The Dream’s systems struggle briefly—coordinates fluctuate, shift, glitch.

The moon pulses once—then again.
The glow deepens, stabilizes. The illumination matrix embedded within the Dream interface flares briefly—

SABINE:
“Moon-building power has reached full capacity…
We’ll need to return to the Moon Builders’ Realm for another core cycle.”

The light fades. The forge around them dissolves.

Athelis steps forward again, still radiant, still calm.
He raises a hand toward the Traveler’s sanctuary fruit—now fully formed in its earthen pot.

With reverence, he picks it.

ATHELIS:
“This fruit holds your essence, shaped by choice and trial.
Bring this to the Moon Builders.
They will understand how to form this into purpose.”

A tremor of light surrounds the Traveler. The Dream pulses.

SABINE (softly):
“He’s transporting us back to the ship…”

“The data is incomplete. The Moon Builders… they were meant to remain hidden.”

TRAVELER (quiet):
“I have the coordinates.”

The Dream’s navigation stabilizes, but a warning lingers:

“Map integrity compromised. Navigational confidence: 41%”

SABINE (half-laughing):
“I’m sure we won’t enter another wormhole.”

The ship lifts effortlessly, breaking through the upper atmosphere.

As they rise, Athelis’ presence flares one last time—
a glowing image of the newly-created moon flashes in the Traveler’s mind.

And with it… the echo of his voice:

ATHELIS (fading):
“Thank you… for making me believe again.”

Silence.
Starlight.

SABINE:
“Traveler? I lost you for a second.”

TRAVELER:
“Athelis was just saying goodbye.”

Her hologram flickers beside him, reintegrating into the Dream’s bridge mainframe.

As Athelis begins to fade, he turns and looks at her—truly looks.

ATHELIS:
“You’ve chosen well, Sabine.”

Then, without ceremony, he walks through the Dream’s front glass—not breaking it, but passing through, as if light and structure had agreed to part ways for him.

Outside the craft, Athelis floats into the sky, pulsing once—
then fades from sight.

The Traveler holds the fruit close. It glows with a faint teal hue, soft and resonant.

He opens a worn part-case from the Dream’s hull—places the fruit inside, then secures it within his armor.
Safe. Alive.

TRAVELER:
“Where to now?”

SABINE:
“Back to the moon-building planet.
If… we can find it.”

TRAVELER:
“What do you think we’ll find there, Sabine?”

SABINE (softly):
“I don’t know…
But I know we’ll be together, Traveler.
And that’s what matters.”