Nightmare Anivia

Deep within the Lemnian Hollow, Thorne District.

After a brief farewell to Mato, Yidhari, and Wise, Lucia followed Griseo deeper into the Hollow's heart.

The strange sights along the way—Ethereals she had never seen, fascinating phenomena of every kind... Any other time, Lucia would have been so excited she might have fainted.

But now, the usually mischievous Night Demon Messenger was simply bewildered.

Griseo had said only a few things, yet Lucia couldn't make sense of any of them.

"What copyright?"

"What Authority?"

"What do you mean, bring my dad back...?"

"Griseo, didn't my dad return to the Ether Sea like the other Reverie Dwellers?" Lucia asked, puzzled.

"If you know about the Ether Sea, Lucia, then this will be easy to explain!" Griseo nodded and waved her hand. The Signets of The Stars began to shine.

Within a Hollow, Ether Energy had a remarkable property: it could record the form of matter, the flow of energy, and even a person's memories, emotions, and soul.

No matter how much time passed, nothing that had ever existed truly vanished. It returned to the Ether Sea.

"Ordinary people can't reach the Ether Sea, Lucia. But because of your people's nature, the Night Watchers can influence it slightly and summon Ethereals."

"Yeah, I know... The chief told me it had something to do with the Night Demon our ancestors met."

"But I can connect directly to the Ether Sea. If I'm willing to pay enough, I can even retrieve a soul from it."

"..."

Silence fell between them. Only the wind could be heard.

Lucia stared up at Griseo's smile, wide-eyed. Her mind raced. She understood every word, but put together, they meant...

"You mean you can bring my dad back to life?"

"Yes. But I'll follow this world's rules... To obtain something,