Chapter Text
“Alright, next order of business,” Himeko said, stretching her arms over her head as she leaned back in her chair. The holographic screen in front of her flickered, displaying a list of potential destinations for the Astral Express. “Where to next?”
The assembled crew sat around the main table in the passenger cabin, illuminated by the soft glow of the Express’s controls. Welt Yang adjusted his glasses, arms crossed as he eyed the list. “We have several options, but none are urgent. No new distress signals, no signs of Fragmentum corruption or any reports of Stellaron influence —nothing that demands our immediate attention.”
“Oh?” Himeko’s tone carried just a hint of amusement. “That means we get to pick something *interesting* this time.”
Dan Heng, who had been silently scrolling through data on his handheld terminal, finally looked up. “We should probably prioritize locations that align with our long-term objectives. If we can find another connection to the aeons—”
“Boring,” March 7th interrupted, swinging her legs up onto the armrest of her seat. “Look, I know you love doing research, Dan Heng, but what’s the point of being a Nameless and having the Astral Expeess if we don’t use it to Trailblaze to more cool, exciting places?”
“The Express isn’t a tourist attraction,” he pointed out dryly.
“But we can at least pretend it is,” she shot back.
Stelle, who had been fiddling with her bat, groaned. “Can we *please* go somewhere peaceful- I’ve been the target for murder on the last four Trailblazing expeditions and I’ve only been to four!” She said dramatically, emphasising the four by putting the back of her hand to her forehead and pretending to collapse onto the sofa, though her tone suggests that she didn’t actually blame anyone.
“My apologies,” Sunday winced, the wings on his wings twitching slightly. A hint of guilt flashed across his face.
Welt cast him a mild sympathetic look.
“It’s fine, being trapped in a happy dream would have been better than being killed by Aventurine anyway,” Stelle sat up, waving her hand dismissively.
Himeko cut in before they could go off topic. “*Anyway*, I have a suggestion,” She tapped at the controls, and the holographic map zoomed in, centering on a planet wreathed in a deep blue atmosphere, its continents barely visible beneath thick clouds. “As you know, the Express is running low on the warp fuel needed for it to function because it charges on our Trailblazing expeditions but we’ve been at Penacony for quite a while.”
Pom-pom let out a soft ‘hmph!’ and Sunday only looked more guilty.
Himeko ignored the interruption and continued. “Miss Black Swan has suggested that we go to a planet called Teyvat instead,”
The name alone was enough to make Welt frown, his expression darkening in thought. Sunday looked intrigued, leaning forward slightly though he still hovered around the back.
Stelle and March looked at each other before looking back at the data on the holographic screen, their eyes gleaming with excitement.
“The *isolated* planet?” Welt leaned forward, studying the data. “There are barely any records on it—no trade routes, no historical documentation, no confirmed reports of an aeon’s influence.”
“Which is because no one has ever stepped onto Teyvat due to a mysterious barrier shielding it from the Star Rail,” Himeko hummed. “However, Ms Black Swan has offered to assist us by temporarily removing it to allow us to enter Teyvat’s atmosphere, should we decide to go there.”
“To my knowledge, The Family has no records of the Teyvat you speak of either,” Sunday added thoughtfully.
“Exactly,” Himeko said. “No signs of the IPC ever touching it, no mention in any known galactic archives. No Stellaron activity, no cosmic remnants of aeonic intervention, not even Akivili has any records about visiting Teyvat. A planet like that shouldn’t *exist* on the Star Rail.”
March sat up straighter. “Wait, wait, wait. You’re telling me there’s an entire world that *isn’t* dealing with interstellar nonsense? No overpowered space corporations, no Aeons randomly influencing fate, no—wait.” She squinted at the screen. “Does that say *elemental energy*?”
Himeko nodded, a small smirk forming. “That’s the only thing we know about it. Apparently, it runs on an energy system completely different from anything else we’ve encountered. Not the Path, not the Fragmentum, not even ether. Just… something else. In fact, the name Teyvat was only made known due to a random signal sent out by that planet with its name amber eras ago.”
Dan Heng stared at the data, his fingers tapping absently against the table. “That’s unusual. Even if the Aeons don’t directly interfere, every world is shaped by them in some way. A planet with no signs of aeonic influence at all? There’s no precedent for that.”
“The IPC wanted to investigate Teyvat but suddenly stopped due to unknown reasons. It could be dangerous to go to Teyvat,” Welt pointed out, his mind lost in thought.
March grinned. “Which means we *have* to go, right?”
Welt sighed, rubbing his temples. Of course everyone was going to ignore the danger and go. “I have a feeling this vote will be one-sided.”
Himeko chuckled. “I was hoping for that. It’s about time we took a proper detour.”
Stelle, who had been resting her chin on the table and half-listening, finally perked up. “Do they have trash?”
Everyone stopped to look at her.
“I’m sorry, what?” Dan Heng asked, visibly thrown off.
“If it’s an isolated planet, does it have trash?” Stelle clarified. “Because if they don’t, I might not want to go.”
March groaned. “How does that make *any* sense? It’s a *whole planet*, Stelle. Of course, it has trash.”
“Are you a Nameless or a raccoon, huh, Miss Stelle??” Pom-pom, who for most of the conversation was silent, somehow took out a feather duster from seemingly nowhere and tried to beat it at Stelle to no avail as it barely even did anything to deter her.
“But is it *good* trash?” Stelle pressed, ignoring Pom-pom. “Like, high-quality, rare, collectible trash? Because I don’t want to travel across space just to find normal trash.”
“…Is this why I saw Miss Stelle rummaging through the trash this morning?” Sunday asked, his tone disbelief bordering on incredulous.
Himeko waved a hand dismissively. “I’m sure you’ll find *something* worth rummaging through.” She tilted her head at Welt. “So? Are we voting on this, or should I just assume everyone’s in favor?”
He adjusted his glasses again, though there was little point in arguing at this stage. “I suppose we might as well make it official.”
March immediately threw a hand up. “*Yes*. Absolutely.”
“Same,” Stelle said, then after a pause, “*if* I find good trash.”
Dan Heng exhaled through his nose but raised his hand anyway. “It would be a valuable research opportunity.”
“As the newest member of the Express, I’m fine with wherever we go,” Sunday said with a faint smile.
Himeko smiled, raising her own. “That’s basically five. Welt?”
“… I don’t have any objections,” he admitted, finally giving in.
“Unanimous, then,” Himeko said, looking satisfied. “Teyvat it is. I will go inform Miss Black Swan about our decision.”
***
“Ah, so you’ve come to a decision then?” Black Swan’s voice was smooth as the Astral Express crew found her standing in the Party Car getting a drink from “Shush”.
The machine-thingy(?) was shaking up a drink for her, telling some horrible knock-knock joke in the meantime that everyone tuned out.
“Yes, we’ve decided to take up your suggestion and go to Teyvat.” Himeko told the Memokeeper. There was a note of faint concern in her voice. “Though, are you sure you’re able to open the barrier? I don’t doubt your capabilities but opening a barrier like that is a heavy task.”
Black Swan waved her hand dismissively. “Because of the Astral Express, I’ve been able to collect such wonderful memories for the Garden of Recollection. It’d be rude of me not to do something for you all in return, no?”
“Still, if you overexert yourself, it’d be extremely dangerous. After all, even the IPC hasn’t managed to break through the barrier.” Welt pointed out, steadying himself with his cane.
Black Swan only smiled.
Himeko picked up a cup of coffee (if one could even call it that) that Stelle swore was not there when they first entered the Party Car, taking a slow sip of that toxic waste before looking around. “Let’s decide who will be going for this Trailblazing expedition then,”
March and Stelle’s hands immediately shot up.
Dan Heng crossed his arms, obviously trying to suppress the interest his had despite the fact that his eyes kept darting towards Black Swan.
Sunday hesitantly raised his hands too.
“Alright, it’s decided then. Stelle, March 7th, Dan Heng and Sunday will be going,” Welt said with a faint smile. “It’ll be good for Sunday to get to go on his first Trailblazing expedition with the three of you anyway.”
“Yeah! It’ll be more fun with Sunny!” Stelle declared, taking her bat from the floor and waving it dangerously near everyone’s faces.
Sunday sighed.
“I agree with you, Miss Stelle. However, I’d prefer it if you *don’t* call me such.. nicknames.” He said carefully.
“Of all memories I’ve collected, the one of Mr Sunday joining the Astral Express has to be one of the most unexpected lightcones I’ve made.” Black Swan hummed thoughtfully.
Dan Heng rubbed his temples in exasperation at Stelle’s antics, but the faint smile on his face told everyone that he was more amused than done with her.
“Wait, wait, wait! Himeko, you should come along too! You haven’t come Trailblazing with us since Stelle came aboard!” March protested, putting her hands on her hips.
“Didn’t I go to Penacony with you all?”
“C’mon! That’s not counted! Our relaxation was *ruined*!”
Sunday let out a pained sigh. “Although I recognise my wrongdoings, could you please try not to bring it up so much?”
“Oh- right- sorry Sunny,”
“M-…It‘s no problem.”
Himeko swirled the coffee (again, debatable) in her cup with a thoughtful hum. “Hm, I’ll tell you what. Welt and I have some private matters to discuss with Miss Black Swan, so we’ll join you after a while. Of course, we’ll take turns because someone has to be on the Express, but at least then everyone gets to see Teyvat. Alright?”
“Fineeee,” March pouted slightly but nodded nonetheless with an exaggerated sigh.
Welt shifted slightly, re-adjusting his grip on his cane. He pushed up his glasses. “It’s decided then. Stelle, March, Dan Heng and Sunday will be going to Teyvat. Himeko and I will then take turns to go down with you after our discussion.”
“What are you guys talking about anyway?” Stelle asked.
“Some matters regarding some business,” Black Swan replied.
“Something that’s for us to know and for you all to find out,” Himeko hummed vaguely at the same time.
“Why do all adults say that?!”
“Oh, do they?”
At this point, Pom-pom’s voice echoed through the announcement system, cutting off whatever retort Stelle was forming. “Dear passengers of the Astral Express, the warp jump to Teyvat will begin in 10 minutes! Please be gathered in the Parlor Car soon!”
March immediately started walking to the Parlor Car.
There was a pause.
“Ahem! On another note, Miss March, please *do not* attempt to stand during the warp jump again!”
March turned around and walked back to the group.