Sylvia wanted to keep listening to the story, but she recognized that everyone was getting tired. Her curiosity was piqued when she heard that the wizard was from another world! Could it be...Earth? She then shook her head and reasoned that if two worlds existed, Earth and Keratia, then who's to say that more worlds, worlds that also included magic, existed? The wizard was probably from another world that had magic. Earth wasn't such a place...was it?

Soon everyone is turning in to go to sleep. She started to unroll her own bedroll as Pylia helped Andrews and Elena to their bedrolls. She nodded to Muriel in response to her comment about how she was going to go to bed soon.

Then Pylia asked about her story. She answered Pylia, nodding, "Sure! A Thousand and One Nights..." She didn't mind telling Pylia the story, and she can tell Shortfang and Buddy the story again tomorrow. She started by introducing the story, "This is just one of the stories I know, and even so, this story is a huge compilation of smaller stories. They're considered folk tales for a desert region back home. The title, 'A Thousand and One Nights', refers to the fact that it took the protagonist and narrator one thousand and one nights to tell these stories," She then began the story,

"A long time ago, there was once a King and he had married a beautiful woman. However, at some point during their marriage, the King found that his wife was unfaithful to him. Upset and driven somewhat mad by this betrayal, he had the both of them executed. From then on, every time he took a new wife, he made sure to have her killed the next day, so as to ensure that she would never get the chance to be unfaithful to him.

Of course, this meant that many lives were lost. And this brings us to our protagonist, Scheherazade. Scheherazade was a noble woman, who was just as intelligent and well spoken as she was beautiful. She heard about the King's actions, and she came up with a plan to stop it. She volunteered to become the King's next wife. So she married the King, but at night, Scheherazade would tell the King many stories,"

Sylvia scratched her cheek, knowing that she should keep this short so the both of them could get some rest. She continued, "One of these many stories was the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, the story where that phrase came from. It was a story of how a woodcutter learned of the phrase by accident, and used the opening phrase, 'Open Sesame' and the closing phrase 'Close Sesame' to become rich. Of course, taking from thieves has its own consequences. When the thieves learned about him and the fact that he knew their secret and stole their treasure, they sought to kill him. It was thanks to a girl named Morgiana that the Thieves' plans were foiled, and Ali Baba rewarded her for her help,"

She then finished, "Now Scheherazade was clever enough to cut the story in the middle every time dawn would arise so that the King would keep her alive and have her continue her stories for the next night. This continued, and after a thousand and one nights, she told all of the stories she could tell. During those nights, the King truly fell in love with her, and after she was finished, the both of them lived happily ever after,"

Pylia listened intently, quite amused by the tale. "Oh, now you've gotten me curious Sylvia. Enough tales to last one thousand and one nights... That's more than three years! She surely must have a creative and strong mind to keep that up every night." Pylia sat up and thought more about it, raising her finger up. "Though it's not quite as impressive, I have heard of a slightly similar tale up north. In the land of the horse lords, when their nation was unified, Crystaalilk Khanate had a powerful warlord would would demand the daughter of every family from every nation he took over. Fearful of losing their child, one man who had feminine looks offered himself in his daughter's place. When it came time to... Copulate... Actually maybe I shouldn't finish this tale, tis a dirty one." Pylia said with an embarrassed look. She tried to ignore it and move on. "In any case! I've never heard of that tale before. But to think that a magic door uses it as a riddle, perhaps someone in this world or before it has heard of this tale before?"

Sylvia smiled at the fact that the story made Pylia curious. Though she did come to realize something from what Pylia said. Apparently, a thousand and one nights here was more than three years. She remembered looking up the time conversion back home, and found that a thousand and one nights back home was about two years.

There’s a time difference, or at least a different way of measuring time...

Her attention turned back to Pylia when she brought up a similar story. She listened and when Pylia stopped because it was a dirty story, Sylvia at first looked slightly surprised before it became clear that she was holding back laughter. She commented with some laughter bubbling out, “I didn’t realize you had that side to you! But yeah, maybe not in front of the kids,”

Then she focused on the door once more. Sylvia thought seriously about it and she answered, “They had to have heard it, especially since the phrase was used for the same thing as the story: Opening a stone door that kept people from reaching the inside. The only differences are the riddle and the fact that we didn’t need the closing phrase,”

She then commented, “The question is who and why. Buddy had told me that he had gone to that spot of his own free will, or at the very least, guided there by visions as well,”

Pylia sighed. "More and more Mysteries. It'd be one thing if we can learn more about the dragon at Gransys, but to learn more about you and your fate... I'm sure we'll have to look elsewhere." Pylia laid down onto the bedroll and looked to the ceiling. "I've been thinking... How exactly did you get here? I mean I know I prayed for the Defiance for some guidance, and then you showed up but... Why you?" Pylia sat up and looked at you with a hand raised. "I don't mean that in offense! I... I'm glad you're here. It's just... Surely I took you away from your own life. I'm sure you had precious people to be with. You're strong no doubt but... I guess I'm just trying to wrack my mind about why they had to take you. Someone who... Who has something to lose. A life, a family... Ah, I'm just sounding rude aren't I?"

Sylvia nodded in agreement with Pylia's comment about finding someone who can answer those questions. She then blinked at Pylia's next questions. After Pylia apologized, Sylvia gave a soft and small smile as she answered kindly, "No, not at all! I'm not offended, don't worry. If anything, I've been...wondering the same thing myself," She continued, "I'm sure that back home, there are plenty of people who are stronger, smarter, and wiser than me. I was just a normal girl who was just trying to live and work in New York and help her grandparents. Anyone back home would probably have a better idea on how to fight off a dragon than I do, and as you said, they could've picked someone who has nothing to lose,"

She then commented, "As for how I got here, I'm not sure either. My memories seem to fuzzy on that. All I remember is going to sleep in my bed, and then when I woke up, I was in cave, in my PJs, and I had to get the items you saw on my person from a bunch of inanimate skeletons,"

"So you just woke up in this world?" Pylia looked curiously at you. "I mean I believe you, don't have any reasons not to, it's just... I don't know, suppose I thought these things would be more dramatic. Did you perhaps have a wish to live another life? Did you... I'm sorry to say this, but were you perhaps dying? Wanting a second chance?" As Pylia says this she realizes how offensive she is and just goes to lay down. "That was dumb of me, you don't need to answer that. I just... I'm tired I guess. It's been a long day. Goodnight Sylvia."

Sylvia nodded in response to Pylia's first question, however when she asked about whether or not she made a wish to live another life or if she had been dying, it got Sylvia to think. Before she could answer, Pylia seemed to have flustered herself into turning in for the night. She answered Pylia, deciding to leave the conversation be for now, "Good night, Pylia," After Pylia lies down, Sylvia also lies down on her bedroll.

However, she doesn't fall asleep right away. She couldn't help but think over Pylia's questions as she stared at the ceiling with her hands behind her head.

Did she wish for another life?

...Yes, but what kid in Elementary, Middle, and High School wouldn't want a life like this after hearing stories of ordinary children going off and doing amazing things that people could only dream of...? It was a form of escapism, Sylvia knew that.

She might have done so when she was a child, but she had given up on that wish, to focus on school, her jobs, and helping her grandparents and hanging out with her friends.

After mulling over those thoughts, she recalled the cruel laughter from other children, directed at her. She had to shake her head to get rid of those thoughts.

Had she been dying and wanted a second chance...?

No. At least not that Sylvia remembered. She remembered that she had been at good health and had gone to sleep in her own bedroom. However, she had heard that memories can be significantly different from reality, and...

People can forget...

She didn't know how long she had been thinking about this, but she soon found that her eyes shut on her and she fell asleep once more.

You would awaken once more nearby Buddy, outside of the cabin. There was a light rain however that didn't prevent the bright blue moon from illuminating the night. Buddy seemed to notice you and nods. "I thought I might see you here. Seemed to be true, that you'll be here when you are asleep. Curiously, last night did you awaken tire? I would not want to take your rest away from you even bond as we are." It seemed that Buddy was taking shelter with the mules, standing underneath the tent as the rain dripped off the tarp. "Regardless it is nice to have some company. I should use that book you gave me more often."

Sylvia blinked when she noticed that she was outside, and next to Buddy. Huh...The moon was blue. Was that normal for this world? It's kinda funny how she never really noticed before now. She looked to Buddy as he spoke. After he asked, she told him shaking her head, "I didn't feel tired when I woke up. So I don't think having a conversation is going to affect my rest,"

When he made his comment, she nodded in agreement, "It is, and you should! I think everyone would love to have a conversation with you,"

She then asked, "Um...Buddy? Can I ask what happened back during our fight with harpies? You started running towards the ledge and..."

She stopped. She felt guilty for having taken away his free will, even if it was just for a brief moment, even if it was to save his life. She wanted to apologize, but she decided to ask first and see what exactly happened from Buddy's point of view before she said anything else. Of course, she wasn't sure if this was a good idea.

"It seemed to have cast some sort of spell on me that took over my mind. I could only vaguely feel it but it was like... I needed to get closer to the creature. It enthralled me, you could say. Magically of course, it is not as if I would be so foolish as to run off a cliff just to hack it down, tempting as that would be." Buddy said in total stillness. Sometimes it was hard to know if this voice even did come from him seeing how little he reacts to your words. "I suppose your next question would be how. Fortunately, I have something of an answer. You see... Though I look and feel like a construct, indeed I am about as far from human as one can be, I am still a living, sentient, independent creature. At least as much as Ser Pylia and Ser Shortfang. I do not breath, I do not eat, I do not sleep, and yet even I am susceptible to magics that control the mind and affect the body. I may not bleed, but pierce my armored carapace and I do still feel pain. Expose me to toxic airs and I shall still be sickened. After all, while this body is inhuman, I used to be human."

So it was just as Sylvia thought. Buddy was indeed his own person and the fact that used to be human meant that he still has human qualities. She quietly answered his explanation with “I thought as much...”

She then said to Buddy, “When you were running to that harpy, I was panicking while trying to figure out how to get you to stop. And...I think the method I used was pretty heartless,”

She explained, “I remembered that you told me that the ring made me your...Master,” Just saying the word made her feel sick. Was her face turning green right now? “So, I thought that if I told you to stop, you would. But it means that I might have taken away your free will, and that isn’t okay in my opinion, regardless of my intentions,”

She finished, “That’s why I want to apologize for that. I’m sorry, Buddy,”

"Were it possible, I would be laughing at you right now." Buddy turned to look at you. "I will admit, I do not enjoy the idea of being magically compelled to do anything. But fortunately though the ring makes you my master and I must obey your commands, it does nothing to make me feel any emotion towards you. That is to say... Should I hate or befriend you, that at least is out of my own violation. My body is yours to command, but my mind is not. That being said..." Buddy reached out towards you. His hand phased through your head, as it usually does since you're an astral projection, but it seemed like he was trying to pat you. "Thanks to your command, I was more easily able to resist the magical compulsion of the harpy. If I had to choose between two beings trying to assert control over me, I would gladly ally with you. Do not worry yourself, Master Sylvia. Though I do not know much about my previous life, and I do not know much about you, you have so far done nothing but please and accommodate me, which I feel is more than most people would have done."

Sylvia blinked at his answer and she looked at him just as he turned to look at her. He would have laughed at her? And he can't? ...Can't he feel any emotion?

She listened as he explained his thoughts. While she was relieved that she did not have control of his thoughts, the fact that she had control of his body still somewhat bothered her. Before she could say anything else, she noticed that Buddy was trying to pat her head, despite the fact that his hand was phasing through her. After he told her not to worry herself, she nodded and answered, "OK. If you say so,"

She then asked him, "Oh, and Buddy, you don't have to use titles like 'Master' or 'Ser'. I'd rather have the four of us just be a group of friends. No hierarchy in our group. Okay?"

"My apology. It is simply something I feel I am used to." Buddy paused for a few seconds as if thinking before he spoke up again. "Yes... It is familiar. Perhaps I was a soldier. That would explain my abilities and my preference for a hierarchy. I have a few memories back since yesterday. I know I was a soldier of some sort. I fought in battles alongside my superior. I am not sure who our enemies were... Thinking on it, these memories do not even make it clear if I was actually human, or perhaps I am actually an elf or an orc." Buddy said before lowering his hand to stop trying to pat you. "Would you like to try and possess me again? See if that will awaken any new memories within me?"

Sylvia waved the apology off as though to say that he didn't need to apologize. When he mentioned the memory, she recalled one of the memories she saw when she first put on the ring...

That's right...One of those memories was of him charging into battle. It would make sense if he was soldier.

She was surprised to hear him suggesting possessing him again. She answered his question, "If it'll help you remember, then yeah. I'd be willing to try and possess you again, so long as you're alright with it," She figured that Buddy would want to remember his past. Plus, she was also hoping she might pick up another trick or two from Buddy. The Satyr Stance really helped her and her friends today.

"After you." Buddy would wait for you to try and possess him like you did yesterday. However when you try, nothing happens. It feels the same, the same strange all-body encompassing feeling, however you don't seem to have any visions, and you haven't really gone anywhere either. You'd be able to get out of Buddy's body but it doesn't seem like you could possess him right now. Buddy notices that you haven't vanished yet and speaks up. "Is there something wrong?"

Sylvia nodded and answered "OK. Here goes...!" She then placed a hand on Buddy's chest, and phased through him. But...she hadn't gone anywhere, and she wasn't having any visions. She stepped through Buddy once more and she commented, her confusion clear in her voice, "Huh..." She answered Buddy, "It's not happening. I'm trying the same thing as last time, but I'm still here...and I'm not getting any visions,"

She then asked, "Maybe it only works when you have an epiphany regarding your memories?"

"Hmm.... Perhaps." Buddy says as he sits down. "Maybe it's too early?" Buddy seemed to be asking himself more than you. He simply shook his head and stepped away from you, causing you to simply appear where he was standing. "Unfortunate. I suppose there's nothing else to be done then. You can keep me company if you wish, though I don't imagine, and I certainly hope, nothing too exciting happens tonight. The rain is a drizzle right now and aside from owls I've not notice any other creatures wander nearby." Buddy says as he stands against the wall, his hands resting on his axe.

She nodded at his question and answered quietly, "Maybe..." Was some greater existence interfering as well as guiding them? She then noticed that he started walking away, and she had suddenly appeared next to him. She answered him, "I don't mind keeping you company. It seems lonely out here. Plus, it never hurts to have an extra pair of eyes out to make sure that nothing too exciting happens," Plus if her reappearance next to him was of any indication, she probably couldn't go far from him anyways.

She decided to look around, as well as test out how far away she could move from Buddy.

You'd get about thirty feet away from Buddy before you'd find yourself pulled towards him. If you went further, up to forty feet, you'd arrive right next to him. Buddy simply stood there the entire time watching the mules in his usual silence. Indeed, aside from the occasional shift in weather, it was very quiet that night. Buddy would try and offer some conversation if you ask, but his lack of memories made it hard for him to talk much about himself or "what he thinks". He did wish he had a book to read, as all he had was the blank journal. "My apology. For me, simply standing watch is something I can do for hours on end. I cannot imagine how monotonous it would be for you however."