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Mydei's childhood. No Mydei never had a childhood to begin with.
Even the most gleeful viewers fell silent after seeing this scene.
What they found hardest to accept was this, if this were any other series, Mydei might have been saved, growing up elsewhere, not exactly happy, but at least alive.
Yet in Honkai: Star Rail, they actually let a baby grow up all on his own...
Is the scriptwriter's heart really made of iron?!
...
: All I can say is, it's written way too well.
: It really feels like MiHoYo dumped all their talent into this.
: That's why Mydei refuses to accept Castrum Kremnos's glory, to him, it's a painful past.
: Mydei hating Castrum Kremnos definitely isn't without reason.
: And Mydei's mother, Gorgo, sharing the same name as the first city founder, King Gorgo, MiHoYo really knows how to draw contrasts.
: This feeling of countless fates intertwining and drowning a person… it really hits.
: I thought this episode would knife Phainon first, but instead I got stabbed by Mydei's story.
...
This short segment of the plot delivered an extreme level of emotional tension to the audience.
The entire story revolved around three people. Mydei, and his parents. And the connection between them wasn't just that of parent and child.
Gorgo and Eurypon each faced their own moral dilemmas and tragic destinies. Their stories were also interwoven with the final downfall of Castrum Kremnos, and the Titans.
And the prophecy, serving as the introduction, ran through it all from beginning to end.
People. Momentum. Objects. The three merged perfectly at this moment.
After watching this, the audience felt only the powerlessness of three different people when facing fate.
Whether it was Mydei, or Eurypon and Gorgo. They all tried to resist fate, but from a broader perspective, they never truly succeeded, so-called slaves of destiny, crushed beneath its weight.
In their sense of melancholy, the audience couldn't help but sigh once more.
Ever since entering Amphoreus, the delicacy of the storytelling has only continued to rise.
...
: The script is incredibly solid, it completely sketched out Mydei's character arc in one go.
: My anticipation is maxed out right now. I really want to know how Mydei, carrying such a heavy past, will ultimately treat Castrum Kremnos.
: I think Mydei's final choice will carry immense weight.
: According to earlier information, Mydei not only succeeded in killing Eurypon, but also had many people follow him.
: If I were Mydei, I'd completely sever all ties with Castrum Kremnos.
: From any angle, Mydei doing that would be beyond reproach.
: But what about those who followed him, were they really willing?
: That's why a hero's struggle against fate is the most delicious thing of all, heh heh.
: Whether he follows his own will or lives according to his people's wishes, neither outcome is truly ideal.
: Hiss… thinking about it carefully, yeah, either choice feels unsatisfying when placed on Mydei.
: I'm getting more and more curious.
.....
Amid the audience's anticipation, this memory came to an end.
The camera froze on Mydei's face in a sea of flowers.
That tender expression rapidly matured within a few seconds, finally becoming the Mydei now standing in the Marmoreal Palace, wearing a heavy, contemplative look.
The flashback wasn't just to fill in the story for the audience. It was also the memories flashing through Mydei's own mind at this moment.
His past. His pain. And his responsibility.
"..."
"There's still some time." Mydei murmured, clenching his fist.
During this time, he would make a decision.
...
The scene shifted to Stelle's side.
After a great battle and a long journey, Stelle groggily climbed out of bed, stretching while uncontrollably letting out a yawn.
While yawning, a sudden chill woke up the still groggy Stelle.
Upon opening her eyes, she looked at a familiar person.
It was Castorice. The exquisitely beautiful girl with god-tier looks smiled gently and nodded at Stelle.
"I apologize for arriving uninvited."
"I saw that you were still asleep, so I took the liberty of waiting nearby."
"I bring a message from Lady Aglaea. She has prepared a gift for you and Dan Heng, and wishes to present it to you in person."
At the word "gifts," Stelle's eyes instantly lit up.
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Castorice watched the energetic Stelle with great interest, her eyes sparkling.
"I'm glad you're in good spirits."
Not just Castorice, when the audience saw Stelle, their hearts, which had been somewhat petrified by Mydei's heavy past, started beating again.
Stelle really was a bundle of joy. With a protagonist like this around, there was never any need to worry about the atmosphere becoming too heavy for too long.
Soon, Stelle eagerly left with Castorice.
The two headed straight to the Marmoreal Palace. The moment they stepped into the palace, what met their eyes was a bustling crowd.
The disaster had passed, and people seemed to have tacitly chosen this day to gather in the Marmoreal Palace for a soak.
Among the crowd, they spotted familiar figures.
It was Tribbie and Trianne. The two adorable little girls seemed to be arguing.
Castorice and Stelle exchanged glances, then quietly walked over.
"Trianne, this is a counterfeit. We both know it's impossible for something this fragile to have survived all those years in one piece..."
Tribbie was doing her best to explain to Trianne. But Trianne frowned, looking exactly like a real little girl, and stubbornly retorted, "Nothing is impossible! We are fragile, too! But we still got through those... those sad times. Look at that color... and how it glitters in the light... It's exactly as we remember it!"
Trianne's words were completely childlike.
By the time she finished speaking, she put her hands on her hips and said angrily, "Why won't you buy it? If someone else gets to it before us, we'll... we'll miss our chance forever..."
Tribbie clenched her small fists and looked at Trianne in distress. "Calm down, Trianne... You need rest."
"I won't!" Trianne stubbornly stared straight at Tribbie.
While the two were arguing, the merchant beside them was also in a difficult position.
After all, these were Chrysos Heirs.
She could only speak up to smooth things over. "Please, there's no need to fret. If you need more time to make a decision, I can put this aside for you until tomorrow... or until you're ready."
Tribbie showed the merchant a grateful smile. "No, no, it's alright. Trianne is just... She'll come to her senses tomorrow. We'll be off first."
Trianne, however, grew even angrier and shouted, "Trianne is just what? Trianne is super mad, that's what!"
"You've forgotten... You've forgotten all about Mama! Mama gave us something just like this before!"
Trianne rambled on, scolding Tribbie nonstop. Her innocent appearance only made her anger feel all the more genuine.
Left with no choice, Tribbie grabbed Trianne's hand and temporarily bid farewell to the merchant.
All of this was witnessed by Castorice and Stelle from not far away.
After a brief moment of thought, Castorice stepped up to the merchant and spoke directly.
Once she learned that the core of Tribbie and Trianne's dispute was that so-called craftwork passed down from Janusapolis, Castorice said, "Madam, would you mind selling this trinket to me?"
After a moment's thought, she pondered briefly, then readily agreed to sell it, though she said she would need to consider her profit when it came to the price.
Castorice looked like someone who simply did not know how to bargain at all and was about to buy it outright.
But Stelle, standing to the side, stared fixedly at the merchant. That gaze made the merchant's skin crawl...
Before Stelle even said anything, the merchant obediently sold a blood-red glass gemstone to Castorice at cost price, a fairly reasonable price.
As expected of Stelle! Otherwise, Castorice would definitely have been overcharged.
"Thanks for helping me out. I'm not one to venture out often, and while I have some savings, it takes a lot out of me to even talk to people, let alone haggle... Had you not been here, I would've been set back plenty."
Castorice pursed her lips and expressed her gratitude to Stelle.
"No problem, no problem." Stelle waved her hand generously.
After this little episode, the two of them finally reached the topmost level of the Marmoreal Palace.
There beneath the massive hot-spring waterfall, they met Aglaea.
Stelle was very curious about what Aglaea's gift would be.
"Not at all. It's good to see little Stelle bouncing back with such energy after that tough battle." Aglaea began with a polite remark, then went straight to the point.
She lightly clapped her hands. At once, an attendant brought forward a tray, upon which rested a uniquely shaped bottle.
Inside was a blood-red liquid of some kind.
"For all that has happened, it was never our intention to drag you two into the battle against Nikador and jeopardize your safety. To express our gratitude for your kind endeavors, we would like to present you with the highest honor of Okhema."
As she spoke, Aglaea picked up the bottle and handed it to Stelle.
"This is the Dew of Divine Blood, brewed from crops nourished by the blood of the Titans. It is said that only twelve bottles existed. The last three bottles are now being kept in the treasure vault of Okhema."
"Back in the days of prosperity, cities fortunate enough to acquire it regarded it as one of the greatest treasures ever. Unsealing it during a ceremony held in honor of two cities' diplomatic ties was the highest form of respect one could show the other."
Stelle's eyes, as Aglaea explained, gradually began to shine visibly.
She excitedly took the bottle.
However, while Stelle was brimming with excitement, Dan Heng beside her remained extremely calm.
"This precious gift isn't simply a token of gratitude though, is it, Lady Aglaea?" Dan Heng looked directly at Aglaea and asked calmly.
"Very perceptive, Mr. Dan Heng"
Aglaea did not beat around the bush. With a faint smile, she said directly, "Your heroic deeds have proven that you come in good faith. With the Dew of Divine Blood as testament, we wish to forge an alliance with the Trailblazers."
An alliance! Aglaea wanted to form an alliance with the Express?!
The audience, who had been immersed in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, immediately perked up.
On screen, Dan Heng crossed his arms, his expression unchanged, and said calmly: "With all due respect... won't forging an alliance with the Chrysos Heirs embroil us in the conflicts within Okhema?"
"I'm sure you can understand where our misgivings come from, Lady Aglaea."
Stelle only needed to accept the gift, but Dan Heng had much more to consider.
After all, standing before them was the leader of Okhema's Chrysos Heirs.
Before this, Dan Heng had already heard multiple times about the conflicts between the Chrysos Heirs and the Council of Elders.
And moreover... people from the Council of Elders had already privately made 'contact' with Dan Heng.
Naturally, it was not a pleasant kind of contact.
"Having said that, please don't misunderstand, we will still do what we can to assist you in the Flame-Chase Journey."
"It's just... I've heard of the friction between the Chrysos Heirs and the Council of Okhema. As outsiders, we are wary of getting caught up in this conflict-"
Dan Heng stated his position plainly.
No matter which side they helped, at least from Dan Heng's perspective, the conditions were not yet sufficient for an alliance.
Aglaea's eyes narrowed slightly. Just as she was considering how to explain, from not far away came a series of lively, soft, and adorable voice.
A pair of slender legs complimented by white stockings and pink-soled leather shoes stepped into the screen...