Robin accompanied Kiana on a tour of Paperfold University. Within the dream, Kiana saw the Paperfold University constructed inside the dream itself.
She also briefly toured the three major colleges.
The strong academic atmosphere, the sense of youth and dreams filling every corner—Kiana's impression of the place was extremely positive.
She even slipped into a class at the Dreamweaver Academy with Robin. Sitting through the lecture made Kiana feel several years younger all at once.
"Looks like you gained quite a bit."
After accompanying her through the class, Robin now strolled beside her through Paperfold University following the end of the lesson.
"Are you very interested in Dreamweavers?"
Earlier, when Robin mentioned that they could sit in on a class if she was interested, Kiana had chosen the Dreamweaver Academy without hesitation out of the three major colleges—Charmony, Dreamweaving, and Fortune.
Robin had thought she would choose Charmony.
After all, she and Kiana had performed together before. Robin had even carefully kept recordings of every performance they had shared.
She hadn't expected Kiana to choose Dreamweaving.
Robin was a little surprised. In the past, she had never noticed any particular aptitude for Dreamweaving in Kiana, nor had she seen her show interest in it.
"I was just a little curious. In the end, a lot of things lead to the same destination by different paths. And I did pick up something useful."
Kiana wondered whether she could let Araya learn some of the Dreamweavers' techniques.
For Planet of Festivities, Penacony to have endured until today, the contributions of the Dreamweavers were undoubtedly immense. Being able to construct such a vast world meant the profession had long since matured.
Though their fundamental nature was not the same.
Still, knowledge could be applied by analogy.
It was just that Araya's existence was special, and the Memoria within the Asdana Star System was so abundant. If Araya were here, it was unclear whether it would affect Penacony.
"Then..." Robin did not ask what she intended to do. After hearing her words, she instinctively began thinking for her. "Would you like to stay at the Dreamweaver Academy for a while?"
"Of course I have to investigate the traitor first," Kiana said. "Once all that trouble is settled, it won't be too late to come back and take a proper look at the Dreamweaver Academy."
"In that case, I'll be more thorough. The sooner we uncover the secret hidden behind everything, the sooner you'll be able to focus on what you truly want to do."
Kiana smiled brightly, placing one hand on her hip. "Helping you—that's what I want to do most right now."
Robin's expression softened into a smile. "You're still just as warmhearted as when we first met."
Kiana laughed a little awkwardly.
Actually, it's not that I'm as warmhearted as when we first met, Kiana thought to herself. Back when I first met Robin, I didn't think so much. I acted purely. But now... I think too much. I clearly know a truth that's very important to her, yet I hesitate, not knowing how to say it.
As she thought this.
Her mood inevitably dimmed.
But they were in a dream right now. Her dejection was like a flicker of firelight—impossible for Robin to ignore.
A dejection born of that noise.
Kiana had not told her everything, and she did not know how many untold experiences lay hidden behind the things Kiana had yet to speak of.
But she knew what she ought to do.
Robin raised her hand. The power of Harmony blossomed from her palm, gently smoothing away the sudden surge of melancholy in Kiana's heart.
The first time she had used the power of Harmony on Kiana, trying to help her, she had meant well but nearly disrupted the balance within Kiana.
After that, she had not dared to use Harmony on her again. It was only after they cooperated in performance and spent more time together that the misunderstanding was resolved.
After Kiana regained her memories, there was no longer any need to worry about that so-called balance. The power of Honkai within her had overwhelmingly claimed victory.
Until now.
There was no trace of Nihility left on Kiana's body. There was no need to worry about throwing her powers out of balance.
"I didn't say anything wrong, did I?"
Robin used the power of Harmony to regulate Kiana's mood, yet she herself felt a bit uneasy and nervous, replaying her earlier words in her mind, wondering if something had gone wrong.
But she hadn't really said anything.
She had only sighed that Kiana was still the same as before...
So was it because Kiana felt she was no longer the same as before that hearing those words made her suddenly downcast?
The noise around her.
Those hints of what seemed like self-doubt.
Could they also stem from this?
Robin quickly arrived at what she believed was the most likely truth, yet felt a trace of difficulty. She did not know what Kiana had gone through to cause such a change.
"No, no. I just suddenly thought of something else." Kiana shook her head repeatedly, once again revealing a warm smile.
Doesn't want to talk about it?
That made sense. If matters of the heart were so easily cured, there wouldn't be so many...
Robin nodded as if accepting her explanation and changed the subject. "Do you remember the worlds we visited? Some of the children wrote us letters. They even sent a few gifts."
"They wrote to you?"
"To us." Robin couldn't help correcting her. She explained, "Since they didn't know where you had gone, they sent the letters meant for you, along with everything they wanted to say, all to me."
Kiana rarely thought about those things. Once something was done, she never sought repayment, and there was a ninety-nine percent chance she would never see those people again.
Helping those worlds was simply something she wanted to do.
Because she wanted to in her heart, she did it.
And along the way, Robin had been with her. Sometimes even if she acted impulsively, Robin would be there to support her.
Looking back.
That was also a past worth cherishing. She and Robin had been like walking beams of light, sowing seeds of hope in worlds ravaged by war and suffering.
Hearing that there was a follow-up, Kiana's interest was instantly piqued. Warmth filled her chest, and her mood brightened along with it.
"What did they say in the letters?"
"Would you like to go take a look together?" Robin blinked at her. "Letters should be opened by hand. That way, you can better feel the sender's intentions."
"Sure!" Kiana nodded, curiosity shining in her eyes. "I'm really curious what kind of letters they sent. It must have taken quite some effort to send them all the way to Penacony."
"Let's head back to the hotel room first," Robin said with a smile. "The letters are in the real world. Come to my room."
"Back to reality? No problem. I'll come find you once I'm out."
...
...
The half year she spent performing alongside Robin.
Though it had not been very long, the things they accomplished together were anything but few.
Leaving Penacony through the Dream Pool.
Returning to reality, to The Reverie.
Kiana lay peacefully asleep in the bath of dream-fluid. She opened her eyes and slowly sat up in the tub.
She had gone through the process of entering and exiting dreams several times already. This time, too, nothing unexpected occurred.
She knew Robin's room number.
After getting up, she took her key, picked up her phone, and left her room.
The Reverie was enormous. It housed dream-chasers from all across the cosmos, a true land of dreams.
But the room Robin had arranged for her was naturally not far from her own. Kiana did not waste much time on the way and soon arrived at her destination.
She raised her hand and knocked twice.
After roughly two breaths, the door opened from within. Robin, smiling brightly, took her by the hand and invited her inside.
"Look, these are all from them."
Leading her into the room, Robin pointed at the box she had placed on the table, happily sharing it with Kiana.
"So many? All of them?"
Kiana looked at her in surprise.
"Why not uncover the mystery yourself?" Robin smiled at her.
Kiana stepped forward and looked into the box. The contents were simple—mostly letters, along with several wooden dolls.
She did not rush to read the letters. Instead, she picked up one of the wooden dolls.
They were not exquisitely crafted, nor were they lifelike.
Her thumb traced the marks left by the carving knife. Though the craftsmanship was still somewhat unpolished, it was clear the carver had put genuine care and effort into it.
"That's you. It looks quite alike, doesn't it?"
Robin took out the other wooden dolls from the box and arranged them together on the table. It was obvious they were part of a set.
All carved by the same person.
"Do you remember Banardel?" Robin looked at Kiana gently, recalling the past with a soft smile. "That war-torn world left shattered after three hundred years of conflict. It was also our first stop."
Kiana placed the doll in her hand into the empty space Robin had left among the others.
"Was it Mika?" Kiana said. "I remember he was very interested in these things—paper folding, clay sculpting, all of that. He could always turn scraps into toys and bring smiles to his younger siblings."
"That's right. It was him." Robin's voice was gentle as she continued, "He always hoped for peace and believed that seeds of hope would sprout in people's hearts. In his letter, he brought us good news. Banardel has ended its three hundred years of civil strife. There are still frictions, of course, but it is moving toward the future we once hoped for."
"After the war ended, he opened a sculpture shop with his siblings. These were the very first dolls he carved—dolls that symbolize a new beginning—and he sent them to us."
"He also said he would save up money and one day bring his siblings to attend one of our concerts in person."
Robin's words stirred Kiana's memories of that time. Her expression softened with nostalgia, though she said lightly, "That kid definitely wasn't telling the truth. There's no way these were his first carvings. You can tell he practiced for quite a while."
Robin only smiled and said nothing.
She took out more items and placed them before Kiana. Letter after letter bore signatures of names Kiana had nearly forgotten.
Within those pages.
Kiana saw endings to stories she had never witnessed.
Some worlds remained much the same as when they had left.
Some had grown brighter and more prosperous, even inviting them back to visit.
And others were still trapped in adversity, yet continuing to struggle against fate, refusing to yield.
Beneath the stack of letters lay a book. Someone from one of those worlds, inspired by them, had written it. Within its pages, the two of them were even mentioned.
Several photographs were tucked inside.
Kiana and Robin discussed the past with interest.
Seeing news from the worlds she had once influenced, Kiana realized she was not as indifferent as she had imagined.
She was genuinely happy for those who had rekindled hope and faith, who looked forward to each new tomorrow.
There was no need to think about Honkai.
No need to think about anything else.
They simply talked about the days when they had stood strong for the weak, when they had extended a helping hand to worlds drowning in suffering.
They talked for a long time.
They went through every world they had visited, and even reminisced about amusing incidents from their early performances together.
Only then did Kiana reluctantly stop dwelling on those memories.
Unlike Izumo, where salvation had failed and she herself had drawn the final curtain.
And unlike Jarilo-VI, which she had used in an attempt to make partial amends.
The worlds she had visited with Robin.
She had not actually done that much. She had only offered some help and reignited hope in their hearts.
"If we have time in the future, shall we go back and visit?" Robin suggested as their conversation drew to a close.
Kiana instinctively glanced at the items on the table. A faint smile curved her lips as she replied lightly, "Sure. When the time comes, we'll go back and see the new worlds they've built with their own hands."
Perhaps this was what true salvation meant.
Saving a world was not the responsibility of a single person, nor could it be accomplished by one alone. It required countless people united together to change it.
Only then could a perfect future recognized by everyone be created.
Robin extended her hand. "Then it's a promise?"
Kiana clasped her hand and smiled. "Of course. I have no reason to refuse, do I?"
A faint trace of noise surfaced around her once more.
Robin instinctively tightened her grip, already certain what the source of Kiana's heart-knot was.
Even with Acheron by her side.
Why...
More doubts gathered in her heart. Before finding Raiden Mei, the only thing Kiana had ever worried about was Honkai harming others.
Had it always been there, simply buried too deep in the past?
Now that her obsession with finding Raiden Mei had been fulfilled, had the hidden dangers she once ignored come surging out all at once?
She did not know.
But she hoped Kiana could—like when they first met—remain unburdened by inner turmoil, keeping that passionate and kind heart of a child.
Not merely on the surface.
But within.
She wished the same for herself.
"Let's stop here for today. You must be tired as well, right?" Robin released her hand, noticing the questioning look in Kiana's eyes.
"Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to my brother," she said. "I'll let you know the time and place later."