Coppelia pressed on, "Have you found any other stones like these?"
"No," Kelvin shook his head. "These are all I found." He turned sideways, pointing upstream along the underground river. "It is too wet here. Why don't we return to the surface first? Perhaps there are some stones I missed up there. I can lead the way."
"No need," Columbina said. "I can teleport you up directly."
Kelvin turned his head sharply, his eyes widening behind his lenses. "Teleport?! You mean... 'teleportation' in the sense of spatial transfer?"
"Yes." Columbina nodded. "Come closer, so I can take you with—"
Her words paused as her gaze shifted to the squad of Mechanical Drakes left downstream.
"Let them gather closer too," she added. "I will teleport them out as well."
Kelvin, however, shook his head. "Just let these big guys continue moving underground. Letting them run wild on the rainforest floor would disturb the small animals."
He retrieved the silvery-white control device, his fingers tapping rapidly on it a few times. The squad of Mechanical Drakes downstream immediately mobilized; breaking formation, they walked leisurely upstream, scattering along the stream.
Kelvin watched the figures of the Mechanical Drakes disappear around the bend of the cave, explaining as he did so, "They will automatically patrol within a certain range underground. When I need them, I just have to summon them up."
He turned back, put away the control device, and stepped closer to Columbina.
"I am ready," he said, his face crowded with a smile that couldn't conceal his excitement.
The three of them gathered together. Columbina's mind shifted slightly. A blinding white light flashed within the cave.
Kelvin felt his vision instantly flooded by an unwarned whiteness, losing focus in a split second.
Immediately after, solid ground met his feet, and his body sensed a completely different airflow and light temperature.
As the radiance dissipated, they were already standing in a ravine beneath a dense rainforest. The natural sunlight piercing through the gaps in the foliage stung his eyes, making them ache.
"Ha... Teleportation..." Kelvin hurriedly removed his monocle with his right hand, lowering his head and blinking vigorously. His voice carried amazement and a hint of discomfort. "This is truly... my first time personally experiencing such a magical thing..."
He carefully wiped the lens on his shirt fabric and put it back on. After adapting to the forest light, he raised his head, using eyes bloodshot from the intense light stimulation to quickly identify the surrounding environment.
"I have a rough idea of where we are," he said. "Do you two intend to continue looking for those white stones immediately, or would you like to accompany me to my Investigation Team's camp for a rest?"
"Investigation Team?" Coppelia caught this piece of information. "There should be quite a few scholars there, right?"
"Yes. Are you two in need of some kind of assistance?" Kelvin asked keenly.
"We came to Sumeru, aside from looking for those white stones," Coppelia glanced at the disabled Moon Spirit in Columbina's arms, "we also indeed need to ask Greater Lord Rukkhadevata for some knowledge."
"It is related to this lady here, correct?" Kelvin's gaze swept over Columbina again, the look behind his lens thoughtful. "By the way, we've chatted for so long, yet I still don't know your names."
"My name is Coppelia."
"I am Columbina," Columbina answered closely after.
"Miss Coppelia, Miss Columbina." Kelvin nodded. "In our Investigation Team, there happens to be a friend of mine. He has established some contact with Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. If you need an audience with that deity, perhaps he can provide some help."
"In that case," he turned sideways, making a gesture of invitation, "I will take you both to the Investigation Team camp first."
After speaking, he turned, preparing to lead the way.
"No need," Columbina's voice came from behind.
Kelvin stopped at the sound and looked back.
Columbina floated over to his side with Coppelia. "I can carry you flying; that way is faster."
He was suspended half a meter in the air.
"Whoa!" He was initially flustered, his arms paddling the air a few times to maintain balance, but he soon adapted to the sensation of weightlessness. He gasped for air, subconsciously gripping the monocle over his right eye tightly, looking down at his dangling feet in disbelief.
"Truly... incredible power!" he exclaimed. "So this is what free flight feels like?"
A few seconds later, he recovered from the shock of his first flight, a somewhat embarrassed smile appearing on his face. "I lost my composure; I made you laugh."
He raised his arm, identified the direction, and pointed deep into the rainforest. "We go that way."
*
Kelvin guided Coppelia and Columbina to a flat clearing amidst the jungle.
In the center of the clearing, a dozen tents made of dark green and khaki camouflage fabric formed a loose circle. Rainproof oilcloths connected the tents, creating simple covered walkways.
Folding tables and chairs were placed outside the tents, scattered with unfolded maps, notebooks filled with annotations, collected plant specimens, and some portable observation instruments.
There were not many people in the camp. Kelvin explained that most members were out conducting regional ecological surveys; those remaining were primarily responsible for logistics and data compilation.
Most of them wore simple green robes conducive to movement. Some were bending over to observe plant samples through lenses, others were sorting herbs in the shade of the tents, and some were gathered around a table covered in data sheets, discussing in low voices as their fingers traced over the columns.
As the three arrived above the camp, before they even landed, Kelvin raised his voice to greet those below.
Seeing three people slowly descending from the sky, the young scholars in the camp stopped their work one by one.
They gathered around with looks of amazement and excitement, encircling Coppelia and Columbina the moment they touched down. Before long, a chaotic flood of questions surged forward:
"Can you see even with your eyes covered?"
"How were you flying? Is it some lost mechanical art?"
"That wrinkled little thing in her arms... it looks so pitiful, what happened to it?"
"Heavens, you are actually a mechanical creation? Who created you? Hyperborea?"
"..."
Coppelia spent quite a bit of effort before she barely managed to satisfy the vigorous curiosity of this group of young scholars.
Subsequently, Kelvin took the two around the camp, introducing them to the members who had stayed behind. After a lap, they had basically met everyone.
Once the crowd surrounding the visitors gradually dispersed, a female scholar who looked to be in her twenties, with healthy wheat-colored skin and lively, spirited eyes, walked over holding a wooden tray, a brilliant smile on her face. Her name was Nafisah.
She invited the two to sit beside a simple folding wooden table and gently placed the tray in her hands onto the surface.
"Little Yaya," Nafisah's voice was brisk, her gaze landing on Columbina, "you've traveled for so long, have something to eat first."
As she spoke, she introduced the items on her tray: Panipuri, Pita Pockets, Shawarma Wraps, and Pudding...
Columbina was immediately attracted, her throat moving involuntarily. But just as she was about to reach out, she looked hesitatingly at the disabled Moon Spirit still sleeping in the crook of her arm.
"I'll watch over it for you for a while," Coppelia said, reaching out to gently take the shriveled little fellow and cradling it in her own arms, one hand stroking its wrinkle-covered surface.
Only then did Columbina relax and begin to focus on enjoying the food before her.
Nafisah watched Columbina eat with such relish, the smile on her face deepening.
She turned her head to look at Coppelia. "Little Coppe, why aren't you eating some?"
She didn't seem to be present when Coppelia was explaining to that group of young people earlier... Coppelia had to explain it again: "My body is a mechanical construct; I do not need to eat."
"Oh... is that so." Nafisah blinked, a look of pure curiosity appearing on her face. "Then do you want to drink some engine oil?"
____
New Story: Junji Ito: I Shall Smash Hellstar Remina
✅ Get immediate access to 40 early chapters for all stories.
✅ Enjoy exclusive material and special announcements!
Help us unlock these community rewards:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters across ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnutchan