Outside the city of Dotta, in the afternoon twilight.
It's the winter nurturing season, and the Sky Mountain hunting grounds have entered a no-hunting period.
Twilight veils the mountains in a thin, red gauze, while the air is filled with a moist, tranquil silence. Ancient trees covered in moss intertwine with shimmering vegetation, cascading down the slopes of the Dotta Peninsula like the oil paints of an old-world artist.
Deep within these serene woods, numerous inconspicuous creatures lurk. They hide in rough shrubberies, twisted vine shadows, or cram into the depths of sticky, luminescent plants, their outlines blurred, making them hard to discern.
Faint rays of light pierce the canopy, illuminating the patchy tree shadows.
A clump of ring-leaved grass glows under the weak light, revealing patterns of dark green and pale purple. Its flexible, fluffy veins curve into a series of arcs, like tiny ballerinas on a miniature stage, undulating and swaying.
Nestled among the soft velvety leaves, a banana flower suddenly blooms, its pale silver petals stretching almost straight up towards the sky, standing proudly and elegantly as if a lead soprano takes center stage, radiating an ethereal and captivating brilliance.
Indeed.
The state of this Silverbloom Spider is truly outstanding.
Its hind legs arched high, the floral structure at its tail end releasing a subtle fragrance. The petals were covered in fine hairs, constantly secreting a sticky liquid. After a period of scouting, the creature chose to settle in this new hunting ground, stealthily luring its unsuspecting prey.
Not far away, a rustling sound began to rise, coming from another familiar hunting area.
A group of Two-headed Chiru Owls hopped around on the moist ground, imitating the sound of raindrops to attract the insects hiding in the muddy grass.
A fledgling broke away from the group, pecking at the water droplets accumulated on a red crystal umbrella mushroom. As it pecked, the bright red cap of the mushroom wobbled slightly, releasing spores. These tiny particles floated in the air, twinkling like glowing veins.
After the long hunting season in the bloodwood landscape, this place was finally teeming with new life.
Moments later, something in the forest caught the birds' attention. The fledgling straightened up, cocking its tiny heads to the side, its round black eyes peering into the depths of the woods.
A sudden, shrill cry shattered the silence, and the flock of birds panicked, flapping their wings to fly up to the higher branches.
As its companions flew away, the fledgling had just kicked up the grassy mud with its toes, its wings lifting the dew-soaked leaves, shaking off the soft soil from its talons — it had seen that thing.
At the same time, it heard the frantic beating of its tiny heart within its chest.
That was its last memory.
·
Downtown District 10 - Agrippina, Dotta.
Rainy days always leave Lean restless.
He looks up at the overcast sky, sighing deeply.
High above, two dark cloud masses roll, their edges lightly brushing against the orange-pink backdrop of the sky.
This scene evokes another memory from Lean's past – similarly massive, aimlessly drifting, monotonously unchanged.
It was a relic exhibition named "Migration." In the center of the empty hall, two lead-gray meteorites lay. They resembled the enormous remains of old-world African elephants, slowly revolving around their axes.
The exhibit's projection scrolled across the surface of the meteorites:
[Meteorite Names: Atlas-ATL2043T & Sisyphus-SIS2034G]
[Exhibit Description: The oldest pre-era meteorites known to exist. In these two meteorites, pre-era scientists discovered three structurally identical unknown proteins. It is speculated that these proteins might be remnants of cosmic life creation or traces from another galaxy. However, the validity of this discovery is disputed, with some scientists questioning its significance…]
Embedded in the floor was a metal plate inscribed with: "Migrated in Year Ⅰ-276, donated to Dotta's Eve 9. Cultural Center by the WinterSerpent Family."
"I just can't believe it."
"Hmm?"
"What should be?"
"I mean, preserving important artifacts during migration makes sense, like taking along items of high historical, artistic, or research value. But they only carried a few pathetic art pieces and instead spent resources to transport these two rocks. Seriously, doesn't that seem absurd? Besides, now they just sit here filling up this empty exhibition hall, seemingly useless."
"You know, there are rumors that they were once sacred objects of the Uqbar cult."
"Sacred objects? Ha! That's funny. In that scarred and discordant era, rather than seeking illusions, it would've been better to make some real efforts. They're just two random rocks that fell from the sky, what beliefs can they possibly hold?"
"Maybe, they originated from the 'Heaven', the point of creation, closer to the divine than any other place."
"Pfft… I can't understand that at all. Do you believe in that stuff?"
"Of course not."
…
Lean's memories abruptly end.
The voices of strangers chatting in the exhibition hall gradually fade from his recollection.
His gaze still lingers on the sky, for a moment, the two cloud masses seem to draw closer together.
He wonders, does it rain in Heaven too?
Perhaps, to cleanse the divine skies of their blemishes—
·
Raindrops fall on his eyebrows, leaving moist circles.
Leen frowns, pinching the brim of his dark gray hat, carefully pressing it lower. This antique folded hat, a gift from Captain and Xiangti, has a firm touch with a soft lining, perfect for wearing in District 10. He wouldn't want it to get ruined in the rain.
Today marks the first day of the three-day holiday. The Captain has arranged for him and Xiangti to meet tonight at the newly opened "Mopane · Night Banquet Hall" in District 10.
This restaurant is part of the renowned "Alexander Manya" interstellar holiday hotel from Meda III plant. To celebrate its first opening in Dotta, the headquarters specially sent top chefs and bartenders to serve limited-edition flavors and unique beverages during the three-day opening celebration. And tonight marks the start of this exclusive event.
Lean doesn't like to drink alcohol.
Once, under Xiangti's urging, he gave in and sipped the glowing red liquid from her glass. Instantly, he felt as if a scorching blade sliced through his body, with flames leaping down his throat to his abdomen, causing intense spasms accompanied by burning pain. After that experience, he suffered weeks of relentless discomfort and couldn't even bear to look at any red liquid without his taste buds and body experiencing phantom pains.
In contrast, both the Captain and Xiangti are undeniable alcohol enthusiasts, especially Xiangti. He vividly remembers the horrifying sight of her downing seventeen different mixed drinks in one go. To him, Xiangti's commitment to drinking such bizarre concoctions was akin to a form of suicide.
Now, with a good chunk of time before the evening gathering, he decides to grab a bite at his usual spot, planning also to pick up two jars of sour plum sauce and freshly baked toast, perfect for their inevitable hangover breakfast.
With this thought in mind, he quickens his pace, continuing along the bustling street. A double-decker hoverbus zooms past him, blending into the busy holiday traffic. Looking in the direction of the flowing vehicles, a jagged skyline comes into view.
Dotta Peninsula is characterized by its uneven terrain, with buildings of varying heights creating a patchwork of architectural marvels. Even structures of the same height can have rooftops varying in elevation from a few meters to several dozen meters. This combination of diverse architectural styles and varying elevations creates a unique sense of spatial layering. Winding through these buildings, undulating wave escalators weave like arteries throughout the city, while various retro-styled hover cars and buses shuttle back and forth mid-air. High above, Dotta's most iconic mode of transportation operates - the Capsule Ships.
These Capsule Ships, each distinct in appearance, glide effortlessly across Dotta's skies via semi-invisible tethers. They traverse from the East to West Bay, extending all the way to the outer districts. During the day, these tethers appear clear and transparent. But at night, they transform into flowing silver waves, supporting the ceaseless stream of little ships in the sky, making the whole city seem as if it's submerged beneath the waves.
Thus, Dotta's iconic landscape was born —
Silver Sea Steeds, Day Night Sky Flow.
·
At this moment, Lean was hurrying along the damp streets.
The persistent afternoon rain did little to dampen the surrounding vitality; rather, it seemed to have invigorated it. The lights and signs of the street-side shops shimmered in the moist air, drawing in customers for shopping or shelter from the rain. Outside the shops, people gathered under awnings to chat, occasionally grumbling about the weather.
Amidst these everyday sounds of hustle and bustle, Lean faintly heard the soft sound of waves.
He looked up, his gaze piercing through the crowd, focusing on a tall display window: white waves lapping against the shore, fishing boats swaying in the harbor, seagulls circling the mast, and a woman in a white dress waving goodbye to a distant ship with her child; moving forward, on the stage of a classic theater, an orchestra played the melodious "The Second Waltz," illuminated by the light from crystal chandeliers; further away, intermittent laughter, conversation, the clinking of glass, the scraping of chairs on the floor, the crackling of wood burning in a fireplace... As people passed by, these sounds and images intertwined, becoming vivid and clear.
「When your fingertips touch the windowpane, you almost feel the warmth of the people living in that era.」
「A strange and pronounced old-fashioned scent pervades Dotta, like the aroma of an old book or the unforgettable room in an abandoned building.」
「Always there, the omnipresent old-style buildings, the mechanical hum of engines, turn Dotta into an enduring symphony of nostalgia, stirring the souls of interstellar immigrants…"」
In the bookstore window, the latest issue of "Interstellar Travel Guide" magazine's advertisement vanishes, replaced by Dotta's newest performance promotion.
Lean pauses under the window to shelter from the rain, waiting for the traffic light at the corner to turn green again.
The bookstore's black cat awakens from its nap and begins to stretch. Arching its back high, yawning, it scratches its front paws on the damp ground, then turns its head and rhythmically grooms its disheveled back fur.
A elegantly dressed lady crouches down, slips off her glove, and extends her fingertips to playfully tease the black cat. The cat sniffs her fingers curiously, then cocks its head and rubs against the hem of her skirt.
The lady smiles gently. Her attire seems to be straight out of the Victorian era—a pale pink dress reaching down to her ankles, with delicate lace decorating the collar and cuffs. The brim of her wide hat hangs low, covering her eyes, revealing only a sweet smile.
"This place is indeed unique, dear. Every corner exudes… antiquity. Don't you think?" a lightly teasing male voice comes from behind her. Leen turns towards the voice and sees a man draped in a black cloak, flipping a grey earflap hat in his hand. At the collar of his linen shirt, a uniquely designed pin secures his tie—a spaceship adorned with three gemstones.
The lady pats her skirt and stands up, her smile tinged with resignation: "Yes, just like the travel guide says, it's a tribute to the olden days. Think about it, our ancestors navigated through such environments to step into the era of interstellar migration. Isn't that a matter of pride?"
The man points at a retro mini car driving along the street and complains, "Pride aside, I bet it's uncomfortable to sit in one of those."
The woman gently slaps his hand, smiling, "Don't be so picky. Look at all this—I actually find these vintage buildings quite fascinating, like a living museum."
The man shrugs and responds, "Since you mention a museum, perhaps nothing on this street resembles a museum exhibit more than the two of us."
The woman retorts with a laugh, "Isn't that just perfect? This kind of classical charm is unique to Dotta. And when was the last time we freely breathed natural air like this?"
The man looks up at the cloudy, rainy sky and slowly says, "True, and there's this long-missed rain."
"Maybe we should try renting an antique car?" the woman suggests, her eyebrows raised playfully.
The man shakes his head in resistance, but they both end up sharing a laugh.
Just then, the traffic light flickers green.
Lean passes by them, blending into the bustling crowd.