Time passed by quickly...
One fine day, while on an investigative mission on Earth, Purnama had stumbled upon a fox in the forest as he foraged for food. That fox was none other than Amaterasu in disguise.
Revealing her true, radiant form, she had recounted the tale of Belang's capture and subsequent trial. She urgently pleaded with Purnama to make a wise choice when the time came to save his friend's life, her shimmering figure vanishing into thin air the moment the warning left her lips.
Purnama shook his head, pulling himself out of the memory. Standing in the present, remembering that fateful encounter with Amaterasu, he finally understood what he had to do to save his fellow Celestion.
Racing back to Le-Dang, he located the ancient monument and unlocked the golden chest. The moment the latch clicked open, the stolen particle shot into the air, flying straight back into the heart of the World Tree and instantly restoring its former glory.
With its return, the Prison of Needed, the Raven guards, and the mysterious gate vanished into thin air. Where the grand illusion had just stood, Belang now lay unconscious on the dirt floor of the Sweetooth Cave.
Without wasting a single second, Purnama hurried back into the cavern.
Seeing the entrance gone and his friend safely collapsed on the ground filled him with profound relief. He stepped forward, his footsteps echoing softly as he approached Belang.
"Belang... I'm... I'm so sorry..."
Overwhelmed by a sudden torrent of raw emotion, Belang bolted upright and unleashed a barrage of furious punches onto Purnama. Purnama didn't fight back; he willingly endured every heavy blow, standing still until Belang was completely exhausted.
Belang raised his fist for one last strike, but his strength failed him. He collapsed beside Purnama, tears streaming down his face.
"...Belang... Let me bring you home," Purnama said softly, offering a hand.
"… If you want to help," Belang choked out, "just leave me in the forest of Santu-Bong... I need to be there. There's nothing left for me anywhere else."
Purnama exhaled deeply, offering no argument. He respected his friend's grief.
"It's fine. Then let me carry you there."
Belang took Purnama's hand, and together they made their way toward the entrance of Santu-Bong.
The path ahead was teeming with life. The rhythmic hum of insects and the distant calls of wild animals blended into a beautifully organized musical chord, gently soothing Belang's broken heart.
Soon, a settlement came into view. Most of the dwellings were built directly inside giant trees that spiraled toward the heavens. At the very top of the canopy, a massive, strangely numbered lantern cast a warm, multifaceted glow that illuminated the entire sanctuary.
As they walked past the residential structures, they entered a wondrous, untamed forest. Exotic trees bent under the weight of bizarre, triangular, three-colored fruits. Animals of all sizes—some physical, others shimmering like holograms—roamed happily through the brush, while pastel-colored, animated plants danced and swayed wildly along the path.
"Hey, Purnama..." Belang said quietly, breaking the silence. "That blue-bark tree over there... let's stop for a while."
They rested beneath the shade of a massive tree. They picked the fruits, discovering that each color had a distinct flavor. Remarkably, the moment a fruit was plucked, another instantly grew in its place.
They sat together, eating quietly as dusk approached, painting the horizon in vibrant, sweeping hues. Above them, glowing birds took flight, dancing across the twilight sky in perfect synchronicity.
Belang stared up at them, finally sharing his past. He spoke of the day he first became an Invytor, when he was tasked with inviting a destitute woman to Rona.
"She... she survived a Darkseed attack on her village by hiding in a cave nearby," Belang murmured. "Little did she know that very cave was a gateway to Rona."
He gestured to the canopy above them. The giant, blue-barked tree they were resting under was the exact threshold she had crossed all those years ago.
"Purnama..." Belang's voice grew thick with emotion. "Without her... Rona will never be the same for me. She passed away a week ago. I was too foolish to understand her illness... The only reason I stole the particle was to bargain with the elders of Rona. I wanted to plead for her life, even if it meant sacrificing my own."
Purnama looked at Belang, took a quiet bite of his fruit, and remained silent. He knew Belang didn't need advice—he just needed an ear to listen.
"...I never even knew if it would work," Belang confessed, the tears spilling over again. "But I had to try something..."
Watching his friend weep, Purnama finally understood what Amaterasu had meant during their encounter. She hadn't just been giving a warning; she had been showing him what a true friend must do when someone they care about is spiraling into danger—you step in, no matter the cost, to save them from themselves.
As Belang cried, he suddenly glanced up at the sky. The glowing birds flying overhead began to shift, magically coalescing into the shape of a mysterious woman. It was a face Belang knew better than his own.
Purnama watched in awe as the luminous figure blew a gentle kiss, bowed, and smiled down at them—sending a final, ethereal farewell before the birds dispersed and vanished into the evening air.
Belang wiped his tears away. He stood up straight, tall and proud, and shouted into the sky:
"Wherever you are! Please!!! Please wait for me!! Someday, somehow, we'll meet again!"
Watching his dear friend find closure, Purnama was washed over by a wave of relief.
"---Purnama," Belang said, his voice finally regaining its steady composure. "Maybe it's for the best. I think it's about time for me to return and resume my services in Aurea."
"Huh? What?!" Purnama blinked in surprise. "I thought you were still bound by your judgment and couldn't leave Rona!"
Belang glanced at him and smiled knowingly.
"So, that's why you came to stop me. You knew about my past... It must have been Baldr who told you everything."
"Uhm... well..." Purnama rubbed the back of his neck, caught out.
"Never mind. Either way, I've been here long enough, Purnama. My judgment was served years ago. I only stayed because it brought me joy to see those unfortunate souls find a home and settle here in Rona. I could always see how proud she was of me for helping people in need. But this... this must be the sign I needed to return to Aurea."
Purnama glanced down at Belang's permanent grasshopper form and couldn't help but ask.
"But... your appearance... it's permanent, isn't it? Will you still be able to handle your blacksmithing tools? I mean, if you really intend to go back to being the royal blacksmith..."
"What are you saying?" Belang chuckled, the sorrow completely lifting from his shoulders. "This form is far better! Don't worry, Purnama. Ria will recognize my Shakti and explain everything to the king. After all, I am the lost royal blacksmith of Aurea. They're going to need my services."
"That settles it, then," Purnama declared with a smile. "The Skyrea is coming to take us back to Aurea. I think we can make it if we leave right now. Suria and Riang might already be at the rendezvous point. They were here, you know—I asked them to head back first so I could track you down."
"Ah, how I miss them... Yeah, I get it," Belang replied. "Just give me the coordinates of your portal, and I'll get us there instantly."
"Don't you need your Invytor map to find the exit or something?"
"At first, yes," Belang explained. "But after doing this Invytor job for so long, I don't need maps anymore. As you gain experience, your eyes change. I can see exactly where the gates are and where they lead in the outside world."
Purnama quickly passed along all the location details he had for the Skyrea rendezvous.
"That's perfect. I know exactly which portal drops us closest to the rendezvous point," Belang said confidently. "Let's move. We can still make it on time."
With renewed purpose, the two friends turned and headed toward the exit of Rona, disappearing between the massive tree trunks of the Santu-Bong forest...
High above, hidden in the unseen folds of reality, ancient voices echoed over the forest.
"Hey! I thought you wanted that hopper boy getting tortured in the underworld with me? The last soul I got was that boring Darkseed—nothing new down there for centuries!"
"A Celestion with a good heart doesn't deserve to be your plaything. I'm glad I accidentally crossed paths with that blue-haired boy; he made the right decision in the end."
"Ho ho ho! Accidentally, indeed! It was always luck. Luck brings fortune. Even my cat is meowing—he thinks the same thing!"
"Dang it... It actually feels like I lost one of my own sons. Not that I care, obviously! But it still zapped a little pang straight through my heart..."
"Oh, please. Remember when I infused his soul into that insect shell? I was actually about to cry, and you zapped me right on my butt! You should focus on finding more wives instead of zapping people!"
"What's with all these falling flowers anyway? Why do we always have to celebrate like this? Snow is much better; at least it freezes your tears."
"And there it goes... a fond farewell to one of our Invytors. Have you guys still learned nothing? Come on, it is always better to close a chapter with a flower. Here—one for each of you."