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yumemoryAkira: What a clear night sky… Maybe because there aren’t any clouds.
The view outside my window was completely engulfed by the night. The stars were twinkling brightly, as if to adorn the sky.
Spending a quiet night alone sometimes makes me want to gaze at the sky like this.
The unclouded sky surrounds the world, yet it never utters a word, and always appears to be silently listening. I can somewhat imagine the feelings of those who wish on the stars.
Akira: (...If I were to make a wish, what would it be?)
Akira: (To go back to my world? Or perhaps...)
Resting my chin against my hand, I became lost in contemplation. Suddenly, I noticed a strange glimmer from the corner of my eye.
Akira: Hm?
I took a better look outside my window, and discovered small sparks of fire riding the wind.
Akira: Huh, this is...
I tilted my head, and suddenly remembered:
Akira: (Could it be... Faust?!)
Faust has a curious affliction that causes his dreams to flow over into the real world.
The specks of light that danced in the night looked similar to the fragments of his dream that I'd seen before.
Akira: (Faust said he puts up a barrier in his room to prevent his dreams from overflowing.)
Akira: (Oh, right. He just got back from an overnight mission...)
Did something happen to him while he was out?
With restlessness settling in my chest, I ran to Faust's room.
ーーー
[Location: Corridor]
Akira: Faust, are you there?! It's Akira!
Receiving no response, I reached for the doorknob in reflex. Surprisingly enough, it wasn’t locked, and the knob turned easily.
Akira: ...I’m coming in!
I prepared myself and opened the door. What I saw inside was something I wouldn’t have expected.
ーーー
[Location: Faust's room]
Akira: ...?
Instead of being greeted by raging flames like I thought, what I saw was a room filled with a multitude of starsーa dazzling heaven of gleaming stars.
They shone even brighter than what I saw outside my window. The sight was almost blinding, like seeing jewels scattered about.
Akira: (...What is this?)
I was bewildered, but entranced by its beauty at the same time.
Faust: ....
Faust, however, was stirring in his sleep when I saw him, his face lying against the table.
Akira: Faust!
I ran over to him and shook his shoulders. When I did, the starry sky that covered every inch of the room disappeared.
Akira: (It's gone!)
Akira: F-Faust, please wake up!
Faust: ...Hn.
Akira: Are you alright?
Faust: …Sage? What are you doing here?
Akira: Sorry, I barged into your room without permission.
Akira: Actually, your dream overflowed outside, so I thought something bad happened to you.
Faust: My dream overflowed? Did you see anything?
Akira: I saw a beautiful night sky with lots of stars...
Faust: A night sky with lots of stars? Ah, so that’s how it looked.
Akira: Huh?
Faust: ...Nothing. But you're right, what you saw was something out of the dream I just had.
Faust: But to think that I failed to sense you coming into my room… After all that trouble I went through using a talisman to strengthen my barrier.
Akira: You must be feeling unwell… Your face was lying against the table.
Faust: ........
Faust blinked after hearing what I said. Then he mumbled:
Faust: ...I’m fine, it’s just…
Faust: I dozed off. That’s all.
Akira: Huh?
Faust: This will sound foolish, but… I was reading a book, and accidentally fell asleep.
Faust hung his head, perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed. That’s when I found myself letting out a sigh of relief.
Akira: I see... I'm glad it's nothing serious.
Faust: I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry.
Akira: It’s fine. You must have been tired from your last mission.
Faust: ...That might be it. It seems like I let my guard down.
Faust’s nonchalant words took me by surprise.
Hearing the words “I let my guard down” from Faust, who’s always been on edge since the beginning of our communal life here at the manor, was something I didn’t expect.
Perhaps he eventually learned how to live comfortably in this environment, and much more so now. I suppose carelessly dozing off once in a while isn’t so bad.
Faust: Nevertheless, my overflowing dream is a problem. If the barrier isn’t working properly, then it must be because…
Faust headed towards the shelf and took something that looked like an ancient animal horn. He raised it over his head, and then softly chanted his spell.
Faust: …So that’s how it is. The seams on this talisman I’m using are slightly torn.
Akira: Uh, will it be alright?
Faust: In a way, yes… In another way, no, I don’t think so.
Akira: S-So which is it?
Faust: If you’re worried about my barrier, yes, it will be fine. It’s nothing a little tweak can’t fix.
Faust: But it’s nothing more than an emergency measure, not meant for long-term use. I should go back to the Eastern Country and acquire new materials soon.
Akira: I see. You need the barrier, after all…
At that moment, we heard a knock, and we both looked at the door.
Faust: I have a lot of guests today… Who is it?
