Rona's entertainment hub is a raucous town with taverns, clubs, motels, and night markets. The sky above this area was dark, seemingly to amplify the lively mood.
Enticing aromas of coffee wafted from small beverage tents lining the footpaths, tempting passersby with exotic drinks and treats. Groups of fantastical creatures danced with abandon, their laughter echoing through the streets.
Most buildings here were only two stories high; the area was lit with the glow of colorful neon and dim, warm streetlights, adding to the town's quaint and tranquil charm.
Despite being captivated by Rona's beauty and the vibrant energy that pulsed through the streets, they kept their eyes peeled for the landmark the bear had mentioned.
Soon, they arrived at the end of the mushy road, where the grass was an impossibly vibrant green on the next step forward. A wooden sign planted firmly in the ground declared Santu-Bong.
Following the bear's instructions, they turned their gaze to the right. There it was: the Aracca Motel.
A pink holographic wine glass blinked invitingly to passersby. Above the roof, snow fell in a peculiar anomaly, dusting only the motel—a common magical sight when you're in Rona.
Laughter and music spilled from the open doors, promising a lively atmosphere. As they entered, they saw the lobby bustling with a motley crew of fantastical creatures, some in bizarre hybrid forms, others with human-like features but cartoonish and pixelated in style, all clad in outlandish attire.
Suria hopped off Riang's back and sprang onto the bar counter.
"What can I help you with, love?" asked the bartender, a stick figure with a mesmerizing gradient that shifted from blue to green to purple.
"Woooot! You look weird, man!" Riang blurted out, her donkey head bobbing with curiosity.
"I know, right?!" the stick man chuckled. "But look who's talking! KRAKRAKRA!!"
"Meeeeheeheeheehee!!" Riang brayed, joining in the laughter.
Suria rolled her eyes and let out a long-suffering sigh.
"Please, Riang, manners..." she said, her voice laced with gentle exasperation. Then, turning back to the bartender, she asked, "Do you know anyone named Belang?"
"Belang?" the stick man repeated, his gradient shimmering thoughtfully. "Well, that's a name everyone in Rona would know. But first, let me serve you our specialty beverage. It's on the house!"
With a practiced hand, he crafted a colorful concoction with three distinct layers: a vibrant yellow at the bottom, a fiery red in the middle, and a crystal-clear blue on top. He finished it with a dollop of whipped cream, a slice of lemon, and a tiny umbrella straw, placing the glasses in front of them.
As they sipped their drinks, the bartender shared what he knew about Belang.
"Belang was wanted," the stick man explained, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "He did something that's not supposed to be done in Rona. There's one rule you should never break here, and he broke it. No one knows for sure whether he escaped or was captured."
He then gestured towards a bulletin board near the entrance, where a faded wanted poster with Belang's face was pinned.
Nearly an hour had passed in Rona. As Suria and Riang turned their heads toward where the wanted poster was glued, the motel doors suddenly burst open, and a genie flew inside.
"SURIA! RIANG! Are you here?! It's me, Purnama!" he shouted.
In his new form, Purnama had transformed into a black genie. His stylish blue turban, perpetually askew, threatened to topple off his head with each excited bounce.
A golden bracelet, far too large for his slender wrist, jangled comically with every exclamation. His absurdly long, swirling mustache, waxed to a ridiculous point, seemed to have a life of its own, twitching and twirling with each word.
A pair of oversized spectacles, perched precariously on his nose like a child's toy, magnified his tiny, black eyes, which sparkled with manic glee. His vast, red lips, stretched wide in a permanent grin, revealed a set of pearly white teeth that seemed to gleam with an unnatural intensity.
To top it all off, a pair of gaudy monkey-shaped earrings dangled from his earlobes, swaying rhythmically with his every movement.
For a moment, the lively atmosphere in the motel lobby fell silent. It was a custom in Rona: whenever someone called out a name, everyone nearby paused their conversations and laughter, waiting to see if the caller's presence was needed.
Suria sprayed out a sip of her drink in shock, unable to contain her surprise at Purnama's appearance.
"We're here, Purnama!" Riang responded, her voice brimming with excitement.
The lively chatter resumed as Purnama flew toward them, a broad grin on his face. They exchanged friendly jests about each other's unusual appearances before Purnama briefly shared his encounter with Eznar, which had lasted almost an entire day.
"Eznar said he despises my weakness," Purnama explained, his expression turning serious.
Eznar had eventually lost interest and departed, leaving him trapped for hours within a swirling wind prison.
"He claimed he would only finish me when I'm in my strongest form. I'm unsure what kind of Darkseed he is, but Celestrias might have a new, dangerous enemy to worry about."
Suria pointed at the wanted poster, her voice grim.
"And to add to that bad news, it looks like we have a problem here too."
"Damn it, Belang," Purnama muttered, furrowing his brow in concern as he glanced at the poster.
"So, what's the plan now?" Riang asked, her donkey ears twitching in anticipation of their next adventure.
Purnama realized he needed to find and save Belang before leaving Rona. Aside from obtaining a Dykin seed to exit Rona, it was a promise he had made long ago.
Belang was a royal blacksmith from Aurea who had abandoned his post to become an Invator in Rona. In this role, he held a supply of Dykin seeds and possessed a magical mapping scroll that revealed the precise locations of Rona's entrances and exits on Earth.
With a heavy heart, Purnama instructed Suria and Riang to leave Rona and proceed to Tambora without him.
"I'm sorry, but I need to find Belang. I need to obtain a Dykin seed and locate an exit close to the Skyrea rendezvous point."
"Is that even possible, Purnama?" Suria asked, her voice laced with worry. "Can you remember where the Skyrea rendezvous is without a map?"
"Belang is an Invator," Purnama replied.
"I just need to tell him from where I entered Rona. The rendezvous point is located in the Dark Forest, north of the cirque, about a two- or three-day walk from there. With that information, Belang can help me find a nearby exit."
"Wow, you're brilliant, Purnama!" Riang exclaimed, impressed by his quick thinking.
"You did see the monument, right?" Purnama asked. "Let's head back there for now."
The three thanked the stick man bartender for his hospitality and returned to the monument.