"The hell… this damn dreamscape is way too luxurious!"
"Dan Heng, once we find that imposter, I'm gonna put a bullet through her myself!"
In the Golden Hour, inside the Clockie-themed restaurant—
Boothill leaned back in his seat, taking a sip of sweet SoulGlad, grumbling as usual.
It hadn't been easy for him to get into Penacony.
If not for Dan Heng vouching for him, he'd probably still be stuck outside.
After all—
He was on the IPC's wanted list.
And even though the Family didn't exactly get along with the IPC, they weren't about to casually let in someone the company was hunting.
Sitting across from him—
Was none other than Aventurine.
Aventurine, one of the Ten Stonehearts from the Strategic Investment Department.
Boothill's eyes narrowed immediately.
"The hell is an IPC dog doing here?"
"Scram. Or I might just shoot you where you stand."
Boothill had never hidden his hatred.
His homeworld had been destroyed—
Because of the IPC.
Not indirectly.
Not accidentally.
Directly.
So compared to others seeking revenge…
His grudge ran deep.
Dan Heng sat quietly to the side.
Watching the tension build—
Without stepping in.
"I bet your gun isn't even loaded."
Aventurine smiled faintly, casually picking up a "flying saucer burger" from the table.
But inwardly—
He was confused.
Where were the others?
Where were the rest of the Nameless?
His plan had been meticulous.
Three Cornerstones.
Multiple contingencies.
And yet—
Nothing had gone wrong.
Too smooth.
That was the problem.
Before he could think further—
His communicator buzzed.
[March 7th]: Dan Heng! Finally got through to you!
[Dan Heng]: What happened? Where are you? Why couldn't I reach any of you?
[Stelle]: Big news! Huge news! We found Mikhail!
[Dan Heng]: …What?
[Evan]: Stop teasing him. Where are you? You should be with a Galaxy Ranger right now.
[Dan Heng]: …You even know that? Evan, are you secretly an Emanator of Finality?
[Evan]: Guessing. You ran into him after returning to reality, right? Anyway, we're done on our side.
[Dan Heng]: I'm in the Golden Hour. Clockie Restaurant. Aventurine is here too.
[Evan]: Good. We'll be there soon.
Dan Heng lowered his device.
His gaze flicked between Boothill and Aventurine.
The Ten Stonehearts—
Were no ordinary figures.
Their Cornerstones came from Diamond, an Emanator of Preservation.
Each stone—
A fragment of that power.
Amber, Agate, Topaz, Sugilite, Aventurine, Pearl, Obsidian, Jade, Chrysoberyl, Opal—
Together forming the Ten.
And Boothill?
A Galaxy Ranger.
Which meant—
Even if he couldn't win alone…
He could always call backup.
The tension lingered—
But didn't escalate.
Meanwhile—
Back at Dreamflux Reef—
After Evan and the others left,
A new bouquet appeared before the three graves.
A small burst of color—
In an otherwise silent, dark world.
High above—
In the lonely tower—
Mikhail slept on.
Still holding that broken dream bubble.
Beside him—
A statue of a hound kept watch.
At the graves—
Gallagher returned alone.
He lit a cigarette.
Carrying half a bottle of whiskey.
Then sat down quietly.
He wiped the dust off the gravestones—
Even though, in a dream,
Dust shouldn't exist.
Three glasses.
Poured.
Placed before—
Mikhail.
Tiernan.
Razalina.
Then he took a drink himself.
"…Damn. Still burns like hell."
But today—
Strangely—
It tasted a little sweet.
"…Old man."
"What were you guys like back then?"
"You came to this exile zone full of fire…"
"Freed the slaves…"
"And stayed behind."
"Built legends out of nothing."
"Yeah… Gopher Wood betrayed Harmony."
"Chose Order."
"But you lot…"
"…you were just as reckless."
"Just like these kids."
He let out a low chuckle.
"That brat, Evan…"
"Bold as hell."
"Wants to blow up the entire dream."
"On what grounds?"
"Just because he's an Emanator?"
He shook his head.
Then smiled.
"…Still."
"If I had more time…"
"I'd like to go crazy with them too."
He glanced at the graves.
"Your gift reached her."
"That girl—Stelle."
"When I found out she had a Stellaron inside her…"
"…hell, I thought I'd seen a ghost."
"Using a human body to seal a Stellaron…"
"You'd be shocked too, wouldn't you?"
Ash fell from his cigarette.
He took another sip.
"…No matter how reckless they are…"
"…isn't this exactly what Trailblaze is?"
"You said it yourself."
"Trailblazing means walking the path others couldn't finish."
"So they came."
"But those fools in the Family…"
"They'd never understand."
"The Watchmaker's legacy…"
"…was never something they could use."
"It's just a belief."
"One only Trailblazers understand."
He exhaled slowly.
"…I envy them."
"They'll tear this fake dream apart."
"…the right way."
He stood up.
"…Alright. That's enough."
"For what's left of my time…"
"I'll watch."
"Watch history unfold."
"I'll carry you with me."
"You, Tiernan… and Razalina."
He raised his glass.
"…To the fall of the traitors."
"…and to an imperfect tomorrow."
Clink.
The sound echoed softly.
A final spark—
Lit in his eyes.
He knew.
His time was running out.
Evan's glance earlier—
Had already told him everything.
His disguise—
Seen through.
Whether he would live to see Penacony restored—
He didn't know.
But still—
He turned and walked away.
Leaving behind—
Three graves.
And three untouched glasses.
One of them—
Decorated with a small paw-shaped ornament.
The drink had a name.
"Partings Come and Go."
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