A mark and a Ascension

ascended into the outer sphere. In seconds, they were off and away in outer space. Inside, attention was at its highest, and the usual foolishness kept to a minimum. The loving leader within Saturn had finally emerged, and her eyes were dead set on finding Lumi.

"Rifting in 3, 2, 1, JUMPING!" The ship launched off, and as everyone sat and buckled up, Saturn did not move an inch from her position. She took all the force of the jump with all her strength and remained at attention and determined. Everyone else glanced at Saturn constantly, unable to tell if this was the same leader who'd normally be gazing off into space or thrown out somewhere into the toilet. Her aura projected royalty of the highest pedigree.

"Approaching the spirit planet, mateys! Prepare for landing." She announced to everyone as she gripped the wheel. Forcefully, she spun the wheel and swung the ship around to its side before landing it perfectly at the docking port. The room was filled with disbelief that, for once, their lives were not indeed threatened by the ship possibly blowing up on the ground.

"Rightey, I'll see y'all in a sec; just gotta get someone," she spoke before quickly disappearing out of the room and hopping off the ship. She took a moment to remind herself of Lumi's guidance on how to enter the realm. "So Wumi said, turn a little this way... take some steps and hold breath. Ah, I'll just walk in that direction and hold my breath the whole way." She extended her arms and pointed straight ahead. As she took a deep breath and puffed out her cheeks, she slowly took steps one at a time. The number of steps concerned her; she had almost walked a whole 10 meters, and her breath was starting to run out.

"More?" she thought to herself as she aimlessly started wandering around in random directions, guessing which way was the right way.

"Saturn?" A familiar voice came from the side. With her breath still held in tight, she turned and saw a heartwarming face.

"Lazuli." Saturn finally released her breath and skipped over to her with a smile.

"I need your help," Saturn announced.

"Is it to do with Lumi?" Lazuli replied.

"You know?" Saturn questioned.

"One of the Junger was getting snacks over from Lklandkeeling and heard about unrest because the processor and candidate were gone."

"The candidate is with us, but Wumi has disappeared, and if we don't find her quick, then Starlessly man will take over and commit a big no-no." Lazuli giggled, which caught Saturn off guard.

"I miss your speech pattern. It gets boring when everyone is always polite or punctual."

"So will you help us? Pwetty please." Saturn asked while giving the cutest, helpless face she could pull off.

"You know you don't need to beg, Sat; I still want to explore the universe, so any reason to leave is a good one. But first, we need to go to Lklandkeeling itself. I know who will know more about where Wumi has gone."

"You called her Wumi too!" Saturn replied, completely flabbergasted by the response. They immediately returned to the ship, and once again, set a new course. Saturn, on her own, deep down had no clue what to do or where to go. She relied on luck and her own clumsiness to find a clue, and Lazuli having any advice was a godsend to her.

Once again, the Jellyfish descended onto the snow-covered planet of Lklandkeeling, its crew eager to follow Lazuli in search of clues about Lumi's whereabouts. However, the planet seemed strange after returning. The usual crowds roaming through the snow had almost completely vanished. The people's usual cheery and loud emotions settled and avoided any sort of eye contact with anyone around. The shops were open as usual but the warming fires from the chimneys, the smiles of the people, and the usual sphere of energy that radiated from the ground were all but gone. Faded like a morning dream. A depressive shade of gray settled on the usual vibrancy. Even the snow, which usually sparkled with a vibrant hue, now lay piled up, its luster faded.

Walking through this somber landscape, Lazuli halted abruptly, turning to Saturn with a quizzical expression. "Saturn, can the candidate of this nation transform?" she inquired.

"Huh? Erm I don't know. Hey Miho can you get into DED yet?" Saturn asked Mihiro. She responded with a positive nod and took Saturn by surprise with the statement. "really? That's so cool yo! Plutonia can't even sprout her wings yet." Saturn continued praising Mihiro with evident proudness. Meanwhile Plutonia seemed to fade into the background feeling ashamed that a much younger Mihiro was so far ahead. Lazuli, noting Mihiro's capabilities, foresaw their potential usefulness in the quest to find Lumi."It'll come in useful if we run out of time to find Lumi. A candidate should have a week to prove themselves right? or something like that." Lazuli seeked for confirmation as she spun back around and started advancing onwards.

They continued through the streets, arriving at what appeared to be a motel. The atmosphere inside mirrored the desolation of the outside world—whispers replaced lively chatter, and concerned glances replaced the usual organized hustle. Lazuli led the way through the corridors until they reached room 1-5. After three unanswered knocks, Lazuli's patience waned.

"Whose head is thick enough to use as a battering ram?" she quipped, met with unified confusion from the group.

Nori voiced the question on everyone's mind, asking why they were there and who occupied the room. Lazuli casually revealed that it was Lumi's butler's residence and, without divulging details, hinted at the spying capabilities of the Elder beings..

Knocking once more and receiving silence, Lazuli abandoned civility, grabbing Saturn and launching her through the door, colliding with the butler. Lazuli, now inside, stepped and applied pressure to the butler's face with a calm yet frightening demeanor, demanding information about Lumi's whereabouts.

"I don't know," the butler replied, an answer that displeased Lazuli. Mihiro, stepping forward, revealed that the butler had spoken to a strange man and dropped a special ring.

"Eh, a special ring, huh? Who did you speak to? I'd prefer the nation he is from," Lazuli interrogated, to which the butler accused Mihiro of lying.

Lazuli suggested everyone wait outside, brandishing a whip-like object. Following her instructions, the group took the door with them, reattaching it without issue. An hour passed in complete silence, raising curiosity among those waiting outside. Unable to resist, Saturn cracked the door open for a peek and immediately shut it, her eyes wide and seemingly on the verge of falling out.

"Wubududbu!" Saturn started making incomprehensible sounds, her alien language causing bewilderment among the onlookers.

"What's the problem, my Lady?" Nori inquired.

"Wuuuu WUuuu," Saturn sounded like a broken washing machine. Intrigued, Nori approached the door and peeked inside, promptly joining Saturn in the bizarre exchange of sounds.

Plutonia, now curious, stepped forward. With a swift move, she jumped over to Mihiro and covered her eyes.

"Now, that's something that is not PG, Miho," she explained. Suddenly, the door opened on its own, and in the doorway stood Lazuli.

"The guy was from Polanoire. The ring he dropped was supposed to be given to that guy, but our brilliant Mihiro took it before he could find it. Hey, why are you all standing like scarecrows and making weird sounds?" Lazuli questioned, observing the two broken washing machines sending signals to each other and Plutonia shaking behind Mihiro, who remained completely oblivious to her surroundings.

One by one, Lazuli flicked everyone's foreheads, bringing them back to their individual senses. With a collective return to a down-to-earth mentality, she explained her findings once again.

"But that doesn't tell us where Wumi is," Saturn responded.

"Rudolf is looking for those ring things, and since one was lost right there in the Dae Turris of this nation, he might have taken her to try and get that ring back," Lazuli explained her thought process.

"But wouldn't he know that she wasn't here at the time? She only returned three days ago," Saturn added.

"Well, he could know that. He could simply just—" Lazuli was abruptly interrupted by Mihiro's sudden collapse to the floor. Everyone immediately rushed to the ground to check up on her. She lay completely unconscious, her body warming up.

"Is she alright?" Plutonia looked to Lazuli for help, hoping her advanced knowledge would be of any assistance. Unfortunately, she couldn't get an idea. Nori kept checking her temperature, and it seemed to only rise with each touch.

"We gotta take her to her Motherboard," Lazuli exclaimed. In return, Saturn immediately explained the situation of Lklandkeeling and its Motherboard. With their only option being to go back to Plansanturia, they collectively agreed and rushed back to the 'Jellyfish,' with Mihiro snugly in Nori's arms.

As the urgency of Mihiro's condition pressed on, the group swiftly returned to the 'Jellyfish,' their steps hurried and anxiety palpable in the air. Nori cradled Mihiro carefully in her arms, her worry etched across her face. The ship's ramp closed behind them, and Saturn, now wearing a concerned expression, took command of the control deck.

"Strap in, everyone! We're heading back to Plansanturia, and we're not wasting a moment!" Saturn's voice carried a sense of urgency as she navigated the ship's controls with determination. The engines roared to life, and the 'Jellyfish' lifted off, leaving Lklandkeeling behind.

Inside the ship, the atmosphere was tense. Lazuli, Plutonia, Nori, and Saturn exchanged glances, each reflecting the shared concern for Mihiro's well-being. The journey through the rift felt quicker this time, but the anxiety only intensified.

The ship emerged on the other side, back in the familiar surroundings of Plansanturia's Dae Turris. Saturn expertly guided the 'Jellyfish' towards the docking bay, and as soon as the ship touched down, the group rushed out, carrying Mihiro in their arms.

The urgency in their steps echoed through the corridors of the Dae Turris. Saturn, leading the way, shouted orders to clear the path. The emergency bells resonated, signaling the gravity of the situation. As they approached the medical bay, Histoikie appeared, having been informed of the situation.

"What happened?" Histoikie's concern mirrored their own.

Lazuli quickly explained the events, emphasizing Mihiro's sudden collapse and the escalating condition. Without wasting time, they placed Mihiro on a medical bed, and the medical team immediately started their examination.

The air in the room hung heavy with worry as they awaited the medical team's assessment. Saturn, clenching her fists, stared at Mihiro, silently hoping for a positive outcome.

A tranquil breeze swept through the room, and the distinct sound of measured footsteps resonated. Starlessimia had returned, his demeanor as indifferent and frigid as ever. He leisurely approached Mihiro's bedside, extending his hand and uttering cryptic phrases in an unfamiliar tongue.

In an instant, Lazuli's blade was poised at the edge of his hand, while the muzzle of a gun pressed against his head. Trust was a rare commodity in this room, and Lazuli was unwilling to extend it to this enigmatic figure.

"Have you found Lumi?" he inquired, seemingly unfazed by the lethal proximity of the weapons.

"Only theories," Saturn replied, her voice steady.

"She's undergoing her Royal Ascension."

The room fell silent, the weight of those words settling like a heavy fog, obscuring the path forward.

The weight of Starlessimia's words hung in the air like an ominous cloud. Saturn's eyes narrowed, searching for any signs of deception in his icy gaze. Lazuli, still holding her weapon at the ready, maintained a vigilant stance.

"Royal ascension? What does that mean?" Plutonia questioned, breaking the uneasy silence.

"It's a process the Processors go through, a ceremony that solidifies their connection with the Motherboard and strengthens their leadership. In other words, Lumi's replacement is ready.” Starlessimia explained

“Is Lumi dead?” Nori asked. A question that shouldn’t be so carelessly asked came out and immediately a tear appeared in Saturn’s eye.

“Lumi sensed a disturbance in the balance of our nations. She felt it necessary to complete a quest to gain the strength needed to maintain stability. As for her location, only the Motherboard knows," Starlessimia revealed, his tone indifferent.

Lazuli tightened her grip on the blade, suspicion still evident in her eyes. "Why should we trust you?"

"I don't care if you do. I'm here to ensure our nations don't crumble in chaos," he retorted.

“Skaboodle yall we dont need no black eyes tonight. Lazuli, trust him. Starlessimia, where’s Wumi?”

Reluctantly, Lazuli withdrew her weapon, keeping a watchful eye on Starlessimia.

“Polanoire, To find the final ring.”