Star Rail: Single Draw Acheron at the Start

"Are you alright?"

Firefly produced a tissue and handed it to Caelus, gesturing for him to give it to the Hound Family Line member. Caelus waited until the man finished crying before handing him the tissue.

"Thank you. I've kept this bottled up for so long. Being able to cry freely now has really relaxed me. You can go to the construction site if you want. Just don't mention seeing me."

The Hound Family Line member wiped his tears as he spoke. Caelus seemed to understand that the Clockwork Trick wasn't just for pranks, but could also help people release their emotions. It didn't generate emotions itself, but merely guided out those hidden within one's heart. How many adults didn't have tears hidden away?

With the Hound Family Line member no longer blocking their path, Caelus and Firefly smoothly entered the construction area. Along the way, they saw Dream Weavers building bridges and roads, and an Owl that could magically join two pieces of ground together. They also saw a hidden passage within a puzzle. These were all experiences Caelus couldn't have in the city, and they were all brought to him by Firefly.

"This is a trailblazing area that tourists don't visit, so it's not as lively as the city center... But I really like this secluded atmosphere."

Firefly told Caelus her reason for liking the place as they walked. Caelus also felt that compared to a bustling city, this place was more suitable for dates and heart-to-heart talks. After all, when spending time with a girl, one always had to do something. In public, girls wouldn't be so bold.

After following Firefly for about half an hour, Caelus arrived at the highest point of this dream, the place closest to the sky. Before him was a newly completed rooftop platform. Looking ahead, he saw buildings of varying heights, all within his sight. The view was unobstructed, and he could even see the golden sun in the distance.

"The background music changed."

Caelus spoke as soon as he arrived at the secret base. The music that had been playing in his ears suddenly changed, and he could still sense it.

"Have you heard this song before? 'To protect a heart from sorrow.'" Firefly said.

"No, but Little March seems to like it a lot."

Caelus shook his head. He wasn't interested in music. Just as he was about to say that, he heard a familiar singing voice.

"That's Robin's voice. She sings so beautifully."

Listening to the music around him, Caelus's face lit up with a joyful expression. Robin's voice, even if it turned to ash... no, that was too ominous. It was more like the song blurred the lines between dream and reality for him, even though it was indeed a dream.

"The Grand Gala is approaching, and her music occasionally plays in dreams."

"This is like official advertising, isn't it? After all, she's part of the Family."

Caelus quickly switched from listening to the song to complaining. The Family members had ulterior motives, constantly playing their Harmony Family songs to brainwash people. If they kept it up, wouldn't people eventually want to cooperate with the Family? This was a subtle form of influence. Fortunately, Caelus's resolve was unwavering. If he liked Robin, he certainly wouldn't be interested in the Family.

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Chapter 53: Entropy Syndrome

"This is the place closest to the sky in the dream, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, and without the arguments of the Dream Weavers. Here, I can feel the present moment without being disturbed by anyone – the scenery, the people, and the dream..."

Firefly looked up at the distant sunlight, her body bathed in a golden glow from the scattered rays. The sunlight was warm but not dazzling, as if one could gaze at it forever.

Caelus didn't reply. He looked into the distance with Firefly. It was indeed incredibly quiet, like a fairy tale world. The only third party was Robin's singing; her gentle melody added a unique charm to the scene. It was no wonder Firefly chose this place as her secret base. Such a place was rare in the entire universe.

"How beautiful... May time forever stop at this golden moment, a golden dream. The fools in the taverns and the rememberers in the Garden of Memory, the wandering knights and the envoys of the Corporation, the Nameless of the Star Rail Express... and me."

Firefly looked ahead with soft eyes. When she mentioned the Nameless, she subtly glanced at Caelus. Caelus, being quite experienced in matters of the heart, understood Firefly's intentions. Even if it was a misunderstanding, he boldly reached out and took Firefly's left hand.

Firefly seemed a little flustered at this moment, but she only moved her palm slightly, showing no intention of pulling it back. Caelus held her hand like this.

"...I'm sorry, A-Caelus. I really am an illegal immigrant."

Firefly was actually afraid Caelus would leave her if he knew the truth. She apologized because she had lied to Caelus earlier, saying she was a local. It was a crime, considering how much Caelus had trusted her.

"There's no need to apologize. Everyone has their own thoughts. I didn't believe you when you said you were a local. Where else would you find such a beautiful local?"

Caelus shook his head. Firefly didn't know how to respond to his words, but she still showed a happy smile after being praised for her beauty.

"Heh, you're so annoying. I'm being serious."

"My hometown was destroyed a long time ago. Perhaps it was the Legion, or maybe the Swarm... I'm a refugee, just like many locals in Penacony."

"The Harmony embraces everyone, including those wanderers who have come from afar. The Family accepts them, but... they ultimately don't belong here."

"In this magnificent metropolis, some people's dreams are Penacony, while some people's dreams... are no different from reality. Although every ordinary person who comes here initially harbors the same purpose."

"Me too. In reality, I have unfulfilled wishes, and they are so strong that I resort to dreams..."

Firefly used many words to describe her feelings at that moment. Caelus felt that she must have experienced a lot to have so many emotions. Others might come to the dream world just for tourism, but Firefly came to fulfill her wishes.

"What kind of wish is it?"

Caelus asked. He considered himself quite capable now and could fulfill some ordinary wishes. He wondered if he could help Firefly at this moment.

"Entropy Syndrome. Have you heard of this term?" Firefly asked.

Caelus shook his head, indicating he had never heard of this strange illness. However, he hadn't heard of most illnesses; he wasn't a doctor. The only illness he knew about was Mara-struck.

"It's a strange phenomenon. People afflicted with this syndrome experience irreversible chronic dissociation of their physical structure. This means you are slowly disappearing, and this disappearance is barely noticeable to others."

Firefly spoke of her condition in a sad tone. Caelus looked at her with pity. He hadn't heard of this illness, but seeing Firefly's demeanor, he knew she must be suffering greatly, much like patients with terminal illnesses who are fully conscious but can only watch themselves die.

"You can still run, jump, and communicate with others. Everything seems normal, except you're always a little slower than everyone else."

"Then you get slower and slower, until your own outline and that of the entire world become blurred. You can't distinguish between reality and dreams because they become equally fragmented."

"So, how can I refuse...? Can you imagine? In this dream, I can actually... I don't have to be in a cold medical pod."

"I can cast aside the doctors' words and use my own body to listen, see, touch, think, and comprehend as I please. Although this world isn't real, this feeling is incredibly precious... just like this very moment."

Firefly looked at Caelus with a gaze filled with emotion, yes, the color of emotion. She loved this dream so much because here she could be with Caelus using her own body, shopping, running, even holding hands, something she never dared to imagine. Caelus tightened his grip on her hand because of this.

"Have you seen anyone from the Genius Society?" Caelus asked.

"Are they doctors?"

Firefly shook her head, asking back with some confusion. She wasn't familiar with the members of the Genius Society at all, only knowing that the silver-haired girl in their group turned into an internet troll every day, questioning their health if they disagreed on anything.

"Not a doctor, but better than one. They can even alter the very structure of life."

Caelus thought for a moment before speaking. "When it comes to Herta's knowledge, do you think reversing aging is her limit? Not at all. She just got old and her energy couldn't keep up, so she wanted a younger body and developed the technology for it. You could say it was just a bonus on her path to genius. Her incredible skills are beyond what a normal person can comprehend."

"As a refugee of the stars, how could I ever meet such beings?"

Firefly shook her head again. Although her organization was powerful, its reputation was quite poor. No genius was willing to help, and they couldn't afford the rewards geniuses required.

"It's okay, Firefly. My grandmother is Herta from the Genius Society. I'll ask her to help, and she knows many other geniuses. Perhaps one of them can treat you."

Caelus knew Firefly was in trouble. Wasn't he here to help her solve her problems? It didn't matter if she couldn't pay; he'd have his grandmother pay. After all, he was her only grandson, and everything she left behind after she died would be his.

Chapter 54: Entrust Your Life to Me

"This, this isn't right, Caelus. If you ask those geniuses for help for an ordinary person like me, how much of a favor would you owe? Someone like me..."

Firefly had never expected to find hope for treatment from Caelus. However, his words were indeed appealing. If Entropy Syndrome were to be included in the scope of genius research, results might appear within days or months. The lack of treatment now was simply because those geniuses had no interest in being doctors.

"Of course, there's a price. If you feel bad about it, then entrust your life to me."

Caelus changed his grip on Firefly's hand to hold both of hers. He lifted her hands to his chest and looked at her very seriously.

"You, me, but..."

Firefly's face instantly turned red. These words, which were no different from a confession, were too devastating for her. Moreover, this wasn't just about dating; it was a commitment for a lifetime, a promise more significant than marriage.

"You might not know what kind of person I am. As long as there's a beautiful girl who needs me, I'm willing to save the world for her. I've even done things like that before. You're so beautiful and cute, exactly my type."

Caelus spoke his true feelings. Firefly's appearance was the type that captivated him at first sight. Don't mind that he had been plotting how to pursue Robin before; that was because distance made the heart grow fonder. It wasn't that Firefly wasn't beautiful. If she were his wife, Caelus would wake up laughing in his dreams. Although, right now, he was indeed dreaming.

"Cute, and all that... I'm not quite ready for that."

Firefly said, shaking her head with a blush. Although she had received some hints to interact with Caelus and see how things went, with her current condition, she didn't have the energy to accompany him.

"It'll be too late when you're ready. Of course, saving you is more important."

Caelus pressed on. His words weren't without reason, as Firefly, suffering from Entropy Syndrome, could disappear at any moment. If she suddenly died, it would be a great tragedy.

"Don't go to such lengths for a girl you just met. What if I'm just trying to gain your sympathy? You know, anything is possible in the dream world."

Firefly playfully tapped Caelus's shoulder with her free hand. She was a little annoyed now because Caelus was too easily deceived. If it weren't her in front of him, but that fake Sampo, what would happen then?

"I've been deceived by women before, but it's also possible that you're someone who genuinely needs help. There are so many bad people in the universe. If I become hesitant because of suspicion, how will I get anything done in the future?"

Caelus expressed his thoughts. His pure heart was the foundation of his success in winning over so many women. Sincerity was his ultimate weapon. It was indeed easy for bad women to exploit, but there were also rewards. Caelus believed there were more good women than bad women in the world, so he was willing to trust Firefly.

Caelus's actions were undoubtedly foolish, like a naive son of a landlord, but they deeply moved Firefly. She wasn't a bad person, and therefore, she felt that despite her hiding so many things, Caelus was still showing her such genuine honesty. What more could she ask for? Her heart suddenly quickened; Firefly knew this was the feeling of being smitten.

"I'm sorry. For certain reasons, some things... I can't tell you everything right now."

Firefly wiped the corner of her eye with her hand. She was genuinely moved to tears. Thinking about how Caelus was so good to everyone, yet still got deceived by bad women, she felt he was truly pitiful.

"I've hidden things from you, and I'm sorry for deceiving your genuine feelings. So please wait a little longer. After the matters in Penacony are concluded, I'll give you an answer."

Firefly did not choose to evade. The current situation was due to the imbalance between her and Caelus; she knew everything about him, but he didn't know her true situation. Therefore, she could only ask Caelus to wait.

"Okay, it's a deal then."

Caelus extended his pinky finger to Firefly. Seeing such a childish agreement, Firefly happily accepted. Their pinky fingers hooked together, gently swaying up and down. This brought back Firefly's original smile, and even without a Clockwork Trick, one could tell her current emotion was joy.

"The Clock Keeper's legacy, that is my objective. But we don't have to part ways and become adversaries. I don't want that to happen."

Firefly solemnly stated her purpose to Caelus. Caelus tried hard to recall; it seemed Himeko and Uncle Yang had mentioned it. But what did it have to do with him? He wasn't interested in treasure, so how could he become Firefly's adversary over it?

"I dreamed of scorched earth, and a new bud breaking through the soil. It bloomed towards the sun, whispering to me."

Firefly suddenly recited poetic words. Caelus knew this riddle. She must be referring to him as the new bud she saw; there was no doubt about it.

"Do you remember the question on the invitation? Why does life slumber?"

Firefly asked unconsciously. Caelus started to sweat. What invitation question? He didn't know. He had come purely for tourism from beginning to end. He had never seen any invitation. That was adult business; what did it have to do with him, a child?

But seeing Firefly gazing into the distance with a thoughtful expression, Caelus pretended to be profound and nodded, indicating that he already knew the answer. As expected, Firefly gave him another knowing smile.

"You see, in this land of dreams, everything is permitted, and anything is possible. The unbearable past dissolves like bubbles, and the future you refuse to face will never arrive."

"Because I'm afraid of waking up from the dream."

Firefly herself provided the answer to the question. Caelus nodded again. With his approval, Firefly's heart settled considerably, and she actively pulled his hand.

"Sorry, the atmosphere suddenly became a bit heavy. What should we do to lighten it up?"

Firefly still felt the atmosphere was better when they were shopping together. With a shy expression, she scratched her cheek, changing the subject.

"Let's take a photo. How about a group picture? We've already taken pictures together." Caelus immediately suggested.

"That way of putting it is a bit strange."

Firefly said with some helplessness. Caelus was good in all aspects, but sometimes he would say things that left people unsure how to respond. However, it was normal for people to have flaws; if Caelus were perfect, she would truly be afraid.

So, Caelus took out his phone, raised his arm to hold it high, and while Firefly wasn't paying attention, he casually put his other arm around her shoulder, holding her firmly in his embrace. Firefly shyly pushed him away, but with little strength.

"Look at the camera."

Caelus gave the cue, and Firefly immediately looked at the lens and smiled. She raised her hand and made a V-sign. Caelus pressed the shutter, capturing their photo together. Combined with the golden sunlight behind them, the scene resembled a golden dream.

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Chapter 55: Utilizing Resources Reasonably

After Caelus took the photo, he directly opened WeChat, then opened the Star Rail Express family group chat and sent the picture.

Ice Girl: Who is this?

Galaxy Youth: My new girlfriend, her name is Firefly.

Ice Girl: How long has it been, and you've already cursed another one? Scum of the Earth! Everyone, come out and scold him.

Himeko: As expected of a young man, so unrestrained, even in dreams. (laughs)

Uncle Yang: ... (forced smile)

Dan Heng: I'm used to it.

Pom-Pom: So, can we bring back souvenirs from the dream?

"Firefly, let's add each other as friends. We can contact each other on our phones after we leave."

Caelus said to Firefly beside him, showing her his phone. She naturally agreed and took out her own phone to add him as a friend, establishing a connection between them.

"Ah, it seems I can't take up all your time. Is there something you want to do?"

Firefly said to Caelus after putting away her phone. Caelus accompanying her here to see things had already made her very happy. Seeing him take out his phone to communicate with his companions reminded her that he also had other people to spend time with.

"Yes, there is. What will you do after we part ways?" Caelus asked.

"Of course, I'll go perform to earn money. I snuck in, so I don't have any Credits on me."

Firefly said with a smile. She didn't have anything specific to do at this time. She came to the dream world to wander around and have fun, naturally going wherever the excitement was.

"Heh heh, then I'll definitely come to watch when you perform."

"Forget it, I don't have any talent. I'm afraid I'll make a fool of myself."

Firefly politely declined Caelus's request. He didn't mind and instead held Firefly's hands with both of his own, lifting them slightly. He then lowered his head and kissed the back of her right hand.

Firefly blushed slightly, but thinking that it was just a kiss on the hand, she accepted it and looked at the man before her with gentle eyes.

"You must live well."