The Dream of Unity [Ena]... Yes! If he was still within that realistic dream, wouldn't everything make sense?!
Everything he was seeing now was all an illusion! No Twilight, no Xianzhou chaos... These were all phantoms created by Sunday to break his will!
Just need to wake up from the dream, and it'll be fine. Twilight must still be waiting for him...
But, how to wake up from the dream?
Caelus looked at his hands with a forced smile. Two different memories offered him different methods: one required Dabai's help, the other needed the combined effort of many companions. But neither seemed achievable now. Besides, if he really was still dreaming, would these methods for waking up even be effective?
Caelus desperately tried to recall, but the more he recalled, the more chaotic his memories became. He remembered the journey embarked upon with Twilight, then remembered memories where Twilight didn't exist at all.
Occasionally, he'd even feel dazed, thinking he and everyone had already completed their journey, that he and Twilight had even retired successfully many years ago...
"Caelus, your condition doesn't seem right."
Welt worriedly supported the swaying Caelus, concerned. "Should you rest first? Call a doctor to examine you?"
"..." Caelus looked up blankly. His companions were all looking at him with worry. His own lips trembled a few times, unable to utter a word.
So... Was he really the crazy one? Did a Fictional Historian or Memokeeper attack him, stuffing his head with someone who loved him?
...No, he refused to accept it!
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. Caelus abruptly stood straight, gritting his teeth. "No, something must be wrong somewhere! I'll go prove it to you right now!"
"Wait, Caelus, where are you running off to?!"
Seeing Caelus suddenly dash out of the room, the rest of the Express crew could only follow. Thankfully, he didn't go mad from mental instability and attack others, just single-mindedly bolted back onto the train. When the others caught up, he was desperately trying to persuade Pom-Pom to steer the Express back towards Penacony.
"Passenger Caelus, the destination needs confirmation from all members and the navigator, pom..." Although Caelus grabbed Pom-Pom's shoulders and shook them until Pom-Pom saw stars, Pom-Pom still upheld their duty as the conductor.
"Pom-Pom, just set course according to Caelus's wishes."
After some thought, Himeko confirmed with Welt and the others that they had no objections, deciding to let Caelus act on his impulse while they stayed beside him just in case.
After all, Caelus's condition was clearly abnormal now. If they didn't let him act according to his thoughts, who knew what might happen? Besides, although the possibility was low, what if Caelus was right? What if everyone else had been affected and forgotten their companion, with only Caelus retaining the memory...?
Caelus's agitation gradually calmed only after the train slowly started moving, beginning its journey towards the other end of the galaxy. Seeing this, March 7th and the others could finally communicate with him normally and get more details—mainly about the companion named Twilight he mentioned.
"You mean...! There's supposed to be a well-behaved, beautiful girl on the Express who never argues with me, is the first to stand up for me when something happens, helps me teach annoying people a lesson, gives me loads of credits to spend, and even directly changed the entire environment of Jarilo-VI because I was cold?"
Imagining the scene, March 7th's face lit up with joy, but then she immediately realized the harsh reality she was in, and her expression fell.
How could such a wonderful thing exist in the world? Poor little March 7th could only survive at the bottom of the Express food chain, constantly being teased by Dan Heng and Caelus. Every time they reached a new world, she was always chased around by unreasonable natives... She couldn't even dare to dream of something like what Caelus described.
If only it were true, how wonderful would that be? She would definitely become best friends with her, just like Caelus said, sticking together all the time, unwilling to separate—But how could Caelus describe something that never happened in such detail? If this was some false memory implanted by someone else, they knew her way too well...
Like March 7th who suddenly started pondering, Dan Heng too was thinking deeply with a grave expression.
Caelus actually said he and the Express crew decided to use the Transmutation Arcanum on the Xianzhou to revive that Twilight, even attempting to use the Ambrosial Arbor and Shuhu's flesh... Dan Heng wouldn't comment on whether one would attempt the Transmutation Arcanum to revive a deceased companion; at least he himself felt he wouldn't—probably, ugh... But couldn't rule out trying just a little bit.
The question was, how did Caelus know about Shuhu's flesh at the bottom of the Shackling Prison and that it could be used in the Transmutation Arcanum? This information should never have been mentioned to him.
Caelus clearly knew things he shouldn't. Although it couldn't be ruled out that it was information left by whoever tampered with Caelus's memory, but...
According to Caelus, Twilight was an extremely powerful companion, her strength surpassing even most Emanators. To completely erase such a powerful existence from everyone's minds, so thoroughly that even those closest to her couldn't recall, the level of power involved—
Dan Heng suddenly didn't dare think further. If everything Caelus said was true, what kind of enemy had they encountered?
"...Caelus, do you remember what happened in the end?"
"I remember... remember Phantylia seizing Twilight's new body and causing trouble, then—"
Then what happened?
The memory after a certain point was blank. He only remembered light, and Twilight's entrustment for him to live on... Caelus felt something strange. He felt he hadn't forgotten those memories, just instinctively refused to recall them.
Why? Would something terrible happen if he remembered...?
"Ah, we've arrived at Penacony!"
Hearing March 7th's exclamation, Caelus quickly rushed to the window, finally seeing the Planet of Festivities he longed for. But now, he had zero interest in this prosperous planet itself, wanting only to see the people and things that could testify for him.
Simultaneously, holding onto a final sliver of hope, trying to confirm if he was currently dreaming.
...
"I can swear on everything, you are not currently immersed in the Dream of Unity [Ena]... The dream ended long ago."
After much effort, he finally met the imprisoned Sunday. But receiving the desired answer, Caelus walked out of the cell with his head lowered, unhappy.
Whether it was Sunday, Robin, or Black Swan—people he formed bonds with in another memory—none of them knew of Twilight's existence. Instead, they diagnosed him with mental instability and confused consciousness.
He wanted to ask Acheron too, but unfortunately, this walker of Nihility seemed to have already left Penacony.
Gaining nothing in Penacony, fortunately, everyone on the Express crew didn't object, instead following his idea once again, heading towards Jarilo-VI.
Memories could be blurred, but facts couldn't be erased! The changes Twilight brought to Jarilo-VI were real! Even Memokeepers and Fictional Historians couldn't accomplish work of this magnitude!
Caelus's confidence vanished upon seeing the ice ball suspended in the cosmos.
It shouldn't be like this! He clearly remembered Twilight transforming this place into a habitable planet with four seasons like spring before leaving...
Clinging to his last hope, Caelus stepped onto Jarilo-VI. Re-entering Belobog, he wasn't met with the fearful gazes residents usually gave interstellar hooligans, but instead, with a respect that felt unfamiliar.
He stood blankly in the square before Qlipoth Fort, looking up at the blue sky.
He remembered Twilight once saying that because she feared being forgotten in the blink of an eye, she wanted to leave something behind, even moving a small mountain to create a sculpture... That sky-obscuring statue should have been moved to the edge of the city later, yet now it was completely gone.
It seemed the very thing Twilight feared back then had become reality. And her struggle to preserve memories seemed to have also dissolved into an unknown, illusory tale.