| [The Player is knocked to the ground and Ava sheathes her blade.]
  "Not bad. I see a lot of potential in you. But I also see sadness in your heart. Hanging on to it will eventually lead to darkness. You need to somehow let it go."
 [Ava walks over to The Player and gestures to Chirity.]
  "With this little one helping you, you'll be fine. Now, go home. And I'm sorry, but this area is strictly off-limits, all right?"
 [The Player gets up and nods, then leaves with Chirithy as Ava watches them leave.]
  "So it's you. You're the friend he told me about..."
 
 [The Player dreams of Ephemer investigating the waterway.]
  "Sorry, The Player..."
 [Ephemer turns to explore the waterway, but hears a noise and doubles back.]
  "Who is it?"
 [The Master of Masters steps forward, cloaked in shadows.]
  "You...!?"
 
 [The Player is sleeping in their bed as Chirithy watches from the windowsill.]
  "That was one doozy of a day. Betcha didn't think you'd end up having to fight a foreteller."
 [An unseen speaker is heard.]
  "I'm sorry. But it wasn't fun for me either, you know."
 [Chirithy looks up and sees Ava, sitting on the next windowsill, and she hops down.]
  "Master Ava! What are you doing here?"
 [Ava shrugs.]
  "Please, call me "Ava." Did you show him the dream of Ephemer?" "No. That wasn't me."
 [Ava tilts her head in thought.]
  "Then perhaps it was Ephemer himself."
 [Chirithy jumps.]
  "Huh? How is that possible?" "Ephemer's getting very close to the truth."
 [Ava steps forward to look at The Player.]
  "He's fallen into an unchained state and now finds himself in a different realm. From that realm, I believe he tried reaching out to him."
 [Ava leans over and touches The Player's forehead.
  "If they connected, even in a dream, that means he's getting closer to that realm too."
 [Ava stands.]
  "Whether he continues down that path is up to his own heart."
 [Ava turns away.]
  "Chirithy, you have to protect The Player from the nightmares, so the wind can carry him far away from here."
 [Ava walks away and vanishes as Chirithy watches.]
  "Me...?"
 |