Star Rail: Single Draw Acheron at the Start

Just a few seconds passed, and the aggressive Family members had all changed their demeanor. Some were lying on the ground, crying loudly, others were calmly meditating, and some were laughing so hard they couldn't straighten their backs, turning the scene into a circus.

Firefly watched the scene in astonishment. She wasn't stupid; of course, she understood what Caelus had done to them. She had been paying attention to his muttering earlier and seemed to have stumbled upon some power that gave him this ability.

"Let me see, A-Hui."

Caelus was having a blast. He walked up to Firefly and gently touched her arm, sensing her current emotion as melancholy. She seemed unhappy, forcing a smile. Caelus wanted to adjust her mood to happiness, but he remembered the state of those "happy people" who seemed high on something and decided against it.

"Don't overthink it. Unhappy things always pass."

Caelus said to Firefly. She felt his concern, and the emotional color on the illusory clock face warmed slightly. She nodded at Caelus, who then realized his words seemed more effective than his clockwork tricks. This meant Firefly genuinely cared about him. The feeling of being cared for by a beautiful girl he saw with his own eyes made him feel a bit giddy.

PS, please collect, recommend, and vote monthly.

Chapter 50: Just Ask, and You Win

"Thank you. I never expected to meet again so soon."

Acheron said to Caelus. Although their relationship had become quite close, she still habitually thanked him after being helped, and Caelus was happy to hear it.

"Hey, what are you thanking me for? The fact that I found you here again means our fate is inseparable."

Caelus stepped forward and took Acheron's hand. This was true fate. They had agreed to go their separate ways, but they never expected to meet again so soon. Penacony had twelve dream worlds; the significance of that was self-evident. Acheron would definitely marry him in the future.

"We meet again, guest! Did you help us resolve the crisis?"

Among the rescued people was Misha. Just as Caelus was about to respond to his words, the Clock Boy beside him interrupted, as if deliberately.

"Misha, what's wrong? Do you know this gray friend?"

"She is a distinguished guest. We became friends not long ago. I told you about her, remember?"

Misha said to the Clock Boy. This scene made Caelus fall into thought. Misha could see the Clock Boy, which meant he was also a friend of the Clock Boy. Normal people couldn't seem to see those friends. Could Acheron and Firefly see Misha?

"In any case, thank you! If you hadn't arrived in time, this place would have descended into chaos."

Misha bowed and thanked Caelus. Just as Caelus was about to speak, Acheron spoke up at the opportune moment.

"The chaos just now... I heard some Masked Fools were causing trouble on the streets, disrupting order. I was passing by and was questioned, and some misunderstandings occurred during the process."

"If you ask me, they were just after your beauty. You don't look like a Masked Fool at all."

Caelus immediately sided with Acheron, saying that it was all their fault anyway. How could his Acheron be wrong? Her attitude was already very good; otherwise, she would have drawn her sword and started slashing long ago.

"And who is this beautiful lady?"

Acheron looked at Firefly and asked. She knew Caelus was never short of beautiful girls around him, but to have hooked up with another one so soon after entering the dream world was incredibly efficient.

Firefly had been sizing up Acheron with a complex gaze. When she heard herself being called a beautiful lady, Firefly's impression immediately improved.

"Her name is Firefly. She's a guide I found locally. We were out shopping," Caelus replied.

"Then I wish you a pleasant time."

Acheron showed no particular interest in Firefly; she was like this with everyone. After this polite remark, she turned her attention back to Caelus.

"Speaking of which, the emotional changes of those people just now were very strange. How did you manage it?"

"On my way here, I met someone called the Clock Boy. It gave me the ability to regulate emotions."

Caelus had nothing to hide at this moment. Anyone else might have thought he was drunk, but Acheron was willing to believe anything he said.

"I'm not a 'someone'!" The Clock Boy shouted protestingly.

"Clock Boy, where are you?"

Acheron looked around and asked. She didn't doubt Caelus's words because she could genuinely feel something nearby, even though she couldn't see it.

"Although I haven't fully figured out the situation... Caelus said that it seems only straightforward, pure, and childlike children can see it."

Firefly helped Caelus explain. After she finished speaking, it was clear that Acheron's gaze became less friendly, as if she was reminded of something personal.

"It seems I'm past that age too," Acheron sighed.

"There's nothing that can be done about it. Who told you I'm only one year old? This officially certifies me as still a child."

Caelus happily scratched his hair. Acheron and Firefly looked at him with the same complex expressions, not commenting on anything.

"I can sense that some ambiguous entities are accompanying you. Unfortunately, I cannot communicate with them as you can."

Acheron used her experience to tell Caelus that she could indeed sense the presence of other entities. If necessary, she could certainly eliminate them, although the scope might be quite large.

"I thought perhaps that elegant Rememberer had left something in your mind. Now it seems there are quite a few special existences like her in this dream."

"Rememberer? What's that?"

Caelus heard another strange term. He looked at Acheron curiously. It seemed that besides himself, she had also had some peculiar experiences.

"Not long after we parted, I inadvertently attended a ball, and a lady in a black veil invited me for a dance. It was my first dance, a truly unforgettable experience."

Acheron said with a smile. Caelus was surprised that she could dance and, upon hearing the word "first," felt a pang of jealousy. Fortunately, it was with a woman; if it had been a man, he would have lost out significantly. But he also had to be wary of women. The galaxy was vast, and there were species that were men on the inside and women on the outside. Acheron was so beautiful that she would naturally attract many bad people.

"Unfortunately, I forgot to ask for her name. I only know she's from the Memory of Flowing Light."

"Memory of Flowing Light... Are they the ones who serve the Aeon of [Memory]?"

Because Caelus's knowledge base was limited, Firefly started chatting with Acheron. From this, she understood that Rememberers were subordinates of Aeons, possibly similar to the Genius Society.

"Yes, they can travel through various worlds in the form of memes, only appearing in the eyes of specific people. Doesn't that sound a lot like the Clock Boy you mentioned?" Acheron said.

"It's quite normal for the Family to invite all sorts of distinguished guests from across the universe."

Caelus nodded and glanced at Clock Boy at his feet again. Since it meant no harm, Caelus decided to leave it be.

"Then I'll continue exploring on my own. I won't disturb your date."

As Acheron spoke, she showed rare insight, giving Caelus a perfect assist. Caelus was completely taken aback; he hadn't expected her to be so eloquent.

"Oh, stop it, A-Quan. You're just stating the obvious. Do we really look good together?"

Caelus clapped his hands together with a smile, his face flushed with shyness. This completely stole Firefly's thunder. Firefly, who had been feeling a bit embarrassed, was now speechless.

"She's gone, so shall we?"

After Acheron left, Firefly sought Caelus's opinion. She wouldn't have minded if Acheron had joined them, but this Pathstrider clearly understood the situation and made space for Firefly.

Caelus looked down at Clock Boy and saw it waving at him, signaling that everything was resolved. The reward was an invincible Clock Boy trick, and Caelus was happy to accept. He then left the place with Firefly.

"This time, don't get dragged away by friends you can't see again."

Firefly complained softly, her voice barely audible, like a girlfriend's playful pout. Hearing her words, Caelus felt a surge of contentment. Wouldn't this girl act like this if she didn't like him? Falling in love at first sight with a girl like Firefly was something he wouldn't even dare to dream of, although, in a way, this was indeed a dream.

PS: I'm down with a fever, guys. The virus ambushed me, and I couldn't dodge it. I'll probably only manage one update a day for the next couple of days. I'll resume double updates once I recover. Sorry! (:∠)

Chapter 51: A Person Must Have Dreams

In Penacony, this fantastical dream world, one could even turn themselves into a ball and launch themselves. Caelus was currently being led by Firefly to the pinball plaza. Before them stood a large green sphere, much like the single-person spacecraft used by a certain warrior race. The method of use was self-explanatory.

"Caelus, this is quite fun. I play it every time I pass by," Firefly said with a smile beside the pinball machine. Caelus nodded, stepped up, and opened the hatch. He was then sucked in by a force, his body transforming into a green ball.

Although he didn't know where his limbs and head were, Caelus could feel that he had become a ball. The experience was novel. Inside the pinball machine, he could choose the direction of the flippers. After selecting several flippers, Caelus shot himself out. In his spherical form, he streaked across the air like a green light and then collided with a flipper. The impact and rebound were felt simultaneously. Unlike reality, it didn't hurt here, so he only felt the peculiar force of the collision. It was no wonder Firefly said it was fun.

After a few launches, Caelus rolled out of the pinball machine on the other side. It was a novel experience. If March 7th were here, she'd probably play for a long time. Caelus also made a mental note of this interesting location.

"Let's go, it's not far," Firefly said to Caelus with a smile as she emerged from the pinball machine behind him. The two walked together and arrived at an ordinary-looking coffee shop.

"Is this it?" Caelus asked doubtfully. The coffee shop in the middle of the street didn't look like it could be related to a secret base.

"No, it's over there," Firefly shook her head and pointed down at a manhole cover next to the coffee shop. The cover seemed to have been moved frequently, and now a corner of it was lifted.

"I thought your living situation might be a bit tough, but I didn't expect you'd have to live in the sewers. How about coming to my place? I'll take care of you."

Caelus paused for a moment, then patted Firefly's shoulder. This was the first time he had seen such a pitiable girl. Thinking of her living in the sewers surrounded by trash, Caelus felt heartbroken.

"No, no, no, it's not like that. That's a passage! I don't live in the sewers."

Firefly waved her hands, a mix of laughter and tears on her face. While she wasn't doing great, she wasn't so desperate as to live in the sewers. Caelus's train of thought jumped so quickly that she could barely keep up.

"A passage to... where? To another dimension?"

"You could say it's the very edge of the dreamscape, quite far from here."

"I see. But these sewers and manhole covers are really etched into my DNA now."

Caelus nodded, stroking his chin. It was good that she didn't live in the sewers. But now, looking at the manhole cover before him, he felt he could use this situation to do something.

"A-Hui, let's put on a show. We'll do this, then that," Caelus said to Firefly. He took out a phone stand, set up his phone, and started the recording function. Then, he whispered to Firefly.

"I can do it, but why are we filming this?"

Firefly looked a bit confused by Caelus's request. Out of politeness, she wouldn't refuse, but the action itself seemed rather strange.

"You know Robin, right? She's a big star and a great performer."

Caelus's eyes lit up a bit when he mentioned Robin. Seeing him like this, Firefly felt a pang of unhappiness. Without realizing it, she tapped the ground with the sole of her shoe.

"Of course, I know her. But what does that have to do with Miss Robin?"

"Film a short video of me as the protagonist. You never know when it might come in handy. If she sees my brilliant acting, maybe she'll be moved and want to be my wife."

Caelus gave Firefly a thumbs-up. His words made Firefly think he was truly an optimistic person, so optimistic it was almost comical.

"I think… the possibility of that is… very small."

Firefly quipped, but to help Caelus pursue Robin in the future, she was willing to make an effort. So, she moved the manhole cover, crawled into the opening, and then pulled the cover back into place.

"Urk, urk!"

Caelus, of course, had to put on an act. He clutched his chest with both hands and let out a pained cry, then collapsed not far from the manhole cover, struggling to drag himself forward with his elbows.

"If I can just reach that place, urgh!"

Caelus crawled inch by inch towards the manhole cover, then struggled to lift it open. The space beneath the cover wasn't an escape route, but Firefly's pretty face.

"This place is full!"

Firefly shouted, a sharp cry, and then slapped Caelus. Whether it was an illusion or not, Caelus felt like that slap carried some personal grudges. Nevertheless, he was sent flying backward by the weak blow.

"Buga!"

Caelus's body bumped into the phone stand, and the phone, which had fallen, was caught by him. The recording of the short video abruptly stopped. He didn't finish the whole act because he wanted to leave a hook, a sense of mystery, to capture the audience's curiosity.

"Thanks, Firefly, you're a great actress."

Caelus stood up from the ground, dusting off his clothes. Firefly gave him a sweet smile, then slipped into the well. Caelus followed her down, and after a moment, he felt his feet lose their grip. When he reappeared, he had been teleported to a quiet area far from the bustling town.

Chapter 52: Proficiently Using the Cheat

Caelus saw a cluster of buildings before him. However, unlike the Golden Hour, there were no lights or pedestrians here; it looked like an abandoned city.

"This is the edge of the Golden Hour dreamscape. The Family is still constructing and modifying the areas further out."

Firefly explained the situation to Caelus. He had a general understanding of what the dream world was like. It seemed boundless; as long as it was well-constructed, it could accommodate more people. The Family controlled this construction.

"My secret hideout is inside here, but ordinary tourists are forbidden from entering the construction zone, so let's sneak in."

Firefly winked playfully at Caelus. Clearly, after some of her secrets were revealed, she seemed less bound by rules. Before, she had acted all innocent due to misunderstandings with the Family's checks, but now she was directly challenging their rules. Caelus was momentarily speechless but felt that this was the more authentic her.

Firefly expertly led the way to a mandatory path, but at this moment, a member of the Hound Family Line was blocking it, clearly acting as a guard.

"Construction site, unauthorized personnel keep out, except for the dream weavers' team."

The Hound Family Line member glanced at Caelus and Firefly, mentally categorizing them as a young couple wandering around aimlessly. Since tourists in Penacony were all distinguished guests, the Family didn't dare to be too arrogant. One shouldn't judge a book by its cover; they might offend someone important, like a king.

"Oh no, we've been caught."

Firefly scratched her head and looked at Caelus. It wasn't so much that this was unexpected as it was something she had deliberately left for Caelus to handle. After all, when she came here alone before, she also had to get past the Family.

"Hey, friend, don't look so stern. How about a cigarette to relax?"

Caelus approached the Hound Family Line member, a cigarette and lighter already in his hand. He seemed to be trying to get friendly, but as the Hound Family Line member politely declined, his objective was already achieved. Cheats, of course, become more proficient with use.

A phantom clock appeared before his eyes. Caelus casually manipulated it, not knowing what position he adjusted it to. Then, he saw the Hound Family Line member's expression change drastically.

The Hound Family Line member suddenly knelt on the ground and began to wail, tears and snot streaming down his face, as if he had suffered some terrible misfortune, like the annihilation of his entire clan.

"Mia, Miaaaaaa!"

Caelus and Firefly exchanged glances. Although this was the effect achieved by the clock trick, seeing the man cry his heart out made it difficult for them to just leave.