Echoes of the Dead Nebula - Longing
Lydia was starting to show signs of waking up.
I quickly scanned the room around us.
Just moments ago, when Nahibi had unleashed her power, the entire room was a sticky mess of white slime.
If Lydia woke up to this, there'd be misunderstandings worse than any nightmare—and a mountain of explanations to give.
"Nahibi. Hurry up and suck back all this liquid around us. No traces left behind."
Thankfully, she picked up on my desperation. Without a word, she puffed up her body and began slurping up the slime coating everything.
The instant she finished cleaning spotless and shrank back down, Eve came toddling over and hugged her tight.
Perfect timing—a small groan rose from the bed.
"Mm...."
Lydia's long eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly lifted her lids.
Remnants of the nightmare still clung to her; her hazy purple eyes drifted aimlessly through the air before locking onto me and Eve watching her with worry.
"......Eve? Kal?"
Her voice was cracked and hoarse.
"Lydia. You okay?"
"Huh? Me...?"
When I asked carefully, she tried to prop herself up, wobbling, but froze at the sight of the spiderwebs cocooning her body. Then, grasping the situation, she gave a wry smile.
"Ah, I must've looked pathetic. Sorry for the worry."
I shook my head.
"No need. Wasn't your fault. I was trapped in a vivid nightmare myself right up until now. Bani's words from yesterday stuck with me, got me worried about everyone, so I came to check—and yeah, you were having one too."
"Echoes of the Dead...."
Lydia murmured softly.
"Yeah. Bani said illusions of the dead show up."
"So... that's why it felt so real...."
Her gaze drifted back to empty space. I had no idea who this "Arin" she'd been mumbling about was, but she had to mean as much to Lydia as Lumina did to me.
The silence dragged on.
Then Eve grabbed Lydia's cold hand tight. With her other, she gently smoothed out Lydia's tangled hair, stroking softly.
"Sis."
"Yeah, Eve? What's with sis's hair all sudden?"
"Just!"
Eve added no other comfort. She just gazed at Lydia with those clear eyes, stroking away. The pure sincerity in that simple gesture pierced deeper than any words could.
Lydia snapped the webs around her with her nails, then met Eve's eyes. Fresh tears welled up.
"Getting comforted by Eve too... Sis is hopeless, huh?"
"No way!"
Eve shook her head hard.
"Sis pretty!"
"......"
Lydia's lips quivered—then broke into a radiant smile.
"Oh, Eve. What am I gonna do with you? Falling for you harder would be disaster...."
Unable to resist, she lunged to scoop Eve into a hug. That's when the white blob nestled in Eve's arms got in the way.
Squish.
"Hm? Meowmeow? Wait, the Meowmeow from the ship didn't look like this... Pure white hue? And it feels just like slime."
Lydia said, puzzled.
"Squishy!"
Eve chirped happily, correcting her.
"Squishy?"
"Yup! Squishy's all squish-squish! Super duper squishy!"
Eve... what kinda intro is that...?
I rubbed my forehead inwardly. Was it really okay to introduce Nahibi like that? Absurd. But Lydia just nodded, buying the kid logic wholesale.
"Oh, got it~ Squishy 'cause it's squishy. Mind if sis gives it a feel?"
Lydia's hand reached for Nahibi.
Nahibi thrashed wildly in refusal, red eyes bubbling up across her surface like boils.
I panicked and slapped my hand over the eye spots.
"Alright, alright—Bani's waiting, let's hurry!"
I pivoted the topic fast.
"Right. He's probably trapped in a nightmare like us. Kal, let's go."
Thank god, Lydia dropped it and slid off the bed. I let out a breath.
Phew, subject change success... Nahibi, please dial back that temper?
I gave the Nahibi in my arms a light pat. She just sprang taut, like my touch pissed her off.
On the way to Bani's room, I glanced at Lydia.
"Lydia."
"Yes?"
"Thanks for the webs. Kept me from hurting myself thrashing around in the dream."
"No biggie. Set 'em up just in case after Bani's warning—glad they worked."
"But when? I didn't notice a thing."
"Snuck 'em in when we all split after chatting yesterday. Trade secret on the details. Hehe."
She winked. Her Arachne skills were stealthier, more precise than I'd imagined.
"That said, my silk's special fiber—knives barely dent it. How'd you break free?"
She turned the question on me.
"Yeah, tough stuff... Ripped 'em with brute force. Took some doing."
I played it casual. Truth was, without tapping my constellation power, I'd still be trussed up.
"Heh... Guess that's not enough, huh... Next time, I'll bind you so tight you won't budge till I get back."
Her eyes gleamed with mischief.
"Please don't."
"Hehe. We'll see~"
Eve, eavesdropping between us, shot her hand up.
"Eve too! Wrap me up tight!"
"Ooh! Eve wanna try together? Wrap-wrap~?"
"Wrap-wrap!"
"No, Eve... don't encourage her...."
I shook my head, horrified. Visions of me as their wrap-play victim flashed clear as day.
Same drill at Bani's door as with Lydia.
Door slid open. We stepped in—and the sight was all too familiar.
Bani huddled on the bed, sobbing like a heartbroken kid. None of his usual gruff, rugged explorer vibe. Just a broken-down middle-aged man. Nothing pretty about it, not even as flattery.
Lydia stared blankly, then murmured low.
"Was I... bawling like that too?"
"......"
I stayed silent. She knew it meant yes.
"What an embarrassing show I put on... Forget it? Or take responsibility?"
She tried joking, but her cheeks flushed.
"I'll forget."
"Tch."
Lydia clicked her tongue at my straight answer. I ignored it, nodding at Eve.
Like with us, Eve toddled over and grabbed his rough hand. That warm pulse from the dream should reach him now. He'd stop crying and wake soon, I figured.
But.
"Hic... honey... Jaiya...."
Bani didn't quit. If anything, clutching Eve's hand, he sank deeper into grief.
Something off. I scooped up Nahibi and stepped out briefly.
"Nahibi. Why isn't Bani snapping out of it like me and Lydia? Eve's power not working?"
"So Bani's hit harder than us?"
"Deeper cause?"
"But he's not."
"No intention? What're you saying?"
I echoed Nahibi.
Lumina's face from my dream flashed back. Hadn't I felt that same unforgettable longing seeing her?
And Bani's offhand words clicked into place like puzzle pieces.
"You might see dead family in the Echoes of the Dead Nebula...."
"Probably would've loved Magical Girl Tiny...."
"I still can't forget. The one I loved."
I stared through the closed door at sobbing Bani. Why he couldn't—or wouldn't—wake from the nightmare.
Because in there... was the family he'd longed for all this time.