The cold, clear moonlight draped over the polished mirror-like floor like a thin veil, casting a silvery glow across the entire room.
Outside the window, a strangely shaped blue butterfly fluttered in from nowhere, like a dazzling meteor streaking across the night sky. With an inexplicable liveliness and mystique, it slowly landed on the nightstand.
There it rested quietly, its tiny body trembling slightly as if observing the two entwined in sleep.
After a brief moment, it gently fluttered its iridescent wings and, with the grace of a dancer, flew above Lucian's thick, raven-black hair.
...
Lucian dreamed.
The dream was hazy, like mist swirling around him, blurring the line between illusion and reality.
In this ethereal world, a crystalline greenhouse stood quietly on an isolated island, as if forgotten by time—a place severed from the world.
Beyond this mysterious greenhouse, there was only endless darkness, as though the entire universe had been devoured by it. Only the greenhouse shone like the brightest star in the night sky, radiant and luminous.
Puzzled, Lucian followed the winding steps upward.
When he stepped inside the greenhouse, he saw an ancient and peculiar tree twisting its way up to the ceiling at the center. Its pink leaves swayed faintly, shimmering with a soft glow.
On either side of the greenhouse were two neat rows of flower beds, planted with all kinds of bizarre and unheard-of exotic blooms.
To the right was a snow-white staircase, beneath which was embedded a massive viewing glass. Through it, he could clearly see schools of strange fish swimming in the water.
Lucian ascended the steps.
At the top of the staircase stood a grand and ornate white piano.
Seated before it, with her back to him, was a girl in a short blue-and-white dress.
A sheer blue-white veil draped over her head like a wisp of smoke.
The short dress clung tightly to her body, accentuating her delicate curves.
The back of the dress was largely open, revealing her smooth, fair skin.
The skirt fell elegantly below her waist, perfectly highlighting her slender figure, complementing the lively sway of the hem. At this moment, she seemed like a mermaid from legend.
Lucian was puzzled. This dream felt too real—even the sensation of his fingers brushing against things was indistinguishable from reality.
He couldn't help but ask, "Who are you?"
After a moment of silence, the girl stopped playing the piano.
Strangely, though she had been playing all this time, the keys had not been pressed, nor had any sound come from the piano.
"Shorekeeper. That is my name."
"Shorekeeper?"
Lucian took a few steps closer and noticed a black flower—symbolizing the Black Shores—pinned to her back.
"You're from the Black Shores?"
Shorekeeper did not answer. Instead, she stood and pointed to another black flower on the piano.
"Aalto has already spoken to you about joining the Black Shores, hasn't he?"
Only now did Lucian realize that the girl had delicate features, though a trace of melancholy lingered between her brows.
He glanced at the black flower on the piano and pondered for a moment.
"I remember Aalto saying someone would personally deliver the black flower to me as a welcoming gift. That person is you?"
Shorekeeper gave a slight nod. "Yes, Mr. Lucian. I am here to formally invite you to join the Black Shores."
Lucian's gaze darkened as he asked a crucial question.
"The Black Shores… is it an administrative organization?"
Shorekeeper lowered her eyes slightly and turned away, looking out the glass window into the pitch-black darkness beyond.
"The Black Shores is hidden among the Tacetite Archipelago in Solaris' Stormsea. It gathers elite talents from all walks of life across the world."
"We are dedicated to opposing The Lament and maintain extensive, deep collaborations with most nations of Solaris."
Lucian mused for a moment. "Can Aalto really be considered an elite talent?"
Shorekeeper: "..."
"Since he was able to enter the Black Shores and become a guest member, he must have his own unique qualities."
Curious, Lucian asked, "If I join the Black Shores, what would I have to do?"
Shorekeeper turned back to face him. "Upon joining, you will become a guest member of the Black Shores."
"As the person Rover trusts most after her awakening, your sole mission will be to protect her."
Lucian scratched his head. "I can do that—I'm already doing it now, after all."
"But can you tell me what Rover's connection to the Black Shores is? And why did you choose me?"
"Earlier, through a special method, I learned that Rover is the—"
Shorekeeper finished his sentence. "Astral Modulator."
"Modulator?"
Shorekeeper nodded slightly.
"Modulator refers to the adjustment of frequencies. In Solaris, frequency is the primary criterion for judging all things. To harmonize frequencies is to explore the essence of existence."
"Through the harmonization of astral charts, the Black Shores traces and analyzes the nature of The Lament."
"In the history of the Black Shores, only one person has ever been called the 'Astral Modulator.'"
"And that is Rover."
Lucian was bewildered. What exactly was Rover's identity? Why did every organization seem connected to her?
Shorekeeper continued, "You… are special."
"Special?" Lucian smirked. As a man with a system, of course he was special.
"You are one of only two people capable of wielding multiple Resonance attributes."
"The other one is Rover?"
"Yes. Beyond that…" Shorekeeper hesitated.
"What?"
"No, it's nothing."
She seemed unwilling to reveal more.
"Then what is your position in the Black Shores?"
Lucian voiced the question in his heart.
Aalto, as a guest member of the Black Shores, already held a high status.
Yet he had said someone else would personally deliver the black flower to Lucian, making him curious about Shorekeeper's identity.
Judging by the name "Shorekeeper," she must have a deep connection to the Black Shores.
The girl spoke softly, "Shorekeeper… the keeper of secrets, the guardian of uneroded shores."
Lucian: "?"
Seeing that she would say no more, Lucian pondered for a moment before suddenly understanding.
"Ah, I get it—you're a security guard, right?"
Shorekeeper: "..."
She did not answer, instead sitting back down at the piano and placing her hands on the keys, playing softly once more.
But just like before, Lucian noticed her fingers passed through the keys, unable to press them—as if the girl before him were nothing but an illusion.
"Before dawn pierces the dark clouds, you still have much time. Please consider carefully whether you wish to join us."
...
Lucian slowly awoke. Outside the window, the fog lingered, the dawn not yet fully broken.
He looked at Rover, nestled in the crook of his arm, sleeping soundly, and smiled, gently kissing her dark hair.
Then, he raised his right hand and gazed at the black flower in his palm.
"This wasn't a dream…"