The Lost Wanderer

Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling...

The resonant chime of a bell echoed through the enclosed environment, colliding and fading away, only to return without hindrance, following the rusty spiral-shaped structure from the top of the tower to the bottom, layer by layer, disrupting the silence.

The World Tree, once dormant, was awakened, stretching its branches lazily, revealing the slumbering girl within.

How long had she been in her deep slumber? The World Tree shook off the leaves on its body, as if trying to remember.

Ten thousand years, it must have been. From a small seedling on the top of a tower, the World Tree had grown into a majestic giant, sprouting, thriving, shedding its leaves, and growing anew. Meanwhile, the girl had remained almost forever in her youthful 16-year-old form.

For tens of thousands of years, the girl had spent most of her time in the cocoon- shaped hibernation chamber, wrapped in the branches of the World Tree.

Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling...

Once again, the resonant chime of the bell rang through the air, its sound reminiscent of an alarm clock. The girl opened her eyes, finally awakening from her long, deep slumber.

The name of the girl was Kagura, a name that embodies the grace of divine blessings, peace, and joy.

"Little Kagura, what is it that you're sketching?"

"I'm drawing grandpa, grandma, dad, mom, and me!"

A thick, winding line stretched from the ground up to the height of an adult's knee. The girl — or rather, the child Kagura at that time — held a piece of chalk in her hand and laughed with unbridled joy. "Look at me, I've grown so tall!"

The World Tree sprouted new buds, much shorter than the girl back then, struggling to lift its head and look up at her.

Since young, Kagura had been a resident of the Base, where her parents worked as researchers. While her parents were occupied with their demanding work, Kagura sought refuge in the empty hallways of the research institute, where she would sit and sketch to her heart's content. Alone with her thoughts, she found solace in conversing with the newly sprouted World Tree, which had grown to become a faithful companion to her in her solitary moments.

"Little tree, how about daddy makes a window for you tomorrow? The sun is shining so brightly outside!"

"Little tree, little tree, guess what? Daddy is building a super-duper huge Colossal Warrior. I named it Babylon!"

"Babylon will become incredibly powerful with the strongest energy. I bet it will reach the sky once it stands tall..."

"Hmph. Kagura will definitely build a Colossal Warrior in the future too!"

"The strongest energy? Babylon? Hmm..." thought the World Tree, pausing for a moment. "The chirping noise is a bit annoying." As the paintings on the wall grew more and more, the girl also gradually grew up.

Despite the noise, the World Tree felt that everything was going well. It was just like the brilliant sunlight outside, equally splendid and wonderful.

The girl's idyllic life came to an abrupt end when she turned 16. On that fateful day, the world collapsed and disintegrated around her. Among the paintings covering the walls of her room, there were lines of farewell, written as a message to her: "Only you, with the spiritual connection with Babylon, can pacify it..."

These were the last words her parents left for her before they departed. Written on the walls, each word conveyed their deepest apologies: "We're sorry, Kagura, live on for us... Remember: let history be a mirror for future generations, to learn from and not repeat the mistakes of the past."

"Sleep, go to sleep, take Babylon with you," came the whispers that filled the air.

"Little Kagura, mom and dad will always love you," echoed a voice, brimming with love and regret.

The weeping girl was in a daze as she was hastily placed into the hibernation chamber, robbed of the chance to bid a final farewell to her family.

As the girl drifted off into slumber, the World Tree extended its branches for the first time.

As the branches of the World Tree leaned in closer to the window, it beheld the Colossal Warrior, Babylon, succumbing to madness and unleashing attacks that threatened to lay waste to the world. The World Tree came to the realization that high-purity Thunderstone had a pernicious effect on intellectual beings, transforming Babylon into the very harbinger of destruction it had feared.

Just as all seemed lost, a colossal energy coalesced into an umbrella, resolutely shielding the world from Babylon's lethal beam. And then, a diminutive silhouette of a girl emerged before the colossal machine.

"Alright, Babylon, it's time to rest... and I'll be here by your side," whispered Kagura softly.

As she spoke, the once violent Babylon collapsed to the ground, and the world finally found its much-needed respite.

Kagura, favored by the god of destiny, symbolizes peace and happiness.

But there was no god present, only this solitary girl who had been forsaken by the world, yet managed to save it through sheer determination and will.

As the sands of time trickled down, the girl would often be stirred from her slumber by the alarm emanating from the gemstone nestled on her chest... It served as a harbinger that the remains of the Colossal Warrior were on the brink of eruption due to the Thunderstone energy. Hence, she would rouse herself and pacify Babylon promptly, lest the tragic cycle of destruction befall the world once more.

Over countless eons, the continent has borne witness to numerous changes. Humans established tribes and cities, only to be engulfed by devastating wars. Out of the ashes of conflict, the Druvian City rose as a beacon of hope and progress.

A millennium and three hundred years ago, the World Tree witnessed a schism as a faction of people departed with the Thunderstone Magitech, forging their own path.

And three hundred years ago, Aerotopia emerged as a hub of technological advancement, soaring high above the clouds.

"Sleep, Babylon, sleep..."

The girl murmured these words softly as she opened the cocoon-shaped hibernation chamber and descended gracefully, her energy converging into an umbrella. She paused by the room's only window, adrift in the warmth of the sunlight that embraced her. But it was time for her to return to the cold, sterile hibernation chamber.

The young girl stood rooted beneath the towering World Tree, casting a bittersweet glance back at the world she had pledged to protect. The Tree's unwavering gaze remained fixed solely on her, as if it fully grasped the weight of her responsibility. Memories flooded the Tree's consciousness of the day the girl's father had carved out the window, allowing the sun's brilliant rays to penetrate the darkness and illuminate his daughter's world.

Golden sunlight poured through the open window as her father tenderly touched the girl's head and whispered a message inscribed in Babylon's core program: "Always protect little Kagura."

It was a small surprise her father had left for her in Babylon's core program. Yet, it was this unbreakable spiritual bond that enabled Kagura to become the key to pacifying Babylon. For Babylon would never attack Kagura.

As the girl looked up at the World Tree, she knew that she would honor her promise, no matter the cost. And the Tree, in its wisdom, swayed gently in the breeze, as if to convey its approval.

The young girl's beaming smile outshone the sunrays that filtered through the window. She expressed her desire to the World Tree to leave a message for Babylon, urging him to take her on an adventure to explore the world. At that time, she stood on tiptoe, peering out of the window and admiring the world for an extended period. Unbeknownst to her, the world was also admiring her in return.

The young girl released her hold on the umbrella, which then transformed into a new energy hibernation chamber, initiating another round of deep sleep. The gemstone on her chest glimmered steadily, while the World Tree's lush branches wrapped around the hibernation chamber.

It felt as though she was being cradled in the tender embrace of a mother, while the world itself acted as her beating heart.

In a daze, the World Tree heard the girl's whispers echoing in its ears...

"I'm afraid to fall asleep... With no family, or friends, I fear that when I awake, I may have lost all and will have to face an unfamiliar era alone..."

"Luckily, I always have you, Babylon. Sleep tight. I will be by your side," the girl comforted herself.

And with those words, the hibernation chamber sealed shut, cocooning the girl in warmth and serenity. The World Tree stood watch over her, its branches swaying gently in the breeze, as it guarded the girl's peaceful slumber.