Aventurine rose calmly, letting out a yawn as he stretched, as if this were nothing more than an after-dinner chat.
"Of course… I know it's impossible for you to believe me on my word alone."
He looked at them with bright eyes, the mocking grin never leaving his face.
"Let me tell you something. Have you heard of the Eradication Gang? Those devotees of Destruction, a little bunch your Aeon hates so much it never even looks their way. Yes? Well, they too were invited to the Charismonia Festival banquet. But they never arrived. And their leader, Ifrit, the Duke of Hell? They say he dropped dead along the way."
From his pocket he pulled out a folder and tossed it to Aleph. He caught it with a faint click of annoyance. When he opened it, the first thing he saw were dozens of photos spilling out like a deck of cards—shredded bodies, fire devouring a ship's deck, blood and steel merged into a single frame.
"Luckily, my assistant was delayed on the way to Penacony." He commented as if it were a trivial anecdote. "Her ship passed nearby. Everything you see here was captured by one of her drones."
He pulled out a small device and activated it.
A light projection spread across the room. The video had no sound, but what it showed was even more brutal than the photos.
There was Acheron, cutting through members of the Gang with her katana—even Ifrit himself, who collapsed ingloriously into a pool of his own blood.
"With this, our transaction is over." Black Swan said, crossing her arms.
Aventurine offered her a slight bow, almost courtly.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Memokeeper."
Then he turned to the trio from the Express.
Stelle and March followed him warily. Aleph remained where he was, silently staring at the photos in his hands.
Then he felt a soft embrace against his back. Black Swan, leaning against him, rose on her toes to whisper in his ear.
"Don't miss me too much, darling… we'll see each other again soon."
A chill ran down Aleph's spine. When he turned, she had already vanished like smoke in the air.
Frowning, he hurried his steps to catch up with the others.
.....
Aventurine led the way, humming a children's song about gambling while playing with a coin between his fingers.
"You can choose." he said. "Follow me… or walk away and pretend none of this happened."
His eyes studied them from the corner, waiting for some hint of doubt. But none turned back. Aleph, Stelle, and March followed him in silence.
The man let out a satisfied sigh.
"Should I say, as one might expect from a Nameless? Hmm, I suppose it's not empty praise to say you've got to be reckless to be part of their crew."
March leaned toward Aleph and Stelle.
"This guy gives me the creeps…" She muttered, while Stelle nodded and Aleph just shrugged indifferently.
At last they arrived at a closed room. Aventurine opened the door with a theatrical gesture.
"See for yourselves…"
The air inside was saturated with an eerie chill. March gasped, covering her mouth. Stelle's face darkened, and Aleph frowned.
In a translucent tank rested Robin's body, with a perfect hole piercing her chest, identical to Firefly's.
.....
"My reasons for showing you this are quite simple." Aventurine leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "The Corporation seeks to recover something in Penacony. Something the Family guards jealously. That's why we want the Nameless' cooperation. Together, we can uncover the truth and use it as currency."
He slipped a piece of paper with a number into Aleph's hand.
"This is my personal number. I don't give it to just anyone—don't discard it so easily."
Then he strolled out as if nothing had happened.
March, still trembling, pulled out her phone and began frantically typing in the Astral Express chat, reporting what happened and asking for a real-world meeting to discuss it.
Meanwhile, Aleph received a couple of messages from Dan Heng.
[Dan Heng: "I picked up Corruid. Seems he's fine."]
A photo came with the message.
Dan Heng with the little lizard sleeping on his head.
Another message followed immediately.
[Dan Heng: "Oh, and Cupcake's getting along surprisingly well with Pom-Pom. I don't know if that's good or bad."]
Attached was a photo of Pom-Pom holding hands with Cupcake, Stelle's raccoon.
********
Meanwhile, in the lobby…
The place was completely wrecked, flames smoldering among the debris. SAM, towering, looked ready to continue the fight.
Acheron lowered her katana.
"Why did you do it?" SAM seemed puzzled by her words, so she continued. "Your movements never had any intention of harming Aleph or Stelle. It was just a performance."
SAM stayed silent.
"You noticed it, didn't you?" The deep voice resonated from the armor.
"Yes. I've seen countless disguises that can hide appearances, but never from my eyes who's beneath. You're no exception." Acheron's gaze didn't waver, her indifference intact. "Firefly."
"Is this the design of the Slave of Destiny?"
SAM stood still for a moment before finally sighing.
"My only goal is to follow Elio's script. Now… I must guide the Nameless toward the search for the Watchmaker's legacy."
"Haven't you already ignored a line or two of that script?" Acheron tilted her head.
The silence dragged on. SAM—no, Firefly—clicked her tongue.
"Even if I change things a little… as long as the result is the same, it doesn't matter."
"Why do it then?" Acheron pressed, genuinely curious.
But she received no answer.
In the end, Firefly spoke harshly.
"That's none of your business."
Acheron released her katana's hilt and shook her head.
"It's not your time yet…"
She turned and walked away silently, leaving Firefly standing there, unmoving, watching the embers die out.
"'My time'?"
A strange feeling bloomed in her chest.
The silence of the lobby wrapped around her once more, along with the fading embers.
Wasn't she herself just like those flames? No matter how brightly they burned now…
They would still go out soon.
A memory struck her without warning.
Caelus, smiling, had jokingly asked her to marry him. Stelle had scolded him with a hard smack to the head, telling him he should control his mouth better.
The armor trembled for a second. Inside, Firefly whispered softly.
"Caelus… no, Aleph." There was a certain bitterness in her tone. "How selfish can I be? Wanting to monopolize your thoughts…"
Looking again at those dim flames, only one thought ran through her mind.
"If destiny is absolute…"
"If the end is inevitable…"
"Is it wrong to want you to remember me… that even if I disappear, I'll live forever in your memories?"
***********
Instead of meeting in reality, Himeko had suggested doing it at the Golden Moment, in the plaza before the statue of Clockie.
There, surrounded by the radiance of the place, they began to share information.
"The Family's staff asked us to cooperate with the investigation." Himeko explained with her arms crossed. "What happened with Firefly, according to them, is an isolated incident. But…"
She fell silent for a moment.
"…they never mentioned another victim. As for Robin, it's clear they're trying to cover it up."
Welt adjusted his glasses.
"When I tried pressing them carefully, all I got were evasive answers and vague phrases. It seems we'll have to proceed cautiously from here on out."
Aleph and Stelle exchanged a somber look.
"Listen… this isn't the time to get lost in sorrow." Himeko said.
"There's still something we can do for Robin and Firefly." Welt added.
Aleph looked at him silently, and Stelle slowly raised her eyes.
"What is it?" March asked.
"Find the killer."
The words carried enough weight to push aside Aleph and Stelle's grief.
They then spoke about Aventurine, what he had revealed, and their suspicion toward Acheron.
"I'm almost done deciphering the hidden message in the invitation." Himeko commented. "I won't deny that the information Aventurine gave us is valuable. But don't let your guard down. The Corporation never acts without hidden interests."
She looked up seriously.
"At this point, the only ones we can trust… are ourselves."
"What do you think of Aventurine, Welt?" she suddenly asked, turning to him.
Welt pondered briefly.
"He's been hiding his cards from the start. He's tried to win our favor by appealing both to reason and emotion, trying to drag us into his pace. But don't be fooled…" His eyes narrowed behind his lenses. "When the time is right, he'll stab us in the back. We should use that connection only as much as needed, always watching our backs. The same goes for the Family. That way, if either side betrays us, we'll have a way out."
Himeko nodded slowly.
March groaned, massaging her head.
"Too many complicated words in so little time…"
Stelle, standing beside her, gazed toward the horizon with a languid smile.
"Did you at least understand it?" March asked.
Stelle raised her thumb without changing her expression.
"I lost the thread since Himeko started talking about the Family."
March's eyes went wide.
"From the very beginning?!"
The tension lightened for a moment at her outburst, but soon dissipated.
Welt noticed Aleph seemed distracted, looking around.
"I need a moment alone."
Stelle took a step after him, but Aleph stopped her with a gesture.
"Just leave me alone for a bit."
March placed a hand on Stelle's shoulder.
Stelle pouted, wanting to insist.
March gave her shoulder a squeeze.
"Try to understand. All of this is moving too fast… even for him."
With that, she and Himeko led Stelle away to search for more information. Before leaving, they told Welt they'd stay in touch and to call if he needed support.
Silence returned to the plaza. Welt adjusted his glasses and slightly raised his cane. His voice turned sharp, though still polite.
"You've been watching all this time from the shadows, honored guest." He remarked with a faint hint of sarcasm. "Show yourself, unless you want me to act."
The sound of boots echoed against the ground. Acheron appeared before him, her expression impassive.
"Calm down." She said, unfazed. "I haven't come to fight."
The hostility in Welt's gaze didn't lessen in the slightest.
"Even I would feel embarrassed if someone looked at me like that." She added softly.
Welt's brow furrowed.
"Whether I resort to hostility or not… will depend on what you say. And whether it's the truth."
"What do you want to know?" She asked, tilting her head.
He questioned her about the Eradication Gang. At first, Acheron seemed confused, until he mentioned Ifrit.
"That duke…" Her eyes narrowed. "He sacrificed what little remained of his burning body as a martyr. He did it so his children could escape. Someone like that shouldn't be treated like some second-rate villain."
She crossed her arms and looked at him firmly.
"Tell me, Nameless of the Astral Express. With so many guests here hiding their true intentions and colors. Do you really believe… that a simple katana is more dangerous than that black hole you wield?"
Welt's eyes thinned.
"I see you've got sharp eyes. Not even the Family has perceived what this cane truly hides. Then you should understand what it means to stare too closely at a black hole."
Acheron sighed.
"If it helps ease your guard, I don't mind being clear. 'Acheron, Guardian of the Galaxy' is the identity I walk with now." She said. "And my only goal… is to fulfill a promise—an 'ultimate wish,' you could say. To pursue the legacy of the Reldesire… and I think that's honesty enough."
"You're still not revealing your true identity?" Welt pressed.
Acheron closed her eyes, slowly shaking her head.
"It's not that I don't want to say it. It's just that I've come so far it's hard to sum it all up in a few words. We all have a past we'd rather not reveal. Mine… is a long story. A very long one."
She leaned slightly toward him, her cold eyes locked onto his.
"Just as I won't ask why the Astral Express travels with a Stellaron…" she said, glancing briefly toward the distant Stelle. "And with that thing."
"…What do you mean?"
"Hasn't he told you about that? Then it's not my place to reveal it." A faint flicker of concern flashed in her impassive eyes before fading. "Is he alright? Has that Memokeeper… done something to him?"
Welt sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"He left quite a while ago." Welt said calmly, never taking his eyes off Acheron. "And he looked just fine. Why are you so interested in knowing that?"
The woman with the katana stayed silent, her expression unchanging. The invisible edge in her gaze lingered a moment longer before softening.
"I've wandered through every dreamscape of Penacony searching for the Watchmaker's legacy." Her voice was serene, but to Welt it was obvious she only wanted to change the subject. "After my own investigation, I've reached a conclusion. That legacy is tied to Akivili, the Trailblazer. That's why I came to seek the Nameless' help."
Welt raised a brow, listening closely.
"All of this—the murders, the cover-ups, even the collapsing dreamscapes—is connected to the Family from beginning to end." Acheron's gaze hardened. "I need evidence to back up what I'm claiming. And to find it, I need your help."
"What makes you think I'll gladly offer you my help?"
"Because you should have already reached the same conclusion." She said, as if it were obvious.
Welt neither confirmed nor denied it. Adjusting his glasses with a finger, he spoke calmly.
"For now, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. I won't treat you as a threat." His tone grew heavier. "But listen. Share your discoveries with me, not with the others. Don't try to sway their judgment with conjecture. Not until you have evidence to back up your words."
He extended his hand toward her.
"Welt Yang. Nameless of the Astral Express."
Acheron blinked, slightly confused, as if the gesture felt strange to her. In the end, though, she took his hand in a brief shake.
"Then prepare yourself." Her gaze did not waver. "Because this conversation will be endless."
A moment later, she dropped a bottle wrapped in fine paper between them.
"We could start with a drink."
********
Meanwhile, in another part of the dreamscape, Aleph strolled casually through the crowded streets of the Golden Moment. From time to time he checked the address on his phone, when he suddenly felt a hand grasp his.
That touch… it felt far too familiar.
In the end, he chose not to resist and let himself be led along.
They crossed streets until they arrived at a discreet shop on the edge of the Golden Moment. There, the glow of a portable screen lit Silver Wolf's face as she chewed gum with a lazy expression.
When she saw him enter, she paused her game briefly and looked at him with annoyance.
"Took you long enough."
Kafka laughed softly beside her, covering her mouth with a hand.
"It couldn't be helped. A certain little someone decided to be late."
Aleph scratched his head awkwardly.
"Uh…"
Silver Wolf snorted and went back to her game.
"Typical. Well, tell me… what happened this time, Caelus? Did you fight an animal for food? Or did you do something illegal and now the law's after you?"
"Who do you think I am?" Aleph shot back with mock indignation.
Silver Wolf glanced up, raising a brow with sarcasm.
"Do you want an honest answer?"
Aleph sighed, raising his hands in surrender.
"Pass."
"Hmph." She smiled smugly. "You're still too young to beat your big sister."
The comment made him mutter under his breath.
"Too much of a loli to be called that…"
Silver Wolf's expression hardened instantly as she shot him a neutral glare.
"What did you just say?"
"Nothing, nothing." Aleph forced a smile, waving his hand dismissively.
"Better be." The hacker pulled a small flash drive from her pocket, spinning it between her fingers. Aleph recognized it instantly.
It was from Caelus's old computer.
But… wasn't it supposed to have been destroyed in that accident caused by Stelle playing volleyball with SAM?
"Want me to show Kafka what's on here? Could be pretty entertaining."
"Oh~" Kafka tilted her head, her interest piqued by the words. "That does sound interesting."
"No need for that!" Aleph waved his hands, laughing nervously. Internally he cursed Caelus and his weird fetishes.
...
After the brief storm, Aleph looked at them more calmly.
"So… what are you two doing here?"
Kafka answered without losing her smile.
"There's no script for us right now. So until Elio decides otherwise, we're free. And I wanted to take the chance to pay you and Stelle a visit."
Kafka smiled, settling next to him on the couch where he sat beside Silver Wolf. She leaned against him, wrapping her arm around his.
Silver Wolf let out a sigh.
"And why do I always have to let this woman with a Genji complex drag me into her nonsense?" She grumbled. "Right now I could be doing something way more productive in Pier Point, hacking the Corporation for banning an account I spent months on…"
Kafka glanced at her sideways with feigned confusion.
"Weren't you the one who wondered how those two were doing? And didn't you also say you wanted to see if their skills had improved?"
Silver Wolf pouted, closing her mouth and turning away.
Aleph watched the two of them, and for a moment, felt a warm peace.
This was what he needed.
Of course, he hadn't forgotten his worries—the monster that killed Firefly and Robin, the riddles of Black Swan and Acheron—but now at least his mood was much calmer than before.
Without warning, he freed his arm from Kafka's embrace and slid his hands around both their waists, pulling them into a hug that left them startled.
Silver Wolf growled and smacked him lightly on the head.
"You made me lose the game, idiot…" But despite her words, she didn't pull away. Kafka, silently, returned the hug.
The contact soothed him more than he expected.
Remembering again, he wondered where this tendency of his had started. His older sister had also loved hugs, and from what he was starting to recall, it seemed Caelus did too.
Kafka stroked his hair as she saw him lost in thought, leaning in to whisper in his ear.
"Are you starting to remember more?" She asked, recalling the game they had played in the Luofu, and how he hadn't seemed to fully recognize her at the time.
Aleph chuckled softly, briefly closing his eyes.
"Yes… and I'm really glad I am. They're precious moments. The ones I lived with all of you."
Silence fell over the two women. In the end, they both hugged him tighter.
Silver Wolf murmured quietly.
"It'd be perfect if Stelle were here too…"
*************
In reality, Aleph's room remained silent. Bubbles rose slowly from the bathtub where his body lay motionless, submerged in the dream waters.
In front of him, seated and watching him in silence, Black Swan extended a hand. Her fingers traced the air, sketching a pattern that lit up with bright blue runes.
"Let's see what secrets you're hiding, Acheron…" She murmured, her voice tinged with curiosity.
The catalyst she had chosen rested in her hands—a golden music box, exquisitely crafted, found on the Eradication Gang's ship.
On its lid gleamed an unmistakable symbol: a tower shrouded in mist.
She turned the crank with a click. A chilling melody filled the room and, around her, crystallized memories took form.
Ifrit, the Duke of Hell, stood tall and resplendent, surrounded by the "children" who had followed his trail of flames. His silhouette glowed in shades of red and orange, cloaked in fire.
And yet, someone was missing.
Black Swan narrowed her eyes as she noticed the fracture in the projection. A figure flickered in and out, like a poorly rendered image on an old TV's static. The echo warped with flickering lines, its words little more than an unrecognizable murmur. As if someone had torn that memory out at the root, erasing every trace of its existence in that event.
"Erased…?" She murmured, surprised.
The memory should not have lied to her, and yet, someone had erased—or blocked—Acheron from that scene.
But the dismay didn't end there. From among Ifrit's children, a different presence emerged… a woman with deathly pale skin, wearing a short white dress whose hem she held delicately. Resting on her head was a matching hat, almost doll-like. Her hair, black as ink, cascaded down like a waterfall; her eyes blazed a burning violet, ringed with ghostly flames of the same hue.
She bowed theatrically before Black Swan, careful not to let her hat slip.
Black Swan tensed immediately.
"Who are you…?" She asked cautiously.
"What a lack of courtesy, don't you think?" Her voice was playful, dripping with mockery. "A woman of my stature and beauty should bring joy wherever she appears."
The stranger laughed derisively.
"Constanza the Dahlia. And if I'm not welcome here, then at least allow me to offer a gift… a glorious prophecy of Destruction."
Black Swan narrowed her eyes, a sense of dread washing over her. But Constanza merely looked her up and down, smiling in approval.
"You are a woman of remarkable quality. I'm not surprised you're the destined partner of him."
Black Swan's gaze turned ice cold.
"Explain yourself."
Constanza bared her teeth in a crooked smile.
"Father may be dead. The Imperfect may deny us. But still, we will pursue our glorious purpose. And you…"
Her voice sank into a venomous whisper that made the Memokeeper's hair stand on end.
"Just as the Whore of Babylon, the Trumpeter, and the late Fiend King foretold…" Her expression radiated genuine delight. "You, the Memokeeper who calls herself Black Swan, will lead us to the one who carries the Ancestral Contract of the previous King. Together you will sow the seed of 'Conception'… and fulfill the Imperfect's desire."
Black Swan's eyes widened at the revelation.
Constanza burst into laughter before dissolving into violet smoke. The music box caught fire in ghostly purple flames, crumbling to ash in her hands.
Black Swan drew a deep breath, her heart racing. Her trembling hand sought comfort by holding Aleph's.
"…}@#+3…" She softly murmured his name, trying to regain her composure.
*********
Inside the Golden Moment, Aleph was unaware of everything that had just taken place in reality.
Walking calmly through the shopping district after parting ways with Silver Wolf and Kafka, he tried to distract himself among the glowing shopfronts.
Between sparkling stores and eager merchants, a female voice stopped him.
"Excuse me, are you interested in trying some new clothes?"
He turned and found a young shop assistant with dark shoulder-length hair and bronzed skin that contrasted with her warm red eyes.
After thinking for a moment, he decided perhaps a small change might do him good.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to try something… uh." Aleph squinted, trying to read her nametag.
"Cocona, sir."
*******
In reality, in the hotel lobby, Himeko, Stelle, and March stood together before the counter. Alley, the receptionist, was checking some records on the terminal with an impassive look.
"There are no records of any artist named 'Firefly' among the employees or the members of the Iris Family," she confirmed after a few seconds.
Himeko nodded slowly, not seeming surprised.
"As I feared…"
"Then…" Stelle leaned forward, looking rather frustrated. "She never existed? Was she just an illusion Aleph and I shared?"
"At least in our records, yes. She never existed." Alley shook her head.
Himeko narrowed her eyes and asked another question.
"What kind of trace does someone leave when entering the dream? Is there some sort of pattern or residual record?"
Alley kept a slightly uneasy expression as she navigated the terminal.
"The only thing we install in each dream bathtub is a special monitoring system." She explained calmly. "It records the guest's vital signs and condition, to wake them immediately in case of trouble."
She looked up at Himeko, Stelle, and March.
"Beyond that, I don't have access to any other information. If you want something more detailed… you'll have to speak with a high-ranking member of the Hound Family."
Himeko sighed. She hadn't expected getting answers to be easy, but she had still held onto some hope.
"As much as Firefly was a stowaway, there should have been some kind of record, even a fake one. And here there's nothing." She murmured with a touch of frustration.
She sighed again and turned, motioning for the girls to follow. They had barely taken a few steps when a familiar voice stopped them.
"Well, well… how nice to see you again."
Topaz appeared with Conti in her arms, greeting them with a somewhat tired smile.
"Topaz!" March exclaimed, raising her hand enthusiastically. "What are you doing here?"
She sighed, hugging the Dimensional Pig tightly.
"I came as backup for Aventurine. But there was only one invitation to enter the dream, and he already took it. So I'm stuck waiting here in reality."
Himeko raised a brow but said nothing.
Topaz led them to a nearby table, and one of her subordinates quickly ordered drinks.
Within minutes, the atmosphere filled with laughter and improvised songs. The employees, a bit drunk, began singing melodies with surprising coordination.
"Wow, you've got good voices!" March applauded, laughing heartily.
Topaz buried her forehead in the table, visibly embarrassed.
"Damn you, Aventurine…" She muttered under her breath.
In the middle of the revelry, Stelle reached for a freshly served glass. But before her fingers touched it, Himeko's firm hand stopped her.
"No."
Stelle looked at her with annoyance.
"Oh, come on! Just one sip!"
"After seeing what happened the last time Aleph drank, I'm not taking that risk with you." Himeko replied sternly.
"Old hag!" Stelle shouted.
March immediately turned pale.
"Stelle, run!"
The silver-haired girl's eyes went wide as she realized what she had just said. Covering her mouth with both hands, she stepped back. Himeko smiled softly… but her twitching brows and burning eyes told a different story.
"Come with me." She said, gripping her arm firmly. "I'll teach you some manners."
"March, help me!" Stelle begged, tears in her eyes.
But March turned her gaze away, delighting in a chocolate dessert.
"Sorry, sorry…" She mumbled with her mouth full, pretending not to hear.
She liked having her life intact.
************
Meanwhile, in the Golden Moment, Aleph was staring at his reflection in the shop mirror. The new clothes fit him well—if only he had a gold watch, he could pass for a classic gambler straight out of the movies.
As he prepared to pay, he noticed Cocona's expression. The salesgirl avoided his eyes, her posture stiff.
Their eyes met for a second, and Cocona quickly looked away.
Aleph frowned.
"Are you okay?" He asked, noticing her face grow paler by the second.
She gave no reply. The trembling in her shoulders grew more noticeable, as if she were about to collapse.
Without a second thought, Aleph rushed outside and asked a passerby for the nearest doctor.
Minutes later, he was guiding Cocona—who could barely walk—into a small clinic run by an Intelitron nurse.
She barely gave them a glance.
"She's a regular visitor. All she needs is this." she said, handing Aleph a can labeled Happysoul – Special Edition.
Aleph held the drink while helping Cocona sit down.
"Drink it."
"…I don't want to." She said softly, hugging her shoulders. The trembling grew worse as tears began to spill.
"I lost it…"
Aleph studied her carefully.
"What did you lose?"
"The disc…" She answered with a sob.
Aleph took a deep breath, careful not to push her too hard.
"Where?"
She hesitated. Between tears and shame, she wiped her nose with the handkerchief he offered.
"I lost something important, on the way to the Golden Moment…" She said, curling into a fetal position. "I'm pretty ridiculous, aren't I? So pathetic that even a stranger worries about me." She muttered while hugging her knees tightly.
Aleph smiled gently, extending his hand to her.
"Aleph Avesta."
She blinked, surprised, and took his hand more out of reflex than choice.
"Cocona… Cocona Shepard."
"Pleasure to meet you. See? We're not strangers anymore." He said with a smile. "Now, tell me where you lost it."
After a moment's hesitation, she finally answered.
"In the area now occupied by the Terror Company's memes…"
Aleph raised a brow.
"Terror Company?"
Seeing his confusion, she gave a simple explanation.
"They were once performers of the Sweet Dreams Company. But… after certain troubles, they degenerated into violent monsters."
He nodded slowly.
"Got it."
Aleph thumped his chest and looked at her firmly.
"I promise I'll bring that disc back."
Cocona stared at him in disbelief, as if unsure how to respond. In the end, she only lowered her gaze, murmuring softly.
"Then… good luck."