Ludo, Iggy and Seth rise early the next morning to gather once more. Seth brings the two into Cerebra to make a statement as well as an apology.
Seth: Ludo, it appears as though I have unfortunately led you astray in your training.
Ludo: How so?
Seth: I've failed you in my teachings.
Ludo: No you haven't. Seth, your magic is amazing, and I have faith in you.
Seth: Thanks kid, that's sweet. But it appears as though I've misdirected you in regards to the method of dipping down. I had forgotten a crucial element in the events that have led to my very own dip down. I failed to mention to you that my son's death was not what had triggered my dip down. It was remembering my wife.
Ludo: You had a wife, Seth?
Seth: Yes. Her name was Lilian. She was my Dragonlily. Back then, I was a nobody. I joined the reptilian military as a young cadet so I could see the world, and I clowned around, purposefully getting myself transferred just so I had the opportunity to do just that. I never did anything major enough to get myself totally kicked out, but I just rode the line, ya know? I got 'em just mad enough to get rid of me. When I heard of this "Lilian", I figured, what poor soul of a man must have that unfortunate of a name? But no, the one heading the camp was this dark, fierce warrior woman named Lilian, the most beautiful creature I had ever seen in my life.
She wiped the floor with me, but I'd get up to beg her to do it again. Her combat was incredible, unlike anything I ever saw a man get away with. She was like a living bolt of lightning. You wouldn't see her. She'd just strike and you were dead. Long story short, I weeded my way into her good graces, and eventually, I took over the camp, married her, and she was even pregnant with my son, Enos. But then, SHE came... the Queen of Fire. I think you know where it goes from here. My point is, Ludo. I want you to dip down, and this time, it's not enough to have that intense fear. You must feel the love as well. I want you to think about her, how you truly feel about her, how you would do anything for her.
Ludo: Okay.
Ludo sits Indian style on the ground. Seth joins in, and Iggy insists on just observing with his own clipboard. Ludo pictures himself in a familiar place, the unconscious void of his mind, except, instead of Glossaryck, it's Jade that's there. Jade just floats there. Her arms are folded and Ludo looks at her with sorrow as she avoids him.
Ludo (Mind): I never meant to hurt you. I wish I could just go back in time, and undo everything. I would give anything, at this point, just to see you happy. I would live through my own turmoil again if it only meant that I could rid you of yours. I'm so sorry, Jade.
She just keeps looking away. Her expression changes from anger, to hurt. Ludo is trying to imagine Jade in his mind, but he honestly, doesn't truly know how she'd react to him. He finds it hard to write dialogue for her in his mind.
Ludo (Mind): It's weird really, how karma works. You go and do things, and step on people, and for the longest time there are no consequences, but what you do, no matter how small, it affects people, in ways, both good and bad. The smallest acts can make the biggest differences in peoples' lives, and you showed me that. It's because of you that I stay up a lot, thinking about the things I've done in the past, how I've used people, and how I've stepped all over them to get what I want. It's because of that, I hurt people that care about me, or at least, those I think care about me.
I used to think the world just hated me for who I am, like I'm the world's personal punching bag, but I know now, that I truly am an awful, wretched person that's given nobody any reason to show any sympathy for me. All I have going for me is that I'm small. People tell me I'm cute. They treat me like a kid, and all I've ever seen that as was a bad thing. But you can't just be tall. You can't control any of those things. But it doesn't make you a bad person. Maybe there are benefits to being small. Maybe it means that when someone caresses you, it's the most warming. Maybe it means that life can continue to be an adventure, even into your adulthood. Maybe it could be fun, never experiencing the dull trivial nature of being a grownup.
I'm just rambling. I don't want to stop talking because if I do, you might leave. I don't want you to leave. But maybe, that's my own selfishness. Maybe... maybe it would be better for you to forget about me. Maybe you can find that happiness on your own, knowing the truth now. I know now that it was never about me confessing to a crime so that I could feel better, but confessing for my crime so that YOU could feel better. I suppose I'm just glad that you can finally heal now. I love you, Jade.
Ludo doesn't know why, but as he sits there, his claws are digging into his palms with great intensity, so much that he is actually bleeding from the hands onto the ground.
Seth: I can feel it, radiating off of him. Let it loose, Ludo. Let it all bleed out.
In that instant, Ludo opens his eyes, and it is almost like time has frozen. He feels a massive heat, surging through his body, like flames erupting through his veins, channeling like lightning, and with that, Ludo rises into the air, filling it with an emission of green energy. Lightning, fire, and radiant heat emits from every visible socket of Ludo's body. Channels burn the ground, digging up rocks. Seth moves out of the way, looking on in awe of what he is witnessing. Iggy has to shield his face, and at once, notices his coat has been set ablaze by the violent energy emitting from Ludo. Iggy takes off his coat, desperately stomping into the fire.
The whole ordeal lasts nearly 10 seconds before Ludo runs out the clock and the energy is spent. He looks at the ground, gasping for breath and sweating profusely. Seth goes to put his hand on Ludo to see if he is okay, but as soon as he touches him, he is as hot as a sword fresh out of molten metal. Ludo looks at his hands to find that the channel had disintegrated the feathers off his palms. He can't even explain the feeling he has just experienced. He feels like he'd just been microwaved, but somehow, not in any actual pain, just... hot. Ludo rises to his feet.
Ludo: What... was that?
Seth: Congratulations, Ludo. You just dipped down... and it was AMAZING! Man, I really missed out getting to only see that stuff from the first person perspective. No wonder that Glossaryck was shaking in his little robes when I first performed my own. If this is anything to go by, I'm surprised I didn't wreck the room.
Ludo: Quick, Seth, conjure something up. I have to be sure.
Seth: Very well.
Seth holds out his hand and conjures from thin air, a very heavy sphere. The sphere slams into the ground before him, rolling to to equilibrium at the center of mass.
Seth: Give it a whirl.
Ludo: Levitato!
The ball rises, high into the air.
Seth: Holy cow, look at it go! Now Ludo, do you know what to do_
Ludo: Descendo!
Seth: Get out of the way!
The trio move out of the way of the ball that was heads straight for the ground, making a small crater.
Seth: Ha ha ha! Wow!
Ludo: I did it! I did it! I did it!
Ludo jumps into Seth's arms and throws them around him, taking Seth completely off guard. Seth smiles, placing his hand on Ludo's head and scuffing his feathered hair, before giving him a noogy. Seth holds Ludo out before him like a small child, looking up at him with a big smile.
Seth: How does it feel, kid?
Ludo: It feels amazing! I feel so powerful now!
Seth puts Ludo down and he runs over to Iggy.
Ludo: Iggy, did you see it? I performed my first wandless magic! Wasn't it amazing?
Iggy: It sure was.
Ludo: Oh, Iggy. I am so sorry about your lab coat.
Iggy: Ah, don't sweat it. This old coat of mine's been through a lot worse than you. It'll survive.
Seth leans into Ludo.
Seth: Mostly because he's had it for over 300 years and won't just throw the damned thing in the trash.
Iggy: Oh, ha ha. I'll tell you what, find a guy that makes lab coats like these and I'll get a new one.
Seth: Iggy, if you wanted a new coat all you had to do was say so. I could hook you up with my tailor in a jiffy. I mean, just look at how spiffy Ludo looks now.
Iggy: No thanks. I've grown attached to this ratty old coat. If you get me a new one it'll be all starchy and stiff, and I don't like that.
Seth: Whatever. Anyway, Ludo, you remember those spells I told you about?
Ludo: I remember Star's spells. It's pretty hard to forget when you have a unicorn tread on you, leaving horse-shoe prints in your body.
Seth: Ouch! Alright then. You stand over there, and send me what you got.
Ludo: Okay then... uh... Narwhal Blast!
Seth: Titan Tower Shield!
The Narwhal launches and slams right into Seth's magical tower shield, with him facing only slight recoil. The Narwhal lands on the ground with its tongue flapping out before evaporating.
Seth: I saw that one coming from a mile away.
Ludo: Sorry, Seth. I'm not very good at remembering stuff like spells.
Seth: Well, when in doubt, you could always just make your OWN spells.
Ludo: Make my own spell? I WANNA MAKE MY OWN SPELL!
Ludo becomes positively giddy at the idea of making a spell to call his own.
Ludo: I wanna make a spell!... Oh, uh... How do I do that?
Seth: You just make one up.
Ludo: Really? That's it?
Iggy: Remember Ludo, I conjured a single spell and I just made it up.
Seth: Yeah, it works plenty fine for me.
Ludo: Hm... I gotta make it a good one...
Ludo paces back and forth. Seth just stares at him.
Seth: We haven't got all day, Ludo.
Ludo: Hold on! I'm trying to make it a good one. It's my first spell, after all. I want it to be special.
Seth: Use that imagination of yours.
Ludo: You know, Glossaryck never told me what that was.
Iggy: It's one's ability to utilize creativity in order to invent new concepts. Trust me Ludo, knowing you, you not only have an imagination, but a very vivid and creative one. Just think like a kid. Be creative.
Ludo: Be creative... OH! I know! Really Big Chainsaw Piranha!
Seth: What in the world?
Before Seth spawns a massive bipedal piranha with chainsaw teeth, lunging straight at him.
Seth: Vengeful Dragoon Knight!
Before Seth spawns an armored figure with a massive lance, impaling the chainsaw fish, both spells disintegrate.
Ludo: Hey! You killed my chainsaw fish! That wasn't very nice!
Seth: Well, now that I know that you have the same design philosophy as Star of making completely randomized spells, I understand a little more what to expect from you from this moment forward.
Ludo: Oh no! I don't want to become predictable! Ember Blast!
Seth: Snowman Bodyguard!
The fireball smashes right into the stoic snowman's chest, disintegrating his snowy chest but stopping right before Seth.
Seth: Man, what a weak fireball.
Ludo: Lightning Lance! Molten Meteor! Ice Crystal Attack! Acid Assault!
Seth utilizes nothing more than his keen agility to dodge attacks.
Seth: Wearing out your opponent?
Seth can see Ludo is growing quite fatigued, and out of breath.
Seth: Or, are you tiring yourself? Dormis Discharge!
That next shot smacks Ludo right in the chest.
Iggy: Oh no! What did you do to him?
Seth: Relax, Igg, it's a sleep spell. Kid's out cold. It's obvious to me that he needs it. I could see it in his eyes he hasn't been getting all that much sleep the last couple of nights. He'll wake up feeling fresh as the dewy morning air.
Seth grabs Ludo off the floor and throws him over his shoulder like a tyke. He and Iggy head back through the portal, upstairs into Seth's office where he and Iggy depart. Two guards come running up to Seth.
Seth: What's the hurry, boys?
Guard 1: It's the prisoners! Lord Brudo and the crocodile have escaped!
Seth: What?! You imbeciles better be tracking them down!
Guard 2: Should we be speaking of this around our "guest"?
Seth: Oh, him?
Seth holds Ludo upside down by the leg. He's still out like a light, with drool rolling down his beak.
Seth: He can't hear a word. He's in full sleep-mode.
Guard 1: Another thing, Father, there was another.
Seth: Someone let them out? What did he or she look like?
Guard 2: Small orange reptilian, not directly Septarian, red hair, about 3 feet in height.
Seth: Anything else? Did this reptilian have a wavy red comb of hair and horrible teeth?
Guard 1: Yeah, how did you know?
Seth: I know everything. How many times do I have to tell you morons? Now FIND THEM!
Seth holds up Ludo's completely wiped body in front of his face.
Seth: Jeez, I'm starting to sound like you.