The seamless, meditative rhythm of their interstellar journey had lulled Kaelen into a profound sense of peace. Days bled into a continuous flow of cultivation, quiet conversations with Elias, and shared virtual explorations. The vast, swirling tapestry of hyperspace outside the viewport had become a familiar, almost comforting sight. Lumie, now larger and more vibrant, often coalesced into the form of a miniature, crystalline dragon, soaring through the simulated environments or flitting playfully around Elias's head, occasionally landing on his shoulder like a sentient, glowing epaulet.
Elias himself had entered a state of deep, sustained analysis, his Quantum Divine Sense extending beyond Aegis's immediate vicinity, scanning the cosmic currents for anomalies, for Luminite signatures, for any data points that could be optimized. He was a silent, living supercomputer at the heart of their journey, ensuring their path was always the most efficient, the most secure.
