The vehicle came to a stop in front of the ceremonial building. The moment the doors opened, a massive screen greeted them with a brilliant message of congratulations.
> Congratulations to Aleph and March, winners of the contest!
The red carpet was laid out with elegant precision. Decorative banners wished good fortune for the upcoming Charismonia Festival. Everything looked immaculate, as if it were prepared for a large-scale celebration.
But Himeko couldn't help frowning as she noticed something particularly strange.
Why was the place so empty? Where were the people? The reporters? The curious onlookers?
The venue was completely deserted.
"This is far too strange." Himeko murmured as she surveyed the silent space.
"…" Firefly said nothing, simply positioning herself beside Aleph and Stelle.
"Why can't anything normal ever happen?" March complained, puffing out her cheeks.
"We can't expect things to resolve themselves." Stelle said, gripping her bat.
As they approached the red carpet, a vocal melody echoed through the air, followed by a magnificent chorus that spread throughout the venue. Firefly let out a quiet sigh, while Aleph and Stelle frowned as they recognized something all too familiar.
The moment they passed through the doors, they slammed shut behind them.
The group advanced a few steps.
The interior was just as empty as the outside—almost like a ghost town.
Before anyone could speak, a melody erupted from the central stage.
A large choir intoned that ode without uttering a single word.
Aleph stopped short. Stelle's eyes widened in surprise.
"Huh? Why does this feel familiar…?" She murmured.
Aleph frowned.
"That intonation…"
Firefly stepped forward, ready for combat. But the expected attack never came.
A golden light ignited at the center of the hall.
Sunday sat calmly on a black chair, eyes closed, hands folded.
He raised one hand. The choir—made up of members of the Oak Family—fell silent at once.
The singing stopped instantly.
The young man stood. His white-and-gold suit gleamed beneath the spotlights. He took a few steps forward and stopped, offering a ceremonial bow.
"On behalf of the organizers." He said calmly, inclining his head slightly. "I extend my sincerest congratulations to the winners of the contest. Your radiance has been a gift to this festival. I hope to see that same light shine upon us once more."
Instead of responding to the compliment, Aleph narrowed his eyes at a detail that stood out.
"Where are Welt and Robin? What happened to the audience?"
Sunday looked at him serenely, then raised his hand.
Two spotlights lit up the stands.
Welt and Robin were there, asleep, seated as though merely resting.
"Both are safe." Sunday replied. "Resting peacefully, as they deserve after all their efforts."
"Naturally, the Dream Master received your request with courtesy…" He tilted his head slightly. "But regrettably, neither he nor I can accept the Astral Express's petition."
Firefly let out a breath, closing her eyes for a brief moment.
"So the worst has been confirmed…"
March looked at her, confused.
"The worst?"
Firefly never took her eyes off Sunday.
Sunday gestured toward the screens descending from above. Dozens—perhaps hundreds—settled into formation.
"I know why you've come. I know what you seek. And I acknowledge the truth in your words, Penacony must change in order to survive."
His gaze settled on Himeko, Aleph, March, and Stelle.
"But not in the way you Trailblazers imagine."
The Head of the Oak Family let out a small sigh. His expression hardened.
"The Planet of Celebrations cannot return to being a place ruled by chaos and disorder."
He clasped his hands together.
Thousands of small screens descended around the hall, forming a floating mosaic of images. Each showed something different, yet the same decay ran through them all—the most miserable face of the Planet of Celebrations.
"During your time here, you have seen enough to understand. This world devours its own. The strong prosper… and the weak are crushed."
Sunday's gaze grew colder.
"But what of the child who must comfort his starving sister? Who saves the abandoned woman, her legs broken by the debts of an irresponsible husband who fled without looking back? What becomes of those who will never be given a chance—neither in their dreams nor in reality?"
The choir murmured softly behind his words.
"And in the end… who rises? You do. The heroes. The extraordinary. Those who do not represent the rest, nor stand alongside them."
His eyes swept over the group, stopping on Aleph and Stelle.
"I must apologize for the bluntness of this question… but if you were ordinary people—without a Stellaron, without gifts beyond the norm—what kind of Penacony would you choose?"
The hall fell silent.
"A harsh, cruel dystopia where only those who crush others can rise… Or a gentle dream where happiness is shared by all, without exception?"
Stelle raised her hand like she was in class.
"I don't get any of this. I usually leave the hard thinking to March or Dan Heng."
March let out a deep sigh.
"Stelle, please stop answering the guy with the tragic-villain complex."
Aleph remained silent, staring at Sunday.
His thoughts drifted to Jarilo-VI, to Cocolia's lance, to those who fell to Mara on the Luofu, to Cocona, and countless other memories.
Was what Sunday proposed truly so absurd?
A world without pain. A dream where everyone was happy. Perfect order.
Before he could continue that line of thought, Himeko stepped forward.
"Whatever the Oak Family's stance on the Stellaron may be, this is not the time for philosophical sermons. We need facts."
Sunday met her gaze calmly.
"The Stellaron affects the lives of everyone in Penacony. It cannot be treated as a minor detail. If you have a better proposal than sealing it, we will listen. But first, you must know what occurred during the audience."
Himeko's tone left no room for evasion.
"What happened to Welt and Robin, for example."
Sunday exhaled slowly.
"A stance befitting the one who leads the Express. Always at the forefront, clearing every obstacle in the way."
He turned to face them all, more solemn than before.
"Then listen carefully. I will tell you what transpired during the audience."
The spotlights began to dim.
"About our ideals."
Only the lights illuminating the group remained.
"About the measures we have taken."
The choir fell silent once more.
"And about the only path we will follow."
The screens surrounding the hall flickered. The images shifted at once, replacing the mosaic of misery with a new scene.
An empty street bathed in purple light. There stood Sunday, Robin, Welt… and a raven with violet plumage, its eyes gleaming with an unsettling intelligence, accompanied by three members of the Oak Family.
"Have I understood correctly what you're saying?" The Dream Master asked through the four bodies. "Some shameless individual intends to use the Carismonia Festival and a Stellaron to unleash a disaster in Penacony?"
Robin stepped forward.
"That's correct." She affirmed. "When the Festival begins and the Stellaron's power erupts alongside the song, the melody will spread across all of Penacony. If that happens, no one will ever wake up again. They'll be trapped in an eternal dream."
The Master's voice turned contemplative.
"The dreamscape exists thanks to the joint efforts of the five Families. If someone intends to use the Carismonia Festival as a catalyst… and also possesses a Stellaron, then that person must hold a very high status. Or be working directly under someone of such rank."
All four voices asked at the same time:
"Do you have a suspect in mind?"
Before Robin or Sunday could respond, Welt raised a hand.
"Before that, Dream Master." He said in a firm tone. "I would like to know whether you truly knew nothing about the Stellaron."
The raven tilted its head. The faces of the three Oak Family members smiled simultaneously.
"Interesting. Seeing how calm you are, I thought you would be more cautious and reserved, but it seems I was deceived by appearances. You're as sharp as a spear."
Welt exhaled and softened his expression.
"If my words were too harsh, I offer my apologies. But circumstances have cornered us. If possible, please ease our concerns. We have limits to our investigation, while you can see beyond them."
Robin stepped forward to stand beside Welt.
"Dream Master, forgive us. We only wish to confirm that the Carismonia Festival is not involved with the Stellaron. If we are mistaken… I will accept offering any tribute you desire as compensation."
The Dream Master remained silent for a few moments.
"I have known Sunday and Robin since they were children." He finally said. "I know who they are. I know how devoted they are. For both of them to act this way and support an outsider… the magnitude of the disaster you describe cannot be small in any sense."
Their gazes turned to Welt.
"Mr. Yang, since you also speak with sincerity… how could I respond with anything less than the same transparency?"
Before the screens, Stelle brought a hand to her forehead.
"Adults and their complicated way of talking… how annoying."
Everyone turned to look at her. March hurriedly covered her mouth with one hand.
"Stelle! Please excuse this idiot, she didn't mean that, hahaha… ugh." She said, mentally cursing Stelle for not knowing how to read the room.
The screens continued to advance.
The Dream Master nodded slightly.
"Sunday, establish the vow. And eliminate the possibility of lies."
"As you command."
Sunday obeyed without hesitation.
"Robin." The Dream Master continued. "May I ask you to serve as witness? In the presence of the Harmony, I will proclaim my innocence, and no slander shall touch me."
"As you command."
"Oh, soul of three faces." Sunday intoned solemnly. "Burn his tongue and his palms with searing iron, so that he may not utter falsehoods nor hollow vows."
Golden energy spread between master and disciple. Robin placed a hand over her chest and closed her eyes to act as witness.
From that moment on, the Dream Master was bound to speak the truth.
Sunday began a series of questions.
"Have you devoted your life solely to your goddess, never once thinking of worshiping other gods?"
"Of course."
Himeko frowned.
"Have you strayed from the path expected by your goddess, thus betraying her name?"
"Never."
"Then I will ask you one final question…" Sunday smiled and nodded with satisfaction. "Do you swear to fulfill all your vows, past, present, and future?"
"With you and the Aeon as witness, if I fail to keep my word or break my vows, may I be cursed according to divine law."
Sunday nodded, satisfied.
"I have seen the depth of your faith. And with this, I believe it can be made evident—"
"Enough."
Sunday looked at Welt in confusion.
"What is it, Mr. Yang?"
The Master inclined his head serenely.
"I have a doubt I would like you to answer."
Welt looked at them both.
"As I understand it, the harmony and prosperity of the Family have never been associated with that 'divine law' you mention. Sunday, Dream Master… when you speak of your goddess, are you truly referring to Xipe?"
The Master replied calmly.
"All within the Family unite under the light of our Aeon. There can be no duality. A chorus so devoted, so intricate… whom could we serve, if not the Magnificent One?"
Himeko's eyes widened as she turned toward Sunday.
"Long ago." Welt began. "There existed an Aeon with movements as rigid as a puppet's, whose golden threads gave birth to laws. A reverent chorus recited its hymn throughout the universe."
Aleph's and Stelle's eyes widened.
That chorus. That melody.
It was the same one they heard in the Simulated Universe.
It was identical to the one they heard upon entering the hall.
Sunday turned toward the group with a serene expression.
Welt continued his explanation on the screen.
"That Aeon fell in a collision with Harmony. It was devoured, and the song of its chorus fell silent. When it resonated again, its voice aligned with Harmony…"
Robin opened her eyes in shock as she understood the implication.
"Even if an Aeon disappears, the Path survives without an owner. And within Harmony, which forgives all… the echoes of what once was can resurface."
"Mr. Yang…" The Dream Master let out a sigh. "Has no one told you that being clever and not knowing when to keep your mouth shut can be harmful traits? Especially… when you are alone and without an ally nearby."
Welt adjusted his glasses with a grimace.
"Hmph, so that's how it's going to be?"
The screens went dark, and everyone's gaze returned to Sunday.
"…It's truly a shame that things had to end this way." Sunday murmured.
Himeko inhaled slowly, still processing the revelation.
"I can't believe it…" She murmured in disbelief. "Remnants of Order worshippers… after all this time."
March pointed at Sunday with a deep frown.
"Alright, enlightened genius. What did you do to them? And why are Mr. Yang and Robin over there asleep like museum exhibits?"
Sunday replied calmly.
"I have granted them a moment of stillness deep within their own minds. A space where they may reflect on their fate without disturbances."
Stelle tightened her grip on her bat as she looked at Sunday with a grin.
"You do realize this is going to cause problems, right? Kidnapping one of our companions isn't exactly the best way to start if the path you're aiming for is a peaceful one."
March shot her a sideways glance.
"…And now why do you look so excited?"
Stelle gave a thumbs-up.
"Because ever since he opened his mouth and started reciting those weird speeches, I've wanted to hit him." Stelle replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
March facepalmed.
For the first time since they had entered the hall, Sunday was completely thrown off.
"…How can someone be so absurdly violent…?"
He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure.
"I deeply admire the Astral Express's sense of justice. And I value your sincere dedication to saving Penacony from the calamity that—"
"Could you stop going in circles and just say what you want to say already?" March interrupted, crossing her arms and giving him a distinctly unimpressed look.
Sunday's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"Patience is a virtue, young traveler."
"And clear, concise speech is one too." March shot back without budging an inch.
Sunday's eyebrows twitched again, but in the end he chose to ignore her.
"As I was saying…" He continued. "If you wish to understand our actions, you must first understand our purpose. And—"
But Aleph cut him off before he could go on.
"You're wasting your time." He said, fixing Sunday with a serious look. "If you think taking Welt and Robin hostage is going to make us submit, you're even more of an idiot than you look."
Sunday sighed quietly. His patience was beginning to wear thin with so many interruptions.
"…There is no need for concern. Mr. Yang and Robin are in perfect condition. And they will remain so while they are under our care. After all, as was promised…"
His tone grew more solemn.
"…death is impossible in Penacony. And it will be completely eradicated in the new world governed by Order. Too much blood has been spilled on this planet—and in the universe—for us to wish to take part in any further unnecessary bloodshed."
Firefly watched him with absolute indifference, as if his words did not even merit a response.
Himeko looked away.
"Reviving a fallen Aeon…" She murmured, unsettled. "It's disturbing how far they're willing to go."
"And not knowing the exact method they plan to use doesn't help at all."
Sunday smiled faintly.
"I have always believed that, regardless of the subject, people can resolve any conflict if they abandon hostility and speak with true honesty. That is the path I follow as one who walks the roads of Order. And that is the wish I seek to fulfill here, in Penacony."
He turned his back to them, slowly walking toward the center of the hall.
"Words are never enough. No matter how hard I try, I will never be able to convey the beauty of the vision we pursue. So I will show you the path. Follow me."
Himeko stepped forward to follow him, with Stelle, Firefly, and March right behind her. Before moving, Aleph gently took Himeko by the arm.
"Are you sure we should follow him? It could be a trap."
Himeko nodded without losing her composure.
"I think so too. But it's the only way to obtain information. If the situation worsens, take Stelle and March and leave immediately. I won't argue about it."
Aleph frowned for a few moments before finally releasing her arm and nodding.
They walked a few meters until an enormous golden platform gleamed beneath their feet. Seen from above, it resembled a giant eye, with Sunday standing directly over the iris.
The moment he stepped onto the surface, his body vanished.
"W–What?! Where did he go?!" March spun around, searching in every direction.
The hall's screens shifted instantly, closing in around the group. Sunday's voice echoed from the speakers.
"Do not be alarmed. What you have witnessed is an advanced attunement technique. I have transferred my consciousness to the center of my inner world… and now I have connected it to these screens."
The monitors flickered with golden light.
"Everything you see will be the truth of my heart. My emotions, my thoughts, my memories. Deception is impossible. The attunement will also act upon you… you will feel my emotions in the same way I felt them."
The choir resonated softly, a distant echo.
"Now… be silent. And observe. This is the path I walked."
The screens lit up.
Small, childish hands filled the image. Resting between them was a trembling white chick. Its feathers held a soft purple-and-blue gradient, and one of its wings was injured.
"You are about to witness a small fraction of the path I had to walk, and the decisions I was forced to make. I selected only a few, so you may better understand how I arrived here. And you will understand what I truly desire for Penacony." Sunday explained.
"This happened long ago, when Robin and I were still just children."
The camera moved closer to the trembling chick.
"This is the first story."
The images continued unfolding across the screens.
The environment gradually shifted until it revealed a devastated city. Collapsed buildings, streets torn open by jagged fissures, and an atmosphere heavy with dust suspended in the air.
"This was the first disaster caused by a Stellaron that we witnessed in our childhood."
The scene showed two small children, covered in dust, holding hands amid the remains of a destroyed street. Sunday and Robin. Their faces were stained with soot and dried tears.
"We lost our parents that day."
Bodies covered with blankets. Adults crying in silence. Medical personnel removing debris with exhausted expressions.
"That was when Gopher Wood found us."
The figure of an adult man appeared in the scene. His expression was stern, yet his eyes were not devoid of compassion. He crouched in front of the children, studying them carefully before extending his hand.
"He was the one who adopted us. Long before he became the Dream Master of Penacony."
Stelle yawned without bothering to hide it and began swinging her bat from side to side.
"Is this going anywhere?"
March turned toward her to scold her.
"Stelle, don't be rude."
Stelle raised an eyebrow and leaned slightly toward her.
"Don't you think the same?"
March looked away and scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"…Maybe a little."
The images moved on.
Now a spacious home with a garden surrounded by greenery came into view. Sunday and Robin, still children, ran around without a care in the world.
"For a time." Sunday continued. "We lived without worries."
The scene changed again.
At nightfall.
Sunday and Robin appeared sitting in the garden after dinner, lounging among bushes and flowers. While Robin hummed a melody, Sunday was trying to draw her portrait.
That was when something caught his attention.
A small white chick was trembling among the leaves. Its feathers were barely developed. A faint purple-and-blue gradient could be seen on its wings and chest. One of its wings hung unnaturally.
"It was a Charmory Dove."
The image showed the bird trying to move, unsuccessfully.
"It couldn't sing or fly. It barely had any feathers."
Robin knelt in front of the bush in the scene, bringing her hands to her mouth.
"We thought it had been abandoned by its parents."
Young Sunday watched in silence.
"We immediately thought about building it a nest."
The images showed both children arguing, pointing at branches and leaves.
"But winter was about to begin. The currents in the garden were growing colder by the day. We also realized there were poisonous insects and wild animals nearby that could easily see it as prey."
The camera rose, showing the full extent of the grounds.
"If it stayed there, it wouldn't survive to see spring."
The scene showed young Sunday carefully lifting the chick.
"My decision was to bring it inside. To place it on a shelf near the window of my room. I could ask the adults to build a cage for it."
The chick appeared inside the room, sheltered from the wind.
"To take care of it until it could spread its wings, and then release it."
Robin shook her head in the scene.
"Robin thought differently. She wanted to build a small habitat inside her room. A space where it wouldn't be caged, but would still be safe."
The image showed a childlike sketch filled with plants and branches.
"At that moment, neither of us understood something fundamental."
The screens dimmed slightly.
"That the bird's fate had already been decided."
March and Stelle blinked in unison.
March leaned toward Stelle and whispered.
"Do you think they sent him to a psychologist because of this?"
Stelle shrugged indifferently.
"Obviously not. That's why he's using us as a captive audience to listen to his childhood trauma."
Sunday continued as if he hadn't heard anything.
"Now I will give you the freedom to choose."
Three buttons floated in front of each of them, suspended in midair.
"Imagine that you are there."
The options lit up.
"Follow the original plan and leave it in the garden? Bring it inside and build a cage? Create a habitat without caging it? Don't rush your choice. Take your time, and choose only when you are certain of your answer."
March sighed, running a hand over her forehead.
"Why does he just drop a question like that out of nowhere and then go quiet…?"
She finally stepped forward and pressed one of the buttons.
"I guess I'd choose to build a cage." She said. "If you didn't, the weather or some predator could kill it. That would be… sad."
A moment after March, Himeko was next. She pressed her button calmly.
"I would choose the cage as well." She said. "I don't really have a special reason. I'd prefer to leave it free if possible, but if it doesn't live to see that freedom… then does it really mean anything?"
Shortly after, Firefly took the initiative and touched her button.
"I don't fully understand the purpose of this question." She said. "But I would choose the same."
Aleph looked at her with curiosity.
"Why?"
Firefly met his gaze seriously, and Aleph felt momentarily unsettled.
"Because even if you release it later… what good is that freedom if it can't protect itself? It would only change the way it dies." Firefly lowered her gaze slightly. "…If it stays in the cage, nothing and no one can harm it, and it would live a peaceful life under the care of those who love it. Don't you think so, Aleph? That this is a much better fate for the bird?"
Without even giving him a chance to respond, Firefly silently stepped to March's side.
Stelle stepped forward and pressed her button with a smile.
"I'd keep it as a pet."
Everyone looked at her blankly.
"I'd make it a nice cage." She continued. "And when it could fly, I'd train it to obey me and to do its business from the sky on people I don't like."
March, Himeko, and Aleph all brought a hand to their faces.
Firefly sighed, a hint of nostalgia in her expression.
"…Some things never change." She murmured, recalling the time Stelle wanted to adopt an Abundance Abomination.
"But Kafka, I promise I'll take really good care of it! I'll even train it to use the bathroom."
"No, I don't want it ruining the living room by fighting with Blade."
Only Aleph remained.
He stepped forward in silence and pressed his button.
"Which one did you choose?" March asked.
"To build it a nice habitat." Aleph replied, his mind briefly drifting to some memories.
A boy watching the stars from a lonely rooftop, imagining himself as a little bird soaring through the night sky, flying among distant stars without any chains.
As well as that of another child gazing at the stars from the window of a white room, his eyes shining as he fantasized about exploring each and every one of them.
"…If you want a reason." He murmured, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just don't feel comfortable caging anyone."
Sunday remained silent for a few seconds after hearing the last response.
"Interesting."
The screens lit up once more.
"Let us begin with the outcome of the first option." He continued. "Following the original plan and leaving the Charmory Dove in the garden."
The image once again showed the yard.
"According to my observations, at least three predators that hunt small birds inhabited the surrounding area."
An insect with a dark carapace, a curved stinger, and multiple legs clinging to the trunk of a tree.
"The Vossickle Scorpion."
A creature with an elongated body, sharp claws, and alert eyes slithering through the vegetation.
"The Asdana Wolverine."
Finally, a winged silhouette diving down from the night sky, with gleaming scales and fangs visible even from a distance.
"The Huntington Winged Serpent."
Sunday continued.
"Although animals and insects such as these usually avoid human contact, in a confined space like a yard they can be considered apex predators."
The image stopped on the shrub where the chick had been found.
"A Charmory Dove that cannot fly has no means of escape. What fate other than a cruel death could possibly await it?"
The screens shut off before showing any conclusion.
"As for the other options." He said. "You will have to wait a little longer. I have decided to reveal the outcomes once all trials have concluded."
Stelle's phone began to ring, and she quickly set it to vibrate with a somewhat embarrassed expression as she became the target of everyone's intense stares.
"Let us move on to the next one. This story is about a dreamseeker."
The images showed a wide hallway inside a building that, at least to a certain extent, vaguely reminded Aleph of a church.
"This occurred when I was a Bronze Melody."
The scene shifted to a more enclosed room, similar to a confessional.
"This position belongs exclusively to members of the Oak Family. Their duty is to listen to the concerns and grievances of the inhabitants of the dreamscape and offer them guidance or direction."
Sunday continued.
"During that period, I heard countless voices from different corners of Penacony, whether they were sad, joyful, bitter, arrogant, or remorseful."
Stelle exchanged glances with March, and both simply shrugged.
"The complexity of human nature fascinated me." He said. "I considered it a true fortune to be able to glimpse it."
The image stopped on a man with a weary appearance. He wore worn-out clothes and spoke rapidly, moving his hands nervously.
"He was a dreamseeker like any other." Sunday continued. "Although he had entered Penacony illegally."
The man spoke without stopping.
"He said he had come in search of a better life. Like many before him, he had sold everything to reach Penacony—his home, his land… even his own children."
Aleph frowned in disgust as he listened.
"He said he could not afford to care for them." Sunday continued. "That at least, as slaves, they would be able to eat."
Stelle clicked her tongue.
"He believed he had a perfect plan." Sunday said. "All he had to do was gain access to the dreamscape, and then, once he succeeded in Penacony and became rich, he would reclaim everything."
The image showed the man being intercepted by figures in suits.
"His plan was clumsy and quite naïve. To think he could force his way through with the Hound Family guarding the place? It might have been possible if he had the necessary skill, but no—this is not that kind of story, and he… could not escape them."
The screens darkened briefly.
"When I heard his story." Sunday said, "I asked the Hound Family to stop pursuing him."
The figures halted. The man was left alone.
"I thought that, in doing so, he would be able to live in peace."
Sunday sighed.
"At the time, I was far too naïve. What to me was an act of mercy had disastrous consequences."
The screens went dark.
"But before speaking of them." He continued. "I would like you to make a choice."
Two options appeared floating in front of each person.
"Would you do the same as I did?" He asked. "Would you ask the Hound Family to stop pursuing him so that he could live in peace and continue chasing his dreams? Or would you ignore him, allowing him to flee until his inevitable judgment caught up with him?"
Stelle clicked her tongue again.
March and Aleph looked at her.
"What?" Stelle replied, crossing her arms. "Do you really expect me not to be annoyed? This kind of story that feels like a movie calls for snacks! And I don't have any!"
"I am eager to know your choice." Sunday said. "Who knows? You might even be able to change the outcome."
March crossed her arms with a deep frown.
"I can empathize with stowaways to a certain extent." She muttered. "But someone like this, who even abandoned his own children… does not deserve compassion. He should be punished."
"I do not like parents who abandon their children." Aleph said flatly.
Himeko crossed her arms and carefully observed the buttons before finally making her choice.
"It is a difficult decision." She admitted. "But if I acted purely out of kindness… I think I would ask that he be left alone."
Firefly remained silent for a few moments before stepping forward and making her choice.
"I would probably do the same."
Stelle stepped forward and pressed one of the buttons without saying a word.
Sunday observed the result with a certain curiosity.
"Hmm." He murmured.
"There is a clearer division than in the previous trial."
The screens lit up once more.
"If he had not been captured." Sunday said, "He would have died anyway, wandering somewhere in Penacony. Illegal methods of entering the dreamscape lack the safety present in the orthodox method via the hotel."
The figure began to distort.
"As for living within the dream through this method… it is nothing more than a fallacy."
The screens shut off completely.
"As for the outcome…" He continued. "I offer you my sincerest apologies. We will first proceed to the third and final trial."
The screens lit up once more.
"This story happened the day I was appointed head of the Oak Family," Sunday said. "By then, Mr. Gopher Wood had already become the Dream Master."
The image showed a spacious, orderly office with a dark wooden desk, shelves filled with documents, and a window overlooking the dreamlike landscape of Penacony.
"At his request, we had a private conversation."
The Dream Master was seated, reviewing some papers before placing one on the desk and sliding it toward him.
"I was quite surprised when all he did was hand me a letter and ask me to read it." Sunday continued. "It was a normal letter from Robin. Full of her usual sweet words, anecdotes from her travels, and a few observations about interesting things she had seen, accompanied by her standard promise to bring me a souvenir when she returned from her tour."
Sunday lowered his gaze to the paper in the image.
"I didn't understand what was so important about it that she would call me in person."
Before he could ask, the Dream Master spoke.
"She asked me if I knew who had written the letter, even though the answer was obvious." He said. "I knew her handwriting and expressions perfectly, even those somewhat childish details she always included, so I had no doubt it was hers."
Stelle shivered slightly and leaned toward Aleph.
"Please don't be like that weirdo." She murmured.
Aleph tilted his head, confused.
"What do you mean?"
Sunday continued.
"I asked if she had called me over such a triviality, knowing the workload I had that day."
The Master of Dreams sighed.
"Then she asked me another question," Sunday said. "She asked if I knew which planet Robin was on."
Sunday frowned.
"I replied that, according to the letter, she must be on Kasbelina-VIII."
The Master of Dreams nodded and said it was correct. Then he asked something that left Sunday speechless.
"She asked if she had mentioned the stray bullet."
Sunday remained still.
"The Master of Dreams explained to me that Kasbelina-VIII is a war-torn planet." He continued. "And that was precisely why Robin chose it for her tour."
As the conversation continued, the Dream Master handed over activity reports about that particular planet.
"She wanted to spread Harmony and, through it, save lives, even if in the process she ended up going to the frontlines herself."
Sunday sighed as he repeated the same words the Dream Master had once given him.
"She wanted her music to ease suffering," he continued. "And she also took care of distributing the Corporation's medical supplies."
The image froze.
"But bullets don't understand compassion."
Sunday grabbed the Dream Master by the shoulders abruptly.
"I asked about her condition."
The Dream Master responded calmly that if the operation had been successful, she should be resting in a field hospital…
"She was lucky." He said. "The bullet hit her neck, but it didn't reach any vital artery. Perhaps it was a miracle granted to her as a reward for her deeds."
The Dream Master withdrew his hands from Sunday and headed toward the door.
"He told me to finish my tasks quickly. That way I could leave as soon as possible to be by her side."
The door slammed shut, finally pulling him out of his reverie.
Sunday clicked his tongue.
"I cursed those savages. And in a low voice, I thanked the Dream Master."
Sunday turned his attention to the group.
"Do you now understand why Robin always wears such elaborate decorations on her neck?"
Ignoring the silence, he decided to continue speaking.
"This belongs to the past, and no matter how much one wishes otherwise…" He continued. "Nothing can change what has already happened."
The screens showed Robin smiling, unharmed, in a later image.
"I'm telling you this because I want you to understand something." Sunday said. "The limitations and dilemmas within the ideology of Harmony."
The images gradually faded.
"As beautiful as the phrase 'the strong will protect the weak' sounds, many times it is nothing more than a tasteless joke."
Sunday sighed.
"This is the final choice." He said. "Don't worry. Whatever you choose, this time there won't be serious consequences."
Two buttons appeared in front of each person.
"This is a recurring nightmare that often haunts me whenever I hear the words 'journey' or 'tour' come from Robin's mouth."
The images showed Sunday alone, from behind.
"I want to know what you would do in the same situation."
The buttons lit up.
"Would you support her journey along the Path of Harmony? Or try to stop her?"
After saying everything he had to say, Sunday fell silent and patiently awaited the others' choices.
March was the first to speak.
"It's sad what happened to Robin… That 'the strong must protect the weak' is really a beautiful mantra, but…"
Her gaze landed on Aleph, then Stelle, and finally Himeko, before settling on the floor.
"But if the price is that…"
She frowned and stepped forward to press one of the buttons.
Himeko murmured softly.
"There are times I experience similar nightmares. I see countless faces. Among them mine, others', and some that, though blurry, I vaguely recognize as familiar."
As those hazy memories crossed her mind, Himeko closed her eyes briefly.
"The despair and fear they convey are so intense that I can't help but feel crushed by them, like giant rocks. Yet they don't retreat." She said as she opened her eyes. "And they face what threatens them despite the helplessness they feel."
She looked at Aleph and Stelle, who seemed somewhat confused.
"If this question from Sunday confuses you." she said. "Seek the answer in your own experiences. After all, danger and tribulations are a fundamental part of a Trailblazers's journey."
She studied them carefully.
"Would you step back?" She asked. "Or would you ask Dan Heng, Marzo, Welt… or even me, to abandon our next destination, in order to protect our safety?"
Himeko shook her head gently.
"Think carefully. There is no correct answer. Only the one most suitable for each of you."
"Robin's courage is truly admirable." Firefly murmured. "…Now I feel a bit guilty for thinking she was just another ordinary idol."
She ran a hand through her hair and let out a sigh.
"Besides… she's his sister." She continued, glancing sideways at Sunday. "No matter how ambitious someone is, I can't imagine a person wishing harm on their own family. At least… that's what I believe."
Firefly stepped forward and pressed her choice.
"I think… I would support her."
Stelle clicked her tongue in frustration and stomped her foot.
"Why the hell do all these choices have to be this difficult?"
Disbelieving eyes fixed on her as she covered her face with one hand.
"De tin… marín…" She murmured, moving her finger from one button to the other until she finally pressed one.
"…de do… pingüé."
Sunday sighed at the sight, though it didn't stop him from smiling as he stepped out of his inner world to face them once more.
"Very well." he said calmly. "Now I know each of your stances. I suppose it's also time to reveal the true outcomes of each choice you made."
His eyes swept over the group.
"In the case of the Charismony dove, none of the decisions you made would have actually changed the outcome."
March frowned.
"Even if you had opted to cage it and release it later, the result wouldn't have changed. Attempting to fly, it would have crashed into the window and died from the fall." Sunday said.
"If you had followed Robin's wish and built a habitat, it would have only taken someone forgetting to close a door for the bird to escape and ultimately become prey to another predator."
Stelle pouted.
"The Dreamseeker's situation isn't much different." she commented, beginning to walk toward the group. "If the Hound Family had been stopped, it would have died from a stroke caused by a flaw in the illegal method it used to enter the dreamscape."
"If it had been ignored and allowed to escape." Sunday said. "It would have been captured and expelled from Penacony. How long can someone survive without credits, shelter, food, or drink? The outcome… even without stating it, each of you should already know what it is, right?"
Sunday nodded, seeing that none denied or confirmed his words.
"This was the true purpose of my tests." He said at last. "To show you one thing… Harmony cannot solve the problem that plagues Penacony."
Aleph and Firefly stepped in front of the others as his proximity grew.
"The true foundation of paradise." He continued, unshaken by their ready stances, "Can only be built through Order."
There was no hostility in his gaze, but neither sorrow nor compassion. If Aleph were to compare it to something, he would only think of the calm waters of a lake.
"I know the suffering of being tormented and the confusion of losing one's way. I know how despair and grief invade the mind when things don't go as expected."
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, lowering his head.
"And that saddens me deeply. After all… happiness shouldn't feel like this."
"And what do you think happiness is?" Firefly asked, frowning as she looked at him.
Sunday resumed his advance, offering a serene smile.
"To me, happiness is not a property, as the nobles proclaim." He said. "It's a form of survival for the weak and something that should belong to everyone."
Aleph cracked his knuckles.
"Human consciousness." Sunday continued. "Is nothing but an illusion. A cage called 'self-worth'… People blinded by that illusion make mistakes, and when they face the consequences and difficulties, they try to evade them by blaming others instead of confronting the weight of what they brought upon themselves."
Sunday looked at them, frowning.
"When those mistakes spread to the masses, they become impossible to track. The accumulation of such cages culminates in the creation of a prison, a place governed by… 'the law of the survival of the fittest'…"
For a brief moment, his calm eyes revealed a hint of hostility, though none could perceive it.
"That nature always comes with predation and sacrifice… The antithesis of that is Order."
Aleph clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Get to the point."
Sunday pointed to Aleph and the electric current beginning to course along his skin.
"Right now, you are the perfect example, Aleph Avesta." He said. "Your mind is guided by that instinct. You perceive me as a threat, and your body is preparing for confrontation, but I assure you…"
Under the light illuminating his body and the glorious chorus composed of the voices of the Oak Family, Sunday extended his hands toward them.
"You would have no more worries." He said calmly. "My purpose is to unite happiness under the banner of Order."
He looked at each of them.
"There would be no more bitter decisions. No need to confront the inherent weakness of human nature."
He took another step, drawing closer.
"You could leave behind the primal instincts that drive you to conflict and be reborn as a new humanity that has completely overcome the limitations of the old."
He opened his arms slightly.
"Transcending the flesh, transcending primitive notions. And thus… embracing the idea of a new day with your hearts."
He stopped, noticing Stelle's lost expression.
"Even a good explanation isn't always enough. What I want to convey is abstract, so I'll try to give a simpler, easier-to-understand explanation."
Sunday raised a finger.
"One week."
Some blinked.
"For most, weekdays are filled with work, obligations, and burdens. Weekends, on the other hand, represent rest."
He lowered his hand.
"My wish is to extend that, so that after one Sunday comes another, and then another, continuously. Composing an idyllic week made up of only Sundays."
His voice overflowed with warmth as he explained his vision.
"A time when weary souls can finally find peace, without difficult choices filling their lives with pain and without imposed burdens filling their days with conflict."
He met Aleph's gaze.
"Some would gaze at the stars, from distant Pegana to the edge of the Cosmos." He said. "Getting lost in their vastness, counting them one by one."
His gaze passed over Firefly, March, Himeko, and Stelle.
"Others would seek quieter corners. They would support each other while pursuing their dreams without difficulty. Completely free from obligations they never wanted."
He shook his head gently.
"There would be no need to face the harshness of reality. Only then can humanity confront the inevitable end with the purest spirit."
As that sweet chorus released that celestial melody, Sunday's smile conveyed a sense of absolute peace.
"And to live a life truly worthy. That…"
Under the gaze of the others, he delivered his verdict.
"Should be the greatest happiness."
**************************************************************************
Extra: Nightmare
Black Swan could not help but find comfortable the feeling of Aleph's arms wrapping her in a strong hug.
Aleph's chest rose and fell rhythmically under his soft breathing, he had a slightly silly smile and some drool on his cheek as well as one leg bent toward the edge.
"Mmm~ Stelle~ you can't eat Pom-Pom..." He murmured in his sleep.
"What are you dreaming about this time?"
Black Swan curled up against his body, listening to his breathing to make sure it hadn't changed.
She sighed with relief noticing that despite his abrupt movements, Aleph did not react at all.
Seeing his silly face, her eyes filled with deep affection.
"You still make such dangerously cute expressions while you sleep..."
Easily freeing herself from his arms, she sat on the bed, the mattress sank under her weight and her body leaned toward him.
Manipulating her body structure, she temporarily removed "the memory" that gave weight to her physical form, so he would not wake up despite her sitting astride him.
She extended a hand and brushed a fallen lock from his forehead. Her breath caught slightly as she watched him.
"You're so beautiful..."
His hair was so soft to the touch, different from what she remembered from previous observations, but familiar in the way it fell on his cheek.
She moved the tip of her finger along the strand and finally let it fall behind his ear, some brown strands could be seen among the gray hair.
"Have you already started balancing yourself?"
Her cold finger was tinged with the warmth of his own body.
She brought her other hand and stroked the fabric of his shirt before gently squeezing it to lift it, exposing his strong abdomen.
Her hand stopped suddenly as she trembled, observing the long series of scars that rose from there.
"Why do you always hurt yourself?"
She wondered as her vision blurred slightly from unshed tears. But she quickly shook her head and refused to let them fall.
She leaned in a little more.
Her breath brushed against his neck, she smiled sweetly seeing how his skin reacted with a slight shiver.
"Fufu~ you've always been very sensitive, right?"
She rested a hand on the bed, very close to Aleph's side. Her body descended slowly as she changed position to be face to face.
A memory assaulted her as she once again observed his silly and cute expression.
"Sister, hug!"
His chest continued rising and falling calmly.
"I love you, sister."
Her heart beat so hard...
"Have a girlfriend? Will I really have to do that when I grow up? Fine, then I will grow up and become the most handsome man in the world, so my sister will become my girlfriend and we will be together forever!"
So sweet...
"L-Little brother, that's not possible, you know? It's not right!"
So pure...
"Hmph! Impossible is a word used by losers!"
So tempting.
Her gaze landed on his lips and she couldn't help biting her own. In the end, she cursed herself internally for her lack of self-control.
Slowly and carefully, her face descended, getting closer and closer to his.
Until softly their lips touched with a slight brush.
When she lifted her face, she blushed completely as she timidly stroked her own lips.
"If only you were awake..."
She rested her forehead on his shoulder, Aleph's shirt wrinkling against her skin.
Her body was bathed with the warmth of Aleph's body as her blush deepened.
She rested her head against his chest, and with a movement, her nose buried itself in his shirt, a slight smell of sweat, lavender, and peaches spread to her nose.
Her body shivered as if she had received an electric shock.
"Dangerous! This is dangerous!"
She immediately pulled away, feeling a little embarrassed by her actions.
Looking at her free hand, temptation became irresistible as she took his hand and slid her small fingers between the openings of his open hand.
"That dog is so cute. By the way, is it really necessary for you to hold my hand so tightly, sister?"
"…Do I need to remind you who almost got run over chasing the ice cream truck?"
"…No, I'm sorry."
Her throat closed for a moment.
She released the hand and took it again a little more firmly.
"This hand… should never have let go of mine."
She leaned over him once more, her nose touching the line of his neck.
She raised a hand to his cheek and sank her finger into it.
It was as soft as a marshmallow.
She rested her forehead against his.
Their breaths mingled, Aleph's chest pressing against hers with each rise.
Black Swan pressed her forehead a little more, the skin of both warmed.
Her hair brushed his cheek.
She moved her mouth and placed a small kiss on his temple.
The kiss repeated once more, closer to the edge of his eye.
She slid her fingers down his neck toward the collarbone.
The shirt gave under her hand, stopping where the curve of the shoulder began.
Her fingers climbed to his throat.
She noticed the slight movement he made as he swallowed.
"Do you dream of some lady, little Casanova?"
A bitter taste spread across her mouth as she remembered how many flies (women) swarmed around Aleph.
She leaned toward him once more as her lips brushed his ear.
"I love you."
Aleph's body didn't react, but that didn't matter.
Black Swan brought both hands to his face and held him delicately.
She brought her mouth closer and kissed him again, though soft and not as intense as she would have liked, she hoped her feelings could be transmitted.
Her lips remained slightly wet.
Aleph's breathing remained unchanged.
"You always leave and make your poor little sister wait for you alone."
She lowered her gaze.
She touched his chest, right where she felt the warmth under the shirt. The sensation of his heartbeat transmitted to her hand.
"Time and again you fly chasing a warm sunrise, poor little bird..."
She rested her forehead on his collarbone and remained still.
She stayed like that, clinging to him, wishing his warmth could purge the cold that made her body shiver.
"Remaining unaware of how that evil hunter aims his arrow at you..."
Aleph continued sleeping.
With arms loose at his sides.
Black Swan lifted her head and stroked his neck with her fingertips.
"But this time, I will make sure he can never release the arrow..."
She leaned over him one last time, giving him a kiss on the cheek before settling back in his arms.
She turned her gaze to him, ignorant of the misfortune that awaited him, sleeping peacefully.
Tears filled her eyes again but she did not dare to utter those words once more.
"I love you."
**************************************************************************
Sorry for the delay. The truth is that I already had the chapter ready; I just needed to correct a few things.
Part of the reason is that I wanted to wait a little for 3.8 to see if there is anything I need to modify as a result, as well as to see if what I have planned for Constance can be integrated with what is shown in your patch.
I haven't completed the mission yet, but from what I've seen so far, I'll stick with what I had planned for it.
Anyway.
How did your first rolls of the version go? I'm still trying to get my Gallagher to become an E6, but no luck.
By the way, this Extra is chronologically located in Chapter 62.