Paltio & 5 Realms

The carriage in which Paltio traveled was moving at full speed, leaving behind the borders of the realm of Hassdalia.

"If we keep this pace, we'll reach the next realm in two or three days," Pax said as he urged the horses on with enthusiasm. "Faster, horses, faster!"

The four white horses galloped swiftly, their fiery blue lights mounted on the sides of the carriage illuminating the path they followed.

Inside the carriage, Ron commented:

"Thank goodness we're out of danger."

"Yes," Alita replied with a relieved smile.

Paltio, meanwhile, was immersed in a conversation with Golden. Holding the sphere in his hands, he asked:

"Does this ball, or sphere, mean something within the scepter, or is it just decoration?"

"Ah! Good question, lad," Golden responded with interest. "That scepter we're searching for was created by none other than Avocios himself. If your father split it into five pieces, it was for an important reason. The piece you have—the sphere you keep mentioning—has a name: Ulimeo."

"Ulimeo?" everyone repeated in unison.

"What a strange name," Ron remarked, making a face.

"Yes, each part has a name," Golden explained, anticipating the question Paltio was about to ask. "I didn't read your mind, if that's what you're thinking."

"No, we agreed you wouldn't do that without my permission," Paltio replied with a half-smile.

"Exactly," Golden said. "I just saw you were about to open your mouth, and I knew your next question would be that one."

"Go on," Alita urged, intrigued by the story Golden was telling.

"Well, you see," Golden continued, "the scepter of Avocios is one of the magical weapons designed by our lord. It consists of five pieces, as you already know. Ulimeo is one of them, along with Tropalia, Sacaram, Ratous, and finally, Zafarax."

"Interesting," Alita interjected. "Do they each have powers?"

"Good question, Alita," Mok said, looking at Golden expectantly.

"Of course," Golden replied. "Each piece was imbued with a power that, individually, is strong, but together they are unstoppable—especially against darkness."

"And what powers do they have?" Ron asked, leaning forward with curiosity.

"Well, the one Paltio holds in his hands—Ulimeo—has the power of recharging. It heals whatever it touches and revives those who are exhausted, as if it were the heart of the scepter."

"Wow…" Paltio murmured, observing the sphere with renewed respect.

"Then there's Tropalia," Golden continued. "It's a cone-shaped piece with a circle at its center, one of the joints of the scepter. This piece grants knowledge and wisdom to those seeking counsel. Depending on the color of the circle at its center, different requests can be made: red for advanced knowledge, amber for intermediate, and green for simple things, like, for example, where a sandwich is," Golden added with a sarcastic chuckle.

"I didn't know you were also a comedian," Paltio joked.

"Sometimes," Golden replied with a mischievous smile.

"And the other three?" Alita asked eagerly, wanting to learn more.

"Well, listen," Golden said. "Sacaram is the protective piece. It shields its bearer and whoever they wish to protect with an almost indestructible force field. When active, the circle at its center glows and reveals a golden bubble within it. It's the sturdiest piece of all, shaped like a cylinder."

"I see…" Alita murmured, fascinated.

"Meanwhile, Ratous can show you the future—or multiple futures—as well as the past, functioning like a living library. When an arrow appears in its central circle pointing to the right, you see the past; if it points to the left, the future. It's the piece that grants vision and strategy, shaped like a chalice. These last three—Tropalia, Sacaram, and Ratous—form the staff of the scepter."

Golden paused dramatically before continuing:

"And finally, but certainly not least, there's Zafarax. It's an orb with two horn-like protrusions that keep it floating in the center. This piece is essential for focusing on divine energy. It acts as a beacon of light and also serves as a detector of divinity."

"Does that mean that with this last piece, we'll be able to find Avocios?" Paltio interrupted excitedly.

"It's possible," Golden replied cautiously. "When all the pieces are combined, you get a powerful weapon capable of launching a beam of light into the sky. As it shines through, it eradicates all darkness, turning evil into good. It transforms a place full of desolation and dryness into a magnificent oasis, and so on."

"How amazing!" the three teenagers exclaimed in unison.

Mok, with a serene smile, added:

"What a wonderful tale. I've learned many things during my travels, but never the complete history of the scepter."

"Well, can we test it?" Paltio asked after the explanation, holding the sphere in his hands and examining it from every angle.

"Of course," Golden responded. "In fact, look: why don't you point it at your friend Ron? Since he stayed awake all night yesterday, he didn't sleep well and is just as tired as the rest of you."

"Sure," Paltio said decisively.

"Don't worry, it won't kill him or anything. Though, well… maybe it'll give him a little shock like before," Golden joked with a mischievous chuckle.

"Oh no, thanks!" Ron replied, pretending bravery while secretly feeling a knot of nervousness. However, he tried to maintain his composure and added, "Well, go ahead, I'm not afraid. Do it, Paltio."

Paltio followed Golden's instructions and pointed the sphere at Ron. In an instant, a gentle energy coursed through the young man's body, erasing his dark circles and restoring a refreshed appearance.

"How do you feel?" Paltio asked curiously.

"Fantastic!" Ron responded with a wide grin, stretching as if he'd just woken up from a long, restorative nap.

"I want to try it too," Alita interjected, examining herself in one of the carriage mirrors. "I don't like these dark circles."

Without hesitation, Paltio used Ulimeo's power on Alita and Mok. Both felt rejuvenated, free of any fatigue or signs of exhaustion.

"You should use it on yourself too," Golden suggested, addressing Paltio.

"How?" Paltio asked, somewhat confused.

"Look directly at it," Golden instructed calmly.

Paltio obeyed and fixed his gaze on the sphere. A warm energy enveloped him, curing his fatigue and erasing the traces of insomnia he had accumulated since the night before.

"Wow! What an incredible power this thing has!" Paltio exclaimed, visibly excited.

"Yes, it's a powerful tool," Golden commented, "but in enemy hands, it could become a devastating weapon. That's why Avocios decided to entrust it only to a small group of people chosen by him. The golden hue of your skin symbolizes that exclusivity. Only you and your family can wield the scepter."

"I did know that," Paltio added. "My grandfather, the great Rodelos I, told me about it before embarking on an adventure… and he never returned."

"Where did your grandfather go, Paltio?" Ron asked, intrigued.

"He left in search of an adventure—or at least, that's what I believe," Paltio explained thoughtfully. "He did it secretly and handed the kingdom over to my father more than five years ago."

"That's news to me," Alita murmured, surprised.

"No, young master, that's not how things happened," Mok interjected calmly, carefully weighing each word. "The truth is, your grandfather became deeply involved in the search for Avocios, and we kept it hidden from the kingdom… and from you as well, young master. We concealed it to avoid causing panic among the population and to spare you from worry."

He paused briefly before continuing:

"Five years ago, Avocios' light began to fade, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished completely. He no longer responded to the pleas of his people. Paltio's grandfather embarked on that mission and asked me to simply say he had gone on an adventure. That's when he entrusted the throne to your parents."

"I see…" Paltio muttered, lost in thought. A mix of sadness and frustration washed over him as he reflected. "I always thought my grandfather left because he no longer wanted to rule. Maybe he was selfish for leaving all the responsibility to my parents. That's why they haven't spent much time with me in the past five years—they were always busy with the duties of the kingdom."

"Don't think that way, young master," Mok said tenderly. "Everything they did was for a noble and greater cause. Your grandfather left to save Avocadolia, and your parents took on the weight of the kingdom to protect their people. It was all for the good of everyone, including you."

Paltio fell silent, processing Mok's words. Though a pang of melancholy still lingered, he understood that behind every sacrifice lay a greater purpose.

"Yes, now that you mention it and I see things from a different perspective, I realize you're right," Paltio reflected, his voice heavy with regret. "I've been angry with my parents all these years, blaming them for not being there for me. But now I understand the immense burden my grandfather placed on them. I want to finish this quickly so I can return and embrace them again," he added, his eyes shining with determination.

"We've only found one piece so far, ha," Pax remarked sarcastically, though not without a touch of humor. "So you'd better hurry if you want that reunion to happen."

"Well, if we all work together, we'll be able to complete the quest," Alita said, trying to instill hope in the group.

"Yes, you're right," Paltio replied, nodding with renewed conviction. "Let's go after those missing pieces."

As they continued forward, the horses came to an abrupt stop, throwing everyone forward. Inside the carriage, Paltio and the others struggled to regain their balance, while outside, Pax clung tightly to the driver's seat, attempting to calm the animals with one hand.

"What was that? Why did we stop?" everyone asked in unison, confused.

"Are you alright, Master Paltio?" Mok asked, concerned.

"Yes, I'm fine," Paltio responded, gently touching his head.

"Are you okay, Alita?" Ron asked, having quickly reacted by shielding her with his body to protect her.

"Yes, thanks to your quick reflexes," she replied with a grateful smile.

"Hey, Pax, what was that? Why did we stop like that?" Paltio asked, looking toward the front of the carriage.

Pax didn't respond immediately. After a tense moment of silence, he said:

"Get out of the carriage while I try to calm the horses."

Everyone obeyed and disembarked. In front of them, blocking the path, was an enormous mound of earth that seemed to have risen out of nowhere.

"What is this? And how are we supposed to get past it now?" Paltio asked, eyeing the obstacle with frustration.

Pax, still struggling to control the horses, couldn't prevent them from panicking. They turned around and fled, leaving the group alone in the darkness.

"Stupid horses… scared of a simple mound of dirt," Pax muttered, unsheathing his sword and driving it forcefully into the earthen mass.

At that moment, the mound began to move slowly. Enormous hands emerged from beneath the surface, rising as the ground continued to swell. Yellow eyes, filled with fury, appeared on the surface, glowing with terrifying intensity. The creature let out a deafening roar, raising a gigantic hand—larger than the carriage itself—ready to crush them.