The Crystals

It had been 5 days after the hospitalization. Zohaifa could then move properly. He was undoing his bandages while Red-1 sat beside him.

"How did you create such a solid shield out of lightning? That doesn't sound possible," asked Red-1.

"I didn't make the shield out of lightning. I made a shield out of aura. But there is something abnormal about me. Unlike you Cant people, I learned to use lightning before even knowing about the existence of aura. So, when I tried to create an aura shield, the lightning naturally came out. I didn't see any reason to stop the lightning from getting out. Rather it was amplifying the strength of the aura shield. Lightning shield sounds cooler than aura shield anyway."

"I see," said Red-1 shaking his head.

"Anyway, I should hurry back to Yellow City. I have a tournament," said Zohaifa as he was done unbandaging.

"Are you sure about participating? You only healed enough to move. Should you start a tournament right away?" Red-1 continued as he followed Zohaifa out of the house. Their conversation continued while they were walking out of the village.

"I have no other choice. It might seem like just a tournament to you but it is something important to me."

"Why? Is the trophy so valuable?"

"Yes," said Zohaifa as both of them were about to separate, "It's my worth."

Then, he set off to Yellow city. He didn't bid goodbye to Oar knowing it will be a hustle since Oar still demands a rematch.

Standing outside the Orange tornado he gazed his sight upon it once more and said, "See you again Cant World. You are still unexplored. Orange village was bitter and Crazy town was cloying. I return to discover the rest of you soon."

Later that day, almost at noon,

"Hi! Remember me?" Zohaifa asked the security guard of Lazuli's palace.

"Yes. But I need to ask Lazuli's permission before letting you enter," he answered with no emotions.

Later, after the internal administration processes, Zohaifa finally got the permission to meet Lazuli.

"I am sorry I am a week late," Zohaifa said to Lazuli while staring at the ground, trying to avoid eye contact as she smoothly drove her hands over the keyboard.

"Yes, you are," Lazuli answered with no sign of astonishment, "Just as I predicted. I knew you wouldn't stay in the forest and neither would you come back in time. So, the logical approach was to give you an early date. The actual tournament begins in three weeks from now."

Zohaifa stood in shock and amazement and a bit of gratefulness.

"You are dismissed now," Lazuli continued.

"Wait. I have a few questions."

"End this quick."

"You see, when I entered this place named Crazy town...."

Thus, Zohaifa narrated the story in Crazy town, mostly focusing on that uncontrolled form.

"Just as I suspected," said Lazuli.

Zohaifa lifted up his head and made a direct eye contact . His eyes showed ocean of interest.

"The form you are talking about was also mentioned by Lapis. After the bullet hit you in the chest, that form was activated and you fought him. You even managed to put a scar in his chest."

"I call it the mythos form because I found it in the mythologies written in books of nearby nations and also in the mouth of the people. According to the myths, there was a person whose eyes glowed white whenever he faced a near-death situation."

"What happened when he tapped into that form?"