Outside, the carriage appeared ordinary, but inside, it was an entirely different world. Though its exterior design drew no attention, the interior was spacious, capable of accommodating more than twelve people. Small buttons adorned the side panels, and the driver's seat was no longer perched atop the vehicle, exposed to the open air. Instead, there was a closed cabin designed exclusively for the driver, equipped with buttons, levers, and what looked like a modern steering wheel.
"We'd better start figuring out what each thing does," Alita suggested, examining the controls with curiosity.
"Alright, I'll read the manual. That way I'll feel useful," Ron said with determination. While his friends trained extraordinary skills, he felt useless, unable to recall how to wield the power he had displayed before.
"I'll help you," Mok added, joining Ron as they both began flipping through the thick manual left by Professor Kuang.
Meanwhile, Pax closed his cabin and took the reins, guiding the horses toward the next realm. The animals galloped at an impressive speed, as if propelled by the wind itself. They descended a steep hill, and as they slid down, they finally arrived in the realm of Bacadolia.
They decided to stop in front of the massive metal gate guarding the walls of the realm. When they touched it, they heard a strange noise: a shrill bell, similar to a school bell but much louder and more resonant.
A small panel in the gate opened, revealing a pair of watchful eyes on the other side. "Who are you?" asked a voice from within.
Pax stepped forward and responded firmly: "I am Tejod's servant, accompanying Prince Paltio on his quest for the scepter."
The man paused, then said, "One moment." A distant murmur followed, as if he were speaking to someone through a device.
He soon returned and informed them: "You may enter. Lord Trebolg is expecting you."
Suddenly, a sort of mechanical conveyor belt emerged from the ground, beginning to move like a transport strip.
"You'd better get back in your carriage. This is about to get faster," the man at the gate instructed. He wore a distinctive badge of the Green Shadows on his shoulder.
Everyone quickly climbed back into the carriage, and the conveyor belt began speeding up. After a few minutes, it came to a stop in front of a majestic entrance.
"Welcome to the castle of the great Trebolg. Please disembark and proceed to meet His Majesty," announced an automated voice.
They stepped out of the carriage and followed another conveyor belt that led them inside the castle. It had an imposing appearance, almost entirely covered in gleaming metal, giving it the appearance of a futuristic cube rather than a traditional castle.
"Please, come in," said a gentle voice as the main doors opened automatically.
Upon entering, they were met with an impressive sight: guards from the Green Shadows patrolled the hallways, some carrying torches with bright yellow flames, while others transported materials and artifacts never before seen. Advanced technological inventions adorned the walls, capturing the attention of Paltio and his friends.
It was clear that this place was brimming with secrets and wonders yet to be discovered.
From a staircase emerged a kind of floating sphere. Descending upon it was a humanoid green badger, plump, with a prominent tuft at the center of his head. He wore dark glasses that accentuated his eccentric style, and it was evident he relished being at the forefront of technology.
"That must be Trebolg," Pax murmured, stepping forward to greet him. However, Trebolg paid him no mind, muttering distractedly, "I'm busy."
Paltio then stepped forward, addressing the badger courteously: "Excuse me, Mr. Trebolg. We need your help to search for the fragment of the scepter located in this realm. We come by order of Tejod."
Trebolg slightly raised his sunglasses and eyed them with suspicion. "Who are you? And why are you here? Avocado citizens must remain in the loading support zone. You can't be here." He paused, staring intently at Paltio. "Although... nice try with that golden paint, boy. You'd better get to work. Guards!" he began to call out, pressing a button on the disc he stood upon.
"Stop, Trebolg!" Pax interjected quickly. "I am Pax, of the Red Shadows of Tejod, and I accompany these friends in their quest to find the pieces of the Scepter of Avocios. These pieces must be delivered to our great dark lord, Urugas."
Trebolg halted his action and adjusted his glasses again, studying them more closely. "Oh! I see now. I thought that boy had simply painted himself gold, but I realized he was the prince of Avocadalia. Very well, you have my approval to search for that piece—as long as you don't interfere with my affairs. I'm busy, so I won't be able to assist you personally. I'll leave you with one of my guards; he'll help you with whatever you need."
With that, he pressed another button on his console, and a guard from the Green Shadows appeared. He wore gleaming steel armor, and as he removed his helmet, he revealed an unusual face. He wasn't an avocado like the common citizens, nor a Durian like the Yellow Shadows. His appearance was unique: he seemed half orange, with green contours and small blunt spines covering his back and outlining his face. His brown eyes reflected intelligence and calm.
The soldiers of the Green Shadows were known for their height and robust build, but also for their preference for intellect over brute strength.
"Yaco, you will escort them wherever they wish to go. I don't want any trouble with Tejod," Trebolg ordered before retreating, disappearing aboard his floating sphere, which resembled more of a flying saucer.
Yaco observed the group, noticing how everyone was looking at him curiously, especially Pax.
"What are you all staring at?" the guard asked, crossing his arms.
"What are you?" Paltio asked with genuine curiosity.
"I'm a jackfruit," Yaco replied matter-of-factly.
"A jackfruit! What is that?" Alita asked, leaning forward. But before Yaco could respond, she added with a smile, "What I do know is that you smell nice."
"Ah! That's because it's our natural scent. It's captivating, like candy," Yaco explained proudly.
Ron, ever the observer, pointed to the medallion in the center of Yaco's abdomen. "And what about that medallion where your navel would be? It looks like several seeds forming an oval inside it."
"That's our emblem, lad," Yaco replied with an affirmative nod.
Then, he turned to Pax and stared at him intently. "Why are you looking at me like that? Even with that helmet on, I can feel your gaze, as if you're analyzing me directly."
"It's impossible for me to remove my helmet. We, the Red Shadows, never take them off," Pax responded firmly.
"Well, we, the Green Shadows, don't have that issue thanks to our lord," Yaco said, gesturing to his uncovered face. "You can take off your helmet here. No one will tell your superior," he added reassuringly.
"No, thank you!" Pax quickly retorted, turning away to avoid further questions.
"Alright then, if you have no more questions, I'd better give you a tour of the realm so you can search for what you need," Yaco said, gesturing toward one of the conveyor belts that ran throughout the kingdom.
"This guy's alright. He gets straight to the point," Golden telepathically commented to Paltio, who silently nodded as they stepped onto the moving belt.
The ground beneath their feet began to move, swiftly carrying them through various parts of the realm. They passed by impressive technological buildings, showcasing advancements they had never imagined. Everyone was fascinated—even Pax, though he tried to hide it behind his helmet. As they traveled, Yaco calmly and meticulously explained each location.
What was strange wasn't so much the buildings or the technology, but rather that ordinary people were walking freely through the streets—something they hadn't seen in the other two realms.
"Ah! Have you noticed that the inhabitants of this realm are strolling freely around here?" Yaco asked, as if reading their thoughts.
"Yes, that's exactly what I was going to ask," Paltio replied, leaning forward with interest.
"Well, the truth is, they aren't truly free, lad," Yaco explained seriously. "They can go out, play, and do things—as long as they meet the daily quota set by Lord Trebolg. If they don't…" He paused dramatically, pointing toward one of the screens overhead. "…those things you see up there make them reconsider."
At that moment, a man ran desperately down one of the nearby streets, trying to escape a group of soldiers. The conveyor belts he crossed abruptly changed to a deep red, and suddenly, mechanical hands emerged from the ground. They lifted him into the air, suspending him in front of a tall building.
A giant screen lit up, and a robotic voice boomed: "Citizen, we will not repeat this twice. If you fail to meet your quota, you will be punished."
The mechanical claws holding him flung him from that height, sending him into a dizzying fall.
"Oh no! That man is going to die!" Paltio and his friends thought in horror, watching as his body plummeted to the ground.