The Grand Square of Kogane no tori was silent, save for the hum of the royal transport's engine. Prince Lemon stood with his hands tucked into the pockets of his pristine white military coat. He looked at the shattered remains of the restaurant table, then at the mob of chefs, and finally at Ato, who was still picking a piece of golden steak out of his teeth.
Lemon let out a long, weary sigh—the sound of a man who had seen too much chaos for one afternoon. "I assume," Lemon said, his voice as smooth and cold as polished marble, "that you are the ones who have been making my island feel so... unrefined today."
His yellow eyes swept over Ato's tattered vest and Kojo's scarred hands. A look of sharp distaste crossed his face. "What are you filthy pirates doing here? This is a kingdom of light, not a den for sea-rats."
Ato bristled, stepping forward. "Hey! I'm a Captain, not a rat! And your food is great, but your prices are crazy!"
Lemon ignored the outburst, checking a gold watch on his wrist. "I am in a hurry. So, listen carefully. Get out of here right now, or I have a task for you. You cannot decline. In return, I will wipe your debt. You won't have to pay a single grain of gold for the steaks you stole."
"Ok!" Ato shouted instantly, his eyes shining at the mention of free food.
"Wait!" Faramis stepped forward, his face pale with concern. "Oi, Ato! Do you even know what kind of task you are accepting? This is a Prince of a Great Kingdom. His 'tasks' usually involve certain death!"
Kojo leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. A small, dangerous smirk played on his lips. "Faramis, are you suggesting that our Captain isn't the one who should make the decisions? If he says we do it, we do it."
"No, I'm not—" Faramis started to protest, but Lemon cut him off with a sharp wave of his hand.
"I don't care for your internal bickering," Lemon said, his aura flaring for a split second, casting a shadow that seemed far too large for his body. "I only know that your Captain has accepted. The debt is transferred to me. Now... come with me."
The trio followed the Prince to the ivory transport. The interior was lined with velvet and smelled of ozone. As they glided toward the Upper Plate, Faramis couldn't stay silent any longer.
"Prince Lemon, may I speak?" Faramis asked, his eyes darting toward the tinted windows.
"Yes. You may speak," Lemon replied, staring straight ahead.
"Where exactly are we going?"
"To the Throne Room," Lemon said. "To meet my father."
The air in the car grew cold. Faramis gripped his coat. "We are going to meet the King? Why would a Royal want to see us?"
"Because," Lemon said, his voice dropping an octave, "I need to tell him that I have finally found some recruits."
The walk to the Throne Room was an exercise in intimidation. The walls were lined with statues of ancient warriors, their eyes carved from emeralds. Every ten paces, a Bird-Knight stood at attention, their halberds glowing with a faint, artificial light.
They reached a set of massive golden doors. Lemon didn't knock; he stood before them with a rigid spine.
"Father," Lemon called out. "May I enter?"
From behind the heavy gold, a voice boomed—deep, resonant, and ancient. It didn't sound like a man speaking; it sounded like the earth itself groaning. "Come in."
The doors swung open. The room was vast, dominated by a throne that seemed to be growing out of the floor like a golden tree. Sitting upon it was King Luka. He was a man of immense stature, his beard braided with silver thread and his crown glowing with a soft, pulsing light. He looked down at the three pirates with eyes that had seen centuries.
"Father," Lemon bowed slightly. "I have found recruits to help us with the Sinking."
Luka leaned forward, his gaze landing on Ato. For a moment, the King's eyes widened, a flicker of recognition crossing his face before he masked it with royal indifference. "Oh... so you got some recruits. Did you tell them everything, my son?"
"No," Lemon replied. "I was just about to."
Luka waved a hand, dismissive but heavy with authority. "Very well. Take them to the Royal Garden. Tell them the truth of this island. If they are to die for us, they should at least know why."
"Understood," Lemon said. "Let's go, guys."
The Royal Garden was a paradise of floating flowers and streams that ran with liquid silver. They sat on high-backed ivory chairs, the peace of the garden contrasting sharply with the tension in the air.
Lemon sat across from them, his posture perfect. "Sit," he commanded. They did. "Before I tell you anything, why don't you introduce yourselves properly?"
Ato grinned, pointing at his chest. "Ok! My name is Ato! This grumpy guy is Kojo, and the one who talks too much is Faramis."
"A quick introduction," Lemon noted, his expression unreadable. "Fine. Then listen. You all think this island is called 'The Golden Bird' because of the wealth, right? But in reality, this island is a seal. It is the only thing blocking the path to the Void—the Abyss."
Faramis leaned in, his historian's heart racing. "The Void? You mean the world that sank a thousand years ago?"
Lemon nodded. "Every one hundred years, the seal weakens. Shadow-like creatures appear from the cracks in the earth. They attack without mercy, seeking to drag this island down into the nothingness. They destroy everything. I am gathering warriors who aren't afraid of the dark to help me fight them when the cycle begins again. Any questions?"
Faramis raised a hand instantly. "Who sent them? Shadows don't just move on their own. Is there a mind behind the Void?"
Lemon's gaze darkened. "That is the only thing I don't know. They come from the dark, and they return to it."
"Can you let me look at the Royal Library then?" Faramis asked, his voice urgent. "If there's a pattern, it's in the books."
"Of course," Lemon said. "A Prince's word is law."
Kojo stood up, stretching his arms until his joints popped. "Then I'm going to the practice area. If I'm fighting shadows, I need to know if my steel can cut smoke."
Ato, however, remained sitting. He looked at Lemon with a serious face for exactly three seconds before his stomach let out a roar that echoed through the entire garden.
"I want something to eat!" Ato shouted.
Lemon blinked, surprised by the sheer lack of fear in the boy's eyes. "After everything I just told you... you want food? What could you possibly want to eat now?"
Ato stood up, his "Beast" aura flaring with hunger. "I want STEAKKKK!"
Lemon stared at him for a long moment, then a very small, genuine smile touched his lips—the first one they had seen. "Fine. You are a strange God-child, Ato. Come with me. If you're going to fight the Abyss, you'll need the energy."
As Kojo ran toward the training grounds and Faramis vanished into the archives, Ato followed the Prince of the Abyss toward the royal kitchens, unaware that the 100-year timer was about to hit zero.