Columbina dove toward the dense jungle at the foot of the mountain. Just as she was about to touch the ink-green canopy, she veered sharply, tracing a graceful arc and ascending upward.
In the sky above the forest, she fully indulged in this newfound freedom.
She followed no path, instead tracing intricate, whimsical trajectories through the air like a deflating balloon.
Sometimes spiraling upward; sometimes plummeting rapidly; sometimes stretching out to gaze at the clouds; sometimes flipping into a dive to overlook the earth.
The surrounding scenery spun and intertwined rapidly in her perception. But this dizzying whirl brought no vertigo; no matter the odd posture her body took, she could instantly adjust and regain perfect balance.
This unrestrained play continued for quite a while before she finally hovered reluctantly above the sea of trees, overlooking the rolling green waves below.
Her thoughts wandered. She recalled the small grove in the seaside valley when she awoke—barren save for yellow mushrooms.
She thought of the vast pine forests on the snowy plains after leaving the valley—monotonous, save for hardy boars and eternal ice and snow.
"I wonder if the forests here have anything different?" The thought sparked, and she immediately turned, diving straight toward the lush canopy!
"Whoosh—crash!"
Branches scraped her skirt as she pierced the dense treetops.
Light dimmed before her eyes, and the ground rushed up!
Fortunately, at the last moment, she unleashed a supple lateral thrust. Her body skimmed perilously close to the leaf-strewn ground, kicking up a rustle of debris.
Steadying herself, she began curiously surveying this forest understory.
It was filled with vibrant colors. Many fruits reminded her of the delicious ones Venti had given her before.
She floated to a gnarled tree root, where strange purple fruits grew, their surfaces covered in tiny barbs.
Eyeing the spines, she hesitated, unsure how to approach, and looked away.
Nearby bushes bore clusters of bluish-yellow fruits, made of countless plump granules, each fist-sized and gleaming temptingly.
She carefully plucked one, bringing it to her lips and taking a gentle bite.
A burst of tart-sweet juice exploded in her mouth, perfectly stimulating her taste buds.
Her eyes lit up, and she soon stripped the small bush of its yellow fruits, content.
Savoring this unexpected forest treat, she continued drifting like a wisp of a ghost through the woods.
Soon, she spotted plump orange fruits hanging from nearby trees. She flew over, plucked one, and bit in—the flesh crisp and juicy, with a unique refreshing sweetness.
"Huff... huff..."
A faint rustling came. Holding her half-eaten Sunsettia, Columbina followed the sound.
Pushing through dense bushes, she saw a group of dark brown boars ambling leisurely in a clearing.
Curious, she floated forward, emerging from the bushes and landing in the open. She tossed the remaining half-Sunsettia toward the herd to see their reaction.
But this sudden "gift" startled them. The boars scattered in panic. A few bolder ones lowered their heads, tusks bared, charging at her!
Columbina leaped lightly, easily dodging the charge. With a flash, she drifted onto a nearby tree branch.
Her sudden appearance startled a squirrel gnawing an acorn.
The little creature dropped the acorn and "whoosh"—vanished into the dense foliage.
Hovering in mid-air, Columbina instinctively lunged forward, precisely catching the falling acorn.
She paused, looking at the brown nut in her palm, then toward where the squirrel had fled.
She gently flew back to the branch, carefully placing the acorn exactly as before.
Satisfied, she turned leisurely and drifted out of this forest full of delights.
The sky outside brightened instantly. She spotted the vast waters they had flown over earlier.
With a thought, she accelerated toward the shimmering expanse.
The sun had risen higher, turning the water's golden glints into vast, shimmering white scales, dazzlingly bright.
She descended, skimming the surface, unable to resist trailing her hands through the cool water.
Waves surged and leaped between her fingers, splashing fine droplets.
At the water's center, she paused, hovering and scanning for new amusements.
Soon, a flock of elegant waterbirds on the shore caught her eye. She flew toward them.
The egrets, startled by the high-speed approach, spread their broad wings and took to the sky gracefully.
Columbina accelerated, matching pace with the flock and holding steady flight beside one egret.
She observed closely: its streamlined body, the graceful curve of its slender neck, the velvet sheen of its pure white feathers in the sun, its long beak, its slim legs tucked in flight... every detail fascinated her.
Watching the egrets merge into the blue sky, Columbina looked up at the vast heavens. White clouds drifted lazily.
A bolder idea sparked: "Fly up to the clouds!"
She acted instantly, urging her authority full-force, shooting straight toward the soft cloud wisps.
She plunged into the cloud layer. Dense, milky-white vapor enveloped her instantly, visibility plummeting.
The air grew moist and chilly; tiny droplets clung to her hair and skirt. The wind here was chaotic and fierce, tugging at her.
Her ears filled with howling winds and a strange, low hum, as if the clouds whispered secrets.
She traversed this chaotic white expanse, savoring the unique haziness.
"Clouds aren't that special after all," she mused.
Ignoring the surrounding mist, she fixed her gaze on the sun higher up, staring at the blinding light source.
The sun... the sky...
Suddenly, a deep inner tremor awakened. An overwhelming, irresistible urge exploded in her mind:
"Can I... fly straight to the moon?"
Returning to the moon in the sky was her deepest longing, her true home.
The impulse surged, nearly drowning her reason.
No longer content with the clouds, she urged her power again, bursting through the cloud sea toward the unchanging blue vault!
She flew for a long, long time.
The sky seemed endless; no matter how high she climbed, it remained a uniform, disorienting blue.
She paused occasionally, looking down: the earth and mountains had shrunk to blurry patches, veiled in strange mists, proving her ascent.
But upward, the sky unchanged.
Doubt crept in. Was the sky unreachable?
She checked herself: prolonged extreme flight had exhausted her spirit, leaving her drained. Her heart pounded wildly from sustained drain and mounting anxiety.
Defiance surged. Gritting her teeth, she prepared one final all-out push!
Then, Coppelia's warning echoed: "Don't go too far."
She'd lost track of time and distance from Coppelia. Not wanting to worry her, retreat tempted her. She needed to conserve energy for the return.
But... just a little more? Maybe one last try?
Hovering in dizzying heights, she wrestled internally.
"One more time, the last."
Resolved, she'd fly one more minute; if unchanged, turn back.
She set off upward for about ten seconds.
"Boom!"
A muffled roar, as from distant void depths, exploded in her mind without warning!
Simultaneously, her heart clenched sharply—not fatigue, but like an invisible icy hand piercing her chest, gripping viciously, as if to crush it next instant!
"!"
Alarms blared in Columbina's mind. She instantly dispersed all flight power, letting gravity seize her in freefall, plummeting wildly!
Her white skirt whipped in the gale, flapping against her chilled body. Howling winds filled her ears.
"Hah... hah..." Columbina gasped raggedly, breath near suffocating.
She clutched her heaving chest desperately. Mercifully, her heart still beat, though racing to burst free.
Shaken, she looked up: the sky serene, eerily blue, as if the terror never happened.
She turned right—nothing.
Left...
In the immeasurably distant firmament, a lifeless gray island floated silently.
Ignoring the clouds below, it overlooked the mortal realms indifferently.
Soul-deep chill swept her.
Terrified, Columbina averted her eyes. Sheer fear drove her to unleash full power, righting herself downward, racing back toward the reassuring earth whence she came!
___
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