Wave and Ray's group reappeared in a small hut made of wood and leaves. They were surrounded by various plants and animals that looked exotic and colorful. Ray, Yaku and Subaki looked around in awe and confusion.
Ray: Where are we? What is this place?
Wave: This is the village of Silver Moon. It's one of the 50 villages in this world. Each village has its own guardian who trains new shora.
Yaku: Shora? What's that?
Wave: Shora are people who have signed the pact and gained powers. They are the protectors of this world and its balance.
Subaki: Pact? Powers? What are you talking about?
Wave: The pact is a contract between a person and a spirit. A spirit is a manifestation of nature's energy. There are many kinds of spirits, such as fire, water, wind, earth, light, darkness, etc. By signing the pact, a person can borrow the power of a spirit and use it for various purposes.
Ray: How do you sign the pact?
Wave: You have to go to the village town hall and enter the chamber of spirits. There you will meet a spirit that matches your personality and potential. If you can convince the spirit to accept you as its partner, you will sign the pact and become a shinu.
Yaku: Shinu?
Wave: Shinu is the term for people who have signed the pact but have not yet become shora. Shinu have to train under a guardian and pass the guardianship exam to become shora.
Subaki: Guardianship exam?
Wave: The guardianship exam is a test of your skills, knowledge and character as a shinu. You have to prove that you are worthy of becoming a shora and that you can handle your power responsibly.
Ray: And what if we don't want to sign the pact or become shora? What if we just want to go back to our world?
Wave: I'm afraid that's not possible. Once you enter this world, you can't leave until you complete the 100 floors of the White Tower.
Yaku: The White Tower?
Wave: The White Tower is a mysterious structure that stands at the center of this world. It is said to be the source of all power and secrets in this world. No one knows who built it or why. Only shora can enter the tower and challenge its floors. Each floor has a different trial that tests your abilities and willpower. If you can reach the top floor, you will be granted one wish.
Subaki: One wish?
Wave: Yes, one wish. Anything you want. You can wish to go back to your world, or to stay here forever, or anything else.
Ray: That sounds too good to be true.
Wave: Well, it's not easy. The tower is very dangerous and unpredictable. Many shora have tried to climb it, but only a few have succeeded. And some of them never came back.
Yaku: So we're stuck here until we become shora and climb the tower?
Wave: Pretty much.
Subaki: That's not fair! We didn't ask for this!
Wave: I know, I know. It's not fair at all. But it's the way it is. You have no choice but to accept it and make the best of it.
Ray: How did we even get here in the first place?
Wave: That's a good question. I don't know for sure, but I have a theory.
Ray: What is it?
Wave: I think you were chosen by fate.
Ray: Chosen by fate?
Wave: Yes, chosen by fate. Fate is another name for the White Wave.
Ray: The White Wave? You mean yourself?
Wave: No, not me. I'm just a human who inherited the name and power of the White Wave from my predecessor. The White Wave is something else. Something bigger and older than me or anyone else.
Ray: What is it then?
Wave: The White Wave is… (He pauses and looks at them with a mysterious smile.) Well, maybe I'll tell you over dinner sometime. You look very hungry right now.
Ray: Dinner? Are you kidding me? You just dropped a bombshell on us and now you want to talk about dinner?
Wave: Hey, don't be so uptight. You need to relax and enjoy life more. Besides, dinner is important. It's where we bond and share stories and laugh together.
Yaku: Laugh together? About what?
Wave: About anything and everything. Like how you tried to kill a boar in the safe zone and got arrested by Miss Rosy.
Yaku: Hey, that's not funny! That was scary!
Subaki: Yeah, who was she anyway? And why did she call us criminals?
Wave: She's an agent of the Eternus Force, an organization that enforces the laws and order in this world. She called you criminals because you violated one of their rules.
Ray: What rule did we violate?
Wave: The rule of no harm in the safe zone.
Ray: No harm in the safe zone?
Wave: Yes, no harm in the safe zone. The safe zone is an area where all living beings are protected from harm by anyone or anything. It covers most of the natural habitats in this world, such as forests, lakes, mountains, etc. The safe zone was created by the first shora who wanted to preserve the beauty and harmony of nature.
Ray: So we can't hunt or fight in the safe zone?
Wave: No, you can't. Hunting and fighting are only allowed in designated areas outside the safe zone, such as arenas or battlefields.
Ray: But how were we supposed to know that? We're new here!
Wave: Well, that's why you need me as your guardian. I'll teach you everything you need to know about this world and its rules.
Ray: And why do we need you as our guardian? Can't we choose someone else?
Wave: No, you can't choose someone else. You're stuck with me whether you like it or not.
Ray: Why? Why are we stuck with you?
Wave: Because I chose you as my shinu.
Ray: You chose us as your shinu? How? When?
Wave:
When I saw you in trouble with Miss Rosy and her partner, I felt something inside me stir. A feeling I haven't felt in a long time. A feeling of curiosity and interest and connection. A feeling that told me that you were special and different from anyone else I've ever met in this world. A feeling that told me that you were meant for me.
Wave: Well, that's enough talking for now. It's time for you to go and get your powers by signing the pact.
Ray: What? Now? But we're not ready!
Wave: You'll never be ready if you don't try. Trust me, it'll be worth it.
Yaku: But how do we do it? Where do we go?
Wave: You have to go to the village town hall and enter the chamber of spirits. There you'll meet your spirit partners and sign the pact.
Subaki: And you're not coming with us?
Wave: No, I can't. I have to stay here and watch over the village. It's my duty as a guardian.
Ray: But we don't know anything about this world or its spirits!
Wave: Don't worry, you'll figure it out. Just follow your instincts and your hearts. They'll guide you to the right spirit for you.
Ray: And what if we can't find the right spirit? What if we fail?
Wave: You won't fail. You can't fail. You're my shinu. You have the White Wave.
Wave: Hey, don't be so uptight. You need to relax and enjoy life more. Besides, dinner is important. It's where we bond and share stories and laugh together.
Yaku: Laugh together? About what?
Wave: About anything and everything. Like how you're going to sign the pact and become shora and join me in my adventures.
Yaku: Adventures? What adventures?
Wave: Adventures that will change your life forever.
Subaki: Forever?
Wave: Yes, forever. Forever and ever and ever.
Ray: Okay, okay, enough with the forever talk. Let's just go and get this over with.
Wave: Alright then. Off you go. Good luck and have fun.
Ray: Thanks… I guess.
Yaku: Yeah… thanks…
Subaki: Thank you…
They left the hut and walked towards the village town hall. Along the way, they saw many sights that amazed them and made them feel like they were in a dream. They saw houses made of different materials and shapes, some of them hanging from trees or floating on water or glowing in the dark. They saw people of different races and colors, some of them with horns or wings or tails or scales or fur or feathers or other features that they had never seen before. They saw animals of different sizes and forms, some of them friendly and cute, some of them fierce and scary, some of them strange and bizarre. They saw plants of different kinds and hues, some of them edible and tasty, some of them poisonous and deadly, some of them magical and wondrous. They saw everything that this world had to offer, and they felt a mix of emotions that they couldn't describe.
Ray: Wow… this place is incredible…
Yaku: Yeah… it's like a fairy tale…
Subaki: Or a nightmare…
Ray: How can you say that? Look at all the beauty and diversity around us!
Subaki: Yeah, but also look at all the danger and weirdness around us!
Yaku: Well, maybe it's both. Maybe it's a fairy tale nightmare.
Ray: A fairy tale nightmare? That doesn't make any sense.
Yaku: Sure it does. It's like a story that's both wonderful and horrible at the same time.
Ray: Like our story?
Yaku: Yeah… like our story…
Subaki:
Or his story…
They looked at each other and thought about Wave. The mysterious man who claimed to be their guardian and their soulmate. The man who had brought them here and changed their lives forever. The man who had secrets and powers that they couldn't comprehend. The man who is the White Wave.
Ray:The White Wave…
They reached the village town.
They entered the town hall and were amazed by its size and elegance. It was a grand building made of white marble and gold, with pillars and arches and domes and statues. It was filled with people of various kinds, some of them wearing robes and cloaks and hats and masks, some of them carrying books and scrolls and crystals and instruments. They looked like scholars and magicians and priests and nobles.
Ray: Wow… this place is impressive…
Yaku: Yeah… it's like a palace…
Subaki: Or a temple…
They asked a guard for the chamber of spirits. The guard nodded and touched a symbol on the wall. A circle of light appeared on the floor and enveloped them. They felt a sensation of movement and then they were in another place.
They found themselves in a dark room with no windows or doors. The only source of light was a beam of moonlight that shone through a hole in the ceiling. The moonlight fell on a woman who was sitting on a chair in the center of the room. She was wearing a silver dress and a silver crown. She had long black hair and pale skin. She had blue eyes that sparkled like stars. She was beautiful and mysterious.
She looked at them with a calm and gentle smile.
Woman: Welcome to the chamber of spirits. I am Sohani, the spirit keeper.
Ray: Spirit keeper?
Sohani: Yes, spirit keeper. I am the one who guards and guides the spirits in this world. I am also the one who helps people sign the pact with them.
Yaku: How do you do that?
Sohani: By asking you some questions.
Subaki: Questions? What kind of questions?
Sohani: Questions that will reveal your true self. Your personality, your potential, your desires, your fears, your hopes, your dreams.
Ray: Why do you need to know that?
Sohani: Because that's how you find your spirit partner. Your spirit partner is the one who matches you perfectly. The one who complements you and completes you. The one who understands you and supports you.
Yaku: And how do we find our spirit partner?
Sohani: By answering my questions honestly and sincerely. By listening to your heart and following your intuition.
Subaki: And what if we don't want to answer your questions? What if we don't want to find our spirit partner?
Sohani: Then you won't be able to sign the pact or become shora or leave this world or fulfill your wish.
Ray: So we have no choice but to answer your questions?
Sohani: You always have a choice. But sometimes the choice is obvious.
Ray: Fine then. Ask us your questions.
Sohani: Very well then. Let's begin.
She looked at each of them in turn and asked them different questions.
To Ray, she asked:
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
What is your greatest passion?
What is your greatest fear?
What is your greatest wish?
To Yaku, she asked:
What makes you happy?
What makes you angry?
What makes you curious?
What makes you sad?
What makes you alive?
To Subaki, she asked:
Who do you love?
Who do you hate?
Who do you admire?
Who do you envy?
Who do you trust?
They answered her questions as best as they could, sometimes hesitating, sometimes doubting, sometimes surprising themselves. They felt like they were baring their souls to her, revealing their secrets and their truths.
She listened to their answers with interest and compassion. She nodded and smiled and said:
Sohani: Thank you for sharing your selves with me. You have done well. Now it's time for you to meet your spirit partners.
She clapped her hands and three orbs of light appeared in front of them. Each orb had a different color and shape.
Sohani: These are the spirits that match you perfectly. They are waiting for you to accept them as your partners.
She pointed to each orb and said:
Sohani: This is the iron spirit for Ray. It is strong and solid and reliable. It can shape itself into any form or weapon. It can protect you from any harm or danger.
She pointed to another orb and said:
Sohani: This is the fire spirit for Yaku. It is bright and warm and lively. It can burn anything or anyone with its flames. It can inspire you with its passion and energy.
She pointed to the last orb and said:
Sohani: This is the wind spirit for Subaki. It is gentle and swift and free. It can fly anywhere or anything with its breeze. It can soothe you with its calmness and grace.
She looked at them with a smile and said:
Sohani: Now all you have to do is reach out to them and touch them. That will seal the pact between you and them.
They looked at the orbs with curiosity and hesitation. They felt a strange attraction towards them, but also a slight fear.
Ray: Are you sure about this?
Yaku: Yeah, are you sure?
Subaki: Are we sure?
Sohani: There's only one way to find out.
She encouraged them with a nod.
They took a deep breath and reached out to their orbs. They touched them. They felt a surge of power run through their bodies. They felt a connection form between their minds. They felt a bond form between their hearts. They heard a voice say in their ears:
Iron Spirit: Hello, Ray. I am Iron. I am your partner. Fire Spirit: Hello, Yaku. I am Fire. I am your partner. Wind Spirit: Hello, Subaki. I am Wind. I am your partner.
They opened their eyes and saw their orbs transform into different forms.
The iron orb turned into a metal bracelet around Ray's wrist. The fire orb turned into a flame tattoo on Yaku's chest. The wind orb turned into a feather earring on Subaki's ear.
They looked at their new accessories with wonder and awe.
"Wow…" they said together.
She clapped her hands again and used leaf teleportation to send them back to Wave.
She said goodbye to them with a smile.
Sohani:
Goodbye, my friends! Good luck on your journey! Have fun on your adventure!
They disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
They reappeared in front of Wave's hut.
He was waiting for them with a grin.
Wave:
Hey there, my shinu! Welcome back! How did it go? Did you sign the pact? Did you meet your spirit partners? Did you have fun?