It's been a long day, more than once, and now it's time to go home. But you've come to care about those you've helped, and there are people to visit before you go.

Nullapretium first. Or so you'd hoped. You ask around and… he doesn't seem to be here. For a moment you wonder if he's run away, but the more you search, the more you come to realise that he must have never arrived here in the first place. Perhaps that was part of his Wish: The Archmage is gone. You had yearned for one more chat, but it's not a total surprise he's not here. After all, he loved that old Sanctuary.

Then you find Demonica, and she seems happy. She's enjoying the new Sanctuary, catching up with everyone. She doesn't seem to have any recollection of her wish. You choose to be hopeful and believe that this means she never made it, but just to make sure you ask Sophie to keep a close eye on her. She deserves some happiness and reprieve, and from the sound of it that's what she's getting from Stargame.

You seek out Rennyn as well, and make sure to say good-bye. You had good times together. You hand him your book on family therapy. He smiles and thanks you. You may have been a bit too late to save the Archmage's family, but Rennyn isn't too late to save his. You wish him good luck, telling a few stories to one another, before moving along.

Merx seems to be assessing the city. He's walking around with a clipboard, writing down critiques and criticisms of the city for long term living. You laugh, you wouldn't be expecting him to do anything else. After saying your goodbyes, you move along once more to search for your final friends.

Except, you cannot find Porphyr or Wolfgang. You ask around for both of them, but there is no response. Have they already left, did they ever come? This does worry you, but you try to trust in magic one last time. You didn't know them well, but Cassandra and Opularia were powerful mages. They wouldn't have forgotten anyone back at the old Sanctuary, you're sure of this. All you can do is believe that they are where they want to be.

Farewells said and done, you pack all of your belongings (there aren't too many) up into a stick and bindle and set off. As you leave, you wave goodbye to Cassandra from afar. It will be a long journey, but it is time to make amends.

Returning is difficult, and Free Magic Week is worse. Your rupture is hardly easy, but it hurts a lot less than seeing all of your family be ruptured as well. Your family had already once been torn apart, you won't let it happen again. It's difficult, but you don't let anyone out of your sight during the Midsummer Apocalypse. You won't let them leave like you did once. You tell them stories about what you remember from your life since you left. How you saw disasters tear families apart and destroy friendships. They start to listen, and soon enough you're all surviving these raptures together, as a family.

You begin to understand things a bit better, and despite the pain, the experience does bring you and your family closer. For once you are united by the determination never to rely on magic, and that gives you space to talk to them, and begin to find space to move on and heal.

The Week of Freedom is over. A family is sitting on their porch, watching the sunset.

“We did it, we survived, we didn't use magic”

“I know, I'm proud of us all”

One of them brings cookies out from the inside. “A little celebration, we're finally reunited”

“Aww, thanks ma” Hands stretch out and take the warm cookies from the tray. They're delicious.

They sit and watch the sunset a while longer. It's the golden hour, the sky is a beautiful spectrum of gold, pink, and blue shades.

“By the way son, some letters came from you. They have stamps from Reme on them.”

One of them takes the letters and heads to their room. They lay the letters down on the desk. Smiling, he looks at a flask on his desk. He picks it up, slides it into a drawer, and locks it.