Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [108]
Welt made his way to Qlipoth Fort to formally announce the Trailblazers' decision to leave Jarilo-VI.
Bronya, unsurprised, simply nodded and said, "It seems you've made up your minds. Rather than try to dissuade you, I believe I should offer my blessings instead. May your path always be guided by favorable winds, and may no dirt cling to you, even if you stumble."
"Hehe, thanks, Bronya! We'll definitely come back for the next Windblume Festival!"
March 7th beamed with her signature bright smile, and both Dan Heng and Welt gave a polite nod.
After saying their farewells, the group stepped outside to the front entrance.
Seele was leaning casually against the doorway, arms crossed. When she saw them, her usual aloofness gave way to a hint of solemnity.
"I heard you're leaving," she said. "It's a shame, but I know that travelers of the wind will always meet again when the winds change direction."
"Wait, did you just say something poetic?" March 7th exclaimed, covering her mouth in exaggerated surprise.
"I thought lines like that were more Bronya's thing!"
"…It is, in a way," Seele replied, her tone slightly awkward. "But you get the idea. Next time you visit, let me show you around Belobog properly. I didn't get much time this trip."
Though Seele kept her expression composed, March 7th caught the fleeting moment of shyness and couldn't help but smile mischievously.
"Deal! We'll count on you next time. I'm sure Belobog will be even more amazing by then!"
After taking a group photo with Seele—complete with her reluctant participation—the Trailblazers headed toward the Mechanical Room.
Their snow cruiser from earlier had been left behind at Welt's suggestion, a symbolic gesture to commemorate their friendship with the people of Jarilo-VI.
As March 7th excitedly pushed open the door, a familiar lazy voice echoed from inside.
"—Who's barging in without knocking? Don't you know—"
"Ah! It's Sister March, Brother Dan Heng, and Uncle Welt!" Clara's head peeked out from the back room, her face lighting up at the sight of them.
"Hey, you're here! Come in, come in! I was just talking to Clara about you," Serval added, emerging from the cluttered storeroom.
With a wave of her arm, Serval greeted the group with her usual cheerfulness. "You're leaving today, aren't you? Coming to say goodbye?"
"Yep! We wanted to take a photo to remember this moment!" March 7th said enthusiastically.
"A photo, huh? Fancy! I always thought photos were for fan meetings—though technically, I'm more of a fan of Welt's than the other way around, haha!"
Serval's admiration for Welt's technical skills was well known, especially after witnessing his ability to breathe life into old, forgotten tech. She'd even joked about becoming his apprentice.
Though the Trailblazers couldn't stay long, Welt had modified a few ancient devices from Belobog's ruins, including some retro-style phones. He upgraded them with communication functions, ensuring that Bronya and Venti could contact the crew whenever needed.
"Photos… oh!" Clara clapped her hands in realization. "Svarog took photos of me when I was younger, too. He said it was to document my growth…"
The group exchanged smiles at this touching glimpse of Svarog's fatherly nature. He remained silent, but his calm demeanor seemed to say, Of course—it's my responsibility.
With Clara and Svarog joining, Serval posed with them, ensuring the best angles for the photo.
Click.
The sound of March 7th's camera captured the precious moment, freezing it in time as a token of their shared memories.
After making copies for Serval and Clara, the two marveled at the photo.
"Wow, this is amazing! My brother could learn a thing or two about photography from you!"
"Huh… I look so small in this. I thought I was taller…" Clara murmured, comparing herself to the towering Svarog beside her.
Having spent so much time with Svarog, Clara rarely noticed her height. Back in the Underworld, being small had its advantages—it allowed her to explore tight spaces and hide easily when necessary.
"No worries!" March 7th encouraged. "Keep eating well, and you'll grow as tall as Dan Heng someday!"
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Dan Heng replied dryly.
"Besides, growing up isn't always a good thing. If you end up like March, getting taller but not wiser, it'll only cause trouble for those around you."
"Wow, Dan Heng's on fire today!" Serval whistled in mock admiration.
March 7th, meanwhile, was fuming. "Grr! You're asking for it!"
"Ahem. Since the photo's done, we should get going," Welt interrupted, bringing the playful sparring to a halt. "March, Dan Heng."
Reluctantly, the two fell in line behind Welt as they prepared to leave.
Serval and Clara waved from the doorway, Clara calling out, "Goodbye, Sister March, Brother Dan Heng, and Uncle Welt! Thank you for the photo! Have a safe journey!"
"Yeah, and next time, come to one of my performances!" Serval added. "I promise, it'll be as rockin' as Barbatos himself!"
March 7th shuddered at the mental image of Serval shredding on an electric guitar, while Dan Heng instinctively stepped a bit farther away.
As they left the workshop, March 7th stretched with a satisfied sigh.
"Phew… We've taken all the photos we need and explored every corner. Now…"
She trailed off, her voice lowering.
"…Now, I just want to collapse in the luxurious bed at the Goethe Hotel and sleep like a baby! I was so exhausted yesterday."
"...You can sleep on the train," Dan Heng said matter-of-factly.
"Ugh, Dan Heng, you're no fun! If you get the chance to stay in a fancy room, you have to enjoy it. Plus, we're still waiting for Venti's answer, aren't we?"
March 7th grumbled as she steered Dan Heng toward the church.
"Although, after hanging on that swing all night, I hope he doesn't catch a cold."
"…I doubt that's possible," Dan Heng replied, skeptical of Venti's susceptibility to mundane illnesses.
"No matter his decision, we should respect it," Welt said with a nod.
Back at the church, they waited from morning until midday. Even after the agreed-upon time, Venti still hadn't appeared.
Welt assumed Venti was struggling with the decision to leave Belobog, which was understandable. Saying goodbye was never easy, especially for someone as tied to the city as he was.
If he ultimately chose to stay, Welt would be at peace knowing Venti remained to support Bronya and Seele.
The group didn't question his absence. Silently, they packed up and departed, leaving the city behind.
---
As they walked out of Belobog, Welt's sharp eyes caught a fleeting figure in the shadows—Sampo.
Standing in a dark corner, Sampo seemed to be talking to someone—or something. A battered TV with a smiling face emblem flickered with static as he spoke.
Wiping his brow, Sampo chuckled.
"Whew, that was close! But hey, I never needed to be the hero, right? It's way more fun playing the masked fool. And I think we proved that, didn't we?"
His grin widened mischievously.
"Turns out, Venti and those Astral Express folks were even more entertaining than I imagined! You liked it, didn't you? Oh, come on—don't lie to me. Hahaha, what a masterpiece!"
The static on the screen grew more intense, but Sampo only nodded knowingly.
"…Nah, I'm not leaving this place yet. Penacony? Please. What's the fun in some decadent paradise?"
He suddenly adopted an air of philosophical gravity.
"I've always believed that the truest joys are those that affirm human dignity—the higher the joy, the greater the reward!"
But in the next moment, he was back to his usual carefree self, grinning like a rogue.
"All right, I'm signing off! Say hi to the folks at the tavern for me, and don't forget—tell them to look forward to ol' Sampo's next act! For now, though, it's curtain call time."
As his words trailed off, the makeshift TV sparked violently, the screen going dark.
Sampo turned away with a flourish, bowing like an actor at the end of a play.
"This story is dedicated to you, dear viewer. Did it bring you any joy?"
His eyes glimmered with mischief as he looked upward, as if addressing someone unseen.
"If not, oh, how it would break Sampo's heart."
---
With the Trailblazing journey drawing to an end, the group bore witness to the rebirth of Jarilo-VI's last surviving city of human civilization.
Though they hadn't arrived in time to save the world, playing a role in tying up loose ends didn't seem like a bad experience either.
At the very least, everyone's sleep quality had significantly improved. They even received a recording of Venti's poetic performance on a disc from none other than Miss Pela, whom they'd encountered patrolling the city gates.
It was at that moment that Himeko's message arrived.
Himeko: March, Dan Heng, Welt—how's the rest treating you?
Himeko: Pom-Pom has completed the pre-departure checks, and we're ready to make a brief stop at the Space Station. When you've wrapped up your tasks, return to the train.
Himeko: By the way, we've found something on the train. I'm not sure whether to call it a surprise or a scare. I'll explain when you get back.
March 7th glanced at her screen, a strange sense of foreboding settling in.
Thinking of Venti, who still hadn't shown up, she hurriedly typed a reply.
March 7th: Got it! We'll head back right away.
After confirming the message had been sent, she snapped her phone shut and turned to face the pastoral city bathed in sunlight.
The sight was as grand and memorable as ever.
Yet now, alongside the lingering traces of smoke from the battles they had witnessed, the flowers left half-bloomed in the streets lent the city an entirely new meaning.
"So, the time has finally come… Sigh, goodbyes are always so bittersweet…"
"There's no such thing as an endless feast," Dan Heng replied. "Once you're back on the train and flipping through your photos, I'm sure your sorrow will vanish."
"You really think I'm that shallow?" March 7th said, her tone dripping with mock offense.
Dan Heng shrugged without answering, leaving her to grumble in frustration.
Welt, meanwhile, couldn't help but smile at the banter between his young companions. With a tap of his staff, an invisible force enveloped the three of them, and they vanished from sight.
---
At Qlipoth Fort
Seele stood at the gates, her arms crossed as she gazed up at a streak of blue light soaring across the sky. Her tone was unreadable.
"You really let him leave that easily?"
"It was a decision we made together, wasn't it?" Bronya replied calmly. "In the end, we have no right to take away his freedom."
"Freedom, huh? You're awfully rational today. Weren't you the one being impulsive yesterday? How quickly things change."
"Ugh…! I wasn't impulsive," Bronya protested, though her voice wavered slightly. "I just took some time to think things through more clearly. Besides, I already told you—wind changes directions."
The two locked eyes for a moment before looking up at the disappearing starry light, each silently repeating the same thought.
"Travelers of the wind will always meet again when the winds shift."
They both knew that choosing to become a Trailblazer didn't mean indulging in carefree adventures.
From Welt's notes, they'd learned that Trailblazing was far from easy. The journey was riddled with challenges, many even more dire than what they themselves had faced.
But it didn't matter…
The wind always brought change and hope.
As long as the Trailblazers continued forward, the day when their paths crossed again would surely come.
When that time arrived, they would summon the courage to take the next step forward.
---
Back on the Train
Himeko greeted the returning group with a warm smile.
"Welcome home, you three."
"Ah! Himeko, Pom-Pom! I missed you both so much! And guess what? Our Trailblazing mission was a complete success!"
March 7th rushed over, throwing her arms around Himeko, who laughed softly and ruffled her hair.
"Hehe, I've already received Welt's mission report. You've all done a commendable job."
"Commendable? Just commendable? I thought for sure we'd get a 'perfect performance' review!" March 7th pouted.
"Well, if you and Dan Heng got along better, it might have been perfect," Himeko teased with a knowing smile. "But then again, it's part of your charm. After all, we're a family. Being too polite would make us seem more like strangers just passing through."
Welt nodded at the sentiment. "Exactly. We're not mere visitors saying goodbye at the next station."
Dan Heng, however, remained practical. "Instead of debating semantics, we should focus on leaving this domain. The trip to the Space Station will barely give us enough time to analyze the atmospheric data we've collected. I'll head to the databanks to get started."
"Wow, Dan Heng, who knew you were such a busybody?"
The teasing voice came from the side, interrupting the conversation.
"After all, as Trailblazers, it's our destiny to always be on the move… to keep Trailblazing."
March 7th froze mid-thought as the voice struck a chord of familiarity. She turned her head, her eyes widening in shock.
"Wait… Venti? What are you doing here!?"
"Eh-heh. Is it so strange?" The bard gave her a playful smirk. "I did say I was boarding the train, didn't I?"
With his signature mischievous grin, Venti spread his arms wide, harp slung over his shoulder.
"As a stellar storyteller like myself, how could I miss the chance to join you Trailblazers on your adventures? A story is never complete without someone to chronicle it!"
---
T/N: Heh stellar, nice pun
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