While Kai was struggling with survival lessons on the ground, life aboard the Trash-Dragon space station moved to its own rhythm—a dance woven from routines, tasks, and rare moments of peace.
In the repair bay, Teron was in self-"maintenance" mode. His six mechanical legs were drawn in, turning him into a metallic sphere hovering in mid-air. The blue light circuits on his body flowed slowly and rhythmically, like a steady breath.
Around him, dozens of metal fragments and electronic components rotated slowly, arranged into a complex structure resembling an iron snowflake. This was how he "rested"—reorganizing information and optimizing internal processes.
Not far away, in her "Forge," Ember was tending to her weapons. Her fiery hair flared brighter each time she sharpened a blade on a special whetstone. "Sister Ember, do you need any help from us?" a few sparkling Stardust Wisps flew by, asking in their language of light.
"No need, kids," Ember replied, her voice less sharp than usual. "Go play, and stay away from the fire." She wiped sweat from her brow, looking at the sparks flying from the blade with unusual fondness. In this world, a sharp blade and a reliable machine were more precious than gold.
In the "Stargazer's Nook" aboard the Iron Dragonfly, Celeste was playing a strange game with the Dream Speakers. These beings of light danced according to her hand gestures, forming intricate shapes in the air.
"Make a dragonfly!" Celeste cheered.
Instantly, the Dream Speakers gathered, weaving the image of a dragonfly assembled from metal scraps, with solar panels for wings and a long cable for a tail. They emitted satisfied, chirping sounds.
"Wow! So pretty!" Celeste clapped, her galaxy eyes shining brightly. She turned to Echo, the silent shadow observing from a distance. "Do you want to play too?"
Echo didn't answer, only quivered slightly, creating a gentle ripple of light spreading through the air. That was its way of laughing.
Dinner was one of those rare moments when the whole group gathered. They sat around a metal slab used as a table, sharing their evening meal—nutrition pellets optimized for flavor by Teron and some "sweet-fruit" Celeste had found in the ship's spontaneous cultivation area.
"Teron, is the water filtration system fixed yet?" Ember asked, nibbling a pellet.
Blue text appeared in the air: "Completion 98.7%. One minor leak remains in a secondary conduit. Will be repaired within the next 2 hours 14 minutes."
"Excellent!" Celeste said, her eyes bright. "That means we'll have more clean water for the garden soon!"
Ember gave a slight smile, a rare expression. "Our little gardening enthusiast." Then she turned to Teron, "And the shield system?"
"Running comprehensive diagnostics. One capacitor crystal requires replacement within the next 72 hours."
After checking their respective areas, the group gathered to eat and talk. They discussed happenings on the Trash-Dragon, from the smallest things like squabbles to major events like Essence raids by different hunter groups.
Adding to the buzz on the Trash-Dragon was the news that a "Universal Carver" was scheduled to visit the station in the coming days. According to the residents, it was a high-level "Universal Carver" looking for an apprentice.
This made the station particularly lively, as a formal "Universal Carver" had never appeared on the Trash-Dragon before; most were amateurs who could only craft tools, weapons, and daily using attribute Essences.
"Tomorrow we could go to the A.G.R.A. (Astro-Gravitic Resonance Absorber) equipment sector to see if we can get a look," text flashed on Teron's display, expressing his desire.
(A.G.R.A. devices are used to dampen the shockwaves and destructive energy released when supernatural beings arrive at a space station or star system.)
"Fine, but your job is to keep an eye on Lessie," Ember replied.
Teron: "(╥﹏╥) Okay... I'll try."
The text on Teron's display seemed less eager than before.
As dinner ended, everyone returned to their own spaces. Ember went on patrol through the corridors, Teron returned to his slowly rotating "structure," and Celeste hugged Kai's Essence prism, whispering to it about her day on the Garbage-Dragon.
The ship glided on through the silence of the cosmos, a tiny oasis among the stars. Here, amidst threats and uncertainties, they had found their own rhythm—a rhythm built on trust, responsibility, and the small joys of daily life. And in this peaceful moment, they resembled a true family, even though each was a strange fragment of the universe.