Bedtime in the Pixel World

Harper reaches out and taps the nearest lantern post. Tink.

The cube lantern flares softly, then—shwooom—its light spills down the post like liquid gold. Blocks slide and flip, reshaping fast but gentle. The skinny post unfolds into a tall, glowing archway over the path, lined with tiny pixel stars that blink on one by one.

Under the arch, the world brightens just a little. The path ahead sharpens into view: more lantern arches, like a tunnel of light, curving toward the quiet blue shimmer of the lake. Harper steps under the first arch, pillow hugged close, eyes wide.

“Okay, lanterns,” Harper says, voice low and excited. “Show me where this goes.”