"Wow… what a bizarre and twisted opening!"
"It's exactly the kind of beginning I love!"
Inside the Palais Mermonia, Furina watched the unfolding scene with glittering eyes.
She was so absorbed that she didn't even notice the cake cream smeared across her nose.
"Lady Furina,"
"Could you please refrain from eating inside my office?"
"Cream stains are notoriously difficult to clean from the furniture."
Neuvillette sat behind his desk, face filled with quiet resignation.
"Oh, oh, I'll be careful! Don't make such a big deal out of it~" Furina waved dismissively, wiping her nose, before immediately refocusing on the screen.
"An ominous start indeed…"
"Unexpected trouble right from the beginning."
"It seems the Astral Express's journey will hardly be smooth sailing."
At Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Zhongli sighed softly, gaze thoughtful.
"Acheron?!"
"His treasure-darned— is that the one who impersonated the Sea Ranger?!"
"And she's in the livestream too?!"
Boothill narrowed his eyes.
"Tch… forget it. Let's wait and see."
"I'll see what this riddle-spewing woman is really trying to pull."
Inside the Dream
After a brief hesitation, Steluna stepped through the door and followed the left corridor to its far end.
The mysterious woman stood waiting.
[Sea Ranger, Acheron. That is how they address me. Use it as you see fit.]
With that, her figure flickered like a fading shadow, guiding Steluna forward into an impossibly luxurious hall.
[Steluna: This… wow…]
Her eyes widened as she looked around in awe.
[Acheron: This way. After you.]
[Steluna: You want me to… walk on the wall?]
She stared at a yellow, bubble-like substance clinging strangely to the surface.
Tentatively, she stepped onto it.
And to her shock—
She rose effortlessly up the wall.
[Steluna: It actually works?!]
Acheron's voice echoed calmly behind her.
[Acheron: Why not?]
[Steluna: Can she hear my thoughts?!]
[Acheron: Why not?]
As Steluna moved, the entire hall rotated to accommodate her perspective.
The world flipped — ceiling becoming floor, floor becoming sky.
Eventually, she stood upside-down at what had once been the entrance above.
[Acheron: We're almost there. Still holding up?]
[Steluna: I'm wall-walking and feeling fantastic.]
[Acheron: Humorous. You seem fine then.]
Her tone never wavered.
[Do not stop. Do not turn back. Do not look down — nor up.]
With solemn warning, she continued onward.
And along the way, shadows began to appear.
Illusions.
Figures she recognized… and others she didn't.
[Silver Wolf: So, how do you plan to drag them into this?]
[A towering mech: Reveal the truth in full — they will come on their own.]
The vision vanished.
[Acheron: These are merely echoes of the dream. Do not concern yourself.]
["The stage belongs to you, sister."]
["But what meaning does a stage hold if I cannot sing?"]
Strangers. Gone in a blink.
[Dr. Ratio: What makes you think you can win, gambler?]
[A flamboyant man: Three chips are enough. All… or nothing.]
The gambler's smile lingered only briefly before dissolving.
Finally, the last pair:
[A twin-tailed girl: Remembrancer… Do you truly believe you'll leave unscathed?]
[A mature woman, graceful and distant: Forgive me, dear partner… My dance is already promised to another.]
Silence fell.
No more visions.
"This dream is way too wild…" Steluna muttered.
"Parkour on walls? Seriously?"
March blinked. "That's not even the wild part! The whole world flips with you!"
Klee clapped happily. "It looks like a fun amusement park dream!"
Hook nodded. "Hook wants dreams like that too!"
Furina pointed dramatically.
"Did you all see the gambler?! That line!"
Three chips are enough. All — or nothing!
"That's absolutely villain dialogue!"
"So dramatic! So dangerous! He must be evil!"
She repeated the line again and again, reveling in its theatrical gravitas.
Aventurine:
"Haha, Lady Furina, you flatter me."
"I'm merely a law-abiding citizen of the cosmos. Surely not a villain?"
Inside Penacony's hotel, Aventurine lounged casually in the bathtub, spinning a chip between his fingers.
"Tch… what bad timing. This livestream messed up my flawless plan."
"Still… maybe chaos makes it more fun."
Back in the chat:
Furina:
"So you're the gambler?! Are you really not a villain?"
Aventurine:
"I assure you, absolutely not!"
Dr. Ratio:
"He's a fool, but not a villain."
"Ah… I see, my mistake then!" Furina sighed in relief.
The Final Exchange
In the video, Steluna and Acheron arrived before an enormous door.
They ran toward it — toward an ever-retreating exit.
[Acheron: …We've arrived.]
Steluna slowly pushed the door open.
[Welcome to the Reverie Hotel. May you enjoy a most unforgettable stay. Should you wish to check in, please proceed straight to the front desk—]
The bellhop phantom bowed, then vanished.
[Acheron: Leave this place. Awaken as you always do… forget this encounter, and return to where you came from.]
[But before that… I have a request.]
Her gaze sharpened.
[It may sound strange — even rude — but tell me… have we met before?]
Her voice softened.
[You remind me of someone dear. In hazy memories, she stood beside me… close yet forever out of reach.]
[May I ask you a few questions? I often forget things… so rather than recall, I prefer to feel. Your answer does not matter. Only your reaction.]
[When you awoke, you spoke several names… companions? Family? Enemies? You are deeply bound to many lives.]
[Are you… afraid of losing those connections?]
Steluna hesitated.
"I… I don't know."
[Then, if there existed a dream so perfect it rivaled reality — where no one dies, where happiness lasts forever — would you choose to live there?]
"No. I'd never choose to live in a dream."
Her voice rang firm.
[And if this beautiful dream were destined to shatter… all would fade. Friends. Family. Even the wind, birds, stars… and you yourself.]
[Knowing the end from the start… would you still walk that path?]
"I would continue to pioneer forward — no matter what!"
Acheron nodded faintly.
[I know these are difficult. The answer never mattered. Only the feeling. That is why we choose.]
Then she asked once more:
[Do you remember me?]
"No. This is the first time we've met."
[…I see.]
Her eyes grew distant.
[For a brief moment, countless versions of you answered differently. How fascinating.]
[Thank you. That was my final question. Farewell.]
"But how do I leave—?!"
Acheron stepped behind her, drawing her blade.
[The golden dream will soon tremble. You will endure sorrow, witness tragedy… and eventually, only black and white shall remain.]
[Yet within that monochrome world, a fleeting red shall appear. When the time comes — understand its meaning.]
A single blood-tear slid down her cheek.
[—Then return to the waking world.]
Steel flashed.
Steluna's vision exploded into color and pain.
Then darkness.
She awoke once more upon the Astral Express couch — tears silently trailing down her cheeks.
Confusion… and inexplicable melancholy.
March 7th shuddered.
"Th-that last part was terrifying…"
Hook gasped. "She's a bad woman! Worse than the old witch!"
Natasha smiled sweetly.
"Hook, come do your homework. Now."
Hook paled. "N-Natasha-sister… I'm sorry!!"
Sampo scratched his chin.
"I gotta ask… what was she even talking about?"
Paimon groaned. "Too complicated!"
Lumine nodded. "Way too abstract."
Zhongli murmured, "It felt… deliberate."
Firefly giggled.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"She's speaking in riddles!"
Hu Tao blinked. "Riddles? Why tho?"
Firefly twirled.
"Maybe she just is a riddle-person~"
Sampo laughed.
"So that's it! A full-time riddle-master!"
And as the dream faded into silence…
One truth remained clear.
Acheron was not merely mysterious.
She was a walking enigma.
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