'That's a nice change of pace...'
The Stormsea was unlike any other region in the Dream Realm, seemingly untethered from the usual flow of night and day. Days could pass in a heartbeat, while nights lingered far longer than they reasonably should. But today, it seemed as though the Stormsea was welcoming the Awakened back from the troubles of the Waking World with a rare warmth.
Its sun shone down upon grand lakes, towering pagodas, and the citizens of the Night Garden as it traversed the treacherous seas. Inhaling deeply, Lauri felt something within his soul shift as he stepped fully out from the shadow of the great pagoda housing the Gateway and into the brilliance of the sun.
Light surged into his Soul Sea – stronger than anything he had felt since Antarctica's long night had begun. To most, the difference between natural and artificial light would have been negligible, barely worth noticing. But to Lauri – whose very nature attracted all types of light – it was unmistakable.
Natural light was alive. Artificial light, by comparison, felt hollow – like a pale imitation. The difference between them was as stark as a freezing winter night and a blazing summer day.
The Stormsea was rarely so kind. More often, it lived up to its name – wracked by eternal storms, its skies choked with roiling clouds, its nights stretching on beneath cold, distant stars.
But not today.
Today, it was calm.
And for the first time in a long while, Lauri could feel the light on his skin again.
As the radiance within his soul grew brighter with each passing second, Lauri felt another change. Something subtler, more instinctual, the more light that filtered into his Soul Sea and was drawn into his Soul Core, the faster his essence regenerated.
A small benefit of his nature.
'I guess I should enjoy this whilst it lasts, there's no telling when this lovely day will come to an end.'
Weaving his way through the crowds, Lauri slowly managed to escape the busy paths that led toward the Gateway. Bodies pressed close on all sides, voices overlapping as Awakened came and went with hurried purpose. Lauri slipped between them, twisting through gaps and adjusting his footing to step over any missing gaps in the cobblestone paths.
Gradually, the number of people began to thin. The noise softened as the number of shouting voices faded from a constant din into scattered conversations and distant footsteps. The wide, bustling paths narrowed into quieter walkways.
Lauri exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing as space opened around him. Without the constant movement of others dictating his pace, his steps slowed, losing their urgency.
He turned down a familiar path, one that curved away from the main streets. Here, the air felt calmer, the sounds of the crowd reduced to a distant hum. Lanterns swayed lightly overhead, their glow soft against the pale light of day, and the towering structures gave way to more modest dwellings.
Despite knowing he needed to get home and sleep, Lauri was unable to push himself to rush. Simply letting himself drift, meandering along the quiet path toward his home.
Lauri's home sat tucked away along one of the quieter paths, set slightly apart from the neighbouring dwellings. It was modest in size compared to the grand structures of the Night Garden, but it carried a quiet sense of order and purpose.
The exterior was built from pale wood and dark stone, the materials worn smooth by time but carefully maintained. Subtle carvings lined the beams – simple, deliberate patterns rather than anything ornate – giving the structure a calm elegance. The roof curved gently at the edges, echoing the pagodas that rose elsewhere across the vessel, though on a far smaller scale.
A narrow walkway led up to the entrance, bordered by low lanterns that cast a steady, soft glow. Even in the daylight, their light persisted – calm and unwavering, like a habit rather than a necessity.
Eyeing the door knob, Lauri held his hand up.
As Lauri had never been lucky enough to acquire a storage Memory for himself, he had resorted to more unconventional means of securing his home whilst he was away. Using [Light's Edge], Lauri simply created a key. Sliding it into the lock, with a twist it clicked open.
About to step inside, Lauri heard a familiar voice.
"Well, if that isn't you, Lauri."
Turning, Lauri's tired face broke into a smile as he saw who had spoken. Stepping away from his front door, he took a few slow steps forward before leaning against the wall. Bowing his head slightly, he kept the faint smile.
"Ascended Mer. It's been some time – how are you?"
Lauri had known the man standing opposite him for years, ever since he had first moved into this home nearly a decade ago. Ascended Mer was one of the House of Night's esteemed Nightwalkers, and like the others, he had been deployed in the Waking World to protect the evacuation fleets.
So seeing him here was a pleasant surprise.
Resting his hands on his hips, Mer shook his head.
"I'm well enough… though sometimes it feels like I'm not built for this fight anymore. These old bones of mine…"
He gave a small, tired chuckle.
"...Sometimes it feel like they're starting to slow me down."
He waved a hand, brushing the thought aside.
"Anyway, what about you? How has Antarctica been treating you?"
Startled slightly, Lauri cleared his throat.
"How did you know I was in Antarctica?"
Mer glanced around, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"You not coming home for so long gave it away… And I was aboard the same ship you and your team took south. Did you really not notice me?"
Coughing lightly, Lauri looked away.
"Ah… I'm sorry, Mer. I was so preoccupied with everything going on, it seems I missed you completely."
Raising his hand, Mer waved it as if to dispel Lauri's apology.
"No need to apologise, lad. You were one of those Irregulars, right? I heard more than enough about them to know you and your group have done much for the evacuation effort. Ah, but I can see from your face this old man is just distracting you from your real reason for coming home."
Rubbing his face, Lauri sighed.
"Is it so obvious that I'm dead tired?"
Chuckling, Mer nodded.
"I'm afraid so. I'll leave you be. It's nice seeing you again, Lauri. I've lost many friends in these past few months. So… It's good to know you're still alive."
Lauri's gaze dropped as he frowned, shaking his head. Lauri tried to put on his best smile.
"Let your granddaughter know I said hi. Her birthday is coming up soon, no? I'll see if I can get her something nice for when I'm back from the Waking World."
Stepping away, Mer would nod.
"I will, now, rest easy, Lauri."
Waving to Mer, Lauri would take a few steps back to his front door. Pushing the door open, he would step inside.
Inside Lauri's home, the space was clean and uncluttered despite its occupants having been absent for some time. The home was fairly small, but that meant everything had its place, and nothing was left without purpose. A low table sat at the centre of the main room, its surface bare save for a few carefully arranged items. Shelving lined one wall, holding a small number of possessions – tools, materials, and the occasional oddity gathered from his time as an Awakened.
Light filtered in through the windows, filling the room with a natural warmth that artificial sources could never quite replicate.
There was little in the way of decoration, but the home did not feel empty.
Wasting no time reminiscing, Lauri hurried upstairs to his bed and, within moments of collapsing onto it, fell asleep.