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Phainon carried four bags in each arm. “Isn’t this a bit much, Cipher?”
“Nah, the latest fashion I snagged from the Trailblazer. Their latest visit is to Penacony. Mhm. They have gorgeous heels and dreams that I can take anytime!”
“Is it a good idea? I could be reading finances at the Paperfold University College and you at the Dreamweaver Academy.”
“I heard from Miss Ice that they made her do lifting. Building things? It's a shame that they start with the rough stuff. Why not make toys? The boxes replace the creepy stuff in the Tomb and the televisions? Update the décor that’s been around?”
“How about we recreate our foods? Mydei and I could try the new ingredients?”
“You want Hysilens to crash the party?”
“If she had some music playing…”
“Tall order. If you ask me, I’d want her to befriend all those cute animals at Siobhan’s bar.”
“Hyacine would worry over their mental state. She’ll invite them to her Twilight Courtyard one day.”
“Aglaea told me that she would improve Penacony’s designs. More cohesion and less confusion for the desperate people.”
“Mydei would fight the toughest battles on the Spheroid, Roboball, and Unicycler.”
“Professor Anaxa would win in the Debate Club, even questioning how the Dreamscapes are run. From the entrance of the Reverie to the messy places where no one trends. If we happen to go there without rest, without dear Cyrene making sure we have a safe place…”
“Our memories would overwhelm them.”
Cipher patted his head. “Look at us, pal! We’re functioning fine without Irontomb looming over our shoulders. We can fit in with the disorienting playground at Dream’s Edge, play in the Golden Hour, and bring our amazing cast to the stage! I’d love to see our Chimeras be our mascots at the Clockie Studios Theme Park.”
“Would that really happen? Auditioning can be a challenge.”
“Have faith. Can they repeat line after line with the task manager? Run around to find the puzzles in the escape rooms? Sure they can! Meow~”
“But I never saw them climb on walls or the ceilings.”
“That calls for Trickery,” Cipher rubbed her hands together. “We can combine Janus’ Prophecy Tablets, the Golden Scrapgoat Puzzles, and the rest of us! We will teleport, be upside down, and scale the temples!”
“…Should I try that last bit?”
“You want Castorice and Pollux to put flowers in your hair?” Cipher snorted. “You got more lives than the coins in my pockets in all of those cycles. Cerydra might think of them as monuments of the past, tourist spots. We divide the bad apples from the good ones. Who’ll know when Miss Evernight, Dan Heng, or the Trailblazer comes out to visit? It’ll be a riot. The Council long debated on whether or not to allow it on dolmas and items in our honor. The Rosy Celestial Maiden…”
“I thought it might work? I heard that the Trailblazer gained insight into the world by using their “Clockwork?” The people would go to such extremes just to find the people they want to meet again, live longer, be richer, dream bigger, and leave their mark in history like us.”
“It’s Amphoreus. Why wouldn’t we, given how things turned out? Adding a coin to the scale to balance out the cost is not entirely selfless.”
“If that world did not teach them…”
“We’ll open the door for them. Yeah, that’s like the Path of the Worldbearing.”
The two arrived at Aglaea’s office.
“The golden threads sensed your arrival,” Aglaea said, decorating her Garmentmaker’s outfit in red and white. “You’ve come bearing gifts.”
“You can make something out of newspapers,” Cipher explained. “The Trailblazer dumped these garments on us, and all of us were excited to use them. We must’ve gone to every tailor in Amphoreus. I made a little lie. The Month of Fortune, which everyone celebrates the Coin of Whimsy, has more to spend for the tumultuous year.”
“Anaxa’s analyzing the dream bubbles and these fabrics. Hyacine shared them with her patients as thanks for their support. Hysilens…Cerydra is checking on our outputs and punishing troublemakers.” Phainon rubbed the back of his neck. “On the other hand, my parents wanted to try the Marmoreal Market’s famous holiday dishes. I can’t say no to that.”
“I wouldn’t say punish,” Cipher added. “It’s been peaceful. She’s not as…back in the Chrysos Heir War.”
“Their first time?” Aglaea pondered. “I’ve heard of these imagination factories that produced dreams for the masses. But it is lovely to work on a new fabric I have never come across.”
“Meow! You got a gift for me too?”
Aglaea chuckled. “Of course, Cifera. You as well Phainon. I already gave my gifts to Hyacine, Castorice, Mydei, Lady Tribios, Anaxa, Hysilens, and Cerydra.”
“What did you get from them?”
“A box with wings on the sides, a picture of Styxia, a cup left in Mydei’s parents’ possessions, a decorative rocket model, jewelry, music pieces, and a pin with a blue fire. Now these garments.”
Phainon stepped up, fiddling with his collar. “I…I got something for you this Month of Fortune.”
Cipher gave him a back on the back, and Phainon handed over the gift. Aglaea murmured in awe.
“Gold and white feathers.”
“I figured if I try not to use too much of my powers, I wouldn’t have to transform completely and try to purify specific parts of my wings like what the Trailblazer and Cyrene did.”
Aglaea smiled, tenderly stroking his cheek. “Nothing finer than purifying your body, essence, and soul. I would love to try a golden bath of that kind.”
Phainon blinked away tears. “Yeah.” His voice cracked. “That would be nice.”
Cipher gave them a moment before drawing their attention. “Pie-non.”
Phainon raised an unimpressed eyebrow. “Did Hysilens tell you?”
“Yep, she gave me a fish. The juiciest fish that she would fight me over! I couldn’t believe it either! So…you wouldn’t mind a pie with the wheat flour from Aedes Elysiae, berries plucked from Cerces’ garden and Castrum Kremnos, yeast that Professor Anaxa modified, dromas’ eggs, and fresh water from Styxia?”
“Oh wow…That sounds fantastic!”
“Aglaea, come along too!”
Aglaea adjusted the pile on her desk and ordered Garmentmarker to do the paperwork before departing. Everyone enjoyed their feast and partied at a similar intensity to Cerydra’s banquet prior to battle. They laughed, drank, and sang.