When Sucrose opened her eyes, she found herself standing on the bank of a river. She didn't know that place, nor how she had arrived there. She tried to remember the last thing she had done, but she couldn't concentrate. She looked around. Upstream there was a waterfall. On the bank beside it there was a person filling a canteen with the falling water. Sucrose walked towards that person. She couldn't see their face because their head was covered by a hood. She could only tell that they had short height, and that their clothes were quite dirty and shabby. When Sucrose got close enough, she beheld that that person was wearing a belt with a pouch on their waist. Sucrose recognized that pouch: it was the very same which she was wearing on her right thigh, albeit that person's was less worn away.

At that moment, that person put the canteen away and turned around, coming face to face with Sucrose. Although her little pink hair she could see was disheveled and she wasn't wearing her signature glasses, Sucrose recognized her: it was Dori. Before Sucrose had time to say anything, Dori ran towards her. Sucrose was unprepared and didn't move away on time. However, they didn't bump into each other; Dori had run through her as if she were a ghost. In fact, it seemed like Dori had ever noticed her at any time. All of a sudden, all of her surroundings began to vanish amidst a blinding white light.

The first thing Sucrose felt when she came to her senses was that her whole body was in terrible pain. She opened her eyes with great difficulty. What she saw just after doing so was Dori's face without glasses, which was just a few inches from hers.

"Sucrose! You're awake!"

"D-Dori?…"

Sucrose lay on a bed made of leaves, on the floor of a tiny house. Everything there, from the utensils, which were made from branches and leaves, to the furniture, like the table or the actual bed, were meant for somebody who was not even half a meter tall, like an Aranara. They were inside a Vana. Sucrose tried to sit herself up, but Dori stopped her dead in her tracks.

"Don't even think about it!" she shouted. "We don't know the full extent of your injuries yet!"

"Injuries?…" Sucrose then remembered. "That's right… We fell down a cliff."

"No, I fell down; you jumped off after me," Dori corrected. "Seriously, what were you thinking!?"

Dori was speaking without her usual eccentric tone. Sucrose looked her in the eyes. Dori's eyes were red and swollen, and underneath them there were tear stains. It was evident to her that Dori had been weeping bitterly.

"I'm sorry for worrying you…" Sucrose apologized.

"No. If somebody has to be sorry here, it's me," Dori refuted. "I should be thanking you for saving my life, but instead… But I was so scared. I was scared that… that you…"

Dori began to whimper and her eyes filled with tears again. She hugged Sucrose tenderly. Sucrose caressed Dori's head with her right hand. Now she knew that she could move that hand, at least. A few minutes later, Dori calmed down and let go of Sucrose.

"By the way, Dori, where are your glasses?"

"My pince-nez?" Dori specified while drying her tears. "I gave them."

"To who?"

"To the owner of this house, as thanks for his help."

Sucrose was flabbergasted. She already knew what that house's owner was. The mere mention of it by Dori made many questions run through her head, all at once: how was possible that Dori could see them, when it had already been made clear that she could not; how did she react when she saw him; or how come she herself hadn't seen them yet; among many others. What had happened while she was unconscious? One of her questions was more or less answered when two Aranara entered the Vana. One was Araki; the other one had his same appearance, was of green color, and was wearing Dori's pince-nez.

"Arakuan is glad to see Nara Crows awake!" Arakuan, the green Aranara, greeted.

"So, your name is Arakuan?" Sucrose confirmed. "And what are you doing here, Araki?"

"Araki has come to visit sibling Arakuan for a few days," Arakie replied. "How is Nara Crows feeling?"

"Well… my whole body hurts, but not as much as it did when I just woke up. I don't think I have anything broken."

"Even so, we can't take any risk!" Dori objected. "For the time being, you will be resting!"

"In that case, while I rest, please tell me what happened while I was unconscious."

Dori wavered for a moment, as if something didn't fully convinced her; then, after letting out a sigh, she began to relate the events which had transpired:

The instant Sucrose hit the ground, she let go of Dori, who rolled away several full turns. Still, thanks to the fact that she had been shielded, Dori only got a little dizzy from the rolls. Dori staggered over to Sucrose, who lay face up, motionless. She was bleeding from several places, most of all from her head.

"Sucrose!" Dori shouted. "Respond!"

But Sucrose didn't even react. Dori fell on her knees and grabbed Sucrose's shoulders. She began to shake her.

"Sucrose! Please, respond! Open your eyes! This isn't funny! Say something! Come on! Sucrose!"

Dori screamed louder and louder, and her voice quivered more and more. She kept shaking Sucrose, who still didn't react whatsoever. Dori was becoming desperate. She let go of Sucrose. She was breathing heavily. She didn't know what to do, other than not being able to accept that that was happening. She felt powerless; for the first time in many years, she felt powerless. Her whole body began to tremble, and whimpers were coming out of her mouth. She couldn't take it any more; she began to cry. Her weeps were the only audible sound in the vicinity. She was so lost in her sorrow that she didn't notice that they weren't alone until the newcomers were around them and began to speak.

"It's Nara Crows!" Araki exclaimed.

"Nara Crows!"

"Nara Crows is hurt!"

"Let's help Nara Crows!"

Dori, with her sight blurred due to her tears, looked around and saw many small creatures of different shapes and colors. Her loud scream might have been heard throughout the whole rainforest.

"What are you supposed to be!?" she shrieked. "Spirits from beyond the grave!? Have you come to take Sucrose away!?"

"Little big Nara, please stop screaming," Araki asked. "You aren't letting Aranara sing."

"Ara…?"

Just then, every Aranara present began to sing a pleasant melody, albeit unintelligible for Dori. As they sang that melody, their surroundings changed. The blue midday sky was replaced by a dark purple one, and in the air a violet mist appeared. Plants and flowers never seen before appeared all over the vegetation; not even Dori knew about those. The Vana and the streetlight-plants lit up. Dori couldn't believe what had just happened. The whole place had a mystical air; no, oneiric would be a more appropriate term, for she had begun to think that she was dreaming.

"Now, we should take Nara Crows to a place where she can rest," a brown Aranara with a mustache and a walking stick spoke.

"Arakuan suggests Arakuan's house," Arakuan said. "Arakuan's house is the closest one."

"Araja accepts Arakuan's suggestion," Araja, the brown Aranara, agreed. "Nara Crows' well-being is top priority now."

One by one, all Aranara nodded to Arakuan's proposal. Then, they sang a different melody, albeit as unintelligible as the previous one. A green bubble surrounded Sucrose's body, raised it a few feet above the ground, and carried it to Arakuan's Vana, located only a few steps away. Arakuan entered it afterwards, followed by Araja and Araki. The other Aranara remained outside, looking inside as best as they could, and talking about that 'Nara Crows'. Dori, who had been until then just flabbergasted by everything which had happened, finished to set her thoughts in order and came back to her senses. She also went towards that Vana and asked the closest Aranara to her:

"Are you really the Aranara? The mythological creatures from the forest?"

The Aranara turned towards Dori. "Little big Nara is with Nara Crows, yes?" Then, he turned back towards the other Aranara. "Hey! Let little big Nara who is with Nara Crows in!"

Every Aranara moved aside, leaving a passageway in the middle. Dori entered Arakuan's Vana in a hurry. Inside, the three Aranara were shifting leaves stained by blood. They had cleaned Sucrose's blood, and Sucrose was no longer bleeding. Fortunately, Sucrose's clothes weren't stained, and thank goodness, because blood stains were quite difficult to remove. Arakuan approached Dori.

"Arakuan welcomes little big Nara to his house," he greeted her. "Nara Crows' wounds have already healed, but Nara Crows still needs to wake up. Arakuan happily offers his house for Nara to rest."

"Thank you very much," Dori replied, trying to keep herself calm and not to be overflown by joy. "By the by, by 'Nara Crows', do you mean Sucrose?"

"That's right," Araja affirmed. "Nara Crows is very famous among the Aranara, because she can see the Aranara despite being big Nara. Aranara looked forward to a visit from Nara Crows; it's a shame that it has been under these circumstances."

Araja went out to talk to the other Aranara. Dori had many questions for the two Aranara siblings, a great deal of questions, yet there was something else much more important to say first:

"I really am thankful to all of you for your help; especially to you, for offering us your house." Dori expressed her gratitude while trying to hold back any more tears, feeling immensely relieved. "I don't know how to thank you."

"Arakuan knows."

"And that's how I gave my pince-nez to Arakuan." Dori finished her story.

"What happened then?" Sucrose asked curiously.

"Many questions and answers. And also, some Aranara went to fetch the backpack we had left behind, on the cliff."

"That's right!" Sucrose realized. "Why can Dori see you now? And how come I couldn't when we arrived?"

"Araki doesn't mind explaining it all over again," Araki said.

The Aranara weren't invisible to the human eye per se; they used their powers to hide themselves and become imperceptible. Said powers weren't perfect, however, as they could still be seen by children, most likely due to the fact that children had the ability to dream, whereas adults had already lost it. Despite this, there have been a few exceptional cases in which an adult could see the hidden Aranara through their own means, Sucrose being one of them. That was the reason why Dori had seen them: they had stopped hiding to go to their aid.

As for why Sucrose couldn't see them in that place was because of a simple, yet complicated reason: the Aranara were there, and at the same time, they were not. Vanarana existed, as a matter of fact, in two distinct planes: Vanarana of Reality, where Sucrose and Dori had done their Whopperflower hunt; and Mahavanaranapna, or Vanarana of Dreams, where the Aranara lived. Both planes were separated from each other, and Vanarana of Dreams couldn't be perceived from reality, regardless of one's ability to dream. For that reason Sucrose saw nobody there. The only way to reach Vanarana of Dreams was by knowing and playing a specific melody of the Aranara: the Rhythm of the Great Dream, the melody sung by the Aranara before the environment changed. Sucrose had known nothing of that because good old Arake had forgotten to tell her.

"And were you sure to show up in front of Dori and bring us here?" Sucrose questioned. "I mean, you try not to be seen by anyone, do you?"

"Aranara were really scared for Nara Crows," Arakuan explained. "And Nara Dori was crying so much that Aranara didn't want to leave her alone."

"Thank you for recalling it…" Dori grumbled embarrassedly. "Still, think about it, Sucrose: if we told anybody about this, which is supposed to be a myth, how do you think they would react?"

Sucrose knew the answer very well. "They would consider us liars, or insane."

"Precisely. That's why I understand that you never said a word to me. And in my case, if I tried to do business with this, I'd be labeled as a fraudster, regardless of my reputation. So, I can't say anything even if I wanted to."

But Sucrose knew that Dori wouldn't say anything either way. She already knew her enough to know that, no matter how much she coveted money, she would never profit at the cost of others, even though her staggering prices didn't give that impression whatsoever. And besides, she had already seen how grateful Dori was to the Aranara for having come to their aid. The motive behind her question was that she was worried, worried that the Aranara might come to her aid each and every time something occurred to her, and show up in front of anybody, just like they had just done. Nothing happened this time, but she feared that they could be seen by somebody with ill intentions if they stopped worrying about themselves just for her sake. If that were the case, all she needed to do was simple: not to give the Aranara any reason to worry about her.

Now with her thoughts cleared up, Sucrose looked again at Dori, but the latter had turned away, and was now doing something with Araki and Arakuan. Sucrose leveraged their distraction to check her own body. First, she raised her arms and took her hands before her eyes. She moved her fingers. She didn't have any trouble doing so. Then, she moved her wrists, her elbows, her shoulders, and her whole arms. Nothing wrong. She palpated different parts of her body: her head, her ribs, her abdomen, her back, and her hips. Still nothing wrong. Then, she moved her legs. The same as before. She sat herself up. She had nothing out of the ordinary. She tried to stand up. She did so with much less difficulty than expected, as if she had never been hurt to begin with. Furthermore, she didn't feel any pain whatsoever any more. She didn't know what conclusions to draw therefrom, but she now knew the following: she was healed.

"How in the world…?"

Dori heard her and turned back. "Sucrose! What did I tell you about resting!?" she exclaimed when she saw her up.

"Nara Dori, please don't yell," Araki said. "Arakuan said it before: Nara Crows' wounds are already healed."

"You can't know that for sure! Her flesh wounds, yes, but we can't tell if she has any internal injury!"

"But Aranara can," Arakuan interceded. "Aranara can sense Nara Crows' life force, so Aranara can tell from it that Nara Crows is fully healed."

Sucrose was surprised, and full of curiosity. They could sense her life force? How was such a thing possible? Now that she recalled Dori's story, Dori never said that she had seen them treating her. Perhaps they had applied a mystical treatment of theirs to heal all of her injuries before Dori arrived. She looked at her whole body again; she hadn't noticed it before, but she didn't have any wound whatsoever, not even a scab. Sucrose looked again at Dori, who was staring back at her with a concerned expression. That gaze made Sucrose feel somewhat guilty.

"I really I'm fine now!" she jabbered. "Look! I can move without any trouble! And nothing hurts anymore!"

Dori kept staring at her with concern and mistrust. In the end, she relaxed her expression and let out a sigh.

"All right, I believe you. No point in waiting for you to heal if you are healed already," she said. "But! If you feel even the slightest pain, you let me know straight away! Is that clear?"

"C-crystal clear," Sucrose replied stutteringly. She had been made a little anxious by Dori's insistence. "C-can I go out? I'd like to get some fresh air."

Since Sucrose was supposed to be healed, Dori saw no motive to refuse; moreover, she also felt the need to get some fresh air herself, for she had moved away from Sucrose's side at no time. Dori took the backpack she had just been fixing with the Aranara siblings, and everybody exited Arakuan's Vana. Dori barely fit through the entrance gap of the Vana; Sucrose, however, had to crawl to get out.

Outside, the same purplish, misty, dreamlike ambience environment continued, yet for Sucrose, it was the first time she saw it. The scenery was the same as from the top of the cliff: the same lake with its rock, the same paths, the same Vana, and the same streetlight-plants. However, most Vana and the plants were now lit up; furthermore, she could also see some Aranara around. It was just like Araki had said: two completely different planes. No wonder why she couldn't see them before. Dori made a small comment in that regard:

"Everything is just like when we changed to this plane." She turned towards Araki and Arakuan. "Do you know what time it is?"

"Aranara don't have hours like Nara," Araki said.

"But it's moony outside, if that's what Nara Dori is asking," Arakuan added.

"Just wonderful…" Dori sighed exasperatedly. "Now we can't go home."

Sucrose knew from her own experience what it was like to venture into Sumeru's rainforest during nighttime. In addition, the palace was quite a distance from there, and to make things worse, everything was either muddy or inundated because of the rain. If Dori herself said that it wasn't a good idea, then there was nothing they could do: they would have to spend the night there. There was, however, a problem, there was not enough space to accommodate everybody inside Arakuan's Vana.

"Arakuan proposes that Nara friends go talk with chief Araja," Arakuan said. "Chief Araja may provide Nara friends a place to stay."

Araki and Arakuan guided Sucrose and Dori to Araja's Vana. It was located following an uphill path which crossed a tunnel towards another area. Along the way, they met with several other Aranara. Each and every one greeted Sucrose gamboling, and Sucrose happily waved back at them.

"You surely have a fan club, eh?" Dori teased.

"So it seems," Sucrose conceded blushingly. "Still, I confess that I'm a little scared that some might be all over me. Having one already is more than enough."

"Nara Crows is talking about sibling Arakom, yes?" Arakuan noted. "Arakom means no ill will; he's just too affectionate. Arakuan hopes that Nara Crows understands."

Sucrose was already aware of that, but she also wished that Arakom were a little more aware that being so effusive could be annoying to others. Still, she didn't want to be resentful at him for that.

Araja's Vana was finally at sight. It was a Vana much larger than the other ones, and the only one within that area. It was located on a mound surrounded by water. The path kept going right, skirting the water, and further uphill towards another tunnel.

They crossed the water by skipping on some flat rocks arranged as a walkway, and reached Araja's Vana's entrance. That entrance was also larger than those of a common Vana; Sucrose would only need to bend over in order to go through it. Araki and Arakuan sang both a short melody, and moments later, Araja came out, helping his tread with his walking stick. Both Sucrose and Dori wondered at the same time if that was the Aranara way of knocking at the door.

"Oh. So Nara Crows is finally awake," Araja greeted. "Araja is glad to see her well."

"Thank you for your concern," Sucrose replied politely, yet surprised by Araja's calm demeanor compared to the other Aranara.

"So, did you come all the way here to inform me about Nara Crows? Or did you need something from Araja?" Araja cut to the chase.

"We have something to ask chief Araja for, actually," Araki confirmed.

Araki and Arakuan explained the current situation of Sucrose and Dori.

"Araja sees," Araja nodded. "We have an empty Vana that hasn't been used for a long time. Nara friends can use it however they see fit."

"Really? You are doing us a great favor," Dori thanked happily.

"However, empty Vana is all dusty and messy. Can Araja ask Araki and Arakuan to tidy it up a little before Nara friends arrive?"

Araki and Arakuan looked at each other, and nodded at the same time.

"We are on it, chief Araja," Araki agreed.

"We will be waiting for Nara friends beside empty Vana," Arakuan informed.

Then, they both jumped into the ground. Sucrose had already seen that method before, when that blue Aranara used it to flee from her. She wondered whether that was their way to move around.

"Now, before Nara friends go to empty Vana, there is something I would like to show you," Arake said.

They crossed the water back, but instead of returning the way they had come, Araja pointed them to follow the path uphill towards the tunnel. However, that tunnel was, in reality, a cave this time, as it ended in a vast cavern after a long, winding passage. In the center of that cavern there was a giant, bulb-shaped lilac plant, with its leaves atop all spread out. That plant, just like Araja's Vana, was surrounded by water, although there was no method to wade across without getting one's feet wet this time. Sucrose and Dori remained at the shore, gawking at the plant in amazement.

"Have you ever seen something like this, Dori?" Sucrose asked.

"No, not even in tales. I think this cave doesn't even exist in the real world," Dori replied, still assimilating the sight before her eyes. "Araja, what is this?"

"This is the Tree of Dreams, Vanarana of Dreams can exist thanks to it," Araja explained. "It provides Aranara a place to stay in peace, undisturbed by devastation or bad Nara."

"Do you mean that this whole plane exists because of this tree?" Sucrose confirmed.

"That's right. Long ago, Aranara walked the earth and made friends with Nara and all living creatures. Until a disaster occurred many, many moons ago. Aranara lost their old Vanarana because of the disaster, but once the forest recovered its vitality, they made a new Vanarana and hid it inside a dream to protect it and themselves."

"Hold on a moment," Dori spoke. "If this plant is so important to you Aranara, then why are you showing it to us this nonchalantly?"

"Because Araja is aware of Nara Crows' story by Lord of Dendro. I wanted to show Nara Crows that losing her old home did not mean the end of everything. If Aranara can have a new home, so can you, Nara Crows."

In a sense, both stories shared a certain parallelism: losing their old home, and beginning a new life over somewhere else. Sucrose understood what Araja was trying to do: he wanted to encourage her. She was moved by his gesture. She would have raised him in her arms and hugged him like a plush if there weren't other Aranara present in the cavern. Instead, she thanked him with tenderness and sincerity. She then felt her arm being grabbed by Dori.

"You can be certain that she has one already, Araja!" Dori promised. "For she is a family member of the Palace of Alcazarzaray!"

Indeed she was. Although she still was quite reserved regarding specific moments, like bath time, she was already talking with almost everybody in the palace without many issues. There was still Goshtasb, to whom she still was a little shy, and Shaghayeh, with whom she had made no progress whatsoever yet. As for Dori herself, she recalled what Mandana had told her. Now wasn't a good time to ask her, though.

"Araja is pleased to hear that, Nara Dori," Araja said. "Now, I think we should return. Araki and Arakuan may have empty Vana ready by now."

Araja showed Sucrose and Dori towards the empty Vana, which was located on the opposite further end of the main area, at the other side of the lake. There, Araki and Arakuan were waiting for them. The Aranara waved energetically at them.

"Everything is all clean and tidy now," Araki announced.

"Araki and Arakuan have done a thorough job," Arakuan added.

"Araja is proud of you two," Araja nodded. "Now, Nara friends, we wish you a good sleep."

"Thank you very much," Dori said. "Still, if this Vana is always empty, why don't you rent it out?"

"What does Nara Dori mean by 'rent out'?"

Before Dori could say anything, Sucrose grabbed her and lifted her up in her arms while covering her mouth with her hand.

"Nothing! She means nothing! Just Dori things!" she gabbled. "Thank you so much for everything, really! See you tomorrow!"

The three Aranara bid them farewell happily and left. Once they were a little away, Sucrose put Dori down. Dori adjusted her hat and her clothes.

"Sometimes, you overthink everything; but some others… you don't think even once," she criticized.

"I couldn't help myself," Sucrose apologized. "It just seems to me that the Aranara don't know how the human world works, and honestly, I'd like to keep it that way."

Dori gave Sucrose a pat on her side and stuck her tongue out. From her face, it was obvious that she was just teasing her. They went inside the Vana. That Vana was, as Araja had said, empty: it only had a table and a bed. They dined the sandwiches Dori had brought for lunch. It wasn't until they took the first bite when they realized that they hadn't eaten anything all day long. After eating, Dori didn't need to think too much to find a place to lie down. She did so on the floor, she took her hat off, and used it as a cushion.

"But Dori, you fit on the bed," Sucrose pointed out.

"It doesn't seem fair to me that you're the only one sleeping on the floor," Dori replied.

Dori gave a few light taps on the floor, gesturing to Sucrose to lie down beside her. Sucrose remembered that time when she had had a similar debate with Collei, and chuckled, to Dori's puzzlement. Sucrose lay down where Dori had pointed her. Dori passed her the backpack for her to use as a cushion. Once they both were face to face, they both laughed.

"You don't seem to be uncomfortable sleeping on the ground," Dori commented.

"We had a camp in Dragonspine, where we did our Alchemic field research. We used to sleep in sleep sacks on the ground there, and it was bloody cold!" Sucrose explained. "How about you? It seems like you also have experience, yourself."

"Yes. I've had my fair share of sleeping out in the open when I began in the merchant business."

Sucrose tried to picture how Dori's life used to be from before she was rich. While doing so, she began to remember that strange dream she had had, in which she had seen Dori wearing those dirty, threadbare rags. Curiosity overcame her, and without thinking it twice, she asked Dori about her old life.

"Hm? I guess I can tell you," Dori said. "When I began my life as a merchant, my only companion was that pouch you're wearing now. I had the bare minimum to make ends meet. I used to always wear the same clothes, eat whatever I found in nature, and what I just told you about sleeping out in the open."

Sucrose couldn't help but feel sad for Dori. "I'm sorry. It must have been hard to live a poor life…"

"What? No, nothing of the sort! I come from a humble family, yes, but we weren't poor!" Dori revealed amidst laughter. "The thing is, because I wanted to expand my business as quickly as possible, I saved money however I could. That's how I was able to hire my first employee in just a couple months. Then, I purchased my first Stumper Beasts, and from then on, I began to earn enough money not to need to be so 'thrifty' anymore."

Sucrose regretted having felt sorry for Dori. She glared at her. Dori stopped laughing.

"Come on, don't be angry," she pled, while rubbing Sucrose's shoulder. "I didn't mean to deceive you."

As opposed to her usual teasing behavior, Dori spoke in an actual repentant manner; it was evident that she was feeling bad for having given Sucrose a wrong understanding.

"That's right, I still haven't given them properly," Dori remembered.

"What is it?"

"My thanks. For saving my life."

Dori looked at Sucrose with a warm smile, quite different from her usual sly one. Seeing her like that, it was difficult for Sucrose to stay upset at her.

"You're welcome," she smiled.

Sucrose kept looking at Dori's face, though now as if she were wondering whether to ask her something or not.

"Hey, Dori."

"Yes?"

She decided to do it; she decided to ask her what had been bothering her all day, ever since she had spoken with Mandana. She thought that, after everything which had happened, perhaps Dori wouldn't try to avoid the subject. She went for it:

"What am I to you?"

"Huh?"

Dori was taken by complete surprise by Sucrose's question. Not only she wasn't expecting it, but also she didn't know what Sucrose meant.

"I mean, you say that I'm another family member, but it's obvious that you treat me differently from everyone else," Sucrose explained. "You gave me a bedroom just like yours, despite there being many empty others in the palace. You spent a fortune in developing my Catalyst Staff, even though you could have just given me something as simple as a pickaxe. And you also seem to be looking to spend time with me. Why?"

Dori remained quiet for a while, as if she were thinking of what to tell Sucrose exactly. Sucrose waited in silence; she didn't want to pressure her with such a delicate subject.

"I promise that I will tell you everything someday," Dori spoke at last. "But not now; now isn't the time. However, I will tell you this: if you ever were to be gone, I would be sad. And I'm not saying this as your boss."

Dori finished speaking and turned around, facing away from Sucrose. Sucrose understood from Dori's movement that she didn't want to say anything else; there was no point in insisting any further. And besides, she didn't want to. At least she now knew that Dori was, indeed, giving her a special treatment, and that there was a reason behind it. Although she was quite curious to know that reason, she would wait until Dori were ready to tell her. She told her one last thing, though:

"Good night, Dori."

Dori didn't answer. Maybe she had already fallen asleep? It wouldn't come as a surprise to Sucrose, since Dori had been by her the entire time she had been unconscious, worrying herself sick. She gave her a small caress on her head, and then turned around as well, looking for a more comfortable position to sleep. Within a few minutes, she was already fast asleep.

At first light in the following morning, although in the Vanarana of Dreams remained the same purplish ambience, Sucrose and Dori were about to leave for home. Sucrose was relieved that she had awoken before Dori, because she found the latter hugging her while sleeping, and she didn't know how the situation would have turned out if Dori had seen herself.

They were at the entrance to Vanarana. Every Aranara present had come to see them off, with Araja, Araki and Arakuan in front.

"Are Nara friends really leaving now?" Araki asked.

"Yes, we are. I think that we have abused enough of your hospitality," Dori replied. "And besides, I'm sure that my employees are worried sick about not hearing anything from us."

"If that is what Nara friends wish, then Aranara will agree to their decision," Araja affirmed. "Even so, Araja also wishes that Nara friends accept present from Aranara."

Two Aranara, each holding a bunch of flowers, approached them and offered them. Sucrose had never seen flowers like those before; and neither did Dori. They were big, indigo flowers, which had four hollow petals. Their most particular trait was that they didn't have stamens.

"These are Puspa that grow only in Vanarana of Dreams," Araja explained. "Araja hopes that Nara friends like them."

"I love them. Thank you so much for this gift," Sucrose smiled. "By the way, do we need to sing a melody or something in order to get out of this Vanarana?"

"There is no need to," Arakuan said. "Once Nara friends leave Vanarana, they will be back to the real plane. But they do need to sing Rhythm of the Great Dream if they want to come back here."

"I hope to be able to sing it when that time comes," Dori joked. "Anyhow, I really appreciate your help. I don't know what sort of Aranara magic did you use to heal Sucrose, but it worked wonders."

After some last words of farewell, Sucrose and Dori left via the tunnel whence they had come the day before. Every Aranara bid them farewell by waving their arms, gamboling, or singing, until they were out of sight. Every but one: Arakuan, who just clarified a small detail, which went unheard amidst the din:

"But Aranara did nothing. Nara Crows healed herself."