Chapter 108: Sky Island – The Warm-Hearted People of Angel Island

After ringing the golden bell, Takumi jumped back down from the cloud island where the bell was located and landed on the giant vine.

As soon as he entered the forest of Upper Yard, a loud explosion echoed from the southern part of the forest.

Without needing to ask, Takumi already knew that the Shandians were making yet another attempt to reclaim their land.

During the month he had spent in Upper Yard, the Shandians had launched attacks almost every seven or eight days. The last attack had been just two days ago.

Today's attack was earlier than usual…

Most likely, the ringing of the golden bell had inspired them, making them more determined to take back Upper Yard.

Regardless, the war between the Shandians and the Skypieans had been raging for over four hundred years, and this was just one more battle.

Without giving it another thought, Takumi leaped into the surrounding forest, filled with towering trees, and began his daily hunt.

Three years later.

Takumi was now thirteen years old.

After playing with the wild beasts of Upper Yard for a while, Takumi swapped out his usual shoes for a pair of wind-powered skates, similar to rollerblades, and skated across the sea of clouds, heading swiftly towards Angel Island.

The Wind Shell, as the name suggests, is a type of shell that can store wind and release it.

Aside from the Wind Shell, Sky Island has various other shells with different functions.

For example, there are Image Shells that record and play back images, Water Shells that store water, Lamp Shells that emit light, Sound Shells that can record and play sounds for communication or entertainment, and Flame Shells that store fire, among many others.

These functional shells are essential to the daily lives of the Skypieans.

Sky Island's skates are similar to roller skates but require the wearer to follow the sea currents while skating; otherwise, it's easy to fall. Takumi had spent several days mastering how to use the skates.

Of course, these skates could also be used on land.

Before long, Takumi arrived at Angel Island.

The island was a beautiful place, dotted with several buildings and surrounded by greenery nurtured by the cloud vegetation. It was nestled between two giant vines that stretched into the sky.

He stopped at the shore of Angel Island.

After changing back into his regular shoes, Takumi walked onto the soft, cloud-covered beach of Angel Island.

Above Angel Island were a few more cloud islands, connected by cloud ladders. Takumi's destination, the bustling street known as Lovely Avenue, was on the upper cloud island.

The people of Sky Island had two antenna-like structures on their heads that matched their hair color, and small, pure white wings on their backs. However, these wings were purely decorative and couldn't actually be used for flight.

"Hey, Takumi! Here to buy some fruit? I just picked some fresh ones this morning," called a friendly fruit shop owner as Takumi walked past her store on Lovely Avenue.

After nearly three years on Sky Island, Takumi would come to Angel Island once or twice a month to stock up on food and alcohol, so the people of Angel Island had all gotten to know him.

What puzzled him, though, was that even though he didn't interact with them much, they were always so welcoming.

"No thanks, I'm good," Takumi replied as he kept walking.

"Kid! I've got some rare sky fish that just came in. How about taking a couple?" another vendor offered.

"Takumi, want some cotton candy? I'll give you two sticks for free!"

"My shell shop just got a new batch of home-use shells, want to take a look?"

As Takumi walked down Lovely Avenue, the vendors greeted him warmly.

Takumi politely declined each offer and made his way to a small shop that specialized in selling alcohol.

Sky Island didn't have any pubs, a fact that greatly dissatisfied Takumi.

Moreover, the alcohol on Sky Island was mostly fruit-based, with a sweet and mild taste—nothing strong enough to suit his preference.

Though Takumi personally preferred stronger liquor, he had no choice but to wait until his tasks on Sky Island were done so he could return to the Blue Sea and enjoy a proper drink again.

"Here to buy more alcohol, huh?" the shopkeeper asked with a grin.

Takumi nodded, handing over a large bag of Iks, the currency used on Sky Island, in exchange for the alcohol.

The shopkeeper, knowing Takumi's preferences by now, handed him several bottles. "How long are you planning to stay on Angel Island this time?"

"Leaving tomorrow," Takumi replied as he took the bottles.

"That's too bad. You only come by once a month—why not stay a bit longer?" the shopkeeper asked with some regret.

Takumi shook his head.

"Same as usual then?" she asked.

Takumi nodded again.

"Got it," the shopkeeper smiled. "I'll have the rest of the alcohol delivered to your place tonight."

Whenever Takumi came to Angel Island, he would buy a few bottles of alcohol for himself and have the shopkeeper send several hundred bottles to his inn for him to enjoy later.

After leaving the shop, Takumi headed to the inn he often stayed at and booked a room. With his newly purchased alcohol in hand, he returned to the lower cloud beach of Angel Island. There, in a small pavilion made from processed clouds, he lounged on a soft cloud chair that resembled a reclining chair, ready for a nap.

Takumi had barely settled in for his nap when a girl, just a couple of years older than him, with light blonde twin braids ending in round balls, came running over. She was wearing a pink dress, had a harp strapped to her back, and carried a white fox in her arms. This girl was Conis.

"Takumi, Takumi!" Conis called out excitedly. "I've learned a new song. Let me play it for you!"

Takumi didn't respond, keeping his eyes closed.

But Conis wasn't disheartened by his lack of response. She sat down in the cloud chair next to him, placed the little fox beside her, and began to play a soft, soothing melody on her harp.

The first time Takumi came to Angel Island, Conis had noticed him. Since he was the first person from the Blue Sea she had ever met, she was incredibly curious about him.

At first, she had been too shy to approach Takumi, but after he happened to overhear her playing the harp on the beach and complimented her, she worked up the courage to start talking to him. Although Takumi rarely responded, even a single word from him made her happy.

In truth, when Takumi had heard Conis play the harp for the first time, he had casually said, "Not bad," without thinking much of it.

But that simple "not bad" had left a lasting impression on Conis. Ever since then, whenever Takumi came to Angel Island to nap on the cloud beach, Conis would always show up at just the right time to play soothing music for him.

No matter how long Takumi napped, Conis would continue playing for the entire duration.

It had to be said, though, that Conis's harp music did have a calming effect. Since coming to Sky Island, the only place where Takumi could enjoy a truly peaceful and restful nap was on Angel Island.

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