He blasted out of the forest, the world blurring around him, and sprinted towards the main area, the leaves around him flying off the ground.
He vaulted over the 10’ city walls, practically flying over it as he made his way back to civilization.
Citizens all around him gasped and fell over, dropping their groceries, as he dodged through the masses. He flew over concession stands, crates, and even people.
He jumped to the roof of a small building, dotted with beautiful flowers that almost made the jaw drop. The rooftop was flat, save for a few boxes and more flora growing out of the walls and roof itself.
He ran up a grey, organic pipe that ran up the wall of a nearby building, climbing it like a monkey. He hopped from rooftop to rooftop, each bearing their own colorful flora.
Up here, he steered clear of big crowds that just would’ve been obstacles to his sprint.
He leapt off the rooftop, rolling as he landed.
Eyes stared at him when he fell out of the sky, but they resumed their activities and paid no mind shortly after. He concentrated once more, turning off the magical K-Frame, a novice spell that grants high agility and endurance.
He squatted down in the middle of the stone walkway, and retrieved the sharp stick from his pocket. Writing on the ground created a white, chalk-like substance, which he used to inscribe the spell.
Just like they say at the Academy: Write your K-Frames, and move your body when it’s time to control the elements.
He landed in an open square, the perimeter housed buildings bearing giant leaves and vibrant petals. The denizens wandered to stand after stand, each purchasing goods, and preparing for the event.
He wandered into a great building, late, as usual. Fernando had been here so many times before, but the huge flower chandelier was a different hue each time.
The walls of the Hover & Recreational Center were beige, with vines sprawling across them. He spotted ant-like swarms of Mii’Hada, traveling up the walls and repairing the cracks of the aged structure.
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Fernando walked past thick vines, blooming dozens of flowers and turned the building into a rainbow. He made his way to the grand recreational pool, and bumped into a Peoqoyian wearing a swimming outfit. He kept his pace, and also came across a nursery for organisms that were neither plant, nor fungi, nor animal.
Mii’Crocibus, bioengineered organisms that could grow into fighters, vehicles, and even battleships. Fernando only knew a small amount about them, thanks to the Academy. But was always fascinated about how his species made their “Tech”. Nonetheless, he ended his tour when he finally recalled why he was there.
“Oh, yeah!”
He made his way into the lounge room, and to the pair of dark brown, grand staircases. He froze when a small swarm of Mii’Hada crawled on his hand, as he held the vine-like handrails. It wasn’t a feeling one could describe with ease, but it sure tickled.
As the swarm moved on, so did he, as he traveled up to the second floor. Diverse, alien crowds sauntered past him, wearing and waving merchandise from their favorite racers.
“Mar Kio!!”
“Go Rijd!”
“Geeundo’s Green Forever!”
Kaspur told him about how he’d be racing alongside his childhood idols in a very long, fanboying speech several days prior. Fernando would’ve bought Kaspur’s merchandise, to express his support. If he had any.
As soon as his boot touched the second floor, he could see his destination. Held in rooms with an open skylight, the hover-platforms were lit up by their hot star.
As soon as he got there, one of the employees was securing his designated platform for takeoff, some distance away. He mustered what he could and yelled:
“...Waait!”
The man turned his head. He had one strike already, and he wasn’t going to let a disgruntled child add another.
As he approached, his mother and father saw him way before he saw them. As his father gazed at his son, a tiny sliver of %Death grew outside Fernando’s collar.
“See the black markings, the %Death, on the back of his neck? I can sense it... Do you th-”
“Yuh know he isn’t that reckless hun, let it slide. Just for today.” Said Fernando’s mother.
“But he knows he’s not supposed to use his powers outside of the palace and the Academy. He could get hurt or w-”
Carnatia looked at her husband, pleading with puppy eyes.
Malemoss let out a sigh, and nodded as he gazed, deep in thought, at his son. His golden earring swayed back and forth to match his motion.
“Great, dear.” She said, kissing Malemoss on the lips before retracting from her seat, parting her curly orange hair out of her face.
Fernando arrived at the platform and showed his ticket to the bearded employee. The bags in his eyes hid behind his long, brown hair while he scanned the ticket for verification. The man let him through, and gestured to the hovercraft.
Its red thrusters began firing, lifting them higher and higher until they were almost 10 meters above the structure. It hummed, as the passengers drowned out the noise of the engine with their conversation. Fernando began his ascent to his seat at the very top, losing his balance every other moment as the platform hovered towards the track.