Chapter Summaries

Botenis charged Fulisina aboard the Astral Express, but Ye Yan appeared and was stabbed in her place. As the crew prepared to escape the giant True Sting, Argenti asked Stelle to support his plan to leave the Express and attack the creature from inside, though she refused to let him risk himself.

• Fulisina remembered how she and Blake had once joined the Galaxy Rangers to fight Lord Ravager Zulo after their own clash.
• Botenis thrust his spear at Fulisina, and Ye Yan appeared between them and was stabbed.
• Welt said the Express could attempt a temporary acceleration while the crew prepared to escape.
• Argenti privately told Stelle he planned to attack the giant True Sting’s stomach lining so it would vomit out the Express.
• Argenti explained his devotion to Idrila and his belief that protecting the Express was his duty as a Knight of Beauty.
• Stelle refused to support Argenti’s plan, but he told her he had made his decision.

The Astral Express crew survived the True Sting crisis, and Argenti left after fighting Stelle and promising to find his own way to safety. After Argenti and Botenis escaped the giant creature, Himeko asked Stelle what she thought Beauty meant and wondered whether Argenti would recognize Idrila if he found her.

• Ye Yan and Fulisina returned to the passenger car, where March 7th and Pom-Pom rushed to them, and Fulisina said the crew’s predicament was under control.
• Stelle defeated Argenti in their duel, and Argenti apologized before announcing his departure from the Astral Express.
• Argenti promised to escape safely after helping the Express, then left the train; Fulisina sent Botenis out to test the way, and he threw soap at the True Sting.
• Blake tried to offer a bar of soap as payment at the Reverie hotel after the receptionist said he had no reservation.
• Argenti and Botenis reported that they had escaped the True Sting, and the crew celebrated the crisis ending.
• Himeko asked Stelle what she thought Beauty was, then wondered whether Argenti could recognize Idrila if he ever found the missing Aeon.

Silver Wolf visited Perrisia, the Church of Eternity’s capital, and was immediately accosted by a young recruiter. The chapter left her struggling to escape the girl’s aggressive efforts to make her join the Church.

• March 7th sat with Fulisina aboard the Astral Express, while Stelle reflected on her encounters with Herta, Screwllum, and Ruan Mei.
• The Interastral Peace Broadcast announced Robin’s performance at Penacony’s Charmony Festival and reported the discovery of a crystal coffin in the Ever-Flame Mansion.
• Silver Wolf told Ye Yan she had come aboard the Express without Elio’s knowledge, then recalled her earlier visit to Perrisia.
• Silver Wolf toured Perrisia, where her carriage driver recommended the fountain and statue of the Aeon of Eternity.
• A little girl dropped apples to get Silver Wolf’s attention, then grabbed her wrist and insistently tried to recruit her into the Church of Eternity.

The Astral Express crew prepared to depart for Penacony, with Pom-Pom warning them about the Memoria-rich Asdana Galaxy and the Family’s rules. Stelle checked in with the crew and helped March 7th sort out her luggage, while Dan Heng chose to remain aboard the Express.

• Silver Wolf was arrested by Chair Blake before she could graffiti the statue of the Aeon of [Eternity], after encountering a distressed woman at the Church’s hot springs.
• Pom-Pom briefed the crew on their upcoming visit to Penacony and warned that Asdana’s high Memoria concentration could cause dizziness, hallucinations, or memory disturbances.
• Ye Yan hinted that the crew might encounter more Emanators of [Eternity] at their next stop, while Pom-Pom reminded them that Penacony belonged to the [Harmony]'s Family and that they must follow its rules.
• Welt and Himeko discussed the trip with Stelle, and Himeko asked her to find out whether Ye Yan had coffee-flavored milk tea.
• Dan Heng declined Stelle’s invitation to visit Penacony and stayed on the Express to handle its work.
• Stelle found March 7th preparing her luggage, and March considered bringing only Chair Blake’s soap before Stelle joked that her suitcase could not fit her weapon and other belongings.

Stelle answered Ye Yan’s questions about loss, dreams, and the journey ahead, receiving strange milk tea with a test for impostors. After the Astral Express arrived at Penacony, the crew discovered the hotel had reservations for five guests but none for Stelle, leaving her to claim she was Dan Heng.

• Stelle told Ye Yan she would not fear losing her connections, would reject an eternal dream, and would keep Trailblazing even if she knew the journey’s destination.
• Ye Yan gave Stelle milk tea that could distinguish the real from the fake and told her to make impostors and familiar faces drink it.
• The Astral Express crew arrived at Penacony after completing the Family’s entry checks, and March 7th spotted Fulisina and Blake at the hotel reception.
• Receptionist Ellie found hotel reservations for Welt Yang, Ye Yan, Himeko, March 7th, and Dan Heng, but not Stelle.
• Stelle stepped forward, ready to claim that she was Dan Heng.

Stelle and the Astral Express group encountered trouble checking in to Penacony, but Aventurine and Sunday intervened and arranged upgraded rooms. As Sunday welcomed them to Penacony, he noticed the strange energy surrounding the hourglass on Stelle’s clothes.

• Stelle pretended to be Dan Heng so the receptionist could transfer his reservation to her, while Himeko vouched for the change.
• Aventurine introduced himself as a representative of the Corporation and offered to help, while quietly observing Ye Yan and the group.
• Sunday arrived with Robin, then took Aventurine and Blake aside while Robin guided the Astral Express group to the lounge.
• Robin introduced herself as a guest returning to Penacony to perform at the Charmony Festival and apologized for the group's check-in trouble.
• Sunday arranged upgraded rooms for the Astral Express group and promised the Family would address the system malfunction.
• Sunday noticed complex energy around the hourglass on Stelle's clothes before bidding the group a pleasant stay.

The Astral Express crew arrived at Penacony, where Himeko and Welt discussed a hidden distress message embedded in their invitation and the Family’s possible secrets. As the crew prepared to explore the Dreamscape, Ye Yan decided he might open a milk tea shop there.

• March 7th, Himeko, and the others completed their check-in after Sunday gave them his word.
• Himeko led the crew to The Reverie’s public lounge, where she and Welt discussed the invitation’s hidden message and the possibility that a third party had sent it.
• Himeko warned that the festival was more complicated than it seemed and told Stelle to act carefully while the crew learned more.
• Welt explained Penacony’s twelve Dreamscapes and described Solar Hour’s historical attractions to Stelle.
• Ye Yan considered SoulGlad flavors for milk tea and decided he might open a shop in Penacony.

March 7th and Stelle discussed their plans for exploring Penacony’s dream world before Aventurine visited Stelle’s room and tried to recruit her for the IPC’s plans. His attempt to pressure her was interrupted when Fulisina appeared in the doorway with milk tea.

• March 7th told Stelle she planned to shop at Dewlight Pavilion and attend Robin’s performance, while they speculated about the festival.
• Stelle found Aventurine in her room, and he explained that he had given up his lucky room for her and asked her to hear him out.
• Aventurine offered Stelle a reward and the IPC’s protection in exchange for helping recover property he said belonged to the Corporation.
• Stelle rejected his offer and showed him her flaming lance, but Aventurine dismissed it and bluffed her into revealing that she had a Stellaron.
• Aventurine pressured Stelle to make a deal and proposed a coin game, but Fulisina appeared at the doorway holding milk tea.

Stelle received strange relics from Aventurine and Fulisina before entering the Dream Pool, while Ye Yan guided Acheron and Aventurine revealed a powerful amber stone to Dr. Ratio. The chapter left Aventurine preparing to challenge the Family’s control of Penacony with his new advantage.

• Aventurine visited Stelle and Fulisina, warned them to be careful, and left Stelle a coin as a souvenir.
• Fulisina identified Stelle’s milk tea as containing a sealed sliver of [Eternity]’s authority and gave her a soap bar carrying the energy of three [Paths].
• Fulisina shared Ye Yan’s description of Aventurine, then Stelle entered the Dream Pool as strange voices and scents surrounded her.
• Ye Yan met Acheron in his guest room and guided her toward the lobby after she returned his ancient [relic].
• Aventurine met Dr. Ratio, discussed the loss of his luggage and [Cornerstone], and revealed an amber stone taken from golden milk tea.

Aventurine discussed his plans and potential allies with Dr. Ratio, then Stelle learned about Penacony’s dream world from Robin. Ye Yan and Acheron confronted Sparkle over her tavern disguised as a milk tea shop, and Ye Yan threatened to cut it down.

• Aventurine told Dr. Ratio that he intended to use the Family or the Clockmaker’s Legacy and wanted him to investigate a Galaxy Ranger he had encountered, but Dr. Ratio disappeared.
• Stelle enjoyed flying through Golden Hour, and Robin explained how Memoria shaped Penacony’s dreams and praised Stelle’s ability to adapt without Harmony Tuning.
• Ye Yan and Acheron found Sparkle’s Elation Tavern in Oti Mall, where she had disguised herself as Ye Yan and advertised a milk tea shop.
• Ye Yan accused Sparkle of copying his business and ordered Acheron to cut down the tavern, prompting Sparkle to plead with her to stop.
• Sparkle reflected on a task entrusted to her by a Stellaron Hunter friend and imagined the prestige of being killed by a Pathstrider, an Emanator, and an Aeon before Ye Yan called her back to attention.

Ye Yan explained Acheron's connection to Nihility and Eternity, while Sparkle negotiated with him over payment for help with the three deaths. In Golden Hour, Stelle entered a Dream Bubble of Yite's memories and chose March 7th's voice to dub its missing audio.

• Acheron left the milk tea shop, and Ye Yan told Sparkle that she was a Self-Annihilator who relied on Eternity to resist Nihility.
• Sparkle asked Ye Yan for help with the three deaths, but balked at his price of ten billion Credits and negotiated unsuccessfully for a lower fee.
• Stelle visited the Dreamscape Sales Store, where Dr. Edward offered her free Dream Bubbles said to contain memories of Akivili and Yite.
• Stelle chose Yite's Dream Bubble and found herself experiencing Ye Yan's memories from his perspective.
• When Dr. Edward offered to dub the Dream Bubble's missing audio with a familiar voice, Stelle chose March 7th's voice.

Stelle watched a dream bubble showing Ye Yan training Fulisina to launch soap at the Tavern, then bought two dream bubbles from Dr. Edward. Outside the shop, she defended Firefly from sheriffs, and Firefly offered to guide her around Penacony.

• Ye Yan taught Fulisina to hit soap toward the Tavern, and she bombarded it daily until a Masked Fool confronted them and was blasted by her.
• Dr. Edward offered Stelle the dream bubbles for sale, and Stelle bought both for two hundred thousand Credits.
• Stelle found sheriffs surrounding a silver-haired girl and knocked two of them down while protecting her.
• Gallagher arrived, dismissed the sheriffs, apologized to Stelle and the girl, and explained that the Hound Family handled security in Penacony.
• The girl introduced herself as Firefly, an Iris Family performer, and offered to show Stelle around Penacony.

Stelle explored Penacony with Firefly, visiting Oti Mall and learning about Clockie before they encountered Ye Yan making a bizarre public appeal in Golden Hour. Firefly revealed that Silver Wolf had identified Ye Yan as an Emanator of [Eternity], while Stelle’s attempt to message him failed.

• Firefly offered to guide Stelle around Penacony, and Stelle agreed to explore with her.
• Ye Yan taught Acheron how to work at his new milk tea shop after she returned to it.
• Stelle and Firefly visited the Elation Milk Tea Shop, where Acheron served them Oak Cake Rolls instead of milk tea.
• Firefly showed Stelle Penacony’s Clockie statue and explained that Clockie was modeled after the [Clockmaker].
• Ye Yan proclaimed himself Ena of [Order] and asked the crowd for ten thousand Credits each to help him defeat Xipe of [Harmony].
• Firefly told Stelle that Silver Wolf had said Ye Yan was an Emanator of [Eternity], and Stelle tried to message him, but the message failed to send.

Stelle and Firefly discussed the Clockmaker’s history and whether he might have been one of the Nameless. Earlier, Ye Yan met Robin in Golden Hour, where she showed him the Grand Theater and explained its connection to the Charmony Festival.

• Stelle failed to send Ye Yan more Pom-Pom stickers and asked Firefly to continue talking about the Clockmaker.
• Firefly explained the Clockmaker’s legends and said she believed he had been one of the Nameless because his dream-making resembled Trailblaze.
• Stelle and Firefly left for another stop while Ye Yan spoke passionately onstage nearby.
• Ye Yan met Robin on Glaux Avenue, gave her milk tea, and discussed her brother Sunday’s cooperation talks with Mr. Blake.
• Robin guided Ye Yan to the Grand Theater and explained that it had once been Asdana’s central prison and hosted the Charmony Festival.
• Ye Yan told Robin that creating a paradise where all beings were equal required Eternity.

Ye Yan reunited with Stelle and Firefly in Golden Hour, then warned Stelle that Firefly might be concealing her identity. After Ye Yan vanished and Firefly disappeared from the bar, Stelle set out to find her and demand an explanation.

• Ye Yan left Robin and returned to the milk tea shop after finishing his work.
• Firefly showed Stelle around Golden Hour and spoke about how Penacony’s dream accepted her despite her not belonging there.
• Ye Yan approached Stelle and Firefly, introduced himself to Firefly, and offered her Church of Eternity vouchers and milk tea.
• Ye Yan pulled Stelle aside and warned her not to trust Firefly’s story, pointing out that she seemed unfamiliar with Penacony and had been pursued by guards.
• Ye Yan vanished, and Stelle returned to find Firefly gone, so she turned her mimicry weapon into a compass and began searching for her.

Following Clockie's plea, Stelle postponed visiting Firefly's secret base and went to rescue Misha from a gang. After learning Clockwork, Stelle drank Ye Yan's milk tea and discovered she could turn invisible.

• Stelle found Firefly, who admitted she had hidden things about herself and invited Stelle to her secret base to explain.
• On the way, Stelle met Clockie, who begged her to save Misha from danger in Dreamville.
• Stelle and Firefly followed Clockie to Misha, where a gang boss was confronting Fulisina; Stelle initially tried to leave after recognizing her as an Emanator.
• Clockie explained that Boss Stone had thrown Dreamville into chaos and taught Stelle to use Clockwork to restore people's good emotions.
• Stelle connected with Clockie, drank the colorless milk tea Ye Yan had given her, and discovered she had become invisible.

Stelle helped Misha and Fulisina escape the gang members, while Aventurine confronted Sparkle about the video implicating the Corporation and sought the Masked Fools’ support. Sparkle gave him three cryptic hints, leaving Aventurine to consider approaching The Family again.

• Stelle secretly drove away the gang members threatening Fulisina and Misha, and Misha thanked her for helping them.
• Firefly greeted Fulisina, who expressed relief that the Astral Express and the Stellaron Hunters were allies.
• Sparkle challenged Aventurine for following her, and he showed her a video revealing the truth behind the attack on Oswaldo Schneider.
• Sparkle warned Aventurine that releasing the video could endanger the Corporation’s cooperation with the Church of Eternity, then joked that she could use it as a bargaining chip.
• Sparkle told Aventurine to consider making friends with a mute and said the Church of Eternity was his opening, while also giving him a hint about the weather.
• After Sparkle left, Aventurine dismissed most of her advice and decided he would have to visit The Family again.

Firefly confided in Stelle about her past and illness at her secret base, but their reunion with the false Ye Yan ended in a trap. The real Ye Yan revealed his diversion and launched Aha into the sky, while Black Swan received a new Light Cone.

• At Firefly's secret base, Firefly told Stelle that she was an interstellar refugee with Entropy Loss Syndrome and hoped they would not become enemies over the Clockmaker's Legacy.
• As Stelle and Firefly reached The Reverie, the false Ye Yan confronted them and hinted that The Family was hiding a secret behind the dream.
• The false Ye Yan tricked Stelle into drinking milk tea, knocking her unconscious, then used his power to put Firefly to sleep.
• The real Ye Yan appeared and struck Aha with Sparkle's clown hammer, sending him into the sky, where he exploded into fireworks over Penacony.
• Dan Heng and Pom-Pom saw the strange flash from the Astral Express, while Black Swan formed a new Light Cone in A Child's Dream.

Ye Yan and Silver Wolf spent time together in a secret guest room while Stelle woke in reality after escaping a dangerous dreamscape. Black Swan explained that Penacony’s sweet dream was sinking back into its chaotic original form, leaving the Astral Express crew facing a growing threat.

• Ye Yan returned to the secret guest room, where Silver Wolf complained that fireworks had startled her into losing her game.
• Black Swan woke Stelle in reality and led her to the lounge, where Stelle reunited with March 7th, Himeko, and Welt.
• Stelle described being attacked by someone disguised as Ye Yan and rescuing Firefly from Something Unto Death.
• Black Swan identified Sparkle as the likely culprit behind the impersonation but said the bizarre dreamscape itself came from Penacony, not Sparkle.
• Himeko and Welt connected the dreamscape to the Reverie Corridor, and Black Swan concluded that Penacony’s sweet dream was sinking back into its original form.

Black Swan warned the Astral Express that Penacony’s dream world was sinking and asked to cooperate in exchange for memories. After the crew debated her claims, Welt played Silver Wolf’s message revealing a hidden map and the threat of Sam; a follow-up image suggested Ye Yan had been taken there.

• Black Swan warned Himeko, Welt, March 7th, and Stelle that the dream world was sinking and said she wanted to exchange memories with the Astral Express.
• Himeko asked the crew to discuss Black Swan’s proposal privately, and Welt suggested the dream’s abnormalities might be tied to the Clockmaker’s Invitation and the cipher that summoned the Nameless.
• Welt played a prerecorded message from Silver Wolf, who told the crew to enter a code into their Dream Pool and visit a hidden map.
• Silver Wolf warned the crew that Sam was coming and said all the factions were on the move.
• March 7th opened a new image link showing a cup of milk tea, and Silver Wolf’s message said the crew could find Ye Yan at the hidden map.