Leash to Sky

The Wandering Moon continued sailing, and the crew almost arrived at the coordinates. "Still no sign of Tim and Chiaki. How far did they fly?"

Kou sat on the bench beside Yumiko, who had her ankle on her knee, while Aurora ate her sandwich. "It's good you stayed away from trouble, Aurora. I don't know what would happen if you didn't hide."

Aurora exchanged eyes with Yumiko, swallowing the loaf, "It was for the better. I know I wouldn't be able to do much." She responded, drinking the bottle of water. "On top of that, I enjoyed seeing you fight. You were all so strong and talented." She giggled and saw Kou lean against the wall.

Yumiko bobbed her head, confirming with a smirk, "When you travel for weeks without end and constantly get into trouble, you'll earn experience just from a mere battle," she yawned, "at least, that's how it works for me."

Ralphie twirled on the wooden planks, putting his hands together while the white puffs of hearts circled him, "What an amazing phenomenon. Yumiko, you're terrific." Yumiko's expression solemnized, "But if you're journeying with a pervert, those 'experiences' come from pounding him." She held back her irritation, understanding Ralphie didn't go overboard.

Aurora glimpsed the attracted Ralphie and shrugged her shoulders, "I'll still have to get used to him. I'm sure he's not a bad guy."

Yumiko cracked her knuckles and her neck, "Don't worry, if he does something unacceptable, I'll deal with him." She darted at Ralphie, who yelped and smiled, "That's scalding."

Yumiko slapped her forehead and sighed because of Ralphie's illogical response. Aurora laughed and suddenly felt something combing her hair. She built up shivers and got scared, noticing her hair gently getting pulled, "W-Wha'?! T-Tarot, what are you doing?!"

Tarot groomed her hair, tongue slipping from his mouth as he smiled, "I thought it would calm you down." Aurora jolted, becoming somewhat astonished, "Calm me down?! I-I'm not a monkey! A-And I'm not stressed out either." Tarot blinked, befuddled, and with a puff of cloud forming a question mark over his head, froze, "But your hair's pretty."

Kou covered his mouth, trying to hold back his laughter. He saw Aurora swaying her arms up and down like an airplane, shouting in desperation, "That doesn't mean you can creep up on me and play with my hair without me letting you." Tarot observed her in confusion, "But I complimented you. Didn't I?" he scratched his cheek, turning out to be somewhat dumb, "Now you ruined my hair," She swiftly swung her arm and pulled out a brush, beginning to uncurl her hair while holding it past her right shoulder.

"Why get so bummed out about it, Aurora? You're pretty *even* without straight hair. I heard you dyed your hair in the last two years. I think this eminence color suits you more than blonde. Are you trying to impress someone?" Yumiko dragged her last word for a few seconds, teasing Aurora and making her embarrassed.

She noticed Aurora reddening like the crimson sun and shouted, "Impress someone?! N-No, why would I want that?" she seized her hair and brushed it more, "I just thought it was time to... um... try something new." Yumiko understood the female's instincts and giggled, "Then why are you playing with your hair?" she inquired, "You're practically flirting and drawing attention. I know because I'm a girl, and I do that too. Who's the lucky guy?"

Aurora jumped at Yumiko's inquiry and yanked her arms away, "I am *NOT* flirting with anyone, nor do I want attention! It just soothes me down!" she shouted as Tarot pointed at himself, "Am I that handsome?"

Aurora's expression lost its entertainment, sweat dribbling down her face, "Uhhh... no," she added, seeing Tarot become even more perplexed, "but don't worry! I-I'm not saying you're not handsome. I-I just don't think you know what's happening."

Yumiko peeked at Tarot, folding her arms, "Sometimes, I wonder. How did you become a shipwright but still be stupid?" Tarot beamed, placing his arms on his hips, "I know! I am stupid!" he paused momentarily, "wait..." Yumiko clutched her forehead, "That was *not* a compliment."

As they traversed and conversed, they heard a familiar sound approaching them from afar, "Look, it's your nimbus cloud, Tarot." Kou sharpened his gaze, "but it's alone." The nimbus cloud drifted toward them, ahead of Tarot. It had a paper stuck to it.

"Look, a message." Tarot picked up the paper and prepared to read it, but Aurora snatched it immediately, "I think it's best if I read it this time. Last time, it didn't work out well for you." She unfolded it and read it aloud, "Go toward the coordinates given to us from Hywel. We discovered an entrance to the Sanctum Islands. If you don't see us on the island, find the bubbles and ride them to the top. Chiaki."

Aurora moved her head away from the paper, "Looks like Tim and Chiaki used some bubbles to reach Sanctum Islands." Yumiko blinked, puzzled, "Bubbles? Wouldn't they pop if somebody tried going inside? And in case you *could* enter the bubbles, wouldn't they just pop when reaching a certain height? Sanctum Islands are in the sky."

Aurora exchanged the paper with Yumiko, "That's what Chiaki said." Yumiko read through it fast and lost herself in thoughts. "Actually," Kyora gained their attention, "There are permeable bubbles that can fly up to 15,000 meters above sea level. You can step inside and let them carry you in the air. They can't get popped by touching them and will *only* burst when they go above the 15,000-meter radius. Other options that *will* pop them are searing temperature or honed weaponry."

Kou added to the inquiry, "Does that mean the Sanctum Islands are 15,000 meters above sea level?" Kyora shrugged without proper knowledge, "I can't answer. I don't know anything about Sanctum Islands. But it *is* a possibility. However, you *can* walk in and out of the bubbles. So it wouldn't matter." Kyora claimed, "And if Chiaki says they reached the Sanctum Islands, that would only mean those bubbles float high enough. We should catch up to them."

Ralphie spun across the deck, "Kyora-princess! You're so smart and beautiful! I'd love you to teach me more about your bubbles!" Kyora grew agitated and hollered in Ralphie's face, "My breasts are not bubbles, you depraved degenerate!" she growled and battered Ralphie in his ardent face, tossing him overboard, hearing him scream, "Sorry, Kyora-princess!" he left a loud splash behind him as Kyora wiped her hands, "I'll show him a thing or two later." Everyone on the deck backed away from her, somewhat frightened.

To be continued...