Pica woke before anyone else. Even though already a morning person, gaining Light's powers just made her more energetic. Uncle Furs had said there wasn't a way she could possibly be more hyper; he would be surprised.
Her peppy outlook for the new day dimmed when she saw the sleeping form of Aeris. Pica could never have imagined robotic limbs would've been the cause for her to leave her popular career. And those horrifying images Aeris had to have seen in that explosion... Pica shuddered. How could someone be so cruel to turn their back on her for something so painful that had happened to her? Especially something that wasn't her fault. She needed comfort; someone to tell her everything would be alright, stay by her and help her accept it. She had to have felt so alone and hurt.
Light wished she could've met Heela. He sounded like he had the biggest heart ever since he helped bring Aeris back to herself—he had been the support she needed but was refused. Now, Pica understood why she had been so distant after Heela's death. Opening again scared her.
Maybe the celebrity life was truly as tough as she had always heard. It didn't seem to be as glorious as Pica had dreamed it would be...
Because the others stirred, Pica jumped to her feet to claim the bathroom before anyone else could.
***
After breakfast, the Sun, Moon, and Elementals gathered in the lobby to set out for another day of the Storming Plains. Used to the thunder and lightning now, Pica didn't think she would be as jumpy as yesterday.
Aeris, on the other hand, showed the same worry that kept her tense yesterday. The energy shields had proven their strength by protecting them, but Pica had heard talk from other residents that a lightning bolt had struck the inn. She asked Aeris if she had felt it; after Air dropped her eyes to the table, she nodded.
Helian walked up to the door; Zelenia grabbed Aeris' hand. "Ready?"
She released a steadying breath, then gave a nod. "Open the door slowly; I don't want the air hitting me all at once."
Pica already had her arm laced through Aeris' as Helian did as she asked. As soon as the door cracked open, Aeris stiffened and sucked in sharply. The electrified air had to have been painful—even through her metal arm, Pica could feel it tensing—but she remained rooted to the spot.
The door opened all the way, showing a lightning bolt striking a tower, illuminating the dark Storming Plains. At the same time, Pica and Zelenia started walking, tugging Aeris to follow. She did, with only a slight resistance; the others were right behind her.
***
They walked for the rest of the day. The conditions of the Storming Plains didn't improve, but at least it wasn't raining or hailing. Wound as tightly as before and with eyes remaining skyward, Aeris watched each and every strike of lightning. She was terrified of the place, so Pica needed to stay strong for the blonde woman—she held on tightly to Aeris' arm to keep her steady.
It was so odd that Pica had always looked up to her, seeing Aeris as mature, confident, and fearless. Now, Pica provided the pillar of strength the petrified woman had to rely on. She had become Air's help like light encourages and lightens everyone.
Like yesterday, Pica, Aeris, and Zelenia stood behind the others as they dealt with Fangril demons. Pica helped more than before, though. She stepped away from Aeris once when the Elementals were having trouble with two of the giant, metallic creatures to send a blast of pure light into one of them—with a burned hole in its chest, the demon dissolved into smoke before it hit the ground. The Elementals finished the last one in no time.
Other than towers acting as lightning rods and large roofed-structures to provide respite from the weather or just a rest for travelers, there wasn't much to see in the craggy and bleak landscape. They never stopped though—the Sun, Moon, and Elementals maintained a brisk pace—not extraneous enough to exhaust them, but showcased their eagerness to get out of the Plains.
Pica wasn't sure how long they had walked when the desolate, rocky landscape smoothened out. Ahead looked like a tree line, but if they were in fact trees, they weren't any like those she had ever seen. They still maintained a greenish hue, but mostly were a blueish-silver color, appearing to be glowing and shining like a new piece of sheet metal. The sky above the trees wasn't angrily churning either—no cloud marred the night sky.
"Those trees are of the Crystal Forest, marking the boundaries of Caelestis," Tegen said.
Pica hugged Aeris. "We're almost out, Aeris; just a little bit further."
She didn't really respond, just nodded as she continued to watch the sky.
Pica wanted to inquire about the strange looking trees but saved it for later, after they were all relaxed again.
It took them about twenty more minutes to reach the Crystal Forest. Once they did, though, Aeris gasped as something looked to hit her all of a sudden: she didn't reel back; she instead quickly stepped forward, then looked back.
"What is it?" Pica asked.
"The air... it's clear again; it's not thick with electricity anymore."
Aeris turned to Zelenia; she smiled. "We're safe now in my homeland. Come, Chrystaline mustn't be far."
The blonde woman looked back at the Storming Plains as if to reassure herself she was out of reach of a stray lightning bolt before turning to follow Zelenia.
The trees were stranger than Pica had thought. The bark of each and every tree was silver, and the leaves were a mixture of green and blue, but all shimmered under a light layer of frost. It looked like the trees had been crystalized; even the bushes and the ground beneath their feet had the same appearance of smooth ice. She had never seen something as beautiful and serene as the Crystal Forest.
Pica looked everywhere as they walked deeper into this strange forest. She watched a color-changing butterfly flitter to a blue flower. "Tegen, what's with the trees?"
"We are in the main land of the moon; the moon remains in the sky, there is no sun. The foliage in Caelestis has been crystalized to thrive in a land without sunlight. Most of the flora blooms at night and the fauna is nocturnal."
"So, what will happen when the sun returns? Will everything unfreeze?"
"I suppose so," he answered.
The Crystal Forest wouldn't be as mystical or pretty then, but it would be better at releasing the frozen quality over everything, looking like the foliage waited for that day. If the peoples of Ethea weren't enough reason for defeating Fangril, the world itself needed to be freed.
They traveled through the Crystal Forest for thirty minutes, but Pica could've gotten lost in it and been perfectly happy. A constant breeze flowed through the branches; the crystalized leaves glittered beautifully as some rode the invisible currents. Everything was so magical and peaceful. Geryon was the only one not with his face turned skyward and ogling the strange landscape. Pica had to remember that this probably wasn't his first time seeing the forest.
Once their winding path led to an opening in the forest, they passed into another world again. Chrystaline sat on a cliff overlooking the sea. Surrounded on three sides by the Crystal Forest, all the village's buildings faced the cliff overlooking the dark beach and sea. Just kissing the water's horizon, the largest and brightest moon Pica had ever seen lit up the night sky sparkling with gazillions of stars. It was so big and magnificent—it took up half of the sky and each crater, line, and dark spot on it was visible without magnification. The crystalized walls of the buildings glistened with moonlight. The picture was jaw-dropping.
Pica was frozen in place; she couldn't picture a more beautiful sight. She didn't notice the people of the Moon approaching until they stopped before them. The two men and three women resembled Zelenia, with pale, glowing skin, bone-straight white hair, blue eyes, and flowing fabrics of white and blue.
They bowed before them. "Our Mother Moon, Father Sun, and Sibling Elementals grace us with their presence. Chrystaline provides rest for all weary; come, rest."
Chrystaline provided a feast for them set under the brilliant stars. The feast was mostly vegetables and fruit that has adapted to growing without a sun. Pica had never seen the young Moon so relaxed—Zelenia was radiant among her own people.
After eating, their group split up to go explore. Zelenia and Helian remained seated, talking with the people of the Moon; Renuo and Kalisa disappeared down the stairs hewn into the cliff leading to the beach; Aeris and Geryon sat on the cliff overlooking the waters talking; a Chrystalinian had enticed Tegen into their library; Pica chose to admire the surrounding Crystal Forest more.
Time didn't seem to matter there: everyone took their time, spoke in hushed tones, and were just in complete bliss. Their group also shared in the peaceful atmosphere—seeing Aeris and Geryon putting their differences aside after their hostility eased Pica. She was confident they could destroy Fangril, but they couldn't do it if they had even the slightest discord among them.
Pica could stay there forever; leaving in the morning would be greatly disheartening. Even thinking about it now depressed her. She shook her head—no point moping when it wouldn't change anything. So, Pica forced her thoughts to remain on the crystalized trees, and it didn't take long for her to get mesmerized by them again.
When a third yawn seized her, Pica figured it was time for bed—even though the moon still hung in the sky, just further up, she had no idea of the time. During her almost-daily questioning of Tegen's knowledge of Ethea, Pica had learned that Caelestis only had the moon in the sky for the entire night; during the day, the sky would be dark. It was the opposite in Dantia.
Pica headed back to the inn, noticing Chrystaline was vacant—she couldn't see a single person in sight. She increased her hurry out of embarrassment.
The receptionist greeted her in the lobby with a soft chuckle.
"It is easy to lose yourself when visiting Chrystaline for the first time."
Pica responded with a smile as she went to the door-less hallway leading to the rooms. She held back sounding another yawn, but it still twisted her face.
Light rounded a corner and came to an abrupt halt: near the door to the women's bedroom, Aeris and Geryon were in a tight embrace, locked in a kiss. Pica wished she would've made a noise to warn them that they weren't alone.
She hurriedly jumped back around the corner to give them privacy—she wasn't embarrassed for walking in on them; she actually had to hold back a squeal. Them fighting had seemed so wrong; Pica didn't like it at all—they were meant to be on the same side, not against one another. But seeing them together—her bringing an emotion out of him and him giving her the security she's always needed—was right.
Hearing the click of claws, Pica looked up to find Tegen coming down the hallway. The men's room was directly opposite the women's—right behind Geryon.
"Oh, Tegen! Hey, Tegen!" she exclaimed, hoping Aeris and Geryon would hear.
The Kemiji looked at her curiously.
Pica surged up to him, making him stop. "Did you learn anything new in the library?"
"I did."
She swept to his side and hooked her arm through his, even though she had to practically hang onto it. "So, what was it? Was it about Ethea or only about Caelestis?"
Tegen's eyebrows furrowed, but he obliged. As he babbled on about some long-lost history in Durus, Pica hoped they had been loud or that she had delayed enough to give Aeris and Geryon time to leave.
As they neared the corner, Pica leaned around to see if Aeris and Geryon were gone; no one was in sight. She sighed.
"Are you looking for someone?" Tegen asked.
Pica quickly straightened up. "Oh, no, no; I just thought I heard someone talking, but there's no one. I guess everyone's already asleep. Speaking of which" —it didn't take much acting to yawn— "I'm pretty tired too. Goodnight, Tegen."
She waved to him as she opened the door to the women's room and slipped inside. Her eyes scanned the sleeping figures for Aeris, but she didn't find the blonde woman. Maybe she had chosen to sleep in the adjoining room; Pica wouldn't go searching for her—if she found her, Aeris would know Pica had seen the moment between her and Geryon.
It was going to be really hard for her not to stare in the morning and to keep her face blank.