Wander of Wonder/Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven is the seventh issue of the series Wander of Wonder.

Transcript
Nix is seen sleeping before suddenly waking up, he gets out of bed, revealing he slept in his regular clothes instead of pajamas. Nix looks at Jayna for a few seconds before it suddenly cuts to him running downstairs. After the final "birthday" he slides in front of the entrance to the kitchen, expecting to see his cake. However, there is nothing there. Maximus comes up behind Nix. Nix follows Maximus into the throne room where he sees all of his friends who live in the castle waiting for him. Jack hands Nix some money. Bartholomew hands Nix a white scaly toe. Desmond hands Nix a necklace. Charlotte hands him a green scarf. Charlotte hands him a music box. Charlotte kisses Nix on the cheek before walking off. Maximus hands Nix a book. Rolf hands Nix a fish in a bag. Nix looks at his sword, which still has the word "diabhal" written on it. Desmond holds out a strange tube-like object. Nix grabs the pipe and looks around at everyone. He then looks up at Maximus, who smiles at him and gives him a thumbs up. Nix then puts the pipe in his mouth and inhales. Suddenly, the entire world goes black and white and Nix is seen standing in a dessert. Nix wanders for a bit before encountering a man in a black hood and a mask. He slowly removes his mask until it is completely gone. A large amount of black smoke begins blowing out of the man's face and surrounds Nix, who admires the smoke in silence before suddenly falling backward. It cuts back to reality where Nix is coughing, pink smoke puffing out of his mouth as he does. Nix puts the pipe in his mouth again and inhales. It is taken away from him by Jack, Nix coughing again.
 * Nix: It's my birthday!!!
 * Jayna: How did your scarf not move an inch while you were asleep?
 * Nix: Birthday, birthday, birthday, birthday, birthday!
 * Nix: Huh?
 * Maximus: I know, I know, you're very excited but its a tradition in the castle to keep a squire's cake hidden until the end of the day on their birthday.
 * Nix: What sick joke is this?
 * Maximus: Oh hush up and follow me, everybody's waiting to give you your presents.
 * Everybody: Happy birthday!
 * Nix: Daww, you guys all got my presents?
 * Jack: Actually I forgot this was happening so I got you this.
 * Nix: Oh... well, it's the thought that counts. Honestly, I expected you to forget, no offense.
 * Bartholomew: And I got you this!
 * Bartholomew: It's the toe of a Farunkenheim! it's said to bring you good luck!
 * Nix: Thanks.
 * Desmond: My wife and I got you this!
 * Nix: Huh?
 * Roselyn: It's traditionally given by sheep to symbolize their friendship with someone.
 * Nix: Oh, neat, thanks!
 * Charlotte: And I got you this!
 * Charlotte: I thought the old one was a little tacky.
 * Nix: My mother gave me this scarf.
 * Charlotte: Oh... oh dear... well, it's a good thing I got you this too.
 * Charlotte: It's a replica of the one you delivered to me when we first met.
 * Nix: Nice.
 * Charlotte: You're welcome!
 * Nix: I feel like she knows and she's just teasing me at this point...
 * Maximus: What?
 * Nix: Nothing.
 * Maximus: Okay... well, here's your gift from me.
 * Nix: Oh, "Starting Small, A Story of Triumphs and Loses by Maximus Atkinson"! this is your book! you know, I've been meaning to read it but... I don't get paid... so...
 * Maximus: Yeah, yeah, that makes sense.
 * Rolf: I got you this!
 * Rolf: Its name is Greg. I think anyway, the guy who sold me it had a pretty big speech impediment.
 * Nix: I’ll just name him Greg then.
 * Desmond: All and all congratulations Nix, over the course of the past few months you've managed to do so much already! you've managed to befriend three of my greatest knights, you saved me and my whole family's lives from assassins, and you've even sealed away a monster!
 * Nix: I'm still a little uncomfortable holding this thing... you know, knowing what's inside it and all.
 * Desmond: Well then put it down and take this instead!
 * Nix: A pipe?
 * Desmond: It's Kunzite! have you ever heard of it?
 * Nix: The gem?
 * Desmond: No, it's a... well, I don't really know what it is but it's good. Try it! you're old enough now!
 * Nix: That was both incredible and terrifying at the same time...
 * Desmond: You know, legend has it that--
 * Jack: Don't do it again, man, this stuff is ground up magic crystals! too much of it could cause a lot worse than coughing!
 * Nix: Heh... heh heh...
 * Jack: What's so funny?
 * Nix: You took it out of my hands because you thought I was in danger...
 * Jack: So?
 * Nix: You care about me, don't you?
 * Jack: What?
 * Nix: You care about me, that's why you stopped me!
 * Jack: Gah, you've been a teenager for ten minutes and already you're developing some lip...