After the incident the first time, Cera had avoided the Oasis for as long as possible before having to give in to drink. He was wary of the reflection he saw, and often clenched his eyes shut while he was there. Fina was always watching him from above, which made him nervous. Her cold demeanor made him fear that she did not like him, and hated babysitting him. Ilaria was sleeping cozily between his wings, as she often did during the day. Cera had quickly quenched himself before turning and leaving the Oasis, not wanting to see what he looked like anymore. It was the only way he could deal with it. Kri's call made him stop short, and dread filled his visage. He loved Kri, and loved her daughter even more, but he wasn't blind and he still had a brain. He knew that Kri was demanding them for something important, and feared it was for something bad.

Crown lifted when Midas appeared almost out of thin air, though Cera had not been paying much attention. Cera went to his side without a thought, nudging Ilaria with his wings and prodding her gently through their bond to awaken her. He had a feeling he would need her soon. Green eyes found his hooves when Midas spoke, clearly trying to comfort him, but it did little good. "The same..." And it always was. It was like he had a little routine now and though it bored him he felt he would fall apart without it. Cera was getting better, no doubt about it, but miracles don't happen often and work takes far longer. Long legs somehow kept him in stride with Midas though his head was low and wings slightly forward to hide his chest from everybody. Thinking, remembering, staying in his mind for as long as he could. They stood before Kri then, and Cera lifted his eyes out of respect. Ilaria crawled lazily up his neck to settle on his head, and he rolled his eyes at her. She was light enough not to be a problem but she wasn't a ball of air either.

"The time for battle is near," and Cera's heart turned to ice. For a long while he merely stared at Kri in horror and even a bit of indignation. Far too intimately he remembered the breakdown he'd had when Midas had informed him that he had to leave for battle. "Every soldier is expected to train, and I would ask that any who are of able body attempt to learn the arts of defense as well." Cera squashed the hope that fluttered to life in desperation, knowing he was still a good two seasons away from sparring officially. The final words sealed his fate, knowing that Midas was a general and had to help train the others for battle. Cera's face went dead, cold. He wanted to turn and walk away, be as rude and disrespectful as he could to Kri for doing this to him, but he knew this wasn't about him. This was about their home, about all of them, and he couldn't manage to be cruel to her. Eyes stared at the ground intensely, wondering if he had the strength to let Midas leave to war once more. Ilaria sensed his emotions and cooed worriedly, watching him with big brown eyes that betrayed how anxious she was that Cera was so distressed and practically screaming on the inside.