As Larkwing sprinted toward the crop field with Yaku close behind, they glanced up at the sky—now as dark as starless space.
Even the land and houses were fading into pitch black.
"Larkwing! Am I going blind?!" Yaku yelled as he ran.
"Good news—you're not! Bad news—you'll wish you were if we don't get out of this world in time!" Larkwing shouted back.
They burst into the field, and Larkwing whistled sharply.
From up ahead, their two black-winged horses galloped toward them.
"Get in the wagon the second we reach it! We're almost out of time!" Larkwing yelled.
Yaku nodded and picked up the pace.
Reaching the horses, Larkwing jumped onto the driver's seat while Yaku threw open the wagon door and dove inside.
With a mighty flap, the horses took off, lifting the wagon into the pitch-black sky.
"Pray we make it into the Aether Space before this world crashes and burns!" Larkwing yelled, focused at the reins.
"Pray to who!?" Yaku snapped.
"Anyone! Just not a god! They hate us!"
Suddenly, a glowing wormhole tore open in the darkness, and the wagon soared through it.
A flash of blinding white light enveloped them.
When they opened their eyes, they were drifting through the endless white of Aether Space.
"Well done, my boys!" Larkwing said, patting the horses with pride.
Yaku sighed and collapsed into the seat.
"I went easy on you this time since it was your first mission. Next time you disobey me, I won't be so nice."
"What'll you do, kill me again?" Yaku said with a dry chuckle.
"There are fates worse than death, sweetheart," Larkwing muttered, casting a sideways glance.
"Yeah, like being stuck with you," Yaku muttered under his breath.
Silence settled in the wagon as they glided through the tranquil white void.
"Next target: the Sandrosa world," Larkwing eventually said, the cheer back in his voice. "Ruled by the god of killing, Akkaram."
"God of killing? You mean, like, god of death?" Yaku asked.
"Nope. Not death. Just straight-up murder, manslaughter, genocide—y'know, hobbyist stuff. His world's wrecked too. Can't imagine why."
Yaku rolled his eyes. "Gee, must be all the killing."
"But before we reach Sandrosa, we've gotta make a stop. Can't travel that far in Aether Space in one go," Larkwing said.
"Why? Horses need a snack?"
"Nah, astral horses can go a week without food. Doesn't mean I'll starve them, though," he said with a fond pat.
"So then why stop?"
Larkwing's smile faded.
"You notice how there's no sound here? Except us?"
"Yeah?" Yaku said, now alert.
"If you travel too long in Aether Space, sometimes... you hear something. A faint sound that doesn't belong."
He paused.
"If you ever hear it... don't look back. Ever."
Yaku wiped his sweaty palms on his pants.
"Is there somethin—"
"No details. One rule. No long rides. Or we don't come back."
Larkwing gave the reins a snap, speeding up.
Yaku raised his hands in surrender and leaned back, chewing his nails nervously.
After a few minutes of quiet, Yaku asked, "By the way... what Bliss did I get from Nareem?"
"That one's called Daedal Dusk. I, uh... forgot what it does," Larkwing said sheepishly.
"So can I do what Nareem did? Tentacles and shadows and all that?"
"Not even close. Transferred Bliss is watered-down. You've got like... a shot glass of what he had in a tsunami."
"Lame."
Suddenly, the white of Aether Space began to dim.
"All right, Yaku—we're entering the Luminark World! Beautiful place. You're gonna love it."
Larkwing steered into a glowing white portal.
LUMINARK WORLD – DAYTIME
A wormhole tore open in the bright sky, and the wagon flew out, sunlight pouring in.
Blue and white skies, golden fields, and warm sunrays greeted them.
Larkwing lowered the wagon, revealing endless crops of wheat, sunflowers, and dandelions.
Farmers cheerfully harvested their crops. Kids ran laughing through the grass.
Yaku gawked at the scenery. His jaw dropped, and his eyes sparkled.
Larkwing chuckled. "First time seeing something nice in decades, huh?"
Yaku could only nod.
As they flew over a large village, Larkwing pointed. "We're stopping here. Let's find a parking spot."
He guided the wagon into the forest past the village and landed it between the trees.
The horses slowly trotted deeper in to hide.
Larkwing and Yaku got out.
"Time to mingle. Be nice, my favorite little sinner," Larkwing grinned, throwing an arm around Yaku.
"Don't touch me," Yaku grumbled, but followed him.
At the village gates, two guards greeted them.
"Travelers, huh? Where's your ride?"
Larkwing faked a laugh. "Uh, got jumped by bandits. Took everything."
The guards frowned. "That's odd—we've had no reports of crime nearby."
Yaku glanced at Larkwing, who was sweating bullets.
"Must be new punks. We should investigate soon regarding this case. In the meantime, make yourselves at home," the other guard said with a smile, knocking on the gates.
Inside, three women threw flowers over them.
"Welcome to our village! May you thrive with it!"
Yaku and Larkwing smiled and moved deeper in.
Stalls lined the streets, selling food, clothes, and all sorts of goods.
"So much to see, nothing to buy," Yaku said. "We're broke."
"Watch and learn," Larkwing said smugly.
As they walked, the shopkeepers began to stare.
"I must look like a stray dog," Yaku thought, lowering his head.
Suddenly, shopkeepers swarmed them with gifts.
"Have some mangoes! You must be starving!"
"Here! A jacket! You look like a convict!"
"Take them to the inn! Look at their feet!"
Villagers led them to a nearby inn.
"All rooms are free. Don't worry," said one with a warm smile.
"T-Thank you," Yaku muttered, face red.
10 MINUTES LATER
Yaku stood in the bathroom, shirtless and scrubbing his body.
His reflection stared back: bulky frame, average height, unshaved stubble.
"I still have fat? After starving for decades?" he muttered.
Pouring water on himself, he sighed. "So good…"
After shaving, he wrapped a towel around his waist and stepped out.
Larkwing stood right outside.
"Damn. Thought you'd forgotten a towel," he muttered.
Yaku glared and tightened the towel.
Larkwing pouted and walked off.
Yaku entered his room and saw clean clothes on the bed: a soft shirt, leather jacket, blue pants.
He got dressed, smiling.
"Fits perfectly."
Outside, Larkwing shouted, "Lunch time!"
"Coming!"
5 MINUTES LATER
They sat in a cozy restaurant, Yaku inhaling fried bread and soup while Larkwing sipped coffee with a smirk.
Yaku devoured his apple pie in a single minute.
"What? I've been starving since the goddamn Middle Ages," he muttered.
"You like this world?" Larkwing asked.
"It's perfect. Food, people, air—it's all amazing."
"Glad to see you smile for once," Larkwing said with a wink.
Yaku immediately scowled. "There it goes."
"Let's tour the village before night. We need to sleep early and leave early," Larkwing said, finishing his drink.
"But the devil said there's no time limit to get the Aether Blisses. Why rush?"
"Because while we love this place, the god of it won't like our stay. Sunsra, god of light—ruler of this world and Nareem's brother."
Yaku's smile faded.
"So…"
"Yep."
"He's probably watching us right now, isn't he?"
"Most likely. He knows. So we get in, enjoy the peace, and get the hell out."
Larkwing got up and strolled out.
"Don't leave me alone! I'm gonna get smited!" Yaku hissed, stumbling after him.