Following the mimicry compass's guidance, Stelle found the silver-haired girl.
She turned sideways, gazing into the distance as if deliberately avoiding Stelle's eyes. After a long pause, she turned back and spoke softly:
"Haha… Your friend has sharp eyes… Sorry."
"No need to apologize. I don't suspect you… I just need the truth. Tell me, okay?"
Because of "Adrian's" unusual behavior, Stelle's trust in Firefly hadn't hit rock bottom yet.
"I… did hide some things from you… Like, I'm really not a [local]. The Bloodhounds chasing me isn't entirely baseless… And walking with you had other reasons too…"
"…But I'm truly grateful you helped. Admiring the Nameless is real too—you've seen so many worlds, all kinds of people and things. Every day is a fresh start."
"I want to take you one more place, okay? Not a tourist spot—quite the opposite… Call it my [secret base]."
Firefly extended her hand to Stelle: "There, I'll tell you everything I know… as much as I can."
...
On the way to the [secret base], Stelle suddenly halted at the sight of a clock figure with arms and legs.
"Someone's gonna die! Help!"
"What the—? Cartoon character stepped into reality… and talking to me? I must've overdosed on milk tea hallucinations."
Stelle rubbed her temples. Gotta cut back on Adrian's milk tea from now on.
"Hey! You got it—I'm [Clockie]… Wait, you can see me?"
Stelle nodded.
"Tick-tock! Awesome! Awesome! Misha's saved! Oh, sorry—haven't properly introduced myself."
"I'm Clockie, big star of Dreamville Penacony! Me and my buddies protect this town's peace—they're the Hanu Bros, Soda Gentleman, Origami Bird, Hamster Ball Knight…"
"And Misha! Misha's in danger—tick-tock! Help! Help!"
Clockie jumped frantically right in front of Stelle—he was genuinely panicked.
"A talking clock. I've lost it."
"Hm? Talking clock?" Firefly reacted instantly. "You mean… you're seeing a cartoon character that doesn't exist in reality?"
"Guess… I'm sick."
Stelle suddenly grew sad. Side effects of a Stellaron in the body…?
"Tick-tock! I bet only honest, pure-hearted kids with childlike wonder can see me—like this gray friend here!"
"He says you lack honesty, purity, and childlike wonder." Stelle immediately turned and ratted him out to Firefly.
Firefly smiled without responding.
"Tick-tock, tick-tock! Gray friend! Since you can see me, you gotta help! My good buddy Misha's in trouble! Please save him—or someone's gonna die!"
Lives at stake—Stelle shelved the [secret base] plan for now and pulled out her signature bat.
Firefly had no objections or doubts. In a dream, anything could happen… The base could wait.
"Tick-tock, tick-tock! Hurry, hurry! Gray friend! Misha's right there! Follow me!"
"Faster, faster! Like Hamster Ball Knight fast!"
Racing after Clockie, Stelle and Firefly finally reached the scene.
"Tick-tock! There, there! Clockie never lies!"
"Everyone, please calm down…"
From Stelle's view, the bellboy Misha—from their brief earlier encounter—was trying to mediate, but no one listened.
"Rule-breaking punk—gonna teach you a lesson!" The black-suited, sunglass-wearing gang boss stood akimbo, glaring at the other person besides Misha.
Seeing who it was, Stelle grabbed Firefly's hand and turned to leave.
"Haha, they're done for."
"Tick-tock! Gray friend, where you going? Come back and help Misha!"
Clockie jumped again, nearly breaking into street dance for Stelle.
"Send me to help an [Emanator]? For real?"
Stelle glanced back at Freesna surrounded by goons and prayed for them inwardly.
"Ah… How'd she get tangled up too…"
Firefly quickly figured it out, eyes shifting up to Freesna's frosty silver hair.
"Tick-tock! Please, gray friend—help Misha!"
"For valuing friends like that… My bat's thirsty." Stelle ignored Firefly's earlier comment.
"Efficiency… no, won't the method be too violent?" Firefly asked timidly.
Close call—almost spoke her true thoughts.
"Relax. Galactic Baseballer never lacks weapons."
Stelle showed off her arsenal to Firefly.
"Tick-tock, tick-tock! All this chaos is Boss Stone's fault!"
"Boss Stone's the worst villain in Dreamville—a greedy jerk who wants to drive everyone out and hog the precious rocks…"
"So he sent his goons to mess up the dream, sucking away everyone's good vibes! Dreamville's full of anxiety and fights now—no one's family anymore!"
"But as Dreamville's guardian, Clockie can't stand by! Use [Clockwork Tricks] to return the dream's good emotions to people's hearts—everyone'll make up!"
"Come on, gray friend! Clockie's Wonder Lesson starts now! I've got a feeling you'll master Clockwork Tricks—you're special enough to see me."
Clockie struck a pose and pulled glasses from nowhere.
"And you're a Dreamville guest—Boss Stone never saw you coming! Strike now, and that big lug won't know what hit him!"
"Before linking, remember: Never use Clockwork Tricks for evil—we're Dreamville guardians, tick-tock!"
Stelle smirked coldly. "Some weird Clockwork Tricks? Less effective than eating my bat."
After linking with Clockie, Stelle didn't rush the tricks. She pulled out the colorless milk tea and chugged it.
Adrian said this one was useless in Penacony—she'd do the opposite!
Rules… are made to be broken!
"Tick-tock! Is this pre-battle fueling? But Clockwork Tricks don't need energy!"
No physical change, but seeing Firefly's shocked stare, Stelle waved in front of her—no reaction.
Thank the stars—she'd finally learned this miraculous [Eternity] art!
Hmm… though why did it feel like basic invisibility? Totally unlike Adrian's [Veil of Eternal Night].