Penacony, the Dream—[Daydream] Hotel
"How are you feeling? Any discomfort?"
"I've exited the pool. Feeling good."
Back in the familiar room, Stelle planted her hands on her hips.
"That puts my mind at ease. I know you're more sensitive to memoria than others—more easily affected by the dream. That's why I need to accompany you personally."
"I'll use a little trick to make it less uncomfortable. Don't worry—your companions are safe too. Before entering, I asked each of them for a small accessory. That lets me sense them in the memoria domain."
"They've already woken in their rooms. Now you can relax and come with me, right? Time waits for no one—let's head to the lobby."
For safety, Stelle first went to March 7th's room from memory and knocked—no answer.
She looked doubtfully at Black Swan. "March isn't in there?"
"I know what you're thinking. Unfortunately… that girl isn't inside. This isn't her room either."
"From the moment you stepped into the memoria domain, real-world architecture lost meaning. I can sense she's very far away right now."
"Similarly, finding the lobby Miss Navigator mentioned… will take some effort."
Following Black Swan to the dream's public lounge, they witnessed an unbelievable scene.
"Ah… her? How is that possible?"
In Black Swan and Stelle's view, two out-of-control Penacony service machines—Bubble Lithium Hounds from the Nightmare Troupe—had surrounded Acheron and Freesna due to emotional interference in the dream.
"Isn't there any staff here…?" Acheron frowned slightly, turning to spot Stelle and Black Swan behind her.
"Ah, it's you two?"
Acheron looked puzzled, but Stelle was the most confused—she'd never met Acheron!
"You… know each other?"
"Acheron—a [Galaxy Ranger] I met at a ball." Black Swan emphasized the last four words.
Freesna needed no introduction. Silver Wolf had mentioned their own Aeon was here too, so the elf priestess showing up was normal.
"Memokeeper, you have something very special on you."
Freesna stared at Black Swan, but now wasn't the time.
"Ladies… shall we work together to escort these overly welcoming kids away?"
"It would be our honor. Thank you both for the help."
While Acheron responded, Freesna had already retreated behind Stelle, saying cryptic words:
"Stelle, my loyal friend… I understand your feelings, but don't let anger cloud those brilliant eyes that can sever day from night!"
"Know that I am Emanator of Eternity and Saintess of the Church—judging all sins of HIM in this world. Only Eternity is the sole truth here!"
"Wow, first Emanator to hide behind someone instead of fighting. Priestess sis takes the crown."
Stelle quickly ended the battle with her bat. Acheron asked their purpose.
"Finally quiet. Why are you two here?"
"That's what we wanted to ask… An [Eternity] Emanator and a 'Galaxy Ranger'—together?"
Acheron didn't reply, just silently glanced at Freesna. She'd been dragged here from the milk tea shop.
"Ahem!" A Church member is missing… The Pontiff sent me to search. Have you… seen HIM?
Freesna pulled out a portrait of Adrian to show Black Swan and Stelle.
For some reason, Stelle felt she was showing off her art skills, but…
"Priestess sis, the portrait's focus is off—I only see an exquisite milk tea."
Stelle wanted to roast. Objectively, Freesna's art belonged at the same table as Gepard's.
"Memokeeper, your turn. Hand it over."
"This?" Black Swan displayed the new [light cone].
After a few seconds of internal struggle, she gave the valuable [light cone] to Freesna.
Stelle took it in—sensing [Eternity] power, so taking it to the Church. Church priestesses sure were domineering~
Whatever—not her stuff being robbed.
"You two arrived at the perfect time. This dreamscape is dangerous. Since our goals align, why not travel together?"
Acheron suggested, nodding at Freesna. "She can protect you from harm. In memoria domains, a Memokeeper's aid is essential too."
"Plus… if we run into the Family, one more person means one more explanation."
With an [Eternity] Emanator along, Stelle felt much safer exploring the unknown dream.
Black Swan didn't object—more people wasn't bad. Compared to the mysterious 'Galaxy Ranger,' Freesna seemed far more trustworthy—she at least played open cards.
"Glad to travel with you again, Miss Black Swan."
"Hmm… let's hope so." Black Swan recalled that less-than-pleasant memory.
Stelle noticed Black Swan's slight wariness. Ruling out [Eternity] Emanator Freesna—she definitely wasn't bad.
Only one truth!
Black Swan was wary of Acheron! Hiss… her identity wasn't simple either. Penacony was stacked with pros!
...
With an [Eternity] Emanator's help, efficiency soared. Freesna effortlessly opened a portal to their destination—they instantly arrived at the hotel lobby.
"Careful—dangerous presence nearby." Acheron's voice came first. Black Swan reacted almost simultaneously: "…Everyone, stay alert."
Stelle's mouth twitched. Battle right after landing… no breather at all!
Seeing the lobby so close, she dashed ahead in two strides—consciously tanking as the theoretically weakest fighter.
After all, she was a [Preservation] Pathstrider—tanked a Doomsday Beast ultimate, hard-controlled [Lord Ravager] Phantylia. Record speaks!
Instead, an unexpected scene:
"Huh, isn't that Firefly?" Stelle rubbed her eyes, suspecting hallucinations.
Black Swan was equally shocked:
"Miss Firefly… soloing that [memoria meme]?"
Even more shocking—Firefly wasn't losing; she was… dominating the memoria meme.
"Oh god… what kind of dream is this."
Stelle roasted while charging instinctively. Switching heavy fire lance to light mimicry bat in a flash, she shouted:
"Ha! Mere [Death]—eat my bat!"
Black Swan and Acheron didn't slack—joining immediately. Only Freesna stayed still.
Her lips curved upward—she understood everything.
An imperceptible yet profound smile bloomed. Her emerald eyes swirled with all-seeing light—as if [Penacony]'s secrets floated within.
Now, she fully grasped the truth behind this [beautiful dream].
Freesna suddenly dropped to one knee, right hand over chest—solemn as facing the supreme deity.
"Ah! Supreme Sovereign of Eternity! YOUR wise eyes have long pierced all illusions! Seeing through this 'beautiful dream's false veil is but a flick of YOUR great authority!"
"I offer the most fervent praise here! Only YOUR gaze transcends time's fog, etching eternal truth!"
Before her words finished, Freesna flashed forward like white lightning tearing space—precisely between Firefly and [Something Toward Death].
Without pause, blinding white light of [Eternity] power erupted from her palm, instantly engulfing the lobby.
Stelle was blinded—this brighter than Blake's holy light!
When vision returned, only the three of them remained.
...
Meanwhile, reality—[Daydream] Hotel
Adrian's gaze shifted from the window to Silver Wolf still battling on the holographic screen nearby.
HE looked up, gaze seeming to pierce the hotel's ornate dome—toward the more primordial, chaotic memoria domain hidden beneath Penacony's dream.
Adrian closed HIS eyes, finally releasing a near-inaudible sigh that dissolved into the air woven of virtual games and reality.