Together // End: Prelude of Serene.
š Ö“Ö¶Öøš Ruins of an ancient civilization, Erenial.
"Michaella! Look, the butterfly looks like you!" shouted a girl with white hair, standing in front of the ruins of an old building. At the tip of her finger, a golden butterfly perched quietly, its wings shimmering in the soft sunlight.
Meanwhile, a gentle and cold wind blew, lifting the strands of hair of another girl standing not far from her. This girl had long, shimmering golden hair, with glowing red eyes that radiated warmth beneath her mysterious beauty. A flower adorned her hair, seemingly adding an elegant touch to her figure.
Michaella smiled faintly as she watched Kiri holding the butterfly. "The butterfly doesn't just look like meā¦ maybe it is me from another universe," she said with a soft laugh.
"Really?!" Kiri asked enthusiastically.
Suddenly, the butterfly flew away from the tip of Kiri's finger, heading toward a small pond located not far from the ruins. The water of the pond shimmered softly under the sunlight, surrounded by lush green grass and thick moss floating on the surface. The surrounding atmosphere felt calm and peaceful, with the soothing sound of trickling water and the chirping of birds hiding in the trees.
Kiri and Michaella followed the direction of the butterfly, walking slowly toward the pond. Around the pond, wildflowers bloomed in vibrant colors, adding a sense of life among the ancient ruins. The soft sunlight cast dancing shadows of the trees on the water, creating a magical scene.
Michaella and Kiri followed the shimmering butterfly, each movement filled with grace. However, as they approached the pond, the butterfly suddenly vanished in a burst of light. Shimmering dust particles floated in the air, creating a mesmerizing glow before disappearing completely.
Suddenly, a deep voice echoed in the sky, causing both of them to stop. The voice resembled a magnificent song, full of soothing resonance. "Kiri! Listen to that!" Michaella exclaimed, enchanted by the beauty of the voice.
Kiri, unable to contain her excitement, gazed at the sky with shining eyes. "That's the voice of a whale! The sky whale, Andrea!" she said eagerly, pointing her index finger upward. Among the clouds, a large shadow appeared, revealing a majestic figure with shimmering blue hues, as if surrounded by starlight.
Without waiting any longer, Kiri ran toward the ruins of the old castle nearby, trying to reach the top floor for a closer look. "Come on, Michaella! We have to hurry!"
Michaella quickly followed, but her voice was filled with worry. "Kiri, be careful! We don't know what's waiting up there!"
Kiri ran with enthusiasm, stepping through the debris of crumbling buildings, while Michaella tried to hold back her pace, remaining alert to potential dangers. They navigated through dark hallways, disconnected walls, and dusty staircases, but Kiri's spirit could not be halted.
After passing through several levels, they finally reached the top floor. There, they stood at the edge of a crumbling balcony, an open view before them. The wind blew strongly, bringing a fresh scent from outside, and in the distance, they saw the sky whale Andrea gliding gently among the clouds, dancing in majesty.
"Look, Michaella! It's amazing!" Kiri exclaimed, her face filled with joy.
Michaella was also mesmerized, although she still felt anxiety in her heart. "Kiri, we need to be careful here. Don't fall!"
After being mesmerized by the beauty of Andrea, the sky whale, Kiri turned towards a strange device lying in the corner of the top floor. "Michaella, look! This is the horizon wings!" she exclaimed, running toward the device. Two large sets of wings made of shining metal and beautifully shaped fabric, complete with gears and small pipes that emitted soft smoke.
Kiri quickly strapped on her wings and helped Michaella wear her pair. "We're going to fly there!" she said excitedly, her eyes shining with hope.
Michaella nodded, though fear began to creep into her heart as she looked down. "Butā¦ I'm not sure, Kiri. The height is terrifying," she complained, her voice trembling.
Kiri gently took Michaella's hand, looking at her with a confident smile. "Don't worry! I'm here with you. We'll do this together."
Taking a deep breath, Michaella tried to calm herself. They both stepped to the edge of the balcony, the wind blowing fiercely against their faces. Kiri positioned herself next to Michaella and straightened her wings. "Ready? On the count of three!"
"Oneā¦ twoā¦" and with pounding hearts, they jumped off, feeling gravity pull them down before the horizon wings began to function. They both felt a surge of energy as the wings expanded, lifting them off the ground.
Michaella screamed as they soared upwards, her heart racing. "Kiri! I'm scared!" But Kiri held her hand tightly, encouraging her with a smile. "Look, Michaella! We're flying!"
They pierced through the soft clouds, the cold wind hitting their faces, and the view below became smaller. Although her fear didn't subside, Michaella felt calm as she looked at Kiri's smile. "You're right, it's beautiful!" she shouted, feeling freedom as they approached Andrea.
As they rose higher, the figure of the sky whale became clearer. Andrea, with her large, shimmering body, swam through the sky as if in an endless ocean. They drew closer, and soon they landed on Andrea's back.
Michaella was mesmerized, but her fear hadn't completely vanished. On the whale's back, they found a small house standing majestically, made of shiny metal materials and adorned with various steampunk ornaments. "Look! There's a house here!" Kiri shouted excitedly.
Michaella felt relieved, as if this place were a refuge from her fear. "What is this? How can there be a house on top of Andrea?" she asked, trying to calm her still racing heart.
Kiri smiled widely, "Maybe this is the home of sky travelers. Let's go take a look!"
Curious, Kiri opened the door of the steampunk house. The door creaked softly, and when it opened, the scent of old wood and rusty metal greeted them. Inside, they were presented with a surprising sightāa room filled with antique furniture that looked grand, albeit dusty and slightly damaged.
"Wow, look at all this!" Kiri exclaimed, stepping in eagerly. A sofa with intricate carvings and a large wooden table filled the room. Copper chandeliers hung low, ready to illuminate the place with warmth.
However, as Michaella's gaze shifted to the corner of the room, she saw something that startled her. On the table, a creepy-looking skull sat proudly, holding an ancient letter in its hand. Michaella felt a chill run down her spine, and her instincts told her to step back.
"K-Kiri," she said with a trembling voice, "I don't like thatā¦"
Kiri, intrigued by the skull, approached it without hesitation. "What is this? A skull? Could it belong to a previous wanderer?"
Michaella took a step back, her eyes wide. "Thatā¦ it looks terrifying. What if itā¦ really is?" She bit her lip, imagining the horrific possibilities.
Kiri picked up the skull, and as she did, it became clear that the skull didn't have the scary impression she had imagined. "Wait, this is just plastic!" Kiri laughed, carefully dropping the skull back onto the table. "See, there's nothing to be afraid of!"
Michaella cautiously stepped closer, her eyes never leaving the skull. She observed it more closely, and gradually, her fear began to fade. "Oh, it turns outā¦ it's harmless," she said, feeling slightly relieved, though still awkward.
Kiri took the letter held by the skull and unrolled it. "Let's see what's written here!" she said, curiosity washing over her again.
Michaella stood beside Kiri, reading along. The letter looked ancient, the handwriting unclear, but some words were readable: "If you find this, it means you have reached a place full of secretsā¦"
Kiri examined it closely. "This seems like a clue to find something greater! Maybe a treasure or ancient knowledge!"
Michaella felt a thrill of excitement. "So, we should continue and find out more!"
With the plastic skull and the mysterious letter in Kiri's hands, they felt a newfound spirit of adventure. They knew that whatever awaited them inside this house was part of a larger story.