Author's Note: Sorry…It's been a while. Thank you for all your support and patience ;)
Disclaimer: I do not own Honkai Star Rail
Emphasized phrases will be in bold. Flashbacks and thoughts will be italicized. The present moment will be unedited.
Lushaka, Of Sunken Lament
Act 1- We Sail The Ocean Blue Together
Chapter 2- Next Destination! Lushaka!
Caelus/Trailblazer's POV: Trailblaze Chronicles.
~Party Car, Astral Express~
The soothing Penaconian piano soundtrack of "Now, Voyager" played on the phonograph.
Paired with the gilded ceiling lights reflecting off the glasses on the bar and Shush cleaning the premises without so much as a mechanical creak, the elements of quietude and exorbitance harmonized to create a loungey ambience of tranquility.
Soaking in the present peace, the Trailblazer sat atop a bar stool with a glass of SoulGlad in hand. Taking a sip of sweet effervescence, Caelus thought back about the events that transpired during their adventures in Penacony.
"So many encounters...And so many unforgettable memories..."
Bittersweetly, he glimpsed at the entrance of the Reverie Hotel from one of the car windows. He took in the view as he knew the Nameless might not come back for a while. Maybe the next Charmony Festival they get invited to wouldn't be as chaotic. No promises there.
"As long as the silver rail exists, every world the Nameless touched will stay connected..."
This fact, alone, brought some comfort to him.
"Is that what you feel before departing?" a woman's sultry voice spoke from his left.
"Gah!" Caelus jolted in his stool, nearly spilling his bubbly beverage onto his coat.
He turned to his left to see a certain Memokeeper sitting next to him.
"Bla-Black Swan!" the gray-haired male stuttered in surprise, "What are you doing here in the Party Car?"
"I wanted to see what expressions you would make as we leave the Planet of Festivities," the pale violet haired maiden's lips curled ever-so seductively, "Was my answer accurate?"
"N-N-No..." Caelus madly blushed a shade of strawberry-red," I can tell you're just teasing me!"
"How...amusing..." the Memokeeper grinned before she looked back at the view of Reverie Hotel, "I must say, I was moved by your words about Akivili's silver rail."
"Y-You were?" the Trailblazer's blush deepened.
"Only a little," she made a gesture with her gloved index finger and thumb to signify so, "But as one of the newer members of the Nameless, doesn't it make you curious about all the previous worlds the Express visited before your arrival?"
"There are tons of entries in the Express Databank. But I'm too lazy to read through them, haha," the Trailblazer scruffled his own grey hair "I feel like seeing and experiencing something firsthand is way better than reading about it."
"Are you sure you shouldn't become a Memokeeper yourself?" Black Swan grinned suggestively.
"The Stellaron in my body might make things messy for the Garden," Caelus sweatdropped before he looked upon the technicolored glasses in the bar cabinet, "To answer your first question, of course, I'm curious. I get fomo every time Dan Heng and March mention what happened at Taikyan Stadium."
"What happened at Taikyan Stadium?" the Memokeeper curiously asked.
Caelus crossed his arms with a blank stare from his amber eyes, "We do not talk about what happened in Taikyan Stadium."
"Hmmm...Allow me to digress," Black Swan continued, "I agree with your statement that seeing and experiencing the cosmos is more valuable than reading about them. It is experiencing the world that allows me to witness more beautiful memories."
"Is that why you're tagging along as a guest on the express?"
"Yes, that is the main reason," the Memokeeper nodded as she looked elsewhere in the Party Car, "But traversing the cosmos also enables one to grow and broaden their perspective."
The Trailblazer traced Black Swan's gaze. A tall, whitish-grey haired male with small piercings on his ear-wings clad in a two-toned white and blue overcoat stood in front of one of the Party Car's red-velvet cushioned booths. A golden halo hovered above his head.
"Gah! Sunday!" Caelus almost jolted out from his seat a second time, "How long have you been standing there?"
"Pardon me, I've been here since a little before your conversation with Black Swan began," Sunday curtly lowered his head, "I can take my leave if my presence disturbs you."
"A-Ah, no, you weren't bothering us at all," the gray-haired male shook his head rapidly from side to side.
"Please, come sit with us!" Caelus then pulled out the bar stool to his right, "The more the merrier, no?"
Sunday sweatdropped nervously as he rose his head.
A soft grin took hold on his nervous face, "Much thanks."
As they previously opposed one other, most of the present Nameless crew- save for Mr. Yang himself- were still wary of the Harmony Pathstrider and his previous alignment with Ena, the Order. Despite his hesitancies, Caelus still held hope that yesterday's enemies could become today's friends.
"Since this will be your first jump with the Express," Caelus tried to break the ice, "What are your thoughts about the upcoming journey?
"Hmmm..." Sunday paused for a moment before answering, "I can't deny that leaving the Planet of Festivities feels like a heavy loss. Everything I worked to achieve as the former head of the Oak Family went down the drain. Furthermore, I am saddened that will not be able to see my sister anytime soon."
Both Black Swan and Caelus were deadly quiet at his honesty. But neither could detect malice etched into his words. Only a hint of sadness and yearning lingered in his answer.
"Remember the story of the Charmony Dove I told you about back in the Moment of Scorchsand?"
"I do," Caelus nodded, "Those double-edged scenarios gave me and the others a lot to think about."
"In a way, I feel like the Charmony Dove given the opportunity to leave its cage," Sunday smiled sadly, "The familiar comforts the cage provided fill me with doubts now that the moment of departure is now upon me."
"But as that cage brought so much comfort to that dove, so too did it confine and suffocate it," Black Swan surmised.
"It is just as you say, Memokeeper," the Halovian nodded, "Leaving everything behind is also a form of freedom. I'm still worried about falling. Yet, I know if I don't attempt to fly, I may never learn what it takes to build a true paradise..."
"Falling is all a part of the process," Caelus consoled their newest passenger with a goofy smile, "What matters is that you now have people who will help pick you back up."
The Halovian was taken aback by the Trailblazer's sentiments, but returned his smile, "Thank you, Caelus."
"March is definitely not helping you though..." Caelus's voice trailed off, "I think she's still traumatized by what happened at the Charmony Festival."
Sunday sweatdropped as a slight guilt panged his constitution.
"Hey!" a certain female voice echoed from the entrance of the Party Car, "Don't drag my name under the bus!"
The three seated at the bar turned towards the one who was blasting the Trailblazer as she and one other Crew member pulled up onto the conversation.
March 7th glared at Caelus with her iridescent blue-to-pink gradient eyes.
Standing next to her was the stoic, but chill Dan Heng who raised a hand to greet them all, "It seems you've gotten really acquainted with one another in no time at all."
"No fair, I want to be friends with everyone too!" March's glare towards Caelus comically intensified.
"March, there will be plenty of time for that later," Dan Heng chided his fellow Nameless before looking to the others, "The Conductor wanted us to remind you there will be a meeting in the Parlor Car to discuss the next destination."
"Much thanks, Mr. Dan Heng," Sunday curtly nodded at the black-haired male as he stood up from his seat, "We shall make our way there without further delay."
Dan Heng nodded back to Sunday before walking back to the Parlor Car. The pink-haired lass cast Caelus one last snarky look before tagging behind her senior crewmate.
"Haha, hopefully she won't get back at me tenfold for that," Caelus nervously smiled as he brushed the back of his head with one of his hands.
"A little teasing harmed no one, " Black Swan mischievously smiled at the Trailblazer and Sunday before getting off her stool and leaving for the Parlor Car, "Come now, I don't want to miss the Crew's decision-making process in action."
Caelus and Sunday exchanged glances to one another before they followed the beautiful Memokeeper.
~Parlor Car, Astral Express~
Gilded lights akin to the sections of a celestial whale hung from the ceiling. Its luminescence cast a reflective glow on the marble floor spanning the entire car towards the Passenger Cabins, which parted a red carpet.
To each side of red carpeting lay an assortment of complimentary lounge chairs, lamps, and potted greenery. A view of the Reverie Hotel in the backdrop of the starry heavens was still visible from the windows.
Gathered at center of the Parlor Car stood March 7th, Dan Heng, and three other Nameless- Himeko, Welt Yang, and Pom-Pom.
Once Caelus, Sunday, and Black Swan walked in, Welt and Himeko cast their eyes upon the Express's newest passenger's.
"Thank you for joining us in this process, Mr. Sunday and Miss Black Swan," Welt's black-framed lenses sheened, "I wasn't sure if either of you were interested in partaking."
"I'm just a hitchhiker," Black Swan replied, "I'd much rather observe each of your expressions with every option the Conductor presents. Maybe I can glean something off of your reactions and reasonings..."
"So what you mean to say is that you want to dissect us with your eyes?" March shuddered.
Black Swan turned her gaze to the pink-haired girl, "You, March 7th, are particularly interesting."
"Yeeesh..." March cringed.
"What about you, Mr. Sunday?" Welt turned his gaze to the silverish-grey haired Halovian.
"As a fellow passenger, I don't think I should do anything to sway the decision," Sunday answered, "Maybe I too could learn something."
"Great, two pairs of observing eyes..." March's shuddering only intensified as she suddenly clung to one of Dan Heng's white sleeves.
"H-Hey, knock it off, March..." Dan Heng tried to shake her off to no avail.
"Now, now..." Himeko tried to calm down the vibes, "Let's settle down and start the meeting."
The redhead beckoned everyone to turn their attention to the pint-sized Conductor.
"Ahem," clearing their throat, Pom-Pom finally spoke up, "Thank you, passengers, for attending our navigation meeting. Since everyone's here, Pom-Pom will start presenting our options. First up, is the oceanic planet of Lushaka, suggested by Himeko."
"Mr. Mikhail's home world...Lushaka was hit by rising sea levels after a Stellaron Disaster," Dan Heng refreshed March's and Caelus's memories about the location, "Though I'm not sure how things are on the planet now."
"The Watchmaker's home planet... A Stellaron Disaster..." Sunday looked down at the alabaster marbled floor as he quietly pondered the origins of Penacony's founder.
Welt, Himeko, and Black Swan all glanced the Halovian's way before they refocused their attention upon Pom-Pom, who laid out the next destination option.
"Next, we have Melustanin, the Agate World, suggested by Mr. Yang."
"That's where Idrila the Beauty ascended, a world of undying allure," Himeko spoke up to refresh this location's information, "It's also said to be one of the initial sites of the Stellaron Disaster. Probably not the safest choice."
"No, it might not be, " Welt agreed with his fellow Nameless's conjecture, "Given the newer passengers the Express has acquired, I wouldn't want to put them in harm's way."
"Fear not, Mr. Yang," Black Swan tried to waive off his concern, "Mr. Sunday is a skilled Pathstrider of the Harmony. And I myself am no stranger to fighting. Please do not fret over us."
"Do not worry about us, Mr. Yang," Sunday nodded to reassure the brunette male, "We can fend for ourselves if worse comes to worse."
"Very well then," Welt rested his case.
"And finally, the last option: Edo Star," Pom-Pom announced the last location, "This planet lies within an ion storm region. Recently, they repelled an attack from the Antimatter Legion. However, the distress signals from there have recently ceased, prompting the IPC's wish for us to check in on the situation."
"The Antimatter Legion..." Caelus thought over the journey's association with the Path of Destruction, "Kafka said at some point we will fight have to against Nanook. Defeating the Antimatter Legion there might bring us one step closer towards the fate Destiny's Slave forewarned her about."
Black Swan's eyes gleamed as she watched the Trailblazer deep in contemplation.
"Those poor people on Edo Star..." March's eyes glistened with a sense of sadness.
"That may be," Himeko agreed, "But I find myself curious as to why the IPC wants us to check out the situation first instead of going in themselves. They do have the power and resources to drive away the remnants of the Legion and restore most damages."
"Perhaps this is a means for them to avoid any unnecessary expenditures on their end," Welt sighed, "By sending us in first to take the heat. Before usurping Edo Star themselves?"
"Very likely, given how shrewd they can be," Dan Heng sweatdropped.
"Next up, everyone will select the destination that they wish to visit," Himeko guided the process along, "And then we'll put it up to a vo-"
"My apologies," Sunday abruptly interjected.
Everyone turned to Chicken-Wing Boy's way.
"Yes, Mr. Sunday?" the redhead replied.
"If I may, I would like to rescind my previous decision to abstain from voting," the Halovian explained, "Now that I've heard everything, I realized it was too nonchalant on my end to leave it to the wind."
"You heard him, Conductor," Himeko calmly to Pom-Pom for their opinion, "What do you think?"
"As a passenger, it is perfectly within your rights to want to help decide where we next embark," Pom-Pom nodded to Sunday in approval, "You may take part in voting."
"How interesting, Mr. Sunday," Black Swan covered her pursed lips with her purple-gloved fingers.
"Again, let us proceed with selecting the destinations we want to visit," Himeko resumed, "Mr. Sunday, since you seem to have a place in mind, where would you like to venture?"
"I give my vote to Lushaka, the oceanic planet," Sunday replied.
"Ah, little Misha and Old Mikhail's homeland..." Himeko looked into his golden eyes, "Having been through a lot in Penacony, I can understand why our fellow aspiring Nameless would consider the prospect of visiting his home world as a must. But what is the reason for your interest?"
"Guilt is, naturally, one of my reasons," Sunday paused momentarily to take a breath, "Beyond that, I too want to pay homage to the Watchmaker. Not as an aspiring Nameless, but as someone who lived much of his life in the Penacony and Harmony that he created."
"Count me in," Welt flashed an approving smile to the Halovian, "Still, I imagine, that planet must have changed entirely after the Stellaron Disaster. I've heard that its landmasses no longer exist, and the native population has completely changed. In addition, the trip to Penacony has allowed me to see another side of the Stellaron Disaster..."
"You mean to imply visiting Lushaka might also deepen our understanding of the Stellaron?" Dan Heng inquired.
"Deepen our understanding of the Stellaron...?" Caelus held a hand to his own chest, thinking about the Cancer or All Worlds somehow embedded in his body.
"Yes," Mr. Yang nodded.
"Hmm...I'm not against Lushaka, but Edo Star sounds like it's in danger, " March's eyes glistened with a sense of resolve, "As Nameless, should we not extend a helping hand?"
"Though the fact that the distress signals have ceased means we're probably too late..." Dan Heng sullenly added, "I still think we should investigate the situation there."
"Absolutely!" March's eyes sparkled as Dan Heng rarely met eye to eye.
"Both you and March, do make good points," Welt noted, "But I'm still skeptical about this location being an IPC suggestion."
"So far, we have three votes for Lushaka. And two for Edo Star." Pom-Pom tallied the votes before locking their adorable blue eyes onto Caelus, "Trailblazer, where do you want to go?"
All eyes fell on Caelus.
"Do I cast another vote for Lushaka or do I vote Edo Star to tie things up?" the gray-haired male thought to himself, "What would happen if we had a tie in the first place? Would we just have to vote all over again? Or force Black Swan to break the tie?"
He looked to March, who's eyes gleamed with a selfless desire to assist the denizens of Edo Star.
He then looked to Sunday, who expressed a desire to learn more about Mikhail before he became Penacony's Watchmaker.
Welt's words about learning more about Stellarons also reverberated within him.
"I'm curious about Lushaka, too," Caelus sighed as he held a hand to his chest, "It's pretty clear more of us are intent on going to Mikhail's homeworld. I also want to learn more about Stellarons as I have one inside me."
"It's official then," Pom-Pom announced, "Our next stop is Lushaka of the Przesmir star system!"
"Ah man, I hope this decision doesn't bite us in the back later on," March sighed in disappointment.
"This is what it is, March," Dan Heng mildly consoled her, "We all voted, and this was simply the outcome."
"Hmmm...how intriguing," Black Swan quietly observed the face of both Express members and fellow passenger alike.
Sunday refrained from smiling, but something about his expression conveyed he was happy with the results.
"You seem more chipper than usual," Welt noted.
"A little, but not too excited," the Halovian nodded, "An ocean planet without any land will be a far cry from Penacony's Dreamscapes."
"It certainly will," the older Nameless nodded, "I hope for your own sake, you know how to swim. How well do you think you'll fare on a ship?"
"Perhaps I did not think things through..." Sunday's halo dimmed as a gloomy aura permeated around him.
"That is what our Data Bank is for," Himeko joined in on their little "father-son" conversation, "If you'd like, we could all look up Lushaka's entries after the jump."
"A sound idea," the Halovian nodded, "Best prepare ourselves with the information we have on hand."
Watching Sunday settle in with the crew from afar filled Caelus with a sense of warmth. He would forever feel grateful for the sense of family they provided after he decided to board the Express after the Antimatter Legion's attack on Herta Space Station. Maybe in due time, Sunday would become one of them.
"Aha, the idea of not being the newest recruit anymore is lowkey growing on me," the Trailblazer sneered at the notion.
"Does this scene of camaraderie evoke a sense of nostalgia for you?" Black Swan snapped him out of his reverie with another prying question.
"Woah!" Caelus nearly lost his balance, "This is the third time today I've been taken aback!"
"So sorry," the Memokeeper slyly curled her lips, "The decision-making process of the Nameless was such an interesting morsel to collect. While I admire Miss March's Samaritan desire to help with the situation at Edo Star, I found both your and Mr. Sunday's reasonings for choosing Lushaka particularly fascinating."
"Haha," the gray-haired male laughed nervously, "Is that so?"
"Yes," Black Swan teased, "Don't tell me you still have doubts about the verity of my words since the Charmony Festival?"
"N-N-No, Miss Black Swan, I wouldn't dare," Caelus frantically shook his head.
"Good," the woman clad in purple smiled as she sat on one of the Parlor Car's cushioned, red-velvet seats next to a lampshade.
She gestured with her hands for the Trailblazer to take a seat on the chair across from her.
Caelus relented to her suggestion and scurried over to the designated spot before the jump.
After a few more minutes, all passengers were securely seated.
"Attention, passengers," Pom-Pom's cutesy voice rang through the Express intercom, "The Express is about to make the jump. Please stay seated and hold on!"
On cue, the Astral Express was imbued with stellar radiance as it warped across the cosmos to its next destination.
...
When the warp was complete, all eyes of crew members and passengers alike looked upon the windows.
A planet of pure azure graced their gaze.
"Look at all that blue!" March 7th exclaimed as her eyes widened in awe.
"There really aren't any landmasses visible from out here in space..." Sunday noted, "How will the Astral Express land?"
"Good question, Sunday" Dan Heng crossed his hands over his shoulder as he looked upon the ocean planet, "I took the liberty of compiling all the files in the Data Bank related to Lushaka from the Express's previous visit into this device here."
"You really saved us a trip from overcrowding your room, huh?" Caelus nudged the Xianzhou native's shoulder in jest.
"Naturally," Dan Heng rolled his eyes incredulously at Caelus as he held out an electronic tablet larger than a smartphone.
Upon selecting the necessary files, multiple, holographic projections were cast beneath the sectioned ceiling lights of the Parlor Car. These included: a rotating scale model of the ocean planet, information about the gigantic state ships, and pictures of various aquatic lifeforms.
"The Nameless during Falcon Amundsen's time were really something..." Himeko fondly smiled at the collection of data.
Question marks sprouted all about March's and Caelus's head, "Falcon Amundsen?"
"He was the Navigator of the Express back then," Pom-Pom informed them, with sparkly blue eyes beaming with pride, "His achievements as a Nameless among the highest up there, earning him the monikers of 'Morning Star' and 'Enlightenment Beacon'! He was the one who brought Mikhail to the Express!"
Caelus conjured the black fedora with dark blue feathers he was bestowed from the Watchmaker. A feeling of profoundness welled up in him as he looked from the hat back to azure planet beyond the window.
"Things are really coming around full circle."
"It's funny how that very hat must've traversed more of the cosmos than anyone on the train..." Black Swan thought aloud.
"Ahem!" Pom-Pom puffed their cheeks in dismay at the Memokeeper's remark, "Though I may be confined to the train, my time long precedes Amundsen."
"Save for the Conductor," Black Swan sarcastically shrugged.
"Woah..." March found herself fascinated by all the pictures of Lushaka's marine life, "These photos are amazing! I wonder what kind of special equipment they needed to be able to take such awesome photos underwater."
Her eyes drifted from fish schools over coral reefs to giant crustaceans with sharp pincers to a grand silvery city submerged in the deep.
"What a beautiful underwater city," the pinkette was perturbed, "It's a real shame that the people of Lushaka can't live there."
"The people of Lushaka refer to themselves as the Luvians," Himeko clarified, "And yes, that city, among others, were once Luvian settlements before the Stellaron Disaster known as Great Flood occurred. The time before the Great Flood was known as the Old Era, back when Lushaka was a desert planet. Now these silver human cities are dwellings for the aqua sprites."
"Aqua sprites?" Caelus tilted his head at the unfamiliar concept, "What do they look like?"
In all of his travels across the cosmos, he encountered various lifeforms. Aqua sprites were not one of them.
"Unfortunately, there aren't any pictures of them in the Express Data Bank," Dan Heng explained, "But sightings of aqua sprites on Lushaka state they are azure skinned beings with dark eyes, dark hair, winged membranes on their head, gills that can adapt to breathing both water and land, and fins posterior to their feet and hands. Finding them on the surface is so rare that it is considered a good omen. Even better if you get to listen to their songs."
"Now I really want to listen to an aqua sprite song!" March was fully enticed by the lore.
"That would make for a beautiful memory in the Garden's collection, "Black Swan added, but her tone shifted to one of hesitance, "But it seems there must be a reason why the aqua sprites seldom appear on Lushaka's surface, especially near the line of sight of the Luvians."
"Your intuition is in the right direction," Dan Heng nodded as he pulled up a journal log made by Amundsen's team, "In Lushaka's Old Era, the Luvians and the aqua sprites, once known as the Edars, fought each other over control of the oases scattered across the desert. After centuries of bloodied conflict, the Great Flood occurred after multiple meteors from above crashed into the Luvian settlements."
"That's weird," March questioned this illogical occurrence, "How in space can a bunch of meteors cause a planet to flood?"
"How Stellarons bring about their respective Disasters is inexplicable," Welt sighed, "If we want to deepen our understanding of their phenomenon from this trip, finding and maybe even sealing Lushaka's Stellaron would be a good main objective for this Trailblaze Mission."
"Nice! We already have an overarching goal for this expedition," Himeko smiled, "But before we board the Express onto Lushaka, we need to make contact with a Helmsman one of the Three Grand Stateships.
Deja vu was starting to creep in on Caelus.
"Helmsman...Three Grand Stateships...Is this the part where we start dropping faction names and Path alignments?"
"What are you even on about?" March 7th sweatdropped at the Trailblazer's cryptic comment.
"As the name implies, the Three Grand Stateships are giant ships that house the surviving Luvians," Dan Heng pulled up an article related to the Stateships.
Three photos of three different vessels were projected.
The left-most ship looked like a ginormous, chestnut-colored galleon modernized with steampunk attributes. Its top deck was adorned with pulleys. Pristine black and white sails displayed a golden insignia of a gear.
"This is the Stoykia, the Grand Stateship of Lushaka's Architects," Dan Heng eyed the golden gear symbol on the flag," They seek to improve the quality of the technology on the ships to ensure the Luvian's continued survival. Many from that ship are engineers, mechanics, and inventors. Random fact, Mr. Amundsen met Mikhail at a clock shop on the Stoykia."
"The Architects? So Lushaka worships the Preservation?" March 7th asked.
"That would explain how the Luvians weren't entirely wiped out after the Great Flood," Black Swan reasoned, "And their tenacity to make it through the droughts of the Old Era."
"I wonder how different these Architects will be from the ones in Belobog," Caelus smiled as he remembered how good Serval was at fixing Geomarrow heaters and Clara's skill with fixing the residents of the Robot Settlement.
Dan Heng then enlarged the picture of the middle vessel which looked like an icon-class cruise-liner with multiple terrarium and greenhouse structures on the deck.
"Woah, these tempered glass domes look so pretty, "March's eyes beamed with excitement, "I can see gardens with pretty flowers and cacti growing in them!"
"This second ship is the Tsveteniye, the Grand Stateship of Lushaka's Unshackled, " the Xianzhou native's voice trailed off a little at the end of his dialogue.
"Fear not Dan Heng," Welt tried to comfort his fellow crewmate, "While the Unshackled are Pathstriders of the Abundance, they are not the same as the Disciples of Sanctis Medicus in the slightest. They try to rescue creatures from disastrous situations and try to release them back into the wild."
"The Unshackled on the Luofu have amassed multiple accounts of unleashing dangerous animals onto the ship," Dan Heng sighed, "So my surface-level view from previous experience isn't held in the highest regard. The articles from Amundsen's time, however, state the ancestors of Lushaka's current Unshackled rescued many Old Era plants and fauna. With the help of the Architects, they constructed these life-sized terrariums to prevent the extinction of a solid fraction of these species."
"How noble..." Sunday remarked, once again reminded of the Charmony Dove allegory, "But in what Amber Era will those creatures ever be released?"
"Who knows?" Himeko shrugged, "I'm doubtful that Lushaka's water levels will go down anytime soon."
"Interestingly, the Unshackled on the Tseventiye have been collaborating with some of the Astral Ecologists of the Intelligentsia Guild interested in the medical and water-retaining properties of Lushaka's Old Era plants," Dan Heng added, "The ship is essentially of hub of zoological, botanical, and medical knowledge."
"I don't think we'll likely run into Dr. Ratio on Lushaka," Caelus nervously sweatdropped.
"That learned Doctor's specialties definitely not lie in biology," Sunday remembered how Veritas carried himself during their meeting at Dewlight Pavilion," But having him here with us would help us reach the crux of Lushaka's problems faster."
"Wouldn't be much of a Trailblazing journey if we took shortcuts," Welt mildly chided the Halovian, "There are some things we have to figure out on our own with what we've got."
"That aside," Sunday nervously lowered his head, "I find it interesting how Pathstriders of two different paths can work together as such."
Dan Heng minimized the Tsveteniye's photo, then enlarged the photo of the last Grand Stateship. Unlike the Stoykia and Tsveteniye, this last ship was a large grey submersible!
"That's not a ship, that's a submarine!" Caelus jokingly interjected.
"Antikvar is still considered one of the Stateships regardless," Dan Heng proceeded, "The Luvians on this submersible are primarily oceanographers and those who traverse the oceans of Lushaka in search of Old Era relics from shipwrecks and submerged Luvian cities not inhabited by the aqua sprites. Another school from the Intelligentsia Guild, the Armed Archaeologists, are working in tandem with these relic seekers."
"Having Armed Archaeologists aboard the Antikvar must be very handy in repelling any unwanted dangers," Black Swan ominously remarked, "The IPC's funding granted many from the school protective equipment and weaponry to reduce their mortality rates."
"Herta's records did say they tend to look more like mercenaries than scholars," Himeko lightly giggled, "Hopefully the ones we run into won't be too troublesome."
"No guarantees there," March sighed, "Now that we've been debriefed, I think it's high time to decide who we will send on the expedition."
"Sounds good," Welt nodded, "Since Himeko suggested we go to Lushaka in the first place, I think it's fair that she goes."
"I thought you were already raring to go out into the field again," the scarlet-haired woman jested.
"It's as you say, someone has to stay on the Express to handle the adult stuff," Welt sighed with a smile, "Enjoy this journey for the both of us. And when you come back, maybe we can talk about it over a nice cup of coffee."
There was something inexplicable about the trust between those two. Almost as if in another life they once knew each other.
"Thank you, Welt. I'll gladly accept," Himeko's smile was like pure sunshine, "And I'll hold you to that cup of coffee too."
"As for the next obvious candidates..." Welt switched his gaze to the Halovian and the Trailblazer, "Similar to Himeko, Sunday was also very inspired by the Watchmaker to visit Lushaka. And if we want to resolve their Stellaron Crisis, Caelus would be a good addition to the expedition team."
"That should leave two more slots," Dan Heng noted.
"Dan Heng, I think you should go," March 7th suggested, "You said back on the Express for most of Penacony, so I really think you should take the journey this time."
"March, are you sure?" the black-haired male tried to get her to reconsider, "I can tell you really want to go."
"Of course I do!" the pinkette cheekily smiled at him, "But in an ocean planet, I feel like your secret powers will come in real handy."
"March..." Dan Heng felt a little bad but could grasp onto her logic, "Are you sure?"
"Positive," she replied as held out her camera to him, "If it'll make you feel any better, I'd really appreciate it if you take some pictures of what you see for me."
"Deal," Dan Heng smiled as he accepted her light-blue polaroid, "I'll be sure to disappoint."
"Hey!" March pouted in response to his sarcasm.
"Haha!" Caelus snickered at the pinkette.
"What about you Miss Black Swan?" Himeko turned her attention to the Memokeeper.
"For the sake of memories, I too, would like to tag along," Black Swan pursed her lips as she glanced between Caelus, Sunday, and Dan Heng," Assuming we are trying to learn more about Lushaka's Stellaron, unveiling the events leading to the Great Flood would be quite valuable."
"Then it's decided," Pom-Pom spoke in an announcer-esque tone, "The team heading for the expedition will consist of: Himeko, Caelus, Dan Heng, Sunday, and Black Swan. I guess our next course of action is making the transmission. I'm curious as to who will pick up."
"Very well then," Himeko nodded at the Conductor's suggestion.
She promptly spoke into the Synesthesia Beacon from the Parlor Car towards the blue spherical planet, "This is the Astral Express. I repeat, this is the Astral Express. We have arrived outside of Lushaka territory. Requesting landing permission from ground control."
After a few minutes of awkward silence and chirping crickets, her message was met by a sudden raucous buzz of static.
"Ah!" Everyone jolted backwards.
"Darn it, this is fourth time I've been taken by surprise, "Caelus moped.
The noise persisted, then abruptly stopped. Suddenly, a voice from a clean transmission signal replied.
"Ground control to Astral Express, this is Strahl, Helmsman of the Stoykia. We have received your request for entrance," a male voice emitted from the signal, "Permission granted. Sending you coordinates for your landing site- the Equitorial Barge."
After a few minutes, Synesthesia Beacon that Himeko was speaking through transiently beeped. She glanced through the information alongside Pom-Pom. Both the Navigator and Conductor nodded to one another before Himeko spoke into the device again.
"Astral Express to ground control, thank you kindly for the coordinates," the Express Navigator politely replied, "The Express will commence landing. Looking forward to meeting you soon."
"Ground control to Astral Express, likewise," the Helmsman of the Stoykia returned her sentiments, "It would be an honor to host the Nameless after all these years."
Next Chapter: Voices Etched In Sea Song
Many apologies if the dialogue was redundant. I wanted to capture the essence of previous Trailblaze Missions before disembarking. Much of the dialogue is influenced from patches 2.2 and 3.0. As a fair warning, we are entering unchartered territory from here on.
Now here's a fun Post-Chapter Trivia Corner:
*The names of the Three Great Stateships- Stoykia, Tsveteniye, and Antikvar- are derived from Russian words for "stalwart", "blooming", and "antiquary".
Anyways, per usual, please feel free to give me feedback, suggestions, constructive criticisms, speculations in the review section.
Stay tuned!
