Playing dead was one thing, but as a seasoned expert in harvesting wool, Twilight knew the trick was subtlety and knowing when to stop.
After all, she was only half a year old. Though she didn't have long left, she wasn't about to drop dead on the spot. If she kept playing dead from now on, wouldn't she just be lying around uselessly for months?
That wasn't quite right. While it wouldn't be difficult for her, it would waste her precious time. For the sake of future operations, even laden with debuffs, she had to get up.
Waking up just as March 7th was utterly despondent and sobbing uncontrollably was much more opportune than when March still held hope and tried using Caelus's safety to rouse her earlier.
Not only could she stroke more wool from March 7th, but it would also make Caelus worry about his standing in her heart—killing two birds with one stone.
March 7th, naturally, was unaware of Twilight's dark thoughts. Right now, she was just overjoyed that Twilight had woken up, yet somehow cried even louder than before.
"Little Twilight, you're finally awake...! A-Are you feeling... uncomfortable anywhere else?"
Uncomfortable anywhere else? That was a good question. Practically everywhere felt uncomfortable—but how could she say such things and worry everyone?
"I'm okay..."
Anyway, as long as I don't die within 24 hours, it counts as okay.
Twilight laboriously turned her head, surveying her surroundings. Realizing this was reality, not the dreamscape, confusion flickered in her eyes. "This, isn't the dream... Aventurine is gone."
"Little Twilight, the enemy from the IPC has been defeated by you. We've returned safely to reality," Himeko stepped forward, tenderly brushing the hair from Twilight's face behind her ear. "Don't worry about other things for now. Resting is the most important thing for you."
"Is it... over now?"
Twilight thought for a moment with a blank look, then shook her head, struggling to sit up. March 7th hastily pushed her back down. "Hey, don't get up! Lie down carefully... You just woke up, your face is deathly pale!"
"Need to find someone..."
Pushed back onto the bed, Twilight looked at March 7th with grievance in her eyes, seemingly confused why March, who had just agreed to help her find Firefly earlier, was now pinning her to the bed.
March 7th froze for a second. Then, remembering what Twilight was referring to, her slightly improved mood instantly plummeted back into turmoil.
Someone who died in a dreamscape... Hmph! Anyway, she hadn't seen anyone truly die in the dreamscape yet, only Twilight collapsing and struggling in agony!
March 7th didn't judge the person named Firefly, having never met her. But regarding Caelus's actions, she now felt immense anger! Treating a companion who devoted almost her entire short life to him so terribly, all for someone who wasn't even truly hurt...
She couldn't even imagine the psychological scars Caelus's earlier harsh attitude had left on Twilight, to the point where, barely awake and knowing the other matter was resolved, she immediately wanted to continue searching for that Firefly... It wasn't Little Twilight who hurt Firefly, so why should she suffer this injustice?!
The more March 7th thought, the angrier she became. She turned and glared fiercely at Caelus, feeling her teeth itch with hatred.
She should have just slapped him earlier, just to vent... She had thought it inappropriate to hit Twilight's favorite person while she was unconscious, but now it was even harder to do it in front of Little Twilight.
And how could Caelus possibly agree to let Twilight go looking for Firefly now? If he dared to even suggest it, forget March 7th, he'd probably slap himself a few times...
"Little Twilight, don't worry about anything else right now. Just focus on recuperating. We'll head back to the Herta Space Station in a few days for a check-up."
Himeko gently held Twilight's hand. Though the skin was still smooth and pale, and felt warm, Himeko couldn't shake the feeling that something was different—perhaps it was just her own paranoia, or perhaps it was the unseen, intangible life force slipping away.
"Back to the Space Station?" Twilight looked puzzled. "The Watchmaker's legacy hasn't been found yet... And the Nameless one Pom-Pom asked us to find hasn't been found either."
"Let's have Herta check your body first," Himeko persuaded patiently. "Your health is the most important thing."
Twilight was always sensible and obedient. Whenever the others on the Express seriously instructed her to do something, she never disobeyed, especially not the crew's matriarch figure, Himeko.
Therefore, everyone naturally assumed Twilight would agree to return to the Space Station with them.
But, to everyone's surprise, Twilight said nothing. After hearing Himeko's words, she seemed to ponder something seriously, then slowly but firmly shook her head.
"No. I promised Pom-Pom before. We have to find the previous Nameless ones."
"Twilight, Pom-Pom wouldn't be angry over something like this. If Pom-Pom knew about your current condition, they'd be the first one to turn the Express around," Though surprised, Himeko assumed Twilight was reluctant to leave because of Pom-Pom and comforted her gently. "They are people from the past... a long time ago. Compared to them, you, right now, are definitely more important."
Although Himeko tried hard to console Twilight, she still shook her head stubbornly and firmly. "We have to find them... Can't leave."
Are you kidding? If we leave so early, my whole plan goes down the drain!
She worked so hard acting in Penacony for so long. Surely they don't think the measly 2 million energy points harvested from playing dead just now would satisfy her?
Besides, Himeko really doesn't get it. While saying the present is more important than the past isn't wrong, for Twilight's persona, her 'present' is something that will quickly become the 'past'... Telling her the past isn't important just makes her feel like she herself will soon become unimportant, right?
Twilight couldn't accept that; she didn't want to be forgotten... Therefore, feeling empathy, hoping the current Express crew would still remember the past Nameless ones and be willing to find them was reasonable, wasn't it?
So, from both an energy perspective and a character perspective, Twilight absolutely had to insist on staying here, at least until they unraveled Penacony's mystery and confronted Sunday.
The script she rewrote couldn't be wasted again!
Twilight's stubbornness completely exceeded the crew's expectations. Since taking turns trying failed to change her mind, they could only reluctantly agree to her insistence for the time being.
Later, perhaps as the pain subsided somewhat, Twilight seemed to fall asleep, allowing the others to discuss their next steps.
They ultimately decided that while ensuring one person stayed to watch over Twilight, the others would continue investigating the Watchmaker's legacy...
But if they still found no clues after several consecutive days, they would have no choice but to take Twilight straight back to the Herta Space Station first.
Truthfully, none of them knew if going back would even help.
After all, Herta had practically declared her condition incurable last time... But the universe was vast. If even members of the Genius Society couldn't offer a solution, who else could?
Recalling the message he had just received, Dan Heng remained silent.
Dan Heng had been pondering this almost the entire journey. The choice was agonizing, but... he had finally made his decision.
He couldn't do that... That path was wrong, a disaster already proven once. He couldn't try it again.
So now, he could only place all his hopes on those geniuses.