"Where are we?" asked Lukeandria, brushing the dirt off her armor. Her voice echoed in the cold, damp air of this unfamiliar place.
"I don't know," replied Mok as he carefully dusted off his rumpled suit. "I woke up not long ago myself."
Lukeandria glanced at him sideways, trying to recall how she had gotten here. "How long was I unconscious?"
"Not long," said Mok with calm professionalism.
Both turned their attention to the world around them. Before them stretched a vast cave illuminated by brilliant flashes emanating from the walls and ceiling. The mineral gleamed as if it contained fragments of stars captured within stone. It was breathtaking.
"With this mineral," said Lukeandria, breaking the silence, "we could power that machine for a very long time. We might even be able to speed it up."
Mok nodded thoughtfully, his expression serene yet heavy with contemplation.
"It's incredible," said Lukeandria, gazing at the crystals in awe while brushing more dust from her armor. "But… how are we going to explain all this to the young prince? He's probably already wondering why we're taking so long. You know how impatient he is."
Mok adjusted the collar of his suit slightly, maintaining his usual immaculate appearance even in unusual circumstances. "I don't think he'll be too worried," he replied calmly. "He's likely still immersed in his training. Besides, remember what Golden said: time flows differently there. A day here can feel like a month there." He paused briefly. "And he doesn't need sleep or food."
"You're right," she admitted, crossing her arms. "I'd forgotten about that. Sometimes I wish I had that same privilege... I could use it to hone my skills and finally finish off Tejod once and for all."
"Well," interrupted Mok, ever composed. "It seems it will just be you and me finding our way out of here."
The butler spoke with the tranquility of someone accustomed to serving in the upper echelons of the Realm of Avocadolia. Without wasting another moment, they began gathering the minerals, carefully stowing them away in pouches.
"If only we'd brought the bottomless bag belonging to the young master," Mok thought to himself as he filled yet another pouch to the brim.
Suddenly, a low vibration coursed through the ground beneath their feet. The cave trembled slightly, and a deep, resonant voice filled the space. It was profound, almost like a growl, and seemed to draw closer with each passing second.
A pair of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness, shining with the same brilliance as the crystals embedded in the walls. Slowly, an enormous creature emerged from the shadows. It was a monstrous mole—but no ordinary one. It had two pairs of massive front legs, claws sharp as freshly forged blades, and a body so large it nearly filled the cave.
"A mole!" exclaimed Lukeandria and Mok in unison, instinctively stepping back.
"I am not a mole!" the creature roared in a thunderous voice. "Do moles have four front legs? Besides, I can see anywhere thanks to my glowing eyes. I am a Rochet."
Lukeandria frowned, trying to recall. "A Rochet… I think I've heard that name before. It's one of the creatures created by Tejod, isn't it?"
The mention of the name made the Rochet growl with barely contained fury. "A Red Shadow! What are you doing here? I hate all shadows! But above all, I despise Red Shadows because they belong to that man called Tejod, who created me."
The Rochet took a step forward, its claws scraping against the stone floor. The tension in the air was palpable.
"Calm down, Mr. Rochet," said Lukeandria calmly, raising her hands in a gesture of peace. "We haven't come to cause trouble. We just need a few crystals to power our vehicle so we can leave without disturbing you."
The Rochet tilted its massive head toward Mok, its glowing eyes reflecting both curiosity and distrust. "I see that you have manners, Mr. Butler," it replied in a deep voice. "But what is someone like you doing allied with a Red Shadow?"
Mok, ever composed, tried to ease the tension by patiently explaining their mission and the reasons they had arrived there. He spoke with precision and courtesy, attempting to convey sincerity through every word. Though the Rochet seemed intelligent and capable of reasoning, something in its gaze suggested it didn't fully trust them. However, after listening attentively, the creature took a step back—but with one clear condition: it wanted an apology from Lukeandria, or it would destroy her.
Mok, understanding the gravity of the moment, convinced Lukeandria to comply. With a resigned sigh, she offered a brief apology, though her tone betrayed her frustration.
Once calmed, the Rochet revealed an unexpected interest. "I want to meet this prince you speak of," it declared, its voice resonating like a deep echo. "If he belongs to royalty, perhaps he can teach me about that life. In exchange, I will give you some crystals."
Mok reflected for a moment before responding. "We have a deal," he said finally. "But we must leave here to bring him back."
The Rochet nodded slowly but added another condition. "Only one of you may go," it growled, fixing its luminous eyes on Lukeandria. "And it will be her."
They exchanged worried glances, but they knew they had no other choice. "Good luck, Lukeandria," said Mok as the creature began to move, using its sharp claws to dig an upward path. The earth beneath its paws started to soften, gradually transforming into warm, shifting sand.
When they reached the surface, the Rochet halted its advance and fixed its gaze directly on Lukeandria. "You have fifteen minutes to bring the prince," it warned, its voice laced with menace. "If you don't return in time, I'll eat the butler."
Lukeandria nodded quickly and, without wasting a second, sprinted toward where she hoped to find Paltio and his group.
Elsewhere, Paltio was preparing to receive the power Golden had promised him. "Are you ready?" asked Golden, watching him intently.
"Yes," replied Paltio, taking a deep breath. He closed his eyes and focused as Golden began transferring ten percent of his power. It was a steady but controlled flow, like a river of pure energy pouring into the accessories he wore: a pair of special boots and gloves.
Paltio's boots began to change color, adopting a vibrant green that glowed with an inner light. The gloves followed suit, emanating waves of green that illuminated everything around them. The entire place seemed to transform momentarily, as if a magical painting were covering the world with emerald flashes.
The young man felt an electric current coursing through every fiber of his body, from the tips of his fingers to the deepest veins within him. Golden's power surged in with force, causing him sharp pain that concentrated especially in his limbs, as though thousands of tiny jolts were piercing through him. His eyes radiated an intense golden light, so bright it illuminated the entire area, projecting skyward like a celestial beacon.
Paltio struggled to maintain control. He knew that if he couldn't even handle this ten percent of Golden's power, there would be no hope of enduring its full strength. There was no time for gradual training, no room for slow adaptation. It was now or never.
The prince remained motionless, as firm as a statue, though his mind seemed miles away. His breathing was deep but controlled, his body trembling slightly under the strain, yet he did not yield an inch. Despite the superhuman effort, he refused to let his knees buckle or his posture falter. It was as if every muscle, every nerve, had reached its limit, screaming to give in—but Paltio would not surrender.
Then, a voice called out from the distance, pulling him out of his trance. He blinked rapidly, opening his eyes as he returned to the present. The golden light in his gaze faded slowly, leaving behind a residual glow that still flickered faintly in his pupils.
Golden, watching him intently, broke the silence. "How do you feel?" he asked calmly, though his eyes reflected a mix of curiosity and concern.
Paltio lowered his gaze to his hands, noticing how his body felt lighter, almost ethereal, as if he could float simply by willing it. He took a deep breath and raised his eyes, fixing them on Toco-Toco. A confident smile began to form on his face. "You'll see," he said, his voice charged with determination.