Neforion Sky Express

A Mysterious Night

"Good day to you, adventurers!" a middle-aged woman welcomed along with a number of people who made way for the adventurers.

Julius approaches the woman and offers a hand, as the two of them handshaked, he then asked a question: "May I know where your chief was staying?"

"Well, by now, he should have arrived..." the woman points towards the road behind her. "...But I think he might be running late..."

They suddenly heard a loud rumble coming from further to the road getting closer and closer. All the children who are trying to fit some shell bracelets with wooden beads to some adventurers, stopped, and some adventurers gathered to see what was coming.
As it gets closer the dust clouds cleared as it reveal a man around late 30s who had a mesomorphic body under the white clothing with a little transparency, riding a white steed.

Reaching the end of the road, he pulled its reigns, stopping it from going on any further. "Forgive me for my late arrival, I have been... caught up by something..."
he brushed the sleeve of his styllized shirt and beamed a smile.
"It's been awhile you have asked for our country to be part of your academy's exploration, I got really excited and lost track of time!"

"Oh, we appreciate your thought, Mister Gintuman!" Julius chuckled. "Would you like to declare in your usual style five years ago?"

"I would say, this year's a lot better than that..." Gintuman beamed confidently. "...'Cause today is our Panaggiyas celebration! Eat to your fullest, everyone!!"

"Right!!!"

Night came and there were a lot of food stands with people's faces painted with smiles. Children were chasing with one another, performers were dancing on the stage, and a lot of adventurers were exploring the stands.
One performer offered Petra to join them.

Atia's face was buried on the wooden table, her glass was empty and there were four empty plates beside her.
Next to her was Austin continuously eating a plate with pineapple slices equivalent to one pineapple with five empty plates beside him.
Next to Austin was Peter drinking a glass of water with one empty plate beside him.

"I can't feel my tongue... I can't feel my tongue..." Atia repeatedly muttered.

"Hey! This water tastes disgusting!!" Peter coughed.

"It's normal since your tastebuds are destroyed..." Robyn corrected as he walks behind Austin, holding a red flag and waves it.
"The winner of the pineapple eating contest is none other than our quiet berserker, Austin!!!"

The crowd watching them clapped and cheered.
Among the noisy crowd, a side announcement, barely heard.
".....ce is cooked! Anyone who wants, come along now!!"

Upon hearing it, Atia raised her head to listen again.
"The rice is coo--"
With that said, Atia stood and run in a supersonic speed, towards the source of the announcement.

"RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE!!!" Atia yelled with her voice mixing with the loudest of the musics, her classmates were staring at her in a dumbfounded manner.

"She is crazy about rice, isn't she?" Willem smiled.

"That might be... But rice is also helpful to restore the sense of taste, especially after eating that much pineapple..." Eren places her hand under her chin, as she glances to the four plates on Atia's side of the table.

"I'm in heaven!!!" Atia exclaimed as she ate the rice ball wrapped with banana leaf, walking a little away from the crowded space.

"Enjoying the food?" Serene asked, arming Atia on her neck. She then realizes there are three of them walking on the side of the space, near the woods. "You're kinda beasty out there, eating four whole pineapples is insane!! Well, for me..."