"So? Did you like that?" he asked, clearly pleased with himself.
"It w-was amazing! How did you do that—how did you know?!"
"See? You've still got a ton to discover," he said, showering himself with praise.
"Oh, stop showing off already and just tell me!"
"Tssht… Not even a shred of admiration for my art. Wait till you see me catch a few more—you'll change your tune!"
"B-but—" What an idiot!
Maybe I wasn't the brightest, but he was definitely doing everything he could to get on my nerves. And one thing was certain: he was going to milk this for all it was worth.
ㅤ
Because as soon as he said it, he got right to it.
ㅤ
No hesitation, no break.
He went at it again, and again, and again—relentless. The kind of guy who loved being important, but didn't brag without reason. Again and again, countless times, each strike precise and deliberate. The same concentration, the same patience, the same sharp look in his eyes every single time he moved.
A quarter gone.Then a third.Half.
And after barely fifteen minutes, the entire platform was purged of life.
A true professional. The way he handled it proved he'd done this hundreds of times before.
Sure, it was impressive—but I couldn't bring myself to praise him. Watching those defenseless creatures vanish one by one stirred as much sorrow as wonder in me.
And honestly, what could I say? I didn't understand a thing about what he was doing—those blue sparks, that glowing mark in his palm.
It looked like some kind of magic, sure—but was it really that? This world seemed to have everything: unique creatures, strange landscapes… even powers that bordered on divine.
ㅤ
I knew nothing.But that ignorance—maybe it was a blessing. In a place this strange, not knowing was the best way to truly see.
ㅤ
Luckily, he stopped after filling his basket—and then, something even stranger happened.
ㅤ
ㅤㅤ
[Weekly Objective (x20): Completed]
ㅤㅤ
"Huh?"
A window appeared before him—floating in midair—and vanished just as suddenly. Without a word about it, he motioned for me to sit beside the ruins.
Maybe it was some kind of proof?
As I looked around, I could almost imagine the foundations of a beautiful home beneath us—but still, I couldn't fathom how anyone could live up here, across all these suspended islands.
What kind of life could thrive on lands this deep and strange?
"Tell me, Mär," Bellian said, "how would you describe that creature?"
"It's like…"
I thought back on its wide eyes, its tiny mouth, the thin legs it could tuck into its translucent shell.
"It's like some kind of crustacean, I guess." Small, timid, and fragile—like it might burst into tears at any moment.
"Not wrong. I've thought the same. The problem is, they hate water."
"You tried?!"
I pictured him running little experiments on those helpless things. No wonder they wanted to cry!
He didn't answer. The bastard ignored me, like my question was ridiculous.
"You want to know their name?"
I nodded.
"They're called Crysitias."
"Ah?"
"They're genderless creatures that root themselves beneath crystals until they completely blend into their surroundings. They don't seem to need food regularly—or contact with others."
"Wait, they never move?"
"Never. They don't even flinch when I strike them down one by one."
"…"
"The issue is their tears. They're harmless creatures, but their tears release toxins—extremely dangerous once they touch water."
"A poison?"
"Something like that." He pulled out two vials from his pocket. "I always keep some on me. If you want to test it, be my guest."
"Are you out of your mind?!"
"Hmpf." He put them away with a shrug. "But what really makes them worth the headache is the heart."
"Wait—what do you mean, the heart? You're not selling the crystals?!"
"Oh, I am, of course. They just don't fetch much. Not my fault, I don't set the prices. Anyway, now you know."
"So you're more of a hunter than a gatherer, if you ask me. Surprising those things don't flee after all your 'interventions.'"
"I can live without your opinion! It's all the same to me. They're weak—and over time, it's become second nature. Like plowing a field or harvesting fruit when it's ripe. It all adds up—feeds the economy, fuels other trades, keeps things running."
…
"Strange way to view your work, but fine. You're still a show-off!"
He did have a way of justifying himself.
"Show-off? Please, it's well-earned. I give myself the credit I deserve."
Then that smug smile crept onto his face.
"You'd do the same—if you could."
He infuriates me. I'm this close to snapping.
"Yeah, well—uh—anyway, won't you eventually run out of them?"
"Logically, yes."
"Huh?"
"Well, no matter what happens, they always end up back here after a while."
"Seriously?!"
For a moment, his gaze drifted—he looked up, sharply, toward the ceiling, as if something lingered there. Then he focused again.
"Clarify, guide."
"How to explain… The rules governing this chamber allow for the automatic reappearance of any missing creatures after seven days. And I don't mean new ones—it's the same ones, in the same places."
"Not through reproduction?!"
"Nope."
Huh?!
"THAT'S INCREDIBLE!"
For a second, our eyes met. Behind that teasing smirk of his, I could sense something else—something heavier.
"Idiot. You're repeating yourself, but I get it. The mysteries of this place are seductive. I've paid the price myself."
"B-but are you sure there isn't an explanation? They can't just appear out of nowhere, can they?"
"No way to know. Like I'll be telling you often—each chamber has its own laws. And in this one, no matter what happens, these things return."
"So there are rules here capable of… recreating life indefinitely?"
But by what miracle…?
☗
Honestly, it was gibberish — almost another language. This wasn't just magic anymore, it was an enigma.
How could creatures appear endlessly, as if conjured, always in the same fixed span of days? Like everything else here, none of it made sense — but gods, it was fascinating. I could feel curiosity tugging at me stronger and stronger.
"You're not really living yet, Mär. You've just arrived, so it's normal. But you're asking too many questions. I've seen people with stars in their eyes go completely mad just thinking about these things. There's no harm in wondering or thinking — but you've got to learn to accept."
He glanced at the ceiling again, and I caught the faintest twitch of a smirk at the corner of his lips — quickly fading into something tenser. His calm was slipping away.
"And don't think nothing surprises me," he added. "The truth is, this place just feels less hostile to me because I know how it works."
"You're right," I murmured.
"Anyway," he sighed, as if trying to brush off the tension.
He gave the ceiling one last look, and instead of worrying, I asked:
"Bellian?"
"Yeah?"
"I—"
ㅤ
"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
A sound exploded — a push, a metallic grind, a laugh.
"So this is the hidden chamber of Mars? Looks like we did the right thing forcing the old man to talk!"
The voice boomed alongside the heavy rumble of a massive door. The fragile peace between Bellian and me vanished instantly, swallowed by something dark, heavy, and cruel.
That laugh — deep, echoing — it split the silence like a blade. The air shifted, thick with menace. And when I looked at Bellian's face, I knew.
ㅤ
He wasn't the same.
Did he know this was coming?
ㅤ
An aura began to coil around him — something I'd never seen before. No trace of calm, no trace of irony — only heat, violent and suffocating, like a storm of hatred ready to burst.
Even his back radiated danger. A chill ran through me, a visceral dread crawling up my spine.
ㅤ
Six figures stepped inside.
All hostile. All different in build and demeanor — but less distinct than us, more… human-looking, almost ordinary. The one who had spoken first was unmistakably the leader.
Bare-chested, wearing only a scarf and strange tattoos wrapping his torso. His pants hung loose enough to hide weapons, and his body — lined with scars — told stories that didn't need words.
No kindness, no hesitation — just violence wrapped in flesh.
He was an enemy.
ㅤ
I leaned closer to Bellian, whispering:
"What do we do now?"
"…"
His eyes were fixed below.
"Be—"
"Shut up. Watch."
I froze immediately. Whatever came next, my words didn't matter anymore. His tone carried a warning I didn't dare disobey.
And I understood what he meant by watch — far too soon.
"White winter and green spring intertwined… just as he described it. Every word of it," one of them muttered.
"Who would've thought a place like this was this close all along? We could settle here instead of that stinking cave."
Another burst out laughing. "You're forgetting what a nightmare it is to cross over."
"Guys, this cursed land hides more treasures than anyone knows — and this one's just another goldmine waiting to be dug."
"Hmpf. That mutt didn't exactly have a choice. Not like he was cooperative. We had to beat him half-dead before he wagged his tail."
ㅤ
Where were we, really?