Two days had passed since the last meeting of the Dreamers. Tomorrow was the deadline Radiance had set for peace talks.
Yet, contrary to the urgency one might have expected, the entire Holy Dynasty had finally breathed a long-awaited sigh of relief. Every bug seemed to have relaxed.
Now that the Infection's rampage had finally stopped, they at last had some time to attend to their own affairs instead of spending every day in fear.
Walking through her private residence after another performance, Marissa hummed a little tune, contentedly enjoying the peace she had missed for so long.
Over the past year, the pressure of her work had steadily increased.
As things grew worse, everyone sought solace in her performances, until the performances themselves no longer felt genuine.
Now she could finally perform without pressure, rather than simply to comfort others.
She hung the Charm Nox had given her by her bedside. Though it was no longer necessary, its glow still offered the best assurance of a restful night.
A good night's sleep, free from the fear and anxiety of infection-only after losing something once so readily available had Marissa realized how precious it was.
Coupled with the tension of actually taking part in such momentous events herself, quality sleep had become all the more important.
At the Pale Court, she had signed a pledge binding her soul, requiring her to remain silent about the true nature of the Infection.
But she understood. As she saw it, gods like Radiance and the Pale King probably gained their power through worship.
The former would disappear if no one remembered her, while the latter had even built a vast kingdom for that purpose.
Still, the Infection was an insidious method, manipulating bugs' dreams until they surrendered and forcing those unwilling to let