We then boarded the flying bed to fly to Calberona; I had a hunch of where the city was.
My hunch was right; we were approaching an island just west of Clear Vale. The island was where the hole in the ocean used to be.
"That's definitely it," said Barbara, looking at the buildings.
We set the bed down just at the edge of the city and we all entered.
"Welcome to Calberona, the city of magic" said this woman. "It was founded by the great sorceress, Barbarella."
"We defeated Glacos," I said.
"Barbara," said this old man. "Is that you?"
"Yes," she replied. "These are my companions."
"This city was Barbara's home," said the old man.
"Wow," said Chamoro, looking around. "Grandfather would love to see this place."
"When the demon king sealed off Calberona, her powerful magic ignited," said the old man.
"Barbara," said this middel-aged woman. "You are back."
"Yes, I'm glad to be here," replied Barbara.
"Everyone thinks you should take over for the elder."
"Wha...what?" asked Barbara.
"Bubole has not much time left."
"So you're gonna be the elder," said Muriel.
"I..I don't know," replied Barbara.
"I understand how you feel," I replied. "I'm gonna inherit a throne, you know."
We walked about town, asking asbout the situation here and any leads on the Armor of Orgo. Calberona had this mystical quality about it, as if magic and sorcery permeated this place even to the core. I did hear about a magical carpet which could fly, and that it was inherited by a rich stylish man. I also heard that the elder was being kept alive with the Sands of Time, similar to what I had received from the Medal King.
We went shopping. We bought a moon-folding fan and a sage's robe for Muriel, a Calbero boot and a magical skirt for Barbara, and magic armor for Chamoro.
"Let's get ourselves to the elder's house," said Barbara.
And so we did, a small house in the center of town.
The interior of the house was simple, with a floor made of wood. We were in an outer chamber, ahead was an inner chamber. We walked through the door to the inner chamber.
And we emerged into the outer chamber.
"What's going on?" asked Hassan.
We kept going into the door.
And we kept ending up in the same place.
"This is crazy," said Muriel.
"There's something on the floor," said Chamoro.
I looked and saw glittering sand sprinkled on the floor.
"The Sands of Time," said Barbara. "They're using it to keep Bubole alive. I'd better collect it." She swept the grains of sand into this sand container.
We then went through the door.
We entered a room with a desk and a bookcase. On the desk sat this crystal ball.
This old lady dressed in a robe sat behind the desk.
"Barbara," said the lady. "You have come back."
"Yes, Elder," replied Barbara, who then introduced us.
"I am Bubole, Elder of Calberona," said the lady. "I have been waiting. When my end was near, I retreated to my room and sprinkled the Sands of Time to keep me in a time loop. I don;t know how much time had gone outside, but here I just had the sands sprinkled a few minutes ago."
"We hope for your assistance, madam," i said. "about the flying carpet, and the Armor of Orgo."
"You need the flying carpet to get the armor," said Bubole. "But there is one thing I must do. Do you know of the spell Madante?"
"Uh, no," I replied.
"I heard of it," said Chamoro. "It's a very powerful attack spell, uses up all magic power."
"Granmaz mentioned something like that," said Muriel.
"I'm ready," said Barbara. "That is what I am here for."
She closed her eyes.
Bubole chanted, and this glow emanated from the crystal ball.
When the glow disappeared, I smelled this sharp stench.
"I have it," said Barbara. "I know Madante. When the spell was first released, it destroyed the town, but the powerful magic reincarnated the people in the dream world."
"Oh no," said Hassan, looking towards the floor.
I looked and Bubole lay on the floor, dead. She used the last of her life force to give Madante to Barbara.
Barbara looked at the fallen elder for a few minutes. "We'd better get some info on the flying carpet," she said.
"Lead the way," I said.
And so she did. She led us to this house which was not far from the Elder's house.
In the house was this old couple. Trees grew inside this house, the ceiling was made of glass, allowing light to enter.
"Ah,. Barbara," said the old man.
"Mr. Calbe," replied Barbara.
"We use our magic to make things," said Mr. Calbe.
"I know you made a magic carpet. Do you have one?"
"Ah, we did make such a thing. Last I heard, it was in the hands of a rich, stylish man."
"Okay then," said Barbara. "We'll be on our way."
We left the house.
"So where would we find a rich stylish man?" asked Chamoro.
"I've heard of a rich stylish man," replied Muriel. "He has a home near Torruka. He holds contests there sometimes."
"Then we shall pay him a visit," I said.
And so we did.
ooooooooooooooo
The rich, stylish man lived in the real world, so we crossed over there and then set sail underwater in the Ship of God.
"That should be the place," said Muriel, looking at the map. "His place was located in the mountains."
We surfaced above the water. I looked around and saw that we were in this valley ringed by mountains. Just by the lake was a huge wooden house. We set anchor right over there.
Entering the house, the front room was huge, with wooden floors and wooden walkks and a wooden ceiling supported by huge wooden beams. Tapestries hung against the wall.
"Welcome to the home of Calvin Jean-Porte," said this guard. "We have a contest for stylish people. You can join by going downstairs."
We found stairs leading down. Sure enough, the room below had this huge stage, where the contest was presumably held. Dozens of people were in attendance.
"Welcome to the Level One contest," said this man wearing a vest over a white shirt. "Anyone may enter this contest."
"Which one of us is gonna be there?" asked Hassan. "I ain't that much of a stylish person myself."
"How about you, Muriel?" asked Chamoro.
"Who me?" asked Muriel. "Why can't Barbara go on stage?"
"I get stage fright," replied Barbara.
"Oh all right." Muriel spoke with the man who was the host of this contest; she then went backstage.
"I say we all take a look," said Hassan. Following his advice, we joined the crowd watching the stage.
And then the contestants came out. A mixture of men and women, and even this furry little monster. Muriel stood on the stage, glancing at us.
And then the contestants, one by one, walked down the runway, and the spectators made all sorts of comments.
Finally, it was Muriel's turn. I watched as she strode down the runway, wearing a sleek black dress. The audience was clearly impressed with her. She then went back to the stage.
"And now it is time to select our winner," said the judge, an old lady sitting at a wooden table. An enevelope is handed to the host.
"And the winner is," said the host, a celiling light illuminating the contestants. "Muriel!"
Muriel stepped forward.
"The prize will be a silver tray," said the host.
"Thank you," replied Muriel, receiving a silver tray from a lady dressed in a bunny suit.
"Wow," said Barbara, as Muriel stepped off the stage. "You were fantastic."
"Uh, thanks," replied Muriel.
"Maybe you should be a fashion model or something," said Chamoro.
"You'd better get ready for the next contest," said Hassan.
We approached the usher.
"There will be another contest in about an hour," said the usher. "Only men will participate."
"Which one of us should go?" asked Chamoro.
"I'll do it," I said to the others.
"You're entering the contest?" asked the usher. "Go backstage and get yourself changed."
And so I did, going into this small room equipped with a dresser and drawer. I amde sure to go through each and every outfit, making sure to look my best.
"Excuse me, sir," said a lady in a bunny suit. "Time for you to make your appearance."
And so I did, walking onto the stage along with four other men.
One by one, each of the men walked along the runway, showing themselves off.
Now it was my turn. My heart raced, looking at all these people. I understood how Muriel had felt.
Come on, I was the Prince of Reidock. I dealt with meeting all sorts of people before, and I faced off against the demon king Mudo- twice!
Taking a deep breath, I strode down the runway, doing my best to radiate confidence to the audience. I briefly glanced at my companions.
I could hear people making comments about me. I then turned back and stood in line with the rest of the men.
The host was ready to announce the winner, a spotlight shone on all of us.
the then host announced my name. I won!
"The prize will be a stylish bandana," said the host, who then handed me a bandana.
I stepped off stage.
"You rock!" yelled Hassan.
"Wow, you can sure impress a lady," said Barbara.
"You are da bomb!" said Chamoro.
"I had practice," I said. "After all, I am a prince.
Muriel entered the next contest. Once again, she lined up with the other contestants. Once again, she strode down the runway, radiating an illusion of confidence.
The host opened the envelope. "And the winner is...Muriel!" he exclaimed. He walks up to the stage. "Our prize is a beautiful carpet!" The host handed Muriel a carpet.
Muriel came down to meet us, showing us the carpet.
"Is that it?" asked Hassan.
"I can detect faint traces of magic," said Barbara.
"I say we head back to Calberona," I said.
And so we did.
oooooooooooooo
Crossing over to the dream world and casting Return, we went back to Calberona and headed for the Calbes' house.
"That is indeed the carpet," said Mr. Calbe.
"Could you restore it?" I asked.
Mr. Calbe chanted, and there was this faint glow coming from the carpet. "It is done," he said.
Barbara laid the carpet flat and it hovered.
"It works!" she said for all of us.
"It's big enough to carry the wagon," said Muriel.
And so we loaded Falshion and the wagon on top of the flying carpet, and away we went. The carpet hovered a few feet above the ground, not high enough to fly over the forests.
I did wonder if this thing would work in the real world. We flew to the stairs west of Clear Vale and walked down.
Upon reaching the real world, I unrolled the carpet and led Falshion and the wagon on top of the carpet.
It flew! Now we could fly in the real world as well!
oooooooooooooo
"Anything on your mind?" I asked as I sat inside the wagon, which sat on the flying carpet.
"I was just thinking about the future," said Barbara. "About being the elder and all."
"I can understand," said Hassan. "I mean, some of the carpentry projects I did seemed so impossible. But I simply rose up to the challenge and did it."
"Being the elder of a city is quite different from building a house," said Barbara.
"Hassan does have a point," said Chamoro. "I had the same anxiety when I took the Ship of God to Mudo's castle."
"As a crown prince of Reidock," I said, "just be prepared."
oooooooooooooooo
Looking out of the wagon, I could see a pile of stone.
That was no natural formation. flying the carpet closer, we can see that it was a ruin of some sort.
"I wonder what was here," I said.
"I say we take a look," said Hassan.
There was not much to this ruin. It looked to have been a fort or maybe a castle.
Returning to the wagon, I saw a well. Walking up to it, there was this faint glow.
"We know what to do," said Muriel.
I peered into the well, and was drawn to another world.