By today, aside from a small number of guests who had come to take part in the tournament that would determine the world's future, everyone else on the floating island had come for all sorts of other reasons.
Some were here as attendants, some out of curiosity, and some had come with less than honorable intentions.
But whatever their reasons, the massive floating island, the exquisite magical city in the sky, the palace that towered like a great mountain, the bustling streets, the markets brimming with delicious food, and the many strange races coming and going had all left most visitors eating their fill and reluctant to leave. At the same time, they had left some of the visitors who had come for other reasons rather bewildered.
For instance, right beside the enormous arena outside the city, in a crowded area that resembled a marketplace, three girls stood amid the throng with bewildered expressions. They looked around helplessly, unsure whether they were searching for someone or waiting for someone.
"Oh no!"
"It's so huge here..."
"Misaka, Kuroko, where do you think Annie is?"
After looking around for a while longer, the petite girl among the three finally asked in a worried voice. She had long silver hair that reached her waist, green eyes, and fair skin. She wore an extravagantly luxurious white silk nun's habit embroidered with gold thread.
"I don't know..."
"Hey!"
"Index, don't ask me! I really don't know!"
The girl beside her, whom she had called "Misaka," spoke up irritably. She had shoulder-length light brown hair, matching brown eyes, and a determined gaze that refused to back down. Her pretty face needed no makeup, and she wore a short-skirted school uniform that looked completely out of place among the people around them.
"But..."
"Look, there seem to