The air shimmered with the familiar warmth of a bright morning, the sky a brilliant, cloudless azure. 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. 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.
Despite being captivated by Rona's beauty and the vibrant energy that pulsed through the streets, they kept their eyes peeled for the landmark the bear had mentioned.
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 when you're in Rona, they knew.
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! KRAKRAKRA!!"
"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.
"Belang was wanted," 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!" he shouted.
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.
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.
Suria sprayed out a sip of her drink in shock, unable to contain her surprise at Purnama's appearance.
"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, which had lasted almost an entire day.
"Eznar said he despises my weakness," Purnama explained, his expression turning serious. "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.
With a heavy heart, Purnama instructed Suria and Riang to leave Rona and proceed to Tambora without him.
"I'm sorry, but 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 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 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.