Prepare to leave.

This is the farthest you'll have gone, and it's happening so suddenly. It's a miracle that Kashura is here and is willing to help or who knows how long it would have taken to get there--surely too late. Travelling to a desert is an intimidating idea, simply because this isn't at all the same as Earth. Anything could be there. Surely there are terrifying monsters you've yet to see. This is a rescue mission and time is of the essence, so you try not to think too hard about it. You need to move fast.

Before you go, you open the door to the courtyard. You see Peony sitting under a nearby tree.

"Hey, Peony. I'm going to be going out for awhile again. Please help out the other girls if they needed it, okay? Things could get dangerous. If you ever feel like you don't want to stay here anymore because of that, we can move your tree."

She stands. At first she walks towards you, but then she runs. She throws herself into your chest and gives you a big hug. "You saved my life, Lord Warren. I'll stay here for as long as you do. I don't mind you going on these quests. I love seeing your face every time you get home."

"Oh. That's really sweet, Peony. Thank you."

She smiles and giggles. Though after a moment, you realize she isn't letting go.

"I need to get moving now," you say.

"Do you though?" she replies.

"Y-You said you didn't mind me leaving!"

"I don't!"

After some struggle, you eventually escape the dryad's grassy grip. Your bags are eventually finished packing, and you walk into the living room to see Kashura with her hands on her hips. She sighs.

"Finally," she says. "Are you ready?"

You look to Niki, and she looks back to you. The two of you nod.

"I'll miss you, Master!" Yin says as she hurries over and grabs your hand. "Please be safe."

"Dress light. I heard the Oraang Desert is scorching hot," Eva suggests. "And drink water!"

With her hands together, Amara bows her head. "Please do not be gone too long, as selfish of a request that is to make."

"I will not let you down," says Alice.

"Me neither," Snow adds. "We won't just be laying around the house while you're gone. I refuse to get nothing done while you risk your life."

Delphi flutters down nearby. "I'm no good at this, but uh... safe travels. Try to bring back a couple more sunheart girls too."

Eva bumps her fist against Niki's arm. "Hey. I know you can do this, Niki. You're the strongest girl I know."

Niki smiles. "Thanks, Eva. I appreciate it."

"Enough of this!" Kashura poses with both her hands in the air, shuts her eyes, and raises one foot up like a flamingo. She spins around, and throws her hands to the side. After wiggling her fingers in the air, you notice her bracelet is starting to glow a vibrant gold. She performs few more maneuvers, which you're starting to think might not be part of the spell casting at all, until she throws her hands to the side and shouts, "Open Up!"

A wave of warmth washes over everyone in the room. A perfectly round hole in space has opened up before you--a window into another land. You see rolling sand dunes and what looks to be a settlement in the distance blurred by illusions of heat. The sand itself is more red tinted than you expected. Though besides that, it's definitely a desert, just like on Earth.

You take a step forwards, but Niki falls behind.

"We're going to save them," you turn and say.

She takes a deep breath. "You're right. I don't care what they do or say to me. This is about saving them. Let's do it, Kyle!" With a roar of battle, she sprints ahead of you and straight through the portal. You hurry behind her. As soon as you're through, you turn around to see it slowly close behind you. After one last look at the girls, it disappears. Now it's just you and Niki amongst endless sand.