Mr. Humpty Dumpty
At the subgalley Raduga, Wilnas—under the watchful eye of Ewiyar—learns how to skillfully crack open an egg from Syr. As the young boy is baking treats to hand out on Halloween, he also informs Wilnas of the significance of costumes. The Vermillion, wishing to partake in the mortals' festivities, then creates a guise of his own.
Hidden away in a corner of the Grandcypher is Raduga, a subgalley of rest and refreshments for the crew's night owls.
Ladiva, the manager of the little sanctuary, is out procuring supplies. Syr, in the meanwhile, prepares some food for the busy night ahead.
Syr: Hehe, done with things over here! I guess I'll crack open a few eggs next.
Syr: I can't wait to see Ladiva's face when she comes back to see I already finished everything!
Ewiyar: Meow...
Syr: Hey! No playing with the eggs! Go sleep on the sofa over there.
Ewiyar: Meowr...
Syr carefully lifts Ewiyar up and moves her to the sofa. Then, as he's washing his hands...
Wilnas: Hello, hello!
Syr: Ack! Sheesh!
Ewiyar: Meowrgh!
Wilnas: Oh! Did I surprise you? My apologies for barging in unannounced! I harvested some pumpkins and wanted to leave them in the kitchen...
Wilnas: But I was told to bring them here instead! Hence my abrupt arrival.
Syr: Pumpkins?
Syr stares at the mountain of pumpkins filling both of Wilnas's arms.
Syr: Whoa, they're gigantic... You really grew these? That's amazing!
Wilnas: Hahaha! Unlike my culinary skills, my crop-growing has been coming along rather well!
Wilnas: Though I admit I owe much of it to the help of the other Six Dragons.
Syr: The Six Dragons?
Syr: Oh, yeah! You're, uh... one of the Six Dragons. Wilnas, right?
Wilnas: That I am! So you already know of me! You're speaking with none other than the wedge of fire, Wilnas the Vermillion.
Syr: I think I recall (Captain) saying how one of the Six Dragons is interested in cooking.
Wilnas: I see you've already heard from the singularity. That makes things easier! It's a pleasure to meet you, young mortal.
Syr: Yep! Oh, you must be tired from carrying all those pumpkins. Uhhh, could you stack them by this corner for me?
Wilnas: Roger that! Down they go!
Ewiyar: Meow...
Wilnas: Hm? Oh, Ewiyar! What are you doing here?
Syr: Huh? Ewiyar? I think I've heard that name somewhere too... but where?
Ewiyar: Have you finally realized who I am? That's right. It is I, Ewiyar the Emerald!
Syr: Whoa! It's a talking cat!
Ewiyar: You are to revere and thoroughly pamper me! Now, hand over all your treats!
Syr: Treats? I mean, I'm going to make some, but they're not ready yet.
Syr: I don't have anything you can eat right now. Besides, is it really okay to give a cat people-snacks?
Syr: The chocolate donuts are probably out, what with the chocolate... Hmmm, what else is there?
Ewiyar: Meooow? I-I'm no normal cat! I can eat whatever treats I want!
Syr: But if someone sees you eating those things, they might think it's okay to give them to all cats.
Wilnas: Sound reasoning, indeed. That makes complete sense! It's time you concede defeat, Ewiyar.
Ewiyar: Meow... Meow!
Syr: Wait, but cats can eat pumpkin, right? Maybe I can throw together some pumpkin cookies to use as kitty treats...
Ewiyar: That will do splendidly! I demand that you hand them to me at once!
Syr: I already told you, I can't give you anything right now! I don't even know how to make kitty treats, so I need to look it up...
Syr: And besides, Ladiva asked me to crack these eggs and separate the yolks from the whites, so I have to do that first.
Wilnas: You can... crack eggs? And separate them? Really?
Syr: Yeah! Here, it'd be quicker to just show you. Watch closely, okay?
Syr grabs an egg, cracks it in half, and uses its shell to expertly separate the yolk from the egg white before placing them in two different bowls.
Wilnas: Such mastery!
Syr: Hehe. Not bad, huh? Ladiva taught me!
Wilnas: Wonderful! Truly wonderful! Would you be willing to impart your ways upon me as well?
Wilnas: Let's see... Starting from how to crack an egg, if you'd be so kind...
Ewiyar: Don't waste your eggs on him.
Wilnas: Urgh... Wait, no! This is for training purposes—it isn't a waste at all!
Syr: Yeah, if you practice, I'm sure you'll get a hang of it in no time. I know I did!
Syr: Okay then. I'll start by showing you how to crack an egg. Now that you've washed your hands... Here you go, Wilnas!
Syr hands Wilnas a single egg.
Wilnas: Many thanks! I just take this and...
Wilnas: Curses!
Reaching out to grab the egg, Wilnas crushes it the moment it's in his hands.
Ewiyar: I told you this would happen.
Syr: Whoa! That's way too much force, Wilnas!
Wilnas: Hrk... My apologies... I have difficulty holding back my strength...
Syr: I see... Eggs are pretty weak when it comes to horizontal pressure, so you have to hold them carefully in order to not break them...
Wilnas: Understood. I'll get the next one right!
Wilnas washes his hands one more time and receives a second egg from Syr.
Wilnas: Adjust my fingers... Don't use too much force... And then...
Wilnas uses both hands, trembling, to somehow manage accepting the egg. His success, however, is short-lived.
Wilnas: Oh!
One of Wilnas's fingers has entered the egg.
Syr: I-it's okay. If we're careful, I think we can still save the yolk by cracking the rest from here...
Ewiyar: The yolk that's currently dripping out?
Wilnas: How clumsy of me... I'm sorry again, young mortal.
Syr: Uh... It's okay! This is your first time.
Wilnas: Hrm, I can't help but keep tensing up... Is there some kind of secret to relaxing your hand?
Syr: Let's see... A secret to relaxing...
Syr: Wait, I know!
Wilnas: Hm?
Appearing to have thought of something, Syr dashes off to the kitchen for a sponge, wetting and then lightly wringing it.
Syr: Wilnas, try holding this.
Wilnas: Very well. Like this?
Water comes streaming out of the sponge the moment it enters Wilnas's grip.
Ewiyar: Local man wrings water out of sponge. What of it?
Syr: Even when a sponge is wet, as long as you don't squeeze it too hard, it'll retain its water, right?
Syr: Wilnas just needs to learn how to gently hold this sponge. If he can do that...
Wilnas: I'll be able to manage my strength and successfully crack an egg!
Syr: Yep! A sponge is nothing like an actual egg, but I figured it'd teach you how to manage your grip strength.
Wilnas: Incredible! Many thanks! I'll put that idea of yours into practice right away!
Ewiyar: I wonder how long it'll take this oaf to hold a sponge without squeezing it dry.
Wilnas: Let's do this! I'll practice for however long it takes to crack those eggs!
Syr: You can do it, Wilnas!
Wilnas's kindled enthusiasm becomes visible in the form of another spurt from the sponge, and his training soon begins in earnest.
Wilnas: Mmgrh!
Syr: Yeah, that's it! You got it! There's barely any water coming out.
Ewiyar: Does it count as "got" when it still requires his entire focus just to not get the floor wet?
Ewiyar: Don't forget the goal here is making treats for me, the great Ewiyar! They must be made with utmost care!
Syr: They're supposed to be for everyone, not just you...
Wilnas: Ewiyar is right though. How am I supposed to crack open an egg if my entire focus is spent merely holding it?
Wilnas: I need to be able to do this naturally...
Ewiyar: Yaaawn...
Wilnas: ...
Ewiyar: Come to think of it, that's quite the pile of eggs you've got there... What exactly do you intend to do with all that?
Syr: Well, tomorrow's Halloween, right? I wanted to make a bunch of treats and snacks to give out to everybody.
Wilnas: Oh, right. It's Halloween tomorrow!
Syr: Wait, I thought you already knew. Isn't that why you brought all those pumpkins?
Wilnas: Actually, I'm always forgetting which holidays you mortals observe. That was nothing more than a coincidence.
Ewiyar: Hm...
Ewiyar: You seem to be doing a fine job holding the sponge while talking. I suppose that's good enough.
Wilnas: Mrgh?
Startled by Ewiyar's pointing out his success, Wilnas twitches and dumps the sponge's contents onto the floor.
Ewiyar: I'll pretend I didn't see that.
Wilnas: I almost had it...
Syr: How about we try cracking some eggs now? I'm sure you'll do better this time!
Wilnas: Consider it done! The eggs shall know my newly gentle touch!
Following an example from Syr, Wilnas picks up an egg and lightly taps it against the kitchen counter.
Wilnas: Wow! I can see small cracks on the shell!
Syr: So far, so good! Now just use your thumbs to open up the crack and... Yeah, yeah, you got it!
Ewiyar: Impressive. He actually did it.
Wilnas: You have my deepest gratitude! At long last, I'm able to usefully crack an egg!
Syr: Great work, buddy! I'll separate the yolks from the egg whites while you crack some more, okay?
Wilnas: Got it! Leave it to me! It's amazing what a bit of proper practice can do. Here I am, cracking eggs like it's nothing...
With each passing egg, Wilnas's movements become smoother and quicker, and he eventually falls into a nice rhythm.
Syr: Hey, Wilnas. Since you forgot it's Halloween, that means you haven't prepared a costume, right?
Wilnas: A what now?
Wilnas: Ah, now that you mention it, the singularity does always wear a strange outfit on Halloween.
Syr: You can dress up as a pumpkin, ghost, or whatever you want! It's really fun!
Wilnas: Hm... A costume, then. The stranger the outfit, the better. Is that right?
Syr: You could say so. Part of the fun is getting to wear something you usually can't!
Wilnas: Intriguing! I'll give it some thought!
Just as the two finish up with the eggs, Ladiva returns from her errand run and promptly begins the holiday cooking.
Wishing to help, Wilnas sticks around for a while before finally taking his leave through his portal door.
And just like that, Halloween finally rolls around.
Ewiyar: Treats! I demand treats, mortal!
Syr: Wait a second. I said I'd give you some once Wilnas comes.
Syr: Ah, Wilnas! You're here! Happy Hallo—
Wilnas: Happy Halloween! My apologies for keeping you waiting!
Syr: Whoa! What's going on with your skin? Why does it look like that?
Wilnas: Hahaha! Surprised, aren't you? I recreated my vessel just for today!
Ewiyar: You went through all the work for that? How incredibly festive of you.
Wilnas: If the mortals are allowing me to join in their celebrations, I should spare no effort to enjoy it!
Wilnas: I consulted Wamdus on what would be the most appropriate outfit to wear. It appears that I made the right decision!
Syr: Phew... Sheesh, you Six Dragons sure are something else!
Syr: So it's not body paint or anything, that's just your actual skin color now? Wild!
Wilnas: Hahaha! It took some fine-tuning, but I think I got it just right. Go ahead! Give it a touch!
Syr pokes at Wilnas's skin, confirming that indeed nothing is painted on it.
Syr: Ahaha, you'll be able to scare a whole lot of people like this!
Wilnas: Well, it is Halloween after all. I need to be as shocking as possible!
Wilnas: Now let's make haste, young mortal! We must go meet the challenge of the trick-or-treaters!
Syr: Right behind you!
Wilnas leads Syr out toward town, carrying with him a hefty basket of delights to disperse.
As the cheerfully chatting pair make their way along the road, Ewiyar, sensing the potential for treats, plods along after them.
Farewell, My Little Friend
As Wilnas and Syr are passing out the treats they made the night prior, they run into a ghost cat that leads them to a tiny kitten hidden off in the bushes. Wilnas realizes that the mother cat's love and worry for her little one is preventing her from moving on and offers to watch over the kitten.
Wilnas and Syr are now out on the town, abuzz with Halloween energy. Ewiyar is there too.
Surrounded by children, the Vermillion of the Six Dragons is handing out the treats from his basket.
Young Boy: Trick or treat! You'd better give me something yummy or else I'll pull a prank on you!
Wilnas: Of course! Take these snacks—not that I'd particularly mind getting pranked.
Syr: Here you go! This one's a chocolate donut, and this one's a pumpkin cookie.
Young Boy: Wow! Thanks a bunch!
Wilnas: Wonderful! Nothing makes me happier than the sight of pure, unadulterated joy.
Ewiyar: Mmrgh. You dare ignore me, the mighty Ewiyar, in favor of those mortal children?
Ewiyar: Hand me a treat—right this instant!
Syr: Ah, right! Sorry, I totally forgot. I made a separate batch of pumpkin cookies specifically for cats.
Syr: Ladiva helped me make them, so they should taste pretty good... Here, Ewiyar. Try one.
Ewiyar: Hmph! About time!
Ewiyar: Nom...
Wilnas: I helped shape the cookies. I hope they're to your liking, Ewiyar.
Ewiyar: I suppose they aren't half bad. Give me one more, and I'll graciously look past your earlier wrongdoings.
Syr: Is one really enough?
Ewiyar: I misspoke! All the treats—I demand all of them!
As Ewiyar throws one of her usual fits, Wilnas suddenly picks up a weak voice between the spoiled cat's meows.
Wilnas: Hm?
???: Meow...
Wilnas: Goodness! What are you doing here? Would you also like a cookie?
???: ...
Syr: What's the matter, Wilnas?
Wilnas: Ah, I was going to give this cat a cookie...
Syr: A cat? Where?
Syr: Wait, did I scare it away with my voice?
Wilnas: Hm? Look, it's right in front of you...
???: ...
Wilnas: Oh... I see how it is. Our friend here is no longer of this world.
Syr: Huh? What are you talking about?
Wilnas: Hmmm, how do I put this? Halloween is a day during which the boundary between life and death blurs...
Ewiyar: Sigh... You're terrible at this!
Ewiyar: What he means is that the cat is a ghost! The poor thing barely has any non-meat on its non-bones.
Syr: Wha! A ghost?
Syr: But I don't see anything.
Any version of
Ferry is a crew member
Syr: I can see Ferry and Geegee and the bunch just fine, too...
Wilnas: That's likely the influence of some outside power or another, or perhaps they're especially powerful spirits in their own right.
???: Meooow...
Syr: Maybe the cat could eat a cookie if we put one as an offering... What's it doing anyway?
Wilnas: Hm, it's circling around my legs. Wait, now it's headed somewhere else.
Ewiyar: I believe it wants us to follow it.
Wilnas: Is that so? Pursuing a lost soul on Halloween? Sounds fascinating. Count me in!
His interest piqued, Wilnas decides to follow the feline ghost with Syr and Ewiyar right behind him.
???: ...
Wilnas: So you've finally stopped. Is this where you wanted to bring us?
???: Meow...
Syr: Is there something here?
The ghost leads the three to the town's outskirts. There, Wilnas and the others glance around the area and spot a few bushes.
Ewiyar: Ah!
Wilnas: Oh. Did you find something, Ewiyar?
Ewiyar: An ever-so-pitiful voice, yes.
Dashing off into one of the nearby shrubs, Ewiyar then returns with something in her mouth.
Wilnas: What might that be?
Syr: Hey, is that a kitten?
Syr uses both of his hands to carefully take the kitten, which appears to be no older than a few weeks, from Ewiyar.
Mother Cat: Meow...
Syr: It's so tiny!
Wilnas: It may be small, but it's still alive!
Ewiyar: Barely. And if it doesn't find someone to tend to it quickly, not for much longer...
Mother Cat: ...
Wilnas: I see, I see... You refused to move on to the next life out of concern for your little one.
Ewiyar: That would fall under unfinished business, I suppose.
Syr: Oh, so the ghost is a mommy cat... And she couldn't pass peacefully because she was worried about her baby...
Wilnas: How incredibly moving! I see the willpower of a parent can defy the very logic of the world itself.
Wilnas: Such a powerful display of love cannot go unanswered! As an inhabitant of these skies, I am compelled to respond!
Ewiyar: Wilnas, don't tell me...
Wilnas: I've made my decision! I, Wilnas, will take this kitten under my wing!
Wilnas then scoops the kitten into his hands and breaks out into a smile.
Wilnas: Worry not, my dear cat! I vow to watch over your little one!
Mother Cat: Meow!
Ewiyar: Quite frankly, I'd be even more worried now...
Syr: I'll help too! First things first, we should head back to the airship and find somebody who knows more about cats.
Wilnas: Indeed, the first step to learning is seeking guidance from those with experience!
Wilnas: Let's return to the airship at once!
The party hastily heads back to the Grandcypher with the mother cat and her kitten in tow.
Farewell, My Little Friend: Scene 2
Wilnas, together with Syr and Ewiyar, is busy caring for the kitten. Wamdus drops by and, seeing this, questions Wilnas's suitability as the kitten's long-term guardian, suggesting that he'd be putting it in harm's way. Wilnas then consults Syr, after which the two head out in search of a new caregiver.
After Wilnas and the others receive some advice on how to care for a kitten, they immediately get to work.
Wilnas: So we need to prepare this "hot-water bottle" item to keep its body warm, I see!
Wilnas: Now then, I'll just use my wedge power to heat the water...
Ewiyar: Meow!
Ewiyar: You fool! Do you wish to kill it? That's enough to outright boil the poor being!
Ewiyar: Think for once! Here, add this cold water to cool it down!
Wilnas: Ah, right! I almost made an egregious error. Thank you for the word of warning, Ewiyar!
Ewiyar: Sigh... Would you please hurry up? I wish to be freed from having to watch over you.
Ewiyar: Honestly, why must my precious time be spent on something as trifling as keeping a kitten warm?
Although she complains, Ewiyar's fluffy body is wrapped around the small creature to prevent any cold from leaking in.
Wilnas: You have my thanks, Ewiyar! Would you like another pumpkin cookie? Think of it as a token of my gratitude.
Ewiyar: I accept your offer.
Ewiyar: However, you must feed it to me directly! The kitten may well wake up if I move.
Wilnas: Oh, that is a good point!
Mother Cat: ...
Syr: I'm back! I bought the special milk we need!
Wilnas: Thank you, thank you! The cow's milk in the pantry probably would've upset its stomach.
Syr: They said to soak some bread in it and let the kitten suck it from that, right? I'll go get that ready!
Ewiyar: Judging by its movements, it should wake up at any moment now. Hurry up and get the milk ready!
Wilnas: Roger that! I believe I need to support its head while I hold it...
Ewiyar: Oh, its wriggling tickles! Just pick it up already!
Wilnas: Wait a second. I need to do this carefully...
Wilnas: Just like I practiced with the sponge...
Wilnas exercises the utmost caution as he lifts the little kitten into the air, placing it atop the palm of his other hand.
Wilnas: Phew! I did it!
Ewiyar: You treat it like such a big deal.
Wilnas: Because a big deal it is! I have in my hand a living being of these skies—no amount of caution could be too much!
Wilnas: I once trembled at the thought of touching the other cats aboard this airship, but here I am, holding an even smaller one...
Wilnas: Practice truly does make perfect! All that time spent holding a soaked sponge wasn't for naught!
Mother Cat: ...
Wilnas: How insensitive of me! You're worried about leaving your little one with someone as inexperienced as myself, aren't you?
Mother Cat: Meow...
Ewiyar: Well, if nothing else, it appears to acknowledge your passion.
Wilnas: Splendid!
Syr: Ah! Is it awake now? I warmed up the milk and brought some bread.
Wilnas: Many thanks! I'll hold it up like this so you can feed it.
Syr: Okay!
Syr puts a piece of the milk-soaked bread in the kitten's mouth and watches it vigorously begin suckling.
Wilnas: Incredible! It must've been starving.
Syr: The bread's already all dry. Let's see, I'll try dipping it back into the milk...
The kitten spends the next while focused entirely on drinking, until finally it seems satisfied with the impressive roundness of its belly.
Wilnas: Amazing! The elasticity of that stomach is a wonder to behold!
Syr: It looks like a balloon!
Syr: Oh, I almost forgot. After it's done drinking, we have to use a damp towel to get it to pee.
Wilnas: So it can't even relieve itself without aid... To think, mortal beings enter the skies in such a fragile state!
Mother Cat: Meow...
Syr: Ah, it pooped.
Wilnas: Hahaha! Proof of its vitality!
Ewiyar: Enough messing around! Hurry up and wipe the poor thing down!
Ewiyar once again snuggles up to the kitten in an attempt to put it back to sleep. Seeing the two lying down together, the mother cat's spirit decides to join them.
Mother Cat: ...
Syr: Is the mommy cat still around?
Wilnas: Indeed, she is. She's watching over her little one even now.
Syr: Yeah, that makes sense. I'm sure it's hard to move on while there's still so much to worry about...
Syr: (I wonder how it was in my case... What made my mom leave me behind?)
Wamdus: Heya. Is Wil here?
Wilnas: Oh! Wamdus! Is something the matter?
Wamdus: You mentioned you were dressing up for Halloween. I dressed up too. So we should party together.
Wilnas: I see! Normally, I'd take you up on that offer, but my hands are a bit tied at the moment.
Wamdus: Tied how? Spill it.
Wilnas and Syr explain the situation to Wamdus, informing her about the kitten and mother cat's ghost.
Wilnas: That about sums it up! This young mortal and I are now taking care of this kitten. Ewiyar's helping out too, of course.
Wamdus: Wil.
Wilnas: Hm? What's wrong, Wamdus?
Wamdus: You need to think this through again—about the cat. And a bit more seriously.
Wilnas: Are you second-guessing my decision? I'll have you know I'm very serious about this...
Wamdus: I don't doubt that, Wil. It's just...
Wamdus: There are many aspects to life. Do you truly believe you can handle all of it?
Wamdus: You have to provide it with food and shelter, long term, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Taking on responsibility for another life means not sinking the ship on it.
Wamdus: Because if that happens, all you did was get its hopes up. If you can't stick out the long haul, say goodbye in port.
Wilnas: That goes without saying. I'm prepared to do whatever it takes...
Wamdus: Okay, where do you plan on keeping it?
Wilnas: At my stall, I suppose...
Wamdus: But you're not there all the time. Sometimes no one is.
Wamdus: Plus, as a wedge, I know you have to travel places unsafe for any cat. There's no way you can be with it all the time.
Wilnas: I...
Wilnas: I won't deny that. You're right, Wamdus. Perhaps I was taking this too lightly.
Syr: We could raise it here on the airship, but I don't know if it would get along with the other cats...
Wamdus: You've given this kitty another chance at life. It's now your responsibility to think about what's best for it.
Wilnas: I suppose so...
Wilnas: Which means the next best course of action would be to find a mortal who can care for our little friend here...
Syr: Yeah, I think so too. Hm, but who do we ask? Not just anybody can take on a baby cat...
Syr: Altos likes cats, but the hospital where Gramps is staying doesn't allow pets...
Wilnas: This calls for careful deliberation!
Mother Cat: ...
Farewell, My Little Friend: Scene 3
Wilnas looks high and low for someone willing to watch over the kitten, but his search is unsuccessful. The Vermillion of the Six Dragons, who typically considers the end of life as nothing but an inevitability, somehow finds himself yearning to save the fragile being.
Wilnas and Syr are busy searching for someone willing to take care of the kitten.
Fediel: Time for another day of observing dyads! I've a good feeling about this one!
Fediel: Namely, because it's Halloween. What sorts of episodes unique to the occasion await me...
Wilnas: Kit or treat!
Fediel: Wilnas? What are you doing here? Do you need something?
Wilnas: I do, actually! I'm looking for someone to care for this kitten!
Wilnas: I thought I'd come to you for some advice, Fediel!
Fediel: A kitten, huh?
Mother Cat: Meow...
Fediel: Oh, if it isn't a wandering spirit? From what I can tell, you seem to be related to that kitten over there.
Wilnas: Precisely. You're as perceptive as ever. This ghost of a cat is the kitten's mother.
Fediel: I see... Befitting of Halloween I suppose. It still has lingering attachments in this world and thus is unable to leave, I take it?
Fediel: I can send it off to the other world if you'd like, but...
Wilnas: No, wait just a moment! Her spirit couldn't possibly be put to rest without knowing her little one is in good hands.
Fediel: Fair enough. I'll admit returning her to the skies when she's in such a state is far from ideal.
Fediel: But still... Hm, the people of Alster Island have their hands full taking care of themselves.
Fediel: They'd need some time before they could take on a young kitten.
Wilnas: Understood. I suppose there isn't much we can do about that.
Wilnas: I could hardly ask someone to tend to another's needs when their own are unmet.
Wilnas: Especially of a mortal, given their frailty.
Fediel: For all our talk about said frailty, they've surprised us on that front a fair few times. I must hand it to them.
In a good mood, Fediel gently strokes the kitten's head.
Fediel: That's right. You've been bestowed the blessing of life by both your mother and father. I wish you the best of luck in whatever it is that comes your way.
Wilnas: Do you have any other suggestions regarding places to raise our little friend here?
Fediel: Hm, nothing that immediately comes to mind... If it were a monster instead, yes, but...
Fediel: On a different tack, you could try soliciting in places large numbers of mortals tend to frequent?
Wilnas: Hm...
Wilnas listens to Fediel with the kitten on his palm, keeping it occupied by playing with it using his other hand.
Wilnas: Excellent idea! Then we'll be off to ask around a large square or marketplace somewhere.
Mother Cat: Meow...
Fediel: Haha, yes, you've quite a good eye. Wilnas will make sure your little one is treated well.
Fediel: And so don't forget to reenter the cycle once you're ready.
Fediel: Spend too long here like that, and you may just end up an evil spirit. You wouldn't want that, now would you?
Mother Cat: Meow...
Wilnas: It's time we head to our next destination, mother ghost!
Fediel: Good luck!
Wilnas: Kit or treat! Is anybody here interested in taking care of a kitten?
Wilnas wanders around looking for a potential caretaker but his search proves unfruitful.
Wilnas: My, aren't you an active little fella! Look at you, climbing my body like that.
Syr: It sure is attached to you now, Wilnas.
Syr: Hm... What should we do? Finding someone to take care of a cat is harder than I thought...
Ewiyar: Can we not raise it here?
Syr: We handle food here at Raduga, so it's probably not the best place to keep a cat.
Syr: Not to mention there are people like Arusha who are allergic...
Ewiyar: Hrm...
Wilnas: Oh, it's almost time to feed it some more milk.
Syr: Yeah! I set the water on already, now just to go and warm up the milk.
Wilnas: Thank you! Whenever I try to heat water, it ends up evaporating away...
Ewiyar: Your lack of control rears its head yet again.
Though unable to assist much in the preparation, Wilnas makes use of his sponge-holding training to successfully handle the feeding.
Wilnas: There, there... Drink up!
Syr: It's a relief to see it feeding so well at least.
Wilnas: Indeed. Food is what sustains life after all!
Syr: You gotta drink if you want to grow up big and strong!
Wilnas: Big and strong, huh?
Wilnas: (All things eventually meet their end. This is true for the lives of the skies, and the very skies themselves... Such is the nature of this world.)
Wilnas: (And yet here I am, nurturing this living being, knowing full well that its life is fleeting and that it may not even survive to see another day.)
Wilnas: (This must be...)
Mother Cat: Meow?
Wilnas: Haha, so I too am now capable of becoming attached. The emotions that flow from the skies never cease to amaze.
Mother Cat: Meow!
Farewell, My Little Friend: Scene 4
Dorothy and Claudia approach the worried group, offering to raise the kitten at the castle on Sharom Island. The mother cat, relieved to learn that her little one is in good hands, finally departs. Though his mood dips on leaving the tiny new friend, Wilnas regains his cheer as Syr invites him to munch on some late-night Halloween treats.
The Halloween night has begun reaching its end, and Wilnas, Syr, and Ewiyar still haven't found anybody to care for the kitten.
Wilnas: Phew... I'm surprised at how frequently we need to feed our little friend here!
Syr: It keeps trying to wander off too, so we have to keep our eyes on it at all times. It may be a baby, but it's definitely a cat...
Ewiyar: Meowrgh... And it can't even speak cat yet, either. How bothersome...
Wilnas: Well, now that you're full, it's time for bed, little one!
Curling up into a tiny ball atop Wilnas's palm, the kitten falls asleep and begins snoring ever so quietly.
Wilnas: It's a relief knowing you feel safe with me, but... Hm, I need to be careful not to crush you.
Syr: Coming!
Dorothy: Happy Halloween!
Claudia: Good evening.
Syr: Oh, Dorothy! Claudia!
Syr: Are you here for Halloween treats? We've still got some left if you want!
Dorothy: Ah! Well, that'd be nice, but...
Claudia: We heard from Lady Fediel that you're looking for someone to care for a cat and wanted to offer our assistance.
Wilnas: Assistance? Do you mean...
Syr: You guys are going to take care of it for us?
Dorothy: Actually, it's Queen Constance who extended the invitation upon learning that the kitten had nowhere to go!
Claudia: If it were just Her Majesty, I might be slightly wary of whether she could handle raising a cat...
Claudia: But our maid-in-training Salria will be assisting as well, so I believe there's nothing to worry about.
Syr: I've heard the name Queen Constance before... Oh, she's that monsters' queen! So we're talking a castle now?
Dorothy: That's right! There'll be plenty of space for it to play!
Wilnas: I see, I see!
Wilnas: If you don't mind, I'd like to visit this castle of yours.
Dorothy: Of course! I'm sure you'd prefer to see what the kitty's new home would be like first!
Wilnas: You have my thanks! Let's leave at once then!
Dorothy: Wow, so this is the rumored "door" of the Six Dragons!
Claudia: Being only ever a few steps from anywhere seems quite convenient.
Ewiyar: Here he goes again, using his powers all willy-nilly...
The party arrives at Sharom Island, where Wilnas introduces himself to the monster queen and apprentice maid.
Dorothy: So what you do you think, Master Wilnas? Do you trust Queen Constance and Salria to raise the kitty?
Wilnas: I do! They seem to have done their due research, so I wish to leave the kitten under their care.
Claudia: I am glad to hear it. If nothing else, I can attest to their strong senses of responsibility.
Wilnas: Then without further ado...
Wilnas attempts to pass the baby cat to Queen Constance.
Wilnas: ...!
However, he is met with resistance in the form of its claws latching onto his finger, forcing him to carefully pry it off first.
Wilnas: Our time was but a day, but what a day it was...
Claudia: Master Wilnas...
Wilnas: I'm fine! Take good care of my little friend for me!
Syr: ...
Whaddya say we head back to the ship, pal?
Wilnas: Yes, let's.
Ewiyar: Should you not have spent a bit more time saying your farewells?
Wilnas: No need to make things difficult! This is for the best.
Wilnas: Now then...
Mother Cat: Meow...
The translucent mother cat goes up to Wilnas, Syr, and Ewiyar and rubs her forehead against each of them before turning her back on the party.
Wilnas: It's about time you took your leave as well, don't you think?
Mother Cat: Meow!
Syr: Is the mommy cat gone now?
Wilnas: She is.
Ewiyar: Hmph. And with hardly a word of thanks after putting me through all that trouble... I suppose I'll let it slide just this once though.
Wilnas: Hahaha! You could stand to be more honest with your feelings yourself, Ewiyar.
Ewiyar: And you could stand to shut up sometimes!
Ewiyar: Sigh... I'm tired. And hungry too.
Syr: Oh, right! Ladiva set aside our share of the treats! She even made us some quiche!
Syr: Let's eat, Wilnas! She baked these ones with the eggs you cracked!
Wilnas: A wonderful proposition! I'd be delighted to partake in some snacks!
Ewiyar: Hand over my portion while you're at it!
Syr: Okay, okay... Here are some pumpkin cookies from earlier, and this is the leftover milk we have.
Ewiyar: Meooow...
Wilnas: ...
Wilnas: Our little friend...
Wilnas: I truly hope it grows up strong and healthy!
Syr: Yeah! Me too, Wilnas.
Wilnas and Syr exchange smiles and join Ewiyar in savoring the rewards of a Halloween well spent.
Their holiday draws finally to a close—one filled with quiche and sweets and chitterchats.