The shadow disappeared.
---
Just like that.
---
Gone.
---
The wind returned.
Birds sang again.
The floating city regained its glow.
---
To anyone else...
nothing had happened.
---
But everyone standing on that road knew better.
---
The Hollow King had looked at them.
---
And that was enough.
---
Nobody spoke for nearly a minute.
---
Then Ethan finally broke the silence.
---
"...Well."
---
A pause.
---
"I hated that."
---
Orion nodded immediately.
---
"Good."
---
"Good?"
---
"If you liked it, I'd be concerned."
---
Fair.
---
Madison stared toward the dark horizon.
---
The feeling lingered.
---
Like ice beneath warm water.
---
Hidden.
---
Waiting.
---
The universe remained unusually quiet.
---
Not frightened.
---
Thinking.
---
Finally it spoke.
---
"Why would people believe him?"
---
Orion looked upward.
---
Because that was the real question.
---
Not who the Hollow King was.
---
Not where he came from.
---
Why people listened.
---
After a long moment, Orion answered.
---
"Because he's convincing."
---
Silence.
---
The universe seemed confused.
---
"But he isn't telling the truth."
---
Orion smiled sadly.
---
"No."
---
A pause.
---
"He tells people what they're already afraid might be true."
---
The realization settled heavily over the road.
---
Madison understood immediately.
---
The Hollow King didn't create fear.
---
He fed it.
---
Nurtured it.
---
Turned doubts into certainty.
---
Questions into despair.
---
The universe whispered:
---
"Oh."
---
It finally understood.
---
And somehow...
that made Madison worry more.
---
Because innocence was learning about darkness.
---
And there was no way to unlearn it.
---
Aethel suddenly looked toward Skyreach.
---
His eyes narrowed.
---
"...Do you see that?"
---
Everyone followed his gaze.
---
The floating city still shone brilliantly.
---
But now—
they noticed it.
---
One tower.
---
Near the edge of the city.
---
Dark.
---
Every window black.
---
Every light extinguished.
---
A single dead spot in a city of dreams.
---
Orion's expression immediately hardened.
---
"Damn."
---
The word carried real weight.
---
"What is it?" Madison asked.
---
Orion looked grim.
---
"Someone stopped dreaming."
---
Silence.
---
Nobody understood.
---
Except Aethel.
---
And when they looked at him...
he looked horrified.
---
"That's impossible."
---
Orion shook his head.
---
"No."
---
A pause.
---
"It isn't."
---
The road suddenly felt colder again.
---
The universe asked quietly:
---
"What happens when someone stops dreaming?"
---
Orion's answer came immediately.
---
"They disappear."
---
Silence.
---
Absolute silence.
---
The floating city seemed more fragile than ever.
---
Madison stared.
---
"...Disappear?"
---
Orion nodded.
---
"Dreamborn people exist because they imagine tomorrow."
---
A pause.
---
"If they lose that..."
---
Another pause.
---
"...they fade."
---
The implication hit everyone.
---
Including the universe.
---
Especially the universe.
---
The voice sounded small.
---
"Because they stop hoping."
---
Orion looked upward.
---
"Yeah."
---
The new star that the universe had created earlier flickered gently.
---
Almost like it was listening.
---
Then something unexpected happened.
---
The universe asked:
---
"Can I meet this person?"
---
Silence.
---
Orion blinked.
---
"What?"
---
"The person who stopped dreaming."
---
A pause.
---
"I want to understand."
---
Nobody knew what to say.
---
Because the request was so...
genuine.
---
So sincere.
---
Madison smiled softly.
---
"You really are curious about everything."
---
The universe sounded proud.
---
"Yes."
---
Ethan laughed.
---
"At least it's consistent."
---
Orion stared toward the dark tower.
---
Thinking.
---
Calculating.
---
Finally—
he nodded.
---
"Okay."
---
A pause.
---
"But if we're doing this..."
---
He looked toward the city.
---
"...then we're about to meet the saddest person in Skyreach."
---
The road ahead suddenly felt much more important.
---
Not because there was a battle waiting.
---
Not because there was a villain.
---
But because somewhere inside that city...
someone had lost hope.
---
And in a world built from dreams...
that might be the most dangerous thing of all.
---
As the group started walking toward Skyreach...
the dark tower remained motionless in the distance.
---
Watching.
---
Waiting.
---
And far beyond the horizon...
in lands where nightmares gathered...
something smiled inside the shadows.
---
The Hollow King had made his first move.
---
And nobody knew how many more would follow.