"We're going to the sky islands next. I've got a connection with the rebel forces there underground." Aevaan said after twenty minutes of silence and hyperspace. Those who were awake nodded.
Luna and Alejandra were leaning against the wall, laying their heads on each other's shoulders. Luna was sound asleep but Alejandra was awake, observing the outside of the window next to them. She snored softly into his neck and grabbed his arm to snuggle it more. Christian watched with a slight glare, wondering how Luna had gotten so close to Alejandra in just a short amount of time. There was nothing special about him in his eyes-- in fact in his opinion, he looked like what he happily called a fuckboy. He examined every detail about Alejandra to find any sort of flaw to make him feel better about it, but he found none, which astonished him. He was almost rather plain-looking, yet flawless. Perfect. Christian scoffed and turned his head away when he saw that Alejandra darted his eyes that way. Alejandra knew Christian was watching him from afar, but chose to say nothing. He could see it in his eyes and his very soul that he was jealous, as he expected him to be. After all Luna and Christian had been through together, Alejandra felt like Christian had every right to be at least a little jealous that he took the place he wanted.
When Alejandra noticed that they were about to enter the Ciel Binary system, he softly tapped Luna's cheek with his slender palm. She awoke and rubbed her eyes.
"We are almost there, Lunita. Just a few more minutes." He informed her. She nodded and stretched, her limbs popping. She leaned her head back on Alejandra's shoulder and sighed. "Did you have a nice nap?" He asked.
"I guess so." She said, "Although, in my dream space, I felt some tension. What happened?" Alejandra smiled faintly.
"Oh, nothing you need to worry about, darling. There are much more important matters on hand right now than a little jealousy." Luna wasn't convinced, but she went with it regardless. She looked over at Christian, who had gone back to looking at the two, this time with even less of a glare than before so Luna would not get upset. She still sensed it, however, and tilted her head to the side while making eye contact with him. He blushed and quickly jerked his head away to look out of the window. She sighed quietly.
When they landed on some of the only solid ground on the planet, Luna stayed behind the group to walk with Christian. Neither of them said a word to the other, as the roaring ocean around their small slice of land was almost deafening.
"This is the only piece of solid continent left on this planet." Alias explained. "After the great flood two millennia ago, and everyone got their piece of land to raise into the sky, this is the only chunk that was left to be submerged." Aevaan took the lead, motioning for the rest of the group to follow. Kylie nervously scuffled over near Aevaan, walking so close she was surprised she didn't step on his heels.
The place, to her, was incredible. It was just like how Luna had described it, with its bluish grass and near purple oceans. She looked up ahead and into the sky only to see all the floating islands up near the clouds; some stringed together with chains or rope, or even bonded together with highways, though she never saw any sort of automobile of any type.
They walked on an overgrown path toward a small shack, and when they approached a small window opened its blinds. Two big grey eyes stared at the group through the cracks. Aevaan knocked on the window and it opened slightly.
"What is your business bringing these people to our place, your majesty?" the raspy voice croaked. Aevaan explained their business in Afrödic and gestured to the others. The man behind the window understood and opened up the door for them. Inside the shack was a deep well of water-like substance. Aevaan faced the others.
"Well, you lot... Dive in." They were all unsure at first but Abiatii decided to take the first leap. She hopped into the water and disappeared into the depths. Up next was Alias, who chased quickly behind Abiatii out of worry. Then Luna, Christian, and Alejandra went in together. All that was left was Aevaan and Kylie. The two stared at each other in the eyes before Kylie looked down into the pool.
"I... I can't swim." She said sheepishly. Aevaan held out his hand for her to take. She looked back up at him and blushed.
"There's no need. Here, I'll keep you safe." Kylie gulped and took his hand.
"This is why you're my favorite character in Luna's dreams." She said quietly, watching Aevaan step toward the pool. He smiled lopsidedly and looked back at her.
"Oh, so you do know about us, eh?" He said with a chuckle. "I bet she didn't tell you how charming I can be," He pulled her closer to him and she slammed against his chest. Then he picked her up, held her tight with his arms wrapped around her waist, and jumped in backward.
Kylie immediately shut her eyes and held her breath. They were sinking rather quickly for her liking, and she was running out of breath.
"You can breathe- it's not actually water, you know." Kylie's eyes shot open and she looked up at a breathing Aevaan. He loosened his grip around her waist and she floated away from him. He grabbed onto her hand so she would not sink too fast. She released the breath she was holding and panted, bubbles escaping her lips.
"I-if it's not water, what is it?" She asked nervously. He smiled.
"A product of magic mixed with technology. Isn't it wonderful? I helped design this machine. There are loads like it across this planet." The two looked into each other's eyes and they both smiled.
"Anyway, we're almost here. Brace for impact-" Before he could finish, the two plopped down on the solid ground. Kylie almost fell but Aevaan caught her by the arm.
The rest of the group was waiting and looking around the area. There was a whole other city down there, and some of the walls were replaced with thick glass to reveal the ocean underneath. Aevaan brushed off his coat and went to the front.
"This is the rebel headquarters," He explained. "I come here often to check up on things. They already got word about Albrecht, so that's why it's so terribly busy," He turned to Christian. "We should be able to find you a decent weapon here, Christian," Christian's eyes lit up. "Now follow me, you lot. I need to talk with the leader of the rebel forces."
While they followed Aevaan down the road, people stared at them-- especially Luna and Alejandra. Luna heard them whispering to themselves in Afrödic about her, how she wasn't dead, or that she looked just like Lunabelle Y'Mauai. She looked up at Alejandra and held his hand for comfort. He caressed her skin with his thumb and kept her close to him.
When they arrived at the house Aevaan led them to, the man was sitting out on his porch tinkering on some kind of firearm. He looked related to Alejandra with long platinum waves, a square jaw, and big blue eyes.
"Ferdinand, I've arrived," Aevaan called out. The man looked up and smiled. He stood and stretched, almost as tall as Aevaan and Alejandra themselves.
"Hello there, cousin! I got your message that Alejandra and Lunabelle were revived?" He moved his hair out of his face and scanned the group.
"Well, my father was fully revived. But Luna here is a reincarnation of my mother. A Gaiatian," Aevaan explained.
"Gaia, huh? Is that why she's here? Because Albrecht is taking over Gaia?"
"Something like that yeah. But you called Aevaan a cousin?" Luna asked. "From whose side?"
"Father's of course," Aevaan told her. "Didn't you know that he is the eldest of seven children?" Alejandra hummed.
"You're telling me one of my sisters had children." He grumbled. Ferdinand nodded.
"My mother's name was Liluth. She used to speak so fondly of you before she passed. But that was almost four-hundred-fifty years ago." He explained. "Only reason why I'm alive to this day is that Aevaan here snuck some of the royal vaccines to me." Aevaan shrugged.
"It was the least I could do for my favorite cousin, now isn't it?" Aevaan said. "Anyway, we are here on business, Ferd. How prepared are you and your troops for this battle?" Ferdinand motioned them inside his home as he started to speak.
"Well, considering we only have three days until Albrecht and his forces set out to Gaia, I would say we have plenty of time to prepare my troops. However, you'll need more help than what we have to offer." He opened up a cabinet, and there were several weapons inside. "Have you considered maybe making a deal with D'Chaalö to get their army together?"
"Possibly, but what about Carlisle?" Ferdinand began to laugh.
"Really? You know they are pacifists, Aevaan!"
"Yes, but they are also mortal enemies with Lunestica. If they found out what was going on, I am sure they would help us out in some way."
"Yeah, considering that Carlisle is a lot like Gaia." Luna chimed in. "Carlites believe that all life is precious. I'm sure they would help somehow." Ferdinand hummed.
"You bring up a fair point, Lunabelle, but how exactly are we going to talk them into it? They probably won't let Aevaan in their noble office, let alone any Lunestic." Luna looked over at Kylie and Christian and smiled Kylie blushed.
"What, Luna?" Kylie asked, although she already knew the answer.
"You know what, Kylie. You and I are going to go convince the Carlites to join our fight. Chris can come with, of course." She said emphatically.
"Absolutely not," Christian said, turning his head away. "There ain't no way in hell we can pull that off."
"He may have a point, Lunita." Alejandra stepped in. "Carlites speak strictly Afrödic, and while you may be fluent in Afrödic altogether, Kylie and Christian would have no clue what was being said."
"Th-that won't be a problem. Luna could be the translator." Kylie argued nervously. "Besides- who could say no to her?"
"That is also another fair statement," Aevaan said. "She has the face of a war hero- She and father even took refuge on their planet and birthed me there before Albrecht found them. I'm sure they may make some exception."
Without any more arguing, Luna stated that the plan was set- she, Kylie, and Christian were going to go talk to the president of the Carlites and ask for help. Meanwhile, the others in the group split up--Aevaan and Alias went to D'Chaalö while Alejandra, Abiatii, and Enry stayed behind on A'Cielinsulariä to sort out weaponry.
The warper Luna used to transport the three of them to Carlisle took so much energy that it actually absorbed some of their energy as well, and ended up leaving them unconscious on the forest floor. When Kylie awoke before the others, however, she was in for a surprise.
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL144htFcEs
