"We're here. We are preparing to dock," Captain Eldrin said, his hand deftly turning the ship with his magic.
Before we could fully dock, a sudden burst of water exploded from the left side of the first layer's wall. A figure shot through, moving at incredible speeds with water trailing behind it. Close to the figure was a girl, about my age and my height, gliding on a mirror-like platform. She looked in our direction, then waved to the guards following her, directing them towards the speeding figure.
She then turned her attention back to us and raised her hand.
The ship began to rock violently. "Everyone, hold on!" Captain Eldrin shouted.
The waves around us lifted and crashed into each other in a chaotic dance. The ship was tossed, and we clung to the sides to avoid being thrown overboard. As we neared the five kilometre mark, the waves began to calm, transforming into a controlled, mellow stream that guided us smoothly and hastily towards the dock.
The girl's control over the water was remarkable, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and curiosity. "What just happened?" I muttered, gripping the rail tightly.
Lyra looked at the girl with a straight face, "That is... the Water Prodigy. Marina Lark." She took a breath, "That girl is the reason why the war began. It was only for her so she could be birth properly."
As the ship docked with a slight bump against the wall, the girl descended gracefully toward the dock. The mirror-like platform she stood on dispersed into shimmering water droplets as she gently floated towards the ground.
She was a vision of blue, gold, and white. Her frilly coat featured a collar and hem stitched with luxurious white fur. The sleek, dark blue sleeves and the impeccable tailoring spoke of the finest quality and years of craftsmanship. Beneath the coat, she wore an elegant light blue long-sleeved corset with gold stripes down the front, highlighting her refined taste.
Her dark blue, denim pants were paired with an open-front skirt stitched with a delicate floral pattern along the sides, all accented with gleaming gold stripes. A deep carnation red short tie stood out vividly against her outfit. Completing her ensemble were dark blue high heels, tied with pristine white strings.
The rising sun cast a radiant glow, causing me to shield my eyes. As she stepped onto the ground, her features came into view.
Her silky, shiny shoulder-length blonde hair framed a face of striking beauty. Her eyes were a deep, captivating gold yellow. She moved with an ethereal grace that made her appear almost otherworldly to the onlookers. Her presence commanded attention and respect, embodying both elegance and power.
Another glance at her face revealed that her pupils were diamond-shaped, adding an otherworldly quality to her already captivating appearance.
"Oh my! Visitors! What a view! What brings all of you here?!" she said gleefully, her eyes sparkling as she made eye contact with each of us. Her voice had a slight sing-song quality, a new welcoming tone that put us slightly at ease despite the tense situation.
"We came to fin-."
"Finish the tour! Yes. Luminary Academy's tour..." Lyra interrupted Luna before she could finish.
Marina's head tilted, and her eyes seemed to sparkle even more. "A tour!? So, I take it you are from Luminary Academy!" She said as she shook all of our hands, her enthusiasm contagious.
As she finally shook my hand last, she continued, "There have been minor issues going on recently in Aqueonos, so be a little alert, okay? One of which is that girl who just ran super duper quick! But we'll catch her eventually!" There was a small pause before she continued once again. This time, the sparkle in her eyes dimmed slightly.
"And one more is... the Claw Mauler. It has been travelling across islands recently, and I heard that it reached Aqueonos recently... I'll do my best to protect the citizens and your precious little tour!"
"The Claw Mauler...?" I whispered under my breath in confusion.
Her head cocked back towards me. "You haven't heard of the Claw Mauler?! It's someone... or something... that only ventures the streets at night. And anyone who comes across it never lives to tell the tale."
Lyra nodded, her face grim. "We understand. Thank you for the warning."
Marina's cheerful demeanour returned as she clapped her hands together. "But enough of that! Welcome to Aqueonos! Let me show you around. I promise, despite the temporary dangers, our city is full of permanent wonders."
One of the guards ran up to her, "Marina! We have news-."
Before the guard could finish, she snapped her head back to the guard, "That. Is. Not. How. You. Address. Me. Understand?" She said, forcing a smile as her eyes turned into a threatening feel.
The guard's body tensed up as he saluted, "Y-Yes, Miss Marina!" He stuttered.
Marina's smile returned to its usual warmth as she turned back to us. "Apologies for the interruption. Now, where were we? Ah yes, the tour!"
The guard quickly composed himself and stepped aside before speaking up, "But, Miss Marina!"
Her smile faltered for a second, her head slowly turning back to the guard. "Yes?" she asked, her tone dripping with menace.
The guard's body tensed visibly, his face paling. "M-Miss Marina, the girl... she got away. Eye witnesses said she jumped into the water and her body disappeared."
Lyra stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "It's okay, Miss Marina. You don't have to take us on a tour. We understand if you need to handle this."
Marina's expression hardened as she turned back to the guard. "Fine. You guards can't do anything without me, it seems," she said, her voice dripping with disappointment.
She then faced Luna, Konota, and me, her demeanour softening slightly. "There are some rules you must follow. You shan't enter the outer fourth and fifth layers. The Luminary Academy of Frallencia is located in the innermost parts of these layers. Normally, I would allow you to visit, but today is their final examination day for the fifth district. Well then, bye bye! Oh! And do try our delicacy! Bouillabaisse! "
Her tone was authoritative but not unkind, and somehow sprinkled with enthusiasm.
Marina flicked her hair back and turned sharply towards the guards, marching off with her head held high, a picture of regal authority.
We were left standing by ourselves once more. I turned to Luna, trying to steady my voice despite the anxious flutter in my chest. "What does the needle say, Luna?"
Luna jumped slightly, letting out a tiny squeal of surprise. She quickly recovered, pulling out the needle and hanging it by the thread. The needle started to rotate slowly, its movements seemingly random.
"What does this mean?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion as she watched the needle spin.
Lyra stepped closer, her tone turning serious. "That means Laura is close. The needle reacts like this when the person it's tracking is nearby. We should continue our search."
"Can you remind me what the search is for again?" An unfamiliar voice spoke up.
We all jumped back, instinctively moving into defensive stances. Luna was the first to speak, her voice edged with tension. "Who's there?!"
For a moment, it seemed like no one was around. Then, a voice came from behind us, "What a nifty thing. To find whatever with a needle. So, how much is it?"
I spun around to see a girl standing there, about the same height as me, maybe a bit shorter. Her bangs partially covered her left eye, held in place by a metal hairpin shaped like a shell. She wore a light blue short-sleeved shirt with a dark blue scarf draped around her neck, matching the colour of her eyes. Her pants were a near-black shade, complementing her dark hair.
Her sudden appearance and casual demeanour caught us off guard.
My eyes wandered to her hands, and my heart dropped as I saw the guiding needle in her clutches. She dangled and jostled the needle by its thread as if it were a cheap toy.
Luna immediately shouted, "GIVE IT BACK!"
The girl flinched at the sudden scream, her expression momentarily surprised before returning to a cool smirk. "Relax, little girl. I'm making an offer with ya." She said, swinging the thread around her finger casually.
Konota's hand gripped onto the handle of her sheathed katana. The girl's attention wavered towards Konota's hand before speaking up, her voice dropping into a low, threatening tone. "Woah, woah, relax. No need to get feisty now."
I glanced at Lyra, who subtly shook her head, reminding me of her command not to use our magic. We had to be on high alert.
Lyra cautiously approached her, her tone calm and diplomatic. "Now, now... I'm sure we can all work this out. Let's start with... what's your name?"
The girl let out a laugh, her eyes glinting with amusement. "What a joke. I know what you're trying to do," she said with a snicker.
She continued, her smirk widening. "Anyways, I'm already hired for this, so you're kinda too slow there. Ah, I'm out of here, my legs are getting more stiff as I stand here."
She then stuffed the guiding needle into her pocket and prepared to leave.
"WAIT!" Luna shouted, her voice desperate as she lunged forward, grabbing the girl's scarf just before she could make her quick escape.
The girl stumbled, caught off guard by Luna's sudden action. Her expression shifted from surprise to annoyance. "Let go, or I swear—"
"No!" Luna's grip tightened on the scarf, her eyes filled with determination. "Not until you give back the needle and tell us where my sister is."
The girl's eyes narrowed, her playful demeanor vanishing. "You're persistent, I'll give you that. But I wouldn't know where your sister is. All I was told to do was to just distract all of you."
"Distract?" Konota spoke up, her guard still standing tall.
"Yeah, that's right. Cause a little chaos, keep you busy. Seems like it's working, don't you think?" she said, her smirk returning.
Lyra's expression hardened. "Who sent you? Why would they want to distract us?"
The girl shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm just a hired hand. They don't tell me the 'why,' only the 'what.' And what I was told to do was keep you all occupied."
Luna's face contorted in anger. "You're messing with my family's life! If she's hurt... I vow to—"
The girl raised an eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed. "Big words for a small girl."
Luna's facial expression immediately darkened as she clenched her free hand into a fist. She mumbled something under her breath, and the air around us began to swirl, pulling toward her clenched palm with increasing intensity.
The girl's eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly tore away her scarf just before the impact. Luna's hand released a powerful gale, more forceful than any Mucik I had seen her unleash before. The wind was widespread and fierce, causing the mysterious girl to stumble back, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the sudden wave.
"Feisty for a tiny one, aren't you?" the girl mocked, brushing herself off and smirking at Luna's height.
She glanced at the sun, her smirk growing wider. "Well, I guess my little playtime is up. I've entertained myself with this menagerie for long enough. And do me a little favour and remember my name, Corinne."
As soon as she said that, she raised her hands. For a moment, everything fell silent. Konota, sensing an opportunity, began to move, but the ground started to rumble. Metal pillars shot up from the wall, blocking our view of Corinne and effectively separating us from her. Konota quickly jumped back, her eyes scanning the area for any sudden attacks. But everything remained silent.
Konota drew her katana and with a swift, practised motion, sliced a hole in the metal pillar using her metal magic. She grabbed a piece of the severed metal, and it flowed up her arm, forming a bracelet around her wrist.
It's been a while since I've seen that...
As we peered through the hole, Corinne had already left us in the dust.
"We have to get the guiding needle back! I need to find Laura!" Luna shouted as she started to run in the direction Corinne had disappeared.
Lyra quickly grabbed her shoulder, stopping her. "Wait, Luna! This is too careless, even for you. We need to think this through. Rushing into danger isn't going to help us find Laura." She took a deep breath and continued, "We'll change our approach. We'll split up. Luna, you'll search for Corinne and retrieve the guiding needle."
Lyra turned to Konota and me. "Konota, Kiara, and I will search for Laura without the needle. Laura couldn't have gone far. The needle pointed to this island, and although it's large, it's still only five layers. We can find her."
She placed a gentle hand on Luna's shoulder. "I'm proud of you, Luna. That Mucik was much stronger than before, but don't let negative emotions control you. Make sure of that, okay?"
Luna sniffed, her eyes steely with determination rather than tears. "I'm sorry..." She raised her head, resolved. "Konota, Kiara, come here."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out two orbs, placing one in each of our hands.
"These are Soul Resonators. They contain negative soul parts and will temporarily boost your strength immensely. They're... frowned upon in Minleth, which is why I'm considered a disgrace there... My magic works best this way. But-! I want you two to use them. They only contain two negative soul parts each, so they should be safe," Luna said, her voice low but steady.
I glanced at the orb in my hand, feeling its odd energy. Konota nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of Luna's gift.
"Thank you... Luna," Konota and I said in unison, our voices filled with genuine gratitude.
I continued, "We will come back. And by the next day, we will all be here, ready to head home."
Konota sheathed her katana, her hand still resting on the handle. "Of course we'll come back. How else am I gonna eat more?" she said with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.
Luna managed a small, precious smile, the tension easing slightly.
Lyra nodded, her voice steady. "Alright. Konota, you search the fourth and fifth layers. Kiara, you take the first and second layers. I'll cover the third layer, and Luna, you retrieve the guiding needle from Corinne."
We all nodded in unison, understanding the weight of our tasks. With that, we turned our backs and walked in opposite directions, each of us focused on our individual missions. Our paths diverged, but our goal remained united.
To save Laura.