Noah narrowed his eyes at the boy kneeling in front of him, gasping for breath. At the sidelines, his friends Koutaro, Yuuya, Kaori, Minami, Athena, and Hayate watched closely. Nearby, Mahiru was surrounded by her circle—Chitose, Itsuki, Julis, Ayato, Saya, Eishirou, Claudia, and Kirin—all holding their breath as Fujimiya Amane struggled to stand.
"...you're tougher than I expected," Noah murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he saw Amane's persistence.
"Amane, come on!!!" Chitose shouted, fists clenched.
"Stand, bro!!!" Itsuki yelled, his voice cracking with excitement.
"Amane, show senpai what you're made of!!" Eishirou added with a grin.
Noah pursed his lips as Mahiru's friends rallied around Amane. He glanced toward his sister, who was watching with eyes full of worry yet steady trust. For a brief moment, pride warmed his chest.
Hmph. My little sister's grown a lot... and she's chosen someone worth standing with. Noah thought, feeling Amane's stock rise in his heart.
Three weeks had passed since the final battle in Natlan. After the war—and after Noah had repaired the broken leylines and dealt 'death' herself—he and the girls kept their promise of visiting the hot springs once more. Once fully rested, they, along with Citlali, set off toward the seventh nation of Teyvat: Snezhnaya, and the mysterious land of Nod-Krai, where the people worshiped the Moon Gods.
It was there they met Touya's potential wife candidates. First was the Tsaritsa herself, prompting Noah to tease his brother about nearly ending up with a silver-haired Russian queen—much to Alya's exasperation. Then came the true shock: Columbina, the current Moon God of Nod-Krai, openly agreed to marry Touya. Kiana and the rest were stunned, and Noah could only laugh imagining his brother's dumbfounded expression.
Having dealt even with Death herself and defied the Heavenly Principles of Teyvat, Noah had become a figure that Celestia itself could no longer ignore. This made Snezhnaya—more precisely, the Tsaritsa—choose to follow him.
Noah released a sigh as he remembered the headaches from that event. He shook his head and instead scanned the simulation room in Asterisk. On one side sat Kiana, Elysia, Lumine, Miss A, Citlali, Masha, Sylvie, Mitsuki, and his mother Elena. The women of his life listened intently, even jotting down notes as his mother and grandmother spoke.
Sylvie had almost missed the gathering, but Mitsuki went full 'Evernight' until her manager and producers caved—granting Sylvie a rare day off. The poor staff had been left trembling, tears and sniffles everywhere as they handed Sylvie over.
"...Remind me never to cross Mitsuki when she's in that mode," Elysia whispered with a shiver, making Sylvie smile wryly.
"Honestly, I'm more scared of Grandma when she switches," Kiana muttered, scribbling on her notes as if it were an exam.
Noah felt a chill just imagining 'Evernight's' piercing stare. His grandmother might look cheerful and sweet, but whenever her bloodline awakened she slipped into that other self… well, even he preferred not to test it.
Noah turned to the other side of the room, trying to shake the image from his mind. There he spotted his younger brother, Touya, sweating bullets. Around him sat Alya with an unimpressed scowl, Buer with her gentle smile, Columbina humming, and the Tsaritsa sipping calmly at the tea Touya had served. Beside them was another white-haired woman clad in black and red—Ronova, the very Death Noah had confronted, now introduced as one of Touya's so-called wife candidates.
Touya met Noah's eyes, silently pleading for help with a desperate look. Noah, being the good brother he was, only gave him a hearty thumbs-up. Touya nearly groaned aloud, while Noah smothered a laugh. He'll survive… probably. With a chuckle, Noah's mind drifted back three weeks, to when Ronova first revealed herself.
—---
Night kingdom, Natlan Teyvat..
As the figure of Gosoythoh burned away by Solgratia's flame, Kiana and the rest of the girls surround him, Noah's sun-lit gaze stares at the sky.
"You have been watching us for a while now," Noah stated as he narrowed his eyes. "Don't you think it is rude and unbecoming of you to not show yourself."
Kiana and the others, along with Mavuika and the heroes, tilted their heads in confusion—until a dreadful pressure swept through the air. Instinctively, Kiana, Elysia, Miss A, and Citlali went into a defensive stance, while Lumine narrowed her eyes, already recognizing the presence.
A rift tore open above them, and a crimson eye with otherworldly energy, gazed down upon the group. The atmosphere grew heavy. Kiana summoned her Flamescion greatsword and stepped forward, Elysia following with her crystalline bow drawn. Lumine and Miss A flanked them, ready for battle, while Citlali stood calm beside Noah.
"Hmm… to think you could perceive me even from Celestia. Truly, you are an enigma, outlander," a deep, feminine voice resonated from the eye.
Citlali bowed with grace. "Greetings, Lady Ronova. I did not expect you to reveal yourself at this moment."
At her words, Kiana and Elysia eased slightly, though their weapons remained in hand. Miss A lowered her staff, but Lumine's sharp gaze never wavered.
"Priestess Citlali, you have done well," Ronova's eyes went to Citlali acknowledging her presence before returning to Noah. "I never wished to appear here, but your husband's perception left me little choice."
Citlali's cheeks flushed pink, but she held her tongue as Ronova continued. o address Noah "To be honest, I never wished to reveal myself. I wanted to let the course of fate flow, to allow you to 'change' the Night Kingdom's rules in your own way. However… with your battle against the Abyss, the Heavenly Principles turned their eyes here and noticed traces of my power. They judged it as me overstepping my authority as the Shade of Death."
Mavuika's expression darkened; she understood her time was at an end. Citlali clenched her fist, struggling to keep her composure.
"With that," Ronova went on, her voice low, "as promised to the Lord of the Night and Xbalanque, I claimed before the Heavenly Principles that my power had been stolen by the Pyro Archon. Thus, they demand her life as punishment for this transgression."
The heroes turned to Mavuika, who only let out a weary sigh, accepting her fate. Miss A lowered her head, her usual brightness fading into a grim silence. Lumine glared at Ronova, her grip tightening on her sword.
"Enough of this," Noah finally spoke, his voice cutting through the tension. His blazing eyes met Ronova's unflinchingly. "Unfortunately for you, that won't be necessary. The Night Kingdom will no longer depend on your authority over death."
In that moment, Noah released an overwhelming surge of Imaginary energy—far greater than what he had unleashed against Gosoythoth. The Night Kingdom, and even Natlan above, trembled under the crushing pressure that poured from him.
"?!" Ronova's breath caught, the crimson eyes of her avatar widening. This power… dwarfs even the Heavenly Principles.
The heroes dropped to their knees, unable to withstand the sheer force pressing down on them.
Kiana and the others stared in shock, eyes wide. "This is… the first time he's gone all out," Elysia whispered.
Noah snapped his fingers. In an instant, silver trails of Trailblaze energy burst forth, weaving like starry rails across the sky. They branched outward, spreading through every corner of the Night Kingdom.
Ronova, Mavuika, the heroes, Kiana, the girls—everyone, even those watching from Asterisk—stood in awe as they witnessed Noah rewriting the leylines of Natlan itself. The radiant rails glimmered for a moment, illuminating the land before settling into place.
Citlali felt the Lord of the Night gasp through their bond as the kingdom changed. The old rule remained, but it no longer required death to sustain itself. Instead, energy would now flow simply by recording or observing the great deeds of those across Teyvat.
"[This is!!!]" Nahida's startled voice burst from the feed in Asterisk.
"[No way! Captain, did you just connect the Night Kingdom directly to Irminsul?!]" Buer gasped, her voice almost trembling.
As the new leylines of Natlan settled and the Night Kingdom was restored, the silver rails slowly faded from sight, disappearing from everyone's eyes. Noah returned his gaze to Ronova. "Now then, your influence within the Night Kingdom has been erased. You should be clear of any involvement now." His tone was calm but firm.
Ronova let out a soft sigh. "...It doesn't work that way. Even if you remove my traces, the Heavenly Principles already know I used my authority to shape the framework. They know the Pyro Archon has relied on my power for thousands of years."
Noah raised a brow. "Even if that power was used to fight the Abyss?"
"...Even if it was used against the Abyss," Ronova replied flatly.
Noah blinked at her tone, tilting his head. "...Why do you sound like you're sulking?"
"I am not," she answered in an even voice—though her tone only deepened Noah's suspicion. Kiana blinks at the exchange, elbowing Elysia, who stifled a giggle.
"Hmm…" Noah's expression turned thoughtful. Tapping on the Force and Trailblaze energy, his gaze pierced beyond the crimson eye in the sky, reaching all the way to Celestia where Ronova was watching. There he saw her true form—a tall, graceful, curvaceous woman with pale skin, long white hair with golden eyes marked by seven-petal flower-shaped pupils. Her attire was striking: a black translucent bodysuit beneath a layered dress, a feathered back skirt trailing like wings, and at her back, crimson wings riddled with eye-shaped holes.
Ronova's eyes widened as she felt his gaze lock directly onto her. A shiver ran down her spine—he wasn't just looking, he was observing her. Her lips parted in shock when Noah's mischievous smile appeared. He lifted his hand, and a wave of unseen force surged over her. The sound of something breaking rang in her ears as she felt her body being freed of something. She got pulled downward against her will.
With a startled cry, Ronova descended, her figure materializing in the Night Kingdom. She landed before Noah and the others, kneeling before raising her head. Everyone's eyes fixed on her.
"Well then, Ronova-chan," Noah said with a playful grin, "from now on, call me Onii-chan."
Kiana—Sirin's voice overlapping—nearly choked. "W-wait… WHAT?!"
Miss A's head snapped toward him, eyes wide. "No way! You want her to be Touya's wife?!"
Citlali's expression froze in disbelief, her lips parting soundlessly. "...Noah, are you for real?"
Elysia burst out laughing, nudging Lumine with glee. "Our Noah's really fearless, isn't he? He just says whatever he wants!"
Lumine expression became thoughtful. "A shade of the heavenly principle calling me Onee-chan... that might not be bad."
Ronova, still stunned, blinked rapidly at him. "H-huh…? O-onii-chan? You can't be serious."
"Oh, I'm very serious," Noah replied smoothly, grin never fading. "Hehehe… sorry, Heavenly Principles, I'm taking the hardworking Shade as my sister-in-law."
—--
Noah stepped to the side, his Lightsaber Lux sweeping down in a sharp arc. Amane gritted his teeth and conjured shields, barely managing to block the strike. The ground where he stood cracked and shattered under the sheer pressure.
Blinking, Noah focused on the boy before him—Amane, trembling, sweating, yet still holding on.
"Go, Amane-kun!!!" Mahiru's voice rang out, clear and encouraging.
Spurred by her cheer, Amane let out a strained cry, forcing Noah's blade back with surprising strength. Noah's eyes widened, shock giving way to respect. Feeling the boy's determination, his expression softened.
Amane staggered forward, breath ragged, his knees nearly giving out. Before he could collapse, Noah caught him with one arm.
"Easy there," Noah said gently as he helped Amane stand.
Amane lifted his head, meeting Noah's gaze. "...Senpai?" he murmured, voice trembling with disbelief.
Noah turned to Mahiru and gave her a small nod. Her eyes widened before she ran into his arms, hugging him tightly.
"...Thank you, Onii-chan," Mahiru whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. She pulled back only to immediately turn and wrap Amane in a hug, leaving him blinking in stunned confusion.
Noah powered down his Lightsaber Lux and clipped it back onto his belt. With his back turned, he spoke firmly, "Take care of my sister, Amane."
Amane's eyes went wide at the words, his chest tightening. He quickly bowed, his voice grateful despite the tears forming at the corners of his eyes. "Thank you, Senpai… for trusting me with Mahiru."
Noah gave a simple wave over his shoulder, a faint smile tugging at his lips, as he walked back toward Kiana and the others.
—-
"Noah-chan, you're already leaving?" Mitsuki asked softly as Noah and those from Teyvat gathered at the center of the simulation room.
"Yes," Noah replied with a small smile. "Unfortunately, the girls and I have to depart Teyvat and continue our journey."
Masha, still holding tightly onto his arm, peeked up at him. "When can we meet again?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Noah pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I'm not sure yet… I don't know if the 'Seed of Sumeru' will still work after we leave Teyvat."
Hearing his words, Masha's expression grew sad as she buried her face against his arm.
"...Then I guess this will be our last meeting for a while," Sylvie said with a sad smile.
Noah tightened his grip on her hand. "I'm sorry. But I promise—I'll find a way for us to communicate soon."
Sylvie nodded, her eyes tearing up. "We'll hold you to that," she whispered before hugging him tightly. After a moment, she reluctantly let go, taking Masha with her to make space for the others waiting their turn.
"...Noah, take care of yourself, alright?" Elena stepped forward, her arms wrapping him in a firm, motherly hug.
"We are so proud of you, son," Haruto added, joining in and squeezing him tightly from the other side.
"Thanks, Dad. Thanks, Mom," Noah murmured, returning their warmth before gently letting go to give way to Caelus and Mitsuki.
"On behalf of Hotaru and the others, seeing you grow into such a fine young man… it fills us with joy." Mitsuki's voice shook as tears slipped down her cheeks. She clung to Noah tightly, whispering with a wobbly smile, "...Just promise me you'll be gentle with them, okay?"
"Grandma!!" Noah groaned, his ears reddening as the others chuckled.
"Ahahaha! As long as you and the girls are happy, that's all that matters." Caelus laughed, giving Noah a hearty pat on the back. "And remember, as Hotaru always said—even in the direst moment, you must dare to hope, and always return to your family."
Noah looked at Caelus with a grin. "I dreamed of a scorched earth. A new shoot sprouted from the soil. It bloomed in the morning sun… and whispered to me."
Caelus and Mitsuki grins and joins Noah to finish the lines. "Like fireflies to a flame—life begets death!"
The three laughed together, hugging one last time before letting go, giving way to Mahiru and an exhausted Touya.
"You okay there, bro?" Noah teased as he slung an arm around Mahiru and Touya.
"...Shut it, stupid brother," Touya muttered, his face red with fatigue.
"Ehehehe," Mahiru giggled from Noah's other side, listening to the banter between her brothers.
She rubbed her eyes against Noah's sleeve to clear her tears. "I won't say goodbye. Instead, I'll say—see you later, Onii-chan! And try not to bring home new sisters-in-law the next time we meet."
"Hahaha, sure!" Noah grinned. "But I'll still be searching for that 'silver-haired Russian' wife for our Touya."
Mahiru burst into laughter while Touya groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Haaah… are you seriously never going to stop that?"
"Not until I find her," Noah said firmly. Touya only sighed in defeat. With a pat on their backs, the siblings stepped aside, giving way to Alya, who was glaring—though the tears in her eyes softened the effect.
"Geez, little sister, you look like a mess," Noah teased, pulling her into a hug.
"Whose fault do you think that is?!" Alya shot back, burying her face in his chest. Her voice cracked as she muttered, "Seriously, Nii-san… you gave me too much trouble."
"Hahaha, I only gave you a little push," Noah whispered with a grin. "So go all out, alright? With the connection to Teyvat cut for now, you've got your chance to awaken Touya's 'man' side. If you need advice, just ask Masha—it worked for me after all. Ow! Hey!"
Alya pinched his side, her ears burning red. She pulled back and glared at him, but the tears and blush on her face ruined the effect. "Hmph! I'll leave you to Kou-nii and the rest."
Noah laughed openly as Alya went to Touya's side, where Buer clung to him, Ronova blushed furiously while glaring at Columbina, who only smirked back. The Tsaritsa, meanwhile, let out a tired sigh at the chaos.
Koutaro came into Noah's view along with Minami, Kaori, Athena, Yuuya, and Hayate. Minami and Kaori immediately jumped into his arms, hugging him tight.
"...At least we can say our goodbyes properly this time, not like when you first disappeared," Minami sniffled, pulling back reluctantly.
"Noah-kun, have a safe journey," Kaori added warmly as she let go, making space for Hayate and Athena.
"You idiot," Athena muttered as she hugged him tightly, her voice shaking, "make sure you come back safely."
"Also, hurry back soon—or else A-tan and I can't have our wedding without you there," Hayate teased with a grin, though his eyes were wet.
"Hahaha! Then I'd better find a way back fast," Noah chuckled. "Athena will kill me if you two can't get married because of me."
The two let go, stepping aside for Koutaro and Yuuya. The three clasped their arms together firmly.
"Take care, alright, Noah?" Yuuya said, his tone steady.
"Leave Asterisk to me—I'll protect it while you're gone," Koutaro declared with confidence.
"With you guys here, our world will be safe." Noah grinned, clasping hands one last time before the three stepped back. Then another figure approached—it was Amane.
"Senpai… thank you again for trusting me with Mahiru. I promise, I won't let you down," Amane said, bowing deeply.
Noah shook his head and gently tapped his shoulder. "Don't bow, Amane." He reached out, taking Amane's arm in the same clasp he had shared with Koutaro and Yuuya. "I'm trusting you with my sister. Never bow to me—or to anyone else—when it comes to that."
Amane's eyes widened, his throat tightening at the weight of those words. Slowly, he mirrored Noah's clasp, gripping firmly. "Until we meet again, Senpai."
"Until then," Noah nodded, letting go. He turned, his gaze sweeping across Kiana, Elysia, Lumine, Miss A, Citlali, and even the girls they had found for Touya. Tears welled in their eyes as they nodded back, opening the screen before them.
Finally, Noah turned toward his family and friends in Asterisk, raising a hand in one last wave with a soft smile.
"Then… until we meet again," he said quietly, before clicking the log out.
—-
Plains somewhere in Mondstadt, Teyvat...
Noah, Kiana, Elysia, and Lumine stood facing Miss A and Citlali, both of whom had decided to remain in Teyvat for a while.
"...You're really not going to change your mind?" Noah asked, his voice trembling as he tried to hold back tears.
"Geez, Captain! We're just going to be separated for a while, not forever!" Miss A scolded, rubbing his back as he clung to both her and Citlali. "This won't be like the last time when 'I' separated from you."
"...You just said something pretty dreadful there, oi," Noah muttered, sniffling.
"Alice's spoilers aside, stop being so dramatic!" Citlali chided gently, her hand rubbing his back alongside Miss A's. "It's not like you won't come back. We just have unfinished business here—it may take years, but once it's done you can come anytime to pick us up."
"But still… from your perspective, we'll be apart for nearly five hundred years!" Noah cried, clinging tighter. "I didn't expect such a time difference after we left!"
"You've altered the world too much, Onii-san," Ronova explained gently from the side. "The Trailblaze power you unleashed to rewrite Natlan's leylines was so strong that it affected the entire world. It will take time for the laws of Teyvat to fully stabilize. Please don't worry—I will keep watch over Istaroth once she puts the world into a time-dilation state. It should only take these years to pass—it won't go beyond."
Noah's expression soured. It had been his miscalculation, his overuse of power, that forced the world into such a recovery.
"Damn it! I never thought unleashing Trailblaze at full would cause this much!" Noah muttered through clenched teeth. He raised his voice to the heavens. "Damn you, Akivili—why didn't you warn me when you gave me this power?!"
"...Akivili is dead, Captain," Kiana reminded him softly from the side.
"Shh, details, Kii," Noah shot back.
Columbina, standing beside Ronova, placed a hand on her chest and spoke with calm reassurance. "Please don't worry, brother-in-law. For us, five hundred years will pass in the blink of an eye."
"...Still," Noah whispered, reluctant and restless, his gaze dropping to the ground.
"Seriously! What are we going to do with you?!" Miss A huffed, dramatically cupping Noah's cheeks in both hands and forcing him to look at her. "I come from a long-lived race, so five hundred years will pass like a blink for me! And Citlali is now directly blessed by Ro-chan, so living through five centuries is nothing for her!"
Noah blinked at her words, about to argue, but Miss A's sharp glare made him snap his mouth shut. "And besides," she added firmly, "both of us will be far too busy fixing your mess to sit around being sad."
"It's not like we'll be alone, either," Citlali spoke up with a small smile. "Alice will be here with me, and Ronova, and the others helping us restore Teyvat. So stop worrying."
Noah winced, guilt flashing in his eyes at the reminder. "...Shouldn't I be the one working to fix my own mistakes?"
Citlali raised a brow, folding her arms. "Isn't that exactly why you need to leave Teyvat? To remove your influence and give the world time to rest and adapt to the changes."
Her words struck him like a blow. Noah flinched, then finally let out a heavy sigh and nodded. "...Alright. You're right."
Both girls finally let out a long breath of relief and turned toward their sisters, pulling them all into a warm embrace.
"Kii-chan, Sii-chan, Ely-chan, and Lu-chan—take care of yourselves, alright?" Miss A said, her voice soft.
Citlali added with a faint smirk, "And… please try your best to rein Noah in from his shenanigans."
"...We'll try our best on that, Itztli," Kiana replied with a wry smile, earning a small laugh from Elysia.
Lumine then stepped forward, pressing something into Miss A's hand.
"Lu-chan, this is?" Miss A asked, tilting her head.
"This is the key to the ship my brother and I use in our travels," Lumine explained. "If you ever meet him, please give it to him. Tell him I'm alright… and that we'll meet again soon."
Miss A blinked, then smiled warmly, clutching the device. "Leave it to me, Lu-chan."
The group exchanged another round of heartfelt goodbyes—Miss A squeezing Elysia one more time, Citlali brushing away Noah's lingering tears, Ronova and Columbina offering farewells of their own.
Finally, Noah, Kiana, Elysia, and Lumine stood together in the center of the clearing. A silvery light enveloped them, lifting their figures gently into the air before whisking them away—teleporting them back to the Astral Express orbiting above Teyvat.
[Welcome back, Captain, Miss Kiana, and Miss Elysia,] Void Archives' voice rang through the Express intercom. [Welcome Miss Lumine and Miss Sirin to the Astral Express. I'm glad for your safe return.]
Kiana and Elysia tilted their heads at the unusual formality, while Lumine and Sirin—inside Kiana—blinked in confusion. Noah, meanwhile, just snorted.
"Uh… thank you?" Lumine replied uncertainly.
"We're back, VA. How's everything holding up on the Express?" Noah asked.
[Aside from the dust that accumulated from months without cleaning, the Express remains in excellent condition—especially with the amount of Trailblaze energy you collected during this expedition.]
Kiana blinked and tilted her head. "So even you noticed how crazy things got."
[Of course. I am always observing, Miss Kiana.]
Elysia grinned mischievously. "Then you'd better show me those records later, VA~"
[..Of course, Miss Elysia,] Void Archives replied with its usual tone.
Noah sniffed, trying to hold back his emotions as he shake his head. ".... Prepare for departure."
[Roger,] it replied promptly.
A few hours later, the Void Archives guided the Express gently away from Teyvat. Noah and the girls stood by the window, watching their world shrink into the distance. Then, they noticed her—a white-haired girl in a flowing dress, soaring above the planet, waving at them.
"...Is that Istaroth?" Kiana asked softly.
"Yeah…" Noah answered, his voice quiet with mixed sorrow and hope.
"...Is that Istaroth?" Kiana asked softly, her eyes following the white-haired figure in the distance.
"Yeah…" Noah answered quietly, his voice heavy with sorrow.
They watched as Istaroth raised her hand, her authority over time wrapping around Teyvat like a protective veil. Slowly, the world entered its time-dilated state, allowing it to recover from the effects by Noah's Trailblaze power.
[Captain, we have reached a safe distance from Teyvat. Please take your seats as we prepare to enter the jump,] Void Archives advised.
Noah, Kiana—with Sirin within her—Elysia, and Lumine all took their seats. Moments later, the Astral Express shimmered as silver light coursed over its frame, preparing for the jump.
Before settling into his seat, Noah lingered by the window for one last look at Teyvat. His reflection overlapped with the planet glowing in the distance.
"...See you again, Teyvat," Noah murmured, his hand pressed lightly against the glass.
The Astral Express streaked across the void like a comet of silver light as it leapt toward its next destination. The first step on Teyvat had ended—and another chapter of the story awaited to unfold.
Somewhere in distant worlds…
A boy packing for his trip to England, a blonde noble girl preparing her daring escape, and another blonde girl tinkering with her witch's broom all paused at once. As if answering the same call, each lifted their gaze to the night sky. There, a silver comet traced its path across the stars. None of them knew it yet, that one day they would become part of the tale that crossed the sea of stars.
—---
Volume 1: Sparks of Teyvat—-- END