A dreamlike truth (part 2)

Egon's face underwent a series of emotions: initial surprise, followed by a concealed but undeniable glimmer of hope in his dark eyes. For a fleeting moment, she entertained the whimsical idea that he might somehow be privy to her thoughts, considering his intrusion into her dreams.

Impossible.

He countered with a smirk. "Regardless of how you view it, this method surpasses the alternative of sneaking in through the window."

This time, he was the sole one enjoying the joke, while she became preoccupied with thoughts of Noctavian.

"...Sometimes, I wonder who is actually raising whom... But I've come to realize that you two will end up having more fun together than he and I ever will."

He shrugged, "We're men; our bonding is different."

She arched an eyebrow. "You're a grown man, but he's still a child." A teasing smile formed on her lips. "Yet, mentally, the two of you seem to be on the same seven-year-old wavelength."