Anaxtra's slender body raced between the trees of Dieng Valley. Every so often, she leaped up into a towering tree, swinging from one tree to another. Then she dove toward the rocks along the riverbank.
At times, she even ran across the water. Her jumping range could reach ten meters, making her seem as if she were flying. The automated bow always attached to her left arm was ready to fire laser arrows whenever she needed it.
Anaxtra leaped onto a huge rock in the middle of the river. In front of her, a massive stone wall poured out clear water, creating a breathtaking waterfall.
“Where does all this water come from?” Anaxtra wondered.
This waterfall was Dieng Valley's main water source. It flowed through the river that crossed the forest, with towering rocks on one side forming the stone wall enclosing Dieng Valley.
The river ended at a small lake, which was also surrounded by high stone walls, just like the waterfall. This was the only place in Dieng Valley where there might be a path to see the outside world.
“Are you going to try jumping up there?” someone called from the riverbank.
Anaxtra turned toward the voice. It was Peter. He had actually been running with Anaxtra, but his speed fell short of hers, leaving him slightly behind.
“I definitely will, but not today,” Anaxtra said as she leaped beside Peter, who was nearly eight meters from where she had been standing.
“About how high is this waterfall?” Anaxtra asked as she sat on a rock not far from him.
“Maybe around fifty meters, or even higher,” Peter replied.
“If my jumping ability reaches thirty meters, I'll only need two jumps. But I'll need a foothold from the first jump.”
Peter sat beside Anaxtra. “Can't your father's Flying Surfboard fly any higher?”
Anaxtra sighed. “Basically, the Flying Surfboard my father built uses particles embedded inside the board. It operates based on Earth's gravity. Its flight altitude is limited to ten meters without a load, and with one person riding it, that drops to seven meters.”
“Isn't your father developing that Flying Surfboard?”
Anaxtra shrugged. “But there hasn't been any progress so far.”
“Actually, that Flying Surfboard was my grandfather's legacy. According to his notes, he once planned to modify it by adding a sensor that could control its distance from nearby objects. Besides preventing collisions, the sensor would allow any object to serve as a foothold.”
“So it wouldn't rely solely on Earth's gravity anymore, but on nearby objects as well. In other words, even if it flew up a high wall, as long as it could maintain its balance, the Flying Surfboard would keep flying based on its distance from the wall instead of Earth's gravity.”
“But unfortunately, my father still hasn't been able to apply it to the Flying Surfboard.”
“How long will your father need to finish it?” Peter asked curiously.
“I have no idea!” Anaxtra said as she stood. Then, before racing off, she spoke again.
“It'll be dark soon. Let's go home!” Just as Anaxtra finished speaking, her body had already leaped far ahead and quickly disappeared behind the trees.
“Hey, wait for me!” Peter called as he followed in Anaxtra's direction.
Dieng Mountains was the coldest region, with temperatures dropping as low as 9°C. Thick fog often descended even before the sun had truly set.
Anaxtra entered her house and found her father sitting there, studying the Flying Surfboard on the table in front of him.
“Did you manage to add the sensor to the Flying Surfboard, Dad?” Anaxtra asked as she sat beside him.
Orval, Anaxtra's father, was a quiet man by nature. Yet his reserved manner made him an authoritative figure respected by the residents of Dieng Valley.
It was no wonder that the people of Dieng Valley, numbering fewer than fifty, had chosen him as their Leader. Orval's wife, Anaxtra's mother, had died when Anaxtra was born.
Orval only nodded.
“But I haven't tested it yet. Maybe you can try it tomorrow!”
Anaxtra looked at her father excitedly. “Really?”
“Then if it works, will you mass-produce it as transportation for the people here?”
Orval sighed.
“Actually, I'm worried that if this device works and becomes a means of transportation, they'll go too far.”
“Are you worried they'll leave this place?”
Orval shook his head. “That's not what I'm worried about. This valley has been inhabited by our ancestors for hundreds of years. No matter how far they go, this is still the safest place for them to live.”
“What I'm worried about is that life outside this valley is more dangerous than life here. Once they leave, there won't be any chance for them to return.”
Anaxtra understood her father's concern.
“You don't need to worry, Dad. With my abilities, I can definitely protect myself and the people of this valley.”
Anaxtra stood. “I'm going to my room to sleep. I have to test the Flying Surfboard first thing tomorrow morning. You should get some rest too, since you've spent all day repairing it.”
Orval merely nodded without expression. “I believe you'll do your best for the people of this valley. You go on ahead. I'll join you soon.”
Sunlight warmed Dieng Valley, and the fresh air seemed to be the breath of life within it.
Anaxtra twisted and turned atop the Flying Surfboard as she followed the river, occasionally spinning and flying higher over the forests of Dieng Valley.
No matter how far she traveled through the valley, she always ended up facing towering stone walls, as if there were no way out to leave Dieng Valley.
Anaxtra dove toward the riverbank not far from the waterfall, then landed perfectly on the rocks.
Not far from where Anaxtra landed, her father stood with Peter and Lilia, Peter's younger sister, who had come to watch Anaxtra's Flying Surfboard test.
“The sensor works perfectly, Dad!” Anaxtra said.
“Before, this Flying Surfboard could only hover above the surface of the earth. After the sensor was added, it could detect any object and hover above it. I tried it over trees nearly twenty meters tall, and this Flying Surfboard was able to adjust itself and fly even higher above them.”
Orval smiled with satisfaction.
“Wow, you did it, Uncle!” Lilia exclaimed excitedly.
“Lilia, why are you here too?” Anaxtra asked her.
“I saw Peter leave earlier. He said he wanted to watch you try the Flying Surfboard, so I followed him.”
Peter shrugged. “Uncle, can you make one for me?” he asked Orval.
“I want one too, Uncle!” Lilia chimed in.
Orval smiled again. “I've always thought of you two as my own children. Before I make more to serve as transportation for everyone, I'll make sure you two are the first to receive them.”
Peter and Lilia said together, “Thank you, Uncle!”
“Anaxtra, you haven't tried it on an incline yet. Try flying up that wall!” Orval said.
Anaxtra stared uncertainly at the stone wall in front of her.
“You only need to try. Pay attention to your body's balance. If you're still unsteady, don't force yourself to continue.”