Neville was looking at the anti-grav waterfalls with hollow eyes. They had been shopping nonstop and just briefly stopped at a tea shop to eat. Now, they were back to another leg pain sprint.

"Oh, Neville, look at this one!" Gloria’s voice was heard from across the atrium, bright and filled with excitement. She stood before a boutique whose holographic display showcased floating mannequins dressed in the season’s latest fashion. "They have the new Celestine collection!"

"Coming, Auntie," he called a little helplessly before making his way toward her.

The next hour passed in a blur of fabrics and colors. Neville was practically lifeless as he sat on the nearby seat.

Gloria patted his arm awake. "Now, let’s get going."

"Where?" Neville weakly asked, hoping that it wouldn’t be another store.

Gloria checked her light brain for time and thoughtfully said, "I believe there’s a skyline garden I’ve been meaning to visit again. I heard they renovated it, too."

Neville tilted his head and soon found himself in the middle of the Celestial Skyline Garden. It was located on a large balcony in the middle of the building. A marvel of engineering that came out of the building’s structure like a crystalline leaf.

Transparent floors revealed the dizzying drop to the city below, while carefully cultivated native flora from Planet Xylos created pockets of color and fragrance throughout the space.

But it was the view that stole Neville’s breath.

Xylos’s sun began to descend toward the horizon, painting the sky in graduated bands of amber, rose, and deepening violet. The city sprawled beneath them in geometric patterns of light and shadow.

Its towers caught the fading daylight and reflected it in prismatic bursts. In the distance, the glimpse of the ocean glimmered like molten gold, stretching toward a horizon.

"It’s really beautiful," Gloria said under her breath. "No matter how many times I come here, it never fails to take my breath away."

Neville reached for his light brain, activating its camera function with a practiced gesture.

The first shot captured the sun’s reflection rippling across the distant ocean. The second framed the city’s skyline against the gradient of colors bleeding across the sky. The third—

"Are you taking pictures?"

Neville looked up to find Gloria watching him curiously. Her head tilted slightly as the golden light of sunset caught the silver threads in her perfectly coiffed hair. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

He lowered the light brain, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "Ah, yes. It’s a hobby of mine. I find it... peaceful."

Gloria smiled and nodded in understanding. "My husband used to say the same thing."

The mention of Grayson’s father sent a ripple of awareness through Neville. But hearing Gloria speak of him so casually, with fondness rather than grief, reminded him of something that the people in this world weren’t just characters in some ridiculously compiled timeline.

"Would you..." Neville stuttered a little as he said that, then positioned his light brain again. "Would you like me to take your photo? Right now is perfect."

Gloria’s eyes widened slightly, then she smiled. It was the warmest expression Neville had seen from her all day.

"I would like that very much," she said softly. "It’s been a long time since anyone took my picture. My husband used to do it for me, you know. He said I was his muse."

Neville felt his heart twist at the quiet confession. He raised the light brain, adjusting the angle to catch the way the sunset light fell across Gloria’s features. It softened her features and illuminated the warmth in her eyes.

"Just... relax," he instructed, falling into the familiar rhythm of directing a subject. "Look toward the horizon. Yes, like that. Chin up slightly—perfect."

The chime sound was soft, almost inaudible over the ambient noise of the garden. Neville checked the image and felt a surge of satisfaction at what he saw.

Gloria stood in three-quarter profile against the painted sky, her expression thoughtful and serene. The golden light rendered her in shades of amber and rose.

Neville thought it was exactly the kind of photo her husband might have taken.

"Here." He turned the light brain’s holographic screen toward her. "What do you think?"

Gloria audibly gasped. She reached out, reaching for the holographic screen with hands that trembled slightly. Her eyes were fixated on the image of herself captured in that moment of golden light.

"Oh," she whispered. "It’s beautiful."

"Of course. After all, you’re beautiful," he corrected gently.

Gloria laughed, the sound watery but warm.

"You jest." She said, laughing as the holographic screen retreated to Neville, visibly more relaxed than before.

Neville nodded, turning off the device.

"For real. The light brain camera might be good for casual shots, but it didn’t do justice to the muse..." He shrugged. "Nothing beats dedicated equipment."

Gloria’s eyes lit up with renewed interest. "It sounds like you have one at home?"

Neville couldn’t miss the chance to slightly brag about his hobby and said, "Of course, I have one."

Gloria’s eyes sparkled even more, and she said, "I would love to see your work sometime. Of course, if you’re only okay with it."

Before Neville could respond, an unladylike sound interrupted the moment—

GROOWWLL

Gloria’s hand immediately covered her stomach, and a flush of embarrassment colored her cheeks. It was the second time today.

"Oh my." She exclaimed with a wry smile.

Neville bit back a smile. He had been expecting this to happen. After all, they had been walking and shopping for hours, subsisting on nothing but the cookies Gloria.

Cookies, no matter how delicious, are not a substitute for a proper meal.

"Auntie," he said, keeping his tone carefully casual, "If you’re okay with it, we could have dinner in my unit in the dormitory right now. It wasn’t that far, and I have fresh ingredients I’ve been meaning to cook for a while now."

Gloria’s eyes sparkled with interest, but she shook her head with a little coyness. "Oh, I couldn’t possibly impose. You’ve already treated me to cookies and drinks at the tea shop earlier."

This is, Neville recognized what Gloria was trying to do.

The polite refusal that invited insistence. He had observed enough social interactions in both his worlds to understand the steps to take.

"It would be my pleasure," he pressed, adding just the right note of sincerity.

"Consider it repayment for all the things you’ve bought for me today. Besides," he allowed a small smile to curve his lips, "Not everyone gets to eat what I cook personally."

Gloria made a show of considering, her finger tapping against her chin.

GROOOOOOOWWL

Then her stomach growled again, louder this time, and she laughed in defeat.

"Oh, very well. Since you insist." Her eyes twinkled. "But only because I’m curious what you will cook for me."

Neville nodded, already thinking what sophisticated food he could cook for a wealthy woman like Gloria.

"Wait."