As Astar stepped through the threshold of the colossal airship his senses were immediately besieged by a spectacle of awe-inspiring beauty.
His eyes widened in astonishment as he beheld the breathtaking sight unfolding before him. Every inch of the interior was adorned with the shimmering glow of forty-four magnificent stained glass windows, each a masterpiece in its own right, depicting the illustrious pantheon of Alatheia's deities.
The vibrant hues of crimson, azure, and gold danced across the walls, casting kaleidoscopic patterns of light and shadow throughout the vast chamber.
Astar stood transfixed, his gaze wandering from one exquisite window to the next, each telling a story of myth and legend with intricate detail and sublime artistry.
The air hummed with a sense of reverence, as if the very spirits of the gods themselves lingered within these sacred images.Amidst this symphony of color and light, figures moved with purpose, their forms blurred in a whirlwind of activity.
Astar watched in silent wonder as other members of the olympic bustled about, their movements a graceful ballet amidst the grandeur of their floating sanctuary.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still as Astar absorbed the splendor of his surroundings, his heart filled with a profound sense of reverence and gratitude. Amidst the soaring heights of the olympic, he knew that he stood on the threshold of something truly extraordinary.
As he turned to ask Haruki a question, a tall cougar beastman walked up behind Astar, causing him to quickly duck behind Haruki's arm out of fear.
"What have you got here, Haruki?" The beastman inquired. "Who's the runt?"
"None of your business, Kenji," Haruki replied bluntly. "Whoa, no need to get so defensive," Kenji smirked, "I just wanted to know who the doll was."
He snickered and walked away, flicking his tail behind him. Haruki scoffed and began walking again.
"What was that about?" Astar asked carefully as Haruki turned a corner into a wide corridor.
"That was Kenji," Haruki muttered under his breath, his tone laden with warning. "Steer clear of him; he's trouble."
Astar couldn't help but sense the gravity of Haruki's words as he glanced back at Kenji's retreating figure. There was a palpable tension lingering in the air, leaving Astar to wonder what had transpired between the two men. Was it a clash of personalities, or was there something more sinister lurking beneath the surface?
As he pondered Haruki's cautionary advice, Astar couldn't shake the feeling of unease settling in the pit of his stomach. The way Haruki's jaw tensed and his eyes darkened with unresolved conflict spoke volumes. The mere mention of Kenji's name seemed to ignite a firestorm of resentment and animosity within him. Was Kenji truly as dangerous as Haruki claimed, or was this merely a case of misunderstandings and misjudgments?
Regardless, one thing was certain: in the intricate dance of their intertwined fates, Astar couldn't afford to ignore the warning signs. As he navigated the delicate balance between loyalty and self-preservation, he couldn't help but wonder what dark secrets lay buried beneath the facade of their seemingly heroic lives.
Haruki reached a slightly precarious corridor with doors on either side. He came to an abrupt stop at the second door on the left side of the hallway.
"This is your room," he said. "If you need me, my room is that one." Haruki pointed to the room next to Astars. Then, he looked down at Astar, surveying the cloak tightly wrapped around him. "We should get you some clean clothes," he said finally.
Astar shivered and held the cloak tighter around his body. "Yes, please," he mumbled as he followed Haruki into his bedroom. Once in Haruki's bedroom, he turned around to take a look at it. The room was tidy, adorned with simple, everyday decorations, and contained few belongings. For some reason unbeknownst to him, Astar felt an overwhelming sense of peace just by being in this room. The citrus scent of oranges and limes that permeated the air was calming, and he immediately felt relaxed.
His deep reflection was interrupted when Haruki shoved clothes into his face. "I doubt they'll fit you properly, but when we land in the imperial capital, we'll look for more suitable clothes that will fit you," he declared.
"We're going to Ios?" Astar asked eagerly. Ios was the capital of the Drocian Empire, home to the royal family of Alatheia, the birthplace of magic, and close to where he grew up.
The thought of being in the same empire as his former home made him happy.
"Yes," Haruki said, seeming to sense his excitement, "we'll be there in four days."
"Four days?!" Astar blurted. "We're in Westontia, and Drocia is the neighbouring country." "Such a trip would take up most of two weeks."
"Usually," Haruki replied casually, "but the olympic is one of the highest-quality airships around. Its engine is made from a very powerful Dalteun (space) crystal, which allows it to support its gravitational weight, an Aztar (wind) crystal to help it move, and a Revesian (ice) crystal to prevent the engine from overheating."
"That's amazing," Astar breathed.
Haruki nodded slightly and turned to face the opposite wall, allowing Astar to change in private. Astar stumbled in the dark ambient light.
He chanted a spell as he exhaled. "Blink your radiance, o sacred light," he whispered as a hazy, round orb appeared next to him and began to emit a soft glow that illuminated the room. Haruki whipped around and stared right into Astar's eyes.
"Did you say... sacred light magic?"
Astar gradually tucked his shirt into the waist of his pants.
"Yes," he said thoughtfully, "that is my magic." Haruki considered Astar for a second, then the orb, and then Astar again. After a while, he grinned.
"What a good fit," he said, "we should be partners."
"Partners..?"
"In Team olympic, we work in pairs for missions." "I haven't had a partner since Dock repaired with Ashr," Haruki elucidated. "I am strong enough to work on my own, but I wouldn't mind having a little assistant like you."
Little! Who did he think he was? Haruki was exceptionally tall.
He paused as the situation finally dawned on him. "Wait, you want me to join Team olympic?"
Haruki's nod felt like a seismic shift in Astar's world. It was a silent affirmation, a door swung wide open to a realm of possibilities he had scarcely dared to dream of. Yet, as the weight of that nod settled upon him, Astar found himself rooted to the spot.
His mind raced, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions swirling within him. Excitement battled with trepidation; pride grappled with doubt. All he could do was stand in silence, his arms hanging limply by his sides.
Haruki's smile, like a beacon in the storm, pierced through Astar's turmoil. It was a knowing smile, one that spoke volumes without uttering a single word. In that moment, Astar felt the weight of expectation bearing down upon him, a pressure so intense it threatened to crush him.
He clenched his jaw in a feeble attempt to regain control over his racing thoughts. But try as he might, he couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of disbelief that gripped him. To be asked to join the most powerful guild group in all of Alatheia was beyond anything he had ever imagined.
And yet, here he stood, on the precipice of greatness, with his future hanging in the balance. With Haruki's nod as his guiding light, Astar knew that he had a choice to make. Would he seize this opportunity with both hands, or would he allow fear to hold him back?As the silence stretched on, Astar made his decision.
With a deep breath, he squared his shoulders and met Haruki's gaze head-on. Whatever lay ahead, he was ready to face it, for he knew that this was only the beginning of his journey into the heart of adventure.
"I guess... it wouldn't hurt."