Inside a certain cave on the northwest side of the 2nd continent.
"So, I had apparently ended up on a beach right outside that playboy's turf, missing my mark by a few miles."
"I had no compass to see where I was going and the clouds were blocking my celestial GPS, so I had to go with my gut while hiding my presence on the way over. I only knew the 2nd martial continent was to the southeast of the 1st, so I ended up a bit too far to the south while being pushed around by the currents."
"I couldn't go by air, because I noticed the playboy had a surveillance network around their last time I came to this continent, and I couldn't use the spatial gate because it blew up for some reason."
"Never mind that! Anyways that was the reason why I was forced to take the sea route if I wanted to ghost that playboy. Unfortunately, it was all in vain because I happened to be discovered by some bounty hunters I had mistakenly thought were after me, but as it turns out the dragonewt that was bleeding out inside my cave was their real target, and that's why I'm late!" Nox explained to the mute little doll sitting inside the cave.
"No, I'm not making this up!" Nox said as the doll tilted its head.
"Well, I didn't know that! The books I got on the abyssal ocean only said it was dangerous but never went into detail about why!"
The doll started shaking its head in disappointment.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She said in an insulted tone.
"Whatever! How's the Wimp doing?"
The doll folded its arms.
"She is my kid! Of course I care!"
The doll pointed accusingly at Nox.
"Big talk coming from the guy who just stood by and watched!"
The doll hung its head.
"*sigh* Just because I don't spoil them rotten doesn't mean I hate them! I just don't want them to end up as broken as me! The world is crueler than you know!" Nox said in a sad tone.
The doll looked up at her.
"You don't know the half of it! That little trip to that mountain was a walk in the park compared to what I grew up in! I wouldn't wish that life on anyone!"
"I would burn down the world for the people I love!"
The doll stared at her.
"Don't tell her I said that!"
"Because it could become a weakness that others could exploit!"
The doll tilted its head.
"What does it matter if she doesn't understand me! If it means keeping my kids safe and happy, I'll gladly be the villain!"
"Because that's just what it means to be a parent!"
The doll tilted its head in confusion.
"Blood ties are just an incentive to be close! I've seen countless blood relatives kill each other at the drop of a hat! That's why I don't care whether they have my genes or not! Those kids are my family and that's the end of it!"
The doll stared at her.
"Eww! Gross! No! I only adopt the kids not the entire family tree!"
"You never answered my question! How long until the Wimp's done in there?"
The doll shook its head.
"WHAT?! So, you just shamed me for being late, when that Wimp isn't even halfway done! I rushed over here because I thought she was ready to go already!"
The doll raised its hands as it backed away from the upset Nox.
"You better hope she's done by that time or I'm storming the place! And you better keep this to yourself or I'm tattling on you!" Nox said before leaving the cave.
The doll stood and watched the strange mage wonder off into the distance before it walked through a crack in the cave wall. Hidden on the other side of that wall was a large door covered in countless enchantments.