Chapter 3: The Sea of Clouds and the Cursed Island
The White City was the jewel of commerce in that sector of the sky. Floating above the dense clouds, its cobblestone streets were always bustling with merchants shouting offers, blacksmiths hammering magical metals, and rookie adventurers looking to spend their first RAs.
In the center of this hustle, at the corner table of the Sweet Cloud Bakery, Asuke Mishima was in his natural habitat.
"Mmm! This is glorious!" Asuke bit into a cream puff so big that the filling smeared his nose. "Bel, aren't you going to eat?"
Bel Lulu sat across from him, spinning an empty milkshake cup between his hands. The euphoria of the victory in the Tower had passed, replaced by a somber expression.
"Asuke..." Bel began, ignoring the question. "You said you would help me if I told you my goal."
Asuke swallowed the sweet, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and got serious (or as serious as he could get with sugar on his cheek).
"I'm all ears."
Bel sighed, looking out the window at the infinite horizon of clouds.
"My home is on Carp Island. It's a place famous for tourism. We have the Spectral Carps, fish made of pure light that swim in our rivers. The island was always full of life, laughter, and money. But... six months ago, everything changed."
"Monsters?" Asuke asked.
"Worse. A Ghost." Bel squeezed the cup. "A ghost girl appeared and started haunting Carp Park. She chases away tourists, plays dangerous pranks, and laughs at our misfortune. Tourism died. The island's economy is crashing."
Bel paused, shame coloring his face.
"I tried to face her. I swore I would protect my home. But when I found her... I was humiliated. She didn't even need to fight seriously. She laughed at me while I ran away."
Asuke remained silent.
"I came to the White City to ask strong adventurers for help, but no one believed me. 'A ghost? I don't waste time with fairy tales,' they said. So I decided I would get strong myself. I need to defeat that ghost and bring peace back. And, more importantly... I need money from missions to buy medicine for my sister, Lu."
Bel looked up, expecting to see Asuke bored or skeptical.
Instead, he saw a wide grin spreading across his face.
"So our guild's first official mission is a ghost hunt?" Asuke slammed his hand on the table, making the plates rattle. "Why didn't you say so earlier? Let's exorcise this haunting!"
Bel blinked, stunned.
"You... believe me? Just like that, so easily?"
"You fought well in the Tower. If you say there's a ghost, there's a ghost." Asuke stood up, tossing some digital RA coins onto the table. "Besides, it sounds fun. Let's go to Carp Island!"
The Central Station was a colossus of iron and glass. The sound of steam and magic whistles filled the air.
"Whoa!" Asuke turned his head in every direction. "Look at the size of that thing!"
Before them stood the Cloudtrain. A gigantic locomotive, black and gold, that didn't have conventional wheels, but magnetic skis and small side wings for stability. It floated over rails made of solid mana that extended into the abyss of the sky.
"Never rode a Cloudtrain?" Bel asked, buying tickets at the automated kiosk.
"I've never left this city," Asuke confessed, his eyes shining like a child's. "I've always dreamed of seeing what lies beyond the horizon."
"Well, hold on tight. The Sea of Clouds can be rough."
They boarded. The interior was luxurious, with velvet armchairs. As soon as they sat down, the whistle blew.
CHOO-CHOO!
The initial jolt pinned Asuke to his seat. The Cloudtrain shot along the mana rails, diving into the white sea. Outside, the landscape was breathtaking. Floating islands passed in the distance, connected by rainbow bridges. Flying fish with dragonfly wings jumped between the clouds, racing the train.
"Incredible..." Asuke whispered.
"Thank you, Asuke," Bel said, looking at his friend. "For coming with me."
"Don't thank me yet." Asuke yawned, his belly full of sweets taking its toll. "First we beat the ghost... then we... zzzZZZZ."
Bel laughed. He falls asleep fast.
The trip lasted two hours. When the Cloudtrain docked at the Carp Island station, the afternoon sun bathed everything in gold.
Unlike Bel's grim account, the city seemed alive in the daylight. There were stalls selling fish masks, balloons, and souvenirs. But Bel knew the truth: it was a facade. People smiled, but their eyes were tired. By nightfall, the streets would be deserted.
"CHOCOLATE CARP!" Asuke shouted, running to a stall before Bel even got out of the station.
When Bel caught up with him, Asuke already had three chocolate fish in his mouth and two in his hands.
"Do you wan' one?" Asuke offered, mouth full.
"You're a vacuum cleaner, aren't you?" Bel shook his head, smiling. "Let's stop by my house. I need to drop off my backpack and check on Lu."
They walked through the cobblestone streets to a modest wooden house with a blue roof. Bel opened the door.
"I'm home!"
Light, quick footsteps came from the hallway. A little girl with dark hair and very pale skin appeared, jumping onto Bel's neck.
"Bel!" Her voice was weak but full of joy. "You took so long! I was worried!"
"I said I would come back, Lu." Bel hugged her carefully, as if she were made of glass.
Lu pulled away and looked curiously at the stranger eating chocolate in the doorway.
"Brother, who is that?"
"Ah, that's..."
"I am Asuke!" The adventurer stepped forward, took Lu's fragile hand, and gave an exaggerated bow. "I am your brother's new partner and your future protector, princess."
Lu's reaction was immediate.
SLAP!
A sharp (though weak) slap hit Asuke's cheek.
"Get away, you weirdo!" Lu ran to hide behind Bel's legs, sticking her tongue out.
Bel laughed out loud.
"Serves you right. Lu, he's kind of a goofball, but he helped me defeat a Tower today."
Lu's eyes widened.
"A Tower? For real?" She looked at Asuke with newfound respect, though still suspicious. "Th... thank you for bringing Bel back alive."
"You're welcome, pipsqueak!" Asuke rubbed his face where he got slapped, laughing. "Where is your father?"
"Dad went out," Lu explained, looking a bit sad. "He heard a traveling Alchemist was in the neighboring town and went to see if he could find... you know. The medicine."
Bel nodded, the mood instantly becoming heavy.
"Lu has a rare condition," Bel explained to Asuke. "Her skin reacts violently to direct sunlight and her mana is unstable. She can't leave the house. My father spends everything he has looking for a cure."
Asuke looked at the girl, then at Bel. His playful expression vanished.
"I see." He clenched his fist. "Another mission for the guild. We're going to find that cure."
Lu blushed, surprised by the stranger's determination.
"But first..." Bel went to the wall and grabbed his G.I.G.O.D blowgun. "We have an appointment."
"The ghost?" Asuke asked.
"Yes. It's getting dark. She always appears at Carp Park after the sun goes down."
Asuke finished his chocolate in one bite and cracked his knuckles.
"Lu, lock the door. We'll be right back."
Bel and Asuke left the house. The sun had vanished over the horizon, and shadows began to swallow Carp Island. The air grew colder.
"Ready to punch a spirit, Bel?" Asuke asked.
"This time is different," Bel replied, activating the blue glow of his Kaminotachi. "This time, I'm not alone."