Worlds Collide

*yeehaw, here with a new chapter, baby. I hope you'll enjoy, and let me know what you think. Peace out and Deus vult*

Mark could only stare at Welt with a touch of understanding and pity. He kept looking at Acheron with such emotion that it struck Mark right in the chest. Regret, sadness, a hint of horror—just a tiny mix of everything. He could understand Welt's feelings to a certain degree. Suddenly witnessing the past you thought lost, yet... it's not the same. It's different. It's similar to how he felt when the characters from the games appeared in other places. 

"I'd be embarrassed too, getting stared at like that," said Acheron, regarding Welt with interest. Mark put aside his emotions for a moment, the mix of pain and frustration taking a step back as the current issue came into view. 

Welt shook his head slightly, snapping back to reality. 

"I'm sorry. My name is Welt Yang, one of the Crew members on the Astral Express." 

"Welt," she repeated the name, staring at the ground for a few seconds. It was in that moment that worlds collided unlike anything before, where the known and unknown met like two seas to become one, their colors mixing ever so slightly in shades of intertwining memories. 

"Is there something about my name?" he asked, glancing at Mark, who simply remained silent in the process. Sometimes, silence from someone like Mark was just an answer that had to come, but not from him or not in that moment. 

"...First, don't you want to know my name?" asked Acheron, putting a hand to her chest as a sign of courtesy. 

"I already do, Miss Acheron, you're a prominent figure in Penacony," affirmed Welt, yet seeing Mark's sudden twitch, as if something had caused him a flicker of pain, made him reconsider. 

"Your name, huh, 'Acheron'?" mumbled Mark, letting his chin come to a rest in his palm as he sat on the lower edge of the Clockie statue, finding a way to somehow come to a rest on the cold surface. 

She said nothing of it, going on with the conversation. 

"What do they say about me?" she asked Welt, who was trying to find a place where Mark's tiny observation would fit. 

"Some claim that you're the real culprit behind these murders... that the Annihilation Gang's tragic fate at the banquet was a result of your blade... and that now you're trying to unleash another bloodbath on Penacony." 

Mark chuckled, the rumors so forced that he could only sigh and shake his head. Sure, the Annihilation Gang was her handiwork, but considering what sort of monsters had gathered together there, it was more like purging the world of evil. 

"Welt, I think Stelle made it pretty clear that Aventurine isn't to be trusted and that I trust Acheron instead. I don't care what Himeko says, I wasn't swayed in the manner she thinks. Simply put... take my word and be wary of the Family." 

He nodded, then looked at Acheron, who was lost in thought. 

"The Annihilation Gang?" 

Welt nodded, speaking once more. 

"Ifrit of Ever-Flame Mansion." 

"'Tragic fate'," she scoffed softly, the words unfit. "That Duke turned his dying body to flames and sacrificed his life as a martyr. He was a determined and heroic Pathstrider. Not even a villain should be disparaged like this." 

Mark didn't quite see eye to eye with her on the matter, but he did admire someone who held tightly to some form of ideal, even if it's something destructive. He merely admired the devotion, since he too strove to follow his beliefs. 

"And what's more, there were plenty of suspects invited. Do they really think... that a blade is more dangerous than that 'black hole' you're wielding?" 

Mark smirked to himself, admiring the scene as it took place before his very eyes. He simply hoped that Welt would say that one cool line he liked, even if his intervening in the situation might change the flow of the discussion. 

"Keen intuition. Not even The Family managed to point out the truth behind this cane. It's only you and Mark who have done so prior... and I doubt he told you about it..." 

Mark shrugged, knowing damn well that he willingly let that information out to try and gain Welt's trust. He meant no harm, and he had done nothing of it. Welt simply kept staring at Acheron, his voice taking a bit of a deeper, threatening vibe. 

"So you must surely know, Miss Acheron, that peering into a black hole is not a wise move. Despite all of Mark's intervention, you remain a potential threat whose knowledge of us has reached uncomfortable depths..." 

Mark found himself leaning closer, like a kid waiting for the cool part of their superhero cartoon. Welt was about to say the words that he wished to hear. 

"Reveal your true identity and intentions... Otherwise brace for gravitational disintegration." 

Mark leapt from his seat, punching the air with childlike glee. 

"He said the thing! Mister Welt said the thing! Wooohooo!" 

Both Acheron and Welt turned to face him, the seriousness of the moment gone up in a flash as his little display stood out like a red stain on a white sheet. 

"What? Can't a man enjoy a dope one liner used? I know that Mister Welt is a badass, and seeing him act like one is making me all giddy." 

Welt found himself smiling a little, shaking his head ever so slightly like a father when his kid does something stupid with good intentions. 

"Mark, it's not the moment for it, you know?" 

Mark chuckled, shrugging. He couldn't care less. Even Acheron smiled a little. 

"He seems to be quite a handful, doesn't he?" 

Welt nodded, fixing his glasses as he recalled the times Mark got himself closer to death than one should. 

"He seems to have a natural talent for getting into trouble. Even if he has good intentions, somehow trouble seems to follow." 

Mark sighed, crossing his arms. 

"What can I say? I have to do some things here and there to tweak the tiny little things that suck. Anyway, Acheron is a friend, so no need to disintegrate her. Even if she does have her secrets... I'm the same, aren't I? With stuff I tell no one and keep to myself, straight up pulling knowledge out of thin air. As long as she doesn't do anything to harm us, I'd say we're good." 

She nodded, speaking with a string of relief attuned to her voice. 

"I have my own reason for being here. Believe it or not, Galaxy Ranger, Acheron... those are names I go by to this very day. My trip to Penacony is solely to fulfill an old 'final request'." 

Mark's head began buzzing, his memories vibrating like tectonic plates in an earthquake. An old promise, he could almost see the scenes. It was different from his usual locked-up memories—it felt more like he had lived this prior and his mind refused to let him know. 

"The waking world... just what the hell is going on?" 

He shook his head, snatching himself out of that hole before the shadows could come get him themselves. 

"I'm here for the Watchmaker's Legacy... and that's it. I think I've been honest enough." 

Welt let his hands fall to the sides, stealing a brief look at Mark before focusing back on Acheron. 

"Still unwilling to reveal your true identity?" 

"It's not that I don't want to... it's just that I can't... I've come so far, and I can't sum up all of that in just a few words." 

From the side, Mark gnashed his teeth, focusing on the details. He could recall the things in Genshin, those in Honkai Impact 3rd, and yet something seemed to evade him—a specific name that had been found in both. With his mind at war and a pile of shadows lurking in every corner that Penacony had to offer coming for him, he growled out in a pained, labored tone. 

"Raiden...Mei..." 

Welt's face froze as Mark mentioned the name, and Acheron's eyes fell on him like lightning from the heavens above. It was just a name, but the weight it held was enough to put Mark's mind to the ground. For some reason, he wouldn't listen to his own reasoning, choosing to spew out whatever he could in his pitiful attempt at avoiding the worst. Penacony kept a myriad of mysteries that they'd have to decipher, and yet his focus was on doing the things he wished for back in his own world. 

"That name..." whispered Welt, and Mark took a deep breath to try and calm down. The shadows were closing in, trying to strangle him, but Acheron once again came closer, placing a gentle hand on his head. The shadows didn't falter, but they merely seemed to go away willingly as she got closer, the weight of their invisible tie carrying more than he had expected. 

"I see that you do hold rather strange knowledge, Mark. I must admit... you're impressive. No wonder that Memokeeper seems to be a little obsessed with your memories." 

Black Swan being mentioned made him crease his forehead as a flurry of emotions struck at once. He didn't even know how to feel about her anymore. 

"Don't mention her... I'm still a little pissed about how she made the situation worse with Himeko, but truth be told, I could say that it goes to show how little Himeko actually thinks of me. Alas... it is what it is..." 

He sighed and straightened himself, shaking his head a little. Welt still struggled to make sense of it all, but Mark's determined gaze made him snap out of it. 

"Anyway, let's focus a bit more on the issue at hand. Acheron, do go on and tell us a little more about your findings. I know you were wandering around, trying to find that Legacy..." 

She nodded, crossing her arms with a swift movement. 

"I've run around many different Penacony Dreamscapes just to try and find it, and during this period I came in contact with quite a few guests. In the process, I came to realize... the secret of Penacony might be closely related to the Trailblaze." 

Mark nodded, looking at Welt. 

"So, it all ties down somehow. The old part of the crew that had remained here all those years ago, Acheron's claim, the secret message, everything... it must be related to them. Plus, The Family is sketchy. They wished to hide the murders, right? Even the Stellaron Hunters said that we should look into the Family. Thus, I guess we're dealing with some internal power struggle." 

"The Stellaron Hunters?" asked Welt, keeping track of all the words that left Mark's mouth. 

"Yes. We had a little discussion with SAM. You know that I tend to trust them more than I'd ever trust the IPC, so yeah. I do it for good reason. In short: we should keep The Family under our watch. Gotta be careful with them." 

He nodded, committing the words to memory. 

"For now, let's leave it at me, trusting Acheron as well. I know that what you're saying holds ground, Mark, but The Family isn't something we can be careless around. The accusations are bold and lacking proof." 

"For now..." muttered Mark, crossing his arms again with a sigh. 

"Well, I guess this is it for the moment. Who knows what else we should do?" 

Acheron spoke from the side, looking over the large advertisements. 

"How about a drink? How about two cups of 'Wake the Heck Up'? No, four cups..." 

Mark stared at her, the name of the drink feeling a touch too odd to be left as a simple, carefree choice. 

"Wake up, huh? You sure seem to have a thing for the waking world... let's go drink, then. I'm old enough to have my alcohol in peace, so don't you go nagging me, both of you." 

As they went to share a drink, Mark could see the memories of Black Swan rummaging through Acheron's things, forcing the memories to come out of the objects. He'd give that Memokeeper a forced gaze into his mind sooner or later, one where he willingly traumatizes her a little so she'd be more mindful in the future. 

Memories flowed in his mind about both Black Swan and Aventurine, information coming to him from all sides. Oh, to witness scenes that take place away from you, to have information on your foes that no one should. It was a blessing in its own way, despite the pain and lingering side effects that came with it. 

"I have my hand ready, Aventurine. While you have the gambler's luck, I have pure brute force with me."