Journal Entry:

It’s been about a week since we departed for the Kingdom of Atlas. What started as a blazing hot journey through the wastelands stretching west of Keltzer, turned into a twisted jungle, much like the plains of Eador where the Furies kingdom is located. We called Eloise to ask about porting, but we were told they aren’t available in areas not aligned with the empire. I guess Lulu Tech has an exclusive agreement with the empire that limits not only the number of ports they can distribute but also places limitations on who they can distribute Tofi to. In return, Lulu Tech may receive certain benefits or compensation from Tofi the empire for this exclusivity, such as financial incentives, tof

Tofi was tugging Rai’s coat, “Can I? Can I? Can I,” she asked constantly.

“Yes, for the last time… you can,” Rai said, sighing, shutting his finitypad.

“Yay!” Grabbing Plu, she ran over to a tablecloth she had placed on the ground with tea cups laid out. “You’ll sit right here,” Tofi said, placing Plu at one of three spots available.

Alongside the teacups, Fu wearing a distinguishable bowtie around his neck.

“Wait here, I’ll be right back,” Tofi said, before rushing off into the forest.

Plu, gazing at the teacups before it, reached for one, lifting it towards its mouth.

“No! That’s all wrong! It goes like so, pinkies up,” and the puppet lifted his pinky. Plu, seeing Fu demonstrate the proper way of drinking, nodded in response. “Now try again,” Fu said.

“Plu,” it said, once again carefully lifting the teacup.

“Okay…” Fu said, but then immediately after Plu smashed it into little pieces against the ground.

“Nooo!” Fu’s face displayed a look of horror. “You’ve done it now,” Fu said, turning his head. “When Tofi gets back, you’ll have to explain this to her.”

“Plu.”

“What?! You think you can throw this on me?!”

“Plu.”

“As if she will believe you!” Fu shouted, though thinking about it, he shook nervously. Plu turned to leave, causing Fu to scream, “Wait! We can work this out,” Fu pleaded.

Eiji was lying on the floor gazing at the many leaves surrounding him. “I wish we brought Manty,” he said, reminiscing on his friendly mantical.

“You’ve brought plenty enough already,” Rai said.

“Hey, how was I supposed to know?” Eiji recalled the second day of their trip.

“Are we there yet…” a voice muttered.

“Umm… Did you guys hear that?” Lily asked.

The apprentices looked behind, noticing the shifting of the large backpack that held most of the food and gear.

“I’m going to take a peek,” another voice said, slowly inching his head out of the bag.

“FU?!” Neptus and Rai shouted.

“Jig is up…” Fu stated, looking into the bag.

“Gumball!” Tofi yelled, her head popping out right next to his.

“Tofi?!” everyone else repeated.

“He-he, hello…” Tofi said.

“Tofi, what’re you doing here?” Lily asked.

“Well… Um… I wanted to go on an adventure, like everyone else. They never let me…” Tofi replied, cheeks puffing out. “Even though I’m an elite…”

“Why’d you bring this guy along…” Rai said, peering at Fu.

“I will have you know I was promoted to tea bearer,” Fu said holding his head up high.

“Another bearer…” Rai said, rolling his eyes.

“Don’t worry, I got you,” Eiji whispered to Fu, scribbling into the dictionary.

“What even are you anyways?” Lily asked Fu.

“What does it look like I am?!” Fu shouted.

“A nutcracker on the run from Santa’s workshop,” Rai stated.

Fu mouth dropped in shock. “How dare you,” he said, turning away.

“Should we turn back?” Eiji asked.

“We can’t just turn around, that would be the same as abandoning the mission,” Neptus said.

“Yeah, and there aren’t any ports nearby either…” Rai said.

“Looks like you’re coming with us…” Lily responded to Tofi.

“Yay!”

And so, Fu and Tofi joined the group to Atlas.

Appearing from the forest, Lily hollered, “Hey guys! I think I found something!”

“I’ll wait here for Tofi to come back,” Neptus said, and Rai and Eiji hurried towards Lily.

Once they caught up, they found Lily gazing at a stone slab with words engraved on it.

Within my walls, a puzzle lies, a test of mind, not strength or size.

With every twist, a choice you’ll face, to find your way or lose your place.

Those who dare to venture near, may find fortune, or their deepest fear.

- Game Master

“The heck is this…” Rai said.

“I’m not sure,” Lily said. “But Atlas is in this direction, right?” Lily asked, pressing on her badge to reveal a map to Atlas.

There was a verdant barrier stretching as far as the eye could see, preventing them from casually walking forward. “How long do you think it goes for?” Rai asked.

“I tried walking it but it just kept on going…” Lily said.

“I don’t see why we can’t just cut our way through right here?” Eiji said, tossing a large rock into the verdant barrier. “See, no problem.”

“It’s not that simple,” Rai said. “Chozu’s root comes from these.”

“You ran off to get more water at the time,” Lily said. “He has the rebound root.”

Eiji stepped forward, eying the tall verdant barrier with a sly grin. “Ah, mademoiselle, what is it that has troubled you so,” Eiji mimicked in an alluring deep accent. “You’re leaves, they shine like emeralds, and your stems, so sturdy and alluring.” Eiji leaned into the barrier. “Allow me, to awaken that dormant passion within you,” Eiji puckered his lips.

“Eiji, I wouldn’t-”

Upon gracing the surface of the verdant barrier, he was blasted backward, tumbling like a leaf blown by a gust of wind. Lily couldn’t help but stifle a giggle behind her hands. “Note to self, next time ask before planting one… on a plant,” Eiji said, rubbing his back as Lily helped him up.

“Leave it to you to turn a little affection into a botany class,” Lily said.

“It’ll know what its missing once I’m gone,” Eiji said with a frown, patting himself off. “Well guess there’s only one way,” and he walked straight into the maze.

“Eiji! Hold up!” Rai shouted, but he had already entered the place, so they both quickly followed.

“Hey guys, check this out,” Eiji hollered.

“Watch yourself,” Rai cautioned as he approached, “it spoke of dangers, remember?”

“But also, of the treasure that awaits,” Eiji countered, his eyes rich with determination. “Plus, I’m pretty good with riddles and puzzles. Everyone in Kalumi practically spoke in them. Even my classmates... I kid you not, I saw one of them already growing gray hairs... That’s when I decided, heck no, I’m not going to be holed up like some forest hermit!”

“But that’s exactly what happened…” Rai said.

“Well yeah, but I thought a lot about how it wouldn’t one day. And look at us now!” Eiji said, holding his hands up triumphantly.

“Um, guys…” Lily said, and when they turned around, they noticed that the path had disappeared, completely shrouded by very tall verdant barriers.

“Nuh-uh!” Rai said, running towards the field of verdant barriers, but upon jumping in, moments later, the plant's rebound ability kicked in, ricocheting him thirteen times before he was launched out of the verdant barriers, next to Lily and Eiji. “I hate this root…” he said, dizzily.

“My flame discharge is empty at the moment… Looks like there’s only one way to go,” Lily said.

“Guys, relax, I got this,” Eiji stated, extending a helping hand to Rai. “Follow me!” As they ventured forward, Eiji hummed a familiar tune. “Hmm hm hmm hm… it’s here to gold we go… Hmm Hm Hmm Hm…”

Each step brought them deeper into the labyrinth of greenery, and after what felt like hours of winding pathways and dead ends, they stumbled upon the entrance to the maze’s first puzzle chamber.

“Hey, check out the floor,” Rai said. The ground was transitioning from dirt and twigs to dirty withered stone.

The second they stepped in, candles lined across the walls dimly lit the place, revealing mirror monoliths and they lined every inch of the walls, except for where a large concrete door with the image of a couple waltzing; presumably the entrance to the next area of the maze. There was writing in the center of the room, etched into the stone floor, but it was written backwards.

“I Dan… I dance… Without…” Eiji said, trying to make out the puzzle.

The sound of glass shattering, caused Lily to jump. “What was that for?”

“I wanted to see if it was real,” Rai stated. “They aren’t, otherwise it wouldn’t have shattered.” The fake mirror monoliths were rocks carved to mimic the monolith's shape; each one was encased in glass. The mirrors were placed in a manner that cast their shadows many times over along the floor, as did the candles. There were even portrait-shaped mirrors, hanging along the walls. Picking up a piece of the shattered glass, “Eiji may be good with puzzles and riddles, but I grew up in the slums.” Lying on his back, Rai stretched his arms out, using the mirror's reflection to read the writing, the correct way. “I dance without feet, I sing without voice. I am shaped by light but remain elusive. What am I?” Rai said.

“Neat-o-indeed-o.” Eiji stated. After a moment, Eiji stated, “Shadow. It’s a shadow.”

“Hey Eiji I think you nailed it,” Lily said.

“Yeah, I couldn’t think of a single thing,” Rai added.

The trio fell silent, contemplating what shadow had to do with it proceeding forward.

“Hey guys, do you think the candles have something to do with the riddle?” Lily asked.

“Maybe, why, you got anything?” Eiji asked.

“No, but the candles, they don’t look like they’re going to last much longer.” The candles were below halfway.

The group panicking, quickly began to brainstorm multiple ideas, until Eiji came across something brilliant.

“I think, we got to do something with our shadows,” Eiji asserted, despite a trace of doubt lingering in his tone.

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Lily voiced her skepticism, “And how can you be so sure?”

Eiji’s focus remained fixed on the engraving of the doors of the couple waltzing, his thoughts already racing towards a solution. “We need to waltz,” he explained calmly. “But not just us, our shadows need to waltz.”

Rai nodded, comprehending Eiji’s strategy as he scanned the chamber. “Kinda hard to do that with all these mirrors around, reflecting our shadows all over,” he said.

Eiji affirmed Rai’s deduction with a nod. “Precisely,” he confirmed, and both the boys’ eyes flickered with what looked to be mischievous intent.

Lily wasn’t sure what to make of it.

“Rage room!” they hollered happily, running around and smashing every mirror in the site.

“Rage… room…” Lily swiftly ducked as a small mirror portrait was shattered behind her. “Hey! Watch it!”

“Sorry!” Eiji hollered. “Accuracy and perspective are paramount,” Eiji said, aiming another small mirror at a mirror monolith, shattering them both. “Woo!”

“I should have let Neptus come… Maybe he and Rai would have finally started to get along,” she said, sighing. “I’ll help blow out some of the candles…” Lily said, blowing out a candle. They also produced shadows.

When everything was set, only a few candles remained, all from the same wall. Lily and Eiji’s shadows could dance freely, unobstructed by any others, except…

“Rai, your shadow…” Eiji stressed.

“Sorry,” Rai said, realizing his shadow conflicted with their own.

“Eiji,” Lily said, “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“Hey, don’t worry, I’ll show you.”

“You know how to waltz?”

“Pshh, do I know how to waltz? Of course. I’ve got a load of secret little skills,” he said, tilting his nose to the sky.

“Oi, flames burning pretty low here,” Rai uttered.

“Ready?” Eiji said, and Lily nodded. “Alright, Lily, just relax and follow my lead,” Eiji said, extending his hand towards her. Lily hesitated for a moment before tentatively placing her hand in his. She felt a bit of nervous excitement as Eiji guided her into position, their bodies coming together in a hesitant embrace. “Place your hand here,” he said, putting hers near his shoulder. “Hm, it usually helps to listen to some type of tune…” Eiji murmured, furrowing his brows. Suddenly an idea, “Hey Rai, you wouldn’t mind...”

“No way!” Rai said.

“Rai, you’re the one who said we’re low on light,” Lily said.

Rai, graveling at the thought, said, “Fine…” Soon the room was filled with a harmonious hum.

“Even though it’s your first time, as long as you got a good lead, you’ll be alright,” Eiji said.

“And, are you a good lead, Eiji?” Lily said, gazing into his eyes, causing him to blush.

Taking Lily’s hand, Eiji guided her through the steps patiently. “I’m going to move forward with my left foot, and you’re going to move backward with your right. Now step to your left, bringing our legs together. Lily stumbled slightly as they began to move, her movements slightly clumsy and stiffened, but Eiji’s steadied her. “Relax,” he said, wobbling both their arms like noodles. “See, loosey-goosey.”

With a light chuckle, “Okay,” she responded.

“Now we take a step back, leading with your left this time, then we take a step to my left - your right,” Eiji stated, “and just like that we’re back at the start. Easy right?”

Lily nodded, “I think I’m getting the hang of it.

“Let’s try again,” Eiji said, noticing that nothing had changed with the large sealed doors. Lily focused intently, repeating the rhythm of the slow and quick pacing to herself in her head. “Now, let’s add a little more waltz,” Eiji suggested.” Soon, they were gracefully twirling around across the room.

Trying to emulate his motions, Lily adjusted her posture, feeling herself become more attuned to the dance’s rhythm. “I’m doing terrible, aren’t I?" she said.

Eiji smiled, making slight adjustments to her posture. “Pshh, not even. Trust me, I got a top-five terrible. There was this one girl whose hands were crazy sweaty, I couldn’t even keep ahold of them; oh, and there’s this one I like to call,” he leaned in and whispered, “the frog stepper.”

Lily chuckled, “The what-stepper?”

“She waltzes like a frog, no grace whatsoever…”

“How does a frog even waltz?”

“Like this,” and Eiji started doing very deep lunges between the slow steps. “And then, there’s this one girl, wait… was that her?”

“Just how many girls have you waltzed with?” Lily said, causing Eiji to tense up.

“Uh- three… and a half,” Eiji said.

“And a half?” Lily pondered.

“Yeah, the elder,” causing Rai to bust into laughter, “I’m pretty sure the whole villages’ had a waltz with her at one point or another. She’s quite lively once she’s had a drink or two.”

“I love her,” Lily said, reminiscing on the elder.

Repositioning her, Eiji said, “Okay, make sure to keep your frame steady, shoulders relaxed, and maintain eye contact with me.”

“Steady frame, relaxed shoulders, eye contact,” Lily repeated, focusing on her every movement.

“There we go,” Eiji said, his encouragement spurring her on. “Now, let’s try it again. And remember, let the melody guide you… Ahem, melody!”

“Alright!” Rai grumbled, humming once again.

Together, Eiji and Lily moved in harmony, with the tune, and soon, a deep rumbling reverberated through the chamber, and the door ahead swung open.

Eiji’s grin widened, lifting his eyebrows in a quick double flick, “Puzzle master,” he whispered into Rai’s ear.

“Get off,” Rai said, shrugging him off.

Stepping through the now-open doorway they continued forward.

“Hey Rai, that was quite the tune back there,” Lily giggled.

“Magnífico,” Eiji stated. “Bravo, Brava!”

“Yeah yeah, laugh all you want,” Rai said. “I hummed that tune to my sister, that’s why I know it so well. It was one of the only ways to get the little squirt to sleep some nights.”

“Awe,” Lily’s eyes filled with tears, as did Eiji’s. “You’re a great big brother.”

Rai smiled, “Thanks.”

The trio stepped into the next chamber, greeted by a rush of cool air carrying the scent of rain and freshly turned soil. Before they stood four pedestals, each carrying a peculiar plant emitting a unique glow – earthy brown for earth, wispy green for air, flickering orange for fire, and shimmering blue for water.

Lily approached the earth pedestal, her fingers brushing over the coarse soil, stopping short of the plant. “It's alive…” It was in a never-ending cycle, rapidly twisting within the soil, though never moving an inch.

Rai examined the air pedestal, watching as the delicate tendrils of the plant swayed gently in an unseen breeze. “It’s as if it's whispering something...” enticed Rai leaning in further.

Eiji observed the fire pedestal, mesmerized by the dancing flames from the plant’s fiery blooms. “It's beautiful...”

“Mine looks like dookie…” Tofi complained.

Everyone turned around, shouting, “Tofi?!”

“Oh, he-he, hey guys!” Tofi waved.

“Tofi, what’re you doing here?” Lily asked.

“We’ll I followed you guys in,” she said.

“But—we didn’t see you follow us in, the way shut behind us?” Lily said.

“When you guys turned around I jumped into the tall grass, then I went bouncing around for a looong time—and I just got out…” she said, dwindling her fingers.

“I for one, am glad you’re here Tofi,” Eiji said. “All these whippers-snappers keep underestimating us,” he said.

“Yeah!” Tofi said.

“Don’t encourage her…” Rai muttered.

Another stone slab read,

To unlock the path forward, you must prove your understanding of the elements that shape the world.

Eiji furrowed his brow, pondering the challenge before them. “It appears we’re faced with a riddle related to the elements.”

“No shit Sherlock,” Rai said.

Lily nodded, her eyes full of curiosity. “Let’s see if we can solve it together!”

Eiji approached the earth pedestal, studying the plant’s roots twisting about as if it were in a never-ending tussle with itself. “Earth provides stability and nourishment, grounding us in the physical world. Perhaps the riddle lies in our connection to the land.”

Rai turned his attention to the air pedestal, his gaze focused on Tofi, jumping up and down in curious joy as she waved her hands through the flowing wisps of the plant. “Air symbolizes freedom and movement, a lot like you Tofi.”

Lily examined the fire pedestal, glaring fiercely into the flames that danced within the plant’s fiery blooms. “Fire represents passion and transformation,” she said confidently.

Eiji, now at the water pedestal, gazed down at what looked like tar mixed with a glimmering blue slime. Eiji molded it in his hands, though it took some amount of force for him to twist it about. “Behold!” Eiji hollered, and everyone turned around to see a drooping goo crown upon his head. “I’ve become one with the element of the water plant. Which nation do you choose?!” he said, quickly getting into a fighting stance.

“Neither,” Rai said.

“I choose earth!” Lily said.

“Huh, could have sworn you’d say fire,” Eiji said.

“Made ya think,” Lily said, sticking out her tongue.

“I’ll be from the fire nation!” Tofi shouted, causing everyone to turn towards the fire pedestal. She was standing on top of it, hand-stretched to the sky, flame plant in hand. “Mwahaha,” and she tossed the flaming plant.

“Eek!” Eiji quickly ducked.

Lily activating her legacies, caught the fire plant, quickly absorbing the flames until nothing but a charred plant remained.

“Murdered…” Eiji uttered, shaking his head.

“I did not!” Lily said.

“Though, you almost figured it out,” Eiji said. Grabbing the remains of the fire root, he placed it into the earth root, causing it to break up into little bits from the earth plant’s rapid twisting, slowing mixing its remains into the soil. “Then we take the crown and,” plopping the putty-like water plant into the twisting earth plant, the roots of the lively plant, slowly dug into the strong putty-like texture of the other, forcing it to come to a halt; though it tremored slightly. “Lastly, we place the air root thing, on top of the new soil, and wait and see.” Soon the plant, which had invisible streams of air flowing through its tendrils, revealed a pearly airlike color, one that seemed to glow within the colors of every type of aura ever produced in the world.

“Whoa,” everyone simultaneously said.

The trio watched as the door ahead swung open, and not long after, the last plant withered away.

“Awe, man…” Eiji said he was hoping to bring it along as a souvenir.

They stepped forward, ready to face whatever trials lay ahead next.

“So Tofi, how old are you?” Lily asked while they headed down an earthy tunnel.

“I’m six,” she said.

“Six?! Wow! You’re so big already. So next year will be your seventh birthday?” Lily said

“Nope, it’ll be my seven-hundredth,” she said.

“I think you mean seven,” Rai said.

“Huh?” Tofi said, cocking her head to the right.

“Here it is!” Eiji said. Ahead of them lay a wide and lengthy cave. “The final challenge. I can almost smell the gold from here.”

“Since when did you care about money?” Lily asked.

“The empires changed me, Lily…” he sagged his head.

“Hey gearbearer, what do you make of this?” Rai asked.

As Lily and Eiji headed over, she said, “It’s crazy, we were at the surface not long ago?”

“Maybe we were heading down the entire time... Or, maybe… it’s magic!” Eiji said, throwing his hands in the air.

“You do realize magic is just a product of flux, right?” Rai said.

“Shh,” Eiji stated, covering Tofi’s ears. “Not in front of the children.”

“Huh?” Tofi muttered, before furrowing her brows.

Ahead, a fragile bridge stretched across a gaping abyss, its wooden planks weathered and worn from age.

Eiji approached the bridge cautiously, his eyes scanning the treacherous expanse ahead. “This bridge seems… dangerous,” he said, gazing down.

Rai followed closely behind, looking down as well, and kicked a rock, but it continued to bounce against the wall until the sound faded. “Ladies first…”

Lily stepped forward, gazing over. Gasping she quickly covered her eyes, crouching to the floor. “No way!”

As they stepped onto the bridge, the wood creaked and groaned beneath their weight, swaying with each step.

With each step, the chasm seemed to grow wider. Suddenly, the bridge lurched beneath them, a loud crack splitting the air as a section of the planks gave way beneath Eiji’s feet.

Rai and Lily rushed to his aid; their hands outstretched to catch him before he fell.

“Grab on!” Rai called out.

Lily’s heart pounded in her chest as she reached out, clasping Eiji’s other hand. “We’ve got you.”

Together, they pulled him back up.

“Thanks,” Eiji said.

“As Granny once said,” Rai stated, huffing slightly, “Make sure to watch each other’s back.”

“And help each other grow strong,” Lily finished.

“Everyone, there’s a big shiny door over here, you have to check it out!” Tofi shouted from the other end of the bridge. At some point, she had crossed it.

“Tofi’s made it,” Rai said, standing, however in doing so the bridge rocked causing another plank to fall.

“Who even comes up with places like this... ” Lily was getting dizzy thinking of how high they could be.

Once they made it across, all three of them were on the floor breathing heavily.

“We assumed… because Tofi made it over… that there weren’t any traps…” Rai said huffing.

Eiji, drenched in sweat, raised his hand, declaring, “That one was my bad,”

Lily, her hair frizzed up in a giant ball, hollered, “Why does this keep happening to me,” tears welling in her eyes.

Standing before a towering silver door, left them clueless about how to proceed.

“Curse youuu!” Eiji’s shouted to the heavens. The riddle or puzzle, whatever, wherever it was, he had no clue how to proceed.

Lily raised an eyebrow. “Who are you yelling at?”

“Game Master?” Rai suggested.

Eiji shrugged, “Nah. Ever wonder if we’re just characters in someone’s book? Well, if it’s true, I want to make sure the author knows what I think.” With a determined gaze skyward, “Stop playing with us! We’re just ordinary folks trying to lead peaceful lives… with our winnings!” he added. Eiji turned to Lily, smirking. “They may think they’re the one writing my character, but little do they know, I’m the one pulling the strings.”

“Oh yeah, how so,” Rai said.

“Will power,” Eiji said. “Even as we speak, I am willing my thoughts onto their own, altering the story.”

“Well then, ask them for a lumi lumi while you’re at it,” Rai said.

“Shouldn’t you be upset with the readers, not the author?” Lily asked.

Eiji gasped, placing his hands to his mouth, “Lily, I would never. The readers are the ones keeping us alive. Haven’t you seen the movie with the gladiators; if you aim to survive, you must win the heart of the fans.”

“No…” Lily responded.

“We really got to get you up to date on some movies,” Eiji said.

“Movies top five,” Rai nodded in agreeance.

“What’s a gladiator?” Tofi asked.

“Super strong warriors that duke it out in an arena!” Rai said pumping his fist. “Just like elites!”

“Yeah! I’m a gladiator!” Tofi shouted, punching the silver wall, and falling right through. “Hey… what happened…”

“It’s an illusion…” Lily said.

“Uh, how could I be so clueless,” Eiji said. “Well, looks like we’ve about made it to the end.”

“Let’s hope so,” Rai said.

“Look at all this stuff!” Before them, a room full of gold.

“No way!” Rai ran over snatching up a black doll-looking figure. It had crazed eyes and a smile that stretched across its entire face with sharp teeth protruding. It wore a coat and an eyeglass, giving it a touch of sophistication. “It’s a freaking Hoopah doll!”

“What’s that?” Lily asked.

“There’s only twenty-seven of them in the world! There were these rad twisted-looking dolls with awesome outfits and expressions. They were set for mass production and to be sold at the Lulu Land, but after the incident that closed the park for good, only the original twenty-seven models remained. I’ve got 6, so this makes seven,” stars sparkled in his eyes.

“I think that’s great that you’ve got a hobby for collecting,” Lily said happily.

“Speaking of collecting…” Rai gazed at Eiji.

Wearing a green hood, dazzling in gems, “Game Master! More like the lame master,” Eiji shouted, happily filling his bag with gold.

Lily sighed.

“This was so much fun!” Tofi said, tossing the gold up into the sky. “Thank you for letting me play with you guys,” she ran over and hugged Lily.

“I’m glad you had fun too Tofi, just be careful with wandering off, okay?” Lily said.

“Okay,” Tofi said.

“Suppose we should head back now,” Rai said, gazing at an exit where light shun through.

“Ahem,” Eiji, holding back a smile, walked over to Rai.

“Yea?” Rai said.

Eiji quickly revealed a Lumi Lumi cookie in his hand. “Redeem and weep!” he shouted, dropping it in Rai’s hands.

“What?” Rai’s jaw dropped.

“Like I said, in the mind,” Eiji stated, twirling each of his index fingers along the sides of his skull as he left the exit of the maze.

“I don’t know what to say…” Lily said.

“I never thought I’d be afraid to eat one of these…”

“What if it’s been aging for years,” Lily said, knowing of the flavor-enhancing over time.

Rai, thinking it over, slammed it into his mouth, melting to the floor right after.

“Rai… Rai…” Lily uttered, trying to get him to stand by nudging him with her foot. “Oh come on.”

“Sooo… good,” Rai muttered.

Outside, Eiji and Tofi were gazing at a forest, not a single verdant barrier plant was in site.

“That’s strange,” Eiji said.

“They're all gone…” Tofi said.

By the time they got back to camp, the night sky was already over their heads. Fu, seeing them arrive, stormed over, shouting, “How could you leave me behind all this time? The tea went cold hours ago! And do you know how hard it is for a wooden puppet—to keep a fire stoked!”

“Sorry gumball,” Tofi said, hugging Fu.

“Oh- uh, it’s okay, I guess…” Fu said. “Ahem, anyways, the other one dipped out a few hours ago.”

“Neptus left?” Lily said.

“Yeah, said he had some things he needed to do in Atlas. He’ll be waiting for us there,” Fu said.

“His choice, more space for us,” Rai said.

“I hope he doesn’t get himself in any trouble,” Lily said.

“Man, I’m beat,” Eiji said, crashing halfway into his tent, immediately snoring.

“Night,” Lily said to Rai.

“See ya in the morning,” Rai said.

“Come on Tofi, time for sleep,” Lily said.

“Okay,” she said, yawning. “Night gumball.”

“Night…” Fu said, climbing up a tree, perching against it, facing the sky.

Rai, placing the hoopah doll in the bag, extinguished the fire, and then went to the carriage to sleep; he’d given his tent to Tofi. Opening the door, inside, Plu was sleeping.

Plu, noticing him enter, steadily rose, lifting its hands to the sky, shouting, “Plu!” It was happy to see him.

“Hey buddy,” Rai yawned. “Come on, scoot, we got a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

“Plu.”

“Night Plu.”