Skyreach was even more beautiful from the inside.
---
Floating gardens drifted between crystal bridges.
Streams of silver water flowed through the air like ribbons.
Thousands of lights glowed warmly throughout the city.
---
Yet one part of Skyreach felt different.
---
Wrong.
---
The dark tower.
---
It stood near the city's edge.
---
Silent.
---
Unlit.
---
Alone.
---
The closer they walked, the more obvious it became.
---
Nobody came near it.
---
Nobody looked at it for long.
---
People passed quickly.
---
Quietly.
---
Like they were afraid.
---
The universe noticed immediately.
---
"Why are they avoiding it?"
---
Orion sighed.
---
"Because sadness scares people."
---
Silence.
---
The universe thought about that.
---
Then asked:
---
"Why?"
---
Nobody answered immediately.
---
Because that question didn't have an easy answer.
---
Eventually Madison spoke.
---
"Sometimes people don't know how to help."
---
The universe became quiet.
---
Processing.
---
Learning.
---
Then the voice whispered:
---
"Oh."
---
A simple word.
---
Yet somehow it sounded sad.
---
The group finally reached the tower.
---
The door stood slightly open.
---
No guards.
No locks.
No barriers.
---
Just silence.
---
Orion pushed the door.
---
The tower creaked softly.
---
And they entered.
---
The inside was dark.
---
Not completely.
---
Just enough.
---
Like someone had stopped caring whether the lights stayed on.
---
Dust covered shelves.
---
Books lay forgotten.
---
Curtains blocked the sunlight.
---
The place felt abandoned.
---
Yet someone still lived here.
---
Madison could feel it.
---
At the top.
---
Waiting.
---
The group climbed the spiral staircase.
---
One floor.
---
Two.
---
Three.
---
Higher.
---
Higher.
---
Until they reached the final room.
---
The door stood open.
---
And inside—
---
A girl sat beside a window.
---
Perhaps eighteen years old.
---
Long black hair.
Pale skin.
---
Her eyes stared toward the distant horizon.
---
Empty.
---
Not lifeless.
---
Just tired.
---
Very tired.
---
She didn't turn around when they entered.
---
Didn't react.
---
Didn't even seem surprised.
---
As if she already knew they were coming.
---
Orion stepped forward carefully.
---
"Elara."
---
Silence.
---
The girl continued staring out the window.
---
The floating city stretched beneath her.
---
Beautiful.
---
Alive.
---
Yet she looked at none of it.
---
Finally—
she spoke.
---
"You're late."
---
Her voice was soft.
---
Flat.
---
Like emotion required more energy than she possessed.
---
Orion rubbed the back of his neck.
---
"Sorry."
---
Silence.
---
Elara nodded once.
---
As if that was enough.
---
The universe whispered quietly:
---
"She sounds sad."
---
Nobody replied.
---
Because she did.
---
Madison stepped closer.
---
Elara finally looked toward them.
---
For the first time.
---
And the room seemed colder.
---
Not because of power.
---
Not because of magic.
---
Because hopelessness has its own weight.
---
Her eyes settled on Madison.
---
Then Ethan.
---
Then Aethel.
---
Then Orion.
---
Finally—
---
She looked upward.
---
Toward the unseen universe.
---
And somehow...
she seemed to know it was there.
---
"Hello."
---
The universe immediately responded.
---
"Hello."
---
Silence filled the room.
---
Elara stared at the ceiling.
---
Then smiled faintly.
---
A tiny smile.
---
The first one she'd probably made in days.
---
"So you're real."
---
The universe sounded confused.
---
"Of course."
---
Elara laughed softly.
---
Not happily.
---
Just tiredly.
---
"I wasn't sure."
---
The words hit harder than anyone expected.
---
Because that wasn't really about the universe.
---
It was about everything.
---
Hope.
Dreams.
Tomorrow.
---
Reality itself.
---
The universe asked gently:
---
"Why did you stop dreaming?"
---
The room fell silent.
---
Orion closed his eyes.
---
Aethel looked away.
---
Even Ethan became serious.
---
Because nobody had asked the question directly before.
---
Not like that.
---
Not honestly.
---
Elara stared out the window again.
---
The city lights reflected in her eyes.
---
Then she answered.
---
"Because dreams don't always come true."
---
Silence.
---
The universe didn't respond immediately.
---
For perhaps the first time since its birth...
it didn't know what to say.
---
And somewhere far away...
beyond Skyreach...
beyond the mountains...
beyond the edge of hope itself...
---
The Hollow King listened.
---
Smiling.
---
Because this was where he grew strongest.
---
Not in fear.
---
In disappointment.