Orchid and I were searching Kano's room for a clue to where he might've gone. I noticed the window was cracked open.
Mahale: "I think he escaped through there."
I pointed to the window and Orchid began to examine it.
Orchid: "I'm afraid that's impossible. If you were to jump from here, you might not even survive the fall."
Kano's room was quite a few levels up from the ground.
Mahale: "No... look at the dust on the frame.
There was a clearing in the dust in the shape of a hand.
Mahale: "If he jumped out, he would have to touch the window frame in order to get out. His hand left a print in the dust when he did."
Orchid: "But however would he survive a fall like that?"
Mahale: "Magic is common in this world, right? Couldn't he just slow his descent with magic?"
Orchid: "Kano has no magical energy. He is human, after all."
Orchid leaned out to examine the area below the window.
Orchid: "The ether in this area... I believe it was recently used. Someone could have been assisting him in escaping."
Mahale: "Who would help him though?"
Orchid: "To find that out, we will need to investigate the ground level."
Mahale: "Agreed."
We exited Kano's room and hurried across hallway after hallway, staircase after staircase, until finally, we encountered a small door. Orchid held the door open for me.
Orchid: "After you, princess."
Mahale: "What a gentleman."
Orchid responded with a defeated sigh.
Orchid closed the door, and together, we headed for the area below Kano's room. When we arrived, I immediately began investigating the ground around.
Mahale: "The dirt is damp here."
Orchid: "Water magic, no doubt."
Mahale: "Some patches of the grass are wet as well. I think they went that way."
I pointed toward a tall, mystical looking forest straight across from where we stood.
Orchid: "Wait... it can't be... Azure?"
Mahale: "Who's Azure?"
Orchid didn't respond, and ran toward the forest.
Mahale: "O-Orchid! Wait!"
No response.
We ran for what felt like hours. The forest was as mystical as it seemed. A faint singing could be heard from all directions, as if the trees themselves were engrossed in song. Water droplets could be seen floating in midair, waltzing with the breeze. As Orchid and I delved deeper into the forest, the singing grew louder, and louder, until I could make out the words that the forest cried.
Aqua,
Aqua,
Periculosum iter,
Submersam in lacrimis,
Submersam in tristitia,
Non lucere facit lumen,
In profundis maris.
We stopped at a wooden house and the forest went silent. The house was small and seemed to be falling apart. Orchid gently knocked on the door.
Orchid: "Azure. It's me."
The door slowly opened to reveal a well-dressed boy with short black hair and bright blue bangs. He spoke in a gentle voice.
Azure: "Orchid. I'm guessing you're looking for Kano, right?"
Orchid: "Why did you take him?"
Azure: "Kano is... confused. I sensed something was wrong and took him to the lake in hopes to calm him. He seems to have lost his memory. He was talking about some place called Paradox and someone named Lumiere. I think he's under some kind of spell."
Orchid: "That's what's happening to Mahale as well."
Mahale: "Can I see him? I need to confirm something."
Azure: "Sure. He's by the lake behind the house."
Mahale: "Thank you."
I hurried around the shack, oddly excited for a revelation. I saw a bright blue lake, and a boy with brown hair sitting down looking out across it. I immediately recognized him.
Mahale: "Marine!"
Marine turned his head and bared a look of surprise.
Marine: "Beth?"
