"Farewell! I'm leaving Penacony!"
"Sister Lumina, you're leaving already?!"
In the Head of the House's office at Dewlight Pavilion, Robin's face instantly filled with reluctance upon hearing Lumina's words.
"Sister Lumina, won't you stay in Penacony a little longer?"
Though selfish, Robin desperately wanted Lumina to remain in Penacony for a while longer. Even if that time wouldn't be hers alone, she'd still treasure it...
"No, I've received an invitation from the Xianzhou Luofu. Considering travel time, leaving now is just right," Lumina said flatly, shaking her head.
Though she also longed to stay longer on Penacony, staging a farewell under these circumstances was ideal. It would amplify their emotions to a fever pitch... By the time she returned to Penacony after finishing her business on the Xianzhou, Robin's heart would be overflowing with boundless joy. After all, returning to Penacony after barely two weeks' absence would be an extraordinary surprise, wouldn't it?
"Okay... fine," Robin replied, her spirits instantly sinking.
"Then... goodbye, Sister Lumina?"
Robin hesitated for a moment, then waved goodbye to Lumina.
"..."
"You're really just going to say goodbye like that?" Lumina couldn't help but feel a little speechless.
I haven't even finished speaking, and you're already waving goodbye? If anyone saw this, they'd think we're not on good terms and that you're trying to get rid of me.
"Ah!"
"I'm so sorry, Sister Lumina! I didn't mean it like that... I just got a little too emotional..."
Hearing this, Robin froze for a moment before realizing how foolish and impolite her behavior had been. Afraid she had offended Lumina, Robin frantically waved her hands, but her voice, which had been bright and clear, gradually faded to a whisper.
By the end of her apology, the last words were barely audible to a normal person.
But Lumina was no ordinary person. She chuckled softly, dismissing Robin's earlier rudeness.
Reaching out, Lumina placed her palm gently on Robin's head and stroked her hair like a mother comforting a child.
As she soothed Robin with her touch, she murmured softly, "I was just teasing you earlier. How could I possibly blame you?"
"To hear a farewell directly from Robin's lips—I'm overjoyed! How could I possibly be angry?" Lumina said, her face radiant with a warm smile, smoothing away all Robin's worries.
"But... it's not time for farewells yet, at least not until I finish one thing."
"What is it? Do you need my help? I'll do everything I can to make it happen!"
"Remember that promise we made at Dreamscape Reef?"
Having reassured Robin and waited for her to calm down, Lumina finally got to the point.
"The promise at Dreamscape Reef?" Robin blinked in surprise, then quickly recalled. "Oh! You mean the one where I'd give Sister Lumina her own personal concert?"
"Exactly." Lumina nodded slightly in confirmation. "Who knows when I'll next visit Penacony? I thought we could fulfill that promise as part of our farewell."
"Of course! But if you're too busy, we can skip it," Lumina added, glancing at the towering stack of documents on the office desk.
The change of leadership for the House must have left Robin with a mountain of paperwork. Remembering the weariness on Robin's face earlier, Lumina decided to lend a hand.
Of course, helping her didn't mean handling the documents for her, but rather helping her relax a bit.
After all, how would Lumina know how to process these documents? Managing not to mess them up would already be a feat...
As for how to help her relax, Lumina had already devised a plan.
As Lumina pondered this, without Robin noticing, tendrils of green light gradually enveloped the entire room, cocooning them both within its ethereal glow.
"No rush, no rush. These documents... hmm, they're mostly just routine paperwork," Robin said, following Lumina's gaze to the stack of papers on the desk. She waved her hand dismissively, then sighed.
"The other Heads of the Houses forced these on me, claiming it was for my training—to make me as capable a Head of the House as my brother. But these... they're all trivial matters, the kind of things that shouldn't even be on the Head of the House's desk."
Robin shook her head, her voice filled with resignation.
Truth be told, Robin didn't mind dealing with trivial matters. As long as she could help people, she was happy to handle anything.
But these... What? Someone fell in their Sweet Dream? Someone got hit by a car in their Sweet Dream? Even these trivial matters, which no one even complained about, ended up as documents on my desk...
If Robin and her brother hadn't been in such a sensitive period, she would have thrown these files in the faces of the Heads of the Houses long ago.
"I see..." Lumina listened to Robin's words, propped her chin in her hand, and pondered for a moment before saying calmly, "I'll mention it to them briefly when we leave Penacony."
"Thank you..."
Lumina's tone and expression were utterly calm, yet Robin felt a warmth emanating from her.
"Then let's begin. Let's start this concert that's just for the two of us." Since the issue involved the Heads of the Houses, Lumina dismissed it as a minor matter. She didn't dwell on it and prepared to embark on a significant undertaking with Robin.
"Mm-hmm." Robin nodded, glanced around, and then said to Lumina, "Sister Lumina, this place is a bit cramped. Shall we move somewhere else?"
"I remember there's a grand hall in Dewlight Pavilion. Let's go there."
As the office of the Head of House Penacony, the room wasn't small, but it was crammed with various items: bookshelves, a desk, sofas, coffee tables—all fixed furniture, making it difficult to clear enough space for a concert.
"No need for such trouble," Lumina said, shaking her head. She snapped her fingers.
Snap!
A green light enveloped the room instantly, and in the next moment, a vast, empty space materialized before their eyes.
"Wow! Sister Lumina, you're amazing!" Robin's eyes sparkled with admiration, her face radiating worship. Only the faint, feverish gleam deep in her eyes hinted at something more...
Two young women alone in a room. It would be a lie to say Robin, a devoted fan, harbored no ulterior thoughts.
"Robin, begin whenever you're ready. Time here won't be affected by the outside world, so you can take your time," Lumina said, completely oblivious to the strange glint in Robin's eyes. She smiled warmly, signaling her to start their private concert.
This concert, meant only for the two of them.
"Um... Sister Lumina," Robin said, taking a deep breath as if making a resolution. "If I sing exceptionally well at this concert, can I ask for a..."
"A small reward?"
"Of course! You deserve it," Lumina nodded without hesitation.
Robin is putting on a concert just for me. I definitely wouldn't just listen for free. Even if she didn't ask, I'd still give her a reward.
As for what that reward will be?
The ring, of course—the same kind March 7th and the others have.
After all, if Robin is going to sing praises of Harmony throughout the Cosmos, she'll inevitably face dangers. Giving her a ring imbued with my power would solve many problems.
Besides, if I ever become some kind of lonely old woman, I can use the ring's traces to find my way to Robin's side.
"Then... Sister Lumina, let's start!" Robin nodded joyfully after receiving Lumina's approval, summoning the power of Harmony. A stage materialized beneath her feet, and a microphone appeared in her hand.
Rise up into my world!
As Robin's voice rang out, their private concert officially began.