Chapter 22: For One to Memorize.

The gentle chime of her alarm clock roused March from her slumber, pulling her back to reality and away from yet another dreamless sleep. She slowly turned and shifted on her bed to deactivate the alarm before sinking back onto her pillow face first and sighing on the soft material.

"Ugh..." She groaned quietly after a minute, finally turning around to face the ceiling with bleary eyes. Blinking rapidly, she pressed her hands over her eyes and rubbed them, attempting to get rid of the rest of her sleep.

Rolling over to the edge of her bed, she put her foot onto the floor and hissed at the coldness, sending shivers up her spine and waking her up further. Putting her other foot down, she blindly sought for her phone on the nightstand where she left it to charge the last night. It took her a few tries to locate it, nearly dropping it to the floor when she accidentally pulled on the cord of her charger instead.

The light from the screen practically blinded her in the dim room and the pinkette couldn't help but to close her eyes again out of instinct. Squinting her eyes with yet another hiss, she lowered the brightness first before turning on the light of her bedroom with her phone.

With her eyes finally adjusted to the light, she could finally stand up without worrying on tripping on her feet or other objects scattered about her room. She glanced at the clock again, seeing that she'd woken up precisely 30 minutes before their estimated time of arrival to their destination and hummed to herself.

Silently, she went to make her bed and do the rest of her morning routine, taking a quick shower and dressing up for the upcoming journey. It was moment like this she was grateful of her short hair since it meant she didn't have to spend too much time drying it after shower without sacrificing its health and beauty, a fact the pinkette was proud of as she stared at herself through the reflection in the mirror.

"Today is a great day," she said with a smile to her reflection and it returned right back to her with all the warmth and eagerness. "Let's do our best!"

Next, March went to the small fridge she kept in her room where she stored left over food and drinks for breakfast only to pause right as she was about to open it.

"Oh, right..." Her smile broadened and she straightened up. "Mei said she's making breakfast today."

The thought of the older woman's cooking made her stomach rumble and March took it as a cue to go to the Express' kitchen right at the rearmost carriage. It was where the other miscellaneous facilities were including a small training room and a gym for the Crew and Passengers to utilize, though they rarely saw use nowadays besides for Welt and Dan Heng routine training.

March herself trained every now and then, but compared to Dan Heng it was almost insignificant. For some reason, he would spend a lot of time in the training room when he wasn't sleeping or indexing their recent journey. Once, she caught him training in the middle of the night on her way for some midnight snacks and when March asked her about it, his answer was a simple "I couldn't sleep."

Of course, it made her worry but Dan Heng didn't budge an inch when March asked her about the reason. Instead, he gentle urged her to carry on and knowing Dan Heng it was the closest he would tell her to mind her own business, even if he didn't explicitly tell her that.

She had asked Welt about it out of concern yet his answer was just as curt, albeit with a hint of sadness.

"I'm sorry, March. But I can't answer that. It's his right to tell you."

March stopped bringing the subject up afterwards but she hadn't stopped worrying about Dan Heng. She could not help it. He was a friend, a family even. The closest she could get as a brother despite how unfamiliar the concept itself to her.

He had kept her safe in countless circumstances and his small gestures of kindness were hard to forget. Dan Heng might not be vocal about it but he cared for them in his own way. He was the kind of person who would wordlessly pass the salt over during dinners, or doubtlessly stand in front of impending dangers if it meant protecting those he cherished, and she knew that he cherished them.

March wanted Dan Heng to know how much he meant to her, to everyone else, and that all his good deeds touched them the way only he could provide. She wanted to return the gesture which was why March had been trying and worrying over him.

At the same time, she understood that everyone had a past. She might have forgotten hers but Dan Heng's was a mystery in itself since he never talked about it. Still, she took Welt's advice and refused to pry on it knowing it was something he had to decide and tell himself. Respecting that decision alone was one of the ways to return his kindness.

Lost in thought, the pinkette arrived at the kitchen without her noticing until she stood right on the doorway. The moment the door slid open, she was greeted by a smell so good it immediately caused her mouth to water and pulled her from her reverie. She blinked, seeing Mei washing the dish with Kiana sitting behind the dinner table playing on her phone.

Mei turned to face her when she heard the door open, smiling softly at the younger girl. "Good morning, March," she greeted warmly. "Come sit. I've saved up your portion for you."

"Huh?"

"Everyone has had their fill," Kiana informed as she threw March a glance before returning her attention to her phone. "You're a little late."

"Wait, what?" March responded, baffled. She had made sure to wake up earlier than usual today and she was sure nobody should have been awake at this hour already. "That soon?"

"Well, it seemed everyone was eager to try Mei's food." Kiana groaned out loud and dropped her phone on the table in frustration, failing to clear yet another stage in her game, before she sighed and grinned at Mei as the latter put March's breakfast onto the table. "Although, I can't really blame them for it, can I?"

Mei leaned over and bopped Kiana's nose with her index finger. "Didn't you say you're going to talk to Himeko?" Mei reminded her and Kiana laughed.

"Right," Kiana stood up then, pocketing her phone. "I'll see you in the Parlor Car."

"Mhm."

"Enjoy your food, March. I know I enjoyed mine."

"Thanks."

"Did you sleep well?" Mei asked her next just as she sat down on the chair, putting a glass of milk for her to drink.

"I did. How about you?"

"I've always had great sleep with Kiana around," Mei admitted, sitting down herself right across of March. "That's not something I got a lot back home."

March frowned, hearing the longing in Mei's voice. "What do you mean?"

The woman didn't answer right away. She gestured at March with a dip of her head to eat and March obliged. After watching the pinkette's eyes brighten at the explosion of taste from the first scoop only did she answer. "Kiana... was away for a better part of our lives. A few years prior to our wedding, she had to stay on the Moon and with lives catching up to the rest of us after the war we didn't get much time together either. We did visit her every now and then but, well..." Mei chuckled bitterly then, obviously remembering something rather unpleasant.

March slowed down on her munching, studying the older woman before her with sympathetic gaze. It seemed that, despite her power and might she was still a woman with her own worries and weaknesses. A normal human, even if she bore the power befitting a goddess.

March decided she didn't like seeing Mei sad.

"Then, I suppose it's a good thing that you both are here now, right? With us?"

Mei laughed merrily at that, once again leaning forward but this time to wipe the sauce marring March's cheek, earning an embarrassed blush from the girl who had been practically wolfing down the food. "You're very kind, March."

"Not as kind as you," March mumbled but Mei shook her head in disagreement.

"Don't sell yourself short like that. We aren't much different. I've met plenty of people in my life and taught all sort of students. Being a teacher means knowing your students and dare I say I have a very good grasp on someone's personality because of it."

"What do you think of us, then?"

"Well..." Mei trailed off, crossing her fingers over the table and giving the question a serious consideration. "Stelle seems like she does what she wants as long as it is entertaining and interesting, which I think stems from her blatant curiosity to things around her. That's a good thing, actually, even if she sometimes can be a little questionable."

The last bit was a joke, delivered with a sly smile towards March who chuckled in silent agreement. She knew how odd Stelle could be, often catching her staring at something for to long as if to ponder the existence of said something. But she also knew a lot of stuff thanks to it, including some formulas she saw in a passing from Herta Space Station. Her memory was rather impressive, which was probably why she had been agonizing over her forgotten past even if she wasn't vocal about it.

"She kind of reminds me of Kiana back in the day. Minus the attention span," Mei continued with a chuckle.

"They both were alike? No wonder they get along very well."

"Kiana get along with everyone as long as they're not hell bent on destroying the world. I think the reason she's sticking to Stelle is because of how awesome Stelle is being. The Kaslanas have a thing for heroism and stuff." Mei shrugged then. "That, and she practically declared her a honorary Kaslana already."

Mei's smile turned nostalgic as she fixed March with a stare, looking right at the pinkette in the eyes. "You remind me of someone very dear to me. An old friend and mentor who guided me back to light after falling into dark despair. Your enthusiasm, your unreserved cheerfulness... You're so much like her it's like looking at a copy of her. You both even shared the same hair color and weapon type."

"... Elysia, right?"

Mei blinked, surprised, before she nodded slowly. "Yeah... Did Kiana tell you?"

March mirrored the action, looking down at the now empty plate as she fiddled with her spoon. "She did. She said that she can feel your feelings whenever you look at me and that it only happens when they're particularly strong. I'm sorry for making you feel that way."

"Don't be," Mei assured quickly with a shake of her head. "It's not your fault. I'm just being sentimental."

"You value her that much, huh? Elysia, I mean."

"Bronya, Kiana and I have people we look up to. For Bronya it was Welt, the closest she got to a father, and for Kiana it was Himeko. Elysia was that person to me."

"Kiana said Himeko was also your teacher."

"Oh, she was. She's half the reason I wanted to become a teacher myself."

"So, she's just as precious to you?"

A glimmer of pride painted the surface of those amethysts as Mei nodded. "She saved the three of us. If it wasn't for her, none of this would've happened. It was thanks to her kindness and burning passion we could be who we are today. She always trusted us. She always believed that we're destined for greatness, but more importantly she knew Kiana would be the person she is now. It was that steadfastness I admire and strive to achieve."

"It must be hard to see her all well again."

Mei hummed, not denying the pinkette's words. "It is hard, but it was Kiana I worried the most." She leaned back on her chair, gaze drifting away to nothing in particular behind March and ahead where she knew the Express' locomotive and Himeko was.

Mei knew that the Universe was very vast and that in every branch was worlds full of people so familiar to them. She knew that out there countless Himeko's exist, each having their own lives and circumstances. It's not an oddity at all for this Himeko to travel the stars knowing it was their teacher's dream once.

It was the fundamental rule in this Universe. No matter how different or how distant someone was, they would always share some traits with their counterparts. Mei had witnessed it first hand in the Sea of Quanta where dying worlds reflected back through its bleak surface, saw the lives of the people she knew being played out with so much familiarity.

Fate had a funny way to bring people together. As scary as it sounded, it was also fascinating to see the myriad of scenarios playing along its strings. In one world, something that could go wrong did go wrong while in the other none of the bad things happened. In one world, her father was never framed and she still retained her heiress status. Good in the surface but she didn't get to meet Kiana until much much later because of it.

That was why they believed that whatever happened in the past it was for the best. Because no matter how terrible it was, everything still worked out in the end. Because out there, there were worlds currently being ravaged by Honkai with it winning the fight. There's no way to know just how much worlds similar to Earth still stuck in the endless Samsara of the End.

"Kiana said that Himeko died protecting her," March drawled as she pieced her words together, a little unsure whether she should broach the subject or not with Mei looking more than just a little sad at the mention of her late teacher. Eventually, her curiosity won over her hesitation. "I can only imagine the guilt she felt."

Mei blinked, looking at March again after her moment of stupor. She opened her mouth, hesitated for a bit and then closed it again. Instead, she sighed deeply and almost dejectedly.

"That's not all." She almost sounded defeated when she continued. "But that's something you need to ask Kiana."

"You won't?"

Mei shook her head, standing up to pick up March's empty plate. She sent the pinkette an apologetic smile before answering. "She's my wife but that doesn't mean I can just say everything about her without her consent, especially one with such a great impact in her life. I respect Kiana as much as I love her and keeping up the secrets of your other half is a key to healthy marriage. You will understand one day," she added with a chuckle, leaving towards the dishwasher to wash the dish.

The sound of water spraying on the plate filled the otherwise silent kitchen and March allowed herself a moment to think as she mindlessly sipped on her glass of milk, silently pondering on Mei's words.

"What about Dan Heng?" She asked after a moment, glancing at the woman's back.

Mei twisted the faucet off before answering, putting the plate into the dryer and wiping her hands on nearby towel. "I know kids like him. They like to keep silent about their problems and I can see that he has some."

"You too?" March's face scrunched up in thought. "I think the same, too. But, like he never talks about it so I can't help him at all. It's a little frustrating."

"The best you can do for people like him is to give them space. Their silence are not distrust. They're simply not used in sharing their thoughts. When the time comes, he will open up but for now you just have to be patient."

"I know that..."

March learned that Mei's motherly nature went further than her duty as a teacher. She genuinely cared for the children under her care and thus willing to help them through all the uncertainties they faced. She offered her advices invaluable to young people like her, earned from years of fighting and teaching alike.

And March wisely listened to it all as her respect and adoration for the woman grew bigger and bigger. Mei might not be as old, but her wisdom was just as valuable as Welt's and it showed from the way she explained things; patient yet firm, thorough yet simple and easy to understand.

She was a teacher first, an excellent one in fact, and a soldier second. March could see it now. Not that she doubted it before but March had only seen Mei's warrior side on the surface. Welt was right when he said that Mei didn't like to flaunt her thoughts unless asked.

So she asked as they walked towards the Parlor Car together to join the others. "So, um. What kind of person was Elysia?"

Mei blinked in thought, not expecting the sudden question at all, especially that particular one. "Well, she loved to tease people and when she wanted something, she's getting it by any means necessary." A ghostly sensation of soft fingers on her currently nonexistent horns made Mei pause and close her eyes. For a moment, she was back in Elysian Realm facing a head full of pink hair as its owner insistently pestered on Mei for something. The memory was fleeting, however, and she returned to reality just as quick. "She's also caring and loving with love so big it reached everyone."

"I wished I could appreciate it more back then."

"What do you mean?"

Mei smiled sadly at that, stopping for a moment to stare at the stars outside the windows. Their lights were faint from this far yet their shines were unmistakable even amidst the void, as if to tell the Universe that no matter how dark everything was there would always be a glimmer of hope in it to seek and reach.

"Tragedy is not the end. It's the beginning of hope," Mei recited softly. "It's what she told me."

"Wasn't that the thing you told the Supreme Guardian?" March asked as she joined the purple haired woman, standing beside her. The height difference forced March to craned her neck up to look at Mei's face, studying and watching the myriad of emotions in her one visible amethyst.

Mei hummed and nodded. "I think she knew because there's nothing better to describe my life with," she looked down to meet March's stare then. "You remember what I told you about separating with Kiana?"

March nodded slowly in affirmation. It had only been a few days yet it felt like it had been a long time ago, too. But she did. If not for the talks then for the very first lesson Mei gave them.

"Talks are important. They're necessary for you to understand each other. Sure, a simple talk won't solve everything but it's a start. You have to start from somewhere and that somewhere is a talk."

"You said you had to go to darkness to protect her."

Mei hummed again, this time more to acknowledgement. "To return her to bliss, I must tread the darkness. And it was a cold, lonely path."

How many nights Mei spent lamenting their separation? How many nights she spent missing the warmth of her sun? Her gentle touches and radiant smiles were Mei's most precious memories in a world so bleak it was consuming.

They called her kind and caring, but many didn't know of her sins. Mei, like any other human beings out there, had her dark side hidden inside her. She had killed millions innocent people and destroyed a city in her fit of rage, rage towards the unfair world, and it was only thanks to Kiana she snapped out of it and became who she was now.

Kiana changed her destiny from the moment they touched. She pulled her away from the path of damnation, giving her a chance to live a life full of wonders and smiles. It's not an exaggeration to say Mei owed her life to her dearest.

The same could be said to Kiana.

"Kiana was dying," Mei continued softly after a while. "The doctors said she had three months to live."

March gasped in horror, eyes wide and mouth dropping open. She watched the tears welling in Mei's eyes, glazing her beautiful purple irises in a cloud of sorrow. But they never fell.

They didn't fall because it was a past long gone.

"So, I took it upon myself to save her. Just the thought of living a life without her scared me. So much so I'd rather be condemned for life by my own family. Anything I could do, I did it. These hands are not clean, March," she raised the appendages up and stared at them, as if to see the invisible red staining them. "They'd been used to do things so terrible you wouldn't be surprised to hear it from a sinner."

"But, you did it to save Kiana, right?" March offered hesitantly but Mei shook her head.

"There's no justification to misdeeds," Mei said with a shake of her head. "When you start making excuses, you'll find yourself being the villain."

"Then, what did you do?"

"I accepted it. I accepted everything and now I have to carry the burden for the rest of my life."

"... is it hard? To carry your terrible past like that?"

"It is," Mei stated softly, clenching her hands before lowering them down to her sides again. "It haunts your dreams and reminds you in your every waking moment."

"Sometimes I couldn't help but wonder what kind of person I was," March began anew when Mei fell silent. "Why was I floating in a block of ice in space without memory of my past," she shrugged then and smiled bitterly at nothing in particular. "Maybe I did something bad, too."

"Or maybe someone did that to protect you, and that you were loved as you are now," Mei shot back with a shake of her head. "It's not always been for bad reason someone lost their memories for people do anything to protect those precious in their eyes. Do you truly believe you were a bad person?"

"I... I'm not sure."

"Well, I don't. I know a bad person when I see one and you are not it, March. You are far too kind and too cute to be a bad person." Mei patted March's head, not unlike how she would to Kiana's, and smiled gently at the pinkette. "Even if you did something, it's all in the past now. What important is the present you for whatever you decide hereafter will be your future. Strive on for it. Make it so you don't regret anything because regret is a terrible thing."

Her hand lowered until it grasped around March's own and squeezed encouragingly, smile turning into a proud grin when March squeezed back. The younger girl nodded resolutely and said "I see why you're a teacher," with a laugh Mei followed.

"I've had amazing people guiding me."

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!"

Kiana's loud exclamation greeted both March and Mei the moment they stepped into the Parlor Car, making the former jump in surprise while the latter frown in concern. Their gazes immediately found Kiana who had her face buried in her hands as she practically screamed into it in pure horror.

In front of her was Stelle who had her phone out with its screen facing a distraught Kiana and displaying Kiana's source of distress, her own face indifferent.

Bronya took a passing glance at it, raised an eyebrow and snorted in amusement but didn't say anything as she sat on one of the sofas, leg propped over the other.

"What's the matter?" Mei asked urgently, jogging towards Kiana and Stelle. Kiana heard her and immediately clung onto her front and whimpered.

"Mei! This side of the Universe sucks!" She said as she buried her face to Mei's bosom

"What do you mean?" Mei implored curiously as she rubbed comforting circles on Kiana's back despite her lack of knowledge on the situation. It was all instinct at this point for her to do so.

Her gaze shifted towards Stelle, inquisitive as she tilted her head slightly in a silent question. Stelle simply turned the screen of her phone again and showed it to Mei.

Oh...

"There's a Bratnya!" Kiana wailed, blindly pointing at Stelle's general direction. "And we've only been here for like a week!"

"What's so bad about it?" March asked, genuinely confused as she peered at Stelle's phone. The image was that of a familiar face indeed, just much much younger.

Kiana released Mei and immediately went for the pinkette, grabbing her by the shoulders with intensity befitting a desperate victim. "What so bad, you asked?! Bratnya is just Bronya but ten times more insufferable! She's a ruthless bully who beat you in games despite your pleas for surrender! She's cold-blooded, ruthless tyrant!"

"For the record, it was you who refused to yield despite losing for hundreds of time. Also, it's mostly just skill issue on your part," Bronya chimed in, giving Kiana a pointed look the Kaslana returned with a glare.

"Giving up is not in our dictionary! I have my pride as a Kaslana!"

"If only your brain is as big as that pride of yours."

"What was that, you bastard?!"

"I said, you're an idiot who never know when to quit despite the obvious disadvantages."

"Why, you little—!"

Mei expertly tuned out Kiana's voice as she began to argue with Bronya, instead focusing her attention on the picture on Stelle's phone. She made a gesture at the ashen haired girl who blinked owlishly back to her, baffled by Mei's seemingly unperturbed visage at Kiana and Bronya's banter. "May I?" Mei asked, further accentuating her request for Stelle's phone.

"Um, sure." Stelle glanced at Kiana and Bronya again as the former began to pester the latter for a rematch of a game they played last night. "Are they always like that?" She asked, handing over the phone to the older woman.

Mei barely looked up from Stelle's phone as she answered. "I thought you're used to it by now but yes, they're always like that." A frown graced her face the longer she stared at the picture, mind drawing images of younger Bronya she remembered from their fond days back in St. Freya and before that. "Silver Wolf..." Mei mumbled out loud, reading the name below the picture. "Where did you get this?"

"Herta Space Station," Stelle supplied, pocketing her phone with a shrug after Mei gave it back to her. "From a wanted poster."

"She's a criminal?" Mei couldn't help the surprise in her tone.

"A Stellaron Hunter, actually."

Now it was Mei's turn to blink owlishly. "A friend of Kafka?"

"Probably," Stelle answered with a helpless sigh. "You can't be certain with them."

Mei studied Stelle's expression for a second, mentally noting the scowl on her face that came and went just as quick. The subject of Stellaron Hunter obviously brought distaste to the girl, though there's also a clear hint of curiosity in her feature. A curiosity Mei knew was justified.

She didn't believe a word that Kafka woman said, if not from the way Himeko acted towards her then the talk she had with Kiana last night which only further confirmed her stance on the matter. Kafka was manipulative and liked to sow discords with her words and last night's encounter was exactly that.

Mei had spent a good few hours searching about the Stellaron Hunter last night shortly after Kafka departed and what she read make her realize that they were no ordinary crime group. Besides their obvious objectives, each and every one of its members also had their own agendas they wanted to fulfill. They served Elio, the so called Destiny's Slave who could read the future in a form of script in exchange for various rewards Elio promised them.

Kiana said that their intentions in sending the Express to Luofu were good, but she also told her to be careful with them and to not see them as friends. At least, not in the foreseeable future and Kiana could see the future. All of it she learned from reading Kafka's mind, something Kiana so utterly hated to do to someone even if that someone was a ruthless criminal, and she knew just exactly what the Hunters wanted.

Still, she refused to tell Mei the full story and Mei completely understood. She understood the weight Kiana had to carry so when Kiana profusely asked for apology Mei simply pulled her into a hug and assured her that it was okay, that Kiana's choice was for the best for everyone involved and Mei knew it.

There's a reason why Kiana refrained from using her time-space Authority excessively, more so to read the very future itself. She wanted nothing but being oblivious, to let destiny ran its course and for the Universe to work as it was intended. By knowing, she might change a few things and from knowing there might grow the desire to intervene which would then inevitably alter everything.

Everything that was never black and white.

"Is that why you and Bronya returned late?" Mei asked after a while, bringing Stelle back from her gawking at Bronya and Kiana as they began to wrestle on the floor. Well, it was mostly Bronya kicking Kiana's ass and mopping her face to the floor, though.

"I didn't know what Bronya had been doing..." Stelle drawled just as the aforementioned woman put Kiana in a chokehold. March looked like she was about to get a panic attack from watching the duo duke it out while Welt looked almost indifferent if not for the amused crease on his face. "She went her way shortly after we arrived."

Stelle found Welt and Bronya discussing something in the Parlor Car before she set out to the Station, something they seemed to do often, and told the woman that she was going to Herta Space Station when asked. Bronya then asked her if she could come and Stelle rather offhandedly told her she could since she's a part of the Astral Express now.

Bronya didn't tell her why she wanted to come with Stelle aside from a simple "It might shed some inspiration for my works," and it seemed to be all to it. After introducing her to Asta, Bronya practically disappeared and with Stelle busy being pestered by Herta she didn't exactly have the time to look after her. Stelle trusted Bronya, though. She seemed to be a responsible woman and she was.

Hours later, after the whole shenanigans with Silver Wolf, she finally got a message from Bronya telling her she was ready to go back to the Express. Stelle was too tired at that point to question her so she didn't. Once they returned, Welt was still waiting in the Parlor Car much to her surprise.

"I feel rather invigorated," he said back then as Bronya joined him, pulling a sketchbook and handing it to Welt who readily accepted it. "Maybe I'll go and join you kids in the next journey."

Glancing over at the man, it seemed like he's making good of that promise.

"What is going on here?" Himeko called out as she joined them, looking at Bronya and Kiana with clear concern in her golden gaze, and then the rest of the Crew inquisitively. "Is everything alright?"

"It's just the usual Kiana and Bronya," Mei answered with a reassuring smile at the redhead. "How about you? You look a little... troubled."

Mei had seen that expression on an entirely different Himeko's face so much she's well a accustomed to it. The way she would bit on her lower lip subtly and the slight dip of her eyebrows...It was all to familiar to her and Mei couldn't help the way her heart skipped a beat as a rush of memories flooded her brain for a brief second.

"Is it that obvious?" Himeko asked back.

"Well, not exactly."

Himeko must have heard the unspoken reason because the solemn smile she gave Mei was unmistakable. Shaking her head, she went on to explain. "I've been trying to hail the Luofu traffic control but haven't gotten any reply at all. It's worrying since it's a Xianzhou ship we're talking about."

The Express had exited hyperspace a while ago and been travelling in sublight speed ever since to meet the Luofu in real space, all the while transmitting their transponder so the Luofu knew they weren't an enemy. It's all standard operation procedure in the galactic community to come slow when approaching others.

Besides, the Xianzhou could be very jumpy and the last thing Himeko wanted was for them to blow up the Express on accident. Even now as the gigantic ship came into view she couldn't shake the anxiety from rising within her chest, knowing they had all the firepower to obliterate them to smithereens.

All it took would be a simple mistake, such as failure in communication.

"What do you mean?" Bronya asked as she shoved Kiana off her grips without regards whatsoever.

"The Xianzhou Alliance is known for their trade besides their military might," Welt answered in stead of Himeko, standing up to his feet to stare at the growing ship in the distance with narrowed eyes. "They're similar to the IPC in that matter."

Bronya hummed in thought. "I see. By that logic, traffic should've been very busy and neglect on the communication network can be very catastrophic. Have you tried different channels?" She turned to Himeko then.

"I've tried everything, even the emergency ones yet the result is the same. It's almost like nobody's home."

"I sense major space distortion from that ship," Kiana chimed in as she jumped to her feet, glaring at Bronya who pointedly ignored her. "Could it be...?"

But Welt shook his head at Kiana's unspoken concern. "The Xianzhou Alliance ships use space-folding technology to house their residents. Even if it somehow fails, there's won't be a total silence from their end like this since each area has its own Reality Anchors. What you're feeling is probably their technology working as it's intended."

She nodded and smiled with relief, accepting Welt's explanation. "Maybe take a closer look?" She suggested to Himeko.

"I'm reluctant to do so. The Xianzhou has a rather... strict policy towards unknowns."

"You don't have to worry," Bronya stepped forward to Welt's side to join him. "I'll prepare a barrier if things go haywire."

Himeko grimaced, looking at Welt who nodded encouragingly at her. He's confident with Bronya's ability and fully supported her suggestion.

"Right." Himeko sighed. "Pom-Pom?"

The Conductor was nowhere to be seen but Pom-Pom heard her anyway as their voice resonated through the intercom. "Pom-Pom will approach the Luofu now. Please ensure the Express and its Crew are safe throughout the ordeal."

"Don't worry, not many can go through Bronya's armor," Kiana vouched for her best friend, displaying confidence unmatched as if they hadn't just on the floor throwing punches. She even accentuated her point with a thumbs up that had Bronya rolling her eyes. "So, rest assured."

Stelle turned to Mei and asked "Are they always like that?"

"Yeah."

While they didn't immediately get blown up the moment they approached the ship, it did take them a fair amount of time to find an available entry since most of the mooring gates were closed for whatever reason with nobody answering their requests still.

It was not the ordinary entry way they had to take. Usually, visitors would be directed to Central Starskiff Haven immediately but since this gate was mostly used for trading, the Crew had no other option but to disembark on Stargazer Navalia instead.

The moment they stepped out of the Express, their eyes were immediately drawn to the bustling trade complex of Luofu itself as containers being transported in and out of the ship with Starskiffs.

The process was fully automatic, meaning there was not a single living soul visible in the vicinity. It's probably safe to assume nobody knew of their arrival yet.

"Well, here we are I guess," Stelle began with fake enthusiasm, tuning towards the rest as they stepped out too. "It's... a bit underwhelming, if you ask me."

"Shouldn't there be people?" Kiana asked warily as she eyed their surroundings. "Where is everyone?"

"I suppose the only way to answer that is by going ahead and seek for them ourselves," Welt chimed in, pushing his glasses to the bridge of his nose. "Although we don't exactly engage ourselves with the Xianzhou Alliance for much, we still have some cooperations with them to vouch for our intention. It should clear some possible misunderstandings."

"Misunderstandings?" March frowned. "Are we going to get into trouble with the local authority again? Because once is honestly enough."

"I'm not sure how to tell you this but I think it's inevitable in the future, March," Kiana told the pinkette with a dry chuckle. "Given the nature of this journey."

"Still," Himeko began as she stepped out too to observe the area. "Welt is right. The only way to make sure is to find people."

"Oh! Himeko! I've been meaning to ask but do you mind going out with me?" Kiana asked excitedly as she grabbed the redhead by her arm, giving her a half hug while grinning from ear to ear. "It's a date!"

"Well, I don't mind but someone has to stay on the Express..." Himeko trailed off, chuckling, as her gaze drifted towards Mei who had been watching her and Kiana. "Besides, isn't that something you must ask Mei first?"

"Ah, don't worry. I have asked Mei and she's fine with it. Right, Mei?"

Mei smiled and nodded, meeting Kiana's eyes and then Himeko's. "I don't mind at all. You guys have fun, I'll wait on the Express until you're back."

"You're the best, babe." Kiana proceeded to give Mei a quick kiss on the cheek before returning to Himeko and grabbing her hand, leading them ahead. "Have you been to Luofu?"

"Specifically, no. But I've been to other Xianzhou ships before. They generally have the same layouts."

"So, you know where the best place for sightseeing and foods?"

"I have some ideas, yes."

"Awesome!"

Mei watched them go with fond eyes, once again reminded of a similar scene from a distant past. It had been so long since then but the memory was so fresh and preserved Mei could still recall it with clarity in her mind.

"Is that really alright?" Stelle asked her then and Mei nodded without hesitation.

"Kiana looks happy," and she was, judging from the large smile she wore and the enthusiasm she exhibited as she walked side by side with Himeko. "I'll never deny her happiness."

Stelle nodded slowly, accepting the answer. "So, it's up to me, March, Bronya and Welt now, huh? At least, for now?"

March swiveled to face both Stelle and Mei with surprise the moment the former finished talking. "Wait, Dan Heng is not coming with us?"

"Nope," Stelle supplied. "He said he's feeling unwell."

"Is he sick?"

The ashen haired girl shrugged and March's gaze went right through her to the Express' carriage where she knew Dan Heng's room was. "He looked a little pale this morning so I guess he is."

March but her lower lip worryingly. "Should we really leave him alone in that condition?"

"Don't worry, March. I'll look after him," Mei assured the pinkette with a pat to her shoulder. "You guys just go."

Her gaze then shifted towards Bronya and Welt, exchanging a quick nod in the process, before Mei stepped back inside the Express and closed the door behind her. March, still looking a little unsure, couldn't help but frown.

Stelle put a hand to her shoulder next and squeezed gently. "You heard her. Dan Heng is in right hands."

Slowly, she relented. Giving a small and reluctant nod to Stelle. The taller girl returned the gesture promptly before offering her hand to March and March accepted it, allowing herself being dragged forward to their destination by Stelle.

"Let's go," Welt told Bronya and wordlessly the latter followed him. Ahead to yet another adventure in their long journey with heart ready to overcome all the upcoming hardships and troubles.

Always troubles.

Some things just never change.

TBC.

I don't know how to start here but... I need your help.

So, I've been saving up for a new phone these few months since I can feel my phone dying (I bought it for daily use, never thought I'd be playing such a heavy game like HSR) and I honestly don't know how long it can hold itself together anymore.

Thing is... There has been an unexpected circumstance and all my savings are gone now.

My grandma got hospitalized a few weeks ago. Initially, we thought she's just having the usual illness (you know, since she's old and all that) but turned out she got a severe infection so they had to operate on her. Unfortunately, she passed away last Saturday from it.

She's the first "direct" family member I lost so needless to say it shook me to my core. I wasn't in the right state of mind when I wrote this chapter so I apologize if the quality is lower than usual.

That said, I need your help. If you have a few bucks to spare, please consider joining my (link is in my profile) so I can get a new phone before this one falls apart on me.

But, I'll have to let you know; I am not offering any benefits, nor am I making promises. I don't want that. I don't want to offer something I am not certain I can keep. I also don't want it to be a continuous thing since I really hate to do this, I write for fun and not profit so money is not something I really seek when sharing this story, but I don't have any other options here. That is why I will close my three weeks from now, or if I've got sufficient fund to get a new phone.

For those willing to donate, you have my thanks in advance. For those can't, don't worry about it since your companionship in this journey is the best thing I can ask for from you guys so don't feel bad or whatever, yeah?