Chapter 27: Every Night Brings A Dream.

Frankly, when Stelle heard that Kiana was going to put her into a dream she created with her power, she had no idea what to expect of it. Her mind raced through the thick fog of slumber, thinking of the possibilities behind those simple words in a mixture of apprehension and curiosity, until the answer presented itself to her in the most unexpected form.

The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes again was the clear blue sky above her and the glare of the sun that was so bright it was almost painful. Then, the tall albeit soft grass on her back that tickled on her nape and ears like a lover's caresses as more and more of her sense returned to her.

The first thing she heard when she sat up was the rustling of her familiar black and gold coat, followed by the howling of the wind as she took in her new surrounding. For a moment, her mind was lost at the sight of gigantic rocky terrains that jutted up to the sky, tall enough that cloud cover was below it instead of above, and the fact she was on one of the mountains.

It was almost like she was in heaven with how clear everything was, an otherworldly beauty that could only belong to a celestial, and how peaceful everything simply was. Her worries, many as they were, were washed away as she unknowingly relaxed at the soothing sight. Even if it was fabricated.

She could sit and watch it for the rest of her life, enjoying the gentle touch of the wind and the creaking of the woods and bamboo shoots growing around her, if not for the fact she still got things to do.

"What is this place?" She asked to seemingly nobody in particular, golden gaze still set on the rolling clouds in the distance. They seemed so soft and she couldn't help but think of cotton candy.

Kiana stepped to her side, hands in her jacket pockets, and answered curtly. "Taixuan Mountain."

"Taixuan..." Stelle muttered with an intrigued hum. "As in the Edge of Taixuan?"

"Yup! Its very birth place!" Kiana dusted a non-existent grime from her jacket, then. "It's only appropriate for you to learn it here."

Stelle stood up to her feet, her pair of gold meeting Kiana's blue as she looked at the Kaslana. "So?" She asked excitedly, cracking her knuckles and rolling her neck. All the soreness in her muscles was gone and her mind was as sharp as ever. "What next?"

"Next?" Kiana began rhetorically, making a show of thinking. "How about this..."

Out of nowhere, a sword materialized in her hand and Stelle's eyebrows rose when Kiana began to twirled it around with ease between her fingers before said fingers slid up the blade, pointing the hilt towards Stelle.

"Show off," Stelle grumbled under her breath as grabbed the sword and all Kiana did was to grin back at her. Stelle had half the thought that it was a dull, practice sword but the weight in her hand was too real so was the sharp edges of its blade. "What? We're going to spar or something?"

"Patience, man." Kiana said it jokingly with a roll of her eyes but Stelle could still hear the seriousness in her tone. "You give me a few swings and then we can work our way from there."

Her request wasn't odd, yet Stelle couldn't help but to blink in disbelief since she didn't expect it at all. "Swings...?"

"Yeah. Both hands. Legs firm under you. Like this."

Kiana took a stance, raising her hands as if to grip an imaginary sword, and did a repeated chopping motion by swinging the entirety of her arms forward. Stelle hesitated only for a second before she gingerly did as shown, glancing at Kiana to make sure she did it correctly, and continuing when she was flashed a thumbs up back.

"How much do you want?" Stelle had asked then, neither stopping nor slowing down despite the increasing numbers of swings she mentally counted in her head.

"I'll tell you when it's enough."

Turned out, that was where her first training began, and turned out Kiana was not exaggerating when she told her it would be a gruelling one. The first few three digits numbers were a cake to her as Stelle easily kept a steady grip on her sword but when she hit four hundreds and somewhere plus, her palms were all rough and slippery from all the sweat she secreted.

When her swings hit five hundreds, she'd truly felt the weight of the sword as her arms began to tire. At one point the sword even slipped from her grip and fell rather unceremoniously onto the ground yet she was merely told to take it up again by Kiana, the woman herself watching over her like a hawk.

Stelle hit a thousand and realized that Kiana's enough was nowhere close. So, she kept on swinging and swinging until she was practically drenching in her own sweat and bleeding from the tears in her palms. Even then it wasn't enough and she lamented the fact that the sun hadn't moved an inch from its scorching position above her even though she was certain she had been swinging the sword for a full day.

It fell and she picked it up again and again for countless times with each time she was forced to watch as drops of her blood trickled down her fingers onto the grass below. It hurt like a bitch just to wrap her fingers around the hilt but Stelle ignored the pain and kept on doing what she was told until Kiana's voice turned into a white noise in the background.

Only then did she fall and succumbed to the exhaustion and lightheadedness, brought forth by the blood loss and fatigue. She watched helplessly as the world spun around her, unable to stop herself from faceplanting into the ground.

All she could hear then was the rushing of her own blood in her ears, the pounding of her blood in her head and the desperate gasping for oxygen her body demanded. Stelle tasted copper in her mouth and suspected she might've accidentally bitten her tongue or something when she hit the ground and with how parched she was she could only swallow what little spit and blood in her mouth, cringing internally at the disgusting taste in the back of her throat.

A shadow casted itself over her as Kiana stepped into her, blocking the sun with her frame and letting Stelle see her and her smile through the haze of exhaustion.

"Good job."

Stelle could only groan in response, gritting her teeth as she pushed herself to her back before closing her eyes tiredly. Falling asleep in a dream was not something she knew was possible, though with her state it certainly was not. Every time she felt like slipping through that edge, her ruined palms would burn and force her back aware, denying her of the rest her body needed.

Kiana was quiet through it all, watching and waiting for Stelle's breath to even out. The sight of the girl's blood dripping onto the green grass under her hands incited some sympathy from Kiana but she refrained from doing anything about it as it was a part of her training.

"... is this a test?" Stelle mumbled suddenly, a half lidded eye staring at Kiana yet Kiana could see the sharpness behind the foggy gaze.

"What makes you think so?"

"I just couldn't help it." Stelle sighed and squeezed her palms into fists, hissing at the surge of pain it caused, before letting go of her muscles after a long while. It worked like wonder and the burning in her palms turned into a dull throbbing instead, her pain tolerance bumped up slightly. "You said it's a technique that requires patience and discipline."

Kiana smiled, more than a little proud at Stelle's attentiveness. "It is. But it's also an integral part of your training."

Integral was no exaggeration either. Three actual days had passed since then and Stelle spent her slumbering moments hacking at empty air until she felt her arms were about to fall off their sockets. In her waking hours, Kiana also told her to practice with a sword she bought from some redhead she said to have met earlier using Himeko's pocket money, though not as intense as in her dream it was still very tiring to her body.

She said that it was necessary. Her mind could only be so strong without her body on equal level. A healthy mind required a healthy body and vice versa so Stelle did understand the sentiment.

Not like she could complain about it, nor would she as it was her own request that put her through the proverbial hell itself. In her short second life, she had never felt so beaten up as the last few days she trained under Kiana with the Kaslana practically pushing her through her limits and beyond. On the mornings, just after Stelle woke up from yet another hellish trainings, Kiana would tell her to run a marathon around the Luofu's many sectors and since the ship had its own seasons, she had to endure freezing winter cold and burning summer heat depending on what sector Kiana would choose that day and it was painful.

By the end of it, her feet would have blisters on them as she had to run for tens of kilometers distance. Path of Trailblaze be damned as Kiana gave her no rest the whole trip. If she hadn't known any better, she would've thought that Kiana hated her but the older woman had been running with her too by her side, though it had little to no affect on her despite having lowering down her Honkai reserve to a minimum to make it fair for her.

Stelle suspected that Kiana, even without Honkai powering her body, was still a superhuman herself. Bronya, being the one to heal her blisters after each run, once mentioned to her that Schicksal's Valkyries were basically supersoldiers capable of inhuman feat. Bronya said that it was largely due to their Battlesuits allowing them that but Kiana was also supported by her ancient warrior bloodline so she was pretty strong and durable even without a Battlesuit.

Stelle did appreciate Kiana's company, though. She was stern at times but not discouraging, the exact opposite as a matter of fact, and a good teacher in general. She could've just sat and waited for her to return but she didn't. She went with her student to make sure Stelle see her teaching through even if it meant having to go through the same length.

"My duty is to teach you, yours is to learn what I teach you."

She might be the first teacher she'd ever had but Stelle knew that she's a good one like that. Best thing about it, however, was how little things changed between them now they had an entirely new dynamic. In fact, Kiana was rather vocal with her wish to keep everything the way they were before the training and all.

Kiana was still the goofball she knew, but now Stelle had learned to respect her a little bit more. Three whole days might've passed on the real world but in her dream, it was almost a whole week. A whole week she spent learning about Edge of Taixuan and the woman teaching her the technique.

Suffice to say, the Kaslana was every bit of a teacher Bronya vouched to be.

On her fourth day, however, things changed. The second slumber claimed her on her bed, she was greeted by the all too familiar sight of Mount Taixuan. But instead of the training ground, she found herself standing near one of the many hanging bridges connecting the mountain peaks with Kiana waiting for her.

To say Stelle was confused would be an understatement.

She had just returned from another kilometers long run in the real world and by routine she should be swinging sword by now. The bewilderment on her face must be noticeable as Kiana shook her head with a disarming smile.

"There's something else I need you to do this time."

"Uh, okay?"

Kiana gestured for her to follow and with great reluctance she did so, traversing across the bridge close to the Kaslana as she felt like either the planks or ropes would snap at any given moment and send her to her plunging death. Stelle wasn't even sure whether she could die in her dream or not but she didn't want to find out especially after hearing stories from the scientists back in Herta Space Station talking about brain dead instances on comatose patients.

The wind was rather harsh the further they went as it was redirected by the rocky formations between the deep valleys instead of repelled away. Thankfully, the trip itself was short and they'd arrived to another part of the mountain that Stelle had never been to before.

Although, to be fair she hadn't been to a lot of places of the mountain itself. Too busy training to really get the luxury of exploration even it she wanted to.

Too lost in her own thoughts, which was rather ironic considering all she was seeing right now was the conjugation of her very mind and Kiana's, Stelle almost crashed onto Kiana's back when the white haired woman suddenly stopped.

"We're here."

Here was apparently a large building that seemed to be an oddity in the surrounding, styled with the all too familiar Xianzhou Alliance architecture design. That was another thing that baffled Stelle the first time she saw its kind in this dream, thinking that Kiana deliberately designed it so Stelle would have something familiar to recognize until she explained that it was actually a design native to a people of her homeworld.

Needles to say it did bring about questions that even Kiana couldn't answer. Then again, another thing she learned about the Kaslana was that she wasn't very big on academic stuff. Her words, not Stelle's.

Wordlessly, Kiana pushed the equally large double doors with one hand and they split open almost effortlessly under her pressure. A little jarring if Stelle was honest, after all they did look sturdy and heavy, but whatever comment she got was stuck in her throat at the sight that greeted her.

What in the...

A vastness so great it was near imperceptible stretched forward and high with stars themselves acting as the ceiling and floor so pristine and white it was practically glowing under her feet as Stelle hesitantly stepped inside with Kiana leading her. But that wasn't what caught her attention, not the grand scale of the Universe nor the captivating beauty of it, but rather what lined up the wide passageway on their sides.

Coats.

Coats of varying sizes wrapped around faceless mannequins, each colored in black with white under suits visible beneath them. Some of them had unique touches that were unlike the others, having longer ends or less frills thus simpler to put on and so forth.

Amidst these, she spotted an all too familiar gold and black coat and this time, the mannequin wearing it had a face. A face she'd see everyday.

Hers.

There was no mistaking it.

Something about it was different, though. Her hair was longer it reached her back and her skirts were far longer they actually covered her knees. It was also a little taller than the current her and Stelle was a tall girl herself, making it almost towering by female standards. It's almost like she was staring at an adult version of herself and Stelle didn't know what to make of that knowledge.

She didn't realize she'd stopped until she felt Kiana's hand on her shoulder.

"What is this place?"

Kiana took a moment to answer, also staring at the mannequin before them. "It's your heart."

"Then, this must be..."

A nod. "Your memories. At least, a fraction of it."

"Why did you bring me here?" Her hand swept to where the other mannequins were, finally realizing who they represented even without the faces. "Didn't you tell me to let people from the past to stay in the past?"

"I did. It's not my intention to reveal your past like this."

"Then, why—"

"In due time."

Stelle's mouth snapped shut. Whatever complaints she might have were stopped by those simple words, delivered with a tone she'd never heard from Kiana before. The Kaslana did sound apologetic and regretful, but her conviction on the matter was real and true.

She also sounded resigned. Unfathomably so.

They went further into the building and Stelle decided to drop the subject for later, instead focusing on one thing Kiana told her. "What do you mean this is my heart?"

Kiana glanced at her briefly and Stelle met her gaze halfway. "Precisely what it means. You see, the heart and brain of a man constitute what we know as a soul and they both are always connected. By gaining access to your brain, I can also set you to this part of your heart."

To prove her point, Kiana waved a hand to her side and an image of March sprung up. It took Stelle a second to realize that it was her point of view from when she talked with the pinkette that morning, something about local teahouse if she remembered correctly.

"Everything that you've witnessed is stored in your heart, regardless whether you remember it or not." The Kaslana made a sharp turn on her heel to look at Stelle. "But don't worry, the real me won't know what I'm seeing over here as she made it pretty clear I should only guide you."

"Guide me to where?"

Kiana didn't reply, continuing on her step instead after giving Stelle a quick reassuring smile. More than a little rustrated at the lack of answer, Stelle could only sigh before she rejoined the Kaslana at venturing into her own memory.

She saw a lot of things, then. Some a mere phantom, fleeting and unclear, while others were more pronounced. A few she recognized, like Kafka's guns, and not a little that left her baffled and confused.

Like the sight of a lone, green firefly rising from a burning earth to the space above, leaving destruction in its wake yet still beautiful to her naked eyes as it pierced the darkness above her in all its glory. Even comets were pale in comparison to it.

What more baffling, however, was the nostalgic feeling that bloomed inside her at the sight. She knew it was a part of her memory, a past so distant it was unreachable to her, not anymore at least, but she recognized the unmistakable comfort she felt.

"What is the first thing you see in a sky full of stars?" She heard someone asked. "A light brighter than the rest, or the lone twinkling over the horizon?"

In the end, they're the same aren't they?

"That they're different than the others?"

No. That they're destined to disappear when morning comes. All of them are.

Then, without warning, everything shifted.

The marble floor beneath her gave way to a field of green grass, stretching to every direction and tall enough to reach her calves, and the sky darkened until no stars were visible anymore. For a moment, there was only darkness and Stelle subconsciously took a step closer towards Kiana, wariness bubbling in her chest at the strange occurrence.

A white, pale moon rose from over the horizon, its silver glow slowly yet steadily illuminated the dark land and Stelle watched with fixation the way Kiana's body seemed to shimmer under its light when it finally reached them. When the Kaslana looked towards her, her sapphires seemed even brighter than the moon itself.

"The Edge of Taixuan is a Honkai sword technique," she began and Stelle frowned at the echoes in her voice, finding it both fascinating and frightening. It's as if Kiana was talking directly into her head, which Stelle supposed was exactly what she had been doing in the past few days. "And as the name suggests, it uses Honkai for its power source."

Stelle had no idea what Honkai even was, much less its exact form. They'd told her that it was basically some sort of energy that didn't adhere to the laws of nature itself, including physics and such, so it had very special properties. All the feat the Herrschers displayed were fueled by it and looking back, it must be very powerful.

"So what? Are you going to give me Honkai or something?" Stelle said halfheartedly, a little unsure where Kiana was heading with the subject.

Kiana shook her head and firmly denied it. "No. I will not subject you to its power if I can help it. Bronya using her Authority to heal you is one thing, but to directly expose you to it?" She shook her head again, as if the idea alone repulsed her. "It's a dangerous thing. Verily so."

"Then, all the trainings I did is for nothing?"

Stelle wasn't angry, knowing it was far from the truth. She'd learned a lot from Kiana, from swordplay to how to use her lance properly, yet she couldn't hide the dismay she felt at the revelation especially when her main reason to train was so she could master the Edge of Taixuan.

"There is an alternative," Kiana started anew, hands clasped behind her back as her gaze drifted away from Stelle's towards the vast field before her, ignoring the dumbfounded expression on the ashen haired girl's face. "But it would be entirely up to you."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about the Stellaron inside of you."

Stelle inhaled sharply, realizing where Kiana was heading. "To replace the Honkai..." She muttered in realization.

Kiana nodded, still not moving an inch. "It's powerful enough, at least more than required. But since you have no experience handling the power inside you, it would be dangerous and painful."

"Hence, why you brought me to my heart where the Stellaron is," Stelle concluded, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose tiredly. "So, it's here isn't it?"

"Yes."

She hummed to herself. Kiana's proposal was not terrible, in fact it was the opposite as she finally found a way to utilize the nuclear reactor inside her chest instead of letting it sit there for whatever reason it was put there. But as Kiana herself stated, Stelle kind of had been letting it exist and ignoring it for the most part. Wouldn't be a lie either to say that she was hesitant to use it after what almost happened on Herta Space Station back then.

Man, it feels like ages since then...

"You want me to control the Stellaron? Is that it?"

Kiana turned and looked at her incredulously. "No, dude what the hell? Do you want to obliterate a planet or something?" Stelle returned the look with a glare and Kiana proceeded to roll her eyes.

"Your voice sounds ridiculous, by the way."

"Fuck, I know. This supernatural bullshit is starting to become ludicrous." She crossed her arms and huffed exasperatedly. "So, you in or nah?"

"Why don't you tell me what I have to do first?"

Kiana nodded. "We both know that your body is special, otherwise how could you live with a Stellaron practically being a part of you?"

Stelle had thought about it, actually. In every tales of knowledge she'd read about the Stellaron, it was described as a powerful Seed of Destruction capable of destroying a planet with ease. Herta told her that the Stellaron in her body was a little special, namely because it was more 'docile' compared to the others, but it was still a Stellaron nonetheless. No mortal being should be able to house such power, moreover if said being was a delicate little human.

"Mister Welt, however, told me of your little escapade against that Doomsday Beast. Awesome shit you pulled, by the way."

"Right." She certainly remembered it clearly how she almost went supernova by the end of it, though.

"It proves that your body has a limit on how much you can expend the energy itself, but more importantly you can expend the energy inside you to your use."

She mulled over the offer quietly and Kiana waited for her answer with great patience, eyes softening and whole body relaxing as she put her hands into her jacket pockets. There was no need to rush, after all they had all the time they needed in the world, moreso for a decision this big.

Eventually, Stelle sighed deeply and threw her hands in the air. "Hell, whatever, let's do this. We've come this far, haven't we?"

Kiana grinned and nodded. She liked how decisive Stelle could be sometimes. "Come here."

"Before you do whatever you're going to do, though..." Stelle drawled as she closed the distance between the two. "I want to ask you something."

Kiana hummed, offering her hands for Stelle to take and the younger girl grabbed them almost immediately. "Fire away."

"I know I said all those stuff to you, but... What if I fail?"

"You won't."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because you're my student and none of my students have ever failed."

Her words were meant to be comforting but instead Stelle felt the pressure increase tenfold in her chest. That sort of expectations were too much despite her high self-esteem, especially if it came from someone like Kiana whose teachings were proven to be top notch.

She didn't want to fail her.

"Didn't you say none has actually mastered the Edge of Taixuan?" Stelle muttered, trying to hide her inner turmoil with little fruition since Kiana was quite literally in her heart thus able to see through it. "Doesn't that mean that they've failed?"

Kiana blinked, realization hitting her like a flying brick. "Oh, that," she said somewhat sheepishly. "Well, let me tell you this; there's no such thing as failures for fighters such as ourselves nor is there a defeat in our fights. We learn new things everyday. New tricks to the book, new techniques and knowledge that will help us fight better for ourselves. Who to decide how big or small that knowledge is? Who to tell you what you learn is meaningless? Nobody. Nobody but ourselves because the only time we lose is the time when we give up on learning."

"And when we die?"

"Bro, people die. That's like, the fundamental theorem or the principle of life itself. An inevitability does not decide, us and our free will do as the deciders." Kiana squeezed the hands on her hold and smiled. "Tell me, are you not a better fighter than the you from a week ago?"

"I am," she answered resolutely. Everything she'd learned had served to improve her own skills and there was not a sliver of doubt about it.

"Then, as far as I'm concerned you've already succeeded. No knowledge is too small or too big. As long as it's useful, then it's valuable." Kiana's tone took a more solemn tone then as she sighed. "A teacher like me wishes for nothing but the best for our students because we know the length you'll have yet to go through in your journey."

The most beautiful ending of a teacher's story... is to become her student's strength on her journey onwards.

"So, don't worry." Kiana grinned brightly. "Strive on for the future you want and break through all the doubts clouding you. I will always be the star that guide you so whenever you feel lost, seek for me and I'll always be there to light the dark night for you."

A promise for help, all given for nothing in return. The Universe was filled with all sorts of people and Stelle, in her short time knowing it, had encountered peculiar individuals herself. But the woman before her, whose smile and tender gaze always warm, was the first she'd ever met.

Beautiful, Mei told her with a loving smile.

Strong, Dan Heng curtly said with a nod.

Cool, gushed March excitedly.

Wise, Himeko marvelled warmly.

Resilient, Welt proudly stated.

Idiot, Bronya flatly replied.

Kiana had been described a lot of things by everyone she knew and for a long time Stelle found it difficult to decide her view on the woman because she was everything there was.

But now, as she stood there holding those gentle hands that never pushed, she finally knew what to describe Kiana with her own word.

"Understanding..." She muttered, staring at their intertwined fingers with a smile.

"Hm?"

Stelle looked up towards those beautiful sapphires, smile widening. "Thank you for being such an understanding person."

Kiana raised an eyebrow and chuckled to herself. "Of course."

She exhaled deeply, shuffling on her feet before straightening up. "Okay... Okay, I'm ready," she told Kiana with determination burning in her own golden eyes. "What do you want me to do?"

"Right, listen. Right now I'm holding back the Stellaron from flooding into your body and overloading you with its power."

"Wait, you? Aren't you just a minuscule part of Kiana? You sure you'll be enough?"

"I've been holding it since we first talked," Kiana deadpanned and Stelle could only blinked owlishly in return. "I'm more than sufficient."

"Uh, cool...? Good to know, I guess. Nicer if you'd told me earlier, though."

The Kaslana rolled her eyes but didn't comment on the jab. "I will be the catalyst between you and the Stellaron this time, but in the future you'll have to reach out to that power by yourself. Right now, though, we'll only need to acquaint you with it so a small trickle would do."

"Trickle?"

"The Stellaron power reserve is like the ocean, it's vast and plentiful. I know we've likened it to a nuclear reactor but frankly it's more like a star so if you're not careful you'll drown in its heat."

Stelle shuddered at the picture Kiana gave her. "Well, guess now we know why it's called Stellaron," she joked nervously and Kiana snorted along.

The impromptu humor served to ease her nerve a bit and Kiana, being the empathetic person she was, didn't rush her through the process either. She told Stelle to close her eyes which Stelle did without question as she whispered her next words to the younger girl.

"Be brave."

It was all the warning she got before Kiana gradually opened the proverbial gate separating her from the all consuming Destruction, a filament of protection lifted with as much care as one could possibly give. She knew she could rely on Kiana but the first touch of the Stellaron to her spiritual body made her flinch nonetheless.

An undescribable warmth spread from her fingertips, flowing along the rush of her blood in her veins to her arms and chest before it enveloped her entire body. It was unlike anything she'd felt before as the warmth offered no comfort or safety, completely different than the usual life-giving blaze of the sun or the tender and assuring heat of Kiana she'd come to familiarize.

Rather, a huge foreboding feeling wormed its way into her soul, opening a rift of bottomless pit that robbed her of her sense. Stelle felt panic flooding in as numbness spread to every part of her, devouring all and everything that was her. She wanted to scream, but she could no longer feel her mouth amidst the searing fire inside her.

It was as if she had just jumped into a hot magma with said magma burning every nerve ending in her body and leaving charred numbness in their places, both excruciating and numbing as nothing was left. Swirling, flaring.

Swallowing.

In the moment when she felt like her very soul itself was going to burn away into ember, a brief squeeze on her hands from Kiana cut the flow of the otherworldly power and Stelle was pulled back into her sense immediately. The girl gasped and toppled over as her legs gave up on her and Kiana caught her into her embrace, ignoring the lingering hotness in the girl's skin as she patted and rubbed her back comfortingly.

"There... There, I got you."

She lowered them both onto the soft ground beneath with Kiana's unceasing comfort and hug upon Stelle acting as her anchor. Kiana didn't say anything afterwards as she simply held her in her embrace for what seemed an eternity, wheezing and shaking as the last bit of the unholy power left her.

"That was..." Stelle began only to stop mid-sentence, the words got caught in her still constricting throat. "That was intense," she finished after swallowing thickly, bringing her shaky hands to her eyes and rubbing the odd tingling sensation behind her eyelids.

"Are you okay?" Kiana asked softly as she set Stelle's head over her thighs, fingers tracing her grey hair with just as much tenderness. Her voice had returned to normal, all traces of divinity leaving her.

"I feel like I could run for miles and not at the same time," Stelle groaned. "It's weird."

"Well, you did harness the power of the sun for a second there... even if it left you charred." Kiana sighed, then, as her gaze drifted upwards to the moon above. "That's enough for today."

Her words weren't meant for a suggestion and Stelle understood instantly. "Did we achieve something today? I mean, was that really enough?" She clarified, remembering her conversation with Kiana earlier.

There's no such thing as failures for people such as ourselves.

"Yes," Kiana assured warmly with a smile. "You've done well."

The praise made Stelle smile herself, despite the lingering burning in her body still boiling the blood in her veins. "Thanks to you."

"You did the important bits," her face fell, much to Stelle's confusion. "But I'm afraid you can't rest just yet."

Stelle frowned in thought and was about to push herself up when Kiana stopped her by putting her hand on her shoulder. "I thought we're done?"

"Something's going on in the real world," Kiana told her and Stelle's eyes widened in surprise and worry. "You need to wake up."

"Is it urgent?" She asked slowly.

"I don't know. They're waiting for you."

"Me? Did I do something wrong?"

"Well, only one way to find out right?"

That was all the warning she got before Stelle found herself blinking awake staring at the dark ceiling of her room, a little disoriented by the abrupt scenery change and the sudden rush of bodily sensations that didn't fit her previous one.

Her muscles no longer felt like they'd been set on fire but she could still feel the dull warmth underneath, same with the firestorm in her chest that had become a bonfire. Out of instinct, she flexed her fingers to recalibrate her sense, a routine after waking up from Kiana's dreamworld.

She threw the blanket covering her body aside and groaned in disgust and discomfort at the sticky sensation of her wet shirt clinging to her body, not realizing how much she'd sweat until she sat up to check. Silently, she dropped her feet onto the floor and slowly stood up, mindful with her own disorientated state so to not crash and hurt herself on accident.

When she was certain that she wouldn't fall, Stelle made her way to the wardrobe where she kept her spare clothes in. After the first day training with Kiana, she figured she would need a few extra shirts and clothes which the hotel happily provided with a few extra cost from her end. Thankfully, Stelle had gotten her fair share of rewards from previous missions so she had the necessary fund. Not that she needed to with Kiana offering to pay in her stead but it just felt wrong to ask the older woman for more after everything she'd given her.

Pulling the dirty shirt over her head and tossing it into the laundry basket, Stelle unceremoniously took a new one from the wardrobe and put it on just in time for someone to knock on her door.

"Stelle?" It was March's voice, slightly muffled by the wooden barrier but unmistakably hers. "Are you awake?"

"Yeah!" She called back. "Give me a second!"

She quickly put on her coat and after a short consideration she decided to tie her hair into a single ponytail instead of letting it free like usual. Stelle couldn't help it, she felt abnormally hot still.

Unplugging her phone from its charger, she went for the door and opened it. March was still waiting for her near the doorway, looking a little groggy herself.

"What's up?" Stelle asked as casually as she could and March was about to reply when she stopped suddenly, mouth halfway open while the remnants of her sleep washed away.

"Woah, what happened to you?"

"What do you mean?"

Instead of answering, March fished her phone out and opened the front camera before she practically shoved it to Stelle's face. Stelle, who was more than a fair bit confused, looked at her own picture on the screen.

Her breath hitched.

Her eyes were practically glowing with the all too familiar golden light, brighter than the overhead lights which made her irises more pronounced. Blinking a couple of times in an attempt to return them to normal with little to no avail, she pressed her palms over them and grunted frustratedly.

"Shit..."

"Are you okay...?" March asked worriedly, looking at Stelle with overflowing concern. "Should I get someone?"

"No," Stelle assured immediately with a shake of her head. "It's, uh, expected."

Maybe not the way it was now but Stelle had at least expected the Stellaron to leave some sort of effect on her body. It's just impossible to tap into that much power without having her body react in some ways, even if it was just in her dream.

"Right..." March didn't sound a little bit convinced. "Are you really okay, though?"

"I'm fine, March. Tell me what's happening."

March nodded as she stepped aside to allow Stelle exit. "Well, to be honest I don't know what's happening either."

"That's new," Stelle muttered. "You're always the first one to gossip."

"Ugh, I'm serious!"

"So am I."

The pinkette promptly jabbed a finger to Stelle's arm, huffing in fake annoyance while Stelle giggled. "I just woke up like, ten minutes ago. Bronya said I need to fetch you up to Mr. Welt's room and didn't tell me anything more."

Stelle furrowed her eyebrows.

Welt's room was downstairs on the first floor, close to the hotel's lobby as he had personally requested it. Bronya once mentioned that it was so he could prepare an exit during emergencies and for if they had guests, be it wanted or unwanted, to accommodate. After the thorough combing Bronya did on their rooms, they were probably the safest place for them onboard the Luofu.

"Any word about the Stellaron?" Stelle asked anew.

"The Knights still want to handle it internally or something," March grumbled. "Honestly, I don't even know why we're still here, or why we're here in the first place beside for whatever that woman told us."

"You don't believe Kafka?"

March gave her a look. "That's a dumb question, you know. I'll never believe a thing she said." And in a much smaller tone she added, "not after what she did to you."

Stelle grimaced. What could she possibly say to March? That a small, almost insignificant part of her actually believed some of what Kafka said? She still couldn't explain why but she did. Kafka telling her that she'd never lie to her only further complicating matters, more than they already were anyway.

But March wasn't referring to Kafka's actions towards her only a few days ago. No, she meant more than just the petty game Kafka played on them both that night.

Namely her demanding, borderline brutal, training with Kiana.

March had the misfortune to catch her after a particularly hard session and to say she was horrified would be an understatement.

Stelle and Kiana had been spending time alone from the rest of the Crew lately so they hadn't seen each other much for her training. But that evening March happened to have just returned to the hotel the same moment she and Kiana did. Seeing her all worn out with palms and feet bleeding out had spurred the pinkette into her protective mode, demanding explanation from both Kiana and Stelle personally.

It was a little endearing to see March mad but not surprising, Stelle knew she was more than capable, but it was the first time that anger was directed at her friend for the sake of said friend's wellbeing. Kiana had given her a 'you got this?' look from behind before slipping off unnoticed once she received an affirmation in return from Stelle.

"I train for myself," Stelle said, the same thing she told March back then. "And if I can protect my... friends, then it's a bonus."

March made a frustrated noise behind her throat but didn't respond verbally, instead scowling at the floor ahead as they made their way to Welt's room.

"I wish I could tell you I'm sorry," Stelle continued evenly, shoving her hands into her coat pockets and clenching them into fists, a habit she subconsciously picked up from Kiana. "But I'm not."

"I know." Stelle's gaze snapped towards March at her meek tone, seeing the pinkette's head casted low and shoulders sagging. "I just... feel like I should do better. Seeing you pushing yourself like this makes me angry at my own weakness."

"Don't say that, please. You know you're stronger than that. Hell, you're stronger than me and I'm pretty strong." Slowly, she draped her arm around March's shoulders to give the smaller girl a chance to pull away from the half embrace, before continuing on when she didn't. "You're the one who taught me that strength is found in protection. No matter the odds, as long there's something to protect then we must fight for it with all we got. March, you're stronger than anyone else I've met."

"... you're quite the narcissist aren't you?"

Stelle blinked owlishly.

"What?"

The pinkette didn't reply right away as she discreetly and carefully snuck her own arm behind Stelle. "Stronger than me, well..." Now she knew she got the momentum, she suddenly swivelled around and pulled Stelle into an actual embrace, making the taller girl yelp in surprise as she was lifted in March's arms. "You couldn't even see this coming!" March finished with a laugh and grin so bright Stelle felt like looking at the sun itself.

The hallway was a blur as March spun her around, her infectious laugh fueling Stelle's own despite her protest. Sometimes she forgot that March was also blessed by the Path of Trailblaze, making her stronger physically than her appearance suggested so carrying her around like this despite weighing more than the pinkette herself was a breeze for her.

Both figuratively and literally.

Eventually, their joy subsided and March set her back down to her feet. Still grinning from ear to ear and giggling at each other's silliness, Stelle was surprised for the second time when March pulled her into a proper embrace, face buried in Stelle's chest.

"I will also get stronger. Strong enough nothing will harm my family ever again. You just wait."

The sheer conviction behind March's statement was so strong Stelle felt her heart skip a beat. March must have heard the irregularity in the steady rhythm as she gently tightened her arms around Stelle for a second after it happened.

"Yes," Stelle said, returning the embrace fully by wrapping her arms around March's smaller frame. "Let's go together."

"Ah, Miss March and Miss Stelle... I'm glad you two can make it in time. Please, do join us."

Stelle would like to, in fact it was only right to do so at the behest of the requester, but she couldn't. Not with her brain practically freezing up and displaying error command in her head again and again and no matter how much she tried to close the tab, it only mounted up until she simply blanked out.

Because, apparently, Bronya liked practical jokes and this time she outdid herself.

There were two things Stelle never expected to see the most in this life of hers. One being Kiana grovelling in apology to Bronya for swapping her toothpaste with sour icing yesterday, and the sight of Xianzhou Luofu's General sitting on a chair that seemed too small for his bulk in Welt's room.

But she supposed, as she stood there on the doorway paralyzed with March in equal state, there was always a first time for everything.

It was March who recovered first, stuttering on her words as she tried to make herself more presentable. Poor girl was still in her pajamas.

"G—General Jing Yuan?! What are you doing here?!"

The General smirked, or so Stelle thought he was smirking as it seemed to be his default expression. "Apologize for my unannounced visit during this inappropriate hour, but I'm afraid there's a matter that cannot wait."

"Trouble?" Stelle mumbled, finally snapping out of her trance.

"That depends on what you might call trouble, Miss Stelle."

"You two come in and close the door," Welt told them both and it took Stelle a second to realize he was sitting on his own chair in front of the General.

Blinking to clear the haze in her mind, Stelle took a step in and scanned the room, seeing Kiana and Bronya with the former sitting on the edge of the bed while the latter stood by the window. That was a little unfair, if she were honest. She would like a room with windows, too.

After a quick consideration, she decided to join Kiana and silently sat beside her, feeling the bed creak and dip under her weight the moment she settled on it. She had half expected Kiana to say something but the woman simply smiled at her before returning her attention to the General. March followed her and sat on Kiana's other side after closing the door behind her, brows furrowed in worry.

"Now, I believe it's in everyone's interest that we skip the pleasantries?" Said the General with an easy smile to Welt and the rest of the occupants.

"Did you come alone?" Stelle blurted out before Welt could reply and the General's gaze flicked up towards her. He wasn't an intimidating man by default, as a matter of fact he had a rather friendly face, but to gain the attention of such a huge figurehead still made Stelle grimace internally. "Sorry..."

Jing Yuan chuckled. "No need to apologize, Miss Stelle," he assured. "Yes, I come alone. I'm not particularly fond of crowds, if you know what I mean."

"Crowds? Isn't it a part of your duty to engage with the people for leader such as yourself?" March asked, confused.

"He meant escorts, March," Bronya supplied patiently and Stelle could see the nonexistent light bulb lit up over March's pink hair. "I see shadows, though," finished Bronya with a quick glance to outside world through the window.

"You have keen eyes, Miss Zaychik." He sounded genuinely impressed at Bronya's observation skills and Stelle couldn't blame him for that. "Unfortunately, there's nothing I can really do about that." And genuinely dejected, too.

"General," Welt called out, voice business-like which was very fitting at the moment. "Forgive my forwardness but is there something we can be help of?"

The General crossed his arms and leaned back on his chair, for a second Stelle feared that it would snap and shatter to splinters under his weight but it miraculously held out. "I have a request for the Astral Express, an informal one."

"Informal?"

"That means off the book," Bronya explained for March, expression hardening. "Is it, General?" She finished, eyes locked on Jing Yuan.

"It's true," he calmly replied. "But I can assure you that it's not without payoffs."

"We came to help so we will help," Welt chimed in. "That's said, we cannot fulfill just any request as we also have our own safety and moral to uphold."

"Of course. That's only sensible for us both." His eyes swept on the Crew and for the first time Stelle felt like the friendliness in them was a ruse unlike before. "How about we do this the Xianzhou way?"

"Xianzhou way?"

"Trade," Bronya said to March but her gaze stayed on the General. "A business, essentially."

The General nodded. "Correct. As you know, Kafka is currently being held at our custody." Stelle stiffened up at the mention of the Hunter and Kiana quietly put a reassuring hand onto her shoulder to ease her down. "And I'm fully aware you lots just might want to know what she has to say."

"What do you mean?" Stelle asked with a frown.

"It is so happen that our Master Diviner is going to interrogate her using the Matrix of Prescience to find out what her true motive is."

"... when?"

"An hour from now at the Divination Commission."

"And you just told us this now?!" March cried out in a mixture of frustration and dismay.

"Pardon me but I am quite a busy person."

"This is bullshit," Stelle was about to say more when she felt Kiana's hand on her shoulder tighten, stopping her instantly.

"General," the Kaslana began for the first time and something about her smile was a bit different. It looked the same outwardly but it lacked her usual warmth somehow as she addressed Jing Yuan. "What's the deal, exactly?"

"I have intel regarding a certain sect of forbidden alchemy practicers that I'd need you to help confirm."

"Why us?"

"Because this sect is so deeply rooted in our very government. They know how we operate, how we move that sending out Cloud Knights will only jeopardize our operatives further. Believe me, we tried."

"You want us to take down this sect and in exchange you will grant us audience with Kafka?"

"Nothing of sort," Jing Yuan said with a shake of his head. "I am merely asking you to investigate as it's odd for them to make a move now."

Kiana hummed. "Okay. We'll do it."

"Excellent," he smiled then. "My source said that they are about to converge in Exalting Sanctum tonight so I suggest you start from there."

"Exalting Sanctum..." March mumbled to herself in thought. "Isn't that where we fought off that Mara-Struck Cloud Knight?" She asked, much to Stelle's confusion.

"Wait, what?"

"Last night when you were asleep we went to explore the Luofu," March explained. "And we accidentally stumbled upon this, uh, rather disturbing scene where a Cloud Knight suddenly turned in the public."

"And you just tell me this now?"

The pinkette shrugged. "Well, it didn't sound important...?"

Stelle only stared at her incredulously and Kiana chuckled.

"Then, we'll take the deal. Unless my companions have objections?" Bronya and Welt shook their heads and March followed the gesture a moment later, leaving Stelle alone hesitating at the prospect. "Stelle?" Kiana nudged her gently, urging her to speak up.

"Are you okay with it?" She asked back instead, biting her lower lip anxiously. It was a lot to ask and she knew it.

Kiana simply nodded, short but no less reassuring. "Do you want to talk to Kafka?"

"I... yes." She sighed, resigned at her own heart and its needs.

"That's that, then." Kiana turned to face the General. Again, her expression was soft but it still lacked the warmth she usually exhibited to her or any of her friends and family. It took Stelle aback that this must be Kiana's 'business face'. "We have a deal, General."

"Very well."

Stelle still couldn't see why they'd need to go through such length to begin with. As far as she was aware, they'd earned that right when they successfully captured Kafka and put her into custody.

This is bullshit.

TBC.