The air inside the little diner was thick with the scent of something fried, synthetic, and barely passing as food. Sol sat in a corner booth, elbows resting on the smooth, luminescent tabletop, watching as the glow pulsed faintly beneath his fingertips like a slow heartbeat. Outside, the endless hum of the city-ship pulsed through the walls—distant engines, alien voices blending into an incoherent murmur, the occasional synthetic chime of a floating advertisement passing by the windows.
He hadn't touched his food.
The plate in front of him held something blue and steaming, a local specialty that promised "REAL FLAVOR! REAL TASTE!" in a flickering holographic label on the side of the dish. Sol had taken one bite and decided the marketing was a lie. Now, he just stirred the gelatinous mass absentmindedly with his fork, letting his thoughts drift in the haze of neon light and quiet conversation.
His mind kept circling back to Zenith-5.
The escape. The deal with DreamCorp. The things he saw—the things he did—all unfolding in his head like an old recording stuck on repeat. No matter how much distance he put between himself and that place, it lingered in his thoughts like static, impossible to tune out completely.
Outside, the Luminara District stretched beyond the glass, a city within the city—one that shimmered and shifted as though the entire place was caught in a slow-motion hallucination. Buildings twisted in impossible ways, curving toward one another like they were whispering secrets. Some hovered just slightly above the streets, their foundations flickering between solid and intangible, as if deciding whether they belonged to reality or not.
The streets glowed in unnatural hues—violet, gold, electric blue—reflecting off the rain-slick pavement where crowds of travelers moved like rivers splitting and merging. There were people in long, flowing coats that shimmered like stardust. Hooded figures with mechanical limbs humming faintly with power. A group of Vortigoths stood near a vendor stall, their towering forms wrapped in ceremonial armor, their voices deep and resonant even from this distance.
A massive holographic koi fish drifted lazily through the air above the street, swimming through invisible currents. Its translucent body pulsed with golden light, advertising a casino somewhere deeper in the district. Beneath it, a street musician played an instrument Sol didn't recognize—something with strings that flickered between solid and liquid, each note warping the air like heat waves.
It was beautiful. Strange. Almost too much to take in at once.
Sol exhaled slowly, leaning back against the seat, eyes half-lidded as the thoughts of Zenith-5 stirred again. He wasn't regretting anything—not exactly. But there were too many pieces still unsettled, too many unknowns left in the wake of that whole mess. He had walked away in one piece, but the question that stuck with him now was simple.
What next?
A familiar voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"I don't know whether to be impressed or scared."
Sol didn't react immediately. He let the words settle, let the moment breathe. Then, slowly, he turned his head.
Lloyd and Jack slid into the seat across from him, all easy grins and casual confidence. Jack's eyes flicked toward Sol's untouched food, but Lloyd kept his attention on Sol.
"Walking around here with no disguise? After the shit you pulled? Either you've got a death wish, or you think you're untouchable."
Sol didn't say anything right away. His fingers tapped lightly against the tabletop, considering the words before replying, voice flat.
"Or maybe I'm just too tired to care."
Lloyd smirked, shaking his head. "That's an even worse answer."
Sol exhaled sharply, more of a quiet scoff than an actual laugh. "What do you want?"
Lloyd leaned back, draping an arm over the booth. "Can't I check up on a friend?"
Sol gave him a look, unimpressed. "That what we are?"
Lloyd smirked. "I did say one more friend is better than an enemy, didn't I? Still standing by that."
Sol leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand, tired but watching him carefully. "And you think I'm the friend type?"
Jack chuckled, gesturing at the untouched food. "Right now? You just look like the tired type."
Sol sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I am."
Lloyd studied him for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I figured. You look like you haven't slept in days."
Sol scoffed, barely more than an exhale. "Feels longer."
Jack leaned back, arms crossed. "Not really surprising. You stirred up a lot of shit back there. Most people would be celebrating if they got out clean. But you?" He tilted his head. "You look like you're waiting for the next punch to land."
Lloyd let out a breath and leaned forward, his voice lighter than before. "You know what I think? I think you need a break."
Sol arched an eyebrow at him. "A break."
Lloyd gestured toward the window.*"Yeah. Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure since you got here, you've done nothing but cause chaos. Or nearly get yourself killed. How about, for once, you just… take it easy?"
Sol let out a dry chuckle. "And do what?"
Lloyd smirked. "I know a few spots. Places with music, places where time just kinda melts away. Hell, we could even hit the Lumina Spires if you're up for something surreal."
Jack grinned. "Or we could introduce him to the Spectral Arcade. I bet Sol would clean up there."
Sol exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. One night. No chaos."
Lloyd grinned. "Good choice. Let's go before you change your mind."
Jack smirked."Yeah, before you remember that you actually hate being around people."
Sol sighed, standing up with them. "I already regret this."
Lloyd chuckled. "Too late, buddy. We're making sure you unwind whether you like it or not."
And with that, they stepped out into the neon-drenched night, leaving the diner behind.