Varian stopped in his tracks as he felt some ominous presence.

Zhan Tiri, he thought.

The young alchemist shook his head. It could not be. Him and his friends defeated her years ago. So he decided to venture on.

Then Varian heard a familiar voice. He gasped. "At last!" he exclaimed. "I've found you, Mom!"

A figure of an old woman emerged out of the shadows. "Oh, what a pleasant surprise," she said. "If it isn't Quirin and Ulla's son!"

Varian looked at her in confusion. "Ulla? I know that I'm Quirin's son, alright. He's my father!"

"I know that, you nitwit!" she growled. "I've seen you grow up because I used to be your mother's research partner."

Varian took out a picture of his mother and this old woman. Indeed the two were smiling while doing alchemy together. Looking at the picture was heart wrenching for Varian, tears streaming down his face.

He ran over to hug her. "Donella, it's you! It's really you!" he exclaimed. "You don't know how happy I am to see you!"

Donella pushed him away, but Varian kept coming back.

"What happened between you two? Why did you become so hostile?" Varian said.

Donella smiled cunningly. "Why wouldn't I? Ulla has been hiding secrets from me for so long!"

"That doesn't give you the right to do what you're doing now," Varian said. "Donella, please! I'm sure Mom had her reasons!"

"There was no reason to hide! Do you even remember how close we once were?" Donella roared. "We promised to never keep secrets from each other. You call that 'she had her reasons'?"

"OK. I get it. You've known Mom longer than I have," Varian said. "But I still don't get why you're going down a path which you can change right now!"

"Don't think that'll work on me," Donella said. "Your girlfriend was naive! She fell for your tricks!"

"I assure you, they aren't tricks!" Varian cried, holding out his hand. "Donella, I swear it's not too late."

Donella slapped Varian's hand. "Hugo, annihilate him!"

"Let me get the seven totems. Then we'll talk," Hugo said.

Varian looked at them. "Seven totems? What do you mean?"

"Enough of this!" Donella roared. "Just do what you came to do, Hugo! I'm out!"

Donella left.

"So, what does that mean for us?" Hugo asked.

"Don't talk to me," Varian said. "It's worse that you're working for her. I'm starting to think she's a lost cause."

"That's 'cause she is," Hugo said. "And what that means is that you and your little friend there won't be able to redeem me that easily. Good luck trying." He smiled, maliciously with a scoff-like chuckle. "I'll see you at the Enchanted Library, scum!"

Varian glanced at Ruddiger. "I know he can't be trusted, but for some reason, I think he has a chance. So I guess I've just gotta try."

He picked up Ruddiger and placed the raccoon on his shoulders. "Off we go," he said. "Again. Hopefully we find those totems before Hugo does."

Ruddiger showed his approval.

So off they went.