Finally, I found it. The treasure room. It’s solemn and looks way too grandiose for its single chest sitting lonely square in the middle. But I’m sure it means its contents won’t disappoint…

They do not! Another diamond frog, two separate golden calendar plates, and oh, so many golden coins Loladorada could have stood at the bottom of the chest and I still wouldn’t have seen the top of her tail.

This opens up possibilities for me, so many possibilities. As I inspect the precious artifacts in my hand, I can’t help but go back, again and again, to those plans I had, those plans I made, but never quite dared to follow. This, this feels like the last push I needed. The reassurance that all can and will be right.

But in the meantime, I have to get home. It’s enough time spent in Selvadorada, and my little brother and sister have a birthday to celebrate.

Pitched the tent at night, mere yards away from the temple. One thing you learn from literally getting burned in this place, is that you’d better go in well rested. So as the sun touches the tent and the stone of the temple I wake up, ready to go explore it first thing today.

Totally ready for it — once I’ve fended off YET another electric firefly attack.

Inside the temple, as usual, I have to rely on my knowledge of omiscan culture and tastes in puzzle-making to clear my way through traps of fire, dangerous gases and, you guessed it, electricity.

The tests come in many forms, but fortunately, I’m really good at what I do.

One more door to clear, and I reach an antechamber. Not quite the treasure room, but in it sit two chests that look more than promising.

I slide their lids right off.

In the first one, I find an ancient relic! Well, a Chaos base for an ancient relic.

And in the other one…

A frog-shaped artifact covered in diamonds! And gold coins, many gold coins.

This is what towers above this new spot I found, the complex city of temples and waterfalls and cascades that makes the bulk of the remnants of the omiscan civilization.

And on the other end, spilling into the river where I’m trying to fish, the royal baths, where I first swam with Mom what feels like forever ago.

I’m at a peaceful spot between those two marvels of architecture, with the sound of water flowing and the sound of the most exotic birds fighting for attention.

Yet when I fish, my thoughts invariably go to Dad. He’d be amazed, I think, at the improbable fish you can see swirling below the surface.

He’d probably be better at catching them than me, though, let’s be honest. Could never quite get the hang of this.

I walked through the forest all day and walked into more than one odd situation. There was a family of sloths, who led me through an opening in the trees, to a cliff with an incredible view, a place I’d never been before.

There was also the pink egg I watched an adorable — albeit really weird — creature hatch out of. And then, of course, the electric fireflies attacked me. Thanks to tips I got at the market, I avoided them skillfully, if I do say so myself.

The night falling and the mosquitoes buzzing doesn’t stop me from working my way through the forest. I’m motivated, and I barely ever sleep.

If anything, this is my favorite time to go through the gates. The atmosphere, under the gas lights, is out of this world.

That being said, sometimes even I do need sleep.

Can never catch a break with those electric fireflies, can you? Ah well, witness my skill at dancing them away.