Chapter 2: The Forgotten Promise

The rain had stopped before dawn.

Golden sunlight spilled through the stained-glass windows of the Dream Shop, painting the wooden floor in shades of sapphire, crimson, and emerald.

For the first time in years...

Liora overslept.

She opened her eyes with a gasp.

The dream still lingered.

A silver flower field.

A little boy laughing.

A pinky promise beneath the moon.

She instinctively touched her hand.

Her little finger felt strangely warm.

"...It was only a dream."

Yet...

It hadn't felt like one.

She sat up and looked toward the window.

A single silver butterfly rested on the glass.

The moment she blinked—

It disappeared.

"Liora."

Noctis' calm voice echoed from downstairs.

She quickly dressed in her usual cream blouse, navy skirt, and silver brooch before hurrying down.

The Dream Shop looked exactly as it always had.

Floating bottles drifted peacefully.

Shelves stretched endlessly toward the ceiling.

Only...

Something had changed.

Every silver dream bottle glowed whenever she walked past.

As she stepped away—

The glow faded.

She frowned.

"Master..."

"They've been doing that since this morning."

Noctis wasn't surprised.

"I expected as much."

"You... expected it?"

He carefully arranged several sapphire bottles onto a shelf.

"When forgotten memories awaken..."

"...dreams answer."

Liora lowered her voice.

"What happened last night?"

Noctis remained silent.

Instead, he handed her a feather duster.

"Customers will arrive soon."

She sighed.

"You always avoid my questions."

"I answer them."

"...when your heart is ready."

By midday, the Dream Shop welcomed its usual visitors.

A young soldier purchased a dream of home before leaving for war.

An elderly woman exchanged years of recurring nightmares for a single peaceful sleep.

A child bought a dream of flying.

Life continued.

Yet Liora couldn't focus.

Every silver bottle reminded her of that vision.

The little boy.

The promise.

Golden eyes.

She accidentally polished the same bottle three times.

A customer laughed.

"You seem distracted today."

Liora smiled awkwardly.

"I'm sorry."

"My thoughts wandered."

"They must have wandered somewhere beautiful."

She laughed politely.

"If only I knew where."

The bell above the entrance chimed.

Liora looked up.

Her violet eyes widened.

"...Zen?"

He stood in the doorway.

This time he wasn't soaked by rain.

Sunlight framed his black hair like a halo.

His amber eyes searched the room until they found her.

"I know..."

"...today isn't Friday."

Liora smiled before she could stop herself.

"You're right."

"It isn't."

Zen rubbed the back of his neck.

"I actually..."

"...didn't mean to come here."

She blinked.

"You didn't?"

"I was walking."

"My feet..."

He laughed quietly.

"...brought me here."

For some reason...

That answer made Liora smile even wider.

"Maybe they have good taste."

Zen chuckled.

"I hope so."

Noctis watched them from the second floor.

His ancient eyes softened.

"...Destiny never forgets."

Zen wandered through the aisles.

He admired every glowing bottle.

"So these are all dreams?"

Liora nodded.

"Each one belongs to someone."

"What happens if nobody comes back for them?"

She looked at a dusty shelf near the back of the shop.

"We keep them."

"Forever."

"Forever?"

"Dreams deserve a home."

Zen stared thoughtfully at a tiny blue bottle.

"I like that."

Silence settled comfortably between them.

It wasn't awkward.

Oddly...

It felt familiar.

As though they'd shared many quiet moments before.

Neither understood why.

Zen stopped before a bottle glowing bright green.

"What dream is this?"

Liora carefully lifted it.

"This belonged to a gardener."

"He dreamed of speaking with flowers."

Zen smiled.

"Did he?"

"For one night."

"What did they say?"

Liora laughed.

"They complained he watered them too much."

Zen laughed louder than she'd expected.

The sound filled the shop.

Warm.

Bright.

Beautiful.

Liora found herself staring.

"...What?"

Zen asked.

She quickly looked away.

"Nothing."

"You have a nice laugh."

His cheeks turned slightly pink.

"Thank you."

Neither noticed Noctis smiling quietly from above.

The afternoon passed quickly.

Customers continued arriving.

Zen never left.

Eventually Liora asked,

"Are you waiting for someone?"

He shook his head.

"No."

"Then..."

"Why stay?"

He hesitated.

His answer surprised even himself.

"...Because I don't want to leave yet."

Liora felt her heartbeat quicken.

Why did those simple words make her so happy?

Near sunset...

Noctis approached them.

"Liora."

"Yes, Master?"

"The shop is quiet."

He glanced toward the street.

"You've been working since morning."

She nodded.

"You should rest."

"I can close the shop."

Liora frowned.

"But..."

Noctis looked toward Zen.

"I believe your friend..."

"...would enjoy seeing the Moon Garden."

Zen looked surprised.

"The Moon Garden?"

Liora smiled.

"It's beautiful this time of year."

Noctis turned away before either could thank him.

As he climbed the stairs, he whispered to himself,

"Go."

"Make new memories."

The Moon Garden stood atop a small hill overlooking Elaris.

White stone paths curved between glowing silver flowers.

Crystal lanterns floated gently above the ponds.

As evening approached...

The flowers began shining beneath the first stars.

Zen looked around in amazement.

"I've lived here for years."

"I never knew this place existed."

Liora laughed softly.

"It's hidden."

"Like the Dream Shop."

They walked slowly together.

Neither hurried.

The silence between them never felt empty.

Only peaceful.

After a while...

Zen spoke.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Have you always worked at the Dream Shop?"

"Since I was little."

"What about your family?"

She looked toward the shimmering pond.

"I don't remember much."

"I grew up there."

"Master Noctis raised me."

Zen nodded quietly.

"I don't remember much either."

She looked at him.

"You don't?"

"My childhood..."

He searched for the right words.

"...feels incomplete."

"There are pieces missing."

"Faces I can't remember."

"Places that feel familiar..."

"...until I wake up."

Liora stopped walking.

"So I'm not the only one."

Zen smiled sadly.

"No."

"You're not."

They reached the center of the garden.

A massive tree stood beneath the rising moon.

Its silver blossoms drifted gently through the night air.

Liora stared at it.

Her chest tightened.

"...I've been here before."

Zen looked up.

"I was just thinking the same thing."

Without realizing it...

They stepped closer to the tree.

Closer to each other.

A single blossom landed between them.

Zen reached down to pick it up.

At that exact moment—

Liora reached for it too.

Their fingers touched.

Time stopped.

The garden vanished.

A memory burst into life.

"Zen!"

A young girl's laughter echoed beneath the silver tree.

"You're too slow!"

"Wait for me!"

"Catch me first!"

Two children raced through the glowing flowers.

The boy stumbled.

The girl laughed and offered him her hand.

"One day..."

"Let's promise we'll never forget each other."

"Never."

"Even if the whole world changes?"

"Even then."

They intertwined their little fingers.

A silver light surrounded them.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

The memory shattered like glass.

Liora stumbled backward.

"Ah—!"

Zen caught her before she fell.

Both were breathing heavily.

Their eyes were wide with shock.

"You..."

Zen whispered.

"...you saw it too."

Liora slowly nodded.

"I..."

"I know that place."

"But I don't."

She pressed trembling fingers against her forehead.

"It hurts..."

Zen gently steadied her.

She looked at him.

His expression mirrored her own.

Confused.

Afraid.

Yet beneath it all...

Hope.

Because for the first time...

They both knew.

Those memories...

Belonged to them.

......................... to Be continue

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***