Ren watched the Sky Continent floating in the far-off clouds.
"That continent is ruled by Shelgard, the second-greatest power in the world," Ragna said. "It is the nation closest to the heavens, home to long-lived Shelgardians like myself."
"I can't believe it's actually floating..."
"Did you doubt its existence?"
"Not exactly. It’s just that some things are hard to believe until you see them with your own eyes."
Ragna reflected on the artifacts found in the Old City the previous year and the legends of the Sky Continent.
"But for you, Ren, the Sky Continent isn't exactly a world away, is it?"
"Are you talking about Cecil Ashton?"
"Indeed. That man undoubtedly slew the Phoenix that attacked Shelgard. If that were made public, you would likely be hailed as the descendant of a Hero."
"That doesn't really suit me," Ren replied instantly, speaking from the heart.
Ragna let out a short laugh and waited for him to continue.
"Besides, there's no proof he's my ancestor yet. We might just share a name."
Ren wasn't being cynical, but Ragna seemed to find this pragmatic side of him charming. His voice sounded a bit more cheerful than usual.
"Ren, my friend."
"What is it? Why so formal all of a sudden?"
"I just felt like saying it. I hope we find that Holy Relic."
"Yeah... me too."
Camping out like this wasn't so bad every once in a while. Night deepened, and the campfire cast a vivid glow against the encroaching darkness.
"Um," Ren started, a thought occurring to him as they sat by the fire. "Windea is treated like the domain of the Water Goddess, but why is that? The name says it's 'The Place Where Water and Wind Sleep,' but the balance feels off."
"It might seem strange that the Wind Goddess isn't present, but there is a reason."
Ragna explained that the goddesses of water and wind were close sisters. A location similar to Windea existed on the Martel Continent, and it was said the winds from here flowed there as if the two mountains were linked. On the Martel Continent, the Wind Goddess’s influence was the dominant force.
"I see... there's a place like that."
"It’s a mountain much like Windea, though slightly different. It was a fascinating place."
"You speak as if you've been there."
"I passed through during my explorations of the Martel Continent years ago. I managed to climb part of the way up."
"Why didn't you go to the top?"
"The winds were too fierce. It was a perpetual storm—a localized hurricane that surrounded the terrain. I couldn't make it through."
Ren nodded, feeling his understanding of the region's lore deepen. In the distance, away from the jagged rock faces, a massive bird-like monster shrieked as it soared through the sky.
They were a few days out from Erendil. By their schedule, they would finish their search the following morning, make a rapid descent, and return to Erendil by late night.
The next morning, they set out at dawn.
"It’s like a fortress of plants," Ragna remarked.
Ahead of them lay a natural stronghold woven from various flora. The vegetation covering the rocks was so densely intertwined and hardened that a normal sword would likely bounce right off.
Ren could have sliced through it easily, but he knew better. These traps were the work of a powerful plant-type monster—the Lord of Windea. If they made a wrong move, the vines would snare them, turning them into prey. All the thick vines blocking their path were part of a vast network of traps laid by that specific monster.
Ren led the way, navigating around the danger. It took nearly two hours of weaving through the botanical labyrinth before they reached a spherical cavity hidden behind the rocks and plants.
Inside, swirling currents of green wind overlapped in an irregular pattern, acting as a defensive barrier. Ren and Ragna stood on a thick branch that served as their foothold.
"Ragna, look at that."
Ren pointed to the center of the cavity. Suspended in the air was an object protected by the gale.
"Is someone casting wind magic?" Ragna asked.
"No. It’s likely because the Wind Orb is there."
Ragna was taken aback by Ren’s certainty, but he quickly understood.
"The Wind Orb... I knew such things existed, but to think one was hidden here."
A Wind Orb was a rare treasure—a Wind Crystal that had absorbed dense mana over countless years. It was the key item needed to acquire the Ring of the Water Goddess.
"I’d love to secure it for research, but the wind around it is a problem."
The simplest solution was to negate the barrier. Since the gale was essentially magic emitted by the orb, Ren knew exactly how to handle it.
"I'll get it."
Drawing his Mithril Magic Sword, Ren stepped toward the center of the storm. The winds were sharp enough to shred human skin, but Ren didn't flinch. He approached until the gale was mere inches from his face, then gripped his sword tight.
He didn't hesitate. With a calm, precise motion, he swung.
The blade cut through the air. Using the Star-Cleaver art, Ren's sword pressure annihilated the magical wind. The gale vanished, dissolving into sparkling green particles of light.
The air in the cavity fell still. All that remained was a floating piece of Jasper—the Wind Orb. Ren briefly wondered if this would grant him a new Magic Sword, but there was no such reaction, likely because the orb wasn't a Mana Stone. He grabbed the jasper and returned to Ragna.
"So that is why they call the Strong Sword the natural enemy of magicians. Magnificent work."
"Thanks. Shall we head back to the path?"
"Another two-hour trek, then."
"It’s a long road ahead..."
Despite the distance, neither of them felt weary. They eventually reached a stretch of the mountain that was easier to traverse, though it was still riddled with Nature Magic traps.
"I could have asked you to cut through, but let's save your strength," Ragna said.
The path ahead was choked with vines spread like spiderwebs. This was a puzzle they needed to solve to reach the Ring of the Water Goddess. They looked out over the vista of Windea—a mountain range that looked like a stack of jagged blades.
They were in a high, open gallery. Looking up, the thick branches of ancient trees formed a three-dimensional network of roads leading higher. Vines covered in fresh leaves swayed in the wind, stretching from the peaks down into the depths. They picked a path and pressed forward until they reached a natural bridge spanning a massive canyon.
Looking down, they were high above the clouds; looking around, they saw monsters circling the abyss for dozens of Meil.
"Further ahead is a space where the mana of wind and water is being drawn in more intensely than anywhere else," Ragna said, checking a magic tool on his wrist.
That was the place.
Ren took a moment to pretend he was thinking, then spoke up. "Let's use the Wind Crystals."
"The crystals? Those are quite valuable. What’s the plan?"
"The plants in Windea grow in response to the mana of wind and water. They're attracted to it."
"I see... you want to create a diversion."
Ren planned to toss a Wind Crystal like bait into a pond. The collective consciousness of the flora—and the Lord that controlled it—would instinctively turn toward the concentrated mana, opening a path for them. Ren had gathered the crystals specifically for this. They were worth a fortune, but they were necessary tools here. Burning the plants wouldn't work; they would just regenerate or block the path even further.
"The Wind Crystals shatter on impact," Ragna noted. "They aren't lethal, but they release a burst of stored Nature Magic along with the wind. We'll use that opening to rush through. Is that it?"
"Exactly. We'll have to move fast once the way is clear."
"And the return trip?"
"I'll make sure we save enough crystals for that."
"And if we run out?" Ragna asked with a challenging grin.
Ren laughed. "Then we'll just have to pacify the Lord of this mountain."
The Lord was the apex monster of the region. It hadn't attacked them yet because it wasn't naturally aggressive, but it would become a nightmare if it felt its territory was being threatened. It was the only true threat in Windea.
"Fine. Let's go with your plan."
"Are you sure? I know I'm the one who suggested it, but..."
"A journey without a little danger is dull, Ren. Though I'm not exactly looking to die today."
"That sounds like you, Ragna."
Ragna looked at Ren and gave a confident smirk. "No use standing around until sunset."
He snapped his fingers. His massive backpack spat out a Wind Crystal, which he caught in his right hand. He gave Ren a knowing look, then threw it with all his might.
"Go!"
The crystal plummeted into the abyss, caught in the high-altitude winds. Just as it began to drift away, Ragna snapped his fingers again. A tiny flash appeared near the falling crystal, and a Silver-white Chain materialized, piercing the gem.
A sharp sound, like glass shattering or ice cracking underfoot, echoed through the canyon.
Then, the ground began to groan.
Rumble, rumble.
The sound of something massive moving resonated all around them.