Tales from the edge of reality

Music Playlist:

1--To the Land of Faraway...--Wonder City Orchestra

2—The Valley of the Wind—Joe Hisashi

The morning mist enveloped the forest, giving it a spectral and heavy air. The group gathered in silence, preparing with the proper gear to enter the Corruption Forest. After nearly two weeks of travel, they had finally reached its shores; all that remained was crossing it, and from there, it would take them about another week if they continued on the path they were following. However, according to 10008's map, there was another route that would take them just a few hours to reach the mountain range. Pope adjusted his gas mask while observing the rest of the group, making sure their mounts were ready. The fuzzies, wild boars, and Dream's horse all wore masks almost the size of their heads, with the fuzzies looking especially funny.

"Alright, guys, let's go over the strategy one more time," Pope said. "We know the toxicity of this forest is a problem; our masks should protect us, but if anyone starts feeling anything strange, speak up immediately."

"Understood," they all replied in unison, their voices muffled by the masks.

Meanwhile, Fossil was securing his fuzzy with a mix of excitement and some nervousness. Strange sounds echoed from deep within the forest: the cracking of branches, the whisper of leaves moving in unexpected directions, and an echo that seemed to change its location every few seconds.

"This place is already giving me the creeps, and we're barely at the entrance," Bee commented, petting her fuzzy to calm it.

"If it helps, I don't think we're prepared for any of this," Fossil added with a light smile, trying to ease the tension.

Pope gave him an amused look but didn't comment further. It was a day when they all needed to stay alert, and levity would be useful at times, but they had to be prepared for whatever lay ahead.

They mounted their animals and, after one last glance at the sunlight bathing the entrance to the forest, they ventured into the darkness of giant mushrooms and mutated plants.

As they went deeper, the atmosphere changed drastically. The ground was covered with strange mushrooms in all shapes and colors, some glowing with a phosphorescent light. The vegetation formed surreal patterns, with twisted roots and vines that seemed to move on their own. Each of the kids felt a mix of awe and repulsion.

"I never thought something like this could exist. How deep do you think we'll go?" Alex asked, looking around.

"As long as we follow the markings and 10008's map, we should be fine," Pope replied, although his gaze remained fixed on their surroundings. He noticed several mutated creatures peeking from the shadows: animals that looked like altered versions of foxes, birds with multiple eyes, and even a small deer whose legs appeared to be made of intertwined branches.

On the other hand, 10008 stayed close, its eyes darting from side to side, covered in its protective slime layer that effortlessly absorbed the toxins. The little sea cucumber projected the map at intervals, allowing them to verify they were heading in the right direction.

"We've got a few kilometers to go before we reach the other side," Pope announced, checking the map. "With some luck, we won't run into more problems..."

Just then, Jura saw something that caught his attention in the distance. Among the hanging branches and roots of the forest, a figure flew low. It was a giant parrot, with dull feathers and bone plates that gave it a prehistoric appearance. It held something in its claws: a bundle wrapped in cloth.

"That... that looks like a child," Jura murmured, alarm evident in his voice.

Before the others could stop him, he raised his rifle and aimed. Bee tried to intervene.

"Wait, Jura, don't shoot just like that, maybe it's not even a…"

But the shot had already been fired, echoing through the forest like thunder. The parrot let out a sharp scream and collapsed to the ground. Jura quickly dismounted and ran toward where the creature had fallen. The others followed him, and when he picked up the bundle, they all immediately realized it was not what they had thought. Wrapped in the cloth was a copper sphere, nothing more.

"Is... is it just a sphere?" Bee asked, frowning in disbelief and annoyance.

Jura lowered the rifle, visibly regretful.

"I'm sorry... I thought... I thought it was something worse."

Before anyone could say anything further, Pope, who had been observing the surroundings, noticed movement in the underbrush. Without giving them time to react, a creature emerged with overwhelming speed. It was a huge feline, with yellow fur and four glowing eyes. Its size was massive, with eight legs and natural armor that looked like bone covering its body. The creature stared at them with pure anger in its eyes.

"Quick, mount up!" Pope shouted, without taking his eyes off the beast.

The feline, with a fierce growl, lunged at them as they all scrambled onto their mounts and urged them to run. The fuzzies led the charge, jumping between roots and giant mushrooms, while the enormous cat followed them with powerful, agile strides.

"Jura, I told you not to shoot!" Bee yelled from the front, holding on to her fuzzy as it sped ahead.

"I didn't know!" Jura responded in desperation. "I thought I was helping!"

"Dammit Jura, it's always the same!" Fossil yelled while holding on to his fuzzy.

The feline relentlessly pursued them, leaping over any obstacle in its way. The sound of its growls reverberated through the entire forest, echoing like an endless drumbeat, pushing them to run even faster. No matter the energy shots they fired—whether Pope's, Bee's replicas, or even Fossil's accumulated energy—nothing seemed to faze it; its armor protected the cat.

"We won't last much longer like this!" Alex yelled, urging his fuzzy to go faster, while Pope tried to hold on to Alex and shoot at the same time.

At that moment, a red flare streaked across the sky above them. It was a distress signal, a guide to a safe location. Pope recognized it—they had learned to use flares in their previous world. Without hesitation, he pulled out a flare of the same color and shot another one in the same direction to signal that they had received it. The flare formed an arc over the first one, creating something like a drawing.

"Follow the direction of the flare!" Pope ordered, and the group changed course, turning in the indicated direction while the massive feline kept chasing them without stopping.

The fuzzies led the escape, leaping and dodging obstacles at high speed, while the group pushed themselves to the limit. At times, it seemed like the feline would catch up to them, but each leap they made gave them just enough of an edge.

"Don't look back, Jura! Just keep going!" Fossil shouted when he noticed Jura trying to look behind and keep shooting.

With the change in direction, they slowly began to notice the forest clearing. The sunlight began to filter through the branches again, and the ground under their feet became less dense. The tall trees and giant mushrooms were left behind, and soon the group saw a clearing that stretched beyond the edge of the forest.

"There it is, the exit!" Bee exclaimed, pointing forward as her fuzzy made one last leap into the clearing.

The group crossed the tree line and finally emerged from the forest, greeted by the sunlight and a landscape of black dunes that stretched as far as the eye could see. They had reached the Twilight Desert, and the contrast with the darkness of the forest was so stark that, for a moment, they were all blinded by the brightness.

However, the peace didn't last long. Right behind them, the colossal feline emerged from the trees, its four eyes fixed on the group, and it took a step forward, continuing its pursuit.

"Is it still following us?" Dream murmured, clearly alarmed.

"Looks like this thing doesn't get tired..." Fossil said, trying to calm his fuzzy, which was growling nervously.

Pope looked around, assessing the situation. They were in an open field, with few places to hide, but at least they had room to maneuver.

"We're going to need a new plan..." Pope said quietly, his mind racing as the group reorganized, preparing for what seemed like an inevitable confrontation with the creature.

Floppa was flying high in the sky, gripping the rails of his Sparrow tightly. The cold morning breeze slipped under his pilot's cap, securely fastened beneath his goggles and gas mask, giving him a refreshing sensation on his skin. The landscape beneath him looked like a living painting, with vast stretches of Twilight Desert blending into the dense and mysterious Corruption Forest. Among the clouds, which he skillfully cut through, he spotted an abandoned tower, covered in mushrooms and vegetation clinging to its worn walls like living skin.

"There we go..." he muttered, leaning his body to maneuver the Sparrow downward.

As he approached the ground, he stood up and decisively pressed the brake pedal, causing the glider to descend smoothly onto the dark sand. The Sparrow landed with a slight creak, and Floppa jumped to the ground, checking his belt and the Dickson submachine gun he carried with him. With one last glance at the forest, he pulled a flare from his gear, checked it, and returned it to his belt, making sure he was well-prepared. It was time to enter one of the most dangerous and fascinating places in Desolea.

As he moved toward the thick forest, Floppa noticed how the air grew denser. The Forest of Corruption was dark and mysterious, with huge trees and an atmosphere thick with spores that glowed faintly like lost fireflies. In the distance, pearl eagles and royal parrots flew in circles, their silhouettes blurred in the shadows, while some green wolves, with glowing eyes, peeked out from behind the trunks to observe him before disappearing into the darkness.

As he walked, Floppa raised a hand in a casual greeting when he noticed a giant insect watching him from a nearby branch. His friendly gesture seemed to confuse the insect, which remained still for a few seconds before flying off in another direction. Floppa smiled under the mask, marveling at the strange variety of life in the forest.

"It's like every creature here is fused with this environment... all this darkness and these spores…" he murmured to himself as he moved through the roots and branches.

He continued along the path, and after a few minutes of exploration, his eyes were drawn to a curious plant: a star-shaped mushroom, large and stemless, designed to glow in the dim light. Carefully, he crouched, pushing his goggles up to observe it better. The glowing spores rested on the edge of the star like tiny natural jewels. He pulled a test tube from one of his bags and, with a gentle touch, made one of the spores fall into the tube. He stored it in his belt and adjusted the goggles again.

"With this, that's... 35 plants in the lab," he murmured with satisfaction, imagining the possible development of the plant.

As he continued forward, he came to a sort of tunnel where sunlight filtered through, clearing the forest. On the floor of the tunnel, he noticed a familiar track in the fungus-covered ground. That unmistakable pattern, with deep, textured edges, could only belong to a chanchopoyo. His mind was transported back to his training days in the forests when Dickson, Arthur, and Momox taught him the essentials for doing his job well—those lessons were almost a month ago now.

"Listen, Floppa, a good tracker knows how to read the marks on the ground and know who made them or what happened there. Chanchopoyos leave clear signs: look for the large footprints and pay attention to the texture of the ground where they've stepped. The trick is to follow their tracks to where they molt their shell. There, you'll find your final proof." Arthur's image spoke in his memory.

Floppa stood for a moment, staring at the footprints with nostalgia and pride. Thanks to that skill, he had completed his last test, earning the chanchopoyo shell sword that now rested on his back, the hilt secured to his belt for easy maneuvering, as a symbol of his place in the cordillera.

"Arthur would be happy to see this..." he said quietly.

Following the trail, his eyes lit up when he made an unexpected discovery: a complete, intact chanchopoyo shell. It was huge and gleaming under the glowing spores, with a bluish hue that reflected the light in subtle tones. Floppa would bet anything it had just been shed.

"I've never seen a whole one... damn, it's beautiful," he exclaimed, nimbly climbing onto the shell. Once on top, he drew his sword and looked at it for a moment, comparing the small chanchopoyo shell blade he carried to the imposing armor before him.

He tapped the sword lightly against the shell, listening to the metallic, resonating sound it made. It was a high-pitched tone, like a tuned tuning fork.

"Wow," he whispered.

He struck again, this time harder, as if trying to drive the sword into the shell, listening to how the echo carried with a harmonic quality that surprised him, only dropping a note...

"It's a harmonic sound... it's almost like it's singing." He smiled, amazed. "It even dulled my sword a little," he said, climbing higher on the shell. "The people in the cordillera are going to be so happy to hear this, they won't have to worry about materials for a while," he said excitedly as he settled on the upper part of the shell, which must have belonged to the head, while he unsheathed his sword again.

Then, holding the sword with both hands, he prepared to cut a large square from the shell.

His arms began to vibrate at a low frequency, a trick learned thanks to his super speed, which gave him the strength needed to make the cut. With each strike, the shell resonated like a bell. Floppa noticed how the blade slid through the shell with relative ease thanks to the vibration, and within minutes, he managed to cut a huge square fragment.

Satisfied with his work, he lifted the piece into the air, spinning a few times and laughing. Then, he dropped to the ground and positioned himself under the piece, using it as a sort of cover, and watched as the spores began to fall gently from the tops of the trees, creating a sort of silent snowfall. Everything around him seemed suspended in an ethereal glow.

"It's beautiful... It's hard to think that without this mask, I'd be dead in less than five minutes."

With the weight of the shell on his chest and wrapped in that mystical atmosphere, Floppa let himself drift in the peace of the moment, forgetting everything for a brief instant. The spores continued to fall, accumulating around him like a soft blanket as he remained still, lost in his thoughts.

Suddenly, the echo of a shot broke the silence, making him alert. At first, he hesitated, but a second shot convinced him that something was happening nearby.

"Shots?" he said, frowning. He knew those sounds weren't random in the Forest of Corruption. "Someone's in trouble..."

Determined, he quickly stood up, grabbing the shell and running toward the sound. Following the chanchopoyo tracks, he moved with skill, leaping over roots and dodging low branches until he reached an entrance covered by roots and leaves. He knew it was a tunnel that would lead him straight to an abandoned tower that once belonged to an ancient kingdom.

Once at the top of the tower, he took out a small spyglass and observed the horizon. In the distance, he saw a dense cloud of spores and several explosions in the air, marking the progress of someone trying to escape from something. He adjusted the spyglass, and through the confusion of the spores, he noticed the unmistakable profile of a large chanchopoyo, its plates shining under the filtered light. The animal's dark green eyes looked furious.

"That must be the same chanchopoyo from the shell I found... and it's angry," he murmured. "Whoever is running away is never going to escape in that direction..."

Without wasting time, he lit a flare and shot it into the sky. The flare drew a bright red arc over the forest. Moments later, another red flare shot up from the ground, responding to the signal.

"Perfect, they're coming this way," he murmured with determination as he teleported back to the ground, running toward his Sparrow at super speed, apologizing every time he accidentally stepped on a giant insect or animal in his path.

"Sorry, man... Another one, sorry... Ugh, sorry..."

He kept moving at super speed until he reached the spot where he had left the Sparrow, tossing the shell fragment aside. He climbed into the plane, made sure the submachine gun was in position, and murmured to himself:

"I hope I get there in time to help."

With one last look at the forest, he activated the pedal, quickly taking off to head toward the site of the conflict.

Floppa rose rapidly in the Sparrow, soaring above the dense treetops and the imposing clouds of spores that shot into the air from the Forest of Corruption. The view from up there was stunning. Floppa reclined on the bar railing in an agile move and turned the controls to direct both ailerons toward the wind currents of the ridge. Once he passed the forest's edges, he found the longest stretch of trees. The bluish-green color contrasted with the black sand of the desert. In the distance, he spotted a group of people fleeing frantically from something; four of them were riding large, furry pelusas, two were on black wild boars from Flintstone Edge, and one was galloping on a dark horse that seemed more frightened than any of them. In the background, the treetops began to shake, and then, the giant figure of the chanchopoyo emerged, its green eyes glowing with fury. Around it, a flock of royal parrots escorted it as if they were its own winged sentinels, their iridescent feathers reflecting the little light that passed through the spores.

Floppa admired the chanchopoyo with a mix of respect and awe. Not every day did one see such a large and majestic specimen. "Incredible..." he thought, feeling a moment of pure emotion before the imposing beast. But the creature's roar and the visible fear of the people fleeing made him react.

"Such a badass chanchopoyo..." he murmured to himself, and descended with agility.

He lowered the Sparrow toward the leader of the group, a pelusa with two riders. He managed to catch their attention by signaling from above and then shouted over the noise of the mounts:

"Head toward the dunes! There's a rock formation that can protect you!"

The leader, who was holding on to the rider of the pelusa, nodded from his mount and shouted to the others, giving quick instructions. As the group turned toward the dunes, Floppa adjusted the Sparrow's controls and rose a little higher to gain perspective. He took a deep breath and made a decision.

He headed toward the chanchopoyo, which was advancing with powerful strides, its claws sinking into the ground as the royal parrots circled it like a storm of colorful feathers. Floppa extended a hand in an attempt to calm it, his words carried by the wind.

"Hey, yo! You've got no business here... go back to the forest, this isn't your world."

But the beast was blinded by rage, its green eyes flashing dangerously as it advanced, deaf to any attempt at reasoning. Floppa sighed and murmured resigned:

—Well, I guess it's time to do this the hard way. Determined, he accelerated, overtaking the chanchopoyo, and pressed a pedal on the left side of his glider. The wings of the Sparrow opened slightly, giving it more stability for his next move. Skillfully, he took a special flare from his submachine gun, aimed with precision, and fired it at the massive beast. The flare made a sound like a siren, and halfway through, it exploded in a dazzling burst of colors, filling the air with vivid flashes of red, blue, and green. The light reflected in the chanchopoyo's eyes, which stopped abruptly, paralyzed by the colorful display surrounding it. Floppa smiled in satisfaction, seeing that the trick had worked. —Arthur and I were right… —he told himself, feeling a mix of pride and relief—. Those colors really stun them. From the rock formation, Pope and the others, who had already taken cover, watched in awe as the boy on the glider subdued the gigantic creature. Pope leaned forward, trying to get a better look, while Oka said incredulously: —Who the hell is that? How did he manage to stop that thing? Floppa, after confirming that the chanchopoyo was still stunned, took a small metal tube from one of his pockets. With a swift motion, he grabbed it by a small cord and began spinning it rapidly. The tube emitted a hypnotic sound, a soft hum that enveloped the area in a strange calm. The chanchopoyo's eyes narrowed, and its breathing, once heavy and erratic, began to calm. The beast started to retreat, slowly waking up but without the same frenzy as before. Floppa spoke in a firm and serene voice, though his words were barely audible to those at a distance. Something in his tone seemed to calm the chanchopoyo even more, and after a few seconds of pause, it turned toward the forest. Floppa circled around the chanchopoyo, creating a circle while the tube continued to hum thanks to the Sparrow's motion. Floppa waved goodbye to Pope and the others as he headed back into the forest, the chanchopoyo following at a safe distance. Pope, intrigued, raised a hand in response, still not knowing who that mysterious pilot was. —Well, let's keep going —Pope said to his friends—. We're very close to the entrance to the Cordillera. Meanwhile, Floppa had regained his bearings toward the shell he had left earlier in the forest. When he returned, he secured it in its usual spot and, gripping the lower handles of the Sparrow, took off once again, this time with his precious cargo. As he ascended, the image of the leader he had seen from the air kept coming to mind. There was something about the voice of that guy, his posture, and his tone… —It's Pope… —he murmured, the recognition of the voice muffled by the mask and the wind hitting him suddenly—. That voice is unmistakable. The excitement of having found him surged. A month had passed, and in fact, he had been planning to go search for them in three days when he finished with a few things in the Cordillera, but it seemed everything had gone the other way: Pope and the others had reached him. Floppa's smile widened, and he flew with a renewed sense of purpose toward the entrance to the Cordillera. As he reached the edge of the vegetation, where the black sand gave way to greenery and the windmills stood out on the horizon, Floppa spotted a group resting under one of the windmills. Among them, he recognized the unmistakable silhouette of Pope, who, seeing him descend from the sky, began to approach, expectantly. Floppa descended precisely, the Sparrow gently touching the ground. As he landed, Pope's face filled with surprise upon seeing the mysterious boy on the glider. Then, when he was close enough to the ground, Floppa released the handles, landing softly, and ran toward Pope. With a determined gesture, Floppa removed his gas mask and threw it aside, then took off his pilot cap and goggles, letting them fall. He finally revealed his face, and his hair, now longer, Pope looked at him in disbelief. —Floppa? —he exclaimed, surprised and excited. —It's Floppa! —Bee said, unable to stop laughing as the boy ran toward them. —Pope! —Floppa shouted, launching himself toward him. Floppa almost knocked Pope over with his momentum, and the latter cursed a bit. Floppa hugged Pope tightly. The others joined the hug, surrounding Floppa with joy. Oka laughed and gave him a pat on the back. —Son of a bitch, we were looking for you, Floppin. Floppa laughed and responded: —I was thinking of looking for you one day, and here you are! Where did you come from? Pope, after letting go of Floppa, approached to get a good look at him, evaluating how much he had changed. Although only a month had passed, Floppa's face looked much calmer than the last time he saw him. His hair was longer and messier, and around the area from his nose to his mouth, he had a small mark that Pope thought was from his gas mask, due to constant use. Then he gave him a tap on the head. —Next time, let us know where you are, damn it. About two weeks ago, I sent out a radio signal, but only you didn't respond. What would it have cost you to say you were here? —Huh? —Floppa said, scratching his head, and after a moment, his face changed, as if remembering something—. It was probably because the forest interferes with radio signals, unless they're made at a certain altitude above it. It's due to the heavy metals the spores exhale. The signal probably didn't go through, and I didn't hear it. Pope, although he wanted to shut him up, felt relieved to see that despite his overall appearance, Floppa was still as annoying as ever. Deep down, he was still his friend, so he didn't say anything. —Oh, yeah, take off your masks. There are no spores or toxic gases here. The wind from the Cordillera keeps them away —Floppa said, noticing that no one had taken off their masks. After a few minutes of laughter, the group settled down to rest and share stories. Pope and Floppa sat together, looking out at the distant dunes where the chanchopoyo and the royal parrots had disappeared.

—What you did there, with that thing... —Pope commented with a respectful smile—. It was impressive.

—Nah, it wasn't a big deal, I just tried something that a friend and I thought would work —Floppa replied, shrugging modestly—. The colors and sounds we used to calm them... we thought something like that could work, and well, looks like it did.

Pope nodded, contemplating his friend.

Floppa smiled while watching everyone sit down. He then remembered that he had seen Pope sharing a mount with someone who he now knew had been Alex, so he discreetly asked a question.

—Is everyone good with their mounts? —he asked.

Bee looked towards where the animals were and sighed, pretending to be annoyed.

—We're fine. Pope is the only one without a mount, that's why he was sharing with Alex —she answered, smiling at Floppa.

Floppa let out a quick laugh.

—In that case, I have an idea —he said. Then, without warning, he teleported to the Sparrow, starting to unhook the piece of shell he had brought from the forest.

Suddenly, Bee appeared behind him, looking at him with curiosity.

—Is that your power? —she asked, crossing her arms.

—Oh crap—Floppa said after hearing Bee's voice behind him—Yeah... that, and some other things...

—Interesting —Bee nodded, looking at him with approval—. I have one too. I can copy other people's powers.

Floppa looked at her, surprised, a mix of awe and admiration, also something like... confirmation? Almost like Bee had given him the missing piece of a puzzle.

—That's interesting, Bee. You'll have to show me how you do it. I also saw Fossil and Pope using powers, or at least I thought so. I'll have them teach me later, I think I just confirmed something. —Floppa said while finishing unhooking the shell piece from the Sparrow—Let's see...—he said as he extended the shell to Bee.

She smiled and accepted the shell he offered her.

—I'll trade Pope for the shell —she said with a mischievous smile—It shouldn't be a problem, it's very light. —She said while watching Bee lift it several times, as if she couldn't believe its weight.

That said, he teleported and grabbed Pope by the shoulder, reappearing next to the Sparrow.

—Alright, Pope, lie down here face down —he said while pointing to the space between the Sparrow's rails—But be careful not to rest your hands on the bottom rails. Those are the controls, I know they don't look much more complicated than a couple of cylinders I move, but don't grab them, because that's how I steer the glider.

Pope nodded, adjusting himself in the indicated spot while the rest of the group arranged the shell on Alex's fuzz. Suddenly, something struck Fossil.

—Hey, damn Floppa, he just gave us his burden —Fossil said while Floppa put his hat back on, this time like a hood, and stowed his mask in a pocket of his belt.

Floppa just laughed, Bee looked at him with an accusing glance.

—How are we supposed to get to the village? You're going to leave —Bee said while pointing at him.

—Ah, it's not hard —Floppa said—Just follow the wind! —he said while spinning around with his arms wide open, laughing. Then, he shot off towards the Sparrow and climbed aboard, careful not to step on Pope—Watch your hand —Floppa said while stepping on the start pedal, the Sparrow shot them upwards. Floppa pressed the pedal in such a way that it directed them forward, and then they lifted off.

—Follow the wind, my ovaries... Let's just follow Floppa's glider, or at least the path of the lanterns —Bee said, half resigned and half amused.

10008 let out a sigh, and, along with the others, started following them.

The Sparrow rose smoothly, and Pope felt the coolness of the wind brushing his face. Floppa maneuvered nimbly, lying between the rails, and took them to an altitude where they could see the entire expanse of the mountain range. The landscape was stunning; the lush vegetation combined with the whimsical rock formations, and the wind moved the tree branches like a green, shining ocean.

—Incredible, right? —Floppa said with a smile, noticing Pope's amazed expression.

—It's beautiful —Pope admitted, observing every detail with a mixture of awe and gratitude—. It's like a place from another world.

Floppa laughed.

—XD, it literally is another world, man —he said while maneuvering the glider in the currents, giving Pope a wider view of the mountain range. The lantern path was already beginning to light up in the areas where the mountain shadows covered it. The river that ran through the mountains had a striking glow, and the sun, just beginning to set, reflected off it.

Floppa flew the Sparrow for a while longer, then made a full turn, showing Pope from above the village that could be seen in the distance, along with the hills that marked the end of the mountain range.

—I thought you should see all this before reaching the village —Floppa said—. And of course, this way the others have time to advance, I really liked this place the first time I saw it from above.

The Sparrow slowly descended, following the path that led them to their destination, gliding through the air currents.

From above, Pope noticed that the village was made up of stone and wood houses, with dark rooftops and smoking chimneys that gave it a cozy touch. The houses seemed connected by cobblestone paths that wound through gardens and orchards, and occasionally, a small windmill stood tall, all turning gently in the breeze.

Further ahead, something caught his attention. A pair of much larger windmills stood out, surrounded by high stone walls that seemed to protect a larger structure. Pope observed carefully; the walls and towers suggested that there was some kind of castle or fortress there.

—Is that a castle? —Pope asked, pointing towards the imposing buildings.

Floppa nodded, smiling.

—Yep, though it's not exactly what you might imagine. I'll tell you more later —Floppa said—. But first, there's something I need to do.

Pope nodded, intrigued, while the Sparrow began to descend gently towards an open area near one of the smaller windmills that, unlike the others, wasn't turning. Floppa straightened up in the glider and adjusted the straps, concentrating on the maneuver to land precisely. Slowly, the Sparrow touched the ground, and both of them descended.

#2 (Song)

Floppa got off first, letting go of the rails with an agile movement, while Pope stood up, still impressed by the experience of flying in such a unique glider. Floppa grabbed the cable that came from the front of the glider, which resembled a bird's face. He took the beak, and from it, a cable extended, which he anchored to the ground to keep the Sparrow from moving. While Pope looked around, Floppa began rummaging through one of his side bags, pulling out a coiled rope.

At that moment, Pope noticed a group of children, along with some adults, hurrying towards Floppa. Their faces radiated excitement and joy, and as they approached, Pope could hear their exclamations.

—Prince Floppa is back! —shouted one of the children, running ahead with a beaming smile.

—Welcome back! —another child added, while the adults nodded in respect.

Pope blinked, surprised, trying to process what he had just heard.

—Holy crap, Prince? —he murmured, looking at Floppa with a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

Floppa shrugged, visibly uncomfortable with the title, though with a face that suggested he had gotten used to it.

—It's a long story, but... well, let's just say I'm someone important to these people. —Floppa then turned towards the gathered group, extending his hand to greet one of the children who offered him a small flower.

—Prince Floppa, I brought this for you! —the little girl said shyly, holding up the flower.

—Thanks, Maggie, it's beautiful —Floppa replied, accepting it with a warm smile while the children laughed and the adults came closer.

One of the older men in the group shook Floppa's hand with a firm and respectful gesture.

—I'm glad to see you back, prince. There have been good winds since you left. We were just starting to worry you had forgotten about us.

—Come on, Don Gustavo, I've only been gone for like 4 hours —Floppa replied with a sincere smile, making the man nod in approval—. And I'm glad the wind's been good. It always is here.

Pope observed the scene, still somewhat perplexed but with an increasingly broad smile as he saw the genuine affection everyone had for Floppa. He couldn't help but be surprised by how easily Floppa handled himself in this environment, as if he had always belonged there. The serenity on his friend's face made Pope feel strange even, as far back as he could remember, he had never had such an expression, not even in the village, back in the previous world.

One of the women in the group, holding a baby in her arms, gave Pope a curious look before turning her attention back to Floppa.

"Is he a friend of yours?" she asked, pointing to Pope with a friendly gesture.

Floppa nodded and gave Pope a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"Yes, this is Pope. He came to visit the mountain range," Floppa said, smiling. "Don't worry, I'll take care of him."

Pope gave Floppa a friendly elbow, though he knew he couldn't contradict him since he had literally just saved everyone's behind.

The children looked at Pope with wide eyes full of curiosity, and one by one, they began to approach him with a mix of shyness and fascination. Pope greeted them, surprised by the attention and laughing as some hid behind the adults.

Suddenly, one of the children looked him straight in the eyes and asked,

"Are you a prince too?"

Pope let out a loud laugh.

"No, nothing like that. I'm just a friend of the prince here."

"Ha, ha, how funny, man," Floppa said, dismissing him with a shrug and crossing his arms.

Then, he turned his attention back to the group and the mill, where he adjusted the rope he had taken out and made sure everything was in place.

"Alright, guys, we better get back to work," Floppa said, patting the group of adults and children still surrounding him.

The children nodded, though they seemed reluctant to leave him, but eventually began to disperse, casting curious glances at both Floppa and Pope.

"Couldn't you fix the blade?" Floppa asked a man who stood in front of them.

"No, prince, we haven't been able to get up there, and the ropes we have aren't long enough," the man said, sounding apologetic.

"Well..." Floppa said, extending his own rope. It wasn't a rope, but a dead vine from the Corruption Forest. "A simple remedy, I'll fix it now. And I told you not to call me prince so formally," he added with a slap on the man's back, signaling to Pope to follow him.

When they reached the mill, they both climbed some stairs to the place where the mechanism made it turn.

"Well, seriously, man, 'Prince Floppa'?" Pope repeated, raising an eyebrow with a playful smile. "You hadn't mentioned that to me."

Floppa sighed, scratching the back of his neck.

"Let's just say... things are different here in the mountains," he explained, shrugging. "They gave me the title as a sign of respect, and because of a prophecy they have. I thought it wasn't anything formal... but they take it pretty seriously, so now I even have to study treaties."

Once on the roof, Floppa approached the wooden engine that protruded from one side, his skilled hands moving with familiarity as he inspected the components.

"It's good that the mechanism is working well," Floppa murmured, smiling contentedly as he saw that the gears and wooden pieces fit precisely. "It would be a problem if this also broke."

Pope, curious, watched every detail, impressed by the ingenuity and complexity of the system that kept the mill running. After checking the engine, Floppa went to the part of the blade that seemed loose, pulling the vine from his side bag and skillfully tying it to the edge of the blade. Pope watched from a mill window, intrigued by how easily Floppa navigated the environment, fixing the mill as if it were his responsibility.

"Well, but..." Pope began, "In my life, I never imagined I'd see you as some kind of prince. You always hated being a leader, too much responsibility, you said," he remarked as he watched Floppa work.

"At first, I didn't want to accept the title. I didn't even feel part of the village when I arrived," Floppa stopped for a moment, looking toward the horizon as the wind played with his hair. "But little by little, over time, I got to know them. I started to understand their customs, listen to their stories... and honestly, I kind of liked the idea."

"So, you decided to become a prince for them?" Pope asked, smiling.

"Yeah. I realized that here, everyone helps each other, that there's this balance between them and nature, and I felt that, deep down, I wanted to be part of that," Floppa replied, tying the final knot to the vine and making sure the blade was secure. "Though, in reality, the only difference between them and me is the place I live, the use of the hunting ship, the Sparrow, and... some of the responsibilities," he said, scratching his head. "That's why it doesn't bother me to be prince; I'm not... different, you know?"

Pope noticed the sincerity in Floppa's voice and the way he spoke about the village, as if he truly belonged there.

"That's something special, Floppa. Not everyone would accept something like that," Pope commented, looking at him with respect. "And also you... when they described you in Kingsbury... when I crossed my mind that it was you, I thought... poor idiot," Pope said, laughing. "But I'm glad you like it."

Floppa nodded, smiling.

"Yeah, I do. Being 'prince' is just a title, but to them, it means a lot. And... well, it makes me feel like I can give them something back for the kindness they've shown me, especially for welcoming me here," he shrugged with a modest smile. "So here I am, fixing mills and making sure the wind is always in our favor."

Pope laughed, impressed by his friend's dedication and humility.

"So, the prince is also the town's mechanic?" Pope joked, causing Floppa to burst into laughter.

"You could say so, though I really do a little bit of everything. And for me, it's pretty awesome," Floppa replied, giving the vine one last adjustment and sighing in satisfaction. "Done. This should keep the blade running for a good while."

After finishing his work, Floppa climbed down from the blade and looked at Pope, who was still watching him from the window with a smile.

"Release the engine!" Floppa shouted to the man below them. The man removed a lock that was keeping the engine still, and seconds later, it began to turn. Outside the mill, the blades came to life.

Floppa looked at his work with satisfaction.

Just then, a group of figures appeared in the distance. Bee and the others had arrived, and from below, they watched the scene in surprise. What they saw was Floppa, holding himself against the roof of the mill, while Pope stayed in the window, watching the constant turning of the blades and the spectacle the wind created as it moved them.

Bee raised her hand, pointing at Floppa and Pope as she approached the others.

"What the hell are you guys doing up there?" she commented with a sarcastic smile, causing some laughter from the group.

From the height, Floppa spotted his friends coming and waved a hand in greeting, holding on with the other to maintain balance.

"Bee! Didn't expect to see you so soon!" he shouted, laughing. "How was the trip? I hope you felt the wind."

Bee rolled her eyes and yelled back.

"Fuck you! The 'follow the wind' thing wasn't as easy as it sounded." Her tone was a mix of fun and slight irritation. "So now you're also a mill mechanic?"

Floppa laughed, taking her words as a compliment while watching the mill spin, satisfied with the repair.

"Well, kind of," Floppa said, looking at the mill.

As Floppa descended from the mill with Pope behind him, a burly villager with a sun-weathered face approached, holding the piece of shell Floppa had brought.

"This is top-quality material, Prince Floppa. With this, we can reinforce the hinges of the mill!" the man said, admiring the iridescent and lightweight surface of the shell.

The other boys looked at Floppa, still incredulous about what they had just heard.

Just then, a child ran toward him.

"Prince, Dickson says, when's the damn dog coming to eat? They've been waiting since 2, and it's almost 6."

The child said while breathing heavily. Floppa's neck hairs stood up, and a funny expression formed on his face. The grimace Bee made seeing his reaction was one of pure amusement.

"What do you mean prince?" Bee said, looking at him intently. "And what do you mean the dog needs to eat?"

Floppa quickly stood up.

"I'll explain later, for now, please take them to the castle. Pope knows how to get there," he said as he shot off toward the Sparrow.

Bee laughed at Floppa's disarray, clearly, the child had made him nervous. Before they could do anything, Floppa was already in the air, flying toward the castle.

The group approached the castle after seeing Floppa disappear in the distance on his glider. When they reached the gates, they found Floppa waiting for them, now wearing a white tunic with red and blue details. On his shoulder glowed the embroidered image of a golden sparrow, a symbol that caught Bee's attention.

"Come in, come in," Floppa said with a calm smile, inviting them inside. The boys exchanged curious glances as they crossed the entrance, taking in every corner of the place.

Walking toward the interior, they found three figures waiting nearby. Floppa turned to them and introduced them one by one.

"Guys, these are Dickson, Momox, and Arthur," he said, pointing to each of them. "They taught me everything I know about life in the mountains. Dickson," he pointed to the young man with a mischievous smile and long hair, "is the armorer and mechanic. He built the Sparrow," Dickson nodded, while the others smiled at them.

"You must be the friends Floppa never stops talking about," Dickson said, extending his hand.

Momox, a robust, slightly overweight man with a thick beard, greeted them with a friendly nod. "I handle diplomacy around here, making sure peace is kept between the people of the mountains and... any unexpected visitors," he said with a deep laugh. The boys joined in, feeling more comfortable.

"And Arthur..." Floppa paused before introducing him. "Arthur is our mage and alchemist. He knows these mountains like no one else, except maybe me," he added, nudging him. "Sometimes I help him in the lab, we like to work together." Arthur, a boy the same age as Floppa, with a tattoo on his left wrist and glasses, nodded his head.

"Floppa's full of shit," Arthur replied, "but yeah, I study the unique properties of these mountains and help with anything related to that."

After greeting them, Floppa led them to the castle's dining room, where a table with simple dishes full of typical food from the mountain range awaited them. The dinner unfolded with laughter and stories of what had happened during the month the guys had spent looking for Floppa. Pope watched Floppa, and if he hadn't known his title, he would never have guessed he was now a prince; he interacted with the group with such naturalness and informality that it was hard to tell.

Later, Floppa took the group down a hallway where he pointed out the rooms near the castle garden. "Here, you can rest tonight. Tomorrow I'll show you more of the castle and the village."

When the rest of the group dispersed, Floppa looked at Pope, Bee, and Fossil. "You three, come here for a moment."

The group nodded and followed him down a narrow corridor, climbed a staircase, and walked a good distance to a modest and peculiar room. Floppa opened the door, and as they entered, the group immediately noticed a distillation system in one corner, from which a soft tea aroma emanated. The room was small and cozy, with details revealing Floppa's personality. His bed was embedded in an arch in the wall, next to a hook where his travel clothes hung, and a shelf full of old books, many of them fragile-looking. There was also a small vanity with a jar that seemed to contain water, and a large window beside his bed overlooked the constant movement of the castle's windmill blades.

Bee examined the room and stopped when she saw the old record player and a small collection of records on the top shelf. "Wow! Is this from the old world?" Bee asked, surprised.

Floppa nodded, laughing wistfully. "Yes, I like to listen to music from time to time. Arthur helps me repair them if a record gets damaged, though of course, nothing is like it was before..."

But what truly caught everyone's attention was a tapestry hanging on the wall. The woven image showed a golden star over a landscape that looked like the mountain range, surrounded by seven other stars of different colors. One of them, red and blue, stood out in the mountain range, behind a figure dressed in the same colors, walking through a golden field. The edges of the tapestry were decorated with drawings that they recognized from the cave where they had found the crystals.

Bee approached, observing carefully. She remembered the story Floppa had told them during dinner about how he became a prince due to a prophecy of the mountain range. "So... is that the prophecy?" Bee asked.

Floppa nodded and began to explain, "In the mountain range, the individual prophecy says that a star will fall from the sky, destined to be the prince of this land and guide it to prosperity." He then pointed to the golden star in the center. "The general prophecy of Desolea says this: 'In a thousand years, they will come, dressed in the rainbow and surrounded by unreal fields, to restore the dying world that once was.'"

Pope silently observed the golden star, processing Floppa's words. Finally, he spoke, "So... if the prophecy is true, then all of us are the stars."

Floppa nodded and added, "Yes, based on my own analysis, since the stars are the same color as our crystals, we would be the stars. Although I don't really believe it, there are many things we don't fulfill or that simply aren't within the time interval, but... I could be talking nonsense and be wrong. Yes, and if that's the case, you, Pope, are the most powerful star... because you carry the golden crystal."

Pope didn't respond immediately, but he felt there was much more to this mission than he had imagined.

Floppa chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't know if I'm really a star or a prince, but anyway... the people here have given me so much that I accepted the title. Arthur, Momox, and Dickson taught me almost everything. Here, I have a responsibility more than anything, though I've also made a few friends."

After listening to a bit more of the speech, Bee and Fossil decided it was time to sleep. They wished Pope and Floppa goodnight and headed to their room after asking Floppa how to get there. Pope and Floppa stayed behind to talk for a while, as Floppa tried to convince Pope to sleep in his bed because there was no more space in the other rooms. He would sleep on the floor anyway, as he planned to wake up early to go to the Corruption Forest for something.

The mood grew more serious when Pope mentioned Dann, with a mix of nostalgia and concern. Floppa listened in silence and then, standing up, poured some tea and offered him a cup.

"We'll find Dann, Pope. Now that we're complete, it should be easier," Floppa said with conviction, patting him on the shoulder. Pope nodded, feeling more at ease, though he couldn't stop thinking about what they had seen before reaching the mountain range—the signs of war, how everyone seemed to be preparing for a catastrophe. It made him wonder if finding Dann would really be as easy as they both believed.

As they drank in silence, the soft sound of the night wind slipped through the window, moving the windmill blades on the tower. Outside, the moon illuminated the mountain range, and the grass seemed to dance under the light like a calm ocean.