The Girl's Dream
Some time passed without me getting any chance to ask Seira about that day.
However, her smile that day kept lingering in my mind, and in the end, I couldn't help but broach the question.
Seira...
About that day...
...
The moon is... especially bright tonight.
On nights like this... it feels like a shame to fall asleep...
Would you like to take a night stroll with me?
I can't remember exactly when it began.
But I think I've lived alone... for quite a long time.
My dream domain affects the people closest to me the most.
...
On lonely nights... I would close my eyes and dream.
Simple dreams... where I could be with others, like a normal person.
But... whether good or bad... all dreams end when you wake up.
When I open my eyes, I'm always alone again...
No matter how much I laughed and talked with people inside the dream...
In reality, I couldn't stay among them, and just kept wandering...
When I received the Journey invitation, it gave me hope that... I wouldn't have to wander alone anymore...
But then I began worrying that my dream domain might harm others again, even without me meaning to.
So, with Lady Alicia's help, I created this little one.
Something to prevent those effects from happening during the year of the Journey...
A blue butterfly fluttered gently from Seira's fingertip.
That butterfly...
Wasn't it destroyed by the hunter's attack that day?
...Yes. The one I had before was destroyed that day.
It's not something that can be easily recreated, but... Lady Alicia helped me one last time.
This little one... feeds on the power I release from my dream domain.
So as long as it's nearby, the influence of my power stays contained.
But...
As I continued the Journey with you, Captain... My power kept growing stronger...
I didn't realize it had become too much... for the butterfly to hold back on its own...
...
In the end...
My power... gave everyone nightmares they couldn't wake from.
But...
But Seira... you stopped it in the end.
That was... just me absorbing all the dreams within that place.
What awaits at the end of a dream that lasts forever... isn't happiness, but a nightmare.
I absorbed every last nightmare to end the dream domain... but if I'd been a little late—
...
Seira's face darkened suddenly.
Then it... really could've been... disas—
Seira!
Captain...?
Seira, are you all right?
...I'm fine.
I must've... absorbed too many nightmares all at once...
I helped Seira to a bench so she could sit and catch her breath.
...Do you regret joining the Journey?
...No, I don't, Captain.
Ever since the Journey began, I've looked forward to waking up... every morning.
Training with you, taking walks with you on sleepless nights...
Spending time talking with you and realizing those moments weren't dreams, something that happened in reality...
That made me so happy.
...Because of the Journey, I met you. And because of you...
I had a dream so happy I'll never forget it.
As Seira smiled...
I couldn't help but feel like she might vanish at any moment.
...There won't be any problems until the Journey ends.
The butterfly is back, and Lady Alicia promised to help me until the Journey's over...
Until the Journey's over...?
What about... after that?
...
When the time comes, I'll have to wake up.
Every dream must end eventually.
I pictured Seira turning away at the end of the Journey, walking off into loneliness once more.
...Then let's not give up and find another way.
...
There isn't another way...
But...
Thank you for worrying, but I'll be all right.
I have this one year we've shared together. That's enough for me...
And if, in all the countless dreams to come, I can find you again...
Then my wandering won't be the same as before.
Seira smiled serenely.
There was no trace of sadness in that smile anymore—only peace.
...Isn't there anything I can do for you?
You've already done more than enough for me...
But if I could wish for one thing...
I just want you to sleep well... and have good dreams...
Even after the Journey ends.
...
Even now, Seira still thought of others before herself.
Captain...?
This time...
I'll help you sleep instead, Seira.
Just as Seira had done for me that night in the park, I let Seira rest her head gently against me.
And just like she'd done that time, I brushed the hair from her forehead.
Captain...
...Are you copying me now?
...This is a little embarrassing.
I like it when you copy me, Captain...
Could you sing me a lullaby too?
I gently stroked her shoulders and murmured a lullaby softly.
Stay with me... until I fall asleep...
I hope... I can meet you in my dream tonight...
I stayed like that, softly patting Seira's shoulders until the moon finally sank beyond the horizon.