Alptraum's sleep is free of any bizarre dreams – at least, not any more bizarre than he ever had before this whole strange adventure. Perhaps this dream web was a good deal after all. As it is, he's able to get in a pretty decent night's sleep for the next leg of the journey, going from Little Rephidim East all the way to Little Rephidim West – another paquebot. Although the captain hoped to have the ship at the paquebot in time for another holiday – Midsummer's Day – a few breakdowns ("Time for another water show!") have thwarted that intent.

Alptraum has spent the better part of the morning entertaining the Khattan children onboard. "Whew," Alptraum mutters and tucks his recorder into his belt with a grin after finishing yet another song. "And that's another one of the songs I've picked up along the road. It's a nice melody and often reminds me of the happy times I had with my parents," he tells the children.

"Come along now, kittens," a veiled woman says to the children. "It is time to clean up. You don't want to be late for the Midsummer's Eve festivities."

The kittens at once get up, mewing excitedly, some of them stopping to thank Alptraum, and offering him some kittenish hugs on their way out. Meanwhile, the sun continues to draw closer to the horizon…

Alptraum waves to the kittens and smiles, watching them scamper off. It's then that the ebbing daylight reminds him that he might want to glide away from the ship for a bit – in case the Korv decides to show up tonight. So, the Eeee spreads his wings and takes off.

As Alptraum takes off, he sees out of the corner of his eye a glimpse of white and blue-grey – It's the Spirit mage, standing on the deck, looking out toward across the ocean.

Alptraum blinks, then arcs his path back to the boat and lands near the mage. "Everything all right?" he asks as he lands, glancing toward the horizon to judge how much time he has before he must go.

Time is running out. After all, Alptraum hasn't been exactly clear on just when the Korv appears. Now that he's flown back to the deck, the sun is on the horizon, slowly sinking…

"All right?" Ariel echoes, looking to Alptraum, smiling. "I was only thinking back to Midsummers past. And is all well with you?"

Alptraum nods. "Oh, most certainly. I was heading out for a brief evening flight. I saw you down here and you looked lost in thought, so I thought I'd just check. Sorry if I've interrupted you – I'll head on out now then." His wings flex and he gets ready to take off again, waiting to be polite and let the mage respond.

"Oh, but you weren't interrupting me, really," she counters. "In fact, since you're here, I was wondering if I might have a chance to speak with you. That is, if I in turn am not imposing on you, and far be it from me to assume too much."

Alptraum's wings settle down against his back and his head shakes. "Not at all. I've got a few minutes before I should fly out," he replies and leans on the railing.

The Spirit mage blinks at this. "A few minutes? I'm sorry – do you have some sort of appointment to keep? Or perhaps it's some custom of yours I am not aware of. I do not mean to offend or intrude with my ignorance."

"Oh, nothing like that. I just like to take my evening flights right at sundown. The sky is beautiful then," Alptraum explains, then waves a hand. "The flight can wait a bit. You're not intruding at all."

"Oh! Yes, I imagine it must be beautiful," the Spirit mage says, looking wistful. "To have wings must be a wonderful gift indeed."

"Well, it is something I love to do, fly. It's so quiet up there, and the sky is so vast. Sometimes it feels like time stands still when riding the winds," Alptraum muses, looking out over the ocean. "Still, they can also be a bit of a pain. Sleeping takes a bit of prepping – I have to wrap them around myself before going to bed. Chairs can be a problem sometimes too. But, even with that I'd never want to lose them."

Ariel nods at this. "Oh. I thought I'd heard that Eeee slept hanging upside down from the rafters. But then, I hear all sorts of things, and I don't deal much with Eeee – and I certainly haven't learned anything from your … " She pauses here, as if searching for a word. "That is, those who are traveling with you."

"My friends? Not surprising there. My sister is a bit edgy and likes to be by herself and Autumn-Storm, well, if you don't speak Savanite… Some Eeee do sleep upside down. I don't though, but that's probably because I didn't grow up with many Eeee," Alptraum says.

The Khatta nods at this. "I see. I suppose that makes sense, and your culture must shape you greatly. I am from Tizhar, myself, though so many assume I am from the Khattan Emirate. Not to suggest in the least that such a mistake would be an insult – in fact, I should be flattered to be counted among the people of the most honored Emir, may he enjoy many pleasant naps in the friendly sunshine, and it is hardly surprising, for my people humbly stand in the shadow of our more illustrious neighbors to the south."

Alptraum nods, then shrugs. "I'm sure your people are wondrous in their own ways too," he says. "I grew up in a pretty remote area and lived most of my life on the road. It was only recently I learned I had family back in Babel. I'm going to meet them. I guess I just want to know what they are like. I've always wondered since I always was a bit … different, from those I grew up with." He then blinks and realizes he might have said too much.

"Oh! Well, that explains much," the Khatta says with a slight giggle. "I did not think your accent – if you will pardon any implication I might inadvertently make in so saying – did not sound especially Babelite. I rather thought you sounded distinctly Sylvanian."

Alptraum shifts his weight uncomfortably. "I was hoping it wasn't that noticeable," Alptraum admits quietly.

At this, the Khatta raises her eyebrows. "Oh? It is nothing you should be ashamed of. Not unless… "

"People assume and judge," Alptraum says, looking outward. "Before they even learn about someone."

The Khatta ducks her head. "Please forgive me. I sense I have pried too much."

"No. It's not that. I've just had some unpleasant reactions when people learn where I'm from," Alptraum says. He then looks down at the water and adds softly, "And the answer is yes, but I'm not what all the stories say. I'm sorry – if my presence bothers you, I'll go."

The Khatta looks up. "Bothers me?" She looks surprised, then laughs abruptly. "No, no, a thousand pardons, no, I am only afraid that I may be a bother to you! I am, after all, a Khatta, and we are all known for our curiosity, is it not true? But I do not wish to cause you grief by asking too much. I am aware of certain … prejudices held by the Babelites toward … certain Eeee hailing from Sylvania."

"It's not just Babelites with such – I've experienced it elsewhere," Alptraum replies and looks toward the mage. "The irony is, other Eeee from Sylvania dislike me because of my Babelite heritage. I don't really fit anywhere."

"Oh? That is a terrible shame!" the Khatta mews. "I do hope it is not so bad. At least you have your family and friends, do you not?"

Alptraum's claw taps on the railing. "Well, it's questionable whether the family will. All I really have is my friend Autumn-Storm. I'm not sure what to make of my family," he admits.

"But, your sister," the Khatta starts, looking confused. "Or do I misspeak again?"

"She came to find me. It doesn't mean she likes me," Alptraum says. "It's hard to tell with her. Well, except the time she almost fainted when she found out what I was."

"Oh, gods forgive me," Ariel says, putting a hand to her forehead. "I had no idea."

"It doesn't offend me," Alptraum replies. "Will you keep what I tell you private? I'm not sure I should be talking about this, but."

"I ask many questions," Ariel says, "but I am very discrete about the secrets of others."

"My mother was a Yodhsunala," Alptraum says and looks over at Ariel. "I'm guessing you know what they are."

Ariel's eyebrows go up at this. "Oh, yes, I am quite aware of the term."

Alptraum says, "I never knew her, but that's what she was."

"So, you travel to pay respects to her tomb in Babel?" Ariel ventures.

"Something like that. Perhaps learn what she was like – why she sent me away I guess," Alptraum answers. "What was so special about me that I had to be hidden. Or maybe it was just what I was and how that was viewed."

"I shall pray to Logos that the book be opened in which you may find answers to your questions, then," Ariel offers. "Your story is a sad one indeed."

"Well, sad only if I let it affect me such. I try and look at each day and live it with a smile," Alptraum replies. "Even as freakish as I am. Eyes of a color never seen before, fur marked such that if I don't hide it, people treat me … badly." He shrugs and goes back to looking at the water, then says, "My natural coloring is the same as the Yodhsunala. I inherited it, I suppose."

"I see," Ariel says, following Alptraum's gaze out across the water.

"KAW!" comes a voice from behind Alptraum, and then something in Chronotopian.

"And then there are other problems," Alptraum says, grumbling. He turns around to face the Korv.

Ariel spins about, her ears flattening back. She cries out something in a language he hasn't learned yet, though it sounds like some sort of deity invocation.

The Korv ogles Ariel, waggling his eyebrows, and starts to say something Chronotopian in a tone of voice that sounds rather saucy.

Alptraum makes a lunge toward the Korv and swings a fist. "All right, enough from you," he says, growling.

The bat's swing, however, goes wide, as the Korv ducks to the side. He caws something mocking, then swings out with his sword, smacking Alptraum on the hind end with his saber. The Korv does not explode from that contact, incidentally. Alptraum's posterior stings from the swipe.

And just then, Ariel cries out an abjuration, making a sweeping gesture toward the Korv, smacking him in the process. He lets out an annoyed "Kaw!" and promptly explodes in a burst of dust.

Ariel, coughing and choking, waves away the dust with her hands. "My gods!" she mews.

Alptraum lets out a high-pitches squeak! then grabs his behind. "Um, guess I don't need to explain hitting him will make him go away," he says sheepishly.

The exorcist shakes her head. "That was only a cantrip; I hoped to distract him, but it dispell – " She turns to look at Alptraum. "Wait. You knew that would happen?" She furrows a brow as she regards him.

"Avralie, I knew," Alptraum admits. "He's been with me since Sylvania. He's harmless, for the most part, mainly just annoying. He always shows up on a holiday."

The Khatta puts a hand to her head. "And on top of all this, you are haunted by a raunchy-mouthed Korv ghost. I should travel with you. I could find enough trouble to keep me employed for life, I am sure!"

Alptraum laughs. "I attract the supernatural like you wouldn't believe," Alptraum admits. "I wasn't sure I should tell you because, frankly, I'm scared of mages."

"Ghosts and goblins you keep company with, but mages scare you?" Ariel exclaims, smiling faintly. "My honorable friend, we must do something to see about your priorities!"

"Well, not all ghosts are bad. Some are just people looking to complete something they couldn't while alive. Unfortunately, the nicer ones don't follow me. I just get the annoying ones," Alptraum says with a grin. "Like Klaus Schmidt there. But, at least he's not that dangerous. But yes, mages scare me. Something is obviously odd about me and I fear what they might think of me if they sensed it. I just wish I knew what it was." He then looks back out at the now dark sky, and says, "I've wanted to ask you … but – I thought you might think me some monster."

"If you are a monster," Ariel Azale says with a laugh, "you are the most polite and civilized monster I have ever met!"

"Well, I try," Alptraum replies with a grin. "In any event, I suspect your vacation will be more interesting than you planned – what with me around. Who knows what the night will bring. This is Midsummer's Eve."