Sylvia could already see the damage this would do to her reputation.
Still, for now, this was the only option. What else was she supposed to do, drag Aha out and beat THEM up?
Besides, there was someone else who needed settling with first.
The Lord of Silence.
Polka Kakamond.
The woman who traveled across the universe hunting down members of the Genius Society.
Sylvia still had no idea why Polka had set her sights on her. After all, if that woman indiscriminately assassinated Emanators from every major faction, those factions would've joined forces to hunt her down long ago.
The reason she hadn't sparked that kind of outrage was precisely because her usual targets were the strange geniuses of the Genius Society. But Polka had gone after Sylvia more than once.
None of the attempts had succeeded. Sylvia had escaped danger every time, often without even realizing she'd been in danger at all.
Even so, there was no way Sylvia could just leave things like this.
You couldn't guard against a thief forever, especially not one who could manipulate causality itself. Sylvia had no real way to defend herself against something like that.
Once things wrapped up on Penacony, she planned to talk with Herta and figure out what to do. When dealing with a genius, it only made sense to ask another genius for help.
Because even now...
No one knew what Polka Kakamond's motive was.
Under circumstances like these, trying to catch her by following ordinary clues probably wouldn't work. They'd have to use the Simulated Universe first and see if they could uncover an answer.
'I should talk to Herta about it.'
With that thought, Sylvia pulled herself out of her thoughts.
--+--
The Astral Express had already returned to Penacony.
The chain of recent events had thrown the entire planet into brief chaos, but fortunately, everything had ended about as well as anyone could've hoped.
Aside from a few tourists hurting themselves in the panic, Penacony hadn't suffered a single death.
Absurdly enough, they had Sunday—the rebel follower of Order—and the missing Dreammaster, who might already be dead, to thank for that.
When the disturbance first erupted in the Memory Zone, Sunday had led the resistance. When Zephyro descended upon Penacony, an embodiment of the Harmony fought against him and protected its people.
Later, Sunday had cast Ena's Dream over the Synesthesia Dreamscape, sending everyone into a perfect dream. Yet at the same time, "Harmonious Choir" The Great Septimus had borne the shockwaves from Sylvia's battle with Zephyro outside, keeping them from reaching the people of Penacony.
After Robin explained everything, Sylvia and the others quickly realized that this whole mess had created an incredibly awkward situation.
For the Family, Sunday's rebellion, the Dreammaster's rebellion, and what they'd tried to accomplish unquestionably deserved severe punishment.
On the other hand, the revival of Order was a scandal the Family had no desire to reveal to the public.
And before all that, Sunday really had led the Family against Zephyro. He'd made an enormous contribution to Penacony's defense.
Because of that, Sunday's public image was actually excellent right now.
For people who didn't know the truth, Sunday had led the Family alongside the Astral Express and defeated Zephyro. He'd proven his strength and gained enormous prestige in the process.
To make matters worse, the Charmony Festival still had to continue.
If the Family suddenly handed its chief organizer the harshest possible punishment, there was no telling what kind of trouble it'd cause.
Things weren't much simpler among the Pathstriders who knew about Order's attempted return.
What Sunday had done was certainly outrageous.
But first, he'd failed. Somehow, despite everything that'd happened, not a single person on Penacony had died.
Second, even while fighting against them, Sunday had still protected everyone on Penacony from an Emanator's devastating aftermath.
Zephyro had ravaged the Asdana star system. Penacony was now the only world in the entire system that remained intact; every other planet had been reduced to debris floating through space.
The result was plain for anyone to see. They couldn't just pretend Sunday hadn't helped.
So...
Calling him unforgivably evil and demanding the maximum punishment didn't quite fit.
His plan had failed, nobody had died, and when Zephyro attacked, Sunday had acted without hesitation and protected everyone.
The Family still had to maintain its public standing. It couldn't exactly destroy its own reputation for no reason.
Yet giving Sunday a light punishment didn't work either.
He'd picked a fight with Pathstriders from far too many factions at once. The Family had to give those parties some kind of answer.
Penacony couldn't afford to alienate its huge number of tourists, but it also couldn't afford to completely offend every major faction involved.
So Sunday was stuck in a strange middle ground.
Then there was the Dreammaster's disappearance, which had left the Family without clear leadership. The IPC was circling them like a hungry predator, waiting for the chance to tear off a piece.
For a while, even the Family couldn't decide what to do with Sunday.
After going back and forth over it, they eventually settled on the simplest answer.
Delay.
Finish the Charmony Festival first. Then deal with Sunday quietly afterward.
It was certainly a compromise, but aside from the IPC raising some pointed objections, the other factions didn't seem particularly bothered.
And so, that became the temporary arrangement.
--+--
"Are you doing okay? What're you planning to do next? Stay on Penacony?"
Sylvia was with Robin at the moment.
Himeko and Welt had gone to meet the other factions as representatives of the Astral Express. Mei was resting aboard the train, while the three youngsters had gone off to enjoy themselves in the dreamscape.
Sparkle and Sampo had vanished to parts unknown.
With nothing else to do, Sylvia had sought Robin out to ask about the situation.
Sunday was currently under house arrest at Dewlight Pavilion, while his duties had been handed over to other people. He hadn't resisted and was cooperating with the Family.
Even so, Sylvia was still a little worried about Robin.
"I'm fine. Considering everything, this is already about as good an outcome as I could've hoped for."
Sunday was only being detained for now. Judging from what the other factions were saying, he'd most likely end up exiled or receive some similar punishment.
Robin had already done everything she could to secure that outcome.
They were siblings, after all. There was no way Robin could simply stand by and abandon Sunday.
"It's just... I really might have to stay on Penacony for a while."
Robin gave a helpless smile.
She hadn't expected a single Charmony Festival to end with her being forced to remain here.
Originally, she'd planned to finish the festival and then join Sylvia aboard the Astral Express, traveling through the universe for inspiration while working on a new album.
That plan had clearly fallen apart.
"The Family wants you to take over the Oak Family?"
"Not exactly..."
When Maeven first approached her, Robin had assumed the same thing.
She quickly realized that wasn't what they intended.
After all, Robin and Sunday had both been raised by Mr. Gopher Wood.
And once again, there was an obvious problem.
Sunday had managed to hide his intentions for this long. How could anyone guarantee that Robin didn't have some hidden agenda of her own?
The remaining Family heads were already struggling to clean up the disaster Sunday had left behind. Asking them to place complete trust in Robin right now would've been unrealistic.
However, Robin was close to Sylvia and had played an important role in stopping Sunday's plan. As a representative of the Harmony, she was also an ideal person to put forward during negotiations.
That complicated position had actually helped Robin argue for a lighter sentence for her brother.
"Besides, I've never really liked staying in one place forever."
Robin smiled and took Sylvia's hand.
Unlike Sunday, Robin had always valued her freedom. Years ago, she'd left Penacony alone to make her way through the universe, and that hadn't changed.
Sylvia quietly relaxed.
As long as they weren't making Robin a Family head, there was still a chance to steal her away later.
Robin caught the relief on Sylvia's face. A knowing smile slowly appeared as she studied her until Sylvia started feeling self-conscious.
"Why're you staring at me?"
"Maybe I should be asking you that. Why're you so happy that I won't become a Family head?"
Robin's smile turned teasing.
"Ahem..."
There wasn't even a hint of subtlety in Robin's expression. She looked like she'd seen straight through Sylvia.
Sylvia, whose motives really weren't all that innocent, blinked and turned away.
"That's not it! I'm happy for you, okay? I know you don't like this kind of thing."
"Right, right. You're happy for me."
Robin's tone couldn't have sounded less convinced.
Was that really how someone reacted when they were just happy for a friend?
Robin almost felt bad pointing it out.
Sylvia had become some grand hero, yet when it came to something like this, she still got awkward and couldn't say what she actually wanted.
Robin planted her hands on her hips, finding the whole thing both funny and a little frustrating.
Hearing that dismissive reply, Sylvia immediately grew annoyed.
"You're really going to brush me off like—"
Before she could finish, Robin stepped closer until they were almost face-to-face.
The small wings behind Robin's ears folded inward, narrowing Sylvia's view until Robin was all she could focus on.
"What if I told you that if you admit you've got another reason, I'll give you what you want?"
"Ahem..."
Sylvia's face turned red at once.
She tried to lean back, but Robin wasn't letting her escape the question so easily.
"Well? Still won't admit it?"
This trip had brought Robin one surprise after another, but it'd also freed her from a great deal of worry.
Sunday no longer held the power he'd once possessed, but perhaps losing that position would finally give him the chance to live among ordinary people and reflect on the arrogance that'd led him here.
With that weight lifted from her shoulders, Robin found herself in a rare playful mood around Sylvia.
Sylvia certainly wasn't going to use her powers against Robin, so after a brief bit of playful shoving, she ended up falling back onto the sofa.
Robin leaned over her, still wearing that victorious smile.
Sylvia finally gave up and admitted defeat.
"Fine, fine. I wanted to invite the great superstar Robin onto my train so she could travel with me."
"Mhm. I knew it. All that talk about being happy for me, when what you really wanted was to steal me away yourself."
"Hey, that's not fair. 'Steal you away' makes me sound like some kind of villain."
Sylvia sat up, and Robin settled beside her.
Robin looked at Sylvia for a moment, smiling, then leaned in and gave her a careful kiss.
It was the first time Robin had taken the initiative so seriously, and the moment left both of them flustered. When they finally pulled apart, Robin's cheeks were bright red, but she kept her eyes fixed on Sylvia as though waiting for something.
Sylvia knew exactly what she was waiting for.
At this point, what else could she possibly say?
"Come with me. You don't have to leave right away, of course. Once everything with the Family is settled, I'll come back for you."
The instant she finished speaking, Sylvia could've sworn she heard a cheerful chime.
[Target: Robin]
[Affection: 82 (Fondness)]
[Relationship: Lovers]
Robin's affection jumped by several points at once, breaking past eighty.
And as the system notification appeared, Robin's happiness became impossible to hide.
The corners of her mouth kept rising no matter how hard she tried to suppress them, as if she didn't want Sylvia getting too pleased with herself.
Then Robin puffed out her cheeks and lightly poked Sylvia in the chest.
"You say that, but Miss Acheron is on the train too, isn't she? And then there are all those pieces of jewelry you're wearing. You're awfully greedy."
She toyed with an earring, then tapped one of Sylvia's rings, sounding far more playful than genuinely upset.
Sylvia had finally found her courage.
After getting this far, there wasn't much point in pretending anymore.
She caught Robin's restless hand and smiled.
"Yeah. I'm greedy. You've still got time to change your mind."
"Mhm?"
Robin narrowed her eyes.
"You aren't saying that because you know I can't beat you in a fight, are you?"
Her expression suggested that if Sylvia dared say yes, Robin might call Mei over on the spot to teach her a lesson.
"What kind of question is that? You don't seriously want me to say something like, 'It's too late to regret it now,' do you?"
Sylvia looked at her helplessly, only to see Robin blink and suddenly look a little guilty.
"Um..."
"No way. You actually wanted me to say that?"
"Well... you're an Emanator now. Two Paths at that."
Compared with Sylvia's extremely rare status as an Emanator of two Paths, Robin was only a famous singer.
From Robin's point of view, that difference inevitably made her wonder whether she really stood on equal ground in this relationship.
Sylvia's words had given Robin the freedom to choose, but at the same time, they'd sounded just a little too detached.
"All right. Somehow you've gotten used to me being an Emanator faster than I have."
Sylvia thought about it and realized Robin had a point.
She shifted closer, this time becoming the one who refused to let Robin dodge the conversation.
"Then it's officially too late to regret it now, superstar."
"Hehe..."
Robin smiled and wrapped her arms around Sylvia.
Then she spoke softly.
"So when do I get the keepsake you're going to give me? I've already asked Miss Acheron and Miss Firefly about theirs."
"Whenever you want. As soon as you're ready."
--+--
T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL