After Nero invited all his friends and family aboard, the Astral Express became much livelier.
Although the two adults of the group had doubts about some parts of the Family's invitation, they both chose to keep quiet for now. When it was time to have fun, the kids should be allowed to enjoy themselves.
As for Dan Heng, he was no longer dwelling on what had happened on the Luofu. After all, now that he was no longer in that position, it wasn't his place to worry about its affairs.
Unfortunately, he still didn't plan to get off the train with everyone else. Since both of the group's adults would be leaving the train this time, someone needed to stay behind.
Besides, if everyone went out to have fun and left Pom-Pom alone, that would be too pitiful for the Conductor.
The calm and reliable Teacher Dan Heng took on that responsibility.
He also had to keep Little Aha from causing trouble. Judging from its usual behavior, it was hard not to suspect that it would secretly bully the other Cat Cakes and Pom-Pom.
———
When Stelle woke up, she looked around and felt that something was strange.
She was still sitting on the sofa, but this was clearly no longer the Express.
It was a dim room that felt like a fantasy beneath the sea. It was also very luxurious. Not far away was a pool, though she had no idea what it was for.
Suddenly, Stelle heard a sigh.
She looked toward the sound and saw that a woman with blue-purple long hair had appeared without her noticing.
Her voice sounded somewhat helpless.
"Another one..."
After saying that to herself, she gave no explanation and simply said, "...Come with me."
Stelle looked at the woman in confusion.
"Who are you?"
"Those questions... have no meaning," the woman replied. "But I'll do my best to explain. This is the boundary between reality and the Memory Zone, a... dream."
"At this moment, you and I happen to be sharing the same dream, appearing in each other's thoughts. This is the Land of Dreams' first greeting to us."
"Don't worry. Soon you'll wake from this dream and forget everything that happened here, leaving behind only a faint sense of loss."
"And don't mind it. This kind of forgetting happens every morning. It's something we've long grown used to."
"...So, come with me. I'll take you home."
Stelle hesitated for a moment, but followed the woman anyway.
Passing floating tea sets above a tea table and a fireplace carved into the shape of a top hat with flames burning inside it, Stelle left the luxurious room.
The hallway outside was just as dim. Floating bubbles could be seen everywhere, and the surrounding walls were painted red, making it feel like a castle beneath the sea from a fairy tale.
The woman led the way while speaking to Stelle.
"A Galaxy Ranger, Acheron... that's what they call me. You may call me that as well."
After walking a little farther, they arrived at a grand hall. Everything before them suddenly became dazzling and magnificent. Bright warm lights drove away the gloomy feeling brought by the dark colors.
Acheron led Stelle to a wall. Some golden bubbles clung to it, forming a small slope.
Stepping onto it, Stelle instantly felt gravity change. It was as if she were walking on flat ground as she quickly walked up the wall. But soon after came a slight feeling of dizziness. The sudden change left her sense of direction a little blurred.
"So it really works...!"
Stelle was amazed.
After crossing another wall, the colors turned cold once more. Many people seemed to be standing in the hall, but Stelle realized that not a single one of them noticed her.
Seeing that Stelle was puzzled by the figures lingering there, Acheron explained.
They were shadows left behind in the dream. There was no need to pay attention to them.
But Stelle still curiously went over to listen.
She saw quite a few familiar faces.
There was Professor Ratio, whom she had met not long ago. Standing opposite him was a blond man in a luxurious trench coat. His eyes carried a dizzying, dreamlike look.
She also saw Miss Robin and a man who looked quite similar to her.
There were also Silver Wolf and Sam of the Stellaron Hunters. Nero had shown everyone photos of that handsome silver-white mech before.
There was also a beautiful older woman dressed like a witch or fortune teller, and a girl with twin tails, wearing a mask and a red dress.
After passing the shadows, Stelle continued forward and caught up with Acheron. There was a door at the end of the hallway, but as she approached, it quickly moved farther away, opening an even longer passage before her.
The dizziness grew stronger.
Stelle broke into a run after Acheron.
As she ran, countless doors closed by themselves, as though the exit itself was running toward her.
Finally, she stopped before a door.
Acheron's voice reached her ears.
"...We're here."
Stelle stepped forward and pushed the door open, only to find a child standing inside.
'It's a girl? No, a boy!'
A child whose appearance made it hard to tell.
The child bowed politely to Stelle and said respectfully, "Welcome to the Reverie Hotel. We wish you an unforgettable vacation! If you'd like to check in, please head straight to the front desk..."
Just as Stelle was about to say something, the child disappeared like a soap bubble bursting.
"Leave this place. Wake up as you always do," Acheron said. "Forget this chance meeting and return to where you came from."
"But before we part, I have one request."
"What is it?" Stelle looked seriously at the kind person who had guided her.
"It may sound strange, even rude, but I want to know... have we met somewhere before?"
Stelle blinked, caught off guard.
For a brief moment, she wondered if this kind person had really known her before.
So far, all her memories began from the moment she woke up on the space station. But back on the Xianzhou, Kafka and Blade had both told her about other things.
It seemed that before "her memories began," she had worked with them.
And during those days, perhaps she had met many different people. It wasn't impossible that the Ranger before her had been one of them.
After hesitating for a moment, Stelle said, "Maybe we have."
"You remind me of someone I once knew," Acheron said. "In my hazy memories, she stood beside me... just like this strange dream, close enough to see, yet impossible to reach."
As she spoke, Acheron walked forward, passing by Stelle.
"May I ask you a few more questions? I... often forget things. So instead of relying on memories, I'm more used to relying on feelings to grasp something."
"Whether your answers are right or wrong doesn't matter. What matters is your reaction in this moment."
"If it's memory loss... I know a friend who might be able to cure you," Stelle suddenly said.
Acheron opened her mouth, froze for a moment, then slowly closed it again.
"The name you called before waking up... was it that person's?" Acheron smiled faintly.
"Those people... are they your family? Friends? Enemies? It seems you've already formed bonds with many people that can't be broken..."
"Tell me, are you afraid of losing those bonds?"
Acheron's expression became serious.
Stelle narrowed her eyes, then nodded.
"Hm... Then what if there were a vast dream, one so real that it was no different from reality? A place without separation or death, where everyone could obtain the happiness they deserved and live happily forever."
"Would you be willing to stay there?"
This time, Stelle shook her head.
At the same time, she said, "That's impossible."