His teacher and Tuzel were not at the inn. Interestingly, Little Fairy was absent too. He saw only Serious Mouse and that hand, one standing behind the counter, the other sitting on a specially made little chair at one corner of it, savoring a glass of wine.
Ruger pondered while Aisijin gave Serious Mouse instructions about waking them later.
"Father, is that what you want? That strange aura that drifts out when we sleep?" Little Regna asked, tilting her face up beside him.
Ruger raised a hand and stroked her little head. Little One was remarkably perceptive. She had probably been thinking about it all the way here, just like her wise father.
"That's the aura of the Nightmare World. I can get a little myself, but it helps to have someone sleeping nearby. Your sleep and Aisijin's are special, so the effect will be even better," Ruger said.
Little Regna's eyes lit up at his words, and she looked thoughtful.
Ruger blinked and hastily spoke.
"Just sleep normally, the way you always do. Don't do anything extra," he instructed.
Little Regna nodded earnestly.
But Ruger kept looking at her seriously and tapped her forehead to reinforce his instructions. After two taps, however, Little One tilted her head up and gave him a sweet smile.
At some point, the little girl had begun wearing her hair in two braids. Together with her round head, they made her look lively and adorable.
Ruger pursed his lips. What a neglectful father he was. Usually, he did nothing but read or meditate, or else get dragged into some incident that robbed him of his memories. He did not even know when she had changed her hairstyle.
"Tuzel did this for me, and then I taught Aisijin. She and Tuzel take turns doing it