As soon as the trio—Shanthi, Kalev, and Allana—began their journey to Birka, Kalev, who was being carried between the other two, turned toward Shanthi.
Kalev: "Hey, Shanthi! Could you tell us a bit about what we'll find in Birka?"
Hearing Kalev's question, Shanthi slowed his flight slightly and banked through the air so they could face each other properly.
Shanthi: "Hmm… well… how should I put this? Birka's an island where religion runs deep in its very essence, so… Kalev… please, keep yourself in check, alright?"
Kalev turned his head slightly. Though his expression remained stoic, it was clear he was confused.
Kalev: "What exactly do you mean by that, Shanthi?"
Allana: "Kalev… like we've told you before…"
Shanthi: "Let's just say… you…"
Shanthi & Allana (in unison): "Have a serious problem dealing with other people's religions."
Kalev's stoic mask cracked just a little, replaced by genuine curiosity.
Kalev: "Wait… you think I have issues with pagan religions?"
Allana: "And you don't? I've seen you argue with Dami about faith… and I have to say—you seemed a bit… uh… affected, let's put it like that."
The moment Kalev recalled that argument, his face flushed with embarrassment, and he turned away from them.
Kalev: "Please… that was just a slip-up…"
Shanthi: "Slip-up or not… try not to 'slip up' again once we're there, okay?"
Still blushing, Kalev tried his best to maintain a serious expression.
Kalev: "As long as your people don't start spouting nonsense…"
Allana: "What was that? Anyway, Shanthi—tell us more about Birka."
Shanthi: "Absolutely, All. Actually, this might interest both of you, especially you, All."
With that, Shanthi stretched his wings to their fullest span—1.75 meters wide.
Shanthi: "In Birka, the larger your wings, the more respect you command. It's tied to the belief that bigger wings mean a greater blessing from Fujin."
Allana: "Wow… with wings like yours, you must've been super blessed!"
As she said this, Allana's eyes sparkled, and she stretched her own wings to their maximum—reaching about a meter in span.
Shanthi: "To be honest? When I left, I'd say I ranked somewhere around sixth or seventh for wing size."
Allana: "Really? Wow… and me?"
Shanthi: "Well… depends. If we're talking about your current form, and considering your age… I'd say you'd be above average—maybe around tenth place."
Allana: "Seriously? Huh… could've been better, but tenth place isn't bad at all!"
After this brief exchange, Kalev fell into thoughtful silence for a while before speaking to Shanthi again.
Kalev: "I don't think I've ever asked… but why did you leave Birka? Surely, being one of the most 'blessed' there, you'd have been chosen as… what, a monk?"
Shanthi: "You mean the Priests. And yes, Kalev—you're right. I was called to Priest training, but I declined for personal reasons… let's just say it came down to either me or a friend going… and I wanted it to be him."
Kalev: "I see…"
Following this revelation, Shanthi and Allana repositioned Kalev as before and resumed flying at full speed toward Birka.
— Hours later, in the Grand Line (Paradise) —
Upon reaching a region southeast of the island of Jaya, they climbed to just below 7,000 meters above sea level.
Shanthi: "Hmm… I think we're close. All, stick near me. I'm not sure how the White Sea affects Devil Fruit users."
As Allana moved closer, Shanthi began flapping his wings faster than usual. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his breathing grew labored—but through sheer effort, he stirred the air around them into a swirling vortex. When this funnel of wind touched the White Sea, the clouds around them began spiraling.
After a few moments, the air funnel finally carved a path, and the trio shot into the White Sea. Because the sea was far less dense than regular ocean water, the vortex easily cleared a passage. On the other side lay an entirely white expanse. Shanthi guided them to a denser, springy-looking cloud that resembled a trampoline. Once there, the three sat down to rest.
Shanthi: "Phew… that was more exhausting than usual. At least we made it through easily…"
Allana: "That was so cool! Is it like being inside a breaking wave?"
Shanthi: "No idea, All. I've never been big on swimming in the Blue Sea. What about you, Kalev?"
At the question, Kalev's gaze momentarily drifted—as if recalling something—but just as quickly, he snapped back to the present.
Kalev: "Well… based on my experience, I'd say it's not nearly as fun as it sounds. Especially during a storm."
Allana: "Sorry if that brought up bad memories, Kalev. I didn't mean to…"
Kalev: "It's nothing… just an old memory. Shall we go?"
Having rested enough, Shanthi stood and stretched.
Shanthi: "Let's. I just needed a short break. We're almost there—we just need to find a Sky Gate now."
Allana and Shanthi once again hoisted Kalev between them.
Kalev: "Sky Gate?"
Allana: "Seriously, Kalev? Already?"
Kalev: "What? I just asked a question."
Allana: "Ah."
Shanthi: "To answer you—the Sky Gate is basically a toll checkpoint. It's also one of the safest and easiest ways to cross the White-White Sea."
Kalev: "Interesting."
Allana: "Wait… why don't we just do what we did before?"
Shanthi: "Because it's against the law—and kind of dangerous. If we time it wrong, we could hurt someone up there."
Allana: "Got it. Then let's go find that Sky Gate!"
— Moments later, at the Sky Gate —
As they stepped onto the gate's deck, a beautiful woman around 32 years old, standing 1.50m tall, approached them. Her long, pale green hair almost looked white, her gray eyes sharp yet warm. She wore a simple white dress that contrasted with her small, dark wings—barely reaching past her waist, though they didn't seem unnaturally small. In her hand, she held a camera. Behind her stretched the "Lobster Express"—a spiraling cloud path ascending beyond sight.
????: "Hold it—"
She was ready to photograph the "intruders," but the moment she recognized Shanthi, her face lit up. Lowering the camera, she ran over and hugged him tightly.
????: "By the gods! I thought I'd never see you again, Shanthi!"
Shanthi: "Come on, Dame—I said I'd visit every now and then, but—"
At that, Dame's expression hardened. A vein popped on her forehead.
Dame: "Yeah, you said that—three years ago!"
With that shout, she shifted her grip on Shanthi, swiftly executed a German suplex, and slammed his face into the cloud-deck.
Dame: "Three years!! You haven't visited the woman who raised you in three damn years!! I took you off the streets, and this is what I get?!"
Shanthi pulled his head out of the cloud, wiped the blood from his nose, and knelt before Dame.
Shanthi: "I'm sorry… I know I messed up… but with my Marine duties, I barely get any leave to come here… but I ne—"
Hearing the sincerity in his voice, Dame cut him off mid-sentence. She crouched beside him and ruffled his hair.
Dame: "I know, Shanthi… just try to sort it out soon. It gets lonely here without you and that troublemaker. But enough about that…"
She stood and turned toward Allana and Kalev.
Dame: "And who are your little friends?"
Shanthi rose and stepped between them, gesturing toward his companions.
Shanthi: "These two are my Navy friends. Now, Dame—"
Before he could continue, Allana cut in.
Allana: "Call me Allana! And this grump here is…"
Kalev: "Kalev. A pleasure, ma'am."
Dame gave a small smile and turned back to Shanthi.
Dame: "Interesting company you've brought, Shanthi. A gloomy human and… one of us? Didn't know there were Birkans in the Blue Sea."
Shanthi: "Well… she's not actually from Birka, but that's not important right now—Dame! Where's Enel?!"
Dame's friendly smile vanished, replaced by mild irritation. Allana's usual cheerful expression also faltered—fear flickering in her eyes.
Allana (internally): 'Enel… he's… here?'
Dame: "So that's why you came back? Should've figured…"
Shanthi: "Do you know where he is? It's important—he sent me a message saying he needed help…"
Dame: "I know. He's probably with his new little gang…"
Shanthi: "Gang? He left the Priests?"
Dame: "Officially? No. He's not that stupid yet—Enel knows the consequences of deserting the Temple."
Shanthi: "Where's this gang of his?"
Dame: "Beats me… he never told me. But I think they're in Yomi"—(the underworld).
Shanthi: "Yomi… Thanks, Dame. Is my boat still here?"
Without a word, Dame walked over to a makeshift dock and pulled a rope tied to a tiny skiff barely big enough for four.
Shanthi: "It's just as I left it… thank you, Dame."
Dame: "Hmph… go already! And don't forget to visit more often, Shanthi!"
Shanthi: "I will!"
The three boarded the little boat, waved goodbye to Dame, and set off along the Lobster Express.
Dame (muttering): "Those friends of Shanthi's… they were awfully quiet. Still… they seemed nice enough."
Aboard the boat, they shot upward—climbing 3,000 meters in mere seconds. At the end of the Lobster Express, the boat vaulted from sheer speed, soaring another 200 meters before beginning its descent. But just before it fell, the trio caught a full, breathtaking view of Birka.
Allana & Kalev: "Whoa…!"
Birka was massive—a cluster of small sky islands resting at White Sea level, dotted with simple homes made of island clouds. Only a few modest temple-like structures broke the uniformity.
But the upper islands were another story entirely. Their island clouds glowed golden, and towering Japanese-style temples dominated the landscape—easily hundreds of meters tall, intricate and radiant. Vibrant pillars, sweeping rooftops that seemed to watch over all of Birka, and a divine luminosity radiating from the structures made them awe-inspiring.
Yet despite all this splendor, their gaze was drawn to a strange object perched on an even higher island—a gigantic egg, about 10 meters tall and 5 wide.
But gravity soon took hold, and the boat plummeted toward the White Sea—forcing the trio to cling on for dear life (even though Allana and Shanthi didn't really need to—instinct won out).
*SPLAAAAAAASSSSSSSHHHH*
The boat rocked violently upon impact, taking a few moments to stabilize.
Allana: "That… was… quite… a view."
Shanthi: "Absolutely! What about you, Kalev—what did you think?"
Kalev: "Indeed… quite a view."
Finally, they reached solid cloud-ground. As soon as their feet touched Birka…
Shanthi: "I think this is where we part ways."
Allana: "Huh? Why?"
Shanthi: "The place where my friend is… let's just say outsiders aren't exactly welcome there."
Allana: "But we promised to help you!"
Shanthi: "I know… and you already have. If you hadn't come with me, I'm sure I would've done something reckless out of stress."
With those words, Shanthi turned and began walking toward Yomi, east of Birka. Allana reached out to stop him—
Allana: "But…"
—but Kalev gently placed a hand on her shoulder before she could move.
Kalev: "It's no use, Allana. We don't know this place—it's better if Shanthi goes alone. But if he's in danger, we'll be the first to act. Alright?"
Allana: "Okay…"
To Be Continued