by Midi was beautiful, just as always. The tropical air was warm and refreshing for most, but for Diane, the air was stifling. Growing up in the cold, the tropics were sweltering for her. Even Konan, a town based on the cliffs on the northwestern edge of Midi, was too humid for her tastes. But it couldn't be helped. She'd come all the way here from Fiore and she wasn't about to turn back now. The reason she was here, of course, was because there had been tales of demons who'd once caused the famous beaches here to freeze over for a whole year. However, these stories were old, and Diane wasn't sure if they were still true.
~~~3 Days Later~~~
After endlessly searching around the entire town and asking countless people what they knew, there'd been nothing. Absolutely nothing. The stories may as well be true, but they were worthless now. There'd been no word of Glaciem since the ice demon had left... What kind of fool was she for coming here? She should have known better. Glaciem would never come to a place as hot as this. She was a demon of ice, so why would she ever come here?
Diane was ready to go back to Fiore, but the long journey here as well as the fruitless efforts of her search had worn her out, and so she decided to head to the cliffs to watch the moon set over the horizon. The night was dark and thankfully cool, and the wind coming off the cliffs helped drive away any lingering heat. As Diane walked, however, the moon was suddenly blotted out by something in the sky. As Diane looked up, craning her head and squinting her eyes to try to see what it was that had blotted out the moon. What she was was spectacular; a giant island, or group of islands, was floating in the night sky above her, high up in the air. The sight took her breath away, and she almost thought she was dreaming. However, when a river of water soaked her from head to toe, she knew she wasn't. This... it was real. But what was it, and what was it doing here? As the stream moved farther away, she knew this would be her only chance. Even though the cliffs dropped off to the ocean below, she was going to have to risk it.
And so, taking a deep breath, she jumped off the edge of the cliff as the water pouring down from the island moved away. She knew it would be close, but she pushed with all her might from the cliff's face. In mid-air, as she hung over empty air, she transformed into a mermaid, knowing it was her only shot if she wished to swim up the current of water. As she entered the pillar of pouring water she quickly began to swim with all her might, pushing herself to keep from falling from the stream of water. She just had to know what was up at the top of this floating landmass... could it be that there might be clues up here to what had happened to the demon that had raised Diane? Could it be a sign that she had come here this night? One way or another, she was determined to find out. So she swam, her tail pushing her against gravity and the water pushing down against like only a mermaid could. But it was strange... she also felt as though the water was helping her swim upwards, something she'd never experienced before. However, she didn't have time to think about it; all her energy was concentrated on swimming up to the top of the island. She just had to find out what was there.
Swimming up, she could tell she was definitely moving as the base of the island finally came into view, drawing closer and closer until at last Selenia reached the top of the river of water that flowed down off the side of the floating island. When she reached the top, however, she could hardly believe her eyes; it was indeed a sight to behold. A long path, from which the water continually flowed down, covered in arches, led the way to a great tree ahead of her. At least, that was what she could make out due to the lateness of the hour. Slowly but surely wading through the waters that led up to the tree, although it was almost as if the water parted for her to easily walk through, Diane wondered what this could all be. It was almost too much to take in, her usually expressionless face full of awe and wonder as she made her way to the end of the path.
~~~3 Days Later~~~
After endlessly searching around the entire town and asking countless people what they knew, there'd been nothing. Absolutely nothing. The stories may as well be true, but they were worthless now. There'd been no word of Glaciem since the ice demon had left... What kind of fool was she for coming here? She should have known better. Glaciem would never come to a place as hot as this. She was a demon of ice, so why would she ever come here?
Diane was ready to go back to Fiore, but the long journey here as well as the fruitless efforts of her search had worn her out, and so she decided to head to the cliffs to watch the moon set over the horizon. The night was dark and thankfully cool, and the wind coming off the cliffs helped drive away any lingering heat. As Diane walked, however, the moon was suddenly blotted out by something in the sky. As Diane looked up, craning her head and squinting her eyes to try to see what it was that had blotted out the moon. What she was was spectacular; a giant island, or group of islands, was floating in the night sky above her, high up in the air. The sight took her breath away, and she almost thought she was dreaming. However, when a river of water soaked her from head to toe, she knew she wasn't. This... it was real. But what was it, and what was it doing here? As the stream moved farther away, she knew this would be her only chance. Even though the cliffs dropped off to the ocean below, she was going to have to risk it.
And so, taking a deep breath, she jumped off the edge of the cliff as the water pouring down from the island moved away. She knew it would be close, but she pushed with all her might from the cliff's face. In mid-air, as she hung over empty air, she transformed into a mermaid, knowing it was her only shot if she wished to swim up the current of water. As she entered the pillar of pouring water she quickly began to swim with all her might, pushing herself to keep from falling from the stream of water. She just had to know what was up at the top of this floating landmass... could it be that there might be clues up here to what had happened to the demon that had raised Diane? Could it be a sign that she had come here this night? One way or another, she was determined to find out. So she swam, her tail pushing her against gravity and the water pushing down against like only a mermaid could. But it was strange... she also felt as though the water was helping her swim upwards, something she'd never experienced before. However, she didn't have time to think about it; all her energy was concentrated on swimming up to the top of the island. She just had to find out what was there.
Swimming up, she could tell she was definitely moving as the base of the island finally came into view, drawing closer and closer until at last Selenia reached the top of the river of water that flowed down off the side of the floating island. When she reached the top, however, she could hardly believe her eyes; it was indeed a sight to behold. A long path, from which the water continually flowed down, covered in arches, led the way to a great tree ahead of her. At least, that was what she could make out due to the lateness of the hour. Slowly but surely wading through the waters that led up to the tree, although it was almost as if the water parted for her to easily walk through, Diane wondered what this could all be. It was almost too much to take in, her usually expressionless face full of awe and wonder as she made her way to the end of the path.
