To ensure that no one would interrupt Empress Oriyana's private moment, Tem stood inside the dressing room with Oriyana while Rika and Tinna kept guard outside the door.
"When you stick in those long nails, will it cause me to bleed? I believe I have seen enough blood up front."
In front of Tem, Oriyana reached for a bottle and promptly dragged it from the shelf. She then approached her more closely. "No need to be concern. It won't hurt too bad. It's close to a needle. You don't mind being pricked, right?"
Tem felt embarrassed as she lifted her shirt to display her left hip and waited to be poked by the nails.
"I can see that you grasp the basics. Your body will instantaneously return to its natural state once I apply this cream to the spot where I'll pierce it to relieve the agony. I assure you that changing won't harm in the least."
"I don't feel particularly comfortable around you. I'm hoping this isn't some ruse you're using to finally get rid of me."
As she delicately applied the cold cream to Tem's hip's left side, Oriyana giggled. Tem's anxiety subsided as it felt calming on the skin and relaxed her. Actually, this isn't that horrible.
"Yes, just a step more." Finally, Oriyana carefully inserted the nails into Tem's hip. At first, this felt quite unsettling, but gradually, she noticed how her body softened, and the pain instantly vanished.
Her vision briefly became fuzzy, but she soon recovered, and when she did, she was greatly relieved. She promptly checked in after shaking her head to clear her eyesight.
Finally, his boyish body allowed his feminine inclinations to fade. He soon called out, his hair was once again short, and his chest was once again normal "Finally, I'm back! You don't want to know what it was like to experience a woman's body for four days in a row!"
As soon as he was back in his own body, he sprang to his feet and stretched. "Oriyana, thank you so much! I suppose it wasn't all that bad being a woman, but at least I now know that women really don't like having their garments burned."
"I ought to express my gratitude on behalf of the entire island. Now that you've disclosed Muro's genuine motivations, everything is back to normal. I'll see to it that our people never experience this again. I'll take good care of that responsibility and will always remember how brave you were."
Tim reached for the point of his toes while bending forward at the waist. He replied, "But I must tell, I feel much more flexible than before," and he hopped to warm himself up.
"I suppose that you retained some of the positive advantages of being a lady and can use them now that you are a boy as well. Before you set ship for the next site, would you kindly accept my invitation to a dinner?"
"Food?! Oh, without a doubt! I wouldn't mind tasting some of the most delicious dishes, but if it's possible, I'd prefer Ralphie to prepare it. I assure you that he is the best cook you will ever encounter in the "Vast Expanse.""
Oriyana nodded in agreement before they both shook hands to form an alliance. "I'll accept your invitation. Of course, if your ship's chef feels like cooking, I'd be more than happy to taste his specialties."
Tim heard his name being yelled out from outside. He quickly descended the stairs with Oriyana, came out, and then finally showed Yumiko his real physique.
"Hey, guys! It's great to see you after you found me! Yumiko, and you too! You appear to be wonderful!" Yumiko's eyes suddenly widened and sparkled at that very time. She yelled in elation as particles began to fly around her.
"Actually, it's you! The guy I saw on the posters is actually you! I can now actually meet you without the other gender!" Tim was initially a little startled and felt Yumiko's body slam against him, pinning him to the ground.
She couldn't let go because she was such a huge fan of Tim, and she was actually rubbing her cheek against him as they watched the scene play out in front of them. "What happened to her? Tim didn't seem to have a fangirl, in my memory." Karisa asserted, scratching her small hair on the top of her head.
"I guess for a while she was a great fan of his. Maybe she felt the want to share her excitement now that she could see his actual figure. I'm merely amazed that she hasn't grown weary of her suffering." But as soon as he said it, Yumiko's pain hit her, making her rigid as a rock.
She was immobile while they all called her name, a soft ghost phasing through her mouth in the air, but she was still. However, as soon as Tim yelled, she sprung to her feet and raised her arms in the air.
"I'm doing fine! I don't feel any pain at all! I think I could take on the entire planet!"
Tim slowly climbed out from under Yumiko's foot and gave his back a good smack. "You're confident, Yumi? You look to have consumed some sort of bizarre fungus."
"He called me Yumi!"
As she dove back at Tim and drove his torso into the ground, caused his back to crack once more, her voice literally turned adorable. "You're going to break me, Yumi!"
Tim's face began to turn purple as he felt her hands around his neck, but he was unable to get free. While others merely smiled and looked on, he tried to speak but was unable because he had no chance and instead rapidly slapped the ground.
"She looks to be in good spirits now. I suppose we don't need to worry too much about her."
Tim began to tap Yumiko's shoulder gradually while she continued to chuckle, which eventually caused her to loosen her grip. Fortunately, he was saved and spared death, but he had no idea how long he would live.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, Tim!" she shouted while covering her lips with her hand. "Well, Yumi, I suppose I'd rather lose the food than be killed as a result of you, but it's all right. You going back to your old style is wonderful!"
Elliott, carrying flowers, quickly interrupted their delight as he sped into the city's core. He put his knees on the ground and came to a complete stop in front of Yumiko's upright body.
His heart began to beat loudly and quickly as soon as he caught a glimpse of her and Oriyana. "Right in front of me, two angels! I have the best luck there is! Yumiko, would you please give me a kiss, gorgeous Oriyana?"
Karisa punched Elliott in the face right away, causing him to fall to the ground in a heap. The unfortunate flower was left behind as she grabbed him by the knees and hauled him away from everyone else.
"Not at all, no. You won't sabotage their time again. I'll make sure you're tied to the wooden pole going forward and hold you there until you clear your head of these disrespectful events."
"You are so sexy when you get mad, Karisa!"
Yumiko watched them leave as he let himself be dragged along the ground by Karisa. She looked at Ralphie and Tim and asked, "So will somebody tell me what just happened?"
They both kept quiet and remained silent the entire time. She was getting bored as they moved forward in quiet until Tim yelled out to Ralphie.
"Ralphie, hey! We can enjoy a feast later this evening, according to Oriyana! I already requested if you may prepare meals rather than others, and she said yes. I've been starving for days; if you could just say you're in, that would be great! I haven't had anything good these last few days."
Yumiko yelled at Tim and her expression quickly turned angry. "I really did bring you food! After I did something so unique for you, how are you able to say that?"
Tim tried to slink away in a moment of embarrassment when Yumiko walked in front of him, tapping his chest with her fingertips.
"Hold on, hold on! Yours was not included in my calculations. It really was amazing how good your cuisine was!" He raised his arms in front of him, an irate Yumiko close by.
After chuckling, Ralphie saw Oriyana approach him closer. "I'm hoping you'll let him have what he requested. I'd be thrilled to experience some of your delicacies." Ralphie quickly squatted down in front of Oriyana and extended a gentle hand.
"How can I ignore such a beautiful angel in my presence. I can't let a helpless, innocent woman go hungry all day!"
The sight of Oriyana standing in front of him caused his body to heat up, and his eyes appeared to be beating hearts. Rika and Tinna crept up behind him and positioned their tridents in front of his neck before he could try anything weird.
"Remove yourself from Empress Oriyana. She hadn't given you permission to touch her." Tinna called, her tongue writhing like a snake. Ralphie swallowed and tensed up right away.
"It's okay. I thank you and I'm hoping for a wonderful evening."
Around seven hours had passed...
Finally, the intensity of that evening gradually peaked. Everyone in the city, including Tim and his friends, celebrated throughout the entire night as the sun slowly started to set in preparation for the moon to take over.
Professional musicians as well as Natan himself played music. The majority of them purchased new clothing for the journey, and before long Tim was approached by Empress Oriyana as everyone else in the background vigorously danced.
"Excuse me, Tim." Tim looked at her as he bit into a delicious meal that Ralphie had prepared. "I heard you came here to help your spiritual friend, am I correct?"
Tim swallowed the entire piece of meat, including the bone, almost choking on it, but he quickly smiled and nodded, placing his hands on his hips. "Yup! That was the reason we came here, but the issue was that the island's craftsmen hadn't come anywhere close to us."
"Yes, I'd like to bring something up to you before you leave. The sole talented craftsman who could have created the ideal pendant for your spirit friend was kidnapped by Niklas Weindorf, another former resident of our island and skillful craftsmen.
"But as soon as Muro took control of our island, he made the decision to flee and kidnap Harry Dillinger, our sole craftsman. He was reputed to be an expert craftsman who could produce the spiritual pendant on short notice. The one I wear around my neck was also fashioned by him, but I've had it ever since the spirit I once held vanished."
With a severe expression, Ralphie walked up next to Tim and interrupted them right away. "Harry Dillinger? I came here to look for that man. Please let me know where he was taken; he was a close friend of mine."
"I apologize, young chef, but I truly am not certain where he was taken. My guess would be at the Urban Craftsman Island into Athvan Town. Most professional craftsmen people tend to work there and so did Niklas before he ran off."
Tim and Ralphie exchanged glances as they continued to wait calmly.
"Tim, I understand you're the captain, but I want to dig a little deeper. Since he's been one of my closest friends since we were kids, I'd want to ask you if it's okay if we go to the "Urban Craftsman Island." I'm confident that Tomomi will be secure if we discover him."
Tim was silent for a little period before turning around and walking in front of everyone. He immediately raised the meat-on-the-bone above his head after grabbing it.
"I want to get your attention, everyone! Codey, Karisa, Natan, Elliott, Ayuka, and Kou! I've chosen where we'll go next. To locate Ralphie's friend, we'll travel to "Urban Craftsman Island." These are your captain's orders!"
Natan maintained his composure as his crew gracefully smiled and raised their arms high in the air. They all concurred with his directives and were prepared to follow them to their next location. Ralphie appreciated Tim's patience and shared it and agreed with them.
"Hold on, hold on!" Yumiko shouted out right away, and everyone turned to look at her as she walked up in the middle of them. "Tim, if you don't mind, I have a request to make?"
"Since you did so much for our island, I want to pay you back. I would greatly love it if you would let me go with you to the island of the "Urban Craftsman" and help you. I can return to my family back here after we find your friend.
"Although I am aware that I might not be to your standards I would still like to help you on this mission, I still want to show you that I am a capable fighter. So, Tim, if you would... Will you allow me to aid you so that we can save him together?"
Tim grinned before the other people stopped staring at her. "I never said you had to pay me back, but I believe that with your cooperation, Harry will be saved essentially without fail. Welcome aboard."
Her eyes suddenly lit up with excitement, and she nearly passed out. She took a moment to gather her seriousness before giving a fast affirmative nod. "I promise I won't hold you back on this mission!"
Oriyana touched Tim's shoulder to get his attention before he could finish his laugh and bite into the steak. "Please take this before you leave," She took hold of her pendant and placed it in Tim's hand.
"What's this for, huh?" He was perplexed and wondered. "You came here to save your friend's life, but you couldn't find a specialist." she added, "I want you to hold on to it. The only spiritual pendant that can save your friend's soul is this one. She will revert to her original state if you make her to touch this pendant. Just one more way to say thank you and to show my support for your work."
"You really mean it?" Tim gazed at the jewelry and questioned. "Of course. Please treat it with love and esteem. Your friend won't have a time limit this way."
Tim grinned and nodded courteously before putting the pendant around his neck right away. "Oriyana, thank you so much. I was entirely mistaken about you! You really do save lives. an amazing person." Her heart began to beat rapidly at that same moment, and her cheeks turned red.
She instantly started to feel worn out and slowly fell to her knees. "Wha-ha-hey, what's going on?"
Tim reached for her shoulder while softly crouching in front of her. "Oriyana, are you all right?" Her eyes sparkled and became pink in an instant as she felt helpless.
"I am terrific!" She looked down at Tim and then swiftly got to her feet and grabbed his hand. "Please be careful on your journey all right?"
He called, "Yah, you bet!" as soon as he saw Oriyana turn around and go for her cheeks. Tim stared at her bewildered backside as the pink hearts continued to flow from her body.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Ayuka's expression darkened in response to his question and became serious. She started to stand up as her knuckles started to crack. Oriyana, however, nodded and gave Tim a little wave.
"Of course, of course, of course... Please, worry not."
Kou turned to face Ayuka where she said, "I will curse that woman to never see the daylight again," as Ayuka's eyes twitched. Kou cautiously raised the tea cup and cast a terrified glance to the side. "Why is she so threatening to me? I don't recall her ever being upset over other girls."
"Did you say somethin'?!" As Kou began to shake the cup in order for the tea to pour out the top, Ayuka's head suddenly whipped to the side. He moved his eyes to the side and said, "N-No," taking a sip of tea.
All of them continued to have fun for the rest of the evening before passing out until dawn. Yumiko was clambering up the rope while dressed in a newly created uniform she had purchased as they were on top of the ship getting ready to set sail.
Yumiko's family and Empress Oriyana were standing next to them on the coast, waving their hands. "Yumiko, take care of yourself! Make every effort to keep them comfortable, and when you come back, I hope we can explore the entire island without worrying."
"Of course mom, I'd love that!"
While Oriyana raised her arm and waved affectionately at Tim, children joyfully cried out to her as well. Tim, make careful to keep that jewelry safe. "Please be careful about your journey, Tim!" Tim nodded and smiled as he gazed at her. "Of course! You are truly the finest, so thank you!"
Immediately, Oriyana's eyes began to beat out pink hearts once more as she swayed back and forth, while Ayuka forcefully gripped the ship's fence and dug her nails into the wood.
"I swear I'll break her entire body when I come back and make sure she never addresses him in such a way again! It's a swear made before the Holy Light herself."
Kou made sure to stay far away from her as he slipped away and hopped to the side.
The anchor was raised along with the flag, and they would finally set sail for a new island. Rika and Tinna were taken aback by Oriyana and perplexed to grasp what was happening to her.
They waved at their new Castlemanian friends and were eager to take on new challenges.
To be continued...