Ruri? Is that you? How long has it been? Its good to see you old friend. 座って話をしましょう. Im doing well in the room. I spend most of my spare time with Shadow and the rest of the Avian Alliance, you were right they are delightful! They help me keep my magic well practiced too.

尋ねなければなりません. Are you… are you happy? Have you found what you were looking for? It feels like you are gone for longer and longer every time you leave. I want to be sure you are following my one rule before you go so far you find your Japan.

Are you keeping Ruri safe?

In the distant reaches of the Realm that Stayed a figure travels. Wherever she passes folk have a warm word and smile for her memory once she's gone. Helping build a wall, sink a well, guarding the town as rogue nightmares make cold winds blow. Wherever she goes she will turn a hand to help a stranger, and monsters find themselves thinking on what they thought they knew of toys. Beyond the Dark Woods, where the Lords Tower is not even a smudge on the sky she finds a field, covered to the end of eyesight with flowers of every shade, leading towards a snow capped mountain. She walks on.

“Alright kid? Your mum says you've been having nightmares?”

“Yeah. Its been getting really bad. Im scared to sleep”

“Well I wanted you to have this. When I was your age my toys used to fight my nightmares off. They are very clever when it comes to fighting monsters. Here, this is Ruri. Its not the exact version I had as a kid but I think she must have gone off to fight monsters in the name of friendship under the bed. Ruri is very strong, very kind, and very clever. And you know something? If you sleep with this one under your pillow, my Ruri, the Ruri that fights the nightmares, will know and come visit you in your dream! She's a very good friend, and she will always help you if you need her. She's the best”