Dream Wilderness, New City.
Angel found Iron Armor Granny in the aerial Rose Garden above the sky street, just as before.
She sat at a white-painted table carved with flowers. Rose petals drifted all around her as she silently gazed down at New City, as though she wanted to take in every blade of grass and every tree.
Only when she heard Angel's footsteps did she turn around.
"You look quite relaxed. I take it the exploration of the ruins went smoothly?" Iron Armor Granny gestured for Angel to sit, then poured a cup of flower tea and set it before him.
Angel took a small sip before answering. "I've already left the ruins. It went smoothly enough. At least I didn't run into any danger."
"You've already left? Then did you come to tell me an adventure story, or is there something else you need my help with?"
"An adventure story loses something if I only tell it. If you're willing to wait a little longer, I can make a Shadow Box specifically to record this adventure."
Angel could have used illusions to show her what had happened right then, but there were things he did not intend to reveal, such as his experiences in the Day Mirror Domain. He could leave those parts out, yet an illusion hastily put together would still expose gaps in the story's logic.
His plan was to take his time shaping the account when he had a chance. By "shaping," he meant editing, not inventing: choosing what could be told and arranging it into a coherent story, building suspense into the images, and cutting the stretches of travel that added nothing. That would make the Shadow Box more compelling.
It would essentially mean editing a film, so it would take time.
Iron Armor