Tales from the edge of reality

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The dawn filtered through the small windows of Floppa's room, painting the room with a deep blue that made Pope rub his eyes as he tried to orient himself. When he turned his head towards the wall beside him, he realized how different it felt to wake up in such an unfamiliar place. However, when he looked to the other side and noticed the details of the room, he smiled softly: he was in Floppa's room, the familiar mess of books, small gadgets, and a series of things that seemed carefully placed on the shelves and furniture slowly clicked into place in his memory from the night before. It was around six-thirty, maybe, but at that moment it didn't matter much. Pope stretched, still feeling the texture of the robe Floppa had left him as pajamas the night before, and stretched his arms before getting up.

Before leaving, he glanced around the room. The place where Floppa had slept on the floor was spotless; the sheets were no longer there. Pope then approached a piece of furniture nearby, as if searching for where Floppa had stored all the blankets, and found a piece of furniture with its door half open. Pope leaned towards it and, out of mere curiosity, finished opening the doors. Inside, he saw some of Floppa's belongings, some of which Pope hadn't expected to find. Floppa's video and audio player was there, looking a bit battered but still functional, along with a pile of movie and video discs, manga, regular books, comics... things from the old world. Pope realized that the backpack Floppa had been carrying the day his home was destroyed was none other than the backpack with things Floppa still kept from before everything fell apart. He laughed a little; it was good to have a reminder of the past. Now he looked at what seemed to be from the Cordillera, there were many things, but among them stood out a pair of forearms and an incomplete helmet, with a clear space for glasses. All the pieces were made of a strange material, a dull metallic color that didn't shine like a metal piece would, it felt porous and was very light.

"Could it be some kind of armor?" he murmured to himself, trying to imagine Floppa wearing it. Despite his role as "prince" of the Cordillera, Pope had still never seen him in combat, and he found it hard to picture him fighting in armor. "Well, maybe he still doesn't leave the Cordillera much. I hope I'm wrong, but with the war we have ahead of us, it won't be long before he has to use it..." he thought, closing the cabinet.

As he turned around, he noticed a note on the table, written in Floppa's distinctive handwriting: "If you wake up before I get back, you can explore the castle. Most people are still asleep, but if you need directions, just ask anyone you find. See you in a bit."

"Heh, well, his handwriting is the same, neither pretty nor ugly..." Pope smiled, slipping the note into his pocket, and stepped out into the hallway. As soon as he touched the door latch, he felt something sticky. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a dark brown stain: coagulated blood.

"What...?" he whispered, instinctively wiping his hand on his pants. Someone must have touched that doorknob with a bloodied hand. Pensive, he continued walking through the castle.

He decided to head back towards the part of the castle where his companions' rooms were located. Peeking in, he saw Bee and Fossil sleeping peacefully in their bed, Bee had kicked Fossil, leaving them both in a funny position. Oka, Dream, Jura, and Alex were also sleeping soundly. Satisfied that everything was in order, he continued exploring, leaving the dormitory wing behind and climbing a stone staircase.

As he climbed, the castle unfolded into corridors full of narrow windows through which the blue light of dawn filtered, creating a play of shadows on the walls. As Pope moved forward, the sound of mill gears and birds singing filled the silence.

Finally, he reached the top of the tower. In front of him, a launch platform with a huge slingshot stretched towards the sky. In the center of the platform was the Sparrow. From there, the mill blades passed almost in front of Pope; they were enormous. Now it made sense why he had seen them so clearly from the sky the previous day when he arrived with Floppa in the Sparrow. The view was breathtaking; in the distance, near the valley, the Star Lake glowed with the colors of dawn; the sun was just beginning to rise, and the Cordillera seemed like a sea of blue and golden hues.

"Wow... this place is truly beautiful," Pope murmured to himself, taking a deep breath of fresh air and enjoying the stillness of the dawn.

Suddenly, a loud engine noise breaking the silence snapped him out of his thoughts. Pope turned just in time to see a ship approaching from the horizon, resembling a falcon, with extended wings and something huge that appeared to be a shell attached to its underside. Pope watched curiously as the ship descended, moving gracefully towards the lower part of the castle, an area Pope had not yet visited.

The ship came close enough for Pope to make out the figures inside. In the pilot's cabin, with a focused expression, was Arthur, carefully manipulating the controls. Behind him, almost at the tail of the ship, in the gunner's position, was Dickson, who raised his hand in a greeting upon seeing Pope watching from the platform.

"Good morning, Pope! Did you sleep well?" Dickson shouted over the noise of the ship, his cheerful voice resonating in the air.

Pope nodded, raising a hand in greeting. "Yes, quite well! And you, what have you been up to?"

Dickson let out a laugh and pointed towards the shell. "Nothing special, buddy, we just went to pick something up from the forest! Didn't want Floppa going out alone so early!"

Upon hearing this, Pope squinted, searching for Floppa on the ship. That's when he noticed the dome-shaped glass on both sides of the pilot's cabin. Through the one facing him, he saw Floppa, holding on where he was, almost in front of Arthur's feet, though Pope couldn't see what he was doing. Floppa then noticed Pope. The young man waved and smiled from his position.

"Good morning, Pope!" Floppa greeted, his voice barely audible through the glass. "Everything okay over here?"

Pope smiled and nodded. "Yeah! What are you doing awake so early?"

Floppa shrugged, laughing. "You know... there are things to do early in the Cordillera," he replied, pointing to the shell. "This is one of the biggest I've seen in a long time. It's going to come in handy for some weapons and tools."

Arthur peeked out from one side of the cabin, looked at Pope, and added with a smile, "Yeah, and we were just talking about giving you a little tour when we land. If you want, of course."

Pope crossed his arms, thoughtful. "Yeah, okay."

The three of them nodded, and as the ship descended toward the lower part of the castle, Pope saw a glow in the area where Floppa was, then he appeared by Pope's side.

"Look at this," Floppa said as he pulled Pope to the edge of the tower. In the distance, a wide drop could be seen, two waterfalls falling on either side of the castle, and then a river joined them heading towards Star Lake. The hunting ship entered a gap between the two waterfalls. It didn't look like an ultra-advanced base, but the organization and blending with nature in the castle's construction impressed Pope.

"Whoa..." Pope said. "It's almost like it's part of the hill."

Floppa smiled. "That's because it is. The castle is mostly built into the hill. The whole castle is kind of like an anthill, except for the towers and the structure of the second floor. Those are built on top of the hill."

Pope nodded. That place, although different from Kingsbury and from what Pope personally liked, was still lovely, almost like Floppa had chosen the place where he would fall. The boy fit in so well there that Pope found it funny.

While Floppa hung from the railing, leaning his torso over the edge as if about to jump into the void, Pope looked at him with a smile. "You... ever used that armor you have in your room?" he asked, referring to the pieces of armor he had seen earlier.

Floppa lowered his feet to the ground, laughing as he shot Pope an inquisitive glance. "Oh, you found it. Yeah, but I only used it once, when I was introduced as a prince. So, it's been almost two months since I last used it."

Pope then asked another question he had in mind.

"And what was that hanging thing?" he asked, looking at Floppa.

"Oh, that..." Floppa said with a smile as they both started descending from the tower toward the castle and Floppa's room. "That's chanchopoyo shell."

"What's that?" Pope asked, raising an eyebrow.

Floppa flashed a carefree smile as he opened the door. "It's that giant cat that was chasing us yesterday in the forest."

Pope stared at him, still in disbelief, waiting for a different answer. "That thing? Seriously? Is that it?"

Floppa laughed and nodded. "Yeah, Pope, that's it. What were you expecting? An insect?"

Pope scratched the back of his neck. "To be honest, yeah..."

Floppa rubbed his arm, that tic Pope had known since he could remember. "It's a huge feline," Floppa said. "The chanchopoyos guard the forest and, in general, they're peaceful... though sometimes territorial. From what I've seen, they don't pose a real danger."

Pope remembered how the enormous feline had chased him and the others, and he laughed as he recounted how Jura, after rescuing the sphere she had thought was a child, saw the creature and, in a panic, started shooting without hesitation.

Floppa threw an XD into the air. "It's always Jura's fault, as usual... Though I don't blame him. The shock that chanchopoyo must've given him was probably huge. The funny thing is, I was near you guys, playing on that shell you just saw hanging from the ship when I heard Jura's shots and came to see what was going on. If Jura hadn't done that, we probably would've ended up on the shell instead of on the outskirts of the forest."

"You were playing on it?" Pope smiled, picturing Floppa having fun with something as simple as a shell.

As they entered the room, Pope remembered the detail about the door. "Oh, yeah, by the way, Floppa, why is there blood on the latch?"

Floppa raised a hand and casually touched his nose with a finger. "Oh, it's my nose. It bleeds from time to time."

Pope looked at him with concern. "Is it happening again? Didn't you fix that?"

"Yeah, actually, it seems my crystal helped turn it into an advantage. My reactive thrombocytosis is now... useful, let's say. The thrombocytosis has adapted, and it allows me to do things I couldn't before."

Pope raised an eyebrow. "Oh, and another thing I wanted to ask you, where do you think the powers come from?"

Floppa quickly responded, "The crystals," he said simply.

Pope looked at him, intrigued. "Is that your theory?"

Floppa nodded. "Yeah. My hypothesis is that the crystals mutated us all, giving us unique abilities. But, as far as I know, you, Bee, and Fossil are the only ones with powers, besides me."

Pope raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying neither Jura nor the others have shown any special abilities?"

"No, at least not that I've seen," Floppa explained. "What about you, Pope? What are yours?"

Pope leaned against the wall while explaining. "Well, I have control over light and sound waves. I can project them as beams, and... well, that's how I defend myself, that's why I don't carry a gun."

Floppa nodded, impressed. "I can teleport, run at super speed, and regenerate. Although, of course, those things tire me out quickly... well, quickly, in quotes."

Pope smiled. "Bee has an interesting power too, she can copy abilities. I believe it because I saw her mimicking both my powers and yours."

Floppa nodded. "Yeah, I saw her do it, yesterday, when she scared me. Her ability to copy is impressive, she uses my powers and yours without practice or anything, I guess her powers also give her some control over what she imitates."

Finally, they descended to the castle garden. The morning light illuminated the space with a golden touch, highlighting the plants, the stream, and the small gazebo resting in the center. Floppa led Pope to a small combat arena, surrounded by trees and rocks.

"Do you know how to fight with your sword, Pope?" Floppa asked.

"No, well, kind of... or I think so. Why?"

Floppa walked in front of him while unsheathing his sword. The sword looked similar to the armor pieces Pope had seen in Floppa's closet.

"Because I'm going to teach you a bit, a little brushing up won't hurt, especially with what's coming," Floppa said as he finished positioning himself.

"You already knew how to use the sword from the previous world, right?" Pope asked.

"Uh-huh, but here they refined my technique. I'm just going to brush you up a bit on what I know and then pass you to the one who really knows," Floppa said, watching Pope unsheathe his sword.

"Floppa, what is your sword made of? It looks like the armor you have in your closet," Pope finally asked.

"It's chanchopoyo shell," Floppa explained.

"Chanchopoyo shell... that giant cat?" Pope asked, incredulously.

"Yeah," Floppa nodded, raising the sword so Pope could see it better. "When a chanchopoyo sheds its shell, this material is left behind. I'm not sure what it is, I think it's bone... but whatever it is, it's resistant, light, and discreet. You can't tell the difference from metal until you see it up close."

"And why that material?" Pope asked.

Floppa smiled proudly. "According to the traditions of the Cordillera, this sword reaffirms my place as a member of the royal family. It's as if the chanchopoyo approves of me by granting me its shell."

Pope nodded, impressed, while running his hand over the hilt of his own sword, trying to process all the information. "So... not just anyone can use that material, right?"

Floppa shook his head. "No, and certainly not like this. In fact, I've been collecting these shells whenever I find one. They're rare, and I don't want to waste them. Even though using the shell for weapons like this is restricted, it can be used for tools, armor, among other things. That's also why I brought the shell, it's not entirely for me. We're going to use part of it for the armor of the fighter ship, and the other part we'll give to the people of the Cordillera. They'll be glad they won't have to worry about material for a while," Floppa said, smiling.

Pope was intrigued by this. He had never seen Floppa be so considerate with people. He never imagined him like this—calmer, happier, and changed. The Cordillera really worked wonders on people.

"Your katana is made of graphene, right? It's much lighter than the shell and, although it's not as rigid, its flexibility and resistance are surprising," Floppa said, looking at the grayish, shiny blade of Pope's katana.

Pope nodded. "Yeah, now that you mention it, that makes sense. Although, frankly, I thought it was some kind of rare metal..."

"Well, now..." Floppa said. "A katana is handled differently from a conventional sword like mine, so... I don't really know how to use it, Joseph knows about that... I'll teach you what I can," Floppa said while smiling.

After a brief explanation, Floppa guided Pope through some basic moves and stances. Pope picked it up quickly, and after a few exchanges, he started matching Floppa, landing a few hits.

Floppa smiled, impressed. "You're doing better than I thought."

Pope smiled while exchanging sword blows. "If I can understand this..."

Pope stopped for a moment and, with a hint of curiosity, asked a question that had been on his mind since Floppa proposed the training.

"Hey, Floppa..." he began, holding his sword with both hands. "I get that it's important to learn how to defend myself, but why do you insist on me mastering the sword so well?"

Floppa looked at him seriously, lowering his guard. After a pause, he answered with a frankness Pope didn't expect.

"Because we're going to go look for Dann. And out there..." Floppa looked towards the horizon with a grave expression. "Out there, things are much more complicated than they seem here. We'll need all the skills we can gather..."

Internally, Pope thanked his friend. He had literally just arrived at the Cordillera, and Floppa was already helping him come up with a plan to find his partner. Pope smiled as the practice continued. Eventually, Floppa disarmed Pope, his katana falling to the ground while Floppa pressed his blade against Pope's chest.

"Okay, okay, you got me, I surrender," Pope said, raising his hands.

Floppa laughed. "You'll get more practice when Master Joseph teaches you. He's the expert. He helped refine my skills."

Then, a whistle made them turn towards the entrance of the garden. Floppa smiled when he saw a tall, burly man with a gray beard and calm eyes walking towards them with a couple of glasses in hand.

"Speaking of the king of Rome..." Floppa murmured, sheathing his sword before running to him. "Good morning, Master Joseph!"

Pope stood watching, a little confused. Floppa and the man exchanged some words and friendly laughter, as if they were old friends. As he got closer, Floppa motioned for Pope to join them.

"Pope, this is Master Joseph. He's the one who helped me perfect my sword technique," Floppa said, smiling with respect as he looked at the master. "And, Master, this is Pope, who's also interested in training."

Pope laughed. "It's just that Floppa is making me train..."

Joseph nodded slightly, with a small laugh, handing one of the cups to Pope. He looked at it curiously, noticing the liquid was a pale pink color with a peculiar smell.

"It's a dragon nut and strawberry smoothie," Joseph said. "Something that helps start the day and regain strength."

Pope took a sip, but the taste made him frown immediately. It was... bitter. Very bitter. However, after a few seconds, a sweet and pleasant flavor emerged in his mouth, making him look at it in surprise.

"First bitter, then sweet... curious," Pope commented, observing the cup.

Floppa laughed, used to the reaction. He had the same one for a long time until he got used to it.

"Yeah, it's normal. Dragon nuts only grow here in the mountain range. They taste really bitter at first, but if you chew them for a while, they turn sweet. The smoothie keeps that property. You get used to it over time."

After finishing the smoothie, Floppa looked at Pope and then at Joseph.

"Well, I'll leave you two. Pope, if you need anything, I'll be in the lab with Arthur working on something important." Floppa gave a slight bow to Joseph. "Master, take good care of him."

Joseph nodded with a half-smile, watching Floppa as he walked away toward the castle.

"Then, Pope," Joseph said, turning his attention back to him. "So you want to learn to use the sword?"

"Yes," Pope replied, a mix of nervousness and determination. "Although, if I may say so, I think I'll be a better student than Floppa."

Joseph let out a deep laugh, entertained by Pope's confidence.

"That's a good attitude. We'll see if you can live up to it."

Pope gave a small smile before getting into position, paying attention to Joseph's instructions.

"The first thing you need to understand is that every sword has its own character. Yours, for example, is a graphene katana, right?" Joseph asked, observing Pope's blade.

"Yes, graphene. Floppa told me it's light, flexible, and resistant, although not as rigid as the shell he uses," Pope replied.

"Exactly. Graphene is unique in its handling. With a katana like this, you can take advantage of its lightness for quick maneuvers and change positions fluidly. But you also need to understand its weakness. Since it's not as rigid, you need to avoid direct hits against heavier weapons. It's ideal for quick and precise movements."

Joseph signaled Pope to take a defensive stance and began throwing controlled strikes, observing how he moved. Pope blocked a few, although with some difficulty at first, trying to adjust his stance as Joseph corrected his movements.

"Don't stiffen up," Joseph instructed. "The key is flexibility. Think of the sword as an extension of your body, not as a tool you control. Follow the flow of each movement and flow with it."

Pope nodded, breathing deeply to relax. He tried to follow the advice, letting the lightness of the katana guide him instead of forcing every movement. He started noticing the difference. By avoiding tensing up too much, his movements became smoother, and Joseph nodded in approval.

"Good, Pope. Now, try to use the katana's flexibility to deflect the strike rather than block it head-on."

Joseph threw a test strike, and this time Pope used the katana's curve to deflect the master's sword. Although it was still hard for him, he was starting to feel the rhythm of his weapon.

"That's it, good job. Always remember speed," Joseph continued. "With a graphene sword, surprise is your best ally. Now, try to strike me."

Pope hesitated for a moment, but then nodded and stepped forward, attacking. Joseph blocked effortlessly, though it seemed like he was evaluating every strike.

After several attempts, Pope stepped back, breathing a bit heavily.

"Not bad for a start, Pope. I can see you have determination, and that's what makes a good swordsman," Joseph said with a slight smile.

Pope, motivated, breathed deeply and prepared for another strike.

"Thanks, Master. Although I still have a long way to go to match Floppa," he admitted.

Joseph looked at him with a mix of sympathy and confidence.

"Floppa has his own style, and it's unique. He's fast and agile, always on the move. Plus, he keeps a certain distance from his opponent, paying attention to every movement. He likes to finish fights quickly, not giving the rival a chance to react."

Pope nodded, imagining Floppa's style as he tried to think of how he could adapt his own.

"However, I see something different in you," Joseph continued. "Floppa strikes with force, but you have something more strategic. You observe before acting, and that patience could be a great advantage in combat. If you manage to combine that mindset with technique, you'll be able to face any opponent, Pope."

Eventually, Master Joseph stopped his advance and lowered his sword, breathing deeply while watching Pope, who was also sweaty and exhausted.

"That's enough for today, Pope. The sword requires as much mental endurance as physical. It's not wise to push past your limits," Joseph said, with a slight smile of approval.

Pope nodded, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. Still, a spark of curiosity shone in his eyes. He remembered what Floppa had mentioned before leaving.

"Master Joseph, could you take me to the laboratory Floppa told me about? He said he would be there."

Joseph looked at him with a raised eyebrow, visibly thoughtful.

"Are you sure?" asked the master, a slightly resigned smile forming on his face. "Floppa's laboratory isn't... like others. It might surprise you."

Pope nodded firmly.

"Yes, I'm sure. Besides," he added with determination, "they're working on something important... a plan to find Dann."

Joseph sighed, nodding.

"Alright, then. I warn you that what you'll see might challenge some of your expectations, but as long as you're not scared by what you hear or see, you'll get used to it. Let's go."

They both walked together down the long, decorated hallways of the castle, the echo of their steps resonating as they moved. After a while, they arrived at a stone staircase leading down to what seemed to be a less decorated, much more industrial part of the castle. As they descended, the sound of tools, hammering, and other mechanical noises grew louder. Pope also heard voices rising above the noise, clearly recognizable as Floppa and Bee's.

At the bottom of the stairs, Pope found himself in a large hangar. The sight was impressive: tables covered with tools, scattered metal pieces, and strange machinery that seemed to be working only halfway. The walls of the hangar were filled with metal panels and all sorts of materials; cables hung from the ceiling, and the lights were dimmer, giving the place a chaotic, mysterious air. Amidst it all, Pope could see Floppa and Bee discussing while they worked.

"Try using your powers with the blood of everyone," Floppa said seriously, handing Bee several test tubes filled with a dark liquid. "If you say you need people close to replicate their powers, maybe you only need something from them… something containing their genome."

Bee, sitting with cotton on her arm after a blood draw, looked at the tubes with a doubtful expression.

"Why does each tube have a different colored cap?" she asked, furrowing her brow.

"So you know whose blood it is," Floppa answered, offering a slightly mischievous smile.

Bee huffed, looking at the tubes with some discomfort.

"And why blood, Floppa?"

"Well, it was either that or a piece of skin," he replied, shrugging. "And besides, we're not even sure it'll work. It's just a theory."

Bee exhaled with resignation but seemed willing to give it a try. At that moment, Floppa turned to Fossil, who was standing nearby, watching the situation.

"Come later to try out some of your abilities, Fossil. That might give us other ideas."

Bee and Fossil, holding hands, began to walk toward the exit. As they passed Pope, Bee gave him a knowing smile.

"Oh, Pope, just in case… if you see weird things down here, or if you see Floppa and the guys from the Cordillera doing stupid things with chemical mixtures or messing with ships, don't be scared. Apparently, that's how they work," she said with a laugh.

Pope raised an eyebrow and gave Joseph a questioning look, who simply shrugged, as if also used to Floppa and the others' unconventional methods. As Bee and Fossil left, Pope couldn't help but feel perplexed. In the previous world, Floppa was extremely organized; he was almost obsessed with keeping every workspace clean and meticulous. But here, everything seemed to be submerged in organized chaos. The lab coats hung beside the door, but no one wore them; instead, everyone seemed to prefer the freedom of moving without them, as if the coats were just an inconvenience.

He was deep in thought when, suddenly, an explosive sound snapped him out of his trance. A huge cloud of soot and dust rose right in the center of the hangar, and Pope jumped back, alarmed.

"What the heck…?" he murmured, as he and Joseph turned to look ahead.

At that moment, the hangar doors opened, letting in a breeze that began to dissipate the dust cloud. Pope watched as Floppa's figure emerged from the cloud, his hands burned and marked with soot, holding a pair of sparking, stripped wires. His face was visibly pained, but instead of complaining, he smiled as if nothing had happened.

"Hey, Pope!" Floppa greeted, raising his burned hands and smiling, even though the pain was evident in his eyes.

Beside him, Arthur was wiping soot off his face and taking off his glasses, revealing the white mark they had left. Dickson and Momox were also covered in dust and ash, each with a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction on their faces.

Pope looked at the scene in complete bewilderment. In the distance, he spotted the gunship he had seen that morning, but now something seemed different: several armor panels appeared to have been replaced with plates made of the same shell he had seen earlier. It looked like they had been working on reinforcing the ship with that material.

"What... what are they doing?" Pope asked, still surprised.

Floppa let out a chuckle, despite the evident pain in his hands.

"Just a small adjustment to the ship, Pope. Nothing out of the ordinary," he replied with a smile, before looking at his companions. "I think we're making progress, guys."

Arthur let out a laugh as he wiped the dust from his hands.

"If this is progress, then I'm afraid I don't want to know what a disaster looks like," he joked, brushing the rest of the ash off his face.

Momox also joined the conversation, rubbing his hands with an amused expression.

"At least now we know the circuits hold up... more or less."

Dickson looked at Floppa with a mixture of disapproval and amusement.

"Next time, wear gloves, prince. We don't want you to end up without hands."

Floppa glanced back at Pope, still in shock, and winked at him.

"Pope, don't you think this is better than working in a boring, tidy lab? Here, a little chaos is part of the magic."

Pope exhaled, trying to process everything he had just seen. This version of Floppa, so wild and almost reckless in his approach, was a stark contrast to the Floppa he had known before.

"Definitely... different," he finally replied, with an incredulous smile.

Floppa nodded as if that were the best answer possible, then turned back to look at the shell they had added to the ship.

"We know chanchopoyo shell is tough, so if we manage to assemble it well, we could have a ship that's much more durable and lighter. But, of course, we're still fine-tuning... the details."

Joseph, standing next to him, let out a soft laugh.

"Let's say the work here is less formal than in the old world, Pope. In this land, flexibility is a necessary tool, both in combat and in projects."

Floppa smiled, watching Pope.

Pope watched Floppa's burned hands, noticing the pain reflected on his face despite the smile he tried to maintain. The reddened, charred skin seemed to worsen with each movement. Unable to contain himself, Pope frowned and asked:

"Floppa, doesn't that hurt a lot?"

Floppa let out a bitter laugh as he raised his hands to show them better.

"Hurt... ha! It hurts like hell," he replied with a twisted smile, "but don't worry. It regenerates on its own."

Pope stared at him in disbelief, as if he couldn't quite process what Floppa was saying.

"It regenerates... just like that?" he asked, both impressed and skeptical.

Floppa nodded, shrugging as if it were completely normal.

"Yeah, well... it takes time. You'll see," he said, waving his burned hands a little, "regeneration has its tricks. At least enough so I don't have to worry about wearing gloves."

Just then, Dickson and Arthur called to Floppa from the other side of the ship, which was partially covered with the shell panels.

"Hey, Floppa! Come help us with these plates before the supports come loose!" Dickson shouted, holding a plate with both hands, waiting for Floppa's help.

Floppa nodded quickly, heading toward them with a slight hurry. Pope, still confused and curious, followed closely behind. As they moved, Pope noticed the burns on Floppa's hands starting to heal; the skin was slowly becoming lighter, and the charred areas seemed to peel off and be replaced by new layers. Fascinated, he couldn't help but ask:

"So... do you always heal this fast? Or is there something that limits that regeneration?"

Floppa, now focused on attaching a plate near the round glass that resembled a bird's eye in the ship's cabin, answered calmly without stopping his work.

"Not always," he explained. "My regeneration depends on a few things: how tired I am and, of course, the severity of the injury. For example, burns like this are annoying but not too serious. I recover a little slower if the damage is superficial but extensive."

Pope frowned, noticing that the answer didn't quite make sense to him.

"And... if the burns were more serious?"

Floppa, without stopping to focus on the plate, paused before continuing.

"That's a different story. For example, in one of our training sessions, Dickson and Arthur combined an attack," he said, setting down the hammer to show with his hands the shape of an explosion. "It was a sort of fiery beam. I raised my TA field, but it's still weak, so the beam went through like it was nothing. It burned my side... and trust me, it was terrible. My body couldn't even regenerate it properly at first."

Pope stared at him, wide-eyed.

"And how... how did you recover then?"

Floppa sighed, as if remembering the experience was as painful as the wound itself.

"Doctor Tina had to cut out all the burned flesh. Only then could my regeneration work. In the end, it was manageable, but..." Floppa shrugged again, trying to downplay it, "It is what it is. Nothing too serious."

Pope couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and disgust. To him, that sounded serious, even though Floppa described it with the utmost casualness.

However, before he could ask more questions, Floppa refocused on the ship, where Dickson and Arthur were already starting to adjust more plates near the cabin. Pope watched, fascinated by the process: the ship's panels were being replaced with pieces of a dark, translucent material, which seemed both light and durable. He immediately recognized the chanchopoyo shell, which he had seen in the morning, now turned into functional armor.

After a few minutes, Pope broke the silence.

"Floppa, what's the exact plan for finding Dann?" he asked, still watching the work being done.

Floppa, who was securing the final piece near the cabin, raised a hand, indicating he needed a moment.

"Give me a second to finish here," he replied, while concentrating on aligning the plate and securing it precisely.

A few seconds later, Floppa gave the final firm tap to the rivet, securing the piece. He took a step back to review the result and nodded, satisfied. Now, the ship was fully covered with the new chanchopoyo shell armor, changing the ship's appearance: its old sand-yellow color, characteristic of ferric ceramics, had been replaced with the dark, translucent blue of the chanchopoyo shell. The ship gleamed under the hangar lights, showing a finish that seemed both resistant and sleek.

Arthur approached, examining the result with an approving smile.

"We'll give it a coat of paint so the engine and cabin internals aren't visible. Something less transparent, but that keeps the style."

Floppa nodded, also inspecting the result.

"Good idea, Arthur. We don't want the enemy seeing the internal circuits. It's an advantage, but it needs to be discreet."

With that, Floppa turned to the rest of the group.

"Alright, guys. Let's all head to the strategy room. We need to review the plan and get everything in order."

Then he turned to Dickson, who was a little further back.

"Dickson, tell Luis to bring the N2 Core to the strategy room."

Dickson looked up and spotted Luis in a corner of the hangar, adjusting some tools.

"Luis!" Dickson called, getting his teammate's attention. "Take the N2 Core to the strategy room, and don't take too long!"

Luis gave a thumbs-up, and Pope noticed the air of informality and camaraderie flowing between everyone in the hangar. Without further delay, the group started heading toward the exit, following Floppa as they left behind the newly armored ship.

On the way, Pope approached Floppa again.

"So... now can you explain to me what the plan is?"

Floppa nodded as they walked down the hallway leading to the strategy room.

"And what about the N2 Core?" Pope asked, remembering the mention of that strange device.

Floppa flashed a smile, revealing his enthusiasm.

"It's a piece Dickson, Arthur, and I have been developing. It's a clean energy source, runs on the same fuel as the Sparrow, and it's built with the copper sphere Jura found yesterday. The fuel I'm talking about is irradiated water from our crystals, connected to the device we plan to build. It can amplify the signal to levels we've never tried before. That means, theoretically, it could allow you to project the signal much further, even beyond the boundaries of the Cordillera."

The idea was beginning to take shape in Pope's mind. With the N2 Core, he could project a signal powerful enough to reach Dann, no matter where she was.

When they arrived in the strategy room, the atmosphere was already fully immersed in the seriousness of the mission. Luis arrived shortly afterward, carrying the N2 Core, a shiny, polished structure filled with intricate-looking circuits and wires.

Floppa approached the central table and laid out an extensive map of the region, pointing to various locations.

"To find Dann, we're going to track her energy signature… or something like it," he said, looking directly into their eyes. "I discovered that the crystals we have—our 'star crystals,' as they're called—emit a specific energy signature. Each crystal is unique, and if we can tune into that frequency, we should be able to track Dann's as well."

Pope looked at him, nodding slowly but still somewhat confused.

"And how do you plan on doing that?" he asked, crossing his arms. "Tracking energy is one thing, but identifying Dann in the middle of all that…"

Floppa smiled and started walking around the table.

"That's why I took everyone's blood," he said with a cunning look. "The energy signature the crystal leaves somehow infiltrates the genome. My idea is to extract that energy signature from your genes and build a kind of tracker that can pick up that same signal in the environment."

Pope nodded, now understanding the plan better. Arthur intervened at that moment, pointing to a metallic piece they had placed on the table.

"This is where the N2 Core comes in," Arthur explained. "This is an energy source that Floppa and I built a few hours ago. It's based on crystal energy and works with electrified hard water, which we stumbled upon while looking for an energy source for the Sparrow."

Pope frowned, intrigued.

"Electrified hard water? How does that work?"

Floppa made a hand gesture, as if trying to shape the explanation in the air.

"It's a special kind of water we found. It's irradiated with crystal energy. When we electrify it, it produces clean, powerful energy, perfect for powering the N2 Core." He then pointed to a small copper sphere in the center of the room. "We found this sphere in the corruption forest. Jura mistook it for a child and brought it to us, not knowing it would be key to building the core."

Pope looked at the sphere, feeling a strange reverence toward the object.

"Impressive…" he murmured. "So, the idea is to build a machine that allows Bee and me to combine our powers to track Dann's energy signature."

Floppa nodded enthusiastically.

"Exactly. With this machine, we could have an approximate location for Dann, and maybe something more precise if you're successful with the signal."

Bee, who had been quietly listening in a corner of the room, raised an eyebrow.

"Do we have everything to build it?" she asked, interlocking her fingers as if already preparing to get to work.

Floppa and Arthur exchanged looks, both shaking their heads at the same time. It was Floppa who responded:

"We're missing one piece. The Pharo. It's a rare piece that's almost no longer produced, and as far as we know, the only place to get it is in the capital: Desolea."

Pope dropped his arms with an expression of disbelief.

"Desolea? According to my map, it's weeks of travel from here. It would take us at least a month if we're going on foot or by horse."

Floppa and Arthur exchanged glances and burst into laughter. Arthur, trying to hold back his laughter, patted Pope on the back.

"And you thought we were going to go on horseback?" he asked, still laughing. "We've got the fighter ship and the Sparrow. With those two, we can get there and back in a day if we don't stop."

Pope was silent for a moment, processing the relief and surprise.

"Really…?" he murmured, a nervous smile creeping onto his face.

Bee rolled her eyes and smiled, crossing her arms.

"It's a ship, Pope. I think you're going to have to get used to the pace of these guys," she joked.

Floppa, regaining his composure, pointed to a spot on the map, tracing the shortest route to Desolea with his finger.

"Yes, and it won't be as easy as it seems," he said, taking on a more serious tone. "Lately, we've seen a fighter ship roaming the region. We don't know who's piloting it or where it's from, but it's been too close to ignore. So, if we go, we need to be ready for any encounters."

Arthur nodded, looking at the others with determination.

"That's why the search team will be small," he explained. "Bee, Fossil, Pope, Floppa, and I will go. The others will stay here to monitor the ridge and start building the machine as soon as they have the plans."

Fossil nodded quietly, and Bee, with a glint of excitement in her eyes, stepped forward.

"So, we'll leave as soon as everything's ready, right?" she asked, clearly eager to get going.

Floppa smiled and gave her a light shove on the shoulder.

"Yes, Bee. And don't worry, we've got enough energy in the Sparrow and the fighter ship to make the trip without stopping," he added. "Just make sure you pack what you need and don't forget anything."

Pope stepped aside, processing the plan. The risk was evident, but the promise of finding Dann gave him a renewed sense of hope. He looked at Floppa, who seemed completely focused on the logistical details.

"So, how long until we take off?" he asked, feeling the weight of the decision in every word.

Arthur shrugged and looked at Floppa.

"If all goes well, we could leave at dawn," Floppa responded. "We need to fully charge the N2 Core and adjust the power system for the trip. Also, Dickson needs to check the armor and make sure the Sparrow is in perfect condition."

Bee nodded with determination.

"Then let's leave tomorrow at dawn. We can't waste any more time. The sooner we get that piece, the sooner we can start looking for Dann."

The group murmured in agreement, and Pope felt the unity of the team as a tangible weight in the air. They were all committed, each willing to face the risks to help with the search.

Before they could dissolve the meeting, Dickson entered the room with a screwdriver in hand, looking at Floppa.

"Did you already tell them about the defense upgrades, boss?" Dickson asked, throwing a challenging grin. "Because if we're going, I want them to know what they've got to work with."

Floppa rolled his eyes but nodded with a slight gesture of approval.

"I was going to do that now. Want to explain it?" he said, passing the floor to him.

Dickson straightened up, giving the screwdriver a couple of taps as he looked at the team.

"First, let's talk about the Sparrow, Floppa's glider. We haven't installed weapons on the Sparrow, as you know, because it's still more of a transport vehicle than a combat one. But I've changed the entire structure to make it more resistant: it's now reinforced with chanchopoyo shell, painted white." Dickson pointed at Floppa with a grin. "To your liking, of course."

Floppa nodded in satisfaction. Pope glanced at him sideways, remembering how the whole team had worked for hours replacing every plate of the ship with the new armor. The guys had removed the old ceramic plates and replaced them with the dark blue, translucent ones, which Dickson later painted white to camouflage them better at night.

Dickson continued, gesturing to the map.

"I added headlights since we'll be traveling at night, and we want to see beyond the next cliff. Also, the stabilizer is better adjusted. Lastly, I replaced the old leather straps on the handrails with a sort of swing." He looked at Floppa with a knowing smile. "So, Floppa, you won't have to lie on those uncomfortable handrails anymore. Now you have a wider and more comfortable support."

Floppa smiled, grateful.

"Perfect. You know I like to feel at home when I fly. Thanks, Dickson."

Dickson nodded with satisfaction, then turned his attention to the rest of the team.

"Now, about the fighter ship..." He looked at Arthur, who tilted his head with a confident expression. "Arthur will pilot it, and that means Pope will be the gunner. You'll just need to fire if anything gets in our way," he explained, addressing Pope.

Pope nodded, understanding his role.

"I guess it won't be so bad to have an... active role," he murmured, still a little uneasy about having to shoot, but knowing it was necessary.

Dickson continued while Arthur looked at Pope with a half-smile, as if sharing a secret.

"As you can see, the armor on the gunship has also been reinforced with chanchopoyo shell," Dickson said, pointing with the screwdriver at one of the plates on the table. "This gives it much greater resistance. Pope, you saw it with your own eyes," he added, remembering the burns on Floppa's hands after fitting the new plates to the fuselage.

Pope nodded, still impressed by the work the guys had done in such a short time.

"The resistance of these plates is impressive," he commented, recalling the dark blue tone of the shell before the paint layer. "And yes, I saw it with my own eyes."

Arthur, crossing his arms, added,

"And the armor is complemented by the weapon system the ship already has. We don't need to add anything else, just fine-tune the targeting."

Bee, who had been listening in silence, raised her hand as if in class.

"So, are we leaving tomorrow at dawn?" she asked, her eyes full of excitement and expectation.

Arthur gave an affirmative gesture.

"Exactly. The sooner we get the Pharo, the sooner we can start tracking Dann's energy signature," he said decisively, looking at everyone in the room. "Everyone has done a great job preparing the ship and the Sparrow, and with Dickson's adjustments, the trip should be safe... as long as we keep our eyes open."

Pope frowned, remembering the rumor about the unknown ship lurking near Desolea.

"And what about that fighter ship we've seen nearby?" he asked, looking at everyone. "We don't know who it belongs to, but it looks like it could cross our path."

Floppa nodded gravely.

"It's a risk, yes. We don't know who they are or what they want, but if we run into them, we need to be prepared." His eyes met Pope's. "Don't worry, Pope. With Arthur at the controls and you in the gunner seat, we have a good chance of defending ourselves."

Bee let out a quick laugh, cheering Pope with a smile.

"Come on, Pope. I already imagine you as a pro gunner. You'll do great."

Pope returned the smile, though somewhat nervous.

"I'll do my best," he said, trying to sound confident. "I'm not a soldier, but... I trust you guys."

Arthur gave him a pat on the shoulder, showing support.

"You don't need to be a soldier, Pope. Just keep your eyes on whatever's in front of us and pull the trigger when I tell you."

Floppa took a step forward and extended his hand to the center of the table.

"Well, then we're all set," he said solemnly. "Ready to leave at dawn?"

Bee, Fossil, Arthur, and Pope placed their hands over Floppa's, sealing the mission with a shared promise. The weight of their goal was reflected in their determined looks: they would find the Pharo and build the machine that would allow them to track Dann.

As everyone prepared to leave the room, Floppa turned to Dickson.

"Make sure the Sparrow and the gunship are fully loaded and ready for takeoff. We don't want any issues during the flight."

Dickson nodded, giving him a confident look.

"Don't worry, Floppa. The Sparrow is ready to fly, and once I finish checking the fighter, it'll be ready too. We'll see you on the runway at dawn."

With the plan set, the team dispersed, each with tasks to complete before departure. Pope felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, but the determination on his teammates' faces reassured him. As he left the strategy room, he glanced at Floppa once more and nodded with renewed confidence.

"Well, let's go get some sleep," Pope said as he stretched.

"Yeah," Floppa replied as they walked toward their room. "I'll sleep on the floor again, you sleep in my bed again. We'll need energy for tomorrow, so we better sleep early."

Pope nodded as they entered the room. Tomorrow would be an important day.

---

The night was completely clear on that remote mountain, far from the bustle and lights of any town. Chara sat on a rock, her gaze fixed on the starry sky. Her hand, still trembling, wrapped the injured wrist with a makeshift bandage made from a piece of her own shirt. The wound throbbed, as if reminding her of her mistake in Coral Barrier City. She cursed under her breath.

"I should've been more careful..." she muttered, tightening the bandage around her wrist and grimacing in pain. With a sigh, she let her hand fall into her lap and looked up at the stars, seeking a brief rest amidst the chaos surrounding her.

Beside her, she had a piece of hard bread and a bit of dried meat, her only meal of the day. As she chewed slowly, her mind went over the past few days, the thefts, and every piece she had gathered so far. She felt the weight of her efforts, the dangers she had gotten into, all to assemble the weapon she hoped would be powerful enough to complete her mission.

"Well, almost there..." she whispered to herself, a mix of hope and frustration in her voice. "The organic condensers from the living jungle, the obsidian mirror from Flintstone Edge, the electric potion from Kingsbury, and the magnetic tapes from Lumia City..." she listed, caressing the pieces in her backpack as if they were precious jewels.

Chara let out an ironic laugh. It was an impressive haul, but it had come at a cost. The infected wound on her wrist was just one of the reminders of that.

"One more wound, what does it matter?" she told herself, trying to convince herself. But the pain wouldn't stop, pulsating with a burning sensation that told her it needed attention. Of course, she had no medicine, and she couldn't afford to stop.

"When all this is over, I'll be able to rest," she thought, pushing herself to keep going. But she knew it wasn't just a motivational thought; she had already planned her next step, her next goal: the Pharo.

She leaned over her map, unrolling it over a flat surface of the rock and examined the paths around her. Desolea was close, but she couldn't take any of the usual routes. Her eyes scanned the marked routes on the map, looking for safer alternatives, even if it meant taking more time.

"The Pharo will be the last... when I have it, then yes, I'll be able to return," she murmured, tracing a path with her finger through hidden trails, far from the patrolled routes. "After that, Goldwater. I'll deal with that... boy," her eyes darkened with contained fury. "And I'll rescue my parents. My brother. My kingdom."

The silence of the night mixed with the distant sound of some nocturnal animal. Chara finished her meal, feeling the roughness of the bread in her throat and the metallic taste of the dried meat. It was a taste she had grown used to, the routine of surviving by sheer willpower. As hard as it was, she preferred this to being under Goldwater's yoke, away from her people.

As she packed away the map, a thought crossed her mind. Unknowingly, she looked up at the stars again, recalling the boy she had seen fall in a beam of light. It had only been a fraction of a second, but that vision had stayed with her, something she couldn't shake off.

"Who was he?" she murmured, pressing her lips together and looking at the sky with a frown. "Why do I even care?"

For a moment, she considered the idea of approaching the village in the mountain range, asking about him. It wouldn't be difficult; surely someone must have seen him, he must have been someone unusual in that place. But then doubt gnawed at her: she didn't know if the other kingdoms were looking for her, or if she would be welcomed in the mountain range. She didn't know who was in charge of the place, only rumors heard in Kingsbury about a new prince in the region.

"A decent prince… if such a thing exists," she laughed bitterly. "Anyway, I can't risk it now."

With a sigh, she shut down her fighter's engine and made sure everything was in order. She had spent hours repairing it, and although she was tired, she knew she might need to flee at any moment. She finished checking every screw and armor plate, feeling a mixture of pride and resignation. She had done all this work alone, and had no choice but to keep going this way, without help.

With one last look at the sky, she climbed into the cockpit of her ship. She closed the hatch and settled into the seat, tilting her head back. As soon as she closed her eyes, she felt the weight of fatigue drag her down, but her mind kept replaying the image of the boy from the star.

"Who are you?" she whispered to herself, unable to stop. "Are you someone who can help me? Or just another shadow in this world?"

Chara fell into a deep sleep after the exhausting day. However, it didn't take long before she was dragged into a strange dream, so vivid that for a moment, she thought she was awake.

In this dream, she stood in the middle of a clearing surrounded by glowing trees, their leaves illuminated with a soft silver light. In front of her, the boy from the star looked at her with a peaceful smile. His eyes, warm and serene, gazed at her as though they could see through all the walls she had built around herself, and that unsettled her, but it also filled her with something she couldn't describe.

"Do you want to dance?" he asked, extending his hand to her.

Chara looked at him with some disbelief, and a nervous laugh escaped her lips. She had never been someone who trusted easily, much less accepted invitations from strangers. However, in the dream world, her doubts seemed to vanish, and instead of stepping back, she accepted the hand he offered.

"Dance?" she repeated, holding back a laugh and raising an eyebrow. "It's not exactly my favorite pastime."

"Then this will be your first time," he replied, a playful tone in his voice.

Without saying more, he gently pulled her toward him, and they both began to move to the rhythm of a non-existent music, which seemed to resonate from the very ground, a soft, ethereal melody that filled the air. Chara found herself laughing, something she hadn't done in a long time. There was something about him, the way he held her, the way he looked at her without judgment, that made her feel light, as if all her burdens and worries had completely disappeared.

"You're… different," Chara murmured, almost without thinking, as they slowly spun in that dreamlike clearing.

He smiled at her, and in his eyes, there was more than just understanding—there was something that stirred in her a hope that had been buried for so long, she hadn't even known it still existed.

However, as the dream continued, a sense of fear began to take hold of her. She felt a deep connection with the boy, something that was both strange and comforting. Just as she was beginning to accept that strange happiness, the boy began to fade. Chara felt how her fingers, intertwined with his, dissolved like sand slipping through her hands.

"No, wait!" she exclaimed, alarmed, clinging to him with all her might, trying to hold him, but he slipped away from her arms like a whisper in the wind.

Terrified, she tried to call him again, but her voice didn't echo, as if the very world was silent. The figure of the boy slowly faded, leaving a cold emptiness in her arms. Chara felt her heart racing, and desperation grew in her chest.

At that moment, the dream shattered, and Chara woke up with a start in the cockpit of her ship, her breath heavy and her forehead covered in sweat. The emptiness in her arms still hurt, even though she knew it had only been a dream. Still, she placed a hand on her chest, trying to calm the frantic beats of her heart.

"It was just a dream… nothing more…" she whispered to herself, although the image of the boy remained fixed in her mind.

That strange mix of warmth and hope lingered, like an indelible mark on her heart. She closed her eyes for a few seconds, trying to clear her mind, but the face of the boy from the star seemed to have been etched into her memory. She didn't understand why, but something inside her told her that this dream had been more than just a fleeting illusion.

She settled back into the seat, still disturbed, and glanced at the stars one last time before trying to go back to sleep. But no matter how hard she tried, she knew that the memory of that dance and the emptiness she felt wouldn't let her rest completely.