She was a wandering soul, alone in the thick of the approaching storm, yet that did not deter her travels. She knew not exactly where she was heading, so long as it was far away from where she came. For some reason, this habit of running off when things got tough or complicated arose once more. Nothing, not even her baby sister, could stop her.

"Gwenda, wait!" Though much shorter and not in proper running attire, Lona eventually caught up to her sister before she crossed into the land of the Wastes - yet it wasn't until she forcibly pulled on Gwenda's arm and flung her around that she stopped in her tracks.

Gwenda fumed. "What, Lona? Any final comments from you or Kenta you'd like to add? I think I've had enough lecturing for one night, and I'd rather be alone."

"You can't go out there," Lona said, her breath labored and exhaustive, "Not on your own."

Gwenda breathed a laugh and crossed her arms. "What, you're coming with me?"

Lona shook her head. "Of course not. I have a family that needs me, and so do you." As much as she wanted to reprimand her sister for attempting such an idiotic and foolish journey, she knew that any more judgmental commentary would only result in pushing her further away.

Lona already lost her sister once; she abandoned her to be with Kenta and it took a war for them to reunite again. She didn't want to repeat history.

She relaxed her breathing, but couldn't calm the rapid heartbeat inside her chest. Lona's lips quivered as she said, "I don't want to wake up tomorrow hearing that something happened out there. We both know how dangerous these lands are. Is it really worth it?"

"Is it worth it to find some answers about how to save my husband?" Gwenda said with a snarky tone. "I'd say so."

"You don't have to find another fire demon to do that," Lona replied. "I know you love Calcifer, but there has to be another way to help him. Demons of any kind are not trustworthy."

"Well when you figure out a different way, I'd love to hear it."

Lona scrunched her nose, watching her sister's stubbornness completely overtake her. She was blind to any other perspective - it was no surprise she and Kenta hardly got along. They were too similar to one another, and it brought out the worst in them.

"Fine." Lona finally said. She threw her hands up, accepting defeat. "Don't listen to me. You're gonna do what you want anyway, so why should I even bother."

She stood still for a while, as if she were waiting for a response or for Gwenda to actually change her mind. Maybe deep down inside, she knew how desperate this endeavor was. Hopefully soon, she would realize this and just stay home for the night.

Yet Gwenda didn't move, nor did she speak. There was no stopping her once she had a plan set in motion.

Lona sighed. "Just be safe and don't do anything stupid." Gwenda watched as her sister slowly turned around, her direction headed back home. And as quickly as she had come, she was gone.

It wasn't that her sister was wrong. Now that Gwenda was alone and had relinquished the remainder of her frustrations, the biting wind and harrowing night were eerily clear. This would be her first solo attempt at travelling through the Wastes. She would be lying if she said it hadn't made her rethink this impromptu venture.

Yet returning to that cottage knowing very well Kenta would be sitting there with his arrogant smirk - Gwenda would rather push through the unknown that lay ahead.

Her strides were long and her feet pressed deep into the dirt path that turned rocky as she approached the uphill trail toward the Wastes. She had almost forgotten her chosen direction until she nearly tripped on the protruding stones that lined the way. Gwenda leaned forward to balance herself, breathing a sigh of relief - it had been a while since she needed to navigate this environment, and she had never done it alone.

She shivered as the wind picked up. Even though her coat covered her bare arms, the strength of the wind was too persistent. Gwenda couldn't even see the farming village anymore. The higher she climbed, the more that the hills and mountains seemed to grow like wildflowers. An amateur like her had no chance in the fickle nature of the Wastes.

A bolt of lightning shocked her as it struck a nearby mountain. She saw the light dance in the sky and the outline of its curves remained in her view as she refused to break her gaze. The high-reaching and far-stretching rocks were too peculiar not to remember its title and reputation.

Seren Saethu.

"Maybe this was a stupid idea," Gwenda said aloud. "But it's not like I can just go back."

The thought of Kenta made her heart boil with anger. It amazed her how he could unearth her most regretful moments and use it as warfare against her now. After all their fights and disagreements, none had ever ended in such a way. They had their differences, that much was fairly obvious. But more than anything, Gwenda had changed so much of who she used to be that it didn't seem like there was anything else to fight about.

Gwenda huffed. "I've changed. He's the one still stuck in his old ways." Though these were truths she believed, it didn't do any good saying them out loud in the middle of nowhere.

At that thought, she chuckled. "Great. Now I'm talking to myself." At least it was better than holding these thoughts hostage. For some time, she felt that any burden she had would overpower the real issues of others, especially Calcifer.

Now that she was in her solitude, she could say whatever was on her mind.

"I'm tired of being useless," she continued, "I have a husband I love more than life itself and there is absolutely nothing I can do to help him. Nothing I say or do makes anything better, it just makes everything worse. Maybe I am just a worthless human who got lucky."

She stared at the ground and exhaled a heavy breath. Kenta actually wasn't entirely wrong about how little she cared to know about Calcifer's magic - at least within the last few years. Everything was so lively and exciting in the beginning, and for a while Gwenda was surprisingly enchanted and mesmerized by his talent. Her eyes lit up like the sparks of his fire whenever he would cast a captivating spell, and it was like living a new, mystical dream every single day.

It was simple at first - quite easy, actually - just watching his spellcasting or potion-making in the beginning stages of their shop. Once he tried teaching her about these things, however, it was like struggling through school all over again. His words, the motions, needing everything to happen exactly the same every time - even though she couldn't physically cast such spells, he still expected her to understand their origins. As much as she hated to admit it, she felt lost in the dark, practically learning a new language with the words he spoke.

The sky grumbled and roared, though no droplet of rain fell yet. It was only a matter of time until the onslaught ensued and yet, Gwenda fell deaf to the crackles as she slowly began to understand Calcifer's distance. Now, she recognized how little he asked her to mind their shop or aid in his potion-making. It had been months since she even stepped into his private craftsman workshop.

Gwenda scrunched her eyes shut, the painful remembrances only now resonating in her heart. Maybe she had been losing Calcifer for longer than she originally thought. It wasn't like she could cast these spells or make these potions, but all this time he was inviting her into his life. There was so much she didn't know about his identity or the life he lived before her, and she eventually lost interest in finding the answer.

Not anymore, she thought.

Thunderclouds roared in a heavy rage, though none could match that of Gwenda's as she held fists at her side. The stars were hidden behind this terrorizing storm, yet she knew they were constantly observing all that occurred below. They were created to grant wishes; they were created to live thousands of years in a blissful state; and they were created to fall from the sky, no intention of ever receiving a second life.

She directed her attention to those covered from sight. "You want to help me? You want to help anyone other than your own selfish lives? Take me to someone who can help him. All you stars in the sky should know who Calcifer is at this point, so maybe cut him some slack!"

No reply. The storm clouds covered the twinkling lights of the night and nothing was in sight. She could barely see the path in front of her. It's not like the stars could reply if they had heard her, nor would they even bother with the likes of an insubordinate human. They hardly even aided their fellow magicians.

Her lips trembled in the chilling air. Calcifer was different from these selfish stars. There was no denying that he had his moments of self-centered thinking and egotism, but he wasn't like them. However, those were simply rumors she had been told over the years that solidified into her idea of the truth. If Calcifer went against the stereotype of the selfish stars in the sky, then there had to be more.

There had to be more fallen stars who survived and transformed into demons - maybe even human. And though her sister was right about the dangers of interacting with demons, she loved her husband more to at least gamble on it.

She believed they existed. Now, she just had to find one.

Her mind traveled around the world thinking of all the places she might find one. Though it was likely some lived in the Wastes, she didn't trust their intentions to be good. Even after the fall of Madame Suliman, her loyal goonies still roamed the land with their shameful malice. This was their territory, and she was merely an unwanted visitor.

She needed a fire demon untainted by this world.

Gwenda rolled her eyes and smiled. There was always Howl's old home. A land without magic, yet somehow magicians like Howl were born to such a place - what a strange and peculiar world, she thought. She knew absolutely nothing of this land, yet somehow it crossed her mind and refused to be forgotten.

What was the name Calcifer had said? Whale, like the marine animal… or was it plural? Whales? It didn't seem like the name of a real place, but he did say something like it.

She chuckled again. "Yeah, because Howl probably knew tons of wizards in a world without magic."

How different things might have been in a land without magic, she thought. Her mind drifted to a life she'd never known, a life filled with boring normalcy. No wizards battling for power, no magicians with skill beyond those born unlucky - it almost seemed like a farfetched dream locked away in her past. Yet if Howl could come from such a world and have magic inherent in him, then there must have been more.

Maybe even wizards who saved a star from death.

She shrugged. "Well, whatever this place is - Whale or Whales - I wish there was a way to get there." It's not like she had the magic to bring her out of Ingary, let alone these desolate Wastes. If she were to get anywhere, Gwenda needed some mystical assistance.

A sharp snapping sound startled her and she turned around in a swift motion. Gwenda scanned her surrounding areas, checking every bush and tree and boulder for an intruder. Her heart pumped faster inside her chest as the cracking of twigs and branches persisted. The air seemed colder and the darkness more frightening.

Something was out here in this looming storm.

Gwenda thought of running and never looking back, but that would only make her more lost than she already was. The storm clouds blackened and faint droplets began to fall, making it more difficult for her to find this drifter that hid in the shadows.

She gulped. "Wh-Whoever you are, I'm not looking for trouble. I-I know my way around, so you can just get lost." Even though she wasn't convinced by her own words, she hoped the message was clear.

The rustling continued and she bolted her eyes, scanning every inch of her surroundings. There was nothing but dead trees and withered shrubs. Whatever it was couldn't be so large as to overtake her if it hid well beneath the shriveled landscape. She stared intently around her until she found the only outlier - a pair of young, scarlet red eyes hidden in the depth of the brush.

Gwenda relaxed her muscles and sighed. "Wynnie, I can see you."

A sense of relief washed over Gwenda as her little niece emerged from her hideout. A short girl with childlike wonder, Wynne rubbed her bare arms and shivered as the raindrops lightly fell upon her skin. As smart as she was, she had mistakenly forgotten to bring proper outerwear.

"You're gonna get a cold without a jacket." Gwenda removed her coat and wrapped the heavy corduroy around her niece and watched as she immediately felt at ease even as the coat crumpled at the bottom. Despite that, she was more concerned with her being this far from home in the first place. "What do you think you're doing? How did you even know I was out here?"

Wynne exhaled quick breaths into her hands and rubbed them together. "I was worried about you being out here all alone."

"Yes, but how-" She stopped, now noticing Wynne's discouraged eyes as their bright energy seemed more dim than usual. Gwenda closed her eyes and winced. "You heard me talking with your parents, didn't you?"

Wynne stared off to the side, but nodded in reply. While Ryo and Griff were both cunning liars, she was terrible at keeping secrets. Though she only had a short glimpse of the fight, it was enough to feel worried about her aunt wandering off in a magician's world. A promising young witch herself, Wynne was a master at hiding yet a fool at lying.

Gwenda knelt down by her and grabbed her shoulders. "Your father and I… we don't always get along, and sometimes we take it out on each other. We just had an argument." There was no telling how much she heard, whether it was all the way from the start or later into their heated talk. No matter how much she witnessed, it was clear to see that she was not only shivering from the cold.

Wynne sniffled and finally looked her aunt in the eye. "Do you really not like people who have magic?"

Gwenda quivered and watched her niece's eyes light up with fear. The last thing she wanted was for such an angel to worry about inconceivable thoughts. While at times, Gwenda found magicians to be callous and cold, and growing up she didn't hold those same magicians in high regard, so much of the last few years had changed her heart in ways she never dreamed could happen. She finally released her grudge against those with magic.

Yet those who hurt her, those who used their magic specifically against her for torment and torture and manipulation - there was no forgiveness.

Gwenda embraced Wynne tightly, as if she could float away at any minute. "You know I love you, Wynnie. What you heard… I don't have the greatest history and I'm not proud of the things I've said before. There are still some things I'm working out, things that I never thought would weigh me down." She released the little girl for a moment, looking at her desperate eyes, and smiled. "I promise you - I could never hate people with magic."

Wynne's eyes glistened as she wrapped her arms around her aunt. Gwenda held on as if the ground would cave in and suck her down if she didn't. It pained her to see her niece so fearful of her own family turning against her. She never wanted her to feel that way ever again.

Wynne released her embrace and stood tall. "I want to help you."

Gwenda widened her eyes. "Um, what?"

"You said you were looking for a fire demon to help Uncle Calcifer. I want to help you find one."

Gwenda couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, kid, that's not happening. I'm taking you home."

"But-"

"No buts," Gwenda interrupted, "I appreciate that you care so much, but this is something I need to do on my own. This is not the type of adventure for a child."

"But-"

"What did I say about buts?" Wynne curled her lips to one side and crossed her arms. There was no denying her determination, and while it would be helpful to have a magician guiding her, Wynne was far too young and inexperienced.

Gwenda held out her hand, and Wynne reluctantly snatched it in her own. As they started walking back, however, the winds began turning against them.

Gwenda held her arms forward, but without her coat, the wind flew directly through her. She stepped ahead of Wynne in order to catch most of the current, but even still her niece had her own battle against the changing whirlwind.

"The weather is getting really bad!" Wynne shouted. "I've never seen it like this before."

"I know!" Gwenda replied, "Don't worry, I'm gonna-"

Before she could finish, a large beast appeared in the sky out of nowhere. The two stood shellshocked at the immense size, even from way up high. His form was bulky and strong, and his figure lit up in front of the crackle of lightning that ran through the air and struck down with a shriek.

This beast was no stranger, however, and Gwenda was not prepared for another struggle with him.

His fur was a golden brown as he became more lucid once he neared the ground. His sharp claws scratched at the stony rocks, and he landed with a heavy thud. His glowering eyes were like staring at a familiar monster, with the same hate and rage as was expected. It had been years since she witnessed this form, though this time they weren't on a mission to find Lona.

Wynne trembled behind Gwenda, which was surprising. Had she never seen her father's gryphon form? Her shaky arms and tear-filled eyes forced Kenta to return to his normal state, yet it was clear Wynne was unbearably terrified. While he felt all of his sympathy for her, his anger toward Gwenda was still very much existent.

"I cannot believe you!" Kenta shouted against the thrill of the storm. "It's one thing to ask your sister to join you on this suicide mission, but to involve my daughter?"

Gwenda waved her hand rapidly in between them. "I didn't ask her to come - either of them. Wynne followed me."

"And what were you planning to do?" He continued as if he hadn't heard her. "Use her magic to somehow find a fire demon? She's a child!"

"But I wasn't going to-"

"This is an impossibly dangerous journey, Gwendolyn. You have no idea how furious I am right now!"

Gwenda rolled her eyes. "I think I can imagine."

Kenta held a violet letter in his hand, scrunching its pristine edges in his grip. "I originally came to return this back to you. Whatever you do is your business, but I will not let you take my daughter with you."

Gwenda groaned over the cyclone that hovered around them. "Are you even listening to me? I told you I didn't ask her to-"

"Ah!" In a quick and unforgiving moment, a stray bolt of lightning targeted them and struck the ground by Wynne's feet. What should have left a burning scar on the mountainside instead forged a stranger and more terrifying creation, one that attempted to entirely swallow the little witch.

"Wynne!" Kenta dropped the letter and reached for his daughter, but the swirling oval spun in a whirling confusion of slimy green that spun at a faster speed than their eyes could fathom. The only thing holding her back was Gwenda's swift grasp as she clutched onto her frail arm with one hand and a sturdy branch with the other.

"Hold on!" Kenta pulled Gwenda's midsection toward him, striving to reel them both back to safety, yet the spinning, sucking, and strangely mystifying opening had far more gumption and desire for this to occur. "It's a portal. It's trying to take us in!"

"Daddy! Aunt Gwenda! I can't hold on!" Gwenda could feel her tiny fingers slipping through; they were running out of time. It was so sudden and happened so fast before she even realized that there was nothing left to grasp and her hand was instead reaching for thin air.

Wynne had completely fallen within this bizarre portal, into such bleak obscurity.

"No!" In a desperate moment of quick decisiveness, both Gwenda and Kenta dove into the unknown green that lay beyond and away from the comfort of their native world. The harsh whirlwind swooshed and thrashed for a few moments longer until the swirling, slimy portal gradually diminished into a smaller circle, lessening its size and speed until the typical, desolate land of the Wastes had returned to normal.

The winds began to cease; even the clouds had spread out sparsely across the sky. The air was quiet and dull, not a soul to be heard save for the occasional howling of the creatures of the night.

And a violet letter, still left unopened, lay perfectly on the dirt path - not a scratch, not a wrinkle, not even a tiny crease.