"A special channel? A neighbor?"
Baiheng blinked, processing the information, and then her face lit up again with surprise and delight. "You mean... we are truly on the same Astral Express as the real Trailblazers? I... I might get to meet them?"
Black Herta watched Baiheng's excitement, resembling a fan girl about to meet her idol, and couldn't help but recall Baiheng's connection in her Remembrance to a certain "old acquaintance" who was also currently on the Astral Express.
(Internal thought: Not only will you see them... you'll see a 'Wash-Cut-Blow' version of an old friend.)
However, she didn't expose the secret, merely nodding slightly.
Receiving confirmation, Baiheng was so happy she nearly jumped up, her Tail whipping behind her like a small fan.
She tried hard to restrain herself, looking at Black Herta with expectant eyes, and softly requested, "Then... Master, c-can I stay here? Just in this carriage?"
She loved the feeling of this place too much, as if she could touch the legend she had once yearned for but never stepped into.
Black Herta set down her teacup and waved her hand casually. "You may. Go pick an empty room to be your resting place."
She paused, adding a warning in an unquestionable tone, "But, remember, do not touch the door that connects to the main Astral Express."
"Yes! Thank you, Master! I promise to be good!"
Baiheng was overjoyed, quickly assuring her. Then, like a happy skylark, she skipped off lightly to choose her favorite room, seemingly humming a cheerful tune.
Having sent off the excited Baiheng, Black Herta turned her gaze back to the opposite side of the table.
A Xing had finished all the instant noodles, drinking every last drop of the soup. She now sat there quietly, staring blankly into the void, like an exquisite statue that had just completed its "feeding" command.
Watching this scene, Black Herta removed the wide witchs hat from her head and placed it aside, revealing a full head of long, grayish-white hair that flowed like moonlight.
She gently rubbed her brow, a gesture that was unusually—human—on her.
After much thought.
"Forget it," she murmured, as if talking to herself.
"We'll worry about it later."
Black Herta's eyes once again became sharp and profound.
The Stellaron must be acquired. This was not only related to A Xing's potential but perhaps also to the improvement of her own repair status.
The key was—whose Stellaron to take?
The one on Jarilo-VI seemed, ostensibly, the easiest target to obtain.
She had even simulated in her mind the scene of 'candidly meeting' Cocolia—engaging in a truly 'heart-to-heart' communication (on a physical level) to take the root cause of Belobog's suffering.
But this was definitely not as simple as merely seizing an energy source.
Her action would be tantamount to forcibly tearing a hole in the carefully woven brocade that was the'script.'
The Stellaron Hunters, those who followed the 'Destiny' script, would absolutely not stand idly by.
(Internal thought: This might also be an opportunity... I can use this to contact the Stellaron Hunters, observe their tolerance for 'variables,' and see how far Elio behind them can truly see.)
Of course, there was another possibility—that the protection of The Aeon of Elation Aha was so effective that her actions would be like a phantom diving into the deep sea, completely evading the Stellaron Hunters' detection.
If that were the case, she would actually be somewhat disappointed.
(Internal thought: Regardless, execute the plan first. Bridges burn when you cross them. I'll act according to the situation once we reach Jarilo-VI.)
With her thoughts clarified, Black Herta resumed her composed demeanor.
She looked at A Xing, who was still in standby mode, and commanded, "You also go pick a room to be your resting place."
A Xing nodded silently, stiffly standing up like a robot receiving a command. She mechanically walked off in the same direction as Baiheng, beginning the execution of the new 'find a room' directive.
Black Herta put the witchs hat back on. The shadow under the brim obscured part of her expression, leaving only the graceful lines of her jaw and a thoughtful curve to her lips.
Cyrene sat alone on the soft blanket, the travelogue she had been holding having long slipped to her knees, which she had no mind to pick up.
She hugged her knees, her blue eyes staring unfocused into the void, filled with a pervasive worry.
Baiheng had been taken away by that strange puppet system a while ago and hadn't returned.
Cyrene was terrified that Baiheng might meet with misfortune, as she herself had before, or that Madam Herta, mysterious and imposing, had changed her mind.
Although this place was no longer freezing cold, the unknown still made her uneasy.
She subconsciously tightened the jacket Baiheng had given her, as if drawing warmth and courage from it.
Just then, familiar and light footsteps sounded from the stairs!
"Cyrene! I'm back!"
Baiheng rushed down like a white whirlwind, her cheeks still flushed with excitement, the previous nervousness completely washed away by the new experiences.
Seeing Baiheng safe and sound, and even more energetic than when she left, the worry that had been hanging over Cyrene finally dissipated. Her eyes instantly brightened, and she softly replied, "...Welcome back."
Baiheng plopped down next to Cyrene, chugged a large gulp of water, and then began excitedly chattering about her experience outside: "Cyrene, let me tell you, the outside is incredible! We are actually on the Astral Express! The legendary Trailblazer's train!..."
She excitedly described the train's layout, the starry sea outside the viewing window, and the good news that Madam Herta had allowed her to stay in the carriage.
Cyrene listened quietly. Although her understanding of the 'Astral Express' and the 'Trailblazer' wasn't as deep as Baiheng's, she could still sense the legendary nature of it all and was happy for Baiheng.
Suddenly, Baiheng seemed to remember something extremely important. She leaned closer to Cyrene, her expression turning strange, and lowered her voice to ask, "Cyrene, let me ask you something... did Scholar Anaxa... secretly... perhaps... practice fighting?"
"Practice fighting?"
Cyrene was stunned by the abrupt question, her delicate face filled with confusion. "What... practice fighting? Scholar Anaxa... he is a Scholar, primarily focused on research... I have never heard of him being skilled in combat..."
Although she knew Scholar Anaxa when she was in Amphoreus, their interaction wasn't deep. Her impression of him was always serious and focused, completely unrelated to 'fighting.'
Seeing that Cyrene didn't know either, Baiheng showed a complex expression that seemed to say, 'I knew it.'
She hesitated for a moment but decided to recount the absurd battle experience she had just witnessed.
"...Then, just as A Xing rushed forward, Scholar Anaxa... he suddenly grabbed her baseball bat! His movements were too fast to see! Then, he dodged all her attacks, and even... even used a Rising Dragon Fist! The kind that goes 'whoosh' from bottom to top! It sent A Xing flying!"
Baiheng gesticulated wildly, trying to recreate the shocking scene. "That wasn't all! He followed up with a combo! He was even dancing this weird dance while fighting! Finally... finally, I accidentally shot an arrow into A Xing's butt... and then we all lost..."
Cyrene: "..."
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