"A powerful being roaming the rift?"
Lynelle was momentarily stunned. "You don't mean... that one, do you?"
"Mm, that's right, Miss Ache—" Kiana caught herself mid-name.
"I mean, that Raiden Mei expy, Miss Acheron." Kiana nodded, a mix of curiosity and inexplicable eagerness flickering across her face.
"Kiana... why do you look so excited?"
"Ah, is it that obvious?" Kiana smiled sheepishly.
"Well, from the memories I've seen of yours, I've learned a bit about Miss Acheron."
"Just imagine—whether it's the first-cycle Mei or the second-cycle one, neither of them ever seemed to have that kind of... adorably clueless personality. So of course I'm curious."
"It's like, if in some world, your auntie was an exceptionally clever strategist, or maybe even the God of Wisdom—it'd be hard not to find that contrast fascinating, right?"
"Uh... I can understand that." Following Kiana's train of thought, Lynelle began to ponder.
Compared to the Mei from their world, Acheron, perhaps due to her connection to Nihility, carried an air of detachment about most things.
But when paired with her clear, straightforward goals, it did come across as a bit endearingly simple.
Take the Penacony incident, for instance.
Plenty of people speculated that Acheron might have some hidden agenda.
In reality, she was just there to deliver a friend's keepsake.
She took down the Annihilation Gang because she needed an invitation; she claimed to be a Galaxy Ranger because she couldn't find the actual Rangers and hoped this way they'd come to her.
She was very much mission-driven.
Especially with that unique directional impairment of hers, she often ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time, blankly bulldozing her way through problems, then blankly wondering where she took a wrong turn.
It was rather endearing.
"Wait... so, the reason she's been wandering here..." The thought struck Lynelle. "It's not because she's lost, is it?"
"Wouldn't put it past her." Kiana spread her hands. "The person she needed to see just left, and from what I can sense, she's been circling the same path again. Honestly... it's possible."
As they chatted, Kiana led Lynelle out of the initial guest room.
The moment they stepped out, the scenery outside twisted into something bizarre and surreal.
"Left first, then right... okay, now we walk up the wall."
"Gotta say, this place is a nightmare for anyone with a poor sense of direction... Good thing I can use your Authority to map it out."
With that, Kiana guided Lynelle to a door.
"She's probably in the room behind this." Kiana didn't speak aloud, just conveyed the message with a look.
Lynelle caught on immediately, nodded, and pushed the door open.
"Hm? Another one... no, two?"
The moment the door opened, the violet-haired woman turned to look, a flicker of surprise crossing her features.
"Two people entering this place simultaneously... Well, never mind."
"They call me Acheron, a Galaxy Ranger... but my identity means nothing here. This is the border between dream and reality, a space born from the intersection of our dreams. Once you leave, you'll forget my name."
"Anyway, follow me. I'll guide you out..." Acheron paused briefly before adding, "Though it might take a little extra time."
"No problem. Time's the one thing I have plenty of." Kiana exchanged a glance with Lynelle and quickly fell into step behind her.
A minute later, they arrived at a lobby. It resembled the lobby of the Reverie Hotel, but was filled with strange, incomprehensible whispers.
"Just the background noise of dreams. Pay it no mind."
With that, Acheron continued leading the way.
Two minutes later, they were back in the same lobby.
"..."
Acheron halted, looking around with slight confusion.
Under Lynelle and Kiana's watchful eyes, she turned and started back down the path she'd just taken.
Another two minutes passed. The trio found themselves once again in the familiar lobby.
"...Sorry."
Acheron turned, her expression a little embarrassed. "I... think I'm a bit lost."
"Perfect. Why don't we sit and chat for a bit? Once you remember the way, we can continue."
Kiana fought hard to suppress the smile tugging at her lips, gesturing towards a nearby bar counter.
"I'll whip up some SoulGlad."
With that, Lynelle headed for a vending machine.
Watching Lynelle leave with a hint of curiosity, Acheron turned her attention back to Kiana, whose attire was noticeably more "ornate."
"Actually, I've been meaning to ask..."
"You seem to be... an existence attached to her?"
"Mm? You can tell?"
"Not by seeing, by feeling." Acheron shook her head.
"For certain reasons, my senses and memories tend to dull from time to time. That's also why I get lost so often. So I trust my feelings more than my eyes."
"Among wanderers, I'm considered moderately strong, yet I can still sense a faint aura of authority from you..."
"Au... authority?" Recalling being scolded by her mom for not finishing homework, and punished by Mei and her sister for sneaking snacks back on the moon, Kiana fell silent. "Do... do I really have that?"
"It's just recognition of your strength, nothing to do with personality." Acheron offered a gentle smile.
"When it comes to personality, my feeling is that both you and that pink-haired girl radiate warmth... You don't seem like bad people."
Acheron's expression then turned slightly hesitant.
"But my next question might be a bit presumptuous..."
Before she could finish, a bottle of SoulGlad was thrust into her hand from behind.
"No rush, we can talk and drink." Lynelle grinned, returning to her seat. "What did you want to ask, Acheron?"
"I wanted to ask..." Acheron twisted open the cap. "Have we... met somewhere before?"
"Because, somehow, seeing you fills me with a strange sense of closeness... With this white-haired girl, yes, but with you... that sense of familiarity and connection is even stronger."
"So I need to know, have I forgotten something... Wait."
Acheron's voice caught. She stared at the bottle in her hand.
"Peach flavor?"
"Ehe~" Lynelle winked. "Doesn't it suit your taste perfectly?"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.