Chapter 145: A Story Brought to Life

Andras left the training ground without looking back.

The morning air still carried the faint scent of dust and sweat from the soldiers’ drills. Behind him, the rhythmic sounds of training continued, though quieter than before. Lyra remained on the field, spear in hand, correcting her stance again and again.

Andras returned to the main residence and went to the dining room. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, illuminating the long table and the silverware arranged neatly across it. The quiet of the estate felt different from the usual tension that often settled over the halls.

Evelyne was already seated.

Andras took the place across from her and began eating breakfast in silence.

After a while, Evelyne sipped her tea and set her cup down.

"You should be ready early tomorrow."

Andras looked up.

"The first showing is in the morning."

"I remember."

"Good." A small smile appeared on Evelyne’s face. "I’ve been looking forward to it."

Andras continued eating.

"So have I."

Although he had written the story and knew every scene by heart, he had never seen the completed production. The script was his. The final product belonged to the people who had brought it to life. That distinction made him curious.

After a moment, Andras spoke again.

"Mother."

"Hm?"

"Can Lyra and General Selene come with us tomorrow?"

Evelyne paused.

"Both of them?"

"Yes."

She studied him for a moment.

"Why?"

Andras answered without hesitation.

"I promised Selene."

Evelyne’s expression softened slightly.

"That is reason enough?"

"Yes."

She smiled.

"Very well. I’ll inform Selene."

Andras nodded and returned his attention to breakfast. The matter was settled. There was no need for further discussion.

The rest of the morning passed quietly. Lyra remained at the training ground while Andras returned to his room after breakfast. With the previous day’s events behind him, there was little reason to leave the estate. He rested for a while, letting the quiet of the house settle around him.

By midday, Lyra returned from training.

Her blue hair was slightly disheveled, and there was a faint sheen of sweat across her forehead. She carried his lunch on a tray.

"Young Master."

Andras looked up from his seat.

"Finished?"

"Yes."

"How was the training?"

"General Selene said my stance was still unstable."

"She was right."

Lyra lowered her eyes.

"I know."

There was no frustration in her voice. Only determination.

Andras nodded.

"Good."

She placed the meal before him. He ate while Lyra remained nearby. There was no need for conversation. The quiet between them felt familiar and unforced.

After finishing, Andras returned to his usual routine.

Rest.

Cultivation.

Food.

Rest again.

The hours passed without anything unusual occurring. In the afternoon, he sat cross-legged on the floor of his room, eyes closed as mana circulated through his body. His breathing remained slow and controlled. Outside, the sounds of the estate gradually changed as servants completed their afternoon duties.

Eventually, the door opened.

Lyra entered carrying his dinner.

"Young Master."

Andras opened his eyes.

"Leave it there."

She placed the tray on the table, then hesitated.

"Young Master."

"What?"

"Are we training tomorrow?"

Andras stood and stretched his arms slightly.

"No. We’re going to the theatre tomorrow."

Lyra blinked.

"Just the two of us?"

"No. Mother, General Selene, you, and I are going."

Lyra’s expression froze for half a second. Then a faint flush appeared across her face.

"I... see."

Andras noticed the reaction but said nothing. He simply walked toward the table.

"Eat properly tonight. We’ll leave early tomorrow."

Lyra nodded.

"Yes, Young Master."

The rest of the evening passed quietly.

---

The following morning arrived quickly.

A Darkmoor carriage waited outside the estate. Andras stepped out of the mansion first. Evelyne followed shortly afterward, dressed elegantly but comfortably enough for the journey. General Selene arrived soon after. Unlike Evelyne, she wore her military uniform, though she had left most of her usual equipment behind.

Lyra was the last to arrive. She entered the carriage quietly.

The four of them took their seats. Andras sat beside the window. Evelyne and Selene sat opposite him, while Lyra settled beside Andras. The carriage began moving.

For a while, nobody spoke. The streets of Darkmoor slowly passed outside the window.

Evelyne eventually broke the silence.

"We’ll deal with the portal after the moving picture."

Selene nodded.

"That’s what I wanted to confirm."

Andras glanced toward her.

Selene continued.

"The soldiers have already established a perimeter. No one has entered. The portal is stable for now, but we still don’t know how deep the dungeon goes or what kind of environment waits inside."

Evelyne’s expression remained serious.

"That’s why I don’t want ordinary soldiers going in first. We’ll investigate it ourselves before deciding what to do next."

Selene looked at Andras.

"You’ve already been inside one of these."

"Yes."

"Then you understand the risk."

Andras leaned back.

"I have no intention of rushing."

Selene nodded once.

"Good."

There was a brief silence. Then Andras added,

"But someone will eventually."

Selene sighed.

"Probably."

Evelyne gave a faint, dry smile.

"Greed usually wins over caution."

The appearance of the portals had already changed the atmosphere throughout the empire. Everyone knew that dungeons contained monsters. Everyone also knew that monsters meant resources-magic materials, artifacts, treasures, opportunities. Sooner or later, people would enter, regardless of the risks.

Andras looked through the carriage window. He didn’t need to say any of that. The world would learn soon enough.

The carriage continued toward the capital district. Unlike the more serious discussions they usually shared, the atmosphere inside the carriage gradually lightened. Evelyne and Selene eventually began talking about old academy memories. Lyra listened quietly. Andras listened as well, occasionally glancing toward the two women.

Their relationship was different from what most people would expect between a Duchess and a military commander. There was familiarity between them. Years of it. Andras already knew they had met at Ambrose Academy. Still, seeing them interact reminded him that Evelyne had lived an entire life before becoming his mother. A life he knew surprisingly little about.

He stored the thought away. There would be time to ask about it later. For now, he simply enjoyed the quiet journey.

---

By the time the carriage reached the Astral Dream Theater, the streets around the building were crowded.

The theater stood prominently among the surrounding buildings, its elegant architecture drawing attention even from a distance. Large posters covered the nearby walls.

**The Dreamweaver’s Labyrinth**

The title was impossible to miss. Painted scenes of the Astral Sea, floating islands, Dream Lanterns, and mysterious figures decorated the posters.

Lyra leaned slightly toward the carriage window. Her eyes widened.

"This is the theater?"

Evelyne smiled.

"Yes. Andras and I have watched a moving picture here before."

Lyra nodded slowly. She had heard about the theater but had never visited one herself.

Selene looked outside.

"There are certainly more people than I expected."

"The production company promoted it heavily," Evelyne replied.

Andras said nothing. He simply watched. Nobles arrived in luxurious carriages. Commoners gathered around the public entrance. Attendants moved between the crowds. Enchanted lamps illuminated the theater’s exterior despite the morning sunlight.

The atmosphere was different from an ordinary entertainment venue. There was anticipation everywhere. People had come to see something new. Something that had never existed in quite this form before.

The carriage stopped near the private entrance. An attendant immediately approached after recognizing the Darkmoor crest. He bowed deeply.

"Your Grace. Your seats are ready."

Evelyne nodded.

"Thank you."

There was no need to visit the ticket counter. She had already arranged their seats beforehand. Andras had been here before with her, so nothing about the process was unfamiliar to him. Lyra, however, looked toward the public ticket counter before following them.

"Do we need to buy tickets?"

Evelyne shook her head.

"No. I’ve already arranged everything."

Lyra nodded.

"I see."

They simply followed the attendant inside.

Andras glanced briefly toward the theater hall as they passed. The same place. The same enchanted architecture. But today felt different. Last time, he and Evelyne had come simply to experience the new entertainment. Today, the story being shown had come from him.

The thought was mildly satisfying.

They reached the VIP viewing chamber. The attendant opened the door.

"Please enjoy the showing."

Evelyne entered first. Selene followed. Lyra stepped inside and immediately looked around. The room was spacious and elegant. Comfortable seats faced a large projection screen. Several enchanted crystals were positioned around the chamber, connected to intricate magical arrays.

Lyra stared at them.

"How does that work?"

Evelyne pointed toward the arrays.

"The magic crystals store and project the images."

Lyra nodded, still studying them.

Andras took his seat. He wasn’t particularly interested in the luxury of the chamber. His attention remained on the projection equipment. He knew the story, the characters, and every important scene by heart. But he had never seen the finished production.

That was what interested him.

How had the actors interpreted his characters? How closely had the production captured the Astral Sea he had imagined? And, most importantly, had they managed to preserve the weight of the ending?

There was only one way to find out.

Evelyne sat beside Selene. Lyra took her seat near Andras. For a few moments, nobody spoke. Outside the chamber, the distant sounds of the audience gradually faded.

Then the enchanted lights began to dim.

Lyra straightened slightly. Selene looked toward the screen. Evelyne glanced at Andras.

"Ready?"

Andras looked at the blank screen.

"I suppose we’ll find out."

The final lights disappeared. The theater became silent.

Then—

The first image appeared.

Andras watched without blinking.

The Astral Sea slowly emerged across the enormous screen. For the first time, the world he had created in his mind existed before him—not as words on a page or instructions in a script, but as something alive.

Andras remained silent. Beside him, Lyra stared at the screen in wonder. Evelyne smiled. Selene watched quietly.

Andras leaned back slightly.

He wanted to see how the world had brought it to life.