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(Howl of anger)

What magic should I use here... It feels like no matter what I go for, it'll hurt Kay—

Please, help me keep her still! I'll calm her down!

Easy for you to say, but she's being a real terror without a leash!

Senshi, do we still have any of that popcorn left over?

Aye.

Try throwing some of it for her to eat!

Got it!

Before he even finishes speaking, Senshi reaches into his sack for a ball of popcorn and lobs it at Ceobe.

Ceobe stares at it as if entranced, her anger placated.

I knew it! She's looking for something to eat!

Maybe something she ate on her journey upset her stomach and made her this way!

Since when do people turn into monsters when they get a stomachache?

Dr. Kal'tsit once told me that Kay comes from a special bloodline, so that might actually be possible.

Are you serious?!

Save the talk for later! Let's get her under control while she's distracted!

You, with the sword! You, with the pot on your back! You two look strong; let's hold her down together.

Right!

The three of them sneak behind Ceobe while she happily munches on popcorn. With all their might, they each grab one of her legs firmly.

(Unhappy howling)

Now, Amiya!

Got it!

Come back to us, Kay.

Don't be scared. You're safe at home right now.

(Pained howl)

Amazing... I've never seen magic like that before.

Look, Kay's back!

Oh, thank goodness!

Kay! are you alright?

Hmm...? Wha... what happened...?

It's like I was... dreaming!

Dreaming?!

Yeah...

Ceobe looks around her. The once neat-and-tidy room is now in utter shambles. Her hand is still curled around half a broken toy.

I'm sorry... Vulcan told me if I do something bad, I have to say sorry, and it looks like I did something bad...

I was real hungry in my dream, and my tummy kept rumbling... and then...

And then...?

And then I grew lots of heads, and I wanted to eat a whole bunch of things!

All I had to do was eat until I was full, then I'd be real happy, and I'd come back here!

(Whispers) Matterhorn, where's Vulcan? Has she noticed anything about Kay recently?

(Whispers) I'll go ask her once we're done here.

(Whispers) So, what should we do with her now?

...*rumble*...

Oh? Hungry again?

Yep!

I wanna eat lots and lots!

I was full in my dream, but now I'm hungry again!

Hmm...

Kay, do you know of a monster with three heads?

Of course I know!

What do you know about it?

It doesn't just have three heads, it's got a thousand!

Every time I wanna eat lots and lots, I grow ten, a hundred... no, a thousand heads! That's why I can never get enough!

I've got a thousand heads!

You what?!

Well, as long as my tummy's full, I won't become like how I was just now!

Well then! I'll cook you up a proper meal right away!

We'll make an exception to the 'no snacks before a meal' rule. We do need to bring her in for a medical exam, though.

Now, friends from afar, why don't you take a stroll around Rhodes Island? This might be a bit much to ask, but I was hoping you could show off your cooking skills once more at mealtime.

S-Sure, thanks...

As for the other reason you sought us out...

We might need some time to know your circumstances before we can figure out how to get you home.

Oh... So, what do we do now?

I wouldn't worry too much. The Doctor and Dr. Kal'tsit might be able to find a way.

Really?!

Yes. Whatever the case, you did help Kay, and your situation is... rather peculiar.

If you like, you can stay on Rhodes Island for a while.

As our representative, allow me to welcome you all aboard.

More newbies? Which department are they under?

Weird, can't tell what race they are. They hiding their tails or something?

I saw a young lady carrying a whole lot of crops just now. Mind showing me your farms here?

Farms... Do you mean Horticulture and Hydroponics, that kind of thing? Follow me.

You guys got an inn here?

Oh, so you're a Durin! C'mon, it's this way.

Do you... do you have anywhere I could take a proper bath and comb my hair?

Of course, dear, the dorms have all you need. Just follow me!

Oh, such long rabbit ears! I wasn't able to get a good look at their capillary distribution last time. What a shame...

Wow, they can adjust the position of their tails to maintain their balance. Ingenious...

Hmm... Some clearly have feathers, but they have no wings. Can they fly?

Ah, this place really is heaven...

Oh, isn't he one of the new operators they were talking about? He looks a bit lost, standing in the middle of the corridor like that. Do you think he's too embarrassed to ask for directions?

Maybe he's a bit shy. Why don't we start the conversation?

Hello! Do you happen to be—

(Whispers) Do these birdmen lay eggs? If they're unfertilized, then can I see how one tastes? With this many people on board, surely I can get a few...

(Whispers) Can goatman hair be knitted into sweaters? The ones I saw earlier had bare arms though, doesn't seem like they grow wool. A shame...

(Whispers) But what I really want to know is, if a catman and a dogman have a child, would they be a cat or a dog? Or maybe they're half-cat half-dog? ...Maybe the top is a cat and the bottom is a dog? Or maybe it's split left and right instead?

(Whispers) ...What if it's with a birdman? Would they lay an egg that hatches into a cat? Hmm...

Yeah...

Uh...

(Collectively step back)

Oh, hello.

(Collectively take another step back)

Can I ask you a question...

(Collectively take yet another step back)

What's going on here?

Do you lay eggs?

Me? I certainly do not.;She certainly does not.;He wasn't asking you, Mon3tr. No need to come out.

Hmm? Oh! Sorry, I was asking those bird—err, Liberi... Huh? Where'd they go?

Why's everyone standing so far away from me?

Hmm?

Amiya! That's him! That's the guy I was telling you about!

He's no patient, he's one of those... 'guests' we found waking up on the deck!

He-he-he's been asking us all sorts of dreadful questions, over and over again!

Ah... What sort of questions?

He asked us if our children would be half-cat half-dog!

He asked if Liberi could lay eggs, and if he could eat them!

(Hiss)

Oh, my, what a magnificent one. You're called Mon3tr, right?

Can I touch you?

(Piercing cry)

(Nimble motion)

Wh-Whoa?!

Wow! How do you keep your hair so golden and shiny when you spend most of your time in a dangerous dungeon? Without any good haircare either!

Heheh! It's all because of how important hair is to a magician. I store some of my mana in it.

Here. This is one of my favorite hair creams. It has perfume and herbal extracts mixed in, and it'll keep your hair moisturized and protected.

The only reason my hair is as sleek as it is now is thanks to frequent application!

Wow, it smells great!

If you'd like a change of pace in your hairstyle, I've got lots of braiding tips I can show you!

Where. Do. You. Think. You're. Going?

I was just—

Whoa!

What were you doing with my flames?

Uh...

I said, what were you doing with my flames?!

...Roasting some chestnuts...

Roasting.

Some.

Chestnuts!

Roasting some chestnuts.

The lass driving the tractor gave me a bushel of raw ones, said they were the first harvest of chestnuts she managed to grow on Rhodes Island.

You manage your farms well. Chestnuts make a mighty fine snack. They get soft and sweet after roasting, and their shells become easy to peel too.

Pity the fire coming off your body was too hot! Ended up burning 'em all. I said I'd cook a meal for you, but I never expected to waste perfectly good ingredients like that. Real shameful behavior, if you ask me...

Skyfire, please calm down!

Ahh! Shaw, Shaw! Come quick! Skyfire's catching fire again!

Mister, <i>please</i> don't cook anything else on her, <i>especially</i> not those kebabs!

*gulp*!

Not half bad.

Phew. Anyway, like I said, I'm not a Durin.

Wait, you're not?

You're not a child then, are you?

Mind sitting down when we talk? I can't see your face.

I <i>am</i> sitting down.

Care for another?

My thanks.

Are all the men here this tall? Even Laios seems a bit short compared to you guys...

(Whispers) This guy covered in silvery-white hair... If Laios saw him, I bet the only thing he'd be thinking about is asking him if he'd like some help combing it all...

Ah, whatever.

A drinking party? Without me?

I know it's been a while, but did all of you really forget to ask me?

Hmm? Hey, what's with the kid? Kids shouldn't be drinking.

Uhh...

*gulp*

*sniffsniffsniff*

(Something smells really good!)

(Maybe they finished cooking?)

(Tasty food's here!!)

Let's gooooo!

My back—

(Uh-oh, I hit someone...)

Sorry!

Vulcan told me if I ran into someone, I have to say sorry.

Sorry, Mister Beard! I ran into you 'cause I was hungry!

It's fine, come help me put it all on the table!

A meal made with the ingredients and memories given to us by the folks we met along the way. 'Tis done!

Come have a bite. Do they all taste like they did before?

Hmm... I wanted to ask earlier while we were preparing the ingredients, but why <i>are</i> we making the exact same dishes we had on our journey?

Does repeating the same recipe make you feel better?

...That, I can't say for sure. But if it's got the same taste, then I'll think back to the first time I had it, and what was going through my mind at the time.

Like if I said 'scorpion hotpot,' what's the first thought that comes to mind, Marcille?

...The first time I met you in the Beginners' Plaza.

Walking mushroom feet are both edible and tasty, with a unique aroma.

Scorpions are a pain to cut into bits.

What about that basilisk?

You saying you had to cook the antidote herb with the chicken for that adventurer so it'd taste better...

Basilisks are really cool!

Marcille finally getting to eat that chicken she was craving.

Then, mandrake?

Very unique heads!

Marcille and that big bat—

We can skip over that one, okay?!

See? That's what I mean.

Food is connected to memory. When you eat something you've had before, your brain automatically goes back to the other times you've had it.

It's the same when I cook. I think of the people I first made the dish with. Why did we choose to make it? Did we learn anything new while preparing the ingredients? Any happy smiles after we were done eating?

This way, the aroma and flavor can recreate the scene in your mind, bit by bit.

As for the meal we're about to have? That gets to be a new memory, to be brought up during future dinners.

Wow...

You've always had a way with words, Senshi.

Alright, enough prattle! Let's eat!

Chow time!

Mmm. These carrots are perfect! Would you like to try some, Doctor?

Are you sure you don't want any roast Originium slug? Really? It's delicious.

Not even one shell?

Wow... Can I really eat this?

Of course!

All of it?

All of it!

Yippee! You are so kind!

Oh, right... 'Doctor,' was it? Just noticed you there.

While we were cooking, the operators told me you're often so busy with work that you forget to eat.

And when you do remember, it's some hastily-thrown-together slop, on top of unhealthy wake-me-ups or empty calories just to fill your stomach.

Hardly what I'd call a good attitude to health! There's plenty of people worried about you!

It's not quite that bad...;Yeah, that sounds like me.;Roast Originium slug's pretty tasty.

Doctor, if you want to get strong, you need a good work-life balance, to eat three square meals a day, and to get some exercise! Got that?

Thanks for helping us out, Doctor. The same goes to everyone at Rhodes Island. I've made a lot of new friends here.

If only Falin were here too...

After we're done eating, could you give us a detailed overview of this land?

What? Why're you staring at me, Doctor? What, you want a drink? Well, it's not that you can't, it's just... Are you an adult yet?

I really can't tell with that mask on...

Oh, this is delicious!

I need to note down the recipe. We've got to make it for Falin once we save her!

I'll have to tell her all about the journey we went on to save her, about all the lovely people we met along the way, and all the memories we made...

I'm sure she'll love hearing about it!