[Vextus’ World - Island 1 - Maximus’ Island]

[Maximus POV]

In the sky base where it felt like falling would meet with an endless abyss Maximus looked down at the edge of his island staring at the rocky bridge connecting his island with Iris’ island.

“You sure this safe right” Maximus inquired to the pixie

“Of course, nothing can go wrong here. Even if you fall I’ll catch you anyways” Meztul 1 the pixie reinforced Maximus with a hint of pride in his voice.

Maximus gave a grunt and put a single foot onto the rocky bridge and once he saw that it was stable he put another. The chasm between Maximus’ island and Iris’ island felt like the chasm between two mountains. A single step of courage brought Maximus’ feet forward, then another.. The rock didn’t bounce or float, rather it stood still like an immovable mountain. Another step was taken, and then Maximus’ entire body was halfway on the rocky bridge, with all the weight on the rocky bridge it stood as immovable as ever.

Maximus kept walking while the ‘click clack’ noise of the steady bridge echoed in Maximus’ ears. Without another thought and doubt in his mind he rushed over to Iris’ island with a quick but steady pace and arrived at the front door. The same large wooden doors. The house was obscenely similar, as if Maximus was just at his house-mansion moments before and he never left.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Three crisp sounds were heard in the empty mansion. The sound echoed giving resemblance to a deathly still island. The sound of footsteps were nowhere to be heard and the house silent as if it was devoid of any human life.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Three more knocks rang throughout the mansion, and once again silence greeted Maximus’s company.

“Donavan, Can you buy something on the market for me?”

“What are you looking for sir?”

“Iris flowers”

A flash appeared from Maximus’s wrist and the hour hand dissolved into golden runes breaking apart and reforming to show a screen of Iris’ with price tags attached by the side of them. The minute hand dissolved on the watch and then it turned into multiple shades of colours beyond what Maximus cna imagine bringing life into the screen of runes. Maximus scrolled, before picking a bouquet of White Iris Flowers with dark purple streaks that ran alongside their petals.

[White Iris Flowers - Tumitula Variant - 15 Selics]

“Confirm the deal”

“Affirmative”

The bright screen transformed back into a floating set of runes, then it turned into a complex sphere which rotated at such speeds that Maximus felt like he was eyeing a shining golden ball. The bright light stopped blinding Maximus, revealing a floating bouquet of Iris flowers with purple streaks running alongside the petals. Dots of pink, lime and green were lightly dotted in the base of the petals which resembled the pattern on Iris’ skin. They were bright, quirky and a bit beautiful resembling the traits that stood out most to Maximus.

“Donavan, conjure a card and a pen”

A piece of paper dropped from the heavens alongside a pen, Maximus caught both and began to write,

“Dear Iris,

I got you these Iris’ because their beauty reminded me of you. I tried knocking on your door today but there was no reply so I presume you must be busy. Once your time is free I hope we can get to know each other better through a coffee at my place. If you’re up for dinner at my place I left my Aydron’s signature on the end of this card. Tap it and I’ll know.

Sincerely, Sumixam”

“Donavan, I need your signature at the bottom of the card”

The watch glowed and then the runes flew onto the paper reforming and rearranging until it became an entirely unique shape in the form of a circle. The patterns inside looked like the machinations of a clock yet they were so intricately beautiful and runic that only Donavan’s signature could look like this. Each Aydron had their own signature that the owner could put on various places. This signature is akin to a phone number and at the same time infinitely more efficient than one.

Maximus took the floating bouquet and attached it to the card he just wrote on letting them float in front of Iris’ house. Maximus took a step back and looked towards the other island where Cassiopia was staying at.

Maximus snapped his fingers and bellowed, “Meztul 1, I need a bridge between Iris’ island and Cassiepoia’s island”

The pixie appeared out of thin air and nodded happily whistling into his mouth prompting a bunch of rocks to float above the clouds. They formed a bridge, a pathway straight to Cassie’s island. Maximus stepped on the rocky bridge more confident this time and walked across the bridge

Knock. Knock. Knock. Three sounds rang throughout the mansion once again. The door was as bland as the other two mansions. The same wooden door resounded through the hallways then suddenly a high pitched noise came through.

“Excuse me” The door opened and a small green pixie flew out, “I’m Meztul 3 and I wish to be of service, How may I help you today sir?”

“Yes, I wish to see the lady of this house”

“What may I refer to you as sir?”

“Sumixam”

“Please wait a moment sir”

The pixie flew away back inside the house leaving the door open ever so slightly just enough for a pixie to fit through the crack. Maximus waited until he heard the littl sound of click clack, click clack, like claws on the stone floor. The door fully opened and the red bird lady girl ‘Cassiopeia’ was in the front door.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, please come in”

“I’ll be delighted to be your guest”

Cassiepea giggled, “You’re always welcome, make yourself at home. It’s a bit empty but we can work with it”

Maximus entered the room and saw the same empty painting frames hung and the statue stands stood empty. He walked through the exact same hallway of red carpeted floor and the solid wall of paint. This time, instead of going up the spiraling stairs he followed Cassie into a side room where there was a low-height couchin the european style with a glass pastry table in front of it. On the other side of the pastry table is the same couch facing the other one.

Cassie walked over to the couch farthest away and called for meztul 3 whispering something in his ear before motioning for Maximus to take a seat. Maximus decided to be polite and simply comply with her gesture and took a seat on the couch. Cassieopea snapped and a soft hymn of the harp and lyre echoed in the hall giving a celestial feel. The winged beauty crossed her legs, leaned forward and put her fingers on her lips slightly biting them making her look sexier than usual.

She suddenly tilted her head in confusion and acted like she was an innocent pure white daffodil with gleaming curiosity in her eyes like she was a small puppy.

“How can I help you today Sumi?” she inquired with a cheerful smile, a kind of smile that all young boys and girls love to see on their friend. The kind of smile that reminded one of the days that once were, a kind of smile you can only see in a childhood friend. A pure, genuine, hopeful smile.

Maximus greeted back with his own kind of smile, a smile he has practiced for years doing trade on the archipelago. A kind of smile unique to himself, a smile which made one think about a joyful boy’s speedy adventures out into the woods. The kind of smile you would see from a young child when they show you a snail that they caught, with dirt on their fingernails and their shirt all muddy. A bright smile shines through it all, excited and expecting the joys in life. His smile was precious and pure, an innocent smile with no trace of ill malice.

The smile in the culture of the northern archipelagos was something that transcended simple emotions on the face. It became something that was integrated into the everyday lives of people, the art of the smile was something that was written about and lectured. The culture behind the smile in the northern archipelago of Sicily shows the intent behind a person’s face.

When you smile, you are exposing yourself, you are showing what is deep down at the bottom of your heart and it is a greeting as well as a statement. When you see a person smile on the street you can tell just how good their day is, or how bad it went. The smile, in the purest and most genuine form can translate a thousand emotions captured into a single expression. The complexity behind each smile is one that can’t simply be put into words, the expression of the smile is an artform to itself.

In the Northern Archipelago of Sicily, there is an art behind the smile. That was at least what Maximus was thinking about at that moment because he practiced the art of every smile when he did business there. A pure, innocent, gentle smile deep from the heart, a genuine one was something that meant that they came with good intentions, as a friend. An equal smile back is a gesture to mean that you’re here for a simple meeting of friends.

In Cecilia’s mind though, she used this way of greeting to know if Sumi was someone who knew the culture of the Northern Archipelago. Cecilia had to confirm if Sumi was from the same world as her, as well as the same place as well. She placed all her chips on finding someone who can help her with funds and money right now in the real world as well as future assistance. Sumixam’s smile was perfect, a Xeluthian smile from the island of Xeluth. It was the island to the left of Ayrum, Cecilia’s country and had a variation of the same culture.

If someone had to describe the difference between the Ayrum smile and the Xeluth smile, the one can say that the Ayrum smile is filled with hope while the Xeluth smile is filled with a cheerful and bubbly smile. The implicit core differences were hard to notice, but for someone experienced with people like Cecilia she could tell the difference very quickly and began to assume that Sumi was either from Xeluth or a person who has done contact with the western part of the archipelago.

Inside, Cecilia was beaming and smiling with joy. She finally got a hit and found someone who can be friends with her in this new, absurd and intimidating world and she hoped to become real genuine friends with Sumi.

“I’m wondering if you can help me with some information”, Maximus said calmly, but secretly in Maximus’ mind was the most confused and shocked expression he could have. He always knew about the culture of smiling in the northern Sicily archipelago and he learnt about the perfect Xeluthian smile from his previous life but he would have never expected to be using it in another freakin dimension.

‘I guess she’s from the Siclian Archipelago’ Maximus surmised.

“What would you need help in?” Cecilia asked, mildly confused.

“There’s a friend on the Sicily Archipelago I’m interested in meeting with”

Cecilia raised her eyebrow in curiosity and her eyes shone a tint of intrigue.

“How many friends do you want to meet?”