Encountering Himeko.
“Doctor Kal’tsit, a large crater has been found ahead.”
mon3tr dropped lightly from mid-air, a few snowflakes clinging to its dark hair, “There is mechanical wreckage inside, along with traces of human activity.”
Kal’tsit’s cat ears twitched slightly, her light green eyes gazing into the distance.
“Mhm, let’s go take a look.”
She took a step, her silver-white short hair swaying gently in the cold wind.
At the bottom of the crater, Himeko was intently tinkering with the parts in her hands.
“Finally… the last one.”
She carefully installed the part into place, her amber eyes beneath her red hair gleaming with excitement.
“Done!”
She proudly patted the mechanical device in front of her, when suddenly her ears twitched——
“Someone?”
Himeko quickly picked up a wrench, hid it behind her, and nimbly climbed out of the crater.
What came into view were two unfamiliar young girls: one with silver hair and cat ears, bearing a stern expression; the other with dark hair and green eyes, waving enthusiastically at her.
“Who are you?”
Himeko maintained a safe distance, her fingers quietly tightening around the wrench.
Kal’tsit stopped walking, her hands resting naturally at her sides.
“We happened to arrive on this planet.”
Her voice was calm and clear, “We got lost in the snowfields for a long time, and came over when we saw signs of activity here.”
mon3tr nodded vigorously beside her, the snowflakes on its dark hair fluttering down with the motion.
“Yeah! We’ve been walking for so long!”
Himeko observed the two closely, her tense shoulders gradually relaxing.
She could feel the sincerity in their words, especially the reassuring aura about the silver-haired girl.
“I see.”
Himeko tucked the wrench back into her waist and revealed a friendly smile, “I am Himeko.”
“Kal’tsit.”
The silver-haired girl responded briefly.
“I am mon3tr!”
The dark-haired girl waved lively, “I’m Doctor Kal’tsit’s Remembrance spirit, you know!”
“A Remembrance spirit?”
Himeko widened her eyes in surprise, “I’ve seen quite a few Pathstriders of the path of remembrance, but a Remembrance spirit like you that can speak and has independent thought…”
She couldn’t help stepping closer, “That’s simply amazing!”
mon3tr proudly spun around, its skirt fluttering in the wind.
“Hehe, I’m special, you know!”
Kal’tsit gave a light cough, her gaze sweeping across the mechanical device at the bottom of the crater.
“Is that… an engine component of an interstellar spaceship?”
Himeko looked in the direction of her gaze, her red hair fluttering in the wind.
“That’s right! I’m trying to repair it. Would you… like to help?”
Kal’tsit nodded.
“However, it seems we can’t be of much help; we know nothing about machinery.”
Her gaze swept over those complex parts, her brows furrowing slightly.
Himeko waved her hand heartily.
“Oh, it’s nothing. There are only the last two parts left to install, you guys can help me grab the parts.”
She wiped the machine oil from her temple, her red hair gleaming with a warm luster under the sunlight.
mon3tr immediately skipped over, bounding along.
“I’ll help!”
It squatted down in front of the pile of parts, its dark hair falling over its shoulders.
Kal’tsit stood in place, carefully examining the quaint Astral Express.
In those extra memories, this train capable of traversing the sea of stars was called the “Astral Express”.
“Is this part needed?”
mon3tr asked, lifting up a metal component, its emerald eyes filled with curiosity.
Himeko glanced at it.
“That one is no longer needed, but that strip-shaped part over there can be used. Hand it over to me, it’s the only one left.”
Her fingers were stained with grease, yet they were as nimble as if playing a musical instrument.
When mon3tr handed the part over, it couldn’t help asking, “Can this Astral Express really fly?”
“Of course!”
Himeko confidently installed the final part and clapped her hands.
“Alright, mission accomplished! This Astral Express should be able to start up now.”
Her smile was exceptionally dazzling under the sunlight.
When the two returned to their spot, they saw Kal’tsit standing in place in deep thought.
mon3tr walked up behind her on tiptoe, suddenly resting its chin on Kal’tsit’s shoulder.
“Doctor Kal’tsit, what are you thinking about?”
This sudden contact made Kal’tsit’s body stiffen, her silver-white cat ears standing straight up.
She slowly turned her head.
“mon3tr.” Her voice was frighteningly calm.
mon3tr immediately bounced back as if electrocuted, its dark hair bristling with fright.
Having followed Kal’tsit for so many years, it knew all too well what that tone meant.
“Sorry, Doctor Kal’tsit, I’ll pay attention next time.”
It lowered its head, like a child who had done something wrong.
Kal’tsit irritably rubbed the space between her brows; if they were at Rhodes Island, mon3tr would definitely have been hung out on the bridge to bask in the sun by now.
She took a deep breath.
“This is the last time.”