You will tell no one. Not, a, soul.

'How long have I wandered through this forest? Hours? Days?'

A single blue eye looks forward, exhausted yet determined. Qifrey wills his body to keep moving, to take one step after another and another, until pain from walking becomes nothing but background noise. His sylph shoes lost their seal during his fight with one of the brimmed caps. He'd have fixed the spell if his conjuring ink wasn't so low.

As he finds a break in the treeline it takes the witch a moment to fully comprehend what he's looking at. Stars and galaxies as far as his eye can see. A whole universe unfolds before him vast and beautiful in its splendor.

'This forest ends so abruptly, similar to some unfinished partition in a painting. Where have the brimmed caps sent me?'

Qifrey ponders quietly while taking in the wide expanse around him. A moment later there comes a sound that catches his attention. Soft footsteps moving across the undergrowth behind him. Without hesitation he grabs for his palm quire and flips to one of his prepared water spells. He closes the outer ring and…

Nothing…

The spell doesn't activate, leaving him with no means to defend against whatever manner of being continues to approach.

Eventually, a human-esque creature steps into view. They have the silhouette of a human but small features give away their true nature. Glittering gemstones shine from each cheek, embedded beneath pale skin. From their head rise a pair of spiraling white horns like a demon or a dragon. They're also clad in a dark navy blue robe with a lighter blue sash wrapped tightly around the waist and a thin silver chain resting over the sash.

Lastly, two deep red eyes peer out at the witch, a sense of calm curiosity behind their expression. When the being speaks its voice rumbles and echoes despite there being no perceptible surfaces to reflect the sound.

"You're rather far from home now, aren't you? Do you need assistance?"

Qifrey can't bring himself to relax. There's no brimmed cap-or any cap to be seen for that matter-yet this individual looks like someone who's dabbled in forbidden magic. "Stay back. I'll not be victim to any of your tricks!" He growls the words and takes a step back but misjudges how much distance is left between him and the endless void. Before he can fall off the ledge he feels an odd sensation. Gentle weightlessness cushioning him then slowly lifting his body up and bringing him safely back onto solid ground.

Regular gravity returns a moment later and the witch lowers into a kneeling position his breathing a bit labored as he struggles to hold himself together. "Did you save me only to torment me? To continue the anguish and suffering caused in my past?" Exhaustion and distrust leave no room for his usual methods of carefully filtering thoughts. There's little reason for him to believe this creature isn't with those that hurt him so long ago. Without his magic though he's powerless to fight back.

"I do not know who caused you so much pain. I can assure you that we've never met before this moment." The being speaks softly and comes to kneel next to Qifrey, their presence calm and non hostile. "I harbor no ill will towards you, no hatred, no desire for harm. My name is Tenebris and this area is my domain. You were sent here by means of your world's magic."

The witch peers over his two-toned spectacles at Tenebris, observing every detail he can focus on. The tone of voice, calm posture, and lack of hatred behind the person's red gaze all suggest that what's been said is the truth.

"Your magic unfortunately has no sway in my realm, but allow me to offer some of mine as a good faith gesture. I have no interest in watching others suffer." Tenebris reassures Qifrey then waves one of their hands in front of the witch's face.

There's a couple seconds of silence before a loud gasp escapes the man as a new strange sensation overtakes him. The silver wood tree that had been long embedded where his empty eye socket was, now begins to disappear entirely. In it's place a new healthy eye forms.

The process is painless and takes mere seconds to complete. It leaves Qifrey confused, hesitant, and speechless. His exhaustion is gone too as he slowly, tentatively, raises one hand up to the right side of his face. He pulls the strands of white hair aside and can't hold back the choked noise of disbelief that falls from his lips. It's been so long since part of his sight was taken from him. Since the brim caps tortured him and stole his memories. So long. Too long.

He only ever dreamed about days like this, where he'd get back what was taken from him. The brimmed caps would never show him such kindness… Neither would the Knights Moralis for that matter.

"May I ask what your name is?" Tenebris keeps their inquiry soft, not wanting to ruin what's clearly an important moment for the other.

"Qi-Qifrey. Qifrey the Witch." His voice trembles slightly as he continues to grapple with the weight of what's been given to him.

"I will ask for nothing in return. You've paid enough. You deserve to be free to live how you desire without the torment and turmoil of your past keeping you anchored to one path." Tenebris stands and moves to the edge of their domain, red eyes gazing across the universe. They then turn their head to look down at the witch. "If I were to accompany you back to your world, would you have any reservations about my assisting further?" The heavy implications hung off Tenebris's words like the echoing chime of Kalhn's city bell.

Qifrey sat quietly for a long while, contemplating those implications and the potential consequences. Delicate fingers carefully trace beneath his restored eye then lower again. He clasps both hands together and takes in a long breath letting it out seconds later. "If you come to my world how might you assist? If my magic is unusable here then so should yours be when not in your realm, yes?"

"My very existence is connected to the vastness of interdimensionality. I'm not bound by the laws of other outside my own. I may visit and utilize my magic where I please. But, if such unchecked power frightens you then I can offer to honor conditions before using my magic. Only for as long as I am within your realm that is." Tenebris replies candidly and turns the rest of his body to fully focus on the other.

"My realm requires drawing seals with special conjuring ink to activate magic. If you intend to use magic without a casting seal then do so discreetly as you can. Also, avoid causing lethal harm to others if at all possible. I mentor young children and I'd prefer to protect them from the horrors of death." Qifrey blinks a couple times experimentally as he speaks.

"That sounds reasonable enough. Please note, that I'm able to freely shift my form as I please. I use this appearance when talking with humans but my true form is typically much larger." There's a hint of an intimidating warning beneath their tone, there and gone again. "I may shift to it if the situation calls for such intervention."