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Some students save for three who remained level-headed the entire time experienced behavioral changes that rendered them unable to continue. They became too eccentric, giddy, airheaded, and in extreme cases, insane. The research had to be put on hold in order for the three students to keep those that had been mentally lost under control and progress had not been made when the behavioral changes became severe. Upon the party’s return to Soluna City, many students involved with the research had to undergo individual mental health evaluations in the Specific Hospital. Those that failed were hospitalized immediately and they underwent physical therapy. Only a quarter of the student research team, including the three that proposed it, narrowly passed and returned to Jaania with notes that they had taken in the Mana Core during their time observing it. Needless to say, the house head was bedeviled. She swiftly ordered the research project to be discontinued because of the potential danger that prolonged exposure to the core’s energies might cause. She also made the three key students promise to never discuss it to the general public for she fears that individuals with ill intentions might use that research in a vain attempt to control the core only for it to cause disastrous results to the world. They kept their word without question and shelved their notes in a hidden file cabinet in House Runehawk’s sanctum. These students bore the names Occavatra, Vivi, and Winifred whose haunting memories of their experience observing the Mana Core would follow them even after the Reset. The students involved that fell into insanity were fully recuperated three weeks after they were admitted to the Specific Hospital.

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In conclusion of the cube’s stand-alone summary, besides several known NPCs in the world of DragonFable, Occavatra, Vivi, Winifred, Irene, Europa, Eonaleth, Maegwyn, Seth Juron, Microsoftie, and the son of one of Falconreach’s guardians also retain memories from the era of machines prior to the Reset. Occa’s own memories have played a crucial role in shaping his current personality and how he interacts with others in the DF timeline.

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As a throwback to the MQ main storyline finale, I decided to include the infamous cup that apparently spilled cappuccino on the machine that would’ve returned the universe back to the way it was, but instead its data got corrupted and in the process, set it back to five millennia. While the cappuccino stains remained in a ship that Castle Nostromo was built upon, Maegwyn kept the cup after venturing within the castle walls herself at the time the Hero was hunting for the Orb of Light with Zhoom. Nowadays, she brews herself a cupful of the steamy coffee every morning to keep her mind relaxed and focused while she’s at work at the civilization’s diner.

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It was a humid summer after the Mysterious Stranger was vanquished by the Hero of Falconreach in a climactic showdown when Occavatra, Irene, and Myron went on a quest to look for the missing Ultimate Orb shards that were scattered in the Maguswood Region. Irene and Myron went off to get water nearby when Occavatra decided to wind down on a rock under a tree because his feet started to hurt. The afternoon sun was high in the sky, gazing down on the planet for the first time since the Mysterious Stranger consumed it. Secretly, the night was the way he liked it, but he knew well that opposites must coexist for there to be balance. A half-hour has passed and Irene and Myron were still out trying to fetch water. Occavatra began to grow anxious. The pond was a short walk from where he was standing and he could've checked on them if he wanted to, but he knew his compatriot can handle themselves. He did have one question that sparked in his head; what is keeping them occupied? To pass the time, he conjured a fireball in his hand and played catch with himself by tossing the flame back and forth in both hands. He smiled because he finally found an activity to occupy himself even if it meant playing on his own. Five minutes into his solo game, a celestial wanderer that hiked through the woods found him in the area. Excited that he found another living soul, he approached him quickly. "I'd extinguish that flame if I were you." he said with a smirk on his face. Occavatra was quick to put out that flame and hide his hands behind his back, embarrassed by the remark. "But what for? I've always been mindful with my magic." He replied. "Well, it's because a couple known pyromancers became power-crazed maniacs that put cities and possibly the whole world in danger." the celestial wanderer said. "Their victims are still traumatized to this day and because fire is not easy for even a skilled mage to control, that type of elemental magic is a sensitive topic." Occavatra lifted his head down, thinking that others will perceive him this way. He sheds a couple tears from his left eye socket and they land on the grass. "It's not news to me, sir." He softly spoke. "I've heard about them and I met one of them. You only just met me so how would you know I'll turn out that way?" The celestial wanderer softly smiled. "I'd like to know you." he replied. "It won't hurt to find out, but I know already that you're awfully quiet and if I'm not mistaken, kind-hearted." Occavatra sniffled and continued to stare down at the ground, but it did not deter the stranger who reached his hand out for him. "My name's Bido." he said. "What might your name be? Come on, you can tell me. I won't bite." Occavatra took a deep breath and lifted his left arm. The tears stopped, but he still felt a little uncomfortable thinking that he might hurt him by accident. "It is Occavatra. It's a pleasure to cross paths with you." He stood up and shook Bido's hand, a gesture that marked the beginning of a friendship that cannot be easily broken. When Occavatra looked at Bido's face, he began to gently smile as well.

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The mystical road that appears during the aurora borealis leads directly to the Mana Core where the Tier 3 weapons are located, but that's another story for Occavatra and co. once they, too, discovered how vital magic is to some cultures across the world including, of course, the Shapeless Empire.