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The priests in the original shrine looked at one another in confusion, completely unsure of the situation they found themselves in.
However, from the conversations between the two groups, one could infer a great deal.
They were not fools. Within moments, they understood that these people had come to compete for control of Sky Island.
"My lord, who are these people?"
Finally, a priest couldn't suppress his curiosity and loudly questioned Gan Fall.
"From now on, everyone will follow their orders. No one is to resist or act unnecessarily. I will explain everything to you in detail tomorrow."
Gan Fall spoke calmly.
His thoughts were not clouded by complex emotions. His sole aim was to stabilize his people before meeting Anos, to avoid any unnecessary conflict.
Gan Fall was well aware of the strength of these outsiders and had no desire to see any harm come to his priests.
"From now on, all shifts will proceed as usual. We will discuss everything in detail after His Majesty arrives tomorrow."
Daiki promptly shouted orders to his people, paying no heed to the priests in the shrine.
He trusted Gan Fall to handle matters regarding Sky Island and believed conflict could be avoided if the situation was managed properly.
Gan Fall indeed acted as Daiki anticipated. He gathered all the priests, and though they weren't privy to every detail of the discussions, it was clear that the outcome had been determined.
The two groups remained peaceful and awaited the arrival of dawn.
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The Next Morning
At the break of dawn, Anos, who had been sleeping on the soft, white clouds, stirred.
The open-air environment was a refreshing change from the cramped quarters of a ship.
After stretching, Anos noticed Enel was nowhere to be seen.
He wasn't particularly concerned. Just as he stood to look for Daiki and the others, Enel appeared, carrying an assortment of wild fruits.
"Brother Anos, you're awake!"
Enel greeted him with a cheerful expression. It seemed that last night's conversation had eased his heart.
The young man now appeared brighter and more open.
Despite this, Enel was still dressed in tattered clothes barefoot, shirtless, and wearing ragged trousers.
His upper garments had been repurposed as a makeshift sack to carry the fruits he had gathered.
"Where did you go?"
Anos asked curiously.
"Eat something first, Brother! I went to the Holy Land. There are many strange things there, and I found these delicious fruits. Try them!"
Anos chuckled at Enel's enthusiasm.
He didn't reject the young man's gesture. Despite the shabby wrappings, the fruits were washed.
Anos sat back down on the fluffy clouds and picked up what looked like a green apple, taking a bite.
Though the fruit was more sour than sweet, the fresh taste was a rare treat on Sky Island.
"You've probably grown up eating things like this, haven't you?"
Anos asked, noticing Enel's thin frame.
"Not always. I only eat this occasionally. There isn't much to eat on this island, so I usually fish in the sea."
Enel responded nonchalantly.
"Well, now that you've recognized me as your elder brother, I'll make sure you're well-fed from now on!"
Anos ruffled Enel's messy hair with a warm smile.
The sour apple, however, was hard for Anos to tolerate, and he quietly set it aside after a bite.
Enel noticed. "Brother, why aren't you eating?"
"Don't overthink it. I'm just not that hungry. Finish eating I'll take you somewhere after."
Enel perked up at the prospect of exploring. Encouraged, he devoured the apples, not even leaving the cores behind.
Soon, only a few apples remained. He offered them to Anos, though his mouth was too full to articulate his thoughts clearly.
Anos smiled, understanding the gesture.
"You eat them. Don't worry about me. Now that you're done, let's go!"
Anos stood, still holding the half-eaten apple in his hand.
On Sky Island, fruits were a rarity. The so-called Holy Land, where trees grew, was now considered sacred ground, inaccessible to ordinary people.
For many, tasting fruit was a dream they would never realize.
Enel, who had grown up in such deprivation, couldn't hide his excitement as he followed his newfound brother.
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