An Hour passed and the Crew found themselves changed into their sleepwear, Raven in her Nightgown and a Bonnet, Jeanne in a Tank and Baggy pants with a Bonnet, Kirk in short shorts, Kale shirtless in Bottoms, sleeping on the floor. Dezzi in a simple Hoodie separate than the one they'd worn most of the day, Noir in full PJ's, and Leroy in shorts Underwear and a Large Tee
They were all sprawled across the massive room. Beds were full, Couches lounged on, Chairs kicked back and one Swordsman was on the floor.
The next day, the Crew awoke the next day, spending the first few hours eating a simple breakfast made by Noir.
But after that, Aponiv and Awoga waited for them in the Small Lobby. Awoga gazing at the Mural on the Wall while Aponiv stoically stood in the middle of the Room
"Ah, there here." Awoga shifted on her foot to look at the Crew walking down the Staircase.
"Awoga?" Leroy questioned "What are you doing here?"
"Well I thought I could spend one of your five days waiting to show you around Skyderia. Should take a few hours to wander around. Get you used to the City so you don't get lost."
*
Minutes passed and they found themselves walking with the best tour guide the City and Sky Island had to offer. Butchers, Sales Stalls, Food, Clothes, almost anything a person could ask for was all in a distance to be gotten to on foot or by a short flight.
"What's the furthest someone would have to go to reach here?" Raven asked, Journal Cracked open and scribbling in her notes
"Well, there's some that are out in the Fields and Dozens and dozens of Pipecans away. It might take maybe an Hour or so to come to the city center." She gestured around to the sky of some coming and going through the air.
She then explained that there were Small hamlets of no more than 7 buildings scattered out in the fields where herding and crops were grown. As well as those that preferred Isolation.
"There are also some isolated outings in the fields. A few Hot Springs that were built quite a few years ago. Some like to get away."
"Interesting" Raven scribbled as much info as she could while they walked
"What's your medicine like?" Dezzi asked after a couple more minutes of walking. Having reached close to the City center where they had been only a day prior to see the history of this place. Making a large upwards curve, passing by the gate and coming back around to the center.
"I say our medicine is good." Awoga spoke "Medicinal Herbs, and Medicinal Rituals."
"Though Ritual may be the Wrong word. We do have specific Procedures that those from the blue have found to be a bit strange. But we're constantly working towards-"
Dezzi's fur stood on its end as they began to pass by a Building, strangely more few people were walking around it. Almost as if they were avoiding it. A strange electricity in the air as the crew seemed to get too close.
"Wait! Don't go so close!" Demanded Aponiv, Awoga having not realized that the crew began to walk down street
"Why not?" Leroy asked with a strange look on his face, looking back and forth from the two. They both had a strange aura about them now, one of worry and concern
"It's not a safe building." Awoga spoke, clearly attempting to persuade Leroy
"How so?" Jeanne said as she began to nervously sweat. Kále clutched the hilt of his Orange Sheathed blade.
The air seemed to grow heavy, that feeling of electricity growing as Leroy began to shuffle backwards. A strange metallic taste in his mouth. "Look I trust you guys, but you gotta be honest with us…"
His eyes shifted around gazing to the few civilians that stared with nervous looks, waiting to see what would unfold next.
The Moments that passed next seemed to last minutes, but only were few seconds as Awoga closed her eyes and with near supernatural clarity deduced what to do. "Okay."
She said relaxing her shoulder. Eyes shifted to Aponiv who was too relaxed at her gaze. He knew what it meant when she did that.
At the same time, the Rest of the Red Sash did the same, awaiting what Awoga was going to do. She began shuffling to the group, hands behind her back and making her way past them and walking into the building, it was one of the few buildings with a door like that of the mural room in the Temple.
The Door dissolved into the Reel, and Awoga waved her hand to guide them in.
The inner building was dimly lit by Limareels with small flames hanging from the ceiling, incense burned, smoke hazing the room with a myriad of scents that made a few of the more sensitive of the crew wince. But it was a short lasting discomfort as a larger uncomfortable feeling continued to prevail
That electrical and metallic copper taste was even stronger. There was nothing in this small opening aside from charms and spiritual talismans hanging with the few lights and Incense
But one thing had all of their eyes shifting.
To the Back of the room, was a doorway with fabric hanging as a divider like the Kings temporary throne room in Arabasta.
Awogas' sudden speech broke their gaze. Aponiv shifting to stand next to her, his hand white knuckled on the Limareel attached at his hip
"Months back, we found him. Washed up in the white sea. Beaten to all get out. His arms were nowhere to be found. And the scarring on his face was like nothing short of going against the fiercest of warriors and beast mashed into one."
She still stood in front of the curtain as she continued
"When he first awoke, the Chaos he wreaked was on a scale we'd only heard in stories. Those more, spiritual thought it was a Reincarnation of the Tyrant Tejolo himself…But thankfully. He subdued himself, seemingly succumbing to his wounds and falling unconscious."
Her look was so nervous she seemed like she was recalling a fresh nightmare
"After that, we brought him here, used all we could to bind him to this world, and keep him under control-"
Looking up, a glimpse of relief flashed in her eyes "But it seems that his mind. Whatever it was that ravaged him, utterly broke his mind…Leaving him in a waking catatonic state."
A chill ran through some of the crews spines, what person or creature could Break the mind of someone that put fear even into these hardened warriors?
"M-May we see him?" Raven was the first to speak. Book tightly in hand.
Without a moment of hesitation, Awoga raised an arm and pulled the curtain back, letting Aponiv walk in first before gesturing for the crew to walk in…
"We don't know his name. But we called him the Ball of Death."
The Room was small, cramped. The energy in the room was like waking up after your hair getting frizzy by a pillowcase, but dialed to 11. Dezzi's fur seemed to statically stand on end.