(Koozai's POV)

I woke up in what looked like the Fustiroz Hospital's resting area. Like me, a number of Oozai were lying in beds with bandages wrapped around their broken arms, legs, and cracks along their bodies. Oh God, I can't believe Gohma could make someone do such a horrendous thing. How'd he even learn of the mind control spell? The only information on it was in Father's scroll, and nobody outside of the Zai Family has seen what it has written down!

I looked over two my right, and somehow didn't immediately notice Toffee and my own brother.

(Koozai)"Oh, there you are! Hm, must've caused a bunch of damage, huh?"

(Toffee)"You're telling me! It took three hours just to evacuate everyone with you sending art gremlins everywhere. Nobody died, at least."

(Koozai)"Thank goodness! I tried so hard to regain control, but Gohma's magic was more than I could handle. He's improved from last time."

(Zoozai)"We'll find him though, the Riivrax Foundation and my forces are finding information on his whereabouts as we speak. But let's put that aside, I have something to ask you of you."

(Toffee)"He wishes to learn about Caram's up bringing."

(Koozai)"Ah, I had never tried to tell you about him, and we never attempted to introduce him. Very well, I'll tell you how our child came to be."

(Zoozai)"Our? ...You mean...?"

(Toffee)"Y-Yes, I was involved in his conception, but not the way you might be thinking!"

(Koozai)"We'll have to go back pretty far, it started 300 years ago..."

(300 years ago, Koozai's narration.)

I had just left the castle after my little "episode", with only the clothes on my back, the Suits, and what could fit in a bag. After I got as far as I could walk, I had decided to set up my new home using my artistic magic. It had started with just a single clay hut for quite some time, and I was terribly lonesome each day, even with those guys around. Then, my life had changed for the better.

When I was coming home from colleting more art supplies, I found Toffee wandering around my hut, looking sapped of all motivation to do, well, anything.

(Koozai)"Oh, hello there? Is something the matter? How'd you come all the way out here?"

(Toffee)"I...fell."

(Koozai)"Fell? Like, from the sky? Do you live on a Sky Island?"

(Toffee)"No, not that. I was wandering through this forest, and I fell through this hole in the ground. Then I found myself in this place."

(Koozai)"I see, must've been a Dimensionsal Tear. It happens at least ten times a month around here. I could send you back home if you want."

(Toffee)"Home? Hehe...I don't have one, not anymore."

(Koozai)"Whatever for??"

(Toffee)"It was my home, my family was happy there. Then these people called Mewmans, they drove everyone out, killed about half of them...including my family. I'm the only one left."

(Koozai)"Th-That's horrible!"

(Toffee)"I tried to return things back to the way they once were, but this Zoozai character showed up and ruined everything...! So, I just left, and here I am now."

I was taken aback for a moment, surprised that I'd ever hear that name from another's mouth. I had wondered what you were doing there, but that wasn't important at that time.

(Koozai)"That name, you met my brother!"

(Toffee)"He's your brother?"

(Koozai)"Yes, but we've had a falling out many moons ago. That's why I'm out here."

(Toffee)"Well isn't this something? The same man brought us together."

(Koozai)"Hm...hey, I was wondering. Would you like to...stay here with me and my comrades, since you have nowhere to go?"

(Toffee)"Huh? You would do that? For a complete stranger?"

(Koozai)"My father taught me to treat those who require help with all I can do within my ability, even if I don't know them."

(Toffee)"I see. Well I guess it wouldn't hurt to accept your offer. Oh! I forgot to mention, my name is Toffee."

(Koozai)"Good to meet you, Toffee. Hey, since you're kind of, how should I say, lost of meaning? Would you like to practice art with me? I've been longing for someone else to work with."

(Toffee)"...Ok, I guess I could give it a try."

And so for the next few weeks, we practiced all sorts of artistic media. Self portraits, clay figures, tile art, we practically mastered everything we knew! Then one day, I made a big decision. I asked him to round up all of his kind who were still struggling in life and bring them here. We could make them all new homes, new potential, new purpose in life. And in just a few years, a small hut became a big village, then two a full fledged kingdom, a few Oozai even chose to move here once they found out about it! The whole Realm learned about the town inhabited by Oozai and Septarian, and enjoyed it for its color and tranquility, far away from all the commotion and issues in larger cities.

But even with all this, we both had a single problem left: loneliness. We wanted to have...well, have a child, but we aren't THAT close to do the deed necessary. So we decided to go at it a different way, with the power of our innate abilities. Using a basic Oozai clay base as a template, Toffee used a piece of his flesh, and I used my animation spell to give it life, yet it still lacked the important ingredient to truly make it alive.

And that ingredient was a soul. Obviously, we weren't going just kill someone for their own, but as you remember...I had taken...her soul, right after she died. Not knowing what else to do with it, I gave the clay Spades soul, in order to make it a sentient being. That is how Caram was born, our ultimate, perfect work of art, our masterpiece.

(Present)

(Zoozai)"That is definitely something, an Oozai, with the biology of a Septarian, and the soul of your late lover..."

(Koozai)"And that's a choice I was proud to make. I had originally just waiting for her soul to transcend to the afterlife, but it never did."

(Koozai)"So I took it as a sign that she wanted something before she had to leave this world, and that must've been a child. How I longed to hear her voice again, just one last time..."

(Zoozai)"I understand how you feel, I also wish to see my own wife again. She was unlike anyone else I had ever seen in a long, long time."

(Koozai)"Yes, she was such an interesting woman, definitely not one you see every day. We share so much in common, brother, almost identical, you know that?"

(Zoozai)"It appears that way at times, doesn't it?"

(Earth)

"♪ Arachnid Boy! Arachnid Boy! The thugs of New York are his toys! ♪"

(William)"So this is your favorite Earth show, huh?"

(Caram)"How couldn't it be?! A child who's part-spider fighting crime in New York, it's such a great concept! Not even that Renintah could top this!"

(Rasticore)"I'm more of a Man Bat guy."

(William)"The heck is Man Bat?"

(Rasticore)"A show about this bat, who's parents died from poachers, so he uses a robot suit that looks like a Human to keep others out of his forest."

(William)"...How'd he get a robot?"

(Rasticore)"Hell if I know, haven't read the comics yet."

(William)"Well anyway, Caram. I've been thinking about the marks on your cheeks, and they remind of my friend Star, and her mother, Moon. They're both Mewmans, and they have similar marks like you."

(Caram)"Really? Guess Spades was one of these 'Mewmans', she apparently had amnesia when my father met her. ...Say, William? Do you remember anything of your mother? I know you said she died when you were a year old, but do you have any memories of her, anything at all?"

(William)"Hm...now that you mention it, I do have some blurry memories about my mom from time to time. Nothing crazy, just average motherly stuff. I did somehow get these snake tattoos like she had some time after she was gone."

He showed the Oozai his mysterious markings.

(Caram)"Huh, that's odd."

(Rasticore)"Are they magic or somethin'?"

(William)"I don't really know, it's not like they can come off my skin and move around or anything."

(Caram)"But those are definitely something to see. Looks like we have a few things in common. We're both hybrids, we decided to live on Earth of all places, and we have marks like our mothers!"

(William)"Weird, ain't it? Kinda freaky when you think about it."

(Caram)"Yeah, it really is."

(I know I'm repeating myself, but I like the way I'm pacing this book. But action will begin soon, just another filler chapter or two left until I run out of ideas.)