Pasta slumped onto the floor with a sigh, rubbing his temples. “Ah, I see. So, you didn’t hurt her,” he whispered, his gaze fixed on Gerald. “But seriously... don't you feel hot, wearing that costume?”
Gerald straightened up dramatically, puffing out his chest. “Oh, my dear friend, what you behold is no costume! I am a living, breathing, magnificent talking bear. Yes, yes, I truly am amazing, aren’t I?” He struck a flamboyant pose, his fluffy tail wagging behind him.
“With a tail?” Pasta asked, exchanging a sceptical look with Emilia and the bird perched on her shoulder. Emilia shrugged, pulling her journal from her bag, and stood up, brushing the dirt from her clothes.
She strolled toward Gerald at an almost unnervingly deliberate pace, her glittering eyes locked onto his. Gerald flinched slightly, his confidence faltering under her intense scrutiny.
“Talking bear…” she whispered in awe, her tone soft as a feather.
Suddenly, she squealed, jumping up and down with unrestrained excitement. “I didn’t want to get too excited earlier, just in case you were in a costume! Are you real? Where are you from? Not the Nine Realms, right? Right? RIGHT?”
She peppered him with questions, standing on her tiptoes to meet his eyes. Gerald chuckled nervously, lifting a paw to his face. “Oh, my dear, you have no idea. Before you stands a mighty creature who has conquered lands far beyond your wildest dreams! And now…” He paused, his voice deepening. “I plan to claim the Nine Realms as well!”
The members of Team Skidditz groaned in unison, smacking their foreheads and turning away from their Gerald. Even Pasta and the bird tilted their heads in disbelief. But Emilia was undeterred. She furiously jotted notes into her journal as Gerald spun absurd tales of his conquests across the world.
Kilo approached Pasta, rubbing the back of his neck. “Hey, uh, sorry about all the trouble we caused you and your sister. It was an accident. Honest.”
Pasta gave a half-hearted nod, his eyes barely open. “Yeah, yeah. Got anything to eat?”
Before Kilo could answer, a pack of kids wearing helmets rushed past him, knocking him aside.
“You’re so cool, Pasta! Are you a fighter?”
“Yeah! I’ve never seen energy like that before—even stronger than Kilo’s!”
Kilo coughed from his spot on the floor.
Pasta’s drowsiness vanished, replaced by a sly grin. “Oh, you wouldn’t believe the trials I’ve endured to acquire this power,” he said, deepening his voice to sound more mysterious. “What stands before you is a warrior capable of defeating towering monsters, dragons… even a god!”
With that, he threw a fist into the air, prompting the group of kids to erupt into cheers. The little bird tilted her head at the display, then let out an exasperated chirp, covering her face with a feather.
Suddenly, she was scooped up by Nix, a blue-haired girl who cradled her like a precious gem. More children joined in, petting the bird, who flared her wings regally, basking in the attention.
Nix turned to Emilia, her eyes sparkling. “What’s her name?”
Emilia paused her writing, tapping her pen against her chin in thought. “Her name’s Puck,” she said finally, her tone reverent. “Treat her with care—she’s my little queen.”
Puck’s eyes glimmered with pride as the name settled in her heart.
Kilo sat cross-legged in the centre of the chaos, his eye twitching as the noise swirled around him.
“Team Skidditz!!” he yelled. The commotion ceased instantly, all eyes turning toward him. He leapt to his feet, flailing his arms like a conductor gone mad. “Have you all forgotten we have a mission to accomplish?”
Gerald blinked at him, then let out a soft, disarming chuckle. “Oh, come on, Kilo. Don’t be so uptight. We’ve got plenty of time.”
Kilo’s glare darkened. Without a word, he hurled Pasta's stick at Gerald, who barely dodged before Kilo lunged forward, landing a punch in the bear’s plush stomach. Gerald crumpled to the ground, groaning as he clutched his midsection.
“Alright, alright, Kilo. Relax! I was just kidding,” Gerald wheezed, waving a paw in surrender.
Kilo turned to Emilia, who remained unfazed, still scribbling notes in her journal. Clicking her pen, she tilted her head, her eyes glinting with curiosity. “That's right, you all claim to be adventurers,” she said, her tone as calm as a summer breeze. “But isn’t the minimum age requirement sixteen? You don’t look anywhere near that.”
Kilo stiffened, his face flushing. “Well... that’s none of your business!” he said, turning away with a pout. “We may not be adventurers yet, but we’re getting there, so just shut up!”
Emilia stepped closer, her unrelenting gaze chasing his averted one. “Why do you want to become an adventurer, anyway?”
“Huh?” Kilo glared over his shoulder. “What kind of question is that? Why else? We want to explore!”
Emilia’s eyes sparkled as she grabbed his arm, pulling him closer with sudden energy. Kilo yelped, startled by her intensity.
“Me too!” she exclaimed, her grin wide. “There are so many amazing places out there. Look!” She pulled out her encyclopedia, flipping through the pages. “See? The Tower of Thesauris—the largest library in the world. It stretches all the way into the clouds, isn't it amazing?!”
Kilo chuckled. “A library, huh? That’s cute, but have you heard of… A sky island made entirely of cake?”
Pasta’s ears perked up at the mention of cake. He quickly joined them, his face lit with excitement. The three of them buzzed with energy, exchanging stories of fantastical places they dreamed of visiting.
But Kilo shook his head, snapping himself out of the moment. “No, no! There’s no time for this. We need to leave.”
“Where are you off to?” Emilia asked, her brow furrowing and Puck landing on her head. “Off to commit another crime, perhaps?”
Kilo’s veins visibly popped as he clenched his fists. “We’re not criminals! How many times do I have to say it? We’re adventurers!” He exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Listen, we’ve been doing concerts around Illumis for a while now. We have one last one to perform, but we scheduled it right after freeing Gerald until you three created a problem”
Puck fluttered her wings, chirping as if to demand what she had done wrong.
Gerald sprang to his feet, brushing himself off. “Yeah, yeah, we can’t disappoint our fans. But let’s face it—the guards from earlier looked terrifying, especially that woman.”
"Yeah," Kilo said, turning to the siblings. "Who are you two, anyway? If you were just regular kids, the guards wouldn’t be this worked up. This isn’t exactly the first time Gerald’s, uh… borrowed some kids.”
Gerald chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
Pasta opened his mouth to speak, but Emilia darted in front of him, cutting him off. “Our parents are travelling bards,” she said quickly, her tone smooth and confident. “We were supposed to perform for the guards here. Maybe that’s why they’re acting this way.” She glanced back at Pasta, her eyes urging him to follow her lead.
Pasta nodded. “Yes! We’re bards! And I’m also a fighter—the best in the—”
Before he could finish, Emilia smacked him lightly on the head.
“I’m just a fighter,” he mumbled, shrinking under her glare.
Kilo nodded. "Alright then," he said, his eyes lingering on Emilia for a moment longer than necessary before turning to the others to review their plan. The final concert was set to take place in the city centre, above the grand theatre. It was to be their biggest performance yet, and all their fans already knew about it. But there was a problem: the guards. Kilo insisted that the siblings come with them to apologize to the guards beforehand, hoping to avoid any more trouble and ensure the concert could go on as planned.
Gerald raised a hand, interrupting. “Why not let them join us? If their parents are bards, they probably know a thing or two about performing.”
Kilo spun on him, glaring. “And why would we do that?”
Gerald laughed, clutching his stomach. “Because the guards won’t listen to a word you say. The moment you hand these two over, they’ll come after us with reinforcements. Trust me on this.”
Nix raised her hand, chiming in. “Yeah, Boss G’s right. If they join us on stage, we can use music to prove our innocence. Hostages performing alongside their so-called captors? That’s not something anyone’s gonna believe.”
Kilo groaned, pressing a hand to his forehead. “Fine, but this won’t be some cosy concert. The guards will be crawling all over the place, trying to shut us down. And don’t forget about that scary woman. I can’t fend her off alone, not even with the rest of the team.”
Pasta leapt to his feet. “Leave that to me!” he declared, pointing a thumb at his chest with a cocky grin. “If anyone can handle guards and scary ladies, it’s me—the mighty Pasta!”
Kilo blinked at him, muttering under his breath, “Pasta?” He shook his head, trying to clear the image of noodles from his mind. “Well, uh… nice to have you aboard, I guess. Thanks for agreeing to help.”
Emilia stood as well, pressing her hands together. “Of course, we’ll help. You’re all good people, and a concert does sound fun. But there’s one problem,” she whispered. “I don’t know the song.”
Nix bounced over to Emilia, thrusting a sheet of music into her hands. “That’s no problem! We’ll practice together. Oh, and we’ll need to get you both some of our uniforms!”
Emilia scanned the sheet of music, her eyebrows rising. “Well, these are… unique,” she said, glancing at Nix.
Gerald struck another pose, puffing out his chest. “You’ll love it! It’s from my hometown—a rock classic. Trust me, it’s gonna blow your mind!”
Emilia chuckled, looking back at the sheet.
Kilo clapped his hands together, his grin returning. “Alright, Team Skidditz, you know the drill—it’s party time!”
*
The streets remained alive with bursts of colour as children darted between stalls, laughing and chasing each other, still caught up in the excitement brought by the band of rogue musicians. Maria slouched in her chair, one hand pressed to her face, a scarf partially obscuring her features.
“I was so worried about Pasta messing things up,” she sighed, her voice thick with frustration. “I didn’t even consider other possibilities. Who’d have thought a bear would kidnap them?”
Otger stood nearby, his posture rigid, arms clasped behind his back as he issued orders to the guards. “That bear must be from overseas,” he said, his tone calm yet analytical. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Still, they’re just kids. You shouldn’t be too worried.”
Maria let out a low growl, snatching up another slice of cake from the table. “Maybe you’re right, but what am I supposed to tell Nathan? Or Mireille? Those two might seem calm, but they’re far scarier than their kids!” she said, the colour draining from her face at the thought.
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A guard approached Otger, leaning in to whisper something in his ear.
Otger straightened and turned back to Maria. “We’ve received word on the group. They call themselves Skidditz, a band of musicians performing without city approval. As suspected, they’re just a bunch of children. Their next concert is to take place anytime soon.”
Maria rose to her feet, gripping her fork. “Well then,” she said, her voice steely. “Looks like we’ve got a party to crash.” She glanced back at Otger, her scarf slipping slightly to reveal the sharp set of her jaw. “Let’s move.”
*
Screams and echoes reverberated through the twisting tunnels as the group sped along, their skateboards roaring against the walls. Gerald held onto Emilia, her laughter spilling out as the rush of air tugged at her hair and her hoodie glowing in the dark. A mask covered her nose, and her arms stretched wide.
Team Skidditz whooped and hollered, riding the curved walls. Their colourful hoodies rippled in the wind as they passed each other high fives, their energy infectious. The siblings had spent all day practising—Pasta mastering his skateboard and Emilia finding her rhythm with the song. The rest of the team had gone ahead, along with a contingent of soldiers, to prepare the stage and ignite the excitement of their fans.
Pasta's voice pierced the tunnels as he shouted with exhilaration, Puck perched on his head like a tiny captain at the helm of a ship. She wore a makeshift hoodie and helmet, one wing pointing forward with dramatic flair. Pasta manoeuvred the board effortlessly, his newfound skill catching Kilo’s attention.
“How did you get this good so fast?” Kilo whispered.
Emilia leaned toward Nix, who glided alongside her. “So, practising in your head again?”
Emilia puffed her cheeks, pouting. “It’s not just practising in my head. It’s more complicated than that.”
“Whatever you say, princess,” Nix teased, her grin widening. “You weren’t bad, though. Your parents must be incredible teachers.”
Emilia averted her gaze, her cheeks warming. “They are”
The tunnel’s darkness gave way to the silver glow of the moon as the team burst onto the streets. Their wheels screeched against cobblestones, the city alive with the cheers of the people and the stomping boots of guards.
Kilo shot his fist into the air, rallying his comrades. “Soldiers! Take your positions!” he commanded, rhythmically striking the ground with a metal pipe. The clangs morphed into an infectious beat, each strike weaving through the chaos as children hurled vibrant colour bombs into the air.
In their hooded disguises, the group became a blur of motion. “Let’s clear the way for our friends!” Kilo yelled, his voice slicing through the cacophony.
Pasta nodded, his grin wide as he surged forward. He and Kilo moved with the other soldiers, dazzling guards with bursts of colour before knocking them out with precise hits. Pasta twirled his stick with glee, his movements fluid, his heart racing with adrenaline.
“Hold onto your little butts, everyone!” Gerald growled with a grin. He flung a match to the floor triggering a controlled explosion that sent the entire team soaring into the night sky. Emilia’s scream echoed as they rocketed upward, the world below a kaleidoscope of chaos and celebration.
The group landed atop a roof, their eyes locking onto the stage above the city theatre. Sparks and colours erupted around it, illuminating the throng of guards stationed below.
On the adjacent rooftop, their allies set up a zipline that stretched toward the theatre. One by one, the riders skillfully crossed the line on their boards. Emilia held Gerald tightly, closing her eyes, while the bear roared with laughter.
Maria arrived at the chaotic scene, her gaze snapping to the stage above. She turned to Otger, her frustration evident. “How in the world did they get up there with all our guards around?”
Otger sighed, arms crossed. “We can’t exactly climb rooftops, my lady. We’re trying to get them down, but no sign of the siblings yet.”
Maria’s frown deepened as her attention locked onto the skirmish where her soldiers were being taken down—not with swords, but with an onslaught of vibrant colours and the rhythmic strikes of metal pipes. One figure stood out: a boy wielding a stick with unnerving ease.
Her energy began to ripple, each step forward amplifying the oppressive force around her. Her eyes glowed a fiery crimson, and the darkness around her seemed to swallow the night itself.
Kilo stiffened, his hood hiding the flicker of concern on his face. He said to the group, “She’s here. Pasta, you’re up.”
Pasta adjusted his footing on the board, grinning as he surged forward. “I’m here for you, Aunt Maria,” he whispered to himself. “I won’t let you ruin my friends’ concert.”
Puck chirped in agreement, hopping on his head like a rallying mascot.
Maria stopped in her tracks, her glare fixed on him. “Pasta,” she said, her voice low and trembling with suppressed fury. “What do you think you’re doing to my men?!”
Her voice erupted across the square, a thunderous roar that made Pasta’s knees buckle. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple as he whispered to Puck, “She knows it’s me?”
Before he could process the thought, Maria moved. She was already upon him, her massive hand swinging down.
“Whoa!” Pasta yelped, ducking just in time and zipping past her on his board. The ground trembled as Maria’s hand collided with the earth, sending cracks spidering out in all directions. Dust and rubble flew as she straightened, her glasses catching a sinister glint in the moonlight. “You’re not getting out of this alive, Pasta,” she said, her voice venomous. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Pasta and Puck’s eyes popped out as Maria surged toward them like a mad beast, each step leaving destruction in her wake. She tore through everything in her path, the sheer force of her rampage sending debris and people scattering.
“Okay, Puck,” Pasta muttered, his grin wavering as he swerved to avoid the chaos. “Plan B... Run!”
On the stage, the lights from the crystals scattered across the stage shimmered revealing Emilia in a bright colourful hood, her face hidden from the massive crowd below.
On stage, the crystals embedded in the frame illuminated with a symphony of colours, casting a mesmerising glow that bathed Emilia in their light. Her vibrant, hooded cloak shimmered under the dazzling display, concealing her face from the roaring sea of fans below.
Nix nudged her with a tambourine, the metallic jingles barely audible over the crowd’s anticipation. “All yours, princess,” she teased, gesturing toward the glowing keyboard.
Emilia hesitated, eyeing the unusual instrument. Its design was unlike anything she was used to, the embedded crystals pulsing with a soft, otherworldly light. She turned to Gerald, who raised a finger to stop her.
“Time to party, sweetheart,” he said with a sly grin. “Questions later.”
Gerald stepped forward with his guitar, strumming a single chord that sent the crowd into a frenzy. “Good evening, Ilumis!” he shouted, his voice booming over the noise. “Who’s ready for the best night of their lives? Let’s hear it!”
The audience erupted as Gerald began clapping and bouncing, his infectious energy spreading like wildfire. He grinned, his fingers dancing across the strings, weaving a melody that ignited the stage. The drums thundered, the trumpets blared, and kids darted across the stage, setting off colourful smoke canisters that billowed into the sky.
Emilia sighed, closing her eyes and seeing the piano in the middle of darkness in silence before opening back her eyes, placing her fingers on the keys, and let the music flow, tying the chaotic symphony together into a spellbinding harmony.
Meanwhile, in the market square below, the atmosphere was far less harmonious. Pasta was fleeing for his life, weaving through narrow gaps between carts and stalls with Maria hot on his heels. Maria barreled forward like a force of nature, her eyes that of a predator not leaving him.
“Leave me alone, woman!” Pasta yelled, his voice cracking.
Maria didn’t respond—her focus was unrelenting, shoving aside people and objects in her way as she stormed after him. Sweat poured down Pasta’s face as he spied a wooden cart leading to a rooftop. With a burst of desperation, he veered toward it.
“Hold on, Puck!” he cried.
Puck, clutching Pasta’s hair with trembling wings, chirped nervously as they launched off the makeshift ramp. They soared through the air, the moonlight casting their shadows below. For a brief moment, they were weightless, but then Maria leapt with startling agility, her hand snatching the skateboard mid-flight.
Pasta and Puck’s hearts dropped. Their screams rang out as both held each other watching their board get shattered in Maria’s grip.
The pair fell to the ground and dashed across the scene, but Maria was closing the gap with alarming speed. Her claws gleamed in the moonlight as she reached for them. Tears streamed down his face, floating through the colourful scene, as he lifted his head, closed his eyes, and accepted his defeat, while Puck prepared to fly away. Just then, Kilo rode over, striking Maria from behind and grabbing Pasta.
My bad,” he said, glancing back at Maria, who staggered but didn't fall. “No one can handle that monster. Let’s focus on surviving for now!”
Pasta stood behind him on the board, hitting him on the back. “Thanks a lot, we almost died back there”
Puck landed on Kilo’s head and pecked him in agreement.
Kilo turned back with a smile, “No problem-“
His words were cut short as Maria came charging again, her fury undeterred. Her outstretched hands reached for them with alarming speed, her menacing shadow looming over the trio.
All three screamed in unison, their eyes wide and mouths agape. Before Maria could close in, a child from the crowd hurled a smoke bomb at her feet, filling the square with a thick, colourful fog. The crew lost all senses and began running, Kilo holding his board in hand as they left behind a smoky trail.
Adjusting her glasses, Maria stomped her foot, the ground cracking beneath her. Her clenched fists trembled as she glared into the dissipating smoke.
*
On stage, the energy was palpable as Gerald continued to pour his heart into his performance, his voice mingling with the electrifying music, while the rest of the crew backed him up. Nix, tambourine in hand, shot a knowing glance at Emilia, nodding to her.
Emilia slowly pulled off her hoodie, taking a deep breath before her fingers crashed onto the keys, not with finesse, but with raw power. Each strike was a punch, a declaration that she was taking control of the stage. The crowd went wild as her rhythm surged through the venue, eclipsing Gerald’s performance. Gerald turned around in surprise, a grin spreading across his face as he caught the spark in Emilia’s eyes.
Her hands moved in a frenzy, almost as though she were attacking the piano, not playing it. The sound was unlike anything the crowd had ever heard—raw, energetic, electric. The audience went crazy, their cheers and screams reverberating through the square.
Gerald laughed, shaking his head and prompting Emilia and the whole team to do the same. They swayed and danced, their hair tossing in the colourful lights, as Emilia paused for a brief moment. A mischievous grin crossed her face as she seamlessly transitioned into a classical flair, a melody so elegant that even the chaos of the night seemed to slow down for a moment. But that pause didn’t last long. The surge of energy returned with a fierce final crescendo.
Maria’s eyes snapped toward the stage, her heart racing. “Emilia?” she whispered in disbelief, her voice shaking with a mix of confusion and rage. “What have they done to you?!” She bellowed, her body glowing a furious red as she barrelled through the crowd, leaving destruction in her wake.
Emilia’s hands hammered the keys for the final notes, building to an explosive, chaotic ending. The sky above erupted with fireworks, as the crowd erupted in deafening cheers.
Pasta and Kilo appeared on stage, facing the now-hysterical crowd. Kilo stepped forward, raising his fist. “We are Team Skidditz, never forget us, Ilumis! Thank you for the incredible night!”
He bowed, and the others followed suit. But Kilo’s eyes lingered on the fury that was Maria, charging toward them. He couldn’t help but shiver.
Kilo turned back to his team. “We need to leave. Now. Like, right now!”
Gerald raised an eyebrow. “But we haven’t apologized yet! Surely, after they saw our teamwork—”
“No, you don’t understand,” Kilo said, his tone urgent. “There’s no reasoning with that woman. She’s a monster. Let's scram”
Emilia rushed over to Pasta, her face filled with concern. He looked pale, his energy drained. Puck stood on his head, her legs to the sky and her mouth wide open. They both refused to say a word about what happened.
Meanwhile, the guards began scaling the walls of the theatre, and Maria was still a force of nature, charging through the crowd.
Kilo and the others began inflating massive balloons, floating up into the sky with the instruments. Kilo turned to Emilia, giving a playful wave.
“I’ll see you later, as a fellow adventurer,” he said, in the air. “But for now, farewell.”
Nix, floating beside them, squealed with delight. “I knew you were amazing, Emilia! You have to teach me someday!” She turned to Pasta and Puck, who were still lost in their misery. “What’s up with them?”
Kilo sighed, brushing it off.
Gerald laughed heartily, holding his stomach. “We may be criminals now, but you three made our night. Goodbye, my friends!”
The rest of the crew waved, throwing colourful confetti into the air and gave their farewells. Just as they prepared to ascend further, Maria burst landed on the roof and leapt into the air, her eyes locked on Kilo. She was about to grab him, but Kilo grinned and pulled a rope. The balloon released its air with a sudden whoosh, sending Kilo soaring into the sky and the other members joining him.
Maria blinked, stunned, before plummeting back to the ground.
Pasta and Emilia stood together, unable to hold back their laughter as the guards closed in on them. The sound of their laughter echoed through the air.
Maria descended with her arms crossed and vowed to never allow those siblings out again.
*
Years had passed, and Emilia stood before the mirror, adjusting the last few details of her appearance. She pulled her hair into a tight ponytail, the strands falling into place, then adjusted her sword on her shoulder. She drew her cape over her shoulders and placed her journal in her bag.
“Okay,” she said with a smile, a spark of determination in her eyes. “I’m ready.”
Puck, now larger than before, fluttered over, her wings beating the air with a soft whoosh. She landed next to Emilia, her size almost matching that of Emilia’s head. Emilia laughed softly, snuggling the little lady as she chirped in delight.
"I'm going to miss you a lot," Emilia whispered.
With a flick of her wrist, she turned, heading out into the halls of the castle.
There, sprawled on his back and gazing at the ceiling, was Pasta. His arms were crossed, his sword strapped to his back. He turned his head toward Emilia with a frown. “Must we leave this early?” Pasta asked.
Emilia nodded, her eyes glinting with excitement. She pointed ahead, her tone steady. “Off to the Seventh Realm, we go.”
Pasta sighed, but a small grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. Their journey as adventurers had just begun.