Chapter 33: Shandia
"Are we forgetting something?" Eric suddenly felt a jolt of unease as they walked down the road, but he couldn't remember what exactly it was.
"Kid, you're talking about the South Bird, right?" Cricket exhaled smoke and added, "Your archer already let it go."
"Oh, that's fine then."
"These Island Clouds and the Sky Sea feel like they're made from similar materials, yet they exist in two completely different states—one solid, the other liquid. Do you know why that is?" Da Vinci asked the chestnut-headed uncle with two round lumps on his head.
"There are two types of clouds in nature. The ones ships can sail on are called 'Sea Clouds.' The fluffy ones you can walk on are 'Island Clouds.'"
"They're formed by different condensation nuclei. You Blue Sea people have a mineral called 'Seastone,' right? It contains a component we call 'PYROBROIN.' This keratin-based ion is launched into the sky by volcanic eruptions, and when it condenses with water vapor, it changes the density, creating Island and Sea Clouds."
"The chairs by the beach made from clouds and the Cloud Road were crafted by compressing and manipulating Island Clouds mined from the [Cloud Quarry]. They're processed, man-made clouds."
"…We're here. This is my home."
"This house is made from Island Cloud too, huh? I wonder how durable it is… should I test it out with a hit?" Da Vinci suggested something alarming.
"A regular punch won't damage it. It's actually pretty sturdy," Conis added, unaware that Da Vinci's mechanical right arm had a powered hammer mode.
"So many types of shells here. What are they for?" Da Vinci's eyes sparkled like a child's as she examined the exotic objects, like a walking encyclopedia.
"For example, this one's a Tone Dial. It can record and play back sound," Conis explained, clearly annoyed but doing her best to introduce them. "Speak into the shell's opening, then press this button, and it'll replay what you said."
"Captain little brother is a big dummy~"
"Captain little brother is a big dummy~"
"Ha! This is so fun! I need to look around for more types of shells!" Speaking bad things about someone right in front of them—Da Vinci was the first person Eric had ever seen do that. Silently, he sighed, now feeling like a victim in a bad joke—almost like the long-nosed types.
"There's also the Breath Dial, which stores wind and releases it later. The Waver uses it as a power source. The amount it stores depends on the shell's size."
"There are many others too—like Heat Dials for cooking and Light Dials for illumination."
"These aren't primary resources, but Sky Island's entire culture is built around [Shell Energy]. They're inseparable from the Dials."
"All done! A big seafood and tropical fruit feast from Sky Island!" Akame announced while wiping her mouth, having clearly taste-tested more than a few bites.
"Akame, you sure did a lot of 'tasting.'"
"I did not."
During the meal, Cricket—who had been holding back—finally asked what had been on his mind: "Has land ever suddenly appeared here before?"
"…About 400 years ago, a massive chunk of land suddenly rose up from below," Pagaya recalled.
Cricket stood up and leaned in. "Where?!"
"Whoa, calm down, it's not going anywhere," Eric pulled the shirtless uncle back. "You're scaring the little girl."
"No, no, I'm just a little nervous," Conis quickly denied.
"The land's actually not far from here. You can reach it quickly by Waver. But…" Pagaya hesitated.
"But?"
"Land is an extremely precious resource on Sky Island. When that massive piece rose up 400 years ago, the locals drove out the original inhabitants—the Shandians—and seized it. That led to a 400-year-long war."
"The Shandians weren't wiped out?" Chiron asked.
"No. They were just driven off. But they've been fighting ever since to reclaim their homeland."
"This feels eerily familiar. Evicting natives and occupying their land… like that lighthouse country," Eric recalled a certain double-standard nation from his past world.
"It's different, though. The Shandians weren't wiped out. Those 25 million Native AmEric ans, on the other hand… nearly extinct. That was truly unjust," Da Vinci replied with clarity—she must've studied that history back in her old world.
"In any case, the Shandians are still dangerous. They're referred to as 'the guerrillas.'"
"So how do we get to that land now?"
"That place is now called the Holy Land. God Gan Fall lives there."
"God? You mean there's an actual god?"
"What are you thinking? It's just a title. He's called a god, but he lives and dies like anyone else," Eric cut in to clarify.
"He does love his people and wants to end this 400-year conflict. But…"
"The Shandian leader refuses to cooperate?"
"Huh? How did you know?"
"Because a war only needs one side to refuse peace for it to continue. If Sky Island is trying to reconcile and the conflict persists, the other side must be the problem," Eric replied, pretending he figured it out himself. But in truth, he thought: 'Wasn't it that the Shandians were more aggressive? The leader from back then must still be a kid now. Wonder if this time things will finally work out.'
"It's more than that. After 400 years of fighting, there's hatred and countless complications. Those need to be resolved too," Chiron added, thinking deeper.
"Then take us to where we can rent a Waver. We need to get there and help Uncle settle this historical burden."
"…Sigh. Be careful. The guerrillas sometimes attack Blue Sea people too," Pagaya warned. Both he and his daughter had kind hearts and didn't want their guests getting hurt.
"Whoa, this thing handles just like a car. Left foot for brakes, right foot for gas—just a little slow." Riding the rented large Waver, Eric reminisced about his driving lessons.
"Well, it's a big one. Can't compare to a single-seater Waver."
"Hey, anyone else wanna try this? I'm getting bored." Eric was tired of riding it—he wasn't one of those crazy scooter teens, and he'd rather lie down and relax.
"Captain-kun should do more work," Da Vinci said, seeing right through Eric 's little scheme.
"Hmph~"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh! Dozens of masked figures flew overhead. They carried either bazooka-like weapons or long rifles, some bearing shields. With bare torsos marked in red or blue patterns—these were the Shandians. And they were back.
One of them aimed a rocket launcher at Eric 's group and pulled the trigger.
"Son of a—!" Eric cursed aloud.
(END CHAPTER)
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