Wings of Fire X JoJo: A Stand Against Destiny II

Chapter 6: The Summer Palace

As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the window of the hut, Jormund stirred from his slumber, feeling the warmth of the morning sun on his face. Blinking sleepily, he took a moment to orient himself, recalling the events of the previous day. His fingers closed around the familiar shape of the wristwatch in his hand, a comforting reminder of where he was.

Glancing around the hut, Jormund spotted Tidecaller still asleep on his kelp bed, the gentle rise and fall of his chest indicating deep sleep. With a small smile, Jormund decided to let him rest a little longer, not wanting to disturb his friend's peaceful slumber.

Turning his attention back to the wristwatch in his hand, Jormund examined it closely, the gears and mechanisms within still a mystery to him. He wondered if this object held the key to finding his way back home, or if it was merely a relic of his past life.

As he pondered, he heard the sound of movement from Tidecaller's direction. Glancing up, he saw the Seawing stirring awake, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Tidecaller noticed Jormund's wakefulness and offered him a friendly smile.

"Good morning, Jojo," Tidecaller greeted him, his voice still slightly groggy from sleep. "Did you sleep well?"

Jormund returned the smile, nodding in response. "Yes, thanks to your comfortable cushion," he replied, stretching his arms above his head. "How about you? Did you have a restful night?"

Tidecaller nodded, pushing himself up into a sitting position. "I did, thank you," he said, glancing around the hut. "Are you ready to head to the summer palace today?"

Jormund nodded eagerly, a sense of determination filling him. "Yes, I am," he said, his voice filled with resolve. "We have a mission to accomplish, after all."

As Tidecaller's gaze wandered to the object in Jormund's hand, his curiosity piqued, remembering seeing it before he went to bed. "What's that you're holding?" he asked, his tone filled with genuine interest.

Jormund looked down at the wristwatch in his hand, feeling a pang of nostalgia wash over him. "This," he began, holding it up for Tidecaller to see, "belonged to my friend, Professor Alexander. He's the reason I'm here."

Tidecaller listened intently as Jormund continued, explaining the significance of the wristwatch and its connection to his missing friend. "We were both transported to this world by a mysterious artifact called the mooncrystal," Jormund explained, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. "It's still in one of my pockets," he added, patting his jacket to indicate where it was. "We don't know much about it, other than it's incredibly powerful and brought us here against our will."

Tidecaller's eyes widened in surprise at Jormund's revelation. "That sounds... incredible," he murmured, clearly intrigued by the tale. "Do you think this mooncrystal is the key to finding your friend?"

Jormund shrugged, a thoughtful expression crossing his features. "It's possible," he admitted, "but we still have a lot to learn about it. For now, all I can do is hold onto it and hope that it leads me back to Professor Alexander."

With a nod of understanding, Tidecaller fell silent, his mind undoubtedly buzzing with questions about the mysterious mooncrystal and the enigmatic Professor Alexander.

As the morning sun cast a warm glow over Tidecaller's cozy hut, Jormund and Tidecaller set about preparing for their journey to the summer palace. Tidecaller rummaged through a collection of seaweed pouches and baskets, retrieving various supplies for their trip. Jormund watched with interest, noting the unique assortment of items that Tidecaller had accumulated over the years.

"Need any help with that?" Jormund offered, eager to lend a hand despite the twinge of pain in his injured arm.

Tidecaller glanced over at Jormund with a grateful smile. "Sure, if you don't mind," he replied, motioning for Jormund to join him.