In a sheltered harbor along a safe route through the Berserk Sea, Jane's eyes curved with delight when she received Abner's gift.
She smoothed the ends of her dark-gold hair, now long enough to tie into a ponytail, and used her Spirituality to activate the charm that had come with the letter.
In an instant, she was drawn into a dream.
Fireworks lit the dream in brilliant colors. The scenery was gorgeous, and beautiful music filled the air.
Jane followed a path lined with fireworks and beautiful sights into a castle. There, Abner personally smeared a piece of cake across her face...
The dream ended there.
Holding the charm, Jane shook her head, caught between laughter and exasperation. She understood what Abner had been thinking. If he had made the dream too perfect, waking from it might only have left her feeling sad.
But ending it with cake in her face let her enjoy its beauty while softening the contrast between dream and reality.
Now all she could think about was when she could smear a cake across his face for real.
"Abner's birthday is in May..."
Meanwhile, in the captain's cabin of the Future.
After watching the scene, Admiral of Stars Cattleya pursed her lips and murmured, "My birthday is only two weeks away... I wonder if she'll put this much thought into a gift for me, too..."
Above the Gray Fog, Klein finished testing his newly acquired Sea God Scepter and laid down "Ten Commandments" for the former Sea God believers of the Rorsted Archipelago. Somewhat mentally drained, he returned to the Real World, summoned himself once more, and brought the Sun Brooch, the Funeral Blade, and his other items back to his hotel room.
High above, the clouds had cleared from the moon. Tranquil crimson light