Wings beat the air, lifting thin body from the ground stubbornly before his hooves caught the ground roughly once again. Landing had become easier for him, but Cera was still learning how to keep himself in the air longer. He was managing rather well, but he practiced secretly for hours every day. This would be considered normal in any other case, for why wouldn't a pegasus foal want to learn how to fly? But Cera was pushing himself hard not for the joys of the skies, but for a different reason entirely. The demon that had split open his chest was not blessed with wings, though he supposed the elitist unicorn was glad for that. Cera knew that if he could fly, the demon could not get him. So he practiced, and practiced, and practiced. Pushing himself to stay aloft, unable to turn to his instincts like Midas had instructed him to. Unable to feel the thermals through a part of him that was born with him. He was too concerned with staying up, for if he could remain in the air then he was safe.

But even he was feeling the fatigue of forcing the air to obey him instead of working with it, and Ilaria crawled up to pull gently on his ear. Reminding him that she would not let him do this, exhaust himself. He sent back his thoughts to her, pleading her to let him continue. Ilaria bit gently at his ear, letting out a strange mix of a growl and purr. It was clear what she was saying, a very insistent no. Cera sighed and obeyed, forgiving her immediately when she pushed her love at him through their bond. Smiling weakly and resorting to walking again. His father's amulet bounced gently against his scar with every step, reminding him both of the love his father had for him and the horrors he had witnessed. It was a conflicting mix that refused to negate each other. Ilaria had found another one in the throat when they had gone together to visit the tree he had found her in. Where he had bonded to her. That one had been carefully wrapped around her small neck, having to wrap the chain in half to make it fit her. Cera would not wear the amulet of his patron over the one his father had given to him. True they held the same properties and came from the same God, but Midas' meant much more to him.

Ilaria was the one who spotted the stallion dozing beneath a tree. She remembered him, fuzzily. Recalled his presence when she had bonded with her precious Cera. Pulling on the chain around Cera's neck, she nudged his mind and flashed an image of Note to him. Cera perked up and turned, spotting Note quickly. Slowly he approached, far more timid than he had been when they had first met. So much had changed. Cera nickered to him, hoping to wake him up. Standing a good few lengths away, still very nervous around others. "Note?" Unwilling to disturb his sleep but also excited to see him again. Nervous, tremulous smile drew upon his lips, awaiting Note's awakening.