Vidar walks out of Pyro Myrtle. While inside Vidar's mind, Sprite says, "To gain experience, we need to help the people of Rakoth. This experience will help you become stronger, and you'll be rewarded as well." 
"The only reward I seek is to find my sister and take Xenon out for good." Sprite is excited and smiles because of his determination. Sprite said, "Look over there. This person looks like she needs help." 
Vidar walked over to the lady and said, "Hey, ma'am is there anything I could help you with?" 
"Oh my! You're that Griffonborn boy. You have such perfect timing. My mother recently went missing, and I need help finding her," the young lady said with a worried look. Vidar looked hopeful and confident and said, "I'll gladly help you." 
The lady smiled and said, "Thank you so much. I don't know what I would have done had you not shown up when you did." 
"Of course, no problem. Now, where was the last you saw your mother?" 
"The last I saw her, she was getting food at a restaurant in Plumen Plaza in the village of Kamag. I saw a mage use his powers to transport her somewhere. I don't know where, but I tried going after the mage before he disappeared," she said worriedly. 
Sprite in Vidar's mind said, "It looks like we need to track down her mother. I wish we had a tracking spell."
"Do those things exist?" 
"Once we are done here, you and I have much talking to do." 
Confused by Vidar seemingly talking to himself, the lady asked Vidar, "Is there something wrong?"
"Oh, nothing. I'm thinking of ways I can find your mother. I will begin to look for her now. I will return as quickly as I can."
"Thank you for doing this. My mother does not deserve to suffer. I know it is an inconvenience to you." 
Vidar looks at the young lady, "This isn't an inconvenience to me. I want to help you find your mother and return her safe and sound for you." 
The young lady thanks Vidar again, and he starts heading to Kamag. 


Vidar walks down the empty streets of Kamag. The sky is grey, and the sun is covered by clouds. Looking worried, Sprite hesitantly says, "Vidar, this village is cursed." 
"What do you mean cursed?" 
"This village is-" A bell starts playing, cutting off Sprite. He continues in a whisper, "Vidar, this isn't good. We need to hide." 
Before he can hide, a man sees Vidar in the street. The man jumps out to Vidar and grabs his arm. The man quickly drags Vidar into his home. "Are you crazy?" the man said, "You could have gotten yourself-" He cut himself with a stressed look. "Ah! Quickly lock the windows and cover them!" The man starts to cover the windows while Vidar covers the one in a different room. 
Vidar says, "What about upstairs?" 
"I got that covered already." 
"What's your name?" 
"Segal," he replied.
"I am Vidar, from Rakoth." 
Just then, the second bell rings piercing loudly. Segal grabs Vidar by the arm and takes him to the basement. It was cozy but spacious enough to fit an entire family. Vidar looks over and sees scrolls on a table, a portrait of a happy family, Segal, his parents, and his wife. Vidar and Sprite look at the image with sorrow in their eyes. Segal says, "I'm sorry if I came off as harsh earlier. It's just not safe to be outside."
"It's okay, I understand," Segal says, "So what brings you here? I have never seen you before, and everyone knows everyone here." 
"I'm looking for a mage who has taken a woman. I've been told he was here."
"I don't think I've seen them around here." 
"How long do we have to stay here? We don't have much time." 

Segal hears a faint noise from outside the door. It sounded like an elderly young woman. 
"Segal dear, please open up."
"I'm cold, Seggie."
"I miss you." 
Segal covers his ears while the voices torment him.
"What's wrong with you?" said Vidar when Segal fell to the floor.
Pleading for the voice to silence, Segal says, "Please get out of my head! Argg!" 
Segal is still on the floor as Vidar walks towards him. He places his hand on the distressed man's shoulder and gets on his knee, "Segal, tell me, what do you see?" 
"Oh, my mother, my family," says Segal, "They are speaking to me."
"How often do they come to you?" 
"When the bell rings." 
"How did you lose them?"
"My mother wasn't well at the time. Without medication, she would have these seizure-like episodes, which could be challenging. I was out in the city getting the medicine for her. By the time I got back home, I had found the door open. I went inside in a panic, looking for her. I heard screams outside towards the end of the road. I watched everything unfold right in front of my eyes. I saw my dad with some other men. His eyes were pitch black, soulless. My mother yelled, 'You aren't my Timothy!' He grabbed her wrist and dragged her while the others helped take her away." 
"I'm sorry about your mother," Vidar said with sympathy, "What about your wife?"
"I don't know. We were growing apart. I see my wife on the swing most days out in the backyard. She doesn't call for me. She just sits there looking at me, smiling." 
Vidar was speechless.
"You know, sometimes I want to go out there and just be by her side." "Would you ever go out there?" 
"I don't know. Sometimes I find comfort in hearing my family's voices. Sometimes I get to talk to them. Other times I am just haunted by it."
Vidar nods, "I understand. Sometimes we find comfort in situations not many people would understand."
"You are completely right." 
Vidar says, "I try to understand, but for the most part, I've been making a mess of things recently. Though I know I can't stop. I need to keep moving forward until I reach the goal I've set out to complete."
"May I ask what your goal is?" 
"My goal is to bring my sister back home. She was kidnapped by someone called Xenon. That's why I said yes when a lady asked me to find her mother. It hit so close to home."
"If this person's mother was spotted here, then I'm afraid she is most likely dead." 
Vidar looked at Segal with an intense, determined stare and said, "I refuse to believe that, not until I know for certain. I will never turn away a person in need. It's not in my heart to do that." 
With a look of astonishment, Segal says, "You have such fire in your eyes. I hope that you can back it up."
"I will show you one day. I'll bring my sister back, protect her at all costs, become the leader of my community, then reach for the stars and go to space. You can believe that." 
Segal smiles, "I'd like to be there and see it when it happens." 
Vidar responds, "I'll make sure of it," and puts his fist out to Segal, a sign that lets him know he's serious about the promise. Vidar walks out of Segal's home with a newfound determination and purpose, knowing that someone believes in his dreams and the power it takes to make them a reality.