Penacony's sweet dream felt completely different from the Herta Space Station's futuristic technology, Belobog's frozen wasteland, or the Xianzhou Luofu's peaceful prosperity. It was dreamlike and exaggerated.
Stelle wandered around, stopping here and there, looking around as she walked. There was so much to see that it dazzled her eyes. She spent quite a while just roaming about.
Only afterward did Stelle remember the favor March had asked of her. She decided to ask someone for directions, so she picked the nearest person, a guy with pink hair and muscles all over his body. He stood out at a glance.
The man's name was Vitali. Before Stelle could even speak, he started talking on his own.
He said he was an animal trainer and showed Stelle how he worked. He picked up a whip and lashed something over and over until he exhausted himself.
To Stelle, it looked more like abuse than training.
Instead of being an animal trainer, this guy ought to be working as a factory foreman.
'What was that thing Nero always said?'
"My factory is missing a talent just like you!"
Stelle felt she should probably exchange contact information with him and ask someday whether he had any interest in changing jobs.
At that moment, Vitali eagerly offered to show Stelle his star performer. He called over his most popular attraction...
The Trash Can Freak!
It was a silver-gray trash can with arms and legs.
The Trash Can Freak carried itself like a celebrity and had no intention of greeting Stelle.
That didn't matter. Little Gray Hair couldn't care less about something like that. Her eyes were already sparkling.
This was just too cool.
She hadn't even found a chance to get away from Nero yet, and she'd already seen the real thing here.
Just by looking at its solid muscles, imposing posture, and deep gaze, she knew it had to be the finest specimen among trash cans.
At Vitali's request, the Trash Can Freak began to dance. Though it still didn't say a word, it started moving gracefully. As it performed its unknown dance, Stelle watched its lid spin round and round.
Somewhere deep inside, Stelle felt a strange sense of familiarity...
As if the trash can before her were a sister she'd been separated from for many years.
Stelle was very pleased with the performance and happily exchanged contact information with Vitali.
One looked forward to an audience who truly appreciated the act.
The other looked forward to a trash can that had grown arms and legs, as well as a factory foreman.
After asking for directions and getting a map, Stelle said goodbye to Vitali and headed to the Dreamscape Sales Shop.
At the entrance was a giant moving eyeball. As Stelle approached, it spoke.
"Welcome to the Dreamscape Sales Shop, Trailblazer of the Astral Express!"
"How do you know who I am?" Stelle blinked and asked.
"That is the power of psychoanalysis, madam. Dr. Edward is at your service," the giant eye replied.
Stelle nodded as if she understood, though she didn't really.
"You remind me of a... 'companion' I know."
"I'm honored, madam. Please allow me to introduce the Dreamscape Sales Shop."
"Here, you can experience all kinds of strange and fascinating dreams... from productions by Clock Studios to privately donated ones. We have everything."
"If I'm not mistaken, this is your first time visiting Penacony, correct?"
Stelle nodded.
"Don't worry. Dr. Edward will provide attentive assistance to help you choose your very first dream, allowing you to fully enjoy an audiovisual feast that can only be experienced in dreams."
"...The analysis is complete. I believe you'll definitely like this Dream Bubble."
"It was anonymously donated by a private individual. According to rumor, the memories inside... belong to the fallen Aeon Akivili! I can assure you, this Dream Bubble is absolutely perfect for you!"
"How many Credits do I owe you?" Stelle asked.
"You don't need to pay! Dr. Edward promises that every first-time customer may experience one Dream Bubble free of charge!"
"Now then, let's begin. Please close your eyes and press your forehead against the Dream Bubble."
Dr. Edward was actually pretty nice.
He handed over a Dream Bubble. Stelle did as instructed, and then she saw a scene of Pom-Pom holding someone accountable.
The Pom-Pom in the memory looked very angry. He questioned whether she admitted her mistakes and said the crimes she'd committed were beyond forgiveness.
Then Pom-Pom began listing her offenses.
Not taking the general cleaning seriously; driving a snow vehicle into the Tykoan Grand Stadium, disrupting order, causing a competition to be suspended and forcing twenty Trailblazers into three months of unpaid labor; sneaking into the Hyiayi Zoo and spending half an Amber Era's worth of the crew's budget to buy two hundred and fifty Nascent Snifflebeasts, raising them in the restroom where they multiplied endlessly until wastewater flooded into the other train cars; breaking into the dining car kitchen, eating forty-two delicious crispy Pom-Pom Pies (objecting that Pom-Pom made them himself), then taking the last bowl of Train Hotpot from the refrigerator, leaving the conductor hungry; causing the entire Express archive to disappear; watering the plants in the observation car with SoulGlad (the Alfalfa family changed the beverage's name to avoid commercial disputes); launching noise attacks against the conductor during his break time; breaking into the conductor's private snack vault...
Watching this memory, Stelle could barely hide the astonishment on her face.
'Good heavens, Akivili was way too Aha.'
'Come to think of it, Nero had stolen the Train Hotpot before too...'
But soon, Stelle learned something even more shocking.
'Good heavens, the worst Nameless was someone who blew the Express into two pieces... Good heavens! Nero's good buddy, the Aeon of Elation Aha, is my senior!'
That was where the Dream Bubble ended.
After leaving the memory behind, Stelle's expression became extremely complicated and strange.
She'd never expected Elation and Trailblaze to have such a tangled history. They were practically one family.
Countless years ago, Aha had once been one of the Nameless.
Countless years later, Aha was the good buddy of Nero, who was now one of the Nameless.
'What kind of fate is this?'
Afterward, so the others could see the memory as well, Stelle simply bought the Dream Bubble. Although it wasn't one of the clues Pom-Pom was looking for regarding the three seniors, it was still something valuable.
Before leaving, she also received a sticker as a gift from Dr. Edward.
She had only just paid when she heard a man's shout from not far away.
"She ran that way... grab her!"
Curious, Stelle followed the voice and saw a young girl cornered against a wall by two Bloodhound Family members.
She was a beautiful girl with grayish-white hair, a black shawl, and a white dress accented with pale cyan. The patterns on her clothes were beautiful, making the whole outfit look like a pair of cicada wings.
'She's really pretty!'
"Don't even think about running! You stowaway!" the male Bloodhound member shouted.