Chapter 23

The interior of the Universal Ark roared softly—its long corridors glowing with soft blue mana-strips as the vessel sliced through the void between domains. The stars outside shimmered like distant embers. Inside the vessel however..

It smelled like deep-fried dragon steak and Alto-styled ice cream.

Alto (blinking):

Wait… Is that Gastran food?

Lily (eyes wide, holding a tray):

Shizu Burger. Two of them. With Candy Star soda!

Berwick (inspecting his Berwitto):

You had this pre-ordered?

Shizuku (leaning back on one of the arc's reinforced couches):

Of course. I placed the order before we left for Kifo's domain. Overnight warp delivery from Gastran's Interstellar Gourmet Circuit. I'm not about to let my captains starve on a return trip.

Astera (already halfway through his Astera-style eggs):

This… this is why you're the Emperor.

Asche (sipping Spirit Wine):

That, and the twelve trillion meere you spend on us.

Shizuku (smirking):

That's per cycle, mind you.

The ark glided silently. Outside the reinforced windows, the stretch between the Outskirts and Central District felt timeless. A long, safe corridor in the vast ballet of galaxies.

Eris (tugging Alto's sleeve):

You know, this makes me wonder what the next fragment will ask of us.

Alto (quietly):

Same here. We're past halfway now.

Lily (poking open the gift box Kifo gave her):

…It's not a skull.

Astera (muffled by fries):

Then what is it?

She didn't answer immediately—just stared inside with a look of quiet puzzlement.

Shizuku (noticing):

Lily?

Lily (softly):

It's… a flower. Made of metal. But it's growing.

Everyone paused, momentarily silenced by her words.

Berwick (adjusting his glasses):

A paradox of nature. A symbol, perhaps. One forged by darkness to bloom in light.

Asche (with a glance to Shizuku):

Or it's Kifo being cryptic again.

Shizuku (smiling faintly):

Either way. We rest tonight. We'll be back at HQ in fourteen hours. Eat, decompress, recover. The Sigil Chamber awaits.

They continued their journey through star-laced silence, the arc aglow with camaraderie, warm food, and quiet starlight. The battle had passed. The next would soon come. But for now…

The night belonged to peace.