Chapter 51 Returning

Rushing sensations occurred all around Celia's body as she was drawn out of the past back into the present. Once the memory was completely finished, and she was standing back in Kamark's room, an intense wave of nausea overtook her. She clutched her stomach, trying to keep the vomit from coming out. She failed.

"Okay, okay," Kamark said. He held Celia's hair back as she unloaded right on his floor. He turned toward Roy, who was also clutching his stomach. Not only that, but his head was spinning around, indicating that he was feeling dizzy. Kamark waved his wand, producing a vomit bucket for him.

"Th...thank…" Roy couldn't even say the words. He vomited into the bucket, causing Celia to feel even sicker.

Kamark sighed. "Memory spheres are...well, they require getting used to." He scratched the back of his head. "I probably shouldn't have shown you so much content at once."

Celia shook her head. "It's fine." At the very least, she had gotten some priceless information from the showcasing of the memories. Apparently, Roy agreed with her, as he stared at Kamark in amazement.

"So, you had a crush on Singe," he said. "You liked him and he...broke your heart."

Kamark nodded. "It was always something that I struggled to deal with."

"Understandable," Roy said. He looked like he wanted to say more, but was holding back. He probably didn't want to cause Kamark any unnecessary pain.

Celia, however, wasn't that sensitive. She had some unanswered questions left, questions that she felt was owed the answers to. "So, where did my Dad go?"

Kamark shook his head. "I don't know."

Celia bit her lip. Of course he didn't.

"Why did you decide to keep his room around, if you were hurt so badly by him?" she asked.

Kamark sucked in a breath. "Honestly, I have thought about getting rid of the room multiple times. I almost did recently; last week, as a matter of fact. I felt that I was holding onto the past for far too long, that if I wanted to truly forget, I needed to get rid of the room."

Roy took a step forward. "Except you didn't want to get rid of the past. Did you?"

Kamark shook his head. "No. Mostly because I am holding onto the vain hope that he'll come back, but also because it was because of him that Kambert is still alive. I feel that a sacrifice like the one that he made is one that should be honored."

Celia nodded. Her father...the more she learned about him, the more she began to...actually kind of like him. If this testimony, coupled with the testimony of Saliday was any indication, he was an amazing koopa. An amazing person. He had sacrificed so much, all without knowing if the sacrifices would be worth it in the end. After all, Kam had been a killer. He had been someone who, for all intents and purposes, deserved to die. If Singe loved a friend so much to give up his arm for them…

How much more would he love her, his biological daughter?

"Cee, are you okay?"

Celia hadn't even noticed it until Roy spoke up, but tears were flowing down her cheeks. She wiped them away, not even one hundred percent sure whether they were tears of sadness or tears of joy.

"I'm fine." She supposed that she was. If anything, the tears could be described as bittersweet more than anything else. "I'm just fine."

Kamark nodded. He took a step toward the memory sphere and sighed. "Not a day goes by where I don't miss him. Some of the memories that I have gathered when he was present are still some of the happiest in my life." He stroked the unactivated memory sphere. "I still love him. I can't help it."

"And you have every right to," said Roy. "He did so much for you."

Kamark paused. Celia noticed a tear running down his cheek. It was just one tear, but even Celia could tell that there was much emotion attached to it. So much pain that had been held back for years, buried underneath a boatload of sterness and distraction.

"Kamark…" Kamark turned toward her, and she smiled at him. "Thank you. Thank you for all that you have done."

Kamark actually smiled. "You're welcome, Miss Patch. You deserve a chance to get to know your father, even just a little bit."

Celia's smile grew bigger. "I certainly did learn about him." She focused on one of the memories, the memory where they had started the monty mole hunting tradition. "I had never heard his voice before. It...it was cool."

Roy laughed. "Heck yeah, it was." He approached and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I just wish we knew where he was. After all the trouble we went through to find him, it would suck if this was where we stopped."

Celia lowered her head. "Yeah."

Kamark, however, didn't look so dejected. He glanced toward the memory sphere, a contemplative expression on his face.

"I think I might be able to help with that."

Celia looked up and blinked. "Really?"

Kamark nodded, his eyes glued to the magical artifact. "This memory sphere can do more than just look at my memories." He pulled out his wand. "Observus pastel Singe destinus." The memory sphere glowed a milky, pearly bluish white. He sighed and placed his hands on the sphere. Celia didn't know how long this would take, but she was surprised by how quickly he returned. Within less than a minute, Kamark was out of the memory and wobbling.

"Kamark, are you…"

Kamark held up his hand to silence Roy. "I'm fine. I'm used to this." He looked dead straight at the two of them. "I know where he is. However…" his eyes grew somber. "The location is a dangerous one. If I were to teleport you there, I cannot guarantee that you would be able to get out of it alive."

Celia insides felt even queasier than before. She looked up at Roy, who stared at Kamark cautiously.

"But...he's there, right? He's alive?"

"Yes. But, again, I don't know if you'll be able to find him. The Forest of Illusion is very treacherous."

Celia's eyes grew wide. "The...the Forest of Illusion?"

"Yes. One of the most dangerous places in the Mushroom World. Haunted by lost spirits and enchanted to the point where no map would be able to guide you." Kamark looked down at her. "If I send you there, then you would need to stay as close to each other as possible."

Celia felt shivers run down her spine. If this place was as dangerous as Kamark said it was, was going there really worth it?

Oh, who was she kidding? Her father was there! It was most certainly worth it.

She exchanged a look with Roy. Despite the fear that he had showed when Kamark mentioned the forest, one look into her face told her that he was willing to accompany her wherever she went. He faced Kamark. "I promise I will take care of her to the best of my ability."

Celia nodded. "And I him."

Kamark sighed. "Alright." He took out his wand. "Then good luck, you two." He waved his wand. "Teleportus Forest of Illusion!"

AN: We're in the home stretch everyone! This story is almost finished!