Cypur's surprise didn't end there. Inside the cabin were his parents sitting on chairs by a fireplace.

"I'm dreaming?" was the first thing that slipped out of his mouth. He couldn't believe it. His father's and mother's hair had no magick highlights like they normally did. Both his parents set their cups down at the same time. Thereanbold hobbled to the kitchen as the kettle whistled. On his way he winked at Cypur's father.

"Cypur."

Cypur stiffened at the sound of that scolding voice. What was he expecting? Some good-old family reunion? He had hurt the family name to the point of no return.

Don't fall into that! He was outside of Sorcerer society now. Clenching his fists, he looked his father in the eye. His father had his hand raised, ready to slap him no doubt.

"Dad, listen," Cypur said, and his father's hand paused, "I didn't kill anyone. I would never do that. It was Rachelle. I was only trying to save the Rauvuren. You can look at my memory. I bare it before you." He stood firm and beside him came his Faud. "And I'm not broken. I never was. This is my Faud." 

He saw the arms coming. They were going to punish him! Cypur began to speak fast. "And I've made a terrible mistake. I know you won't understand, but I need to go find her," He raised his voice, "I need to find Wescherlie because she's my frie—"

His father's arms came around one side and his mother's the other. Cypur stood stiff. Out of the corner of his eye Thereanbold sat at a table, enticing Cypur's Faud over with a cookie.

"Cypur," his mother said, "Barondium came by and told us everything. Showed us proof of you and the Rauvuren."

Arius. Cypur sucked up his tears. He really kept his word.

"We came here for help." His father pulled away. "None of us were expecting you to break out of jail and appear in Mevinmauderie though, did we, darling?"

"We felt magick unlike any. I knew it was you and," his mother turned her gaze to Cypur's Faud, "but I didn't expect, well, I don't really know what we can do. I've always known what to do."

They were in the process of coming out of Sorcerer society. Cypur had been there. He knew what it was like. Scary to the denounce the things you believed in so firmly, you would have stood by them even if it cost you an arm and a leg.

His father sat back in the chair. "And Charmteller has escaped his own prison. He's looking for you. I believe, now that you've unlocked his heritage, to teach you the correct way of using it."

"We've always known. But why tell, until it was ready?" His mother kept her eyes on Cypur's Faud as if weary it might come after her. "Why did it have to be a lizard?" she whispered.

"I take that as an insult, Aubrinny," Thereanbold said.

She shook her head. "Oh, I didn't mean—"

"Lighten up," Thereanbold said with a laugh, "Cypur, don't just stand there. Come on over. You want some breakfast? We've talked the whole night through, so good morning to you. Good morning, good morning to you!"

"And you," Aubrinny said to her husband, "Benedict."

"And you." Benedict nodded with a smile.

Cypur had to pinch himself to his senses. He'd never seen his parents so pleasantly calm. Still uncertain of what this all meant for him and Wescherlie, he sat down at the table. Thereanbold served him scrambled eggs and bacon with a glass of orange juice—a staple breakfast.

Over the meal, Thereanbold told him they were on the outskirts of Fegglehorn and that he had been baking cookies when Cypur's parents turned up yesterday morning.

"Ever seen a flustered Sorcerer?" He winked.

"No."

"You're right. They were so calm it gave me the shivers. I thought Benedict had truly lost his mind to parenthood. What having kids does to your brain! And that's why I never married." He grinned. "But we're not here to talk about my failed love life. He said he made a mistake."

"And I did," Benedict said from his seat, "I told your mother to not tell you about your heritage until your Faud appears. Never imagined it would happen like that. We did think it would come like any other."

Cypur pursed his lips. "But you did say I was Human-born."

"Because you kept asking," his father said.

"Because I'm stubborn and where do you think I learned that, Dad?" Cypur said and almost wanted to take it back, but then his father's stern face twitched. His lips quirked into a smile. Cypur grinned. "I am your son, after all. I mean, maybe not genetics, but I've only known you as my father."

Thereanbold clinked a fork against his glass, calling attention. "I hate to interrupt a nearly heartwarming family reunion, but you're still an escaped criminal. I do know some important citizens in the High Collection who could help you out and your parents and I will go talk to them, but meanwhile, you need to find your friend."

He made a few gestures in the air. A scroll appeared. "You know what this is?" Thereanbold unrolled it. It was blank. But Cypur knew this trick.

"A map. You can't fool me. Lock magick, advanced. All it is." He crossed his arms.

"Right. Smart you are." Thereanbold undid the lock and the map appeared on the scroll from the center, spreading out to the edges. "I like old images that appear on parchment, don't you?"

Cypur couldn't deny it was beautiful, but now was not the time to be aesthetically pleased about things. "So? You know where Wes is?"

"Wescherlie, yes. She would have gone here," Thereanbold pointed a dot of green light on a part of the map that looked as if it had been separated from the rest. It was called 'Yorkwren' and Cypur reached to trace his fingers along the edge of the Fourth Ring. Not the inner edge, but the outer edge. There was only one spot of the Fourth Ring that had broken off to become its own island floating out into space.

"The land of chasms," he whispered and Thereanbold nodded. Cypur turned back to the map. Wescherlie was there? "How is she there? How do you know?"

"Because Charmteller said he would show her the truth."

Cypur tried to keep his calm. "Charmteller contacted—"

"Why don't you, Charmteller, and Wes have a talk out there? Oh, and Arius would be there. He took Wes to meet Charmteller," Thereanbold said as if nothing was the matter.

But it was the matter. Arius couldn't have told his parents so long ago. They were talking with Thereanbold since yesterday morning. He would have heard, and he didn't come find Cypur with Wescherlie? And here was Cypur, foolish as ever, trying to save someone who was saved!

"It's been a week, Cypur." His father said. "Time distortion. The Fifth Ring has no portals. With no portals to distort the time, it tends to run a lot slower. You can't measure days by sunrise and sundown in the Fifth Ring. You wouldn't have learned that yet." He set his cup down. "And that's no one's fault, but that incompetent school of yours. I swear, I'm going to have the entire school body explain themselves. No one told me you were being held back in studies as well. I had been told it was just rank—"

"Dad," Cypur interrupted him not wanting to hear anymore, "if it's been a week, I need to go now. Wes might be fed up with me. Arius saved her and not me." That wasn't the entire reason. He couldn't sit around here listening to stories of things that citizens did or didn't do in his past and what they may or may not accomplish in the future. There was a place and time to do that. Right now, it was about the next task, next step ahead.

"Faud, we're going to Yorkwren," he said and his Faud squealed making his mother flinch in her seat. Cypur never knew his mother didn't like reptilian creatures. Although Thereanbold seemed okay.

Maybe the mustache helps. He wondered.

"You can take my grig," his father said. "I know you know the lock."

"Thank you, Dad," Cypur said with a smile and his father widened his eyes. In turn, Cypur blushed because he realized now how unnatural he was acting for a typical Sorcerer, but how natural it now felt to him.

Then, he turned to Thereanbold and thanked him for the help.

"Anytime. For a better Fourth Ring future, now, I was waiting two years for something like this. At long last."

Aubrinny came up to Cypur. "Cypur," she began in her usual stiff tone, "you are quite brave to taking this task upon yourself." She reached behind her back and Cypur felt a surge of her power as she teleported something into her hands.

His father stepped forward, concern knitting his brows. "Aubrinny, that was supposed to be—"

"Nonsense, Benedict. He deserves it. One day, he will wield it's full potential." She brought out a sword, placing it in Cypur's hands. His heart thumped. His mouth suddenly dry. It was lightweight and reacted to its meant-to-be owner in a humming vibration. Tuning in with Cypur's magick, golden vines stretched down to the pointed side of the sheath, etching his name into it in flowery cursive. Instead of stopping there, the golden vines stretched around the back. Words carved themselves on the hilt.

"With love," he read and touched the inscription. A warmth projected from the message seeped into his body. Tears pooled in his eyes.

"Well," His mother cleared her throat, snapping him out of the moment, "I say that's enough of that."

Benedict straightened his straight cape and brushed invisible dust from his shoulder. "Oh, yes, before it's too late. And I'm sure the police will know your absence by now. We shall hold them back as long as we can. Now go."

Cypur looked from his mother to his father wondering if without showing on their cheeks, if either of them were blushing right now. The thought made him ticklish inside and he laughed. "I love you both, dearly. And I mean it. The past is no more. Thank you!"

His chest burned and he turned hurried out into the early morning sun. Icicles dangling from trees and frost clinging to the grass, all glistened like crystals. The golden sunlight flowed steadily through the forest. The sky blushed pink, as pink as he felt right now. Behind the cabin, Cypur found his father's grig. His Faud slipped inside his chest.

"Starlights, I'm not alone, Faud. Just like that stone said. Whatever was that stone, I wonder? What kind of Human possesses a magical stone in the jail Ring?" He wondered as he started up the grig and attached the sword to his belt. Perfect fit. He noticed the hilt had the swordstrium's initials. "A c B. Of course," He laughed, "who else to know what I prefer but the male I love."

On the grig, he whizzed away top speed with the map engraved in his mind. Ahead, were the beginnings of Fegglehorn and taller buildings of beyond. He wouldn't have leisurely time until citizens began hobbling about, but it was enough to get him out of the populated areas.

Next, Orkorvia Town outside Naked Wood Forest. Cypur recited the names and snickered. Soon, he would see Wescherlie. With the cold air nipping at his skin, he imagined he was leaving his past self behind. No more Cypur the Sorry Sorcerer.

This new one, he smirked, he can take on anything! Even the Universe.