Rings of white clouds wrapped around a blue planet—one so saturated with color that even its vegetation shimmered in shades of blue. The earth itself was deliberately color-coded, its geography designed so that subtle shifts in hue marked different regions and features. Not everything followed that palette. Mountains still rose in white, gray, and brown, and sand remained its natural pale tone. But at a glance, the world was unmistakable.

  It was known as the Great Blue.

  The River Planet.

  An orange sun burned overhead, casting warm light across rippling ocean-blue waves. Wind rolled gently through the air, carrying the sound of water and distant movement as clear sky softened into drifting clouds. Tall baby-blue grass swayed in unison, each blade rising nearly five feet high. Cerulean trees spread across the landscape beyond it, their leaves whispering.

  The temperature was mild—neither hot nor cold.

  A rustle in the grass startled a brown squirrel creeping along the edge of the field. It froze, nose twitching. Then a boy stepped out from the vegetation, and the squirrel bolted, tail flickering as it vanished into the grass.

  The boy looked to be around ten or eleven years old. His white hair stuck up in sharp tufts like porcupine needles, framing sky-blue eyes that sparkled with excitement. He wore a white shirt, blue shorts, and white boots already dusted with sand. A white backpack rested against his shoulders, and a small white-shafted sword was strapped securely to his back.

  In his hands, he held a sheet of white parchment—a detailed map, carefully drawn, marking every road and route on the planet.

  The world was heavily populated. Among its people were those born with extraordinary spiritual abilities.

  The boy was one of them.

  His name was Omitaru.

  Lowering the map, Omitaru gazed out at the city before him. White roofs gleamed atop gray stone buildings arranged in orderly districts, each separated by broad square borders that enclosed clusters of roughly fifty structures at a time. People moved through the streets in steady streams, their voices blending with the distant hum of vehicles.

  "Wow... that was a long journey," Omitaru said, grinning. "Looks like I finally made it. Florblanca—the city of the rare white flowers. Guess that only happens once on a blue planet, right, Ruro?"

  A high-pitched squeak answered him.

  From the thicket behind him, a small white creature shaped as a puffball floated. It was no ordinary animal—it was a dragon hatchling—a single white horn curved from its head, small spikes lining the sides of its body. Soft, puffy fur covered it completely, broken only by bright blue eyes and a round mouth with a single tooth.

  "Let's go, you funny, fuzzy, cute little pufferball dragon," Omitaru said in a sing-song voice.

  "Pek!" Ruro squealed happily.

  Together, they headed toward the city.

  From a distance, vehicles zipped through Florblanca's streets, weaving through turns with practiced ease. As Omitaru and Ruro approached, people hurried along their routines, tending to their affairs. At first, no one noticed them.

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  Omitaru folded the map and slipped it into his bag, smiling to himself.

  "It feels like ages since I found you," he said quietly. "Abandoned in that cave... after your mom died from that strange illness. Just think—what if I hadn't gone out that day?"

  "Pek..." Ruro squeaked anxiously.

  Omitaru laughed softly. "Don't worry. You're safe now."

  As they drew closer, people began to take notice. A few waved. Omitaru and Ruro waved back, both beaming.

  They're so welcoming, Omitaru thought.

  The sounds of traffic and conversation grew louder as the city filled the air around them. From this approach, the city's center lay straight ahead.

  At the city's edge, a towering black gate rose nearly twenty feet high.

  "Who goes there?" a guard called out.

  He wore a black security uniform and cap, standing rigid at his post.

  Omitaru stopped and smiled. "I'm Omitaru, and this is Ruro—a pufferball dragon. We're from a small town about twenty miles from here. We came to see the white flowers!"

  The guard studied him in silence, black eyes locked on blue. Finally, he exhaled and lowered his head slightly.

  "My name is Anc. I guard the east border," he said. "I'm afraid what you heard is only a rumor. The flowers here are blue—as always."

  Omitaru glanced at Ruro, then back at Anc.

  "Aww... we were really hoping," he said. "Though it probably wasn't a great idea. Ruro has a high affinity for flowers. He's a herbivore."

  Anc smiled faintly. "Most dragons are carnivorous. He's a delicate one." He paused. "There is a merchant in the city square who sells food coloring for vegetation. It might satisfy him."

  Omitaru shook his head. "No thanks. He doesn't like being deceived. But... could we enter for supplies? We're running low."

  He turned his bag upside down to show how empty it was.

  Anc nodded. "The gate will open when you approach."

  "Thanks," Omitaru said. "Let's go, Ruro."

  "Pek!"

  A smaller door within the gate clicked open on its own.

  "Cause no trouble," Anc warned. "The law here is unforgiving—even to children."

  "We won't," Omitaru promised.

  The door shut behind them, locking with a heavy click.

  The crowd instantly swallowed them.

  People passed by on all sides, some smiling, some waving. Vehicles rolled steadily along the streets. Near the gate, a tour guide in a blue suit stood, waving enthusiastically.

  Omitaru waved back and approached.

  "I can tell God enchants you," the guide said, smiling. "Power users are advised not to cause disturbances. My name is Ravi. Would you like a tour?"

  Omitaru met his golden eyes. "No thanks. We'll explore on our own."

  Ravi nodded politely. "Very well. Enjoy the city."

  As he walked away, Omitaru leaned toward Ruro. "A bit cheesy, right?"

  "Pek," Ruro agreed.

  At the crosswalk, three paths stretched ahead. Omitaru didn't bother pulling out his map.

  "Straight to the market," he said. "I spent twenty spirit coins on my sword back in Celera, so I've got one-eighty left. Plenty for food."

  Ruro smirked, tongue hanging out. "Pek! Pek!"

  The light turned green, and they crossed with the crowd.

  Halfway across, a man in a green tuxedo stepped toward them. Green hair. Green eyes. Polished green shoes.

  "How's your pneuma level?" he asked casually.

  Omitaru gasped. "You're a power user too! My spirit level's around one hundred. It's hard to use my power—and I'm still a kid—but God's spirit is strong within me. I need practice."

  The man laughed and patted Omitaru's head.

  "Hey—watch it!" Omitaru snapped. "Ruro's feisty!"

  "Brave," the man said. "But you don't have what I'm looking for."

  He turned to leave.

  "Wait!" Omitaru called. "What's your level?"

  The man paused. "Nine hundred."

  Omitaru froze.

  The man continued walking.

  "You're not stopping me?" he asked over his shoulder.

  "Why would I?" Omitaru replied. "You said I wasn't worth your time."

  The man stopped completely.

  "...Interesting," he said. "My name's Maverick. I'm recruiting."

  He explained quickly—Yucca, immortality, the spiritual realm, the threat to both worlds.

  Omitaru exhaled. "No. I don't want to be anyone's underling."

  Maverick straightened. "I wasn't offering that. I want an equal partner."

  Omitaru looked at Ruro.

  "Then we're in."

  Maverick grinned.

  "One more thing," Omitaru said. "Who's Yucca?"

  The wind shifted. The noise of the city faded.

  Maverick's smile hardened.

  The journey then truly began.