CHAPTER 2

It was a cold, windy night at the Nation of Sol. All the world’s lay in a deep daze of slumber. Yet within the Palace of Lugh, In the library of the Palace, only the Prince, Klein Alma was awake. He’d just came back from a rather extraordinary adventure, After retrieving a red-mist flower for his elixir, Klein set to work experimenting with the ingredients, carefully measuring each component.

At last, he completed the elixir. Satisfied, he stepped out of the hidden room and made his way to the nearby shelves, scanning for a few specific books to aid him further.

He walked up to his desk, books gathered in his arms, but on his way a chill wind crept up his back. Sending a shiver of foreboding through him. Suddenly, as if conjured from the night itself, a pocket watch fell at his feet.

“Ah! What the..?” Klein shrieked, startled by the enigma that had broken the stillness and silence of the library.

The Prince looked down at his feet, dropping his books to examine the watch more closely. As he picked it up, he studied the intricate pattern, a flicker of recognition stirring within him — yet it remained strangely unfamiliar. In that moment, he sensed the air around him shift, thickening with an unnameable tension.

“This is getting weird.. Maybe this is a sign for me to go to bed.” Klein thought to himself.

Uneasy, he decided it was time to retreat to his bed. He stood abruptly, leaving the pocket watch behind on the floor, its presence lingering in the shadows. Heart racing, he dashed through the grand halls, the echo of his footsteps a stark contrast to the stillness of the night, and finally entered his room, closing the door behind him with a sense of relief.

As he walked toward his bed, many questions were clouding his mind.

“Why did a pocket watch suddenly fell in front of me?”

“Have I seen this before? Why does it feel so familiar?”

“Why do I feel so unsettled..? What’s happening?”

“Is this a warning? Should I be concerned?”

. . .

“I should just forget this.” he muttered to himself. But even as he tried to shake it off, the lingering sense of mystery refused to fade away. The sensation tugged at his memory, elusive and frustrating.

He laid down his bed, and drifted off to deep slumber.

. . .

. .

.

!!

Klein opened his eyes. His surroundings changed, instead of seeing his usual room upon awakening — it’d been replaced by an endless sea of stars. He drifted weightlessly, surrounded by the twinkling constellations.

“Where.. Where am I? Is this a dream?” Klein thought to himself, feeling a deep sense of fascination mixed with anxiety.

He looked around, trying to find a way out, if ever there was one. And noticed spheres with vivid scenes of other worlds, revealing landscapes and skies beyond his imagination. Each orb unveiled vibrant landscapes and ethereal skies, offering glimpses of worlds unlike his own.

And countless orbs danced across the infinite expanse of space. Klein stood entranced, speechless, he felt oddly happy — happier than any jewel or cherished book, more happier than any gift his parents could ever give! Yet, amid this wonder, a flicker of unease tugged at him. Throughout the countless orbs, he thought he glimpsed a figure, a man watching him, but when he blinked, the man had suddenly vanished like a whisper in the wind..

As he was about to process about what he saw, an orb had suddenly stopped right in front of him. His attention shifted sharply to this glowing sphere, and he examined it for a moment. Inside, he glimpsed a majestic civilization suspended in the sky, with waterfalls cascading from each floating island.

“I wonder what would happen if.. I touch one of these.” He thought for a moment, “Nothing bad will happen right? No harm in doing so.” And so, Klein reached his hand out to touch the orb. And in an instant, bright light emerged, blinding the prince. Ultimately, the intense light overwhelmed him, causing him to pass out.

. . .

Beep, Beep, Beep——!!

Klein opened his eyes to a world that had shifted once more. Where once there had been an endless night sky, full of stars that whispered of infinity, now there were white walls and the clinical hum of a hospital room.

Sunlight illuminated from the window beside him, and a man dressed in a hospital uniform entered the room, seemingly surprised when he saw Klein to be awake.

“Hello, sir!” the doctor greeted with a cheerful smile. Before Klein could respond, the doctor leaned in, grasping his face gently to inspect his pupils. “Well, you seem perfectly fine,” he said, adjusting his glasses. “The person who brought you here mentioned you were in bad shape.”

“I—uh, where am I?” Klein asked, his eyes fixed on the doctor, eagerly awaiting a response.

“You’re at Aeolus Hospital. Any other questions?” the doctor replied, irritation creeping into his tone.

“Wh—”

“Great! Anyway, you should be on your way now. We need this room for another patient,” he interrupted, dismissing Klein with a wave of his hand.

“Wai—”

“And, don't worry you wont be paying anything. Although I’d much prefer if you did,” the doctor retorted, his tone sharp. “You’re wasting time in here while other patients, who need help far more than you do, are losing precious moments of their lives at each moment you don't leave this room.” Klein stood there, dumbfounded and bewildered by the abrupt shift in the doctor’s demeanor.

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He stood up and hurried out of the hospital, his mind swirling in confusion. As he stepped into the open air, a wave of disorientation washed over him. Before him lay an unfamiliar world, starkly contrasting his homeland. Gone were the familiar wooden houses; instead, towering stone pillars and magnificent marble structures dominated the landscape, creating a city both awe-inspiring and alien.

Klein’s eyes darted around until he spotted a vendor selling food and rushed over. “Hi there, sir! What is this place?” he asked, urgency lacing his voice. The vendor looked at him, bewildered, before replying, “Well, this is Aeolus! The land of the Skies!”

In that moment, panic washed over Klein. He was in an entirely different world, with no means of returning home. The vendor, noticing his distress, said, “You don’t seem to belong here. Ah, I see—you must be one of those Dorus folk. Well, there’s a parade later in the town square if you’re interested.”

Klein thanked the vendor, but as soon as he turned away, panic engulfed him. What was he going to do? After a few moments of frantic thoughts, he took a deep breath, reminding himself to stay calm. In the end, he resolved to attend the parade, hoping it would help clear his mind and give him a sense of direction.

As he sighed, his gaze fell to the pocket watch hanging around his neck—the same one from before. He pondered its possible connection to his sudden transportation into this world. Though he found himself intrigued, he ultimately dismissed the thought, realizing he had no concrete evidence to support it.

Feeling a surge of determination, Klein straightened himself and asked a passerby for directions to the town square. As he walked through the bustling streets, he was struck by the vibrant energy of this unfamiliar place. Vendors called out to potential customers, the scent of exotic foods wafted through the air, and laughter echoed around him.

Finally, he reached a vantage point where he could observe the festivities. From afar, he saw a large crowd had gathered, their cheers and applause rising in waves like a joyous tide. At the center of it all, a grand parade float adorned with colorful decorations and lively performers captivated the audience, filling the atmosphere with excitement and celebration.

After a while, the jubilant atmosphere was shattered by a sudden, deafening explosion. A float erupted in flames, sending debris flying and chaos spiraling through the crowd. Amid the panic, a horde of bandits surged forward, their malicious intent clear as they rushed to rob and wreak havoc among the terrified spectators.

Klein’s instincts kicked in, and he sprinted, desperate to escape the scene of destruction. But his flight was cut short when one of the bandits spotted him, the glint of a weapon catching the sunlight as the thug gave chase. Klein’s heart raced as he found himself cornered, the walls closing in around him.

The same paralyzing fear gripped him that he had felt when he first confronted that ominous machine of the southeast outskirts. His thoughts raced, and time seemed to freeze as he braced for the inevitable. In that moment, it felt as if his fate was sealed, acceptance washing over him like a cold tide.

Just as the bandit was about to strike, a thick cloud of smoke billowed from the ground, obscuring the air. In an instant, a cloaked figure emerged from the haze, moving with a fluid grace that was almost otherworldly. With a swift and lethal motion, he killed the bandit, the thug collapsing to the ground without a sound.

The mysterious man turned his gaze to Klein, eyes piercing through the shadows of his hood. Without a word, he grasped Klein’s hand and pulled him away from the chaos, darting through the crowd and into the safety of the alleys, leaving the pandemonium behind.

Once they reached a secluded spot, the cloaked man let out a weary sigh and turned to Klein. “Are you okay?” he asked, concern lacing his voice. Klein opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat, leaving him momentarily speechless.

“It’s alright; you don’t have to answer that right now,” the man reassured him. “My name is Kanna.”

“Kanna… Thank you so much—I could’ve died back there!” Klein exclaimed, gratitude spilling from his lips.

Kanna’s lips curved ever so slightly, as if a smile were daring to break through, but he quickly forced it back, his face returning to its usual calm. Klein caught the fleeting expression and felt a flicker of curiosity— was it just his imagination? Before he could question it, Kanna had already turned away, his gaze once again distant, unreadable.

Kanna shrugged, his expression neutral. “Save your thanks. I have my reasons for helping you, particularly that pocket watch,” he replied, his tone matter-of-fact.

Klein glanced at his pocket watch, then back at Kanna. “Pocket watch? You mean my pocket watch…?”

“That’s not your pocket watch, that’s mine. Hand it over,” Kanna insisted.

“No way! I can’t just give it to you! How do I know it’s really yours?”

“Because that’s not even yours to begin with!”

“I don’t care! This could be my only way to get back home!” Klein shot back, desperation edging his voice.

Seeing that Klein wasn’t going to budge, Kanna devised a plan. “Fine. Here’s the deal. If you want to return to your homeland, I can help you operate that watch, but it won’t be easy. I’ll accompany you on your journey, in exchange for that pocket watch.”

Klein hesitated, weighing his options. He didn't have any reason to refuse. Plus he didn’t even know how to use the watch and could use the company.

“Alright, but the pocket watch stays with me until I’m back home!”

“Fine, but I’ll warn you—” Kanna’s gaze turned steely, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. “That watch holds stories you’re not ready to hear.”

A chill crept over Klein, the unease settling deeper with every word, leaving him with more questions than answers.

“In the meantime, you should rest. Those bandits won’t stop until tomorrow. I’ll keep watch.” Kanna led Klein through the deserted part of the winding streets of the city, where the echoes of the deathly parade faded into the distance.

The air grew cooler as they ventured beyond the marketplace, and soon they found themselves on a narrow path that led to the outskirts of the city. The towering stone structure gave way to a small abandoned watchtower that overlooked a vast expanse of sky and city.

As they climbed the steep ladder, Klein’s heart raced with a mix of fear and awe. The abandoned skyland stretched out before him, a forgotten realm suspended above the clouds. Crumbling remnants of ancient architecture dotted the landscape, with vines creeping up the walls and wildflowers sprouting through the cracks. It felt as if time had stood still here, leaving only echoes of a once-thriving civilization.

“Stay close,” Kanna instructed, his voice low and cautious. “This place might look deserted, but it’s not always safe.”

Klein nodded, glancing around at the strange beauty surrounding him. The remnants of elegant arches and stone pathways whispered tales of grandeur long gone. Sunlight streamed through gaps in the clouds, casting an ethereal glow over the scene, making it seem almost magical.

“Why did you bring me here?” Klein asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite the nervous flutter in his chest.

“Because it’s the best place to hide for now. The bandits won’t think to look for us in a place like this. Plus, we need to rest and regroup,” Kanna explained, leading him to a sheltered alcove where a crumbling stone wall provided some protection from the wind.

Klein settled against the wall, his body aching from the day’s chaos. As he glanced at the remnants of the skyland, a sense of peace washed over him. “It’s beautiful here,” he murmured, almost to himself.

“Yeah, it used to be a thriving place. People lived, loved, and fought here,” Kanna replied, his gaze distant. “But things change. Just like you found yourself in another world, so did this place lose its former glory.”

Klein sighed, feeling the weight of uncertainty pressing on him again. “What if I don’t get back home?.”

Kanna’s expression softened. “You won’t be stuck. We’ll figure this out together. Just focus on resting now.”

Klein couldn’t help but think about his home, his people, his friends, and… even his parents. Memories stirred—reminders of what he had taken for granted, leaving him uncertain of his next steps.

Klein closed his eyes, surrendering to exhaustion. As he drifted off to sleep, the sound of the wind rustling through the ancient ruins became a lullaby, and the comfort of Kanna’s words were enough for Klein to hope for the best. As Klein sank deeper into the embrace of sleep.

Chapter 2 END