Chapter 1 The Morning of Raindrops, The Cry of a Chick

The next day, Char was woken by the chirping of birds.

Dawn's raindrops trickled down along the veins of leaves, creating a crisp dripping sound.

The birds sang cheerily, amidst the verdant mountain clouds.

Char opened his eyes, only to feel an aching back and sore waist: he had unwittingly fallen asleep on the bench.

But this uncomfortable sleeping position severely punished him, as Char felt all his muscles sore and not a single bone in the correct position.

The floor around him was already dry, but further away it was still damp.

Star Worm, Lotus Leaf Frog, and Betty were still by his side, snuggling against him, but the Clover Mantis and Lantern Firefly were nowhere to be seen, and the Wind Winged Horse was no longer in the room.

He couldn't help but stretch mightily, loosening all his limbs and joints.

With a series of creaks and pops, his spine crackled, but that sound abruptly stopped the moment he looked up at the ceiling above his head.