Chapter 46

"'Keep a Heart from Sorrow', a work by Miss Robin."

"The Harmony Festival is coming soon, and her music will occasionally play in the dream."

Firefly took Stelle to the fence,

and looked at the sky in the distance.

At this moment, her expression appeared more peaceful than ever before.

Just like a delicate flower waiting to bloom.

Stelle just watched her silently, and felt that her heart had calmed down.

"This is the place closest to the sky in the dream, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and there is no quarrel between Dreammasters."

"You can be undisturbed by anyone, feel the present—the scenery of the present, people, and dreams..."

"How beautiful... time will always stop at this golden moment, a golden dream."

"The Fool of the tavern and the Memokeeper of the Garden of Recollection, the wandering ranger and the envoy of the company, the Nameless of the Astral Express... and me..."

The sky in the distance was as bright as a scroll,

and the brightly lit city was reflected in Firefly's eyes.

A meteor slid across the sky, dragging a gorgeous and dreamy tail flame,

setting off this scroll as dreamlike...

The gentle music flowed and rippled with it.

Firefly turned her head to look at Stelle, her expression peaceful and happy.

At this moment, time seemed to stop, and the golden sweet dream belonging only to the two of them quietly sprouted...

"Everyone sleeps here equally, regardless of the reason, although we do have our own purposes..."

"Hoo..."

"...Sorry, Stelle, I am indeed a stowaway."

Firefly suddenly spoke,

full of apologies...

"I know..."

Stelle had already guessed it,

so she was not surprised.

"As expected, I couldn't hide it from you..."

Firefly's face showed an expression of "as expected".

"My hometown was destroyed a long, long time ago, maybe it was the Legion, or maybe it was the Swarm..."

"I am an interstellar refugee, just like many locals in Penacony."

"Harmony embraces all people, including those drifters who come from afar."

"The Family accepts them, but they... after all, do not belong here..."

"In this magnificent metropolis, some people's dreams are called Penacony, while some people's dreams... are no different from reality, although... every ordinary person who comes here initially holds the same purpose."

"I am the same. The me in reality has a wish that I cannot get—it is too strong, so I resort to the dream..."

Firefly turned her back to Stelle,

looking at the meteor-filled sky,

and felt some emotion,

pouring out everything to Stelle.

"What is the wish?" Stelle asked softly.

"...Entropy Loss Syndrome. Have you heard of this term?"

"It is a strange phenomenon. People suffering from this disease will have their physical structure fall into irreversible chronic dissociation."

"This means you are slowly disappearing, and this disappearance is even hard to notice in the eyes of others..."

"You can still run, jump, and communicate with others."

"Everything looks so normal, but you are always a little slower than others..."

"...And then slower and slower, slower and slower, until you and the outline of the whole world become blurred."

"You can't distinguish between reality and dream, because they become equally broken."

"So, how can I refuse... can you imagine?"

"In this dream, I can actually... can not have to stay in a cold medical cabin..."

"I can leave the doctor's words behind, use my own body, and listen, see, touch, think, and understand as I please."

"Although this world is not real, this feeling is extremely precious..."

"Just like... right now..."

Firefly's eyes seemed to have light, making Stelle's heart move for it.

The video continues.

"Sorry. Because of some reasons, some things... I can't tell you everything yet."

"But there are also some things I should be honest with you."

"The Clockmaker's legacy is indeed what I seek, but we don't necessarily have to part ways and go to the opposite side, at least... I don't want this kind of thing to happen."

Firefly looked at Stelle, her tone sincere,

"I hope so too..."

Stelle met Firefly's eyes and nodded slowly.

"...Thank you."

Firefly smiled, that smile warmed the heart.

"I dream of a scorched earth, a new bud breaking through the soil, it blooms facing the morning sun, whispering to me."

"Remember... the question on the invitation?"

"Why does life sleep...?"

"Look, in this land of dreams, everything is allowed, everything is possible."

"The unbearable past dissipates like bubbles, and the tomorrow you don't want to face will never come."

"Why do people choose to sleep?"

"I think..."

"It's because they are afraid of waking up from the dream."

Furina: "Woo woo woo, stop talking, stop talking, and don't sing anymore!"

Furina: "If you do this again, I'm going to cry to death... woo woo woo!"

Palais Mermonia,

At this moment, Furina looked at this scene in the video,

crying messily.

And beside her, Neuvillette was constantly handing her tissues.

Paimon: "No... aren't they on a date?!"

Paimon: "Why... did it suddenly become so sad..."

Paimon: "And... Miss Firefly is actually in a sick state in reality..."

Paimon: "Woo woo, Entropy Loss Syndrome... it sounds like a terrible disease."

Yoimiya: "Clearly the scene in the dream is so beautiful, but I can't be happy at all now."

Yoimiya: "If life in reality wasn't too cruel, then why would Miss Firefly only be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery in the dream..."

Nahida: "Yes... just like that sentence of Miss Firefly..."

Nahida: "Why do people choose to sleep? It's because..."

"It's because they are afraid of waking up from the dream..."

"The world in the dream has no cruelty, only beauty..."

"There, no one will look at me with strange eyes..."

"And no one will compare me with her..."

"I can be myself happily."

"Even if... it can only be a moon..."

"But unfortunately..."

"Dawn will eventually come... the sweet dream must end..."

Sanctuary of Surasthana,

Nahida stayed in the cage,

her expression began to dim...

"Entropy Loss Syndrome..."

"Is the truth so cruel?"

"Our daily behavior in reality..."

"For her, it is something that can only be realized in a dream..."

In the carriage,

Stelle looked at this scene,

and fell into a long silence.

She had imagined what kind of truth Firefly would answer for her,

but she never expected the truth to be so cruel.

A girl as beautiful as a flower,

but in reality, she is just a helpless broken body.

"Woo woo woo, Miss Firefly is really too pitiful."

Beside, came March 7th's sobbing sound,

it was this scene,

that also made her cry.

Zhongli: "It's a pity that it's such a result."

Venti: "Sigh, I really hope this world has no suffering forever..."

Ei: "Miss Firefly, she... must have lived very hard in reality..."

Dr. Ratio: "Only relying on the dream to realize her dreams, I have to say, only at this time will I slightly recognize the significance of the existence of the Family's dream."

Aventurine: "It's just a pity that lucky people like Miss Firefly are only a minority."

Aventurine: "Most stowaways cannot possibly enter Penacony's dream alive."

Welt: "Reality is often cruel, but we can try our best to change all of this."

Welt: "At least make it no longer so cruel."

Herta: "The idea is good, but implementing it is harder than becoming an Aeon."

Sunday: "A true sweet dream should treat everyone equally."

Sunday: "Rather than just being a privilege for some people."

Thoma: "Well said! Mr. Sunday is really a loving person!"

Robin: "It's just a pity... this is not something we can change..."

Sunday: "Not necessarily, as long as there is a heart, then anything is possible!"

Stelle: "So Firefly... are you... okay in reality?"

Lumine: "I also want to ask this question."

Himeko: "I hope Miss Firefly is well."

Nahida: "Miss Firefly is a strong girl, she will definitely be fine."

Firefly: "Thank you all for your concern, I am fine!"

Firefly: "I'm sorry, because of my affairs, the atmosphere has become negative."

Sampo: "Sigh, don't be all sad. Come, think of something happy. Let's have fun."

Boothill: "How about this, I'll help everyone liven up the atmosphere."

Boothill: "Scaramouche, Dottore, come out!"

Boothill: "Bark twice for everyone in the live broadcast room to help!"

Scaramouche: "Boothill, you dog bastard, don't bully people too much!!"

Dottore: "Ant, I've endured you for a long time, do you really think I have a good temper?!"

Sparkle: "Hahahaha, I'm dying of laughter. Your way of livening up the atmosphere is really unique~"

Arlecchino: "..."

Tartaglia: "..."

The video continues.

"The atmosphere suddenly became so heavy, sorry, it shouldn't be like this... let me think, how to liven up the atmosphere?"

"Right—you have many friends on the train."

"How do you usually do when you encounter this situation?"

After a period of time,

Firefly's emotion returned to calm.

Realizing that the atmosphere at this moment was a bit wrong,

she wanted to liven up the atmosphere,

and disperse the heaviness just now.

"This... there are many..."

"For example, Dan Heng will tell cold jokes seriously..."

Stelle thought about it,

and gave an example.

"Tell jokes? Ah, I... don't have much sense of humor..."

"Maybe... we can think of other methods?"

Firefly shook her head,

indicating that she couldn't do this.

"For another example, Pom-Pom will use a watering can to make us calm down..."

Stelle gave another example.

"Watering can?? This is too... direct, right?"

"Perhaps... we have other choices?"

Firefly felt this method,

was a bit radical.

"Then... Himeko will brew us a cup of coffee..."

Stelle scratched her head and thought of Himeko's approach.

"Coffee...? It seems there is no condition for this right now..."

Firefly looked around,

and shook her head.

"Then let's have a simpler one."

"Mr. Yang will find a way to change the subject..."

Stelle said Welt's approach.

"But... I... I am already trying to change the subject..."

"But... I failed."

Firefly looked at Stelle,

her expression a bit helpless.

"March will also pull us to take selfies together."

"I think this method should be good."

Stelle brought out her trump card.

"Selfie, selfie... you are right!"

"I've been here so many times, why didn't I think of taking a photo?"