Paths That Cross in Silence
The Dream Continent rarely slept.
Even when the skies dimmed into twilight, the floating towers shimmered with rivers of starlight, and the streets pulsed with music, laughter, and glowing footsteps. It was a world in constant motion—so alive that Kael couldn't help but feel small.
Which was exactly why he slipped away.
Juno had darted off to explore the city the moment she spotted a sign that screamed World's Most Famous Restaurant! with illustrations of glowing dumplings and rivers of juice. Talia, as composed as always, excused herself with a calm "I have something to see," though Kael suspected she simply didn't want anyone following her.
That left Kael. Alone.
And honestly? He needed it.
He wandered through narrow streets lined with glowing lanterns. The people here were unlike the dreamers at the citadel—these were vendors, musicians, children chasing each other across bridges of light. The simplicity of it struck him more than the armies ever had. These were lives worth protecting.
Kael paused at a stall where a craftsman carved miniature dream-beasts from crystal shards. He reached for one shaped like a wolf, then stopped when he realized his hands were trembling slightly.
Ever since Astral Flow bound him to Juno and Talia, his body had changed—faster, sharper, stronger. But deep inside, the memory of that black whisper lingered. The corruption had touched him once, and though it was gone, he couldn't shake the fear that it might return.
"You have thoughtful eyes for someone so young," the craftsman said, smiling without looking up. "Eyes that see too much."
Kael blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?"
The man chuckled softly. "It means you carry weight beyond your years. But sometimes… the world doesn't need heroes to think. It needs them to live."
Kael had no answer for that. He set a coin on the table and pocketed the crystal wolf before walking away, the craftsman's words echoing in his chest.
Elsewhere, Talia stood at the highest balcony of the citadel, overlooking the Dream Continent. Her dress of silver threads fluttered in the soft astral wind, her eyes fixed on the sea of lights below.
It should have been comforting. Billions of warriors ready to defend their world. Leaders who wielded unimaginable power. Yet for her, it wasn't enough.
The truth was—she had always carried solitude like a shield. Back in the waking world, wealth built walls higher than any citadel. No one touched her heart. No one deserved to.
And yet…
Her lips curved slightly as Kael's awkward stammer replayed in her memory. He was clumsy, uncertain, but genuine.
That was dangerous.
"Don't get too close," she whispered to herself. "Not when the corruption can take everything."
But her heart didn't listen.
Meanwhile, Juno was having the time of her life.
The World's Most Famous Restaurant turned out to be a colossal floating plaza where dozens of dream-chefs cooked in the open, each dish more bizarre and delicious than the last.
She sat at a long glowing table, happily juggling plates stacked with steaming dumplings, rainbow noodles, and drinks that fizzed like starlight.
When a waiter brought her a glowing fruit that looked suspiciously like it might explode, she clapped. "Finally! Something that looks dangerous and edible. My two favorite things!"
The waiter looked uneasy. "Careful, miss, it's very—"
BOOM!
The fruit popped like a firecracker, showering her with sweet mist. The entire crowd turned to stare.
Juno wiped the juice off her face, grinned, and raised her hands. "Ladies and gentlemen, you're welcome for the free fireworks!"
The restaurant roared with laughter, and in seconds, strangers were buying her food, clapping her on the back, and cheering for her storytelling.
For once, she wasn't just part of the team. She was a star in her own right.
Hours later, fate pulled them back together.
Kael wandered into the plaza, lost in thought, when he spotted Juno dancing on a table with glowing noodles twirling in both hands. She waved dramatically the moment she saw him.
"Kael! Come join the revolution! Noodles for everyone!"
He sighed, though his lips curved despite himself. "Juno, what are you even doing—"
Then he froze. Talia was there too, standing at the edge of the plaza. She wasn't laughing, but she wasn't scolding either. Her gaze flickered between Juno's chaos and Kael's stunned expression, and for the first time, she didn't walk away. She stayed.
The three of them—so different, yet tied together by Astral Flow—stood in the glow of the Dream Continent.
And for that fleeting moment, corruption, battles, and destiny felt far away.