March 7th was at a complete loss for words.
(￣▽￣*)ゞ
…
“Alright, whenever you two are ready, just come find me in my office,” Herta said with a wave of her hand.
“Better come soon. This genius is offering you her help, so you’d better be grateful! I’m interested in you for now, but once I lose that spark, you’ll be begging me to study you, and I won’t even bother.”
“As for this Stellaron, it’ll stay here at the space station for research.”
“You hear that, Stelle? Herta wants you to stay at her space station,” Himeko said with a light laugh from the side.
“I didn’t say that. Just for a little while. Once I finish my research—or get bored halfway through—this kid’s out.”
“And after that?”
“Not my problem.” Herta put her hands on her hips, her face expressionless.
Meanwhile, Stelle was whispering to Phainon.
“Hey, Phainon, I heard that all those puppets around the space station were made by Herta.”
“Yeah, they sure look like it.” Phainon rubbed his chin, answering Stelle’s question.
“Why do you ask?”
“Can you imagine Herta projecting her consciousness into one of those puppets and talking to us in that same tone?” Stelle grinned mischievously.
“You mean…” Phainon’s eyes lit up with understanding.
“Exactly! All tiny and bossy—just imagine how hilarious that would be!” Getting caught up in her own amusement, Stelle’s voice grew a little louder.
“Hey, you two brats!” Herta had clearly overheard their conversation.
“Watch it, or I’ll make you both disappear!”
“Please don’t, Lady Herta!” Stelle raised her hands in surrender.
“I, Stelle, hereby declare! Lady Herta is without equal! Lady Herta is brilliantly intelligent! Lady Herta is breathtakingly beautiful!”
“Not bad, kid. I’m adding that to my puppets’ voice lines!” Herta lifted Stelle’s chin playfully.
Knowing Himeko still had things to discuss, she added, “You all talk. Come find me when you’re ready.”
With that, she left the platform.
“Stelle, Phainon… you actually have another option. You could join us aboard the Astral Express and become Nameless,” Himeko said, looking at the two of them, as well as March 7th, who had been eavesdropping nearby for quite a while.
“I’m sure little March and Dan Heng would be thrilled to have you.”
“Himeko, actually… we already accepted March’s invitation shortly after we woke up. We just weren’t sure if you’d approve,” Phainon said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
“Oh?” Himeko glanced at March 7th in surprise. New chapters come out on g.com first.
“The Express welcomes every Nameless with open arms. If you’re willing, then of course you’re welcome aboard.”
Just then, Welt Yang, who had been watching from the side for some time, walked up to the group.
March 7th quickly introduced him.
“This is Uncle Yang! He and Sister Himeko are the reliable parents of the Express crew! You can ask him anything.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Welt.” Phainon looked at the bespectacled middle-aged man, thinking this must be the Welt everyone had mentioned.
Even he was impressed by the man’s ability to manipulate black holes.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“Hmm.” Welt adjusted his glasses, studying Phainon with a grave expression.
“Phainon, let me ask you a question: Why do birds fly?”
“Uh…” Phainon was caught off guard.
He had no idea why Welt would ask him such a question.
Seeing his reaction, Welt let out a long sigh of relief.
Just as I thought.
He only looks a little like him.
He’s not Kevin.
“It’s fine if you don’t know—” Welt started, but Phainon cut him off.
“Mr. Welt, I don’t know what you’re getting at with that question.” Phainon looked up at the starry sky with a solemn expression.
“But my answer is this: because they must take to the skies!”
Hearing this, Welt’s relaxed body suddenly tensed up.
Power began to gather around him.
Unaware of his reaction, Phainon continued.
“Birds that soar through the sky as symbols of hope do so because the earth can no longer bear the cries of the dying!”
As he spoke, Phainon clenched his fists.
“Birds take flight because the sky is engraved with tombstones—and the names of us Chrysos Heirs shall overwrite the divine oracles! If you ask why they don’t fall? It’s because we have already paved the path to heaven with our own bones!”
Phainon’s answer descended like molten-gold wings crashing into the sun—an existentialism forged in destruction, burning even brighter than mere survival.
The meaning of flight is not to touch the heavens, but to use the flames of self-immolation to pierce through the cage woven by the gods, illuminating a blood-stained path for those who follow.
Hearing his answer, Welt loosened his grip on his cane.
But from his answer, what Welt saw was not extreme madness—it was the determination to give everything for his companions.
“In the end, he’s not the same kind of extremist as Kevin.” Welt sighed and stepped forward, patting Phainon on the shoulder.
“No matter what your past holds, no matter what burdens you carry, remember this: the members of the Express crew will always be your companions and your support. You don’t have to bear it all alone.”
Feeling the concerned gazes of everyone around him, Phainon nodded, deeply moved.
“Alright, I’ll head back to the Express now.” Welt walked off into the distance.
“The conductor said we have some time to stock up on supplies. If you have nothing else to do, feel free to look around the space station.”
Following the direction Welt had gone, Stelle and Phainon finally laid eyes on the Astral Express—the symbol of the Path of Trailblaze that everyone had spoken of.
A massive train, resembling a steam locomotive from Blue Star, sat parked on the platform.
It gleamed like a steel dragon woven from starlight.
Its body was made of thick, dark metal marked with rivets and weld lines, giving Phainon the impression of something ancient and weathered, yet indestructible.
“So this is the Astral Express that can sail across the sea of stars… It’s magnificent,” Phainon murmured.
“Woo-hoo! We’re going to be sailing on this train from now on!” Stelle raised her hands in excitement.
“I can’t wait for our Trailblaze adventures!”
“That’s right! Our Trailblaze squad has finally expanded!” March 7th stood beside Stelle and waved at Dan Heng.
“Dan Heng! Come over! Let’s take a group photo!”
“Sigh.” Despite his sigh, Dan Heng walked over with a hint of warmth and a small smile, standing between the three.
“Alright, everyone say cheese!”
In the photo, Phainon and Stelle flashed peace signs with goofy grins.
March 7th gave a lively wink.
And Dan Heng, whose icy handsome face rarely changed, had a subtle smile that was almost impossible to notice.
“Hey, Dan Heng smiled!” Stelle pointed at Dan Heng’s face in the photo and leaned in.
“Come on, Dan Heng, give your big sister Stelle a smile!”
“I didn’t smile. You’re seeing things.”
“Don’t be shy, little Dan Heng.” Stelle reached out to pull at the corners of his mouth.
“Between life and death…” Dan Heng already had Cloud-Piercer in hand.
“Oh, look at that! I suddenly realized I haven’t explored the space station yet! March, hurry up and show me around!” Without giving March 7th time to react, Stelle grabbed her arm and dragged her away.
“Hey, hey! Slow down!” March 7th said with a look of utter resignation.