Aly returned the embrace, and held Eke close.

"It's all right." she said.

"You're here now, you're awake." she assured him.

"I'm here for you, and so is Ryker." she went on.

"He's making sure we're safe for the night."

'Kid.' the demon in Ryker's mind addressed him.

'I know.' Ryker responded, before standing up from his squatting position.

"....so." he said, addressing the woman.

"State your intentions for being here." he told her.

"And they had better be good."

Ryker was silent for a moment, before turning around.

"So I can assume you are an ally."' he said, before pausing.

"Regardless of what my other self says." he muttered, rolling his eyes.

"Who are you?" he then asked her.

"And why are you helping us out like this, with this storm?"

".........I see." Ryker replied.

"Well, Eke IS, in fact, here." he said.

"And he's NOT doing well." he muttered, shaking his head.

"That damn necromancer, and the undead dragon, need to be taken care of." he went on, before folding his arms over his chest, and looking skyward.

"...ultimately, his mother does, too." he went on, sighing heavily.

"It's nice to have an ally right now. Eke needs as many friends as he can get."

Ryker was silent, before just sighing heavily.

"So she has a small army." he said.

"....." he paused for a moment, before blinking a couple of times.

"Though... I think WE have an army, too." he commented.

"It... depends on what the other me can gather." he added, before the demon took over.

"I KNOW I have supporters. I just need to call them to action!" he declared.

The demon glared at the woman, before Ryker took over again.

"Don't DO that!" he muttered to 'himself'.

"So all we need to do is destroy the crystals." he said to the woman.

"Sounds easy. But odds are easier said than done." he mumbled.

"Also, I have no intention of letting Eke die." he went on.

"I'm his bro, after all!" he said proudly.

"......." Ryker was silent for a moment, before sighing.

"Good." he said.

"I could use a break." he said further.

"And... a week? All right, thank you." he then told her.

"This means a lot." he continued, before jumping down from the roof and heading inside.

"...yep, it's cold out there." he mumbled.

Aly, who had been beside him, was shocked when Eke screamed.

"Eke, what's wrong!?" she exclaimed.

Ryker, meanwhile, was in his room, staring at the ceiling when he heard the scream.

"....of course." he said.

"Life just can't be nice."

"Eke! Eke!" Aly exclaimed.

"Eke, you're all right!" she said.

"You're safe! You're at home, in bed, with me!" she said further.

"Eke, just take a moment and look around!" she added, before giving him a hug.

"It's all right... it's all right, you're safe..."

"You were just having a nightmare, that's all." Aly assured him.

"You're home, you're here, you're safe." she went on.

"Just focus on my voice. Focus on me." she told him.

"I'm here for you. I'm not going anywhere." she cooed softly.

She then smiled softly, holding him close.