Space Oddity (A Honkai: Star Rail Quest)

[X] Go visit the Supreme Guardian.

10:00 AM, System Time
Jarilo-VI
Belobog, Administrative District

The city of Belobog looks cool, but the lack of technology and interesting people to talk to pretty much kills your enthusiasm and curiosity after about five minutes. Underneath the Everwinter Monument, this huge piece of blue ice, you and the Express meet up.

Dan Heng writes down the sights in a notebook, making sure the Archives are going to be filled with accurate info.

March and Stelle are learning about the Everwinter Monument from the commemorative plaque and a… children's tour group respectively.

Stelle seems to be enraptured by the blue haired woman telling the story of Belobog for a second time, so you decide to walk up to her and check out what's up. "Hey Stelle, you doing good?"

Stelle snaps out of her stupor. "Uh— hey, Miss Shelley. I was just focused on learning as much as I can about Belobog."

"Really? That's cool! Being a Trailblazer seems to suit you very well."

"Well, it seems like—" Stelle stops in her tracks as she's speaking. "Huh. That's weird. Apparently Stella's calling Trailblazing 'our old dream'."

"Just how much has Stella been saying to you about your past?"

Stelle sighs. "I've managed to gather that I used to be with Kafka's "Stellaron Hunters" from the things she just randomly blurts out. I really don't even think Stella has control over the things she says."


Very helpful, Fran.

Stelle groans in frustration. "Besides, I don't even know why I'm so curious! It's like my brain's a sponge for learning, and I can't get it to stop."

You put your hand on Stelle's shoulder to reassure her. "Don't worry, I know we'll figure out what's up with your Stellaron eventually. For now, there's nothing wrong with you being curious, trust me! As long as it doesn't hurt anyone, your curiosity is wonderful!"

You mean that, honestly. Back in Pteruges-VI, kids were just expected to carry on their parents' legacies and get a prestigious education and job on Pteruges-VI. Seeing Stelle blaze her own trail and explore… it makes you happy.

Stelle takes a deep breath and smiles, glad to have heard your words of encouragement. "Thanks, Miss Shelley. I really needed to hear that."

"No problem. Oh, and you can call me Miss anytime you want now."

[Relationship Level with Stelle is increasing.]

---

Dan Heng taps you on the shoulder. "Gepard just texted me. He says that he managed to get us an audience with Cocolia, if we go now."

March seems really excited. "We should go! From what I've heard from the people here, Cocolia's a great person to be around."

Her eyes move over to the palace where the Architects reside. "Besides, it's not like we'll get another chance to get in within our lifetime."

The line to meet with Cocolia is absolutely tremendous. People line up almost down to the block, and you know that some of them have been camping out by their carried tents.

Dan Heng directs the group to start walking. "For once, March is extremely correct. Besides, she likely has at least some idea of what or where the Stellaron is."

"Hey! Are you implying I'm incorrect most of the time!?"

Dan Heng starts walking faster.

---

10:30 AM, System Time
Belobog, Qilpoth Fort

One quick talk with the Silvermane Guards at the entrance later, and Gepard radios to let you in. The citizens waiting at the door look at you with an expression that can roughly be interpreted as "who the hell are you?"

[Heat in Belobog has risen to (8/100)]

The inside of Qilpoth Fort is cold and dimly lit, but it definitely feels secure from any dangers. Real, or imagined.


No, we are not talking about the IPC right now.

Two Silvermane Guards, armored the same way Gepard was, block the door to the Supreme Guardian you've heard so much about.

After what seems to be an eternity of waiting in that blue lobby, they put their spears away and step aside.

"Enter." One of the guards says, their voice rumbling through their helmet.

The group walks into the palace/fortress's main room. Inside, light shines in through the painstakingly crafted glass windows, and the delicious smell of hot tea wafts through the air.

A woman with a head of blonde hair finishes up a piece of paper with a signature from an ink pen, and then she looks up with a small smile. "Oh. You seem to be the Offworlders I was expecting. Come, take a seat down on the chairs, I had somebody prepare some tea and biscuits."


You're no fun..


The kids sit down on one of three chairs, while you lean on a table nearby.

Cocolia files some papers into a cabinet, and starts speaking whilst doing so.

"I didn't feel like meeting one more person today, but then Gepard came and told me about this wonderful girl and her friends who he met in the snow. Since he talked so warmly about you, I decided that I wanted to meet you myself."

Stelle blushes a bit, but manages to restrain it before Cocolia turns back around.

"So, what brings you here, Offworlders? You are the first of your kind to visit Belobog in hundreds of years."

Dan Heng quickly eats a biscuit (so it isn't poisonous!) before responding.

"We're a group of Interstellar Travelers called the Astral Express. Our traveling train of the same name ended up breaking down, and now it's above the skies of this planet. Do you have any idea why?"

He didn't mention the Stellaron, but why? You look at Cocolia and..

[Social Roll: Challenging (20)]
[+5: Great Social Skill]
[+2: Gepard's Goodwill]
[-4: ???]
[19+3=22. Pass!]

You figure it out in an instant, because you've seen people with that exact same expression. Dan Heng likely has as well.

She fiddles with a pen, so stealthily you wouldn't notice if you weren't looking for it. "No, I don't know of anything that could change the skies like that.."

She's uncomfortable, and doesn't want the subject of the Stellaron brought up while in the presence of so many people she can't trust just yet.

While you don't know why she's keeping secrets, she won't budge at the moment as long as there are too many people inside the room.

Thankfully, you can already figure out a plan to get her to open up.

"We don't have a place to sleep, and we likely would have frozen wandering outside of Belobog," you start to plead, "so do you have anywhere for us to rest until we can get off planet?"

Cocolia seems just the tiniest bit more relieved when she hears "off planet", and starts to ruffle through her many, many drawers. "I actually do believe there is a place for you, let me just—there."

She hands over a ticket written in native Belobogian to you. Your Synesthesia Beacon roughly translates it to "Goethe Hotel free coupon".

"I have this from a thank you letter one business sent me years back. I'll never use it, so you all can have it. It's the best I can do for someone Gepard spoke so highly of."

"Thank you so much, Ms. Cocolia. I'll have one of our members go and reserve us a room."

You look at the crew members, who seem incredulous at what you just said. You mouth out, "just trust me."


While I never became anything more than an honorary member, I've been around the Family long enough to know how to negotiate with… "advanced strategies."

Now let's see if this strategy pays off.

[ ] [Crew] Who are you sending outside first?
-[ ] Stelle
-[ ] March
-[ ] Dan Heng

QM Note: The other two will leave you at the end of the next update, this just sends away one crew member temporarily.

[ ] [Conversation] What will you talk about? (Write-in, two topics max)

QM Recommended Topics:
-The Fragmentum Problem
-"How would you describe Belobog?"
-The Underworld (Shelley does know it exists)
-The Preservation and Qilpoth
-Your Emanator Status and Harmony
- The Stellaron (Fran and Shelley know now is not the time.)

---

Author's Note:

AHA! WHEN I CATCH YOU AHA, I SWEAR! I WASN'T EXPECTING YOU TO FUCK UP CANON THIS EARLY! AHAAAA!!!

(ahem)

From now on, let's just refer to the dice gods as just another manifestation of Aha. It just feels fitting.

And speaking of said dice gods, I had ONE extremely important roll planned for this chapter that by all means you should have failed or only half succeeded, and you guys just happen to get a 19. I'm happy. Yes, this is fun.

Anyways, I can already see Shelley and Fran rubbing their hands together maliciously. I can also already figure out that this version of Belobog is going to change quickly. Shelley out here with the verbal judo and the +5 to social.

Cocolia's half pretending to be nice atm, but at this rate you guys are going to actually have her be nice. Jesus.

Also, congrats to @CryoIce, on their guess of 92 pages! The actual answer, in case you all were wondering, was somewhere around 97 pages. You'll be seeing that drabble soon.

Good luck on the write-in, and Aeonspeed.

Author's Note

Since this last chapter was a bit short, I decided to make it up to you guys with an Omake, in celebration of 2.2 and Firefly not being dead (even though everyone knew she was SAM anyways).

This Omake follows the canon of the Knight From Glamoth character from this Omake, and shows some small scenes from her time in Penacony. Read Amethyst's first story, or this won't make much sense.

BTW: While I wanted to make this about Firefly, Aventurine ended up taking over, due to us getting tiny scraps of lore for Firefly in 2.2.

Spoilers for the entire Penacony storyline.

---

Penacony
Grand Lobby

The capsules and seemingly endless hotel rooms of Penacony have always been creepy to you, and Robin's suspicious behavior hasn't been helping.

You've punched out Phantylia! You've reasserted the Preservation on Belobog! So how come you can't overcome this splitting headache?

"Ame, are you ok?" Ace chimes.

No, I'm…this place reminds me too much of the Iron Crypt where we were born. Bad memories.

Caelus silently taps you on the shoulder, and nonverbally urges you to go on ahead and check in.

Thankfully, even if you didn't get any invitation as a Nameless, your fellow Emanator Rex Lapis (AKA Zhongli) from the Architects was nice enough to lend you his invitation. In the email he sent you, he said something about "wanting to retire", whatever that means.

You ride on up the elevator, and start waiting for the Express crew, and then—

"Why hello there, Miss Amethyst," Aventurine says as he walks up to you with his swagger and jewels, "I would like to propose to you a deal."

"Fuck off."

"C'mon, you don't need to treat me like that. I'm just a humble gambler."

Oh great. Another IPC lackey. You probably shouldn't do anything for this rich boy.

---

Penacony
Clock Studios Theme Park
You would do absolutely everything humanly possible for this poor boy.

You've already pulled a trick on Sunday with the aid of the Doctor, and you've been accompanying Aventurine for a while. He has a plan to prove that "death" exists on Penacony.

And if his plan involves sacrificing himself, you've gotten to the point there's no way you can just up and accept it.

You pull at his sleeve, fruitlessly. "Don't, don't just—don't you fucking do this."

Aventurine softly pulls away his hand. "Amethyst, you know that I have to use this plan. I can't just let any other person kill me, and the Harmony would burn me away anyways."

You sniff, trying to wipe away the tears. "And let Acheron just kill you? Please, I can figure out something using the Preservation, we can run away from the IPC together. I don't want to see you throwing your life away!"

Aventurine looks back at you, the curtains to the stage far away but so painfully close. "I've already told you, Amethyst. I've gambled with my life a hundred times, and I'll keep on doing it if it means I'll be happy."

"Don't you say that, you self sacrificing nimwit," you scream through your tears. "We're both the same, dammit! We're both alone, but that shouldn't just mean we just sacrifice each other- or ourselves!"

Kakavasha (oh Qilpoth, please let him keep that name forever and ever, his true name-) looks at you with a pained grin. "It's still the only way I can win. And besides, don't worry about me. If I'm honest, you remind me so much of her."

"You remind me so much of her."

Qilpoth above, don't let him hurt you so much with his words.

"I'm so, so honored to even try and fill the same shoes as your sister."

And…

"You remind me so much of her as well." You mumble. "You have the same kind heart underneath."

Seraphina. That's who he reminds you of. The noble, kind, gentle, beautiful princess of Glamoth.

(The girl that died because you weren't faster that day, when the refugees were under attack. The girl you killed.)

When you see Kakavasha's sad smile, it's like staring into an old picture that should have decomposed a hundred years ago.

"Then you understand why you can't stop me. I'm sorry."

He smiles with that same damn face again, and he vanishes into the red curtains.

You stand there, in silence. In mourning. Then, you pull on your Mecha changer as you slowly walk down the stairs.

Ace?

Yes, Madam? Are you ok?

…No. Activate Mecha, and tell the Express I'm coming.

Villain, enter stage right.

Hero, exit stage left.

---

???
Horizon of Existence



Out by the shores you've found yourself in, a black hole looms in the distance, swallowing all light and goodness in the world. Acheron (the Emanator of Nihility, as you've found out) and Kakavasha are about a few hundred meters away.

The waters of Nihility run deep, but as you're running over to Kakavasha, you're not too mad. You just wish that at the end of everything, the Aeons would allow you to see Seraphina again.

Saying her name doesn't hurt as much, anymore. Is this what they call acceptance?

Well, the only one to blame for being here is you.

Full body grappling on to the Stoneheart in a desperate move.

Aventurine's mastery of Preservation, going beyond all expectations thanks to knowing you for that brief period of time.

Yelling at Acheron, "take the shot!"

Faces of all the comrades that burnt themselves up for Glamoth's war machine flash by you, and it hurts so much. You run through the tombstones to catch up to that half alive, half dying man you just can't let go of, not yet.

And right before you meet that white haired woman up ahead…

Seraphina passes by you, and you can barely choke back your tears before she disappears.

"I love you. Carry that in your heart, ok?"

You catch up to them, your body that was enhanced by the Dreamscape starting to slow all the way out here. Kakavasha is kneeling down to his younger self. He talks in a slow tone and cadence, with empathy you could never have found in that first impression.

"I'll get there, one day. But not now."

He looks to the rainy, empty sky, with a sad smile. "There will come a day when the sky will drizzle, and I will hear the call of Gaiathra Triclops and know that it is time for me to go and be reunited with my family. So until the time comes... I should be preparing."

His past self speaks up. "Preparing for what?"

"Preparing to face them, Kakavasha, and to make them proud."

You watch in wonder as you talk to yourself under your breath. "He's done it. He's really grown."

"Are you going now?"

"Yes."

He puts his palms together in that sacred gesture of his people, and he takes a deep breath. "May the Mother Goddess thrice close her eyes for you… keeping your blood eternally pulsing."

The rain intensifies. Or is that your tears?

"May your journey be forever peaceful...and your schemes forever concealed."

Qilpoth bless you, you damn schemer.

"Our paths will cross again beneath Kakava's shimmering auroras."

He's walking away now, into that horizon of existence. You take a deep breath and get ready to turn back to Acheron until—

You feel a touch on your shoulder. Seraphina's beautiful blue eyes looking back at you. "Don't worry about me, or your new friend, Amethyst. Say goodbye. I know you always wanted to, right?"

Silently, you pull her into one last hug, grabbing on like letting go means the end.

And then you kiss her.

And you let go.

Her visage disappears into the murky water. She will always be in your heart, but not right now. Your eyes look towards that man now, his coat and face drenched by that rain.

"Kakavasha, wait!"

He turns, and when you see his smile-

Well, truth be told, his smile is better than hers. Because he's still alive and living with all of his heart, striving towards an unknown future.

"What is it, Ame?"

"Take care of yourself, Kakavasha. We're both comrades in arms and siblings in spirit— you know what that means."

He nods, before turning away and throwing his hat back to you. "Of course."

You both say it in unison, the old motto of Glamoth. "You go to hell for me, I go to hell for you."

The tears won't stop anymore, as you catch the hat and clutch it to your chest. "Farewell… Kakavasha."

He disappears into the void, and for once, you can only pray that he's going to make it.

Acheron puts a comforting hand on your shoulder. You look back at her. "Will he be ok out there?"

She responds back, in that gentle but well traveled tone. "He will live, if he's strong. Now it's time to go."

"There's no need to worry anymore, then. I know I'll see him again."

You dry your tears, and smile. "Because Kakavasha is my brother. He's my fellow Emanator Of Preservation."

---

Author's Note:
Make sure to comment and vote on this Quest, as always. If you want, you can ask questions about this omake if you're curious. I tried out a different writing style for this chapter, and I want to see your thoughts.

And I hope that you remember that "grief is simply love persevering." I think both Aventurine and Ame would think so.

Aeonspeed.

You all know the deal by now.

I just made another side story, this time featuring the Knight of Glamoth character. Find it here.

Author's Note: Since @CryoIce won the contest I put up in the last chapter, he got 500 words of any drabble that he wants.

So, now I have to write a slice of life between Shelley and Kafka. This'll be fun.

Spoilers for update 1.7, obviously, since this omake references her past on Pteruges-VI. Make sure to like, vote, and enjoy!

---

Your name is Shelley Marie. You are a currently working Devil Hunter, who fights to protect the piece on Pteruges-VI.

Since the housing market is hell, you are also roommates with Kafka, your adoptive sister.

And one of the worst roommates humanly possible.

It's an off-day, Saturday evening, and you just woke up. On autopilot, you walk into the bathroom to slap on some skincare products and attempt not to fall asleep on the floor. Some healing spray (provided by Devil Hunter administration, yay!) gets slapped on your wounds, covering up bruises with a healing foam.

You just wanna go back to sleep right now.

BANG!

Suddenly, you hear the sound of an explosion coming from outside. There's no time to waste! You jump out of the bathroom and off the walls outside, load your gun midair, and land in the living room ready to fire.

And the second you see what's happened, you immediately toss the magazine and the gun away. It's nothing to worry about. Well, unless the fire alarm turns on.

"Kafka, what are you trying to cook?"

Well, to be more blunt, "why are you trying to cook?" would be a better question here. Smoke radiates off the stove, and you slam open a window to stop the fire alarm from going off.

Kafka smiles, seemingly ignoring the aftermath of her cooking being this close to starting a fire. "Oh, Shelley! I was just trying to make some pancakes."

You look at the stove, as the smoke clears. It looks more like black sludge on the pan, and you're genuinely unsure if that's because Kafka put too much chocolate chips, or if she just left the pan there.

Probably that second one, if you're honest.

"Kafka, girl, I love you, but that's not a pancake. That's a food crime." You point over to the back wall, where a huge poster is hung up.

"I put those rules up there for a reason, Kafka, and things like this are why! We're going to be kicked out by the landlord at this rate."

Shelley and Kafka's Rules For Living In This Apartment

For Shelley:

1. Don't take business offers from anybody who we don't already know. It's a scam.
2. Try not to bring so many people into our home. This place is not a homeless shelter, even if you want it to be.

For Kafka:

1. You are NOT allowed to do anything related to fire and/or explosions.
2. You are NOT allowed to fight Devils, Indebted or not, on your off days.
3. You are not allowed to consume or indulge in ANY of the following without my supervision:

• Drugs (yes, pills count)
• Alcohol (yes, root beer counts)
• Too many video games
• Spending too much on fancy coats (2 million credits for one coat is not worth it!)
• Anything that seems like I would disapprove of.

1. If I disapprove of it, don't!

Kafka laughs and grins. "Well, even if I broke rule one on my side, it's not like you're perfect either. Guess who lost 50 thousand credits on a scam yesterday? Here's a hint: it's not me."

"Well, it's not like gold bars that can ward off Fragmentum are a bad investment!"

You both stand there for a second, tense.

Then, Kafka starts giggling, and you can't control your laughter either. "Geez, Kafka, knock it off! And could you open the windows? We're going to set the couch on fire at this rate."

---

"Hey, Miss Shelley, what are you looking at?"

"An old picture, back from when I was living with Kafka."

In your hands is your phone. On the phone is an impromptu selfie of you and Kafka. Your faces are blackened with smoke and soot and the stove is close to burning. Behind you is a pancake, a stack, actually, that is clearly burnt and not fit for human consumption.

You're both smiling like you never want the day to end.

You all know the drill. @CryoIce won the contest earlier last update, so he gets an Omake.

Read it here!