"Mr. Butler, I still don't quite understand why Tejod gave Paltio all that time until something called the Marine Dawn occurs," Lucca asked while taking a sip of tea. His tone was curious but also tinged with concern, as if sensing there was something deeper behind that decision.
"It's a good question," Mok replied, setting his cup down gently on the table. "But I don't have the answer. All I know is that it's when the water visibly changes due to the rising of the waves, almost as if it wants to reach the moon. This phenomenon happens at Roca Marina, in the Sea of Mist, near our kingdom. It's a unique event that occurs once every thousand years."
Mok paused before continuing: "I don't know why he specifically chose that moment as the deadline. Perhaps it's part of some greater plan, but only Tejod knows for sure."
"I see… So it's a unique phenomenon, and the water rises so high it almost seems to touch the moon. Impressive, but there's definitely something fishy about it," Lucca reflected, placing a hand on his chin as he thought aloud. "Knowing those cursed Shadows, it must be something important. What could they be plotting?"
"You're right. We should investigate," Lucca suggested after a few moments of silence. "Maybe if Lord Serlet were to appear, we could ask him directly."
"Perhaps," Mok responded, nodding slowly. "Or maybe we would've asked Avocios, but he hasn't contacted Paltio since that day."
Both remained silent for a moment, lost in their thoughts as they finished their tea. Outside, the wind blew softly, as if it too were waiting for answers.
Meanwhile, in another realm, Golden observed Paltio with an expression of satisfaction. "Very good, Paltio. You're starting to learn how to use my powers. Keep it up," he said proudly. Another month had passed within their mental space, though only a single day had elapsed in the real world.
"It's been 21 days since we left Avocadolia… I miss home," Paltio commented as he rested beside Toco-Toco, who emitted small supportive chirps.
"I know, Paltio, but remember, this journey is for a great cause and a conflict you must resolve," Golden reminded him firmly, though his tone remained kind.
In another location, Rykaru was deep in his training. He leaped agilely through several suspended hoops, demonstrating remarkable skill. He was now much faster and more precise, capable of scaling to the top where the final hoop awaited. However, upon reaching it, a surprise awaited him: a dozen paper soldiers emerged from nowhere, surrounding him with hostile intent.
The small white orb was unfazed. It began to move rapidly, dodging the soldiers' attacks while searching for an opportunity to counterattack. With precise movements, it knocked down two of them by launching itself directly at them. Then, using rocks it had collected earlier as projectiles, it eliminated two more.
One by one, the paper soldiers fell before Rykaru's cunning and speed. Finally, only one remained: a massive paper soldier, clearly the leader. This one pulled out a mallet made of paper, and despite its material, each strike against the ground caused tremors that made it difficult to maintain balance.
"Alright, you're mine," Rykaru declared with determination, preparing to face the final enemy.
The paper soldier raised its mallet and slammed it into the ground, causing an explosion of energy that cracked the earth. Rykaru rolled to the side to avoid the impact, but he knew this fight would be different. He wouldn't just need strength and speed—he'd also need intelligence to defeat the towering foe.
Quickly, Rykaru dodged the giant paper soldier, sliding to the left and positioning himself strategically behind it. "You're mine, fool!" exclaimed the little white orb as it launched a powerful tackle against the enemy's back, toppling it completely. With a final tremor, the paper soldier collapsed, crumbling into harmless fragments that scattered with the wind.
Applause echoed in the distance. It was Golden, who observed everything with a proud smile. "Not bad at all, Rykaru. Not bad at all," he said as he approached the training field.
The spherical being blushed slightly, though his expression reflected genuine happiness. "I'm so happy! Bring on the next enemy!" Rykaru exclaimed enthusiastically, bouncing from side to side as if unable to contain his energy.
"Wow, Rykaru is certainly excited about training," Golden thought aloud, impressed by the dedication of the small creature. Rykaru no longer wanted to face simple paper soldiers; he craved something more challenging, something that would test his newly acquired skills. Golden noticed how Rykaru was growing quickly, both in strength and confidence.
At that moment, Paltio called out to Rykaru from afar. "It's time for lunch! You should take a break!"
However, Rykaru didn't seem interested in eating. His determination to keep training was evident, which surprised Paltio. "Aren't you hungry?" he asked curiously.
Golden intervened, trying to reason with the eager orb. "You should go eat, and then we can continue training," he suggested calmly. But Rykaru refused; he was determined to keep going.
"Alright, one more fight... And if you lose, then you'll eat," Golden proposed with a mischievous smile. Rykaru accepted immediately, thrilled at the chance to prove himself once more.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, the carriage sped along a path surrounded by trees when something strange happened. Suddenly, hands emerged from the ground and began pulling the vehicle with superhuman force.
"What's happening?! What's pulling us?!" Lucca shouted, leaning out the window to see the carriage being dragged off the path. The hands were long and dark, like extensions of some invisible creature trying to pull the vehicle into the nearby shadowy forest.
"Quick, it's time to act!" Mok exclaimed, unsheathing his knives with precision. With swift and accurate movements, he severed several of the hands gripping the carriage, momentarily freeing it.
It seemed the danger had passed, but before they could catch their breath, thousands more hands emerged from the ground, completely surrounding the carriage. This time, there was no stopping them. The hands seized the vehicle with relentless force and dragged it into the forest, where darkness seemed to devour everything.
"Thank goodness we got out on time!" Lucca exclaimed, carrying Lukeandria in his arms as they ran toward safety. Mok, meanwhile, helped Paltio, ensuring no one was left behind.
The group barely escaped before the carriage disappeared entirely among the trees. Everyone's hearts were beating as they looked back, trying to comprehend what had just happened.
"What was that?" Lucca asked, visibly shaken.
"I don't know, but I don't think we've seen the worst of it yet," Mok replied, tightening his grip on his knives as he cautiously scanned the dark forest.
"We need to recover that carriage," Mok declared firmly, staring into the shadowy woods where the carriage had vanished.
"But how is this possible... Where did all those hands come from?" Lucca asked, glancing at the ground as if fearing more of those creatures might emerge at any moment.
"I don't know, but we need to find out," Mok responded decisively. They were about to set Paltio and Lukeandria down to investigate when suddenly, dark hands emerged once again from the ground, this time grabbing Paltio and Lukeandria and dragging them toward the same place where the others had disappeared.
"Damn it! What are these things?" Lucca thought, feeling an adrenaline surge through his body.
"We'd better go after them—no time to lose!" Mok exclaimed, tightening his grip on his knives as both dashed into the dark forest, following the trail of the mysterious hands.
Inside the mental space, Golden watched intently what was happening in the outside world. "Paltio, something feels off out there. Something is happening," he said with concern.
"I should go check it out," Paltio responded, ready to act.
"No, oh! Leave it to me," Rykaru interrupted, having just finished eating after training. His voice was determined, almost as if he had been waiting for this opportunity for a while.
"But Rykaru, what if it's something powerful? You might need my help," Paltio insisted, trying to reason with him.
"No, I can handle it, Dad," Rykaru replied, using the word "Dad" instead of "Daddy," as he usually did. It was clear he wanted to demonstrate maturity and responsibility.
"So you're determined, little meow. I like that," Toco-Toco commented, nodding proudly while staying close to them.
"If anything happens to him, I'll never forgive myself," Paltio murmured, his voice heavy with the worry of a protective father who would do anything to keep his child safe.
"I can handle it, don't worry," Rykaru assured, exuding unwavering confidence.
"Alright, if things get dangerous, we can monitor what's happening outside with this magical orb I've created. I should've made it sooner," Golden said, holding a small, glowing sphere in his hands.
Without further delay, Rykaru emerged into the real world, materializing near Mok and Lucca, who were already standing in front of what appeared to be a hidden cabin deep within the dark forest.
"Rykaru, what are you doing here?" Lucca asked, surprised to see the small white orb.
"I'll take care of it," Rykaru declared firmly, moving forward as if ready to face any danger lurking ahead.
Mok and Lucca exchanged a quick glance, impressed by the determination of the tiny being. "Alright, but be careful," Mok warned, though he knew stopping Rykaru at this point was impossible.
Rykaru advanced toward the entrance of the cabin, where an eerie glow emanated from within. The dark hands seemed to originate from some kind of creature or energy residing there. With each step he took, the atmosphere grew thicker and more oppressive, but this did nothing to diminish his resolve.
"Let's see what's inside," Rykaru muttered to himself, preparing to confront the unknown.