyas pats Punkin on the head. “No, you need to go with your godmother. She is much safer. I can set a moon spell real quick but you all will only have a short while before the illusions disappear. Especially if I leave this area, the duration shortens. “

Beckoning to Punkin, Kala steps towards an open area near where the bee hives once stood, and snaps her fingers. “Fair enough. I will meet you all at the Mecca. Neko, if you will please.”

Responding right before she yawns, Neko opens a black mirror port for Kala and Punkin to step through. “Sure. We should probably port to the ruins of Aisling and head into the Mecca together. We can tell them the villagers and ourselves are escaping the destructive assault of Dorylus army. That should help us avoid any hostility until we get to the newly named Mech Knights for protection.”

Urgently racing the clock of illusion, everyone except Kala, Punkin, and Miyas disappear through various black mirrors to different parts of Haeven to evacuate its people.

Looking back at the dark bubble while the other port away, Punkin pleads with Kala to get Cer. “What bout daddy? I want daddy to come too.”

“He won’t be coming with us. We’ll come back for him darling.” responds Kala as she summons her swarm. “Come on. We don’t have a lot of time.”

Once again summoning her guardian lions, Miyas begins to walk away from Kala and Punkin while reminding them of their time limit. “Remember it is a short illusion. I am off to track the chaos witch, which I sense is not too far from here. My bunny ears tell me so. May mana flow in your favor Pupu. Your dad, we will get later.”

Stomping her foot from disappointment, Punkin startles Kala and Miyas with her resistance. “I said I want daddy!”

Before anyone can stop her, Punkin runs towards the guardian lions yelling “Yam-Yam! Styxie! I'M GOING TO DADDY NOW!”

And if a flash of light, a large gate of light opens, and Punkin runs towards it.

Attempting to stop Punkin, Miyas unleashes her ribbons to try and bind Punkin “No! PUPU! We don’t know where it goes! That gate is only for those that can walk the land of the dead!”

Running as she tucks her naga under her cloak, Punkin screams with excitement, “Oooh Pretty! It’s a door to home!” With agile determination, Punkin jumps into the gate, disappearing before Miyas’ ribbons could reach her, leaving both Kala and Miyas dumbfounded as the gate vanishes.

Sighing, Miyas disappears into a newly summoned gate by her lions, leaving Kala in disbelief, alone on her bike.

May mana flow in her favor.