Caelus went back to his room in the Dreamscape and messaged some photos to Firefly. He smiled, looking at the photos they took before he returned to reality to take some rest.

———

.

..

...

-ail...

-khail...!

■■■■■■■!

YOU!

-gacy!

Watch- wouldn't wa-

So... it really is a ■■■■■■■■■.

Wake up. Caelus.

Caelus opens his eyes wide, he jumps from his Dreampool and trips on the edge of the lines as he falls down to the floor face first.

"Owch..."

Caelus push his body up and rub his nose, feeling the pain of hitting the hard floor. He looks around and notices that he's back in reality.

"Back in my room... let's head to the bed and take a sleep... I need some rest."

Caelus walks over to the bed and plunge himself onto it as he feels the soft bed and pillow. Becoming one with the bed.

Not so long after, he quickly falls asleep.

———

"I'll need his help... if I want to take it back."

A boy mutters to himself as he clench his fist to his chest. He sighs before suddenly disappearing from people's vision. His figure seemingly distorting from reality.

———

Morning comes as Caelus wakes up, feeling refreshed and energized. He walk towards the door and opens it, and there March 7th stood, in front of him.

"Oh there you are. I was going to wake you up, but it seems that you're already awake!"

"Yeah, I just woke up, why are you here?"

"Oh, I was just going to tell you that me and Himeko will be going back to the Dreamscape! But Welt said that he's going to be at the bar in reality, it seems that he prefers to be in reality maybe? I don't know. But that's all, also also! Have you found any good place at the Golden Hour? If you do so. Please tell me!"

"Yeah sure... I will text you about it. I'm going to go see Welt for now."

"Okay! Goodbye then! I'm heading off to the Dreamscape!"

March 7th said as she quickly blasts off to her room and slamming her door on the way in.

'Gee, that hyperactive girl...'

Caelus shakes his head as he opens his phone and sees a message notification. It was from Firefly.

———

|Yesterday|

/Thanks for the pictures Caelus! I hope that tomorrow we can explore more of the Dreamscape together. After all, I am still your tour guide./

/Pom-Pom: Thumbs Up (Emoji)/

|Today|

/No problem Firefly, and good morning to you. I'm going to go to the bar in reality to hang out with my friend./

/Also, I'm in your hands for the following exploration today. Please take care of me!/

/Pom-Pom: Heart Ears (Emoji)/

———

Caelus puts his phone back to his pocket and walks outside before heading towards the bar.

Walking down the stairs, his eyes immediately landed on Welt's figure sitting right at the barstool. Caelus quickly walks right up to him and greets Welt.

"Good morning Welt."

"Ah. Good morning to you too Caelus, how was your sleep?"

"It was good, how about you?"

"I didn't really sleep. I was reading a book throughout the night."

"That... doesn't really sound healthy now does it?"

Welt smiles at Caelus as he then looks at him.

"Come over and have a seat. Do you want coffee or water? I'll ask the bartender for one if you'd like."

"Sure sure, I'd like a coffee please."

Caelus nods his head as he walks over to sit right next to Welt. Welt finished ordering the coffee and looks back at Caelus who's sitting next to him, resting his arms onto the table.

"How did the Dreamscape feel like? Did you have fun exploring it yesterday?"

Welt asks as Caelus smiles in respond.

"I certainly did, but I think I'd be spending much more time looking for one attraction or a tourist spot or somewhere famous instead of having fun in a lot of places if I didn't meet a tour guide yesterday."

"Oh? You got a tour guide?"

"Yes! She's from the Iris family, and she was nice enough to offer herself as a tour guide when she wasn't busy."

"That's nice for you, how did you meet her?"

"Eh... she was running away from some Bloodhounds. Apparently she was mistaken as a stowaway."

"Oh? Well, is she okay?"

"Yeah, she is. How about you Welt? How was your first experience in the Dreamscape?"

"Me? Well, I woke up in the Dreampool inside my room and went ahead to meet up with Himeko and March before we separated."

"Huh? You woke up in the Dreampool? Blegh. Not fair, I woke up flying down from the sky."

Welt blinks a few times before looking at Caelus while pushing the bridge of his glasses.

"What? How is that possible?"

"Well... I don't know. It just so happened."

Caelus says, looking at the glasses and drinks displayed, he taps his fingers repeatedly on the table as he sighs. Suddenly, a bartender walks up right to them and brings a cup of coffee right to Caelus. Serving him said coffee.

"Enjoy your coffee Sir."

The bartender says with a smile as Caelus says his thanks before holding the cup and drinking the coffee.

Welt rubs his eyes together before standing up and looking down at Caelus and speaking.

"I'm going to head off to take a short rest, I'll be in my room if you need to talk to me Caelus."

Welt said as Caelus nods and smiles.

"Have a good rest Welt. Take some good time to rest since it must be kind of rare for us Nameless to be resting."

Welt smiles hearing Caelus' respond before walking away. Suddenly, a short window of seconds later, a loud thump could be heard. Caelus looks back and sees Misha. The bell boy with blue hair from before that greeted him and talked with him at the lobby.

Caelus stands up and walks over to Misha, helping him with the fallen briefcases and all that Misha was carrying.

"Hey, you okay Misha?"

"O-Oh! It's you Mr. Trailblazer! I'm sorry. I'm fine! T-Thanks for helping me..."

Misha says with a smile as Caelus nods, his eyes looking at Misha's eye. A pupil shaped of a lock...

"Cool eyes. Well, more like a cool eye since your hair covers your other eye."

Caelus says with a smile before he straightens his body. Misha smiles sheepishly and rubs the back of his hair as he quickly walks away.

"Once again. Thank you for your help, I'll be seeing you later. Goodbye!"

Caelus nods to Misha as he watches him walks away.

'Well. I'd better go back to the Dreamscape to explore around. Oh yeah, Firefly. I'll text her up and see if she's awake so that we can go explore more together.'

Taking out his phone and opening it back, he go towards his chats and sees Firefly replying back to him. Caelus smiles as he opens the chat to chat her back.

———

Waking up in the Dreamscape, Caelus wakes up in his Dreampool this time. He stood up slowly and gets out of it as he look at himself.

'Huh, this time I'm waking up at my Dreampool. Weird..."

Caelus says to himself before shrugging it off. He quickly leaves his place to go to the spot where him and Firefly are going to meet up.

———

After arriving there, Caelus could spot Firefly in the distance. He looks at her sitting at the bench and a bulb lights up above his head.

He smiles, thinking of something mischievous. He initiates his plan and sneak through the crowds, trying to avoid Firefly's gaze.

After reaching her close enough, he's about to surprise her but.

"Boo!"

"WAH-"

Caelus reels back a bit as he sees Firefly looking directly right at him, scaring him when he was actually the one that was supposed to scare her.

"H-Hwuh? How did you know I was going to surprise you?"

Caelus asks, breathing heavily from shock and jumpscare. Firefly laughs seeing his reaction, Caelus' eyes twitches as he cross his arms, looking at her as if judging her.

"W-What? Why are you angry at me?"

Firefly asks between sniffs as Caelus rolls his eyes.

"Yeah yeah you got me good."

"Mmhm, I could see you when you were far away dummy."

"Well, I didn't think you were able to see me when I was far away silly."

Firefly giggles as she looks at Caelus that's sulking a bit like a child. Firefly stands up and walks up right to him before leaning her face to his line of sight with a smile.

Caelus sighs as he looks down at her.

"I'm sorry Mr. Trailblazer for suprising you instead, oh dear oh dear. How should I apologize for this?"

Firefly asks, teasing Caelus as he smiles back at her.

"No need to apologize, let's just go around the vicinity to explore."

Firefly smiles before nodding her head.

"Sure! Let us go then!"

And so, they're off to enjoy what the Dreamscape has to offer for them. They go through food stalls, small games and stores. Before stopping right at the Oti Mall.

"We haven't explored around this mall right? Let's go in and hang out here!"

"Tick-tock! Help! Help! Can anyone help me?"

Caelus raises his eyebrows before looking over to the source of the voice. A... clock with limbs and a face.

'...Eh? Is something... crying for help over there? Let me check that out real quick...'

"Firefly wait, there's something over there that needs help."

"Hmm? Okay, I'll go with you."

Walking over towards the clock, both Caelus and Firefly stops in front of it as it began begging for help again.

"Tick-tock! Help! Help me! Someone's dying! Please come here!"

"What kind of thing... are you?"

Caelus asks, a bit confused as he looks down at the clock with limbs and a face.

"I'm not some random thing, I'm a clock! Wait... Can you... see me?"

"...Is there a problem?"

Firefly asks Caelus as she tilt her head, looking at him with confusion.

"I can see a... clock with limbs. I—I think I'm seeing things..."

"Can you really see me? Tick-tock! Wonderful! This is awesome! There's still hope for Misha!"

'Wait... Misha?'

Caelus thought to himself as he burrow his eyebrows.

"Oops, I haven't introduced myself!"

The clock says before jumping and bowing down to Caelus and Firefly.

"My name is Clockie. I'm a famous celebrity in Penacony! My friends and I keep the peace in this small town. They are Hanu, Mr. Soda, Origami Bird, Hamster Ball Knight... And Misha! Misha is in trouble! Tick-tock! Help! Help!"

"Sure, how can I help?"

"Who are you talking to..?"

Firefly asks to Caelus as Caelus responds to her while kneeling down to Clockie.

"Clockie, the famous celebrity. I think it's the cartoon one."

"Clockie? Do you mean... you saw a cartoon character that doesn't exist in real life?"

"Yes, I'm seeing him right now. I'm not hallucinating... right?"

"Tick-tock, I'm really here! As the humble face of Penacony, I never ever brag!"

"Can't you see him? He just said he really is here."

"Um... Where's he? I can't see him..."

"...Okay, I might be hallucinating... I thought I've already gotten enough sleep. Or was it from the coffee beforehand?"

Caelus says before dramatically gasping.

"Was it laced? Was it a drug induced coffee? Did I get drugged?! Oh NO!"

Caelus says before falling down to his knees dramatically as Firefly blinks a few times and looking at Caelus with a sweat running down her head.

"Tick-tock! I guess I'm only visible to those with the innocence, kindness, and honesty of a child, like this kid here clad in gray!"

"Oh, huh. He said only children can see him."

"Um, but I think you look older than me in terms of appearance..."

"Uh... yeah, I think so, I don't know why this is happening."

Clockie jumps in front of Caelus that was looking at Firefly as Caelus reels back a bit.

"Tick-tock, tick-tock! My gray friend, since you can see, then you must be able to help me! My friend, Misha, is in trouble! I'm begging you to help him before it's too late!"

Caelus looks down at Clockie before looking up at Firefly.

"He's begging for my help. He says someone's life is in danger..."

"Huh... Is it really that bad?"

"Seems like it."

Caelus responds to Firefly before looking at Clockie who's looking right at Caelus. His eyes begging for help.

"Are you going to help this... um, Clockie that only you can see? I don't think you're lying, as anything can happen in a dream... We can just head to the mall later after we help Clockie."

"Are you okay with it?"

"Yeah! Helping people always comes first, and even in this case. Saving people."

"Tick-tock, tick-tock! Hurry up and follow me, gray friend! Misha's in trouble! He's over there. Let me bring you to him!"

Caelus nods to Firefly as Firefly nods back, the both of them then quickly follows ahead with Firefly behind Caelus.

"Come on! Chop-chop! Move as fast as the Hamster Ball Knight!"

Clockie looks behind them before running ahead. As they get closer to the scene, both Caelus and Firefly could finally see what was happening.

A group of men in suits and some henchmen and... there's Misha and Acheron, the Galaxy Ranger cornered against the group of men.

"There's a crowd over there. Looks like something really did happen..."

"Tick-tock! He's there! He's there! See, Clockie does not tell lies!"

"I dare you to fight me!"

The gang's boss looks at Acheron as she looks back at him.

"Everyone, please calm down..."

"..."

"Everyone, please stay calm..."

Misha tries to calm down the

"You broke the rules! And now you're gonna pay the price!"

"Punishment, punishment!"

The gang members spiced the boss and Acheron up as Acheron sighs.

"How did it come to this..."

Caelus, looking over from the distance scratch his head, a bit surprised.

"How come they are all people I know!?"

"All? What do you mean by 'all'? Do you know everyone here?"

"Well, aside from the gang members."

"See? I wasn't lying! Misha really is in trouble! Tick-tock! I'm begging you, my gray friend, begging you! Please help Misha!"

Caelus looks down at Clockie and sighs.

"Please fill me in on what's going on first. I don't know what to do here."

"Are you talking to Clockie? ...Hmm, I'm really curious too..."

"You're not a child Firefly, can't see him like I do"

Caelus spoke as out of nowhere, he's wearing black glasses. Firefly only smiles sheepishly as she chuckles.

"Tick-tock, tick-tock! It's all Stone's fault that things have turned out this way! Of all the lowlifes in Dreamville, Stone's the worst. He's a greedy man who wants to drive everyone out of Dreamville so that he can have all the precious stones to himself..."

Clockie then continues to explain how Stone wreak havoc and installs disputes and anxiety throughout the Dreamscape. Before saying that Caelus can help by using Clockwork to dispute positive emotions.

"My gray friend, I require your assistance! I have a feeling you'll be able to master the power of Clockwork! After all, you're the special one who can see me!"

"Also, you're a new visitor to this world, which means we have the element of surprise! If you take action now, we can catch him off guard!"

"What is 'Clockwork'?"

"Here, I'll show you! First, close your eyes..."

As Caelus closes his eyes, a loud alarm ringing blare through his head as he quickly shakes his head right and left before holding his head.

"Tick-tock! Now, our minds have merged into one. Can you feel an energy surging through your body?"

"Am I supposed to feel an energy?"

"All we have to do is use Clockwork on that cranky gangster boss and inject good emotions into him — then we'll have won! Also, please bear in mind that you should never use Clockwork with malicious intent. We're the guardians of Dreamville, after all, tick-tock!"

Clockie said as he ignored Caelus' remark, Caelus sighs before walking up to the gangster boss.

As the gangster boss notices Caelus, he clicked his tongue.

"Mind your own business, lad! I have to let that lady there know she's messed with the wrong person!"

Caelus furrows his eyebrows before suddenly, it appears like gears within a clock is shown. He moves the dial with his mind as the dial is moved.

Suddenly, he feels his body being sucked back to the present, as he watches the Gangster Boss in front of him becomes quite.

"...What got into me just now?"

"Hey, he seems normal now. That's wonderful! You did it!"

"I saw a dial and got it moving."

"Great! It means you've mastered the art of Clockwork!"

Clockie said with a proud smile as he jumps.

"Was I... about to get into a fight with that lady? Was I crazy?"

The boss asks himself as he looks at down at his hands. The members behind him look at their boss.

"What's wrong with boss?"

"Hey, may I ask you a question? Were you the one who made me simmer down earlier? I wasn't my normal self.."

The boss asks Caelus as Caelus smirks.

"Everyone loses it once in a while. But try to keep it down with the anger issues, okay?"

"This is embarrassing... I feel bad for causing such a spectacle."

"But. Perhaps, it's because we're all in a dream."

"Haha, that can be one of the reasons. Anyway, I owe everyone a proper apology. Gang, line up and say sorry to our honored guests!"

The boss suddenly ordered his men as they all went wide eye.

"S—Sure!"

"Ready... Go!"

"We're truly sorry for the trouble we caused!"

"Wow, they look really sincere. In that case, can you ask them to leave now?"

Clockie said to Caelus as Caelus nods at him before looking back at the gangsters.

"I appreciate the gesture... But, can we have some privacy, please?"

"Sure thing! You're the boss... Gang, let's give our VIP some space!"

"Yes, boss!"

Quickly following so, the gangsters left the scene as they all walk off the crowds.

"We meet again! Are you the one who helped settle everything down here?"

Misha asks Caelus as he nods.

"Misha, are you acquainted with this gray friend of mine?"

Clockie asks Misha with a tilt of his head.

"He's an esteemed guest whom I've befriended recently. I told you about him before. Does it ring a bell?"

"Oh, it's him!"

"Anyway, thanks a lot! If you hadn't gotten here in time, I would have been in a real mess..."

Misha bows as Acheron soon follows up with a thanks from her.

"Thank you, Caelus. I'm surprised we get to see each other again so soon."

"No need to thank me. It's the least I can do."

"About all the commotion just now... I heard a bunch of Masked Fools were causing a ruckus on the streets. I happened to be passing through, got stopped for questioning, and there were some... misunderstandings along the way. Anyway, I owe you another one."

"That's unfortunate... also, this lady... is she your friend too?"

Firefly asks as she tilt her head after listening to Acheron's explanation of what had happened.

"Well, we've only met each other once before. But he is a kind soul for helping me at the hotel."

Acheron looks at Caelus as Caelus looks back at her as he scratch the back of his head with a sheepish smile. Acheron then looks back at Firefly.

"It's my pleasure to meet you, beautiful lady."

Acheron says with a nod while looking at Firefly.

"B—Beautiful lady..."

Firefly stutters as she blushes.

"By the way, what did you do to that man earlier? It was like someone took him on an emotional roller coaster."

"I was wondering about that too... What happened back there, exactly?"

The both of them looks at Caelus with curiosity as Caelus grins proudly.

"Clockie taught me some Clockwork."

"That's right! It was me, Clockie! Of course, you played a big part too. Without you doing the Clockwork, Dreamville would've been in some real trouble! Could it have something to do with... That Clockie that only you can see?"

"...Clockie?"

Acheron asks, confused on what or who Clockie is.

"Yes, that cartoon character. I think he's shown up in reality— I mean— in the Dreamscape. I don't really know how a cartoon character could show up around here, but according to Caelus, only honest people with childlike innocence can see him..."

Firefly explains as Acheron blinks a few times at the last part.

"...Huh. It seems like I'm too old to qualify for that. But, if Clockie really exists, that can explain a lot of things."

"Eh, can you see me too?"

Clockie looks up to his right, looking right at Acheron.

"I can feel the presence of something inexplicable next to you, but it's a shame that I can't communicate with him like you can."

"We can both perceive these extraordinary things in the dream, probably due to our ability to react to memoria. But you're more attuned to it than I am."

"I thought your heightened perception was caused by something the elegant Memokeeper might have left in your mind. Now, it seems to me there are many more special beings like her in this dream."

The word Memokeeper piqued his interest as he raises one of his eyebrows.

"The elegant Memokeeper?"

"Shortly after we parted ways, I felt someone's spying eyes on me. I looked in the mirror and spotted a lady wearing a black veil. We had a deep conversation, but I won't bore you with the details."

"It's a shame that I forgot to ask her for her name. I only know that she's from the Garden of Recollection."

"Garden of Recollection... Is it the group that serves the Aeon of Remembrance?"

"Exactly. They traverse freely between different worlds as memetic entities and are only visible to certain people. Doesn't she sound very much like that Clockie you saw?"

Acheron asks to Caelus as Caelus raises his eyebrows before shrugging and saying "Maybe."

"After all, it is a grand event held by The Family. The guestlist could be a lot longer than we imagine."

"Once again, thank you for being kind to me. I wish you a great time in the dream, and I shall not interrupt your... date?"

"H—Huh? D—Date?"

Firefly begins stuttering as she blushes, Caelus' mouth is opened a bit wide as he suddenly thought.

'Wait... does this count as a date?'

"Hehe."

Acheron chuckles before quickly leaving the scene, leaving all four of them left.

"...She's gone. Well, should we go back to the mall?"

Caelus asks Firefly as Clockie suddenly thanks Caelus.

"I'll let you get back to your beeswax. Thanks, my gray friend!"

"I really appreciate your help! The Nameless are indeed a bunch of talented people... May our paths cross again!"

"May our paths cross again, tick-tock!"

And there they went, Clockie and Misha go towards their different path leaving both Caelus and Firefly alone.

Firefly blushing and Caelus, a bit red.

"...Well, that just happened..."

Firefly whispers to herself before she shakes her head and smiles.

"Well, let's go back to explore the Oti Mall just as planned and let's hope that no more of your invincible friends disturb us. Alright?"

Caelus chuckles hearing that before looking at her and then grinning at her.

"Yes yes silly, I'm sorry that I'm schizoprenic."

Firefly giggles as she walks over to the mall as Caelus follows her ahead.