He drummed his fingers lightly on the counter, then finally asked, "Are they real? Gods? Or are they just stories people tell to explain things they don't understand?"
Candy's ears twitched, her expression unreadable for a moment before she smirked. "Depends on who you ask, traveler. Some people pray and swear they get answers. Others say gods are just powerful beings mistaken for something greater. And some?" Her tail flicked lazily. "Some believe the gods died long ago, and all that's left are the echoes. Then there are the ones who claim that the universe is littered with cosmic-born entities—beings with power so vast they can rewrite reality itself with a thought. If that's not a god, then tell me, what is?"
Sol held her gaze. He didn't know why, but something about that didn't sound like just a rumor. His heart stirred at the thought of having that kind of power, of something out there capable of reshaping reality itself. The idea of cosmic-born entities, beings who could mold existence with a mere thought, ignited something deep in him—a hunger to know more. He had spent his life just trying to survive, scraping by in the slums, but the universe… the universe was so much bigger than that. Bigger than him. Bigger than everything he had known.
Candy's ears twitched as she watched him, a knowing gleam in her golden eyes. She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You look like a kid seeing the stars for the first time," she teased, resting her chin in her palm. "That's cute."
Sol blinked, pulled out of his thoughts, and exhaled a small chuckle—a little helpless under Candy's gaze, but not denying it. And Candy, amused and intrigued, found her interest in him growing even more. His curiosity deepened, his mind spinning with the possibilities. If gods were real—if something truly divine had been born or had died in Luminara—then what did that mean for the universe?
She tapped the counter lightly. "They say if you stay too long, you leave different."
Sol held her gaze. He didn't know why, but something about that didn't sound like just a rumor.
"Sounds like a good place to start," he finally said.
Candy's grin returned, but there was something sharper behind it now. "I figured you'd say that."
She grabbed a clean glass and wiped it down idly. "You going alone?"
Sol exhaled slowly, then smirked. "You asking for a date?"
Candy was momentarily taken aback, her ears flicking in surprise before a slow, amused grin spread across her lips. She leaned back slightly, studying him with renewed interest. "Tempting," she mused, her tail curling lazily behind her, "but that's for another time." Her golden eyes shimmered with something unreadable before she tapped the counter lightly. "This journey? It's yours to take alone this time. But I will say this—trust your instincts. Whatever's waiting for you in Luminara… I doubt it follows the same rules as the rest of us."
Sol nodded once, taking in her words. He didn't know what he'd find in the Luminara District—but that was exactly why he had to go.
Sol slid a few credits onto the counter, not making a big show of it, just a simple, casual gesture. Candy's sharp golden eyes flicked down, then back up, her ears twitching slightly in amusement.
"Didn't peg you for the generous type, traveler," she teased, idly flicking her tail against the counter.
Sol smirked as he stood, adjusting his jacket. "Consider it an investment."
Candy's grin widened, clearly entertained. "Oh? And what kind of return are you expecting?"
He let his smirk linger before turning toward the door. "Guess we'll see."
As he stepped away, Candy's voice called out after him, playful but smooth.
"Hope to see you soon, handsome."
Sol didn't look back, but the small tug of amusement in his chest told him he just might. As he stepped into the open space beyond the bar, a sudden explosion of colors lit up the sky above him. As he stepped out, his thoughts spun with everything he had just learned. Then, a burst of fireworks ignited overhead, scattering neon blues and electric purples across the sky. The patterns shifted and twisted before aligning into clear, glowing letters: 'DEPARTURE IN 60 SECONDS'.
His eyes widened slightly. The ship was leaving—now.
As he walked through the the streets his mind raced thinking of everything he learned. The Luminara District, the warped reality, the whispers of a god being born—his curiosity burned brighter than before. What did a god even look like? What set them apart from ordinary beings? Were they simply born with divinity, or was it something that could be attained? The questions gnawed at him, not out of a thirst for power, but for knowledge. The unknown had always fascinated him, and now, the idea that beings could exist with the ability to bend reality itself made the universe feel even more vast. If gods were real, if such entities walked among the stars, then maybe, just maybe, he could find the answers himself.