Normally, when the world teeters on the brink of disaster, a common threat unites all—heroes and villains alike band together, ensuring their survival for another day.

But here...

Caelus gulped and shuddered, his voice tinged with disbelief, "How did things turn out this way..."

What unfolded was not an alliance but a confrontation. Two women faced off, their conflict spurred not by collective danger but personal stakes or the affection of one man.

Caelus found himself ensnared in the middle of their tumultuous showdown.

To his left, Firefly wielded a device that radiated intense heat. The air shimmered with the scorch of her anger, capable of melting asphalt and vaporizing any objects unfortunate enough to be nearby.

If not for the protective enchantment of the dreamscape, Caelus was certain he would have dissolved into nothingness alongside the disintegrating scenery.

On his right, the atmosphere was equally oppressive, charged with a bone-chilling cold that harbored a sharp, electrifying edge. Anything electronic in the vicinity was instantly fried.

Any movement, even the slightest twitch, risked slicing him into countless pieces.

Acheron stood with her Odachi sheathed yet poised, a threat to unleash a blade so sharp it could sever the very fabric of reality.

Caelus darted his gaze from left to right, attempting to defuse the escalating tension with a pleading expression. However, the women were engrossed in their standoff, paying him no heed.

Opting for diplomacy, he ventured, "Umm... guys? Can we talk this out, please?"

Acheron and Firefly turned to face him, their eyes blazing with the fury of fire and lightning.

"No," they replied in unison.

Caelus visibly slumped at their curt dismissal. He glanced at Misha and Clockie; the former was struggling to hold back tears, while the latter seemed amused by the unfolding drama.

Firefly redirected her focus to Acheron, her fingers inching toward the grip of her Odachi.

"You ask what I intended with Caelus? I was merely trying to assist him," the Stellaron Hunter declared confidently.

Acheron advanced a step towards Firefly, her tone dismissive, "Assist him? At such a conveniently vulnerable moment, stepping in when he is lost and his partner absent?"

Firefly, visibly irked, countered as she too stepped forward, "I acted because I saw an opportunity to guide him as he contemplated his next steps."

Pausing, Firefly's device glowed ominously green, "From your tone, I infer you're his partner. Yet, you weren't there for him. What kind of partner overlooks such a duty?"

Acheron bristled at the accusation, electricity crackling around her as she moved closer, "And you? A stowaway who has lurked for weeks, repeatedly failing to capture his attention. Did you require a crisis to ensure his undivided attention?"

As the argument escalated, Caelus felt the gravity of the situation; the specter of death loomed, both tantalizingly close yet far, bound within the volatile fury of the two women before him.

Firefly's eyes began to emit a green glow as Acheron's verbal jab struck a nerve. Indeed, since her arrival in Penacony, not much had gone according to plan.

The script laid out by Elio? It had faced countless delays, each one caused by unexpected interruptions from all corners, with every unfolding event further postponing her anticipated outcomes.

Her personal agenda? It had been incessantly disrupted by the very presence of Caelus' acquaintances. Although she bore no ill will toward his friends from the Astral Express—who merely sought a leisurely escape in Penacony—she found the constant attention he attracted from numerous women to be overwhelming and frustrating.

She longed for the days when such attention was directed solely at her from him.

Adding to her irritation was the woman standing before her, who seemed to have effortlessly captured Caelus' interest and appeared to have a certain sway over him.

Firefly clicked her tongue uncharacteristically, her frustration palpable, fueled by Acheron's cutting remarks and her own challenging experiences in Penacony.

She retorted to Acheron's incisive observation, "Even if that's true, my only intent was to ensure his safety from others!" Pointing accusingly at Acheron, she exclaimed, "You! You don't deserve his attention! Your involvement here has nothing to do with him!"

Firefly's words carried a tone of hurt, reflecting the accumulation of her struggles in Penacony, a revelation that prompted a look of concern from Caelus, who now viewed the Stellaron Hunter with a mixture of sadness and empathy.

Taking deep breaths to regain her composure, Firefly muttered to herself, "Hah... so much for keeping my anger in check."

As Firefly worked to regain her composure, Acheron felt the full weight of her own words.

Her decision to come to Penacony was her own, driven by a profound sense of duty and honor to fulfill another's quest. She was committed to helping this person achieve their objective.

She whispered softly, her voice tinged with doubt, "That's not true... I..."

Acheron, always pragmatic and focused, found her goals straightforward and attainable. Few obstacles had ever hindered her progress as she pursued her life's objectives, but now...

She murmured, intended for only one person to truly understand, "My goals have shifted, and I can't afford to lose this... That flickering hope..."

Rather than anger, Firefly's accusations brought a crushing realization upon Acheron.

She sighed deeply and turned to Caelus, who was now gazing at her with an even deeper concern than he had shown Firefly.

A faint smile curled the corners of her lips, a gentle expression reserved just for him. Internally, she felt a fleeting triumph seeing his focused concern, but then her gaze shifted back to Firefly, and she felt a stirring urge to remove her from sight.

Her sword, ever a repository of memories, had captured a singular image of Firefly and her past association with Caelus, evolving into something resembling friendship.

Yes, friendship—a simple, albeit not ordinary, perhaps even intense relationship. It wasn't romantic, but the young woman before her had shown a past affection for him—a genuine concern.

Kafka had mentioned that Caelus was once a part of the Stellaron Hunters, but she had not delved deeply into the details, choosing instead to honor Caelus' current identity. It seemed possible that Firefly, among others, had been one of few of his friends before he transformed for Elio's script.

Perhaps Acheron could extend a chance for reconciliation to the woman standing before her. If matters of the heart were at stake, Acheron had already staked her claim; she believed that her place—in fact, her entire existence—was intertwined deeply with his.

She approached Firefly, who appeared calmer now, though she still tightly clutched her device.

Acheron spoke up, "Your words hold truth. Yet, that doesn't mean my views are unchangeable." She then swiftly took Caelus' hands and pulled him close, eliciting a surprised yelp from him. "Through him, I've discovered something truly precious, and I refuse to let go."

Firefly watched, her eyes wide as Caelus blushed, drawn nearer to Acheron.

On the outside, Firefly gawked as Caelus attempted to step back, but Acheron's arm securely encircled his lower back, firmly holding him in place.

Internally, Firefly felt a surge of defiance rise within her, a reminder of her resilience as the last surviving member of the Iron Cavalry.

Yet, observing Caelus—embarrassed but seemingly content—stirred a mix of self-loathing and reluctant happiness within her.

Life as a Stellaron Hunter was challenging enough, but being hunted with a bounty on their head globally? It was an incessant struggle to evade those driven by greed.

The device in her hand dissolved into a mist of static green fire, and she placed her hand over her heart.

'It hurts...'

It was painful, but if this was the new life Caelus chose with others, then she would force herself to accept it.

Even if the acceptance was a burden she had to bear indefinitely.

As Firefly's emotions shifted, not abruptly but gently, she looked towards the source of her newfound emotional change.

It was Clockie, who had sensed Firefly's sadness and empathized deeply. "Nobody, and I mean nobody, is allowed to be sad in this dreamscape! The dream must remain a place of innocent desires and joyful escapades," Clockie declared.

The entity then hopped towards Firefly, patting her hand reassuringly, "Clockie understands your sadness, and it's okay! Look." It gestured towards Caelus, prompting Firefly to turn her gaze in his direction.

Clockie offered words of encouragement, "You still have a chance with him. Perhaps what the Ms. have said holds truth, but it doesn't mean you cannot find a way to reconcile with both of them! Instead of retreating into despair, why not embrace this change with acceptance, and perhaps, extend that acceptance to yourself?"

Firefly sniffed, "Acceptance...? But I have already come to terms with this change. If he's happy, then I should be happy too."

Clockie shook its head, now drawing attention from both Caelus and Acheron. "No, no, no! That's not entirely what I meant. While accepting the change is beneficial, you should also transform yourself positively. Let this acceptance catalyze a positive change within you. What do you think, Caelus?"

Caught off-guard by Clockie's direct question, Caelus was momentarily speechless, but Firefly's pleading eyes urged him to respond.

He turned to Acheron, who gave him a gentle nudge, encouraging him to speak his truth. He sighed, preparing to speak candidly.

Facing Firefly, he began, "Back in Xianzhou Luofu, I met Kafka and Blade as they were trying to escape. They hinted that I was once part of the Stellaron Hunters."

Misha, overhearing this, looked curious but remained silent.

Caelus continued, "Although I don't recall my past life, the special treatment and genuine friendship from everyone in the group are testaments to how you all regard me—as a friend, a partner, and perhaps more."

He stepped forward, Acheron's arm falling away, and gently took Firefly's hands. "I can see you're hurting. You may harbor special feelings for me, and perhaps we were once close friends, but I'm not the same person I was."

Turning to Acheron, who watched him with a soft expression, he admitted quietly, "For I may have already chosen who I want to be with."

This revelation caused a tumultuous stir within Firefly, but she clung to a fading hope.

Caelus added, "However, that doesn't mean I don't want you in my life. How about we start over? We can rebuild our friendship, set new boundaries. What do you say?"

Firefly glanced down at her hands, still warm from Caelus's touch, feeling the weight of his proposal.

She hesitated, "I... I'm not sure. My life as a Stellaron Hunter could endanger your new life. I don't want to cause you trouble..."

Caelus smiled understandingly, "It's alright. The Astral Express and I are quite forgiving. We don't judge based on past allegiances but on current intentions. And you've proven your goodwill."

Firefly remained tentative, but Caelus reassured her, "Don't worry. Silvie often barges into my room on the Astral Express, always bringing Kafka along on her device."

Both Acheron and Firefly felt a pang of jealousy—had they been interacting with him all this time on the train?

Unforgivable.

Firefly's frustration briefly flared, but understanding Caelus's intent, she finally conceded, "If you say so... Hah, fine."

Caelus, feeling a sense of triumph, energetically shook Firefly's hand, sealing their renewed friendship.

"Well, that was anticlimactic. I was expecting fireworks and the drama of the century, not a mature display of emotions here."

Everyone turned toward the source of the remark, spotting a robust man with blonde hair and a beard. He stood with his arms crossed, accompanied by another familiar figure; both were individuals Misha recognized.

Misha's eyes lit up with recognition. "Oh, hello, Micah and Gallagher," he greeted, waving at them enthusiastically. They returned the gesture with smiles.

Firefly tensed upon seeing Gallagher, but noticing her discomfort, he quickly reassured her, "Sorry about Dormancy; it can be quite aggressive when dealing with people, but it means well."

Firefly rubbed her forehead, at a loss for words, while Caelus inquired, puzzled, "Dormancy? Wait, who are you exactly?"

Gallagher chuckled warmly, and Micah suppressed a laugh before Gallagher introduced himself with a jovial air, "So, this is the famed Trailblazer who's been stirring up the dreamscape? I'm Gallagher, head of the Bloodhound Family, and an acquaintance of the former members of the Astral Express."

Acheron observed Gallagher with a keen eye, sensing an intricate mix of many layers within him, like numerous symbols etched into a single sculpture, creating a complex persona.

Caelus looked somewhat embarrassed by Gallagher's characterization, attempting to play along, "Well, what can I say? With the swing of my bat, I deliver divine punches, and the thrust of my lance carves a path to salvation."

Misha, along with Clockie, giggled at Caelus's playful boast, finding amusement in his theatrical introduction, while Acheron and Firefly couldn't help but smile at the lightheartedness.

Micah chuckled, nudging Gallagher, "Seems like the boy has a knack for humor, eh, Gallagher?"

Gallagher waved off the comment nonchalantly, "Yeah, yeah. Oh, to answer your earlier question, Trailblazer, Dormancy is my... pet."

Caelus raised his eyebrows in confusion, prompting Gallagher to elaborate with a sigh, "It's the 'monster' that's been linked to those incidents in the dreamscape."

Caelus hummed thoughtfully, then turned to Misha, who produced a cartoonish drawing of the entity he had witnessed in the past.

Clapping his fist into his palm in realization, Caelus exclaimed, "Oh! You mean that eerie abomination I saw trying to attack me?"

Micah laughed heartily at Caelus's description of Dormancy, while Gallagher sighed deeply, perhaps weary of the misunderstandings surrounding his unusual 'pet.'

"Yes... Anyway, I bring unfortunate news. I presume you're somewhat bewildered by the recent events here, Trailblazer," Gallagher began, addressing Caelus with a serious tone.

Caelus nodded, his expression reflecting his confusion. "Indeed, things escalated quickly on my end, and just like that, two weeks have flown by!"

The others showed a keen interest in Caelus' experiences, but Clockie remained silent, occasionally exchanging glances with Misha.

Noticing the slight tremor in Caelus' hands, Micah seized the opportunity to steer the conversation away from Caelus' personal ordeal. "It seems whatever you've been through has deeply affected you. We'll save that tale for another time. For now, let's focus on the present matters."

Grateful for Micah's tactful change of subject, Caelus listened as Gallagher continued, "Currently, the dream is fracturing under the influence of the power of Order."

Everyone, except Caelus—who appeared completely lost—reacted with shock to the revelation. Acheron thoughtfully touched her chin, prompting Gallagher to inquire, "I suspect you're familiar with this, Ms..."

Acheron nodded slowly, "I had my suspicions when observing the members of the Family. Some wield a power of Harmony, while others, though more obscure and faint, possess a different force."

Taking a sip of his drink, Gallagher confirmed, "Exactly, and that force is the Path of Order."

Firefly, visibly alarmed by this, expressed concern for the rest of the Astral Express crew. "But Ena is dead. THEIR Path should have ended with the union of Xipe."

Gallagher acknowledged Firefly's concise summary, which preempted his more detailed explanation, "Indeed, but... in the merger between two Aeons, with Xipe ascending as the Aeon of Harmony, remnants of Ena persisted. Through these remnants, when Xipe bestowed the blessings of Harmony upon some Family members, they manipulated it using the Stellaron."

Firefly, now understanding the mechanics of how the Stellaron factored into this, asked, "Does that mean that Order is being used to stabilize the dream?"

Gallagher elucidated further, "Yes and no. At present, Order and Harmony are in conflict, creating disharmony. That's why there's a gigantic black hole in the sky."

The group then turned their attention to the black hole, with several among them only now realizing its ominous presence.

Acheron fixed her gaze on the black hole, murmuring contemplatively, "Hmm..."

Caelus, noticing the intensity of her focus and sensing her concern, turned to Acheron with a hint of worry. "Is something wrong?"

Acheron shook her head slightly, pulling her eyes away from the ominous black hole. "No... it just stirred some... memories, if you will."

Caelus hummed thoughtfully, hoping to lighten the mood. "I suppose they're good memories?" he asked with a note of optimism.

Acheron paused for a brief moment, her expression unreadable, then replied softly, "I don't know..."

Meanwhile, as Acheron and Caelus engaged in their subdued conversation, Firefly and the others absorbed Gallagher's daunting revelations, with Micah scanning their surroundings anxiously.

---

After several minutes of discussing grave news, Gallagher and Micah shared a quiet conversation. Micah then turned to Caelus, capturing his and Acheron's attention. "Sir Trailblazer, it would be prudent for the others to accompany Gallagher while I show you something of importance."

Acheron's brow furrowed slightly, but Caelus reassured her with a comforting hand on her shoulder, "It's okay, Acheron. It might be related to my friends."

Micah nodded in agreement, "Indeed, your friends might be facing significant danger. I will—"

"He will follow me," interrupted a voice.

Micah turned to see Misha, whose tone had shifted from youthful to one echoing the wisdom of an elder. "Misha..."

Surprised by Misha's sudden change, Caelus echoed, "Misha?"

Misha smiled, soothing both Micah and Acheron, "Fear not, Micah and 'Acheron'. I have long awaited the rise of someone capable of following the Trailblazer's path, and I believe Caelus here is that individual."

Micah swallowed hard, "Understood..."

Acheron, initially wanting to protest, paused as Misha's unusual demeanor prompted her to reconsider. "Understood... please, ensure his safety."

Misha nodded, his expression serious, "I cannot guarantee safety, but I will protect him with all my capabilities."

Although Acheron was not fully comforted by these words, she recognized the sincerity in Misha's promise and reluctantly accepted it.

She turned to Caelus, her expression laden with concern, "I know you are strong, but please, don't frighten me with what comes next."

Caelus responded with assurance, "There's no need to worry. I'm confident things will turn out well for you, and I'll strive to do the same."

Still uneasy but accepting, Acheron pressed, "Promise me you will stay safe."

Caelus nodded firmly, grasping her hands, "I solemnly swear to remain safe."

Acheron smiled softly, releasing his hands, and then joined the others with Gallagher, heading towards an uncertain destination.

As Caelus waved goodbye, he noticed someone was missing, pondering, 'What happened to the Cowboy...?'

Misha, ensuring they were alone, stepped towards the ledge with Clockie by his side.

Caelus, observing the change, remarked, "Misha... you seem different now."

'Misha' chuckled, "Is that so? I have always been 'Misha', though I do have another name. Circumstances have shifted, and events have unfolded differently than anticipated."

He then conjured a grand chair and seated himself, "I have long awaited this moment. Though the narrative has evolved unpredictably, the outcome should align with my expectations."

As a clock materialized in his hand, its hands spinning rapidly, he continued, "It all began with a single meeting... akin to an Angel of Fire, guiding protagonists to comprehend profound truths and spiritual mysteries."

Clockie watched anxiously, "Misha..."

Caelus sat down on a nearby bench, his demeanor serious, prepared to listen to what 'Misha' had to say next.

Closing the clock, 'Misha' introduced himself, "I am Mikhail Char Legwork, the Watchmaker and the Father of Penacony. It is a pleasure to meet you, Caelus."

End of Chapter

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A/N: I. Am. Back. :D