The Vast Expanse, which encompasses the entire earth, is divided into seven directional seas that stretch out into the deep unknown. It is separated by a large mountain that many people are unable to cross without the appropriate equipment.
Tim, having entered this reality with his buddies, treks across this ocean in search of an antidote to the Black Storm.
He's currently on his way to the island alongside Ralphie, a cook on their ship. He heads for the densely populated area, fully prepared to face an unexpected obstacle. He believes and hopes to discover a treatment for one of his friends' present illness, which was brought on by his sword dispersing.
In the fog, a faraway island appeared, sharpening its colors. A vast park stood in front of a massive castle, the colors of which were more vivid. The outer frame was primarily painted in bright white colors, with golden rooftops and tiny decorations, including a gigantic sun emblem on the castle's largest building.
The outdoors was abundant with towering, brightly colored pine cone trees. Many red roses and various hues bloomed across a big lake that stretched over the park and flowed beneath a distant tunnel. A big mountain surrounded the island's outside space, with a town developed in front of and around it. Some structures were constructed on the sides of mountains, with cobblestone stairs leading up to them. The bridges connecting them. A large portion of the forest in the distance appeared to be shaded, and there was another tall edifice, similar to the castle, at the extreme rear.
A totally new type of flying bird was seen to everyone in the sky, with some of them flying above the Sanguine Rose. Although there appeared to be no formal docks, the ships were permitted to stop along the sides of the land.
"Look at that! There's so many structured surrounded the exterior of that massive castle! There's so much nature, with such a massive population of people at it! I need to go check it out!"
Tim prepared to launch into flight by using the flames, but before he flew across, Kou jumped behind him and called out. "Wait for me! I'm going too!" The orange flames burst from Tim and together with Kou, they went flying at breakneck speed. Kou shouted in fear while others quickly called out to Tim.
"Hold on! Tim, can we not split for once in our lives?!"
Shouted Karisa who held the side of the Sanguine Rose's fence. She gave up in the moments of Ayuka who stepped next to her and looked into the distance, watching Tim and Kou quickly making their way toward the island and landed on it in matter of seconds.
"Leave them alone; as long as they don't reveal any hints that we're sailing on a pirate ship, we'll be fine. Besides, Kou's with Tim, so even if he tries to spill the beans, I'm sure Kou will stop him. Anyway, we should still hide the ship somewhere behind the mountain so that people don't see it and fall into shock. Will that do the trick, boys?"
Ralphie and Elliott took a step together. Their eyes were already emitting a lovely pink heart feeling. They wobbled left and right before accepting Ayuka's command, who had taken over as the ship's First Mate after Ralphie had taken over as the cook. They screamed together, their voices firm.
"Of course! Whatever you say, Ayuka-dear!"
In seconds flat, both of the boys looked at each other with a very serious faces and quickly fell into an argument.
"Hey, pipsqueak! She said it to me, not you!"
"Do you think that she would just prefer a person who she just met a few days ago? I've been travelling with her for years! You're merely a newcomer, love cook!"
"If it weren't for me, her body would have grown exhausted for not receiving the food which I prepared. It makes perfect sense for her to ask me a favor after I've done something so polite."
"Just because you cooked for her these two days, there's no need for her to be stuck hungry! She could easily cook something for herself!"
"My hands are made for preparing the meal, especially for some young and lovely ladies who're in the verge of fall, besides, she decided to never cook again. It's evident she wanted to taste my delicious cooking from the moment she met me."
Karisa became unimpressed by their actions, and spotted Ayuka suddenly acting as a cute and young girl. She softly pressed her hands together and blushed in the false consequences. Her eyes became adorable, as she quickly wobbled her body left and right.
"Aw, please, you don't have to fight for me. Could you two please pilot the ship and maneuver it behind that distant mountain? My hands are fatigued after making all the ice two days ago."
Ralphie and Elliott synchronized their turns and began releasing pink hearts that danced around them. "Of course, lovely Ayuka! Anything you ask of us, we'll do!" Both of them dashed to their designated spots and argued loudly in the action.
"She asked me!"
"No, way! She looked at me when she asked us!"
"You must be blind! It was clear to me that she looked into my eyes!"
Natan stood there with his arms crossed, watching Ayuka, who had been following Ralphie and Elliott's moves. He clenched the back of his head and felt a little uneasy. Both of the boys pushed each other away with their shoulders and grabbed each other's faces in an argument.
"Because of your good appearance, you like to take advantage of others. I never expected you to be so deceitful..."
"She's maturing in her own ways..."
Ayuka swung around seconds after hearing Natan's remark and became enraged by his dull impression. "Don't make me out to be some kind of abuser, you barely-hit-the-target gunner!"
"I assume Tim's delight at seeing a new island has completely distracted him from the reason we're here, so we'll have to track him down as quickly as possible to use his necklace as her next artifact. Guess we're doing this mostly on our own, again..."
Ayuka nodded and walked down the forecastle's deck stairs. She turned around to give them the information they needed. "I'll carry her; concentrate on docking the ship; I'll be back in a flash."
-
-
-
Kou and Tim hurried through the bustling streets, which were bustling with people who were largely talking and exchanging gifts. There was a whole market with individuals selling a wide variety of goods and snacks. Tim and Kou were dragged to the nearest market by a slew of aromas. Tim stared at a market that sold a variety of marine cuisine while Kou looked at a cream cake and blushed with enthusiasm, ready to enjoy the cake. Some of them had meat, while others did not.
Both instantly purchased their favorite foods and wandered through the city afterward. Kou was able to get a sweet foam that he enjoyed eating while walking down the street with Tim and looking around. Tim's nose caught a pleasant perfume coming from around the corner and began following it without hesitation.
"It smells so nice..."
"Hey, Tim. Look at that. It looks like an entire dance party. Should we go check-?"
Kou ceased speaking and froze on the spot. He was in the center of a large throng and felt alone when he realized Tim was nowhere to be found.
"Uh-oh..."
It took him a few seconds to realize what had happened and he began to panic. He yelled out loud, clutching the top of his head. "What the hell happened?! He was here only a split second ago! What the hell, which way did he go? Tim!!!" He hurried through the crowd in a panic, halting in the middle of a crossroads. He looked in all three directions, hoping to find the proper one, then ran to the left street with confidence.
"Tim! Where'd you go?! Come back!"
-
-
-
While speeding through the streets, Kou managed to make eye contact with Tim's body, which was also speeding through the streets at a cheval. His eyes were closed, but his nose was wide open, taking in the lovely scent. While Kou at the back began shrieking, he was nearly flying through the street.
"Tim! Wait, hold on! Stop moving! It's me, Kou! We can't get separated, but if you keep moving so fast I'm going to lose you!"
Tim turned the corner, largely disregarding Kou's appeal, and Kou continued to shout out to him as he was being pursued. "Is it true that your brains are entirely focused on that scent like a target?! Seriously, what is your food lust?"
They continued to run through the streets, with Kou unable to keep up with Tim. Tim's body began to fly through the air and soar into the skies toward the castle that was built a few meters away as the aroma continued to drag his nose behind it and slowly began to ascend after running in between various bends and corners. Tim's only words were heard by Kou.
"Meat..."
When Kou saw Tim flying through the air, he couldn't keep up with him and observed that Tim was getting further and further away from him. He tried to catch up with him for a few seconds, but gave up when he realized he was caught in the thick of the crowd, and slowly began to see Tim's body float onto the mountain stairwells going to the top.
"What exactly does that mean?! He's lured by the meat's aroma, but he still flies up to it with flames? When Ayuka finds out I let Tim escape, I'm dead!"
"Those stairs should help me get to him!"
Kou spun around and ran back into a different street and headed for the stairs which were a good distance away from him.
"Wait for me, Tim! If you keep going so fast, I won't be able to catch up! TIM!!!"
To be continued...