[Aventurine: Who still remembers, at first people were only fighting over the Clockmaker's legacy.]
[Sparkle: I don't remember, but I remember I wasn't here for that.]
[Jade: It seems now the legacy already has an owner. Inviting so many factions here was just to stir up trouble in Penacony.]
[Topaz: With various forces maneuvering, Penacony still had the ability to choose independently in the end. It's quite interesting.]
[Aventurine: So in the end, what should be praised? The wisdom of the 'Clockmaker' or the power of trailblazing?]
[Boothill: What I hate most about it is the hypocrisy of you company people. You reap the benefits and then talk nonsense.]
[Aventurine: Don't say that. Compared to profit and loss, shouldn't making friends be the most important thing?]
[Sparkle: Little Peacock, you speak beautifully. Sparkle-sama also loves making friends the most.]
[Dr. Ratio: I don't believe a gambler would treat friends as friends. Perhaps they are just stakes.]
[Aventurine: Professor, if you say that, I'll be very sad. Aren't we friends?]
[Dr. Ratio: Firstly, I haven't denied that we aren't 'friends,' and secondly, I acknowledge your sincerity. You are the most sincere gambler I've ever met.]
[Aventurine: That puts my mind at ease.]
[Sparkle: Hey, hey, is no one going to pay attention to me? I'll get angry!]
[Sampo: Eh, sis, I didn't watch the live stream just now, but I think instead of this format, we should meet offline.]
[Sparkle: Oh my, oh my, shouldn't you be thinking about what to do next? Do you still have time to look for me?]
[Sampo: Hehe, look at you saying that. If you, sis, could come and help me, old Sampo would be extremely grateful!]
[Sparkle: Forget it, I don't have time to play with you.]
[Sparkle: But doesn't anyone think Aha is very strange? It keeps trying to join the live stream but can't. Hahaha!]
[Sampo: Eh, isn't that also a form of joy?]
...
[Silver Wolf: @Firefly You were quite happy when you came back, too.]
[Firefly: Eh... was I?]
[Silver Wolf: Hmm, do you want to see the footage from back then?]
[Firefly: When did you film that!?]
[Silver Wolf: I've always had it. Didn't you know?]
[Silver Wolf: As a hacker, doing that is normal, right?]
[Firefly: Delete it or else...]
[Silver Wolf: Don't mess around, I'm on vacation!]
...
The s.s. reverie, a meticulously crafted luxurious airship was cruising steadily above the dreamscape.
Elysia and her companions were having a blast, wandering around this dream.
They had once stumbled into Dr. Edward's bizarre dream.
They also chased those running and jumping billboards for half a street. Those colorful patterns came alive in the dream, like a group of mischievous children.
They also drank their fill of SoulGlad by the roadside, its refreshing taste bursting on their tongues...
Not to mention riding the bounce balls several times, being launched high into the sky again and again, then falling weightlessly, eliciting continuous laughter from everyone...
Finally, everyone arrived at the s.s. reverie, laughing all the way.
On the platform at the front of the airship, Stelle, just like last time, was engrossed in playing with a few origami birds.
With a gentle flick of her finger, the birds flapped their wings and circled around her, occasionally landing on her shoulder or fingertip, followed by crisp "chirp chirp" sounds...
Watching Stelle's pure and absorbed demeanor, everyone couldn't help but feel a softness in their hearts—such a childlike spirit was truly wonderful.
March 7th stood not far away, still with an embarrassed expression.
She occasionally looked up at Stelle and the origami birds, and occasionally gazed at the sea of clouds in the distant dreamscape, her eyes filled with a sense of ease.
She couldn't help but recall the last time she was here, which was to resolve the bomb left by Sparkle.
Such a short period of time felt like a very long time.
In the banquet hall on the other side, the lights emitted a soft glow, illuminating the entire room.
Eden and Elysia sat by the window, holding wine glasses and gently swirling the amber liquid inside.
Elysia took a sip of wine, her eyes curving into crescent moons, and said cheerfully:
"Oh my, I always feel like this live stream went quite smoothly, and I was playing the whole time~ ♪"
"Hmm~ That's good."
Eden nodded in agreement, her gaze sweeping across the banquet hall, and she whispered:
"Yes, perhaps most people yearn for this place because of this. After all, in reality, it's hard to have such an uninhibited opportunity to relax."
She paused, looking out at the flowing sea of dream clouds outside the window, her tone tinged with emotion:
"But even if not explicitly stated, the cost of entering here should be considerable. To enjoy such a beautiful dream, one must inevitably pay a corresponding price. There are pros and cons; that's the norm, I suppose."
Elysia blinked, leaning closer:
"Haha, then does Eden like it here? There are so many fun things, and it's so lively~"
Eden gently swirled her wine glass, the liquid tracing elegant arcs on the rim. She was silent for a moment before slowly speaking:
"Hmm, here... it is indeed prosperous and bustling, with everything imaginable in a beautiful dream, as if all beautiful things are piled together."
She looked up at Elysia, a hint of relief in her eyes:
"Speaking of which, this is indeed a good place for a performance. The lighting, the atmosphere, everything is just right. But it's not suitable for me."
Elysia tilted her head slightly, a puzzled expression on her face:
"Oh my, why is that~?"
Eden paused, her fingertips gently caressing the cool glass, her voice softening further:
"Ellie, actually, the feeling of returning to the living world isn't as wonderful as I imagined."
"Only after coming back did I realize that many things are different."
She sighed,
"Now we are just ordinary people, and I no longer live for art... Those past obsessions seem to have suddenly faded."
Her gaze drifted into the distance, as if it could pierce through this dream:
"It's the same for Kevin and the others, I can see it..."
"Mei is also a person with her own ideas, she's always been like that. And Kevin..."
Eden smiled,
"With Mei around, he's there. It seems as long as they have each other, nothing else matters as much."
Elysia listened quietly, not interrupting, until Eden finished speaking, then reached out and gently patted her hand,
"But just as I said before, Eden is Eden, she is my Eden, and she is our Eden~ No matter if she lives for others or for herself, you are our most important friend."
She raised her wine glass and clinked it with Eden's:
"Hmm, so I'm very happy that my friends are here, and you are here too."
"No matter what the past was like, isn't it good enough to be able to play and laugh together like this now?"
Elysia gave a playful smile, her eyes sparkling with cunning.
Eden looked at her bright smile, and the last trace of melancholy in her heart vanished.
She raised her wine glass and gently clinked it with Elysia's, making a crisp sound:
"Hmm, that's right. It's certainly good enough."
"Oh, right!"
Elysia's eyes lit up as if she suddenly remembered something, and she pulled Eden's wrist, running towards a corner of the banquet hall,
"Hey! I remember there's an arcade machine over there. Do you want to come play with me, Eden?"
Eden was pulled along, but a long-lost relaxed smile appeared on her face: "Of course."
Under the crystal chandelier, their laughter faded with their footsteps, interweaving with the playful sounds and laughter of Stelle and the origami birds in the distance... brewing into a sweet wine named "This Moment."
[Pardofelis: Ah ah, I want to go out and play too!!]
[Vill-V: Then if Eden swapped with you, you wouldn't be happy?]
[Pardofelis: Eh, I was just being polite, hehe.]
[Mobius: Nothing to envy.]
[Elysia: Mobius, do you really not want to come?]
[Mobius: No, no, but if you can bring me back something interesting, then that's fine.]
[Elysia: Okok, I'll keep an eye out~]