"So are you feeling any more...magical than before?" I ask Dhisnaek, absently waving my hand for effect.

He gives a slight shrug. "Nothing as of yet, but I trust whatever potion you gave to me."

"Can I just record all the times you say you trust me because it is like the greatest thing, I swear."

I mean, seriously, he puts as much trust in me as some people put in Jesus. The others back home need to be taking notes from this guy.

Brent rolls his eyes at me before addressing Dhisnaek. "I'll admit, this is the most I've heard the word 'trust' referred to her."

"She makes it awfully hard to trust her sometimes," Chasan mutters.

"I can attest to that," Nimu quietly adds.

"But you guys ended up trusting me," I beam cheesily.

"For better or worse," Chasan adds.

"Hey, it at least turned into the better, right?"

As he mumbles a half-hearted, reluctant agreement, we finally emerge from the palace, back into the radiant, yet still red-tinted sunlight of the outdoors. Our descent down the hill is definitely faster than our previous ascension, that's for sure. I'm relieved, though, to see Kaos sitting exactly where we had left him, unaware of our return.

"Hey, Kaos!" I cup my hands to yell up to him.

While my voice registers to him, Brent goes back to two-year-old ogle mode and stares up in amazement at the giant man, his eyes widening even bigger when he stands up.

I glance over at Dhisnaek, making sure he's feeling 100 about this since this relies heavily on him.

"You got this," I whisper to him, giving him a thumbs up.

Though some traces of doubt lingers still, I can sense some renewed encouragement spurred on by my words.

"I assume you were successful," Kaos bellows down at us.

"Yup," I reply. "And seeing as I'm a woman of my word, I kicked his ass and have a way to reverse whatever curse he put on you."

I can tell he's trying to suppress the hopeful anticipation mounting inside him, probably not wanting to get his hopes up, but I'm not here to crush hopes, I'm here to fulfill them.

"Is that so? And how are you going to do such a thing?"

"Well, technically, I'm not, but he-" I step aside to give Dhisnaek the floor. "Is going to."

Though he's still trying to put on that façade of cynicism, his eyes tell a different story- he's eager to see what happens.

"If you believe it will work."

"I know it will."

It's make it or break it time for Dhisnaek. Though one could argue that even if this doesn't work, however disappointing that would be, we can wash our hands of this and say we tried- and maybe I would have done that in the past- but I'm not going to turn my back on Kaos. I don't think it's fair to let Tymos continue to affect someone else's life even after he's out of the picture. I'd even be willing to stick around until I found a cure for this, but it begins to look like I might not have to.

As Dhisnaek stands before the giant, he raises his staff upward, bowing his head slightly as he mutters something to himself several times. Soon, the staff starts to glow. As the dark blue aura around it continues to brighten, I notice the staff beginning to tremble even though his hands appear unmoving.

Eventually, the same blue aura begins glowing around Kaos, who is taken back by this like I was the first time I experienced it. It's subtle at first, until Nimu points it out, but Dhisnaek appears to be succeeding.

"He's starting to shrink," She breathes in awe.

Though his progress is slow at first, it picks up and soon he's like the incredible shrinking man. 

As Kaos continues to grow shorter, I glance over and notice how strained Dhisnaek appears.

"You're doing great," I tell him trying to give him that extra boost in order to finish strong. Focusing all his energy into this task, Dhisnaek doesn't respond, but I get it. His hard effort soon pays off as Kaos reaches average height, finally on eye level with the rest of us. Once complete, the aura disappears, scattering like light particles into nothing. Kaos is giving himself the glance over like he still doesn't believe this is real. While he inspects himself, I join Dhisnaek by his side.

"You did it," I cheer.

It takes several seconds for him to collect himself, but as he nods and turns around, I stop and stare in disbelief at what he holds in his hand. What was once his trusty, weathered staff is now two withered ends, snapped in half.

"What happened?" I ask, wide-eyed.

"It seems my staff has a limit on how much power it can wield."

"That sucks. I'm sorry."

He waves me off with a small chuckle. "Aye, it's nothing worth fretting about. As my teacher used to say: 'It is not the instrument that makes the man, but the man that makes the instrument."

"Wise words," I nod.

We're interrupted by Kaos, who finally finds his voice, which isn't quite as booming as before.

"I never thought I'd experience the day when I would be free from this curse."

"Told ya I keep my promises," I wink at him.

He's still inspecting himself as if checking for any flaws or tricks but ending up with nothing. After a moment, he pauses to glance at us- more specifically, Dhisnaek.

"Thank you."

It's all he says, but it's enough- Dhisnaek seems content with this outcome, despite his staff breaking and his energy drained.

"Of course," He replies.

"So what are you going to do now?" Lan asks him, still in amazement about the transformation.

It seems Kaos already had a gameplan in mind because he, without hesitation, answers-

"Reunite with my family."

Aw, such happy endings (I never really get to be a part of those). "That sounds like a reasonable game plan."

"What of you and your companions?" He asks. "What is your next course of action now that the snake is dead?"

Ugh, back to that question...

"Uh," I briefly glance at the others before shrugging nonchalantly at him. "You know me, I'll figure it out."

Most people would be a bit concerned about me and my willy-nilly ways, but Kaos is clearly eager to get back to his family so he nods and glances up at the sky.

"I best get on my way- I can't cover as much ground as before and home is a little ways off. I am indebted to you the rest of my life; if there is any future assistance you need, do not hesitate to find me."

"Thanks." Though I'm not too sure if I'll be returning back here- I mean, my parents haven't since.

With that, we watch him depart, disappearing into the jungle and out of sight. For several seconds after his disappearance, nobody says or does anything- it's not awkward, just stifling. Finally, Nimu breaks the lull.

"So that ties up all our loose ends..." She glances at us before ending at me. "That still leaves the original question: What now?"

I really don't know what's wrong with me when it comes to this question. It's so obviously the end, but I don't want it to be, even beyond the fact I hate endings.

Thankfully, Brent pipes up for me.

"We should head home," He says, looking at me specifically.

"Yeah, we should," I agree. "But what about you guys? What about you, Chasan? You still need to get back to Edalirwen." He and Lan exchange a brisk look before replying.

"You know," He begins. "I cursed you enough about dragging me here, but in hindsight...perhaps this is where I belong. There's nothing left for me back in Edalirwen. I actually have a new family here."

"Besides," Lan grins. "I wouldn't let him anyway, not without me, of course."

"That too," Chasan smiles back.

I never noticed how cute the two of them are together or how much happier Chasan is around Lan. Seeing it now, it's completely understandable why he would choose to stay. I mean, what is back in Edalirwen for him?

"Whatever makes you guys happy," I wink. "Just promise me you won't backslide into kidnapping random people in hopes of selling them or trying to rob people for food."

Though he rolls his eyes, he mutters his agreements while Lan happily agrees.

So that deals with those two...

"What about you, Nimu?" I ask next.

She blinks, collecting herself before starting with a slight pause.

"Truthfully speaking, I'm just not sure. On one hand, I want to return to the village, but...I don't 

know, I feel like it wouldn't be the same."

"I feel the same," Lan chimes in. "It's like we've outgrown the village after being out here. That's why I'm thinking about exploring these parts further. Why don't you join us? We'll explore the parts of Pyranaleath'tai nobody ever has. We can even make our own village- you can name it if you want."

While she secretly smiles at this, she still appears to have some reservations, so Chasan jumps in.

"Oh, come on, Nimu, you said it yourself, someone needs to watch Lan and you're the best suited for the task."

Now she can't help but chuckle.

"You're right. Maybe I should come along, at least for a little bit until I figure out what I want to do."

Cheering at this, Lan grins. "We should come up with a name for ourselves."

"Why?" Chasan asks.

"So people know who we are."

Before this train completely derails, Nimu turns to Dhisnaek.

"What about you, Dhisnaek?"

Now there's the billion dollar question. What is Dhisnaek going to do? Personally- just me speaking- I wouldn't mind bringing Dhisnaek back with us, he's one of the coolest guys I've ever met and he gets me. But it's up to him. He's never left this universe, plus it has magic, who can beat that? There are a ton of details and things that go into this decision and the results that follow, but who has time to worry about the future? What matters is his decision now.

He sighs, gripping the pieces of his staff before dropping them.

"As Chasan said: There is nothing left for me here. I made a promise to myself when I first met you," He says addressing me. "That I would correct the wrongs I've committed. I waited too late to mend my relationship with my brother- and even Aelita- and so I refuse to make the same mistake again. I want to meet my son, your father, and if he chooses to forgive me then I will stay, but if not then I won't trouble him or you two. But I have to try."

"I think dad'll understand," Brent says, looking at me for back-up.

"Yeah," I agree. "Plus, I like your style and I think it's cool bringing home a long-lost grandpa."

Seems everything is set in place. Chasan, Nimu, and Lan are going to go off on their own and explore Pyranaleath'tai further and Dhisnaek, Brent, and I are going home, back to Cauldron.

"Now that we figured that out," Brent says. "How's about you figure out how we're getting home from here. I mean, you got a magic bean I don't know about?"

"Yeah, up my ass," I reply as I actually begin to think about this.

"I can believe it."

If only it was as easy as clicking our heels three times and dreaming of home.

"Perhaps I could be of assistance," Dhisnaek offers. "I have dealt with transportation spells before."

"Yeah, but are you strong enough?" Brent asks him with concern. "Cauldron is a little further away than the other side of Pyranaleath'tai."

"Jack's got some good points," I agree.

Waving us off, he reassures us.

"Seeing as I have put my faith in you, have faith in me this one time."

Exchanging a look with Brent, I take a steadying breath then shrug.

"Alright, fair enough. I mean, what's there to lose?" Other than our lives.

I've never seen Dhisnaek work magic without his staff, but it appears he doesn't really need it as his body begins to glow as the staff used to. As he concentrates, he instructs us, sounding a bit strained already.

"Grab hold of me and think about your home." So as Brent and I obey, I think about my family, my friends, my life in Cauldron. Yeah, that little town of shits can give me trouble sometimes, but it's home and so I can't help but think about it fondly.

Soon, I begin to feel a warm tingling sensation pricking along my skin. Glancing at myself, I see our bodies have begun to glow as well, making the scene before us blurry. As the other three watch us, their figures become like wiggly noodles of wet paint.

I don't know if this is too late to call out, as they're quickly blurring into smugs of dull color, but I do as anyway.

"Thanks for the adventure guys! Catch you in another life!"

That's as close to goodbye as I get with people, it just sits better with me that way.

I hear muffled, faint voices responding, but they're too distant and faint to catch what they say- I'm sure it's them saying goodbye as well.

Finally, the whole scene, my entire vision, fills with blinding white light. Taken off guard by this, I instinctively grip Dhisnaek's clothes harder as if to avoid drifting away.

Although this might be the "ending" of one chapter, I feel like everything has just begun.