Chapter 10: Chapter 10 - Floating islands

Chapter 10 - Floating islands

The rhythmic humming of the crystal slowed to a steady pulse. Lucid's mask caught its faint shimmer as he leaned forward, his breath held. Through the front glass of the carriage, a glimmering vista revealed itself—one unlike anything they had seen before.

Clouds parted like curtains on a grand stage, unveiling a massive floating island encircled by a dozen smaller landmasses drifting gently like petals on an unseen breeze. Suspended waterfalls cascaded from the main island to the smaller ones, which in turn floated above a deep expanse of glowing sky. Each island was connected by long stone bridges that shimmered faintly with magical energy.

At the heart of the largest island stood a city of silver and white stone. Towers spiraled upward, twisting like vines of marble. Buildings floated a few meters above the ground or rotated slowly in place, held aloft by blue glowing runes etched into their bases. Roads formed from suspended cobblestones restructured themselves, changing paths and reshaping routes before the eye could fully track the movement. The air seemed lighter, crisp with magical energy.

"W-Wow..." Alice whispered in awe, her nose nearly pressed against the glass. "Is this... Andorrea?"

Lucid didn’t answer immediately. His eyes were wide behind the fogged glass of his mask. Everything in Andorrea defied logic and gravity. It felt like they were stepping into a dream sculpted by willpower and mana.

The carriage began to slow as it approached a wide platform—an arrival dock hovering near the city's edge. Lanterns shaped like floating crystal orbs drifted along the rails, casting a soft white-blue light. As the carriage came to a gentle stop, the hatch atop the roof unfolded automatically like flower petals blooming.

Lucid helped Alice up the ladder and through the hatch. As they stepped out, the air shifted. It wasn’t just thinner; it thrummed with energy. Lucid could feel it buzzing faintly under his boots.

The arrival platform was circular, surrounded by rail lines that extended outward into the horizon. Other similar carriages floated to different corners of the sky, passing each other without rails, guided by some unseen force. In the center of the platform, an ornate sigil glowed, and two robed figures stood near it.

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The pair approached: one a tall, slender woman with lavender robes and angular spectacles perched on the edge of her nose. The other, a stocky older man with a braided silver beard and a walking staff adorned with feathers.

"You must be the visitors from Arayune," the woman said with a formal bow. "I am Archivist Neleya, scholar of the Aetherbound Path. And this is Keeper Yorrin."

Lucid exchanged glances with Alice, who nodded shyly.

"We received the message by crystal relay. You bring news of Yu Sakamoto, do you not?"

Lucid stepped forward. "That’s right. The council from Arayune sent us. They believe he’s here."

Neleya’s expression grew troubled. She waved a hand, and the sigil beneath them pulsed. “Come. We’ll walk and talk. There’s much to show you, and time may be shorter than we hoped.”

The group passed through a large gate constructed of silver stone and vine-covered arches. As they walked, the city bloomed around them. Shops floated on moving platforms. Children chased enchanted bubbles through the air. Mechanical golems trimmed trees that hovered upside down. The laws of physics bent gently in every direction.

“Yu Sakamoto was here two weeks ago,” Neleya explained, her voice low. “He arrived alone. Mysterious. Talented. Too talented. Within days, he had secured an audience with the Circle of Nine—the ruling body of Andorrea.”

“What did he want with them?” Lucid asked.

“Knowledge,” Yorrin grunted. “Access to restricted texts, lost incantations. He promised to help stabilize our floating isles, claimed he had found the secret to anchor them permanently to the void.”

Neleya frowned. “But then he vanished. Not just from our sight—he broke into the Celestial Archives and stole something ancient. A fragment from the Spell of Rooting. He took it and left a warning.”

“What kind of warning?” Alice asked, her voice uncharacteristically serious.

“That the world must fall... to grow anew.”

Lucid’s hands clenched at his sides. His thoughts swirled. A warning like that was more than ominous—it was intent. It meant Yu Sakamoto had a plan. And it wasn’t just rebellion. It was reformation—destruction with purpose.

“You’ll be offered a choice soon,” Neleya said, stopping at the entrance to a floating observatory. “Andorrea’s leaders are preparing a bounty. They want Yu Sakamoto found and returned. Dead or alive.”

Alice tensed. Lucid felt the weight of her silence.

“Dead... or alive?” he repeated.

“It’s up to you. But make no mistake,” Yorrin said, gripping his staff. “If he succeeds in completing that spell, Andorrea won’t be the only world to fall.”

Lucid stepped forward into the observatory. His thoughts raced. His heart was quiet.

‘So this is it, huh?’ he thought.

‘My first real choice... since waking up in that forest.’