A tiny point of light suddenly appeared in the pitch-black void. The moment it emerged, it expanded, spilling millions of wisps of rainbow-colored mist.
In no time, the mist had spread through the darkness into a glowing cloud like a nebula.
Anyone who approached this "rainbow nebula" would have heard hushed voices coming from within...
"My lord, is this the only way?"
"It's the only way for now. But you can refuse. There are plenty of other conductors..."
After a silence, punctuated by a few barks of "woof, woof, woof—", the voice spoke again. "I agree."
"Are you sure you don't want to think it over?"
"No. I've been away from home too long. Perhaps I need to sleep for a while."
"May the stars shine upon you."
"The stars... If I could, I would dearly love to see the Star Spirit again..."
The voice fell silent.
After a moment of stillness, a white streak emerged from the rainbow nebula.
A multicolored trail streamed behind it as it drifted toward a hazy bank of mist deep in the void.
But some invisible force seemed to be holding it back.
The white streak slowed and slowed. Then its rainbow trail suddenly blazed. Beginning with red, one color after another fell away and vanished. Each lost color seemed to become fuel, giving the white streak another burst of speed and driving it onward toward the mist.
Red faded. Orange passed away. Bright yellow flared. Verdant green withered. A cyan shadow dissolved...
As each color disappeared, it lent the white streak the force to pierce the heavens.
At last, as the dazzling violet light waned, the white streak shot like an arrow into the mist...
Perhaps because it had entered the mist, the white streak no longer felt any resistance. It fluttered through