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FICTION

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Chapter 14: Falling Star Encounter

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Sampo Koski here, and war sucks. So, nothing new in that front of things.

Troops of the Shogunate have been thrown into the defenses, and our defenses have kicked butts. The only concern was a matter of turns and shifts. After all, people can look at so much real gore before it becomes a mental problem.

So yes, there had been some cycling over who had to hold the lines and see some horrible war sights. That being said... the economy was going strong. Of course, the fact that the Shogunate had returned to active hostility after cutting away most trades means that we had an advantage.

We could buy bread, they can't even afford the rice for the troops. Rations it is! But how long can that last?

From what Shinobu told me, not long. There was also an effort from the Narukami Shrine to 'aid' the peasants to farm faster and harder, but the current agriculture, even at maximum bullshit capacity, can hardly sustain the population the way it is meant to.

And the sudden deprivation of workers from key industries means that there is bound to be a rise in prices to keep up with the lack of products in the market.

Truly a sad situation, but not as sad as the one I got stuck with.

While the current frontline was indeed safe and sound and the navy is also fighting the good fight and keeping any of the bigger ships from approaching Watatsumi from the North, I had been sent to Seirai Island to check on some random shit that was spotted within the area.

So, Seirai, from what I recall on the moment, is kind of cursed due to bat-bird of electric kind. So, trying to enter the place without getting zapped by the air itself. So, no one, not even the Shogun's forces, can step on those without needing to waste a lot of resources to merely occupy it.

And it wasn't worth an occupation due to a lack of resources needed for the war effort.

In fact, the reason Komi-hime sent me here was less so about a war-related issue and more about an investigation - some sailors nearby had spotted some strange light crap coming from the sky and landfall somewhere near Seirai's coast. I had been sent there since I kind of had to.

Why? Well-

"This is so boooring," Sparkle whined, twirling her Pyro Vision while skipping on some rocks along the coast. It was far enough from the 'electro air' that it didn't hurt much.

"You asked to come here, you firecracker," I whined back, rolling my eyes. "If you didn't want-"

"Oh, but I wanted- and want," The girl chuckled, sporting a giddy grin. "A rock from space! That's bound to have cool stuff in them."

"...Maybe."

I mean, I can't blame her for the explosive curiosity, but I was also curious about something else - if the skies were fake, then how did an object from outer space bypass that? Wasn't there some pseudo-Kiana holding back people from invading Teyvat?

Or maybe... did my connection with Aha cause things to change and allow external elements into Teyvat?

That last possibility also opened up to even more questions, such as 'why didn't pseudo-Kiana' come to raise hell at me for being a naughty Elation boy?' or 'if that was still the case but Pseudo-Kiana didn't intervene, then does it mean she is not around?'.

So many unanswered questions which this meteorite may soon give me clues about.

The stroll wasn't even much of a chore considering that the area was devoid of threats, but we stumbled on some treasure hoarders that were chatting loudly about finding a 'space girl'. They got their asses kicked before Sparkle walked up to the so-called 'space girl' that was currently sleeping in the water and...

Dear Lord, this is a very amusing turn of events. The kind of amusing that you have to go 'dear Gods, why the fuck is this one here of all places?!'.

Before us stood a bespectacled girl with short silver hair and red glasses. She wore some pseudo-Evangelion bodysuit and...

"Huh, that's a sight," I muttered, recognizing this was one of Firefly's girl-buddies in that one Honkai Star Rail's video. "Is she alive?"

Sparkle crouched and... poked at her cheek.

"You need to check her pulse," I pointed out, but I paused as I saw the girl twitch. "Or maybe not. So, are you going to fake sleeping more or what, girl?"

She twitched again, one eye opened, showing that the upper half of her iris was blue and the lower bit was pink.

"...Where am I?"

"Teyvat," I replied. "Where do you come from?"

"G-Glamoth."

"If it's beyond Teyvat's reach, then I don't have a clue what that is," I pointed out. "Name's Sampo Koski, the demented girl with a passion for fireworks that poked your cheek is Sparkle."

"Ya, new bestie~!"

The bespectacled girl blinked, yet nodded as I offered her a hand as I pulled her out of the shallow water.

"B-Bestie? But you don't even know what's my name?"

Sparkle shrugged. "What's your name?"

"I-I am an Iron Cavalry Knight of the Glamoth Republic. Codename AR-214! Nice to meet you, Miss Sparkle and Mr. Sampo!"

...So stiff and polite!

"Meh, Sparkle's fine... Arbad!"

'Arbad' paused at such sudden development. "A-Arbad?"

"Yup! It's 'AR' plus the alphabet equivalent of your numbers. So 'B-A-D'. So... Arbad!"

The poor pseudo-evangelion looked unsure about it. "I-It's nice but-"

"Technically speaking, it makes sense for a soldier to adopt a nickname if it makes immediate communication easy," I pointed out, drawing both girls' attention. "Plus, AR-214 sounds like a mouthful to repeat frequently. At least for now, bear with it- and with her."

Arbad bowed her head at the logic but... offered a smile. "I guess- I also need to know where- where-"

I moved to catch her as she seemed to fall unconscious, her eyes widening in shock at the feeling of her body almost collapsing.

"I think it's best you get somewhere to warm up. I doubt that suit can handle the cold and the electro particles."

She frowned at the last bit. "Electro... particles?"

"Different planet, different rules," I remarked and Arbad offered a slow nod as I picked up her bridal style much to her immediate embarassment and blushing. And Sparkle had a field day with the teasing.

That being said, Arbad's presence in Teyvat gave me more questions than answers... which is very annoying as I wanted answers, dangit!

AN

Mom, I want Firefly!

Dear, we have Firefly at home.

Firefly at home: Arbad.