The members of the group gaze at the area in awe. Before them, the Crystal Sea extends like a vast ocean of liquid light, its waves shimmering with ethereal flashes under the sunlight. The reflection of the sky on the surface creates a hypnotic spectacle, as if the entire world were draped in a mantle of floating diamonds. Every movement of the waters seems to whisper an ancient tale, secrets few could truly grasp.

  The gentle wind caresses the faces of the team, bringing with it a fresh and salty scent that contrasts sharply with the almost unreal atmosphere. Some members exchange awestruck glances, while others simply can't tear their eyes off the panoramic view unfolding before them. It's as if time itself has paused, allowing them to absorb every detail of this magical moment.

  "Quit gawking like it's a sideshow," Carlos barks, extending an arm and pointing towards the enormous glass panels stretching along the cruiser's hull. "Those are the guest room windows. They're magically reinforced to offer panoramic views of the Crystal Sea. Our job today is to clean them."

  Carlos paces slowly in front of the group, carefully measuring his words as he seeks to capture their attention. "Now, to carry out this task, we need specialized tools. We're not talking simple rags or buckets of water. Here, technology and magic go hand in hand."

  He approaches a set of backpacks lined up against the wall and picks one up, holding it before the group almost reverentially. "This," he says with a tone full of enthusiasm, "is no ordinary backpack. It's a device that combines advanced technology with levitation runes. It will allow you to move through the air with precision and safety while cleaning the panels. They're equipped with mechanical wings that fold and unfold as needed. Additionally, they have magical propulsion systems that will give you stability even in the strongest currents." He walks over to one of the group members and places the backpack on their back. With a soft click, metallic wings emerge, gleaming under the sunlight.

  He then walks to the edge of the platform, where the wind begins to stir his clothes. His impeccably ironed uniform, adorned with golden details on the shoulders and cuffs, reflects his position of authority. The emblem of the Eternal Cruiser, an anchor entwined with a pair of wings, gleams on his left breast, further highlighting his role as the team supervisor. Despite his relaxed posture, the uniform gives him an air of unshakable professionalism.

  He pauses there for a moment, contemplating the horizon with a pensive air. Without a word, he pulls out a cigarette and lights it with a silver lighter from his right pocket. He takes a deep drag, letting the smoke rise slowly toward the sky as he exhales.

  "The wind today... blows a little differently than usual," he says, taking another drag, this time shorter, and holding the cigarette between his gloved fingers, letting the smoke escape slowly from his lips.

  He extinguishes the cigarette against the platform railing, placing the butt in a small metal container in his pocket. Then, he turns completely toward the group.

  His gaze sweeps across the group, evaluating each member. His eyes finally stop on Joaquín. "Joaquín," Carlos says, pointing at him firmly. "You're up first."

  Joaquín swallows hard but obeys slowly, approaching the designated area. When he reaches the edge, his eyes widen in shock at the sight of the water's depth below. Suddenly, the mechanical wings activate with a soft hum, fully unfolding. Joaquín feels how the magical propulsion system grants him stability, allowing him to float gently in the air. He begins to move forward, experiencing the sense of freedom the wings provide.

  However, before he can fly too far or fully get used to controlling the wings, something strange happens. From the depths of the Crystal Sea emerges an unexpected creature: a giant octopus, its tentacles glowing as if made of pure liquid energy. Its gelatinous body seems to vibrate with life, and its enormous, curious eyes observe Joaquín with a mix of fascination and... hunger?

  "What is that?!" Joaquín shouts, trying to fly away. He accelerates his speed, but the octopus extends one of its long tentacles and wraps it firmly around him, stopping his escape.

  "Is... is that an octopus?" Dolores asks.

  "Ummm... does anyone have a plan?" Sofía interjects.

  "Do you really expect me to have a plan for this? Of course not!" Carlos retorts.

  The octopus lifts him gently into the air, as if inspecting him. The creature's tentacles move with hypnotic grace, almost as if they were dancing around Joaquín. Suddenly, one of the tentacles begins emitting a low hum, and small, blinking lights run across its surface, as if analyzing something. Joaquín feels a strange tingling sensation on his skin, as if the creature were scanning him, reading every detail of his being.

  From the platform, the group watches the scene in astonished silence. It seems the octopus doesn't intend to hurt Joaquín immediately, but its behavior is perplexing. The creature holds him suspended in the air, moving him from side to side as if he were an object of study. Then, one of the free tentacles approaches Joaquín and softly touches the mechanical wings. At that moment, the lights on the tentacle shine brighter, as if the creature were reacting to the magical technology of the wings.

  "I'll go find Mr. Gimly. Maybe he has some idea of how to deal with... that," Dolores says, putting away her notebook and quickly leaving.

  Carlos makes a vague gesture with his hand, as if to wave goodbye, but Dolores is already too far away to notice. Then, he pulls out a cigarette from his pocket and lights it with an exaggerated sigh, as if he were in a low-budget dramatic movie. He gazes at the horizon as the clouds pass slowly. He exhales the smoke toward the sky, forming a cloud that, for a second, vaguely resembles a heart. He observes it skeptically before it dissolves into an indistinct blur, as if even his failed attempt at creating something artistic reflected his frustration.

  "Damn, damn, damn..."

  "Uh... Mr. Carlos," Selene says, interrupting his introspective moment. "Did you forget to mention that we'll use rods to clean the panels?"

  Carlos turns to her with a look of annoyance, exhaling a final puff of smoke before responding. His eyes narrow slightly, assessing whether it's worth answering such a trivial question.

  "What does that matter now...?"

  "Well..." Selene becomes thoughtful, momentarily ignoring Carlos's attitude. "The rods have magical runes engraved on them. They could generate a burst of energy strong enough to distract the octopus, or even weaken it momentarily."

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  Carlos raises an eyebrow, impressed despite himself. For a moment, his authoritative demeanor falters, and an almost imperceptible smile crosses his face at the creativity of the solution. Without saying a word, he brings the cigarette to his lips one last time, inhaling deeply before exhaling a puff of smoke toward the sky. Then, with a casual but deliberate movement, he drops the cigarette to the ground and stubs it out under the tip of his boot, turning his foot slightly to ensure no trace of the burning ember remains.

  "Alright," he announces, extending his hands toward the group as if he were a general rallying his troops. His voice resonates with firmness. "We need a brave soul full of courage, someone who dares to rescue Joaquín from that damn octopus."

  An uncomfortable murmur runs through the group. Everyone looks at each other, avoiding eye contact with Carlos. Some lower their heads, others step back slightly, as if afraid of being singled out. Sofía, however, raises her hand enthusiastically.

  "Perfect!" Carlos exclaims, visibly relieved. "Sofía, you will—"

  "Ah, no, wait!" Sofía interrupts quickly, lowering her hand. "I just wanted to ask... why don't you go?"

  "I, uh... well, you know... I have to coordinate from here," he stammers, taking a step backward.

  Sofía looks at him with a slightly furrowed brow, not entirely believing him.

  "I'll go," Selene says.

  Carlos spins toward her so fast it's as if he's been propelled by a spring. A forced smile appears on his face, too enthusiastic to be genuine. "Perfect! That's what we need: initiative!" he exclaims, striding decisively toward Selene before she can reconsider her offer.

  "And? Do you have any plan to approach the octopus?"

  "Well..." Selene begins, pausing for a moment to think. However, before she can develop her idea, Carlos reacts with almost exaggerated haste. With abrupt movements, he grabs Selene by both arms, lifting her slightly off the ground as if she were a rag doll. He hauls her toward the edge of the platform without giving her time to reflect further.

  "Wait, wait, wait!" Selene protests, trying to maintain her balance as she's hauled without much delicacy.

  "No time for doubts!" Carlos exclaims. "Your bravery is truly inspiring!"

  Finally, Carlos stops his advance right at the edge of the platform, leaving Selene facing the void. Without another word, he hands her the backpack and the magical rods, making sure she has them securely. His movements are quick but somewhat rough, as if he wants to ensure there are no excuses to delay the inevitable.

  "Alright, before you go, I'd like to know your name," Carlos says suddenly.

  "You hauled me all the way here without any delicacy, to face a giant octopus... and you don't even know my name?" She lets out a deep sigh. "Fine, I'll tell you, but I won't repeat it."

  She stares at him intently, as if evaluating him. Then, after a tense silence, she responds firmly:

  "My name is Selene. Selene Crimson."

  Selene adjusts the straps of her backpack with quick and precise movements, regaining her composure as she shoots a piercing glance at Carlos. However, when she turns toward the horizon, her expression transforms completely. The wind caresses her crimson hair, sliding loose strands that shine like flames under the sunlight. For a moment, she seems frozen in time, motionless before the vastness of the Crystal Sea stretching infinitely before her. The ethereal waters reflect flashes of light, as if the ocean itself were breathing with its own life, and the sky unfolds above her head, full of silent promises. It's a fragile, almost sacred moment, as if the universe were offering her a pause before the inevitable.

  She takes a deep breath, filling her lungs with fresh air, letting the distant roar of the sea calm her racing heart. Every second seems etched into her memory: the feel of the wind on her skin, the hypnotic glow of the ocean, the weight of the mechanical wings on her back. Then, with a deliberate movement, she activates the wings. They unfold slowly, emitting a faint hum that resonates in the air.

  With her wings fully deployed, Selene feels the wind caress her face and gently tug at her crimson hair. Each movement of the air seems to speak to her, reminding her that although she can't control the currents around her, she can choose how to respond to them. With determination, she leans slightly forward, adjusting her posture to take advantage of the breeze flowing over the Crystal Sea.

  "I may not be able to change the wind, but I can always adjust my wings to reach my destination."

  Meanwhile, on the platform, murmurs begin to spread among those present. The voices, though whispered, intertwine with a mix of curiosity and speculation.

  "Is that her?"

  asks one of the group members in a low voice, looking toward Selene.

  "Yes, no doubt," responds another, nodding confidently. "That's the girl who was brought here when she was just a child."

  "They say she was bought by the owner of the cruiser," adds a third, lowering his voice even more as if afraid of being heard. "Not only that... they also say she has strange abilities."

  "Strange abilities? Like what?"

  "I heard she can talk to snakes, at least, that's what some of the veterans say."

  "What? Seriously?"

  "Wait, the person who can talk to snakes, are they referring to the girl or the owner of the cruiser?"

  "SHUT UP!"

  Carlos orders sharply, turning toward the group with a severe expression. His voice cuts through the air like a whip, imposing instant silence. Everyone freezes, avoiding eye contact with him. Then, he turns back toward Selene, who now stands at the edge of the platform, her mechanical wings fully deployed and ready to leap into the void. Her eyes, filled with determination and courage, shine brightly under the light.

  In one of the corridors of the Eternal Cruiser, Dolores follows Mr. Mostacho as he paces agitatedly. The man, a bald dwarf but with a large mustache that gives him an unmistakable appearance, is officially known as Gimly. However, due to his distinctive mustache, most people simply call him "Mr. Mostacho."

  "Of all days, it had to happen today!" exclaims Mr. Mostacho, visibly irritated as he quickens his pace.

  "I'm sorry, Mr. Mostacho," Dolores replies quickly, trying to keep up as she follows him.

  "Arghh...!" he groans, stopping for a moment to place a hand on his forehead in frustration. "Today is a very important day, Miss Dolores. Too important, I'd say!"

  Just as he's about to continue walking, a very tall man suddenly appears between Dolores and Mr. Mostacho. At first, Dolores doesn't quite make out his figure, but when Mr. Mostacho realizes who it is, he is completely astonished.

  "M-m-m-m-my lord!" stammers Mr. Mostacho, bowing deeply with a mix of surprise and respect. "I thought you would wait for me in the VIP reception."

  Dolores, intrigued by Mr. Mostacho's exaggerated reaction, discreetly looks up to study the stranger. The man is dressed in a long black coat that reaches down to his ankles; its simple yet elegant design reflects meticulous attention to detail. The high collar and wide lapels give him an imposing and mysterious air. His black gloves shine faintly under the dim light of the corridor, while a black fedora covers much of his face, casting a dark shadow that conceals his features. Despite the poor visibility, his presence is unmistakable; he radiates authority and power. However, before Dolores can even attempt to decipher more details about him, Mr. Mostacho gently pushes her downward, forcing her to bow as well in apology.

  "There's no need for such formality, dear Mr. Mostacho," says the man in a calm but firm voice, filled with serenity that contrasts with Mr. Mostacho's agitation. He extends his gloved hand toward Dolores, who slowly raises her head to look at him more closely.

  When she finally sees his face, Dolores feels a mix of awe and unease. At first glance, he appears normal: proportional features, pale skin, and a serene expression that could go unnoticed in any other context. But there's something about him that disturbs her in an inexplicable way. Perhaps it's the intensity of his gaze, or perhaps it's the contrast between his eyes. One of them is a deep crimson, glowing like an ember under the dim light of the corridor, while the other remains dark, almost indistinguishable in the shadow of his hat. This duality in his appearance creates a strange sensation, as if she's seeing two different people in one.

  "Pleased to meet you, miss," continues the man, his tone now formal but with a touch of cordiality that softens his intimidating aura. "I am the creator and owner of the Eternal Cruiser, Darius Crimson.