Rona is a place where the past, present, and future exist together in perfect harmony—a dazzling blend of history, fantasy, and boundless joy, where each soul can find their melody in the symphony of existence.
Nearby, a festive atmosphere permeated every corner of the realm. A dog dressed as a pirate strummed a jaunty tune on a guitar, while a six-armed ogre pounded rhythmically on bongo drums that pulsed like a collective heartbeat. Visible to the naked eye, musical notes shimmered in the air like iridescent bubbles, drifting for a heartbeat before popping into clouds of magical dust.
A colossal bridge spanned a crystal-clear river where candy-colored aquatic creatures leaped, their scales catching the light like scattered jewels. Winding walkways, soft as mushroom caps, led to magnificent forts built for endless revelry, while narrower paths twisted toward mystical valleys filled with giant, glowing fruits.
Imposing structures rich with ancient carvings shared the horizon with sleek towers bathed in neon. Traditional pagodas stood beside domes suspended in the clouds and spires that spiraled toward a turquoise sky filled with kites of every imaginable shape. Some kites trailed shimmering, vibrant tails that painted streaks across the horizon, while others occasionally exploded into silent showers of brilliant, harmless fireworks.
In Rona, one could walk through all four seasons in a single hour—drifting from spring blossoms into summer meadows, then through the red-gold of autumn into a quiet, magical snowfall.
"Holy blimey," Suria murmured, her voice losing its edge as awe finally won out. "I'm stuck with an utterly ridiculous creature, yet I'm witnessing the greatest spectacle in the dimensions. What are the odds?"
"Meeeheeeeee!!" Riang brayed with laughter.
"You annoying little brat," Suria snapped, her mandibles clicking sharply.
They slowly made their way into one of the majestic cities, where their attention was captured by a mesmerizing monument: a colossal globe of Earth rotating in mid-air. A holographic rainbow shimmered, casting iridescent light upon miniature leprechauns who danced and scattered gold dust across the globe's surface.
Beneath the monument, four directional markers pointed the way:
['Santu-Bong'] to the north.
['Ul-Ek'] to the west.
['Le-Dang] to the east.
['Tu-Juh'] to the south.
"Riang," Suria said, her voice filled with urgency," we need to ask the locals for directions. As enchanting as this place is, we don't have time to waste. We must catch up with the Skyrea, and remember, four hours here is five days outside."
"I agree," Riang nodded, her donkey head bobbing. She scanned the crowd and pointed a hoof. "Hey, look at that weird bear! Let's ask him."
A massive, chill bear rode toward them on a battered bicycle. His thick brown fur was styled in cornrows, and a neatly trimmed beard framed a face defined by laid-back, bloodshot eyes. A radio backpack pumped out mellow reggae tunes, and he puffed contentedly on a joint, a wisp of sweet smoke curling from his lips.
"Excuse me," Suria called out. "Do you know the way to the Aracca Motel?"
The bear blinked slowly, taking a long drag from his joint.
"Whoa, mon, like... newcomers, aight?" he drawled, his voice a hazy rumble. "Arraca Motel? Yeah, mon. Just head straight toward Santu-Bong. No turns. Before the end of the mushy road, it's on your right. Don't get lost, mon. Bless up!"
With a casual paw-wave, the bear popped a wheelie and rode off into the hazy distance.
"Thanks a bunch, Mr. Bear!" Riang called after him, chuckling as she waved her braided beard. Turning back to Suria, she added, "Honestly, Suria, I'd love to explore Rona more, but duty comes first, right?"
"I second that," Suria agreed, her antennae drooping. "It's a waste to be here and not be able to enjoy it."
They walked along a worn path, the cheerful sounds of everyday life a gentle hum around them. But as they approached the boundary of Rona's entertainment hub, a strange atmospheric shift became palpable. The moment they stepped across the invisible line marking its edge, the very air thickened, and above them, the brilliant sky snapped into abrupt night.
"Whoa! Someone just flicked the light switch on the universe!" Riang brayed, her head spinning in a dizzying circle to catch the sudden stars. She paused right on the threshold, her front hooves planted in the obsidian dark while her hindquarters remained bathed in the golden glow of the afternoon behind them. She craned her neck back, squinting at her own tail as it flickered in the sunlight just inches away from the midnight air she now breathed.
Suria stood up to her full height. She reached out a hand, watching her fingers disappear into the shadow and reappear in the light as she moved them back and forth across the impossible seam.
"This feels weird, even for Celestion like us," she murmured, her antennae twitching as they sampled the sudden, cool night air.
As if a colossal hand had simply extinguished the sun, leaving behind the immediate, deep blackness of a starless evening. From the depths of this manufactured gloom, a symphony of chaos erupted: the booming laughter of half-drunk patrons spilling from the Troll's Tooth Tavern, and the sinuous wail of a three-stringed lute from the Crimson Veil Club.
Enticing aromas now joined the din, with the rich scent of exotic coffee wafting from small beverage tents lining the footpaths, tempting passersby with their unique drinks and treats. Here, the thrum of the Night Market was a constant backdrop, punctuated by the uninhibited joy of fantastical creatures dancing with abandon, their laughter echoing through the vibrant streets. Most buildings were only two stories high, giving the area an inviting, almost cozy feel, even as the glow of colorful neon mingled with the dim, warm streetlights, adding to the town's quaint and tranquil charm.
The mushy road squelched underfoot as they pressed onward, until suddenly, it simply ended. Before them, the grass stretched an impossibly vibrant green, an almost magical contrast. Just beyond this lush boundary, a sturdy wooden sign planted firmly in the ground declared the name of a new district: Santu-Bong. Unlike the perpetual night of the entertainment hub, Santu-Bong lay bathed in the clear light of morning.
Following the bear's instructions, they turned their gaze to the right. There it was: the Aracca Motel.
A pink holographic wine glass blinked invitingly above its entrance, a beacon in the perpetual darkness. Above the roof, snow fell in a peculiar anomaly, dusting only the motel itself – a common magical sight in Rona.
They walked into the motel; laughter and music spilled freely from the motel's open doors, promising a lively atmosphere within. As they stepped inside, the lobby buzzed with a motley crew of fantastical creatures. Some were in bizarre hybrid forms, while others, though largely human-like, were strangely cartoonish and pixelated in style. All were clad in the most outlandish attire, a vibrant tapestry of Rona's unique inhabitants.
Suria hopped off Riang's back and sprang onto the bar counter.
"What can I help you with, love?" asked the bartender, a stick figure with a mesmerizing gradient that shifted from blue to green to purple.
"Woooot! You look weird, man!" Riang blurted out, her donkey head bobbing with curiosity.
"I know, right?!" the stick man chuckled. "But look who's talking! KRAKRAKRAKRA!!"
"Meeeeheeheeheehee!!" Riang brayed, joining in the laughter.
Suria rolled her eyes and let out a long-suffering sigh.
"Please, Riang, manners..." she said, her voice laced with gentle exasperation. Then, turning back to the bartender, she asked, "Do you know anyone named Belang?"
"Belang?" the stick man repeated, his gradient shimmering thoughtfully. "Well, that's a name everyone in Rona would know. But first, let me serve you our specialty beverage. It's on the house!"
With a practiced hand, he crafted a colorful concoction that settled into three distinct, mesmerizing layers. A vibrant yellow gleamed at the bottom, topped by a fiery red middle, and crowned with a crystal-clear blue. He finished each glass with a generous dollop of whipped cream, a bright slice of lemon, and a tiny umbrella straw that shimmered, magically shifting colors.
As they sipped their drinks, the bartender leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially.
"So, about Belang," the stick-like figure explained. "He did something that's not supposed to be done in Rona. There's one big rule you should never break here, and he broke it. No one knows for sure whether he escaped or was captured." He then gestured towards a bulletin board near the entrance, where a faded wanted poster with Belang's face was pinned.
"What?!" both of them gasped, their eyes wide with shock at the bartender's revelation.
Nearly an hour had passed in Rona. As Suria and Riang turned their heads toward where the wanted poster was glued, the motel doors suddenly burst open, and a genie flew inside.
"SURIA! RIANG! Are you here?! It's me, Purnama!"
In his new form, Purnama had transformed into a black genie. His stylish blue turban, perpetually askew, threatened to topple off his head with each excited bounce. A golden bracelet, far too large for his slender wrist, jangled comically with every exclamation. His absurdly long, swirling mustache, waxed to a ridiculous point, seemed to have a life of its own, twitching and twirling with each word.
A pair of oversized spectacles, perched precariously on his nose like a child's toy, magnified his tiny, black eyes, which sparkled with manic glee. His vast, red lips, stretched wide in a permanent grin, revealed a set of pearly white teeth that seemed to gleam with an unnatural intensity. To top it all off, a pair of gaudy monkey-shaped earrings dangled from his earlobes, swaying rhythmically with his every movement.
Suria sprayed out a sip of her drink in shock, unable to contain her surprise at Purnama's appearance.
For a moment, the lively atmosphere in the motel lobby fell silent.
It was a custom in Rona: whenever someone called out a name, everyone nearby paused their conversations and laughter, waiting to see if the caller's presence was needed.
"Meheee! We're here, Purnama!" Riang responded, her voice brimming with excitement.
The lively chatter resumed as Purnama flew toward them, a broad grin on his face. They exchanged friendly jests about each other's unusual appearances before Purnama briefly shared his encounter with Eznar.
"That Eznar guy... he had eventually lost interest and departed, leaving me trapped for hours within a swirling wind prison. I'm unsure what kind of Darkseed he is, but Celestion might have a new, dangerous enemy to worry about."
Suria pointed at the wanted poster, her voice grim.
"And to add to that bad news, it looks like we have a problem here, too."
Purnama turned toward the poster, furrowing his brow in concern as he glanced at the image.
"Damn it, Belang."
"So, what's the plan now?" Riang asked, her donkey ears twitching in anticipation of their next adventure.
Purnama knew he had no choice. He needed to find and save Belang before leaving Rona. Aside from obtaining a Dykin seed to exit Rona, it was a promise he had made long ago to someone. Belang was a royal blacksmith from Aurea who had abandoned his post to become an Invytor in Rona. In this role, he held a supply of Dykin seeds and possessed a magical mapping scroll that revealed the precise locations of Rona's entrances and exits on Earth.
"I need to find Belang," he stated. "I need to obtain a Dykin seed and locate an exit close to the Skyrea rendezvous point."
"Is that even possible, Purnama?" Suria asked, her voice laced with worry. "Can you remember where the Skyrea rendezvous is without a map?"
"Belang is an Invytor," Purnama replied, a hint of his usual confidence returning. "I just need to tell him where and when I entered Rona. The rendezvous point is located in the Dark Forest, north of the cirque, about a two- or three-day walk from there. With that information, Belang can help me find a nearby exit."
"Wow, you're brilliant, Purnama!" Riang exclaimed, impressed by his quick thinking.
"You did see the globe monument, right?" Purnama asked. "Let's head back there for now."
The three of them thanked the stick-like bartender for his hospitality and returned to the monument.