Liam wakes up. He isn't in his own room. So Joe should be next to him, but he isn't.
But Joe isn't lying next to him.
He remembers what happened the day before.
Jakob really has been kidnapped by pirates.
There's nothing they could do about it.

Liam slowly gets up, still being naked, and looks for Joe without getting dressed.
After looking for him in the living room he gets on deck and spots him behind the steering wheel.

Joe immediately notices Liam as well.
He's really happy, how Liam was able to calm him down last night.

Hey, good morning!
So, did you sleep well?

Yes, it's okay. Besides that incident, it was a lot of fun evening yesterday.

Joe wonders if Liam remembers everything correctly.
But before he can respond properly, he notices an island on the horizon.

Look, do you see this island? I'll drop you off over there.

Liam intently looks at the only visible island as they get closer and closer to it. It's relatively small.
A large, majestic building made of dark stone almost completely covers it.

When we get there, I'll let you out.
They should let you in. I know them well.
Then I'll head straight towards the pirate island, where I try to get information about him.

Pirate island? Sounds exciting. Can't I come with you?

It might be dangerous there. You know how much I like you.
I'd like to stay with you. But your safety is just more important to me.
I'll come back as soon as possble.
But I'm sure, you'll like it there. It's a magical place.

Liam really wonders, what Joe means by this.
He probably just met a cute girl there.

Soon they arrive. It's around noon by now.
Liam and Joe hug each other tightly to say goodbye. Liam even gives Joe a brief kiss.

You don't need to tell me if you'll stay.
When they let you in, I'll just wait for a few minutes, and then leave.

Sounds good. I hope you'll find Jakob soon.

Then Liam gets out of the ship immediately and walks towards the building.

He doesn't need to go far until he's standing at the huge door of that building.
The door even has a knocker attacked, so he uses it to knock.

After a short wait the door is slowly being opened and a child around his age with longer, white hair and a slim build slowly opens the door.

He isn't sure if it's a boy or a girl, but she looks pretty feminine, almost like a female version of himself.

Hey, stranger. It's rare that we get unexpected visitors. What's your concern?

Hi, I'm Liam. I just want to stay until Joe gets back. He said he knows you.

I personally don't know a Joe. But sure, just come in. We always like to have new residents here.

Liam enters the building. When the child is already closing the door again, another child suddenly runs outside and leaves.

Now Liam finds himself in a large, luminous hall with magnificent staircases. The walls and ground are mostly white. Everything looks a bit like glass and sparkles.
A few other people, all resembling the child to some degree are running around.
At the sides of the hall, some corridors lead into deeper areas of the building.

Where can I go now?

Obviously you should be able go everywhere.
You're free to do whatever you want here.

So isn't there anyone to tell I'm here?

I know it already. And most people here will have already noticed you anyway.

And is there a room for me to sleep?

Just pick one that's not occupied yet.
If you want, I can show you around.

Liam seems overwhelmed.
It might be a bit too much freedom to him.

Oh, but if you want, you can also just get into my room.
There's still enough space for you as well.

Yeah, I think, I'd prefer that.

Then just follow me!

They go into one of the corridors.

Liam is excited. He'll just share a room with a cute girl soon.
But he's also kind of scared. In the city he already has been close to boys a lot, but not really to girls.

Just to be sure, you are a girl, right?

Would you like that?

I think so, why do you ask?

Liam remembers what Joe said. Maybe this is really a magical place.

You can't change between boy and girl using magic or something, can you?

No, sorry. I'm a boy. Tila is my name.
We are not proficient in that kind of magic.

Magic? So you can use magic for real?

Sure, but we only know about kinetic magic.
So telekinesis, changing temperature and things like that.

You all are really magicians?

Yeah, didn't that Joe tell you about this place?
We are a group of elf sword fighters and keep the nature islands in this area safe, especially from pirates.

Oh, sadly you weren't able to keep the pirates away from this area as a whole.

Yeah, we can't prevent every pirate to cross the sea.

Liam thinks about telling Tila about Jakob, but he doesn't really want to talk about him now.

They keep going and soon reach some room, which Tila opens.

So this is my room.
But if you prefer to be with a girl, feel free to enter another room.
We elves are not picky about our roommates.

No, it's fine. I already know you, so I'll stay with you.
Except you prefer otherwise. Just tell me.

Maybe Liam is even happy to be able to sleep with a boy instead.

To be honest it doesn't make a difference to me if there's somebody else in my room.
I guess it will be a bit annoying, but it can also be fun.

Yeah, you're probably right.

Liam chuckles.

Then they enter the room together.

So, do you like it here? I hope the bed is large enough for both of us.

Sure, I'm fine with everything I'll get.

Feel free to take a look around here. And if you need something just ask. You can just ask anybody, they'll be nice.

It's really nice here.
But I already got a question.
You said girls are here as well, right?

Yeah.

But everybody looks more or less the same as you. So how do I spot the difference?

The difference is about the genitals of course.
It's the same as it is for humans like you.
Didn't you know that?

Of course I know about that.
But I can't just see their genitals.

You can. Just ask them.

But... so would you just show me your dick?

Sure. Would you like me to show it to you?

What?!? No!!!

You'll see it anyway when I undress.

Okay... but you're only talking about changing. You won't sleep naked, right?

Usually I do sleep naked. Is that a problem?

Oh... uhm... I guess it's okay. We're both boys, right?

Yeah, sure.

But no need to get naked already. It isn't that late yet.
I still want to explore this place. Could you show me around?

Sure, if you want me to.

Cool, I'm already excited.

They leave the room again and go back towards the huge hall.