The plot thickens as the stakes shift from a direct confrontation to a desperate race toward the gateway of "Achille." The contrast between the companions' strategic retreat and Ajax's political ascension creates a gripping narrative.
Here is the English translation:
The Road to Achille and the Shadow of the Crown
The Crystal Vehicle came to a sudden halt at a rugged mountain crossroads, where mist swirled around the surrounding peaks like the breath of a dormant dragon. Ortinus climbed down from his seat, looking first at the ancient, crumbling map and then at Miron, who was still trembling from the aftershocks of the vision that had struck him.
Ortinus (in a firm voice that cut through the silence):
"We are not going to the Palace of Silence. It's over."
A moment of stunned silence fell over the companions. Nerar was the first to protest, gripping the vehicle's steering wheel tightly.
Nerar:
"What are you saying, Ortinus? Miron said Ajax is there! This is our only chance to end this nightmare and cut off the serpent's head before its power grows any further!"
Ortinus (turning to him with eyes burning with resolve):
"Ajax is no ordinary serpent, Nerar. He is a black hole that swallows everything that draws near. We know nothing about him—not the limits of his power, nor the nature of his magic, nor even his true face. Going to his palace now is collective suicide; it's handing our necks to him on a silver platter."
Pecos (wiping sweat from his brow):
"I hate to admit it, but Ortinus is right. The Palace of Silence looks like a trap with 'Welcome, Stupid Prey' written all over it. But Captain, if we don't go to him, what do we do?"
Ortinus (pointing his finger toward the far north):
"Our goal hasn't changed since the moment we fell into this cursed world. Our goal is 'Achille.' We must place the Blue Feather into the Shell to open the gate. We are strangers here; this world is drowning in its own madness, and I will not sacrifice your blood in a war where we have no stake."
Darius (interjecting humorously to break the tension):
"Sound logic! Personally, I'd rather go back to my world and argue with the neighbors over farm boundaries than turn into a decorative statue in Ajax's palace. Father, what do you think? Do you miss your wooden bed?"
Old Nikos (calmly touching his son's shoulder):
"Wisdom says, my son, that the shortest path home is the one where you know the end. Achille is our only hope."
Miron (in a broken voice):
"But he will follow us... Ajax won't let the Feather go."
Ortinus:
"Let him follow as he wishes, but we will fight him on our terms, at the very gate that will return us to our homes. Nerar, find the nearest map merchant. We need the shortcut to Achille."
After an hour of searching in a small border village, Nerar purchased a detailed leather map showing the secret paths to the peaks of Achille. The companions set off in the Crystal Vehicle, leaving the Palace of Silence and its secrets behind.
Meanwhile: The Throne Room in the Capital, Medonia
While the companions were fleeing toward salvation, Ajax (General Cassio) was achieving a victory of a different sort. He entered the throne room with regal strides, where King Midon waited anxiously, surrounded by his guards.
King Midon:
"Cassio! The news has reached me. Is it true that the Insurrection Council has completely crumbled?"
Ajax (bowing with feigned reverence):
"Yes, my Liege. Thanks to your foresight and guidance, I was able to sow discord among them. They fell upon one another like hungry wolves in a locked cage. Antoine, their most dangerous leader, fell in a botched assassination attempt... carried out by his own men after I convinced them of his betrayal."
King Midon (in awe and admiration):
"Stunning! You have accomplished with the mind what armies could not do in years. Cassio, you are not merely a general; you are a strategic genius."
Ajax (with a cold smile):
"I am but a servant of the crown, Sire. Justice sometimes requires a little... maneuvering."
King Midon:
"Being a general is no longer enough. From this moment, I appoint you High Chancellor of the Kingdom. You shall have the right to access the Crystal Vaults and issue decrees in my name. I want Crystalis to become the most powerful land in this world under your stewardship."
Ajax (his eyes gleaming with a diabolical spark):
"I thank you for this trust, my Liege. I promise you, I will make the name of Crystalis echo in every world... not just this one."
Pecos (looking back from the vehicle):
"I feel as though a giant eye is watching us from behind. Darius, are you sure we didn't forget something in the city?"
Darius (eating a piece of bread):
"We forgot to say goodbye to our lady fans, Pecos! But seriously, the map says we'll pass through the 'Storm Pass.' If we survive that, we'll reach the next station in five days."
Ortinus (gazing at the Feather):
"Steel yourselves, friends. The real journey begins now."