A distant memory bloomed in his mind like a fleeting flash.
"Think of it this way." Kafka said as she stroked his head. "Subconsciously, what is it that most draws human beings in, even if they are not aware of it?"
Caelus blinked in confusion, frowning as he considered it.
"Beauty? Credits? Or maybe you mean adventure?"
Kafka laughed softly and shook her head with a smile, cupping his cheeks so he had no choice but to look into her eyes.
"No, you did not quite grasp the intent behind my question." There was deep affection in those eyes. "It is death, Caelus. As macabre as that may sound to you, someone who was born only a few days ago, people naturally long for eternal rest. We are all born to die, and instinctively we yearn for that conclusion. It is something carved into the subconscious of every living being."
Kafka's face drew closer to his.
"We are all moving toward our own conclusion…"
Was it truly worth throwing himself into that vortex?
The question lingered in his mind with the same persistence as a coin spinning in the void. Aleph had been staring at the ceiling for several minutes without blinking, as if the invisible cracks in the material might offer a clue he had missed.
Aha did not speak at random. At least, that was what he believed. Even when He seemed amused, even when His words tangled themselves in absurd metaphors.
What move had already been made before the rest had even noticed the board existed?
"Gods raising weapons… golden blood… a path opened…"
But he still could not make the pieces fit.
He clicked his tongue in irritation.
He could not determine who, or what, that warning was truly aimed at.
He let out a slow breath and finally sat up. The cold floor beneath his feet helped clear his mind as he reached for his clothes.
[How will you proceed?]
Burroughs' voice pulled him from his thoughts.
[Aha was explicit. You could be attacked at any moment. In your current state… you would not survive.]
Aleph pulled on his shirt and adjusted the collar.
"There is nothing I can do about that. My body needs time. Until it finishes stabilizing… I can only wait."
[Is that truly all, Master? I did not think it was like you to wait calmly for your own death.]
Aleph cracked his fingers one by one as he closed his eyes.
"No."
He braced a hand against the wall, hard, as a deep sense of self-disgust welled up inside him.
"That is not all. You know, Burroughs…"
His body went rigid as he opened his eyes.
"I have been behaving like a fool." He muttered, dragging a hand over his face. "I have at my disposal a truly vast number of beings who have endured far beyond what any human life could, who have accumulated knowledge across countless fields… How narrow-minded I have been."
[What are you referring to? And since when do you have so many contracts at your disposal?]
"I have been charging forward like a rabid bull, thinking no further than necessary, leaving the heavy lifting to you and my instincts… But how far will that take me? How much longer can I keep surviving if the conflicts involving the Astral Express continue to escalate in scale, and eventually my brute strength falls behind or is no longer what is needed to resolve the problem? I was lucky this time. But what about the next?"
His gaze dropped to his own hand.
"I have wasted valuable time…"
[What are you implying?]
Aleph exhaled slowly.
"My current weakness, and the series of situations I have faced without your assistance, have helped correct my flawed thinking."
His eyes settled on the many mementos he had begun collecting since he started decorating his room: the guard uniform Bronya had given him, the jade abacus he had obtained on the Luofu along with a piece of that delicious root, and a suit he had recently purchased on Penacony after following Cocona's recommendations.
"I have relied too heavily on the idea that my power would compensate for everything else. If that mindset continues, the day I am crushed beneath someone else's fist will not be far off."
Aleph pushed away from the wall.
"I need to correct my approach and learn how to truly fight. Street-brawler tactics do not last a lifetime."
From the pores of his skin, a dark substance began to emerge. A layer of biochitin spread slowly, hardening into a compact gauntlet tipped with gleaming claws. The bone and muscle structure of his hand shifted, reshaping into the scythe-like form of a mantis before returning to normal.
"Of all the mistakes I have made, this may be one of my worst… My body is far from that of an average human, yet I have never made the effort to truly understand it or what it is capable of if I put it to work properly."
Aleph studied the structure carefully.
"Even if I must discard what little pride I have left, I need to better understand what I have at hand. And perhaps only one person possesses deeper knowledge of it."
The claws flexed with a faint crack.
"There are too many possibilities I have ignored."
The biochitin slowly retracted beneath his skin.
"I assumed everything would work out, when I should have remembered that instability and chaos are unmistakably traits bound to my existence."
[Master… No, Aleph.]
"I need to start now."
His gaze hardened as he headed toward the nearest spatial anchor.
[What are you going to do?]
"If I wait until I need it… it will be too late."
*********
March hummed without any clear melody as she wandered through the interior of the Radiant Feldspar. The polished floor reflected the soft glow of the overhead lights, and every so often she spun on her heels just to watch her own silhouette distort along the curved surfaces of the corridor.
She still found it difficult to process that the ship now belonged to them.
Well… "belong" was a big word. But the fact that Old Oti had handed it over with that satisfied smile still felt a little suspicious to her.
As she passed by the Differentiated Universe machine, March crossed her arms and frowned slightly, puffing out her cheeks.
Screwllum had been very clear. Until the system was fully optimized, only Aleph and Stelle would be authorized to use it, since they were already accustomed to it from their experience with the Simulated Universe.
"So unfair…"
It was not that she doubted them. Well. Not really Stelle. And Aleph… not exactly. But the exclusivity itched at her curiosity.
Since the party ended and the Radiant Feldspar officially passed into their hands, the days had taken on a strange rhythm. After discussing it with Welt and Himeko, they decided to remain in Penacony a while longer. The negotiation table with Old Oti had been more productive than expected. Ending up integrated as investors had not exactly been on the original itinerary, but it was hardly a minor opportunity.
Everyone seemed to have something to do.
Everyone except her.
Well… not exactly.
She had spent a considerable amount of credits on attractions.
When she felt her phone vibrate, she pulled it out quickly.
[Stelle: "Come to the hotel reception in reality."]
March tilted her head.
"Did something happen?"
That already sounded troublesome.
She typed a quick reply asking what was going on, but the three dots appeared and disappeared without any follow-up.
She huffed softly.
"She probably broke something."
She put her phone away and went to see what Stelle wanted now.
...
When she arrived, the sight that greeted her was somewhat… peculiar.
Stelle was half slumped over the counter, her cheek almost pressed against the surface. She looked genuinely defeated.
"This is so slow…"
March stared at her for a few seconds before approaching.
"What are you doing?"
Stelle lifted her head with renewed energy when she saw her and flashed a bright smile, as if she had not been complaining half a second ago.
"March! You arrived just in time to witness the incredible spectacle of the Great Lady Stelle managing a hotel!"
"Yes. Because you called me. Why are you lying on the reception desk? And what do you mean managing the hotel?"
Stelle straightened up with an awkward movement and scratched her cheek.
"So, as a shareholder, I have managerial authority here. And the head of reception, some guy named Philip, did not seem to understand that. So we had… a small discussion."
March blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
"Well, I would call it an educational talk." She puffed out her chest proudly. "I explained that he was speaking to someone who could fire him with a single phone call."
March stared at her, speechless.
"Stelle…"
"What? Technically, it is true."
March sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"And then?"
"Old Oti came by, overheard part of the exchange, and gave Philip the day off. He said if I wanted, I could handle reception today." She crossed her arms. "So here I am."
March glanced around. Several curious looks drifted their way. Some guests whispered while watching them with bright eyes, and a couple even seemed to be taking discreet photos.
Oh.
Right.
The image assembled itself easily.
The Astral Express was hardly unknown. Having one of its members working the front desk, even for a few hours, was good publicity. And best of all, it was free.
"…I see." She murmured.
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
A customer cleared his throat. Stelle immediately straightened, adopting a more formal posture and resolving the inquiry with surprising speed. Once the man left, she let her weight drop onto the counter again.
March blinked blankly at the sight, which challenged everything she knew about Stelle.
"This is unbelievably boring."
March tilted her head.
"Then why did you call me?"
Stelle pouted.
"Because I tried calling Himeko and she said she had a meeting with Jade, Topaz, and Aventurine. I tried Dan Heng, and he said he would like to help but he was updating files. Welt was looking for coffee beans for Himeko and could not leave. And Aleph…"
Stelle frowned in irritation and snorted.
"He answered. Listened to what I had to say. Then told me to stop bothering him and wasting his valuable time. After that he hung up. From what I can tell, he blocked me too, so now I cannot even call him."
"Ah."
Stelle shrugged, feigning indifference. Though from her expression, March could tell how annoyed she really was.
"It is not like I needed his help. I just thought it would be less tedious if someone came to talk to me."
"What happened between you two? As far as I know, you were really close. Can you not just stop fighting already?"
Stelle's eyes widened, as if she had not expected that answer.
March narrowed her eyes.
"…And you… after calling everyone else."
"I did not call everyone."
"Did you not just list everyone?"
Stelle frowned.
"Well, that is…"
March let out a small snort.
"I see. I was the last option, right?" She said, crossing her arms.
"Do not put it like that."
March looked at her.
"Am I wrong?"
Stelle opened her mouth, closed it, then leaned against the counter again.
"I just called the people I thought were more involved in this kind of thing first. That is all."
"…And after getting rejected by all of them, you remembered I exist."
"That is not fair."
March raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, it is not?"
Stelle looked away at the line moving forward at an excruciating pace.
"I just… wanted someone to come. Okay? This is boring. And after everyone turned me down, I did not feel like staying here alone."
March looked at the reservation screen, the endless stream of names. A sigh slipped from her lips as she stepped beside Stelle.
"You could have said that from the start."
"I am saying it now."
March leaned over the counter and picked up the tablet resting beside the keyboard.
"What do I need to do?"
Stelle blinked.
"You will help me?"
"Well…" March looked away. "I am already here, and I do not have anything else to do anyway. I might as well give you a hand."
"March!"
Genuinely moved, Stelle wrapped her in a tight bear hug.
"I cannot breathe!"
...
"Hm~" March hummed absently as she scrolled through her phone. Her legs dangled off the seat, feet swinging lazily, until a string of curious photos made her pause. "…?"
Stelle, who had been staring at her powered-off phone for several minutes as if she could resurrect it through sheer willpower, immediately leaned over March's shoulder.
"Let me see!"
She practically draped herself over her, squashing her cheek against March's head with zero delicacy.
"Hey! Personal space!"
"Shh!"
Her excitement withered almost instantly. Deploying her alleged five million IQ, Stelle connected the incriminating dots before her eyes.
Aleph + lots of women + cruelly ignoring her = Aleph had become a gigolo.
"Stelle?" March blinked in confusion when she saw her smiling.
"Yeah… I'm fine…"
March scooted back as fast as she could. A chill ran down her spine at the sight of Stelle's darkened expression, her eyelid twitching with anger.
"That bastard!" She growled, making March jump at the sudden shout. "Is this what you've been doing for weeks?! Is this the important thing you were so busy with?!"
"Stelle! Calm down!" March tried to take the phone, but Stelle gripped it so tightly she looked ready to snap it in half.
"Look at him! Look closely!"
On the screen was Aleph with Asta. Peppy was in his arms, and he was smiling like he did not have a single worry in the universe. Asta smiled and winked, looking entirely too comfortable at his side.
"…Well, Asta is nice to everyone…" March muttered, though she did not sound fully convinced.
"Exactly! And he's there taking advantage of that!"
Stelle zoomed in with her fingers.
"Why is she standing so close to him?"
"Because it's a photo!"
"Exactly!"
March blinked.
"That makes no sense."
Stelle swiped to the next image.
Aleph was at the Station again. This time Arlan stood behind him with his arms crossed and a tired expression, carrying a bag of premium dog food bigger than he was. Peppy bounced around them.
"Since when does he go to the Herta Space Station that much? I thought he hated that place." March said, tilting her head.
"Since when has he been doing this?" Stelle replied with a stiff smile.
March scrolled down.
Luka had his arm slung over Aleph's shoulder, both of them laughing while holding roasted salamanders. In another photo he was with Seele and Natasha, helping carry medical supplies. In another, he was training alongside members of the Guard and Gepard. Then one appeared with Bronya and Cocolia beside him in Qlipoth Fort.
March fell silent.
"…Oh."
Stelle said nothing for several long seconds, just staring at the screen with frightening intensity.
"Of course. Belobog." She muttered at last.
March tapped her chin.
"Well… he has friends there."
"Yeah. Friends. As if he's not making that 'life is wonderful and I'm surrounded by intelligent women' face!"
"…I think you're seriously exaggerating. What did Aleph do to make you this hostile toward him?"
Stelle swiped again.
Yanqing appeared to be arguing with him in one photo, while General Jing Yuan looked amused and mildly exasperated from behind his desk. In another, Qingque leaned toward Aleph with a suspicious smile, holding a Celestial Jade rulebook.
"Qingque definitely dragged him into a game…"
"And he definitely accepted happily!"
There was also one where he and a strange Cloud Knight were running while carrying barrels, chased by other Cloud Knights and… was that Yukong's daughter running alongside them?
In another, Sushang gave a thumbs-up, Guinaifen invaded half the frame while lifting a Diting, and Huohuo stood far too close with a face that looked seconds away from tears.
Farther down, Fu Xuan stared at him with an unreadable expression while Aleph tried to explain something.
There was even one of Aleph eating dango with Acheron in the Dreamflow Reef.
March felt her brain trying to process too much at once.
"…Why is he always surrounded by pretty girls?"
Stelle slowly looked up.
"Because he's a professional."
"A professional at what?"
Stelle took a deep breath.
"At being a bastard."
March opened her mouth.
"Do you think…?"
Stelle began pacing back and forth, still clutching the phone.
"He rejected us."
March raised a finger.
"He rejected you…"
"I said he rejected us. Besides, he said he was busy and had important things to do."
She stopped and stared at the screen again.
"And it turns out the important thing was traveling the universe taking pictures with a bunch of girls."
March swallowed.
"Maybe he was just… socializing. And we don't even know how reliable these photos are. Did you even check who posted them?"
"Of course. Socializing." Stelle pointed at another image where Fu Xuan was practically leaning on him. "Very academic."
March leaned closer to check the uploader.
"…'Aha_isA_CrazyBitch78'?" March's face went blank as she read the username.
It was definitely Aleph.
But who had posted those…?
Both girls jumped when a notification alerted them to a new upload. When they opened it, they were greeted by the image of a massive, red-skinned, musclebound giant with two large horns on his head, posing in a strangely cool way beside a pink-haired fairy in blue clothing, while scientists from the Herta Space Station looked visibly alarmed in the background.
"Oh. So it was Nappea."
Stelle squeezed the phone until her knuckles turned white.
"So that was it." She said calmly. "He could have at least been honest."
March took a cautious step back.
"Stelle…"
"I'm calm."
Her eye twitched again.
"Completely calm."
"Maybe he was just… testing new markets." March offered weakly.
Stelle turned toward her slowly.
"Exactly."
March froze.
"That's not what I meant."
"Now everything makes sense." Stelle looked back at the screen.
"What if… he just wanted some time away from everyone? Maybe his current condition affected him more than he wants to admit."
Stelle scoffed.
"Sure."
"Stelle…" March frowned, looking at her seriously. "Maybe he saw you as a distraction in his schedule."
"That sounds… really cruel. Are you sure you're actually looking at what's happening and not forcing it to fit the mental scenario you created yourself?"
Stelle's eyes widened as she turned toward March.
"Stelle, don't you see? You're trying to force a negative image onto Aleph as if he actually did something wrong."
March took the phone from her. When she pressed the power button, she noticed it still had some battery left.
"Was he really as harsh as you said?"
Before Stelle could snatch it back, March showed her the chat.
[Aleph: "Sorry if I was a bit harsh with you."]
[Aleph: "But what I'm doing is really important and I can't get distracted. If there's something you want to talk about, could it wait until later when I'm free?"]
Stelle shook her head.
"No… but he blocked me."
March sighed and showed her the contact status.
"No, he didn't."
Stelle looked away, fingers twisting together.
"This has to stop. You'd better be honest and explain what happened, and why for almost seven weeks now you and Aleph have been acting so strange."
March crossed her arms, delivering her ultimatum.
"I…!" Stelle tried to argue, but the words stuck in her throat.
"Stelle."
"I'm not wrong!" She shouted, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at March.
"How dare he… I, I don't want…"
Without giving March a chance to approach, Stelle ran. As far and as fast as she could, convincing herself with every step.
"I don't want, I don't want… Damn idiot! Why do you always do things that hurt you? Why can't you let someone else suffer in your place?"
She wiped a small tear from the corner of her eye.
"I don't want to lose my brother again…"
Memories flooded her mind. Two small silver-haired children with golden eyes subjected to surgeries and medical procedures by a green-haired woman.
"She did things to us far worse than what Ruan Mei did to you. Why do you like to exaggerate?"
If not for Klein's reminder, White Snake might have completely forgotten to administer sedatives so they would not feel anything.
"I… I'm not wrong."
************
Sitting on a metal chair inside the laboratory, Aleph held a fork in his right hand while four needles inserted into his arms steadily drained his blood into the bags hanging beside him.
He chewed calmly as he watched the genius's back. Briefly, he imagined impaling a massive ice stalactite through it, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
Her hands moved with precision as she compared recent samples with previous records. On the table, several screens projected magnified biological sequences, cellular structures highlighted in different colors, patterns shifting with each adjustment she made.
On a nearby tray rested other samples that clearly did not belong to him.
Ruan Mei tilted her head slightly, fascinated.
"Interesting…"
Aleph sighed.
"Should I feel flattered or concerned when you say that?"
"There is no need for you to feel anything in particular."
The bags finished filling with a faint mechanical sound indicating the maximum capacity had been reached.
Aleph set the plate aside.
With careful movements, he removed the needles one by one. Blood flowed briefly before his regeneration sealed the small wounds.
He pulled his shirt back on and then picked up the dessert tray again.
Ruan Mei finally turned to look at him calmly as she took a seat in a nearby chair.
"After what happened last time, I expected a certain level of hostility from you."
Aleph adjusted the fabric over his shoulder before replying.
"There is no such thing as eternal hatred when both parties' interests remain plausible. You have something I want, and I have something you want. Why involve personal feelings in a mere exchange? If I were incapable of setting aside old grudges and insisted on ignoring the most basic decorum and decency, then I should not have come to you in the first place, sparing both myself and you the inconvenience. Don't you think?"
Ruan Mei blinked, studying him more closely for a moment before simply nodding with indifference.
"Would you like more desserts? The amount of blood you left in those bags was considerable."
Aleph glanced at the tray before taking one.
"I should thank you. Thanks to your contribution, my research has made interesting progress."
Aleph merely nodded, stood up, and picked up his jacket, preparing to leave the room.
"Leaving so soon?"
He slid his arm into the sleeve calmly.
"I believe I have completed my part of the agreement for today. Is there any reason I should stay? Do you perhaps need something else?"
Ruan Mei rested her elbow on the armrest, observing him as if trying to discern something.
"Your tissue responded faster than last time."
"That was to be expected."
"Have you done anything that might have caused a significant mutation?"
Aleph took one last bite of the dessert.
"I optimized the activation threshold according to your suggestions. It was somewhat difficult at first, but progress has been steady."
She rose slowly and walked to one of the screens. With a gesture of her hand, the cellular sequences expanded into three-dimensional patterns.
"There is a new oscillation that was not present in previous records."
"I have been integrating additional factors, testing their viability and the possibility of long-term mutation."
Ruan Mei turned her face toward him.
"I see."
Aleph stretched lightly.
"Was that all you wished to confirm?"
She shifted the projection, displaying results from other samples.
"Would you be interested in participating in a joint project with me, Madam Herta, and Screwllum? I previously dismissed the idea due to what happened to earlier test subjects. But with you, I believe it could be different."
Aleph paused before the door, then glanced back at her.
"What is the objective of the project you propose?"
Ruan Mei bit into a dessert as she showed him the image on a nearby tablet. The creature in the image resembled a slug, though its coloration was distinctly unusual, and its exterior appeared to be covered in some kind of scales.
"To study beings that naturally follow the Path of Voracity."
...
As he walked down the main corridor of the Herta Space Station, Aleph allowed Ruan Mei's proposal to take full shape in his mind instead of reducing it to an enticing provocation or simple recklessness.
The question was what benefit he could extract from it.
He did not doubt his ability to survive the experiment. What he evaluated was the magnitude of change that might result from such contact, and whether that change would remain coherent with the structure he had consolidated after recent events. Adaptation is useful when it reinforces an axis. It becomes problematic when it introduces deviation that shifts priorities.
Turning the corridor toward the central core, he passed one of Herta's puppets. As he walked by, it addressed him.
"Your compensation for the expansion of the Simulated Universe: The Swarm has been credited. Madam Herta wishes to continue observing your active participation in exploring the secrets of the Cosmos. She also conveys her satisfaction at how frequently the Aeons appear to take interest in you."
Aleph smiled faintly at the doll.
"I see. Extend my thanks to her."
The puppet inclined its head slightly before resuming its route.
Aleph continued toward the supply area, where the spatial anchor remained stabilized at the center of the room.
**************
The cold air brushed gently against his skin. Outside the secret cave, the sky was veiled in green and violet auroras stretching like rivers of light across Jarilo-VI. Aleph watched in silence, fascinated, his arms resting on his knees. His eyes shone with that childlike wonder he always had when he looked at the sky he loved so much.
Bronya sat beside him, but she was not looking at him. She was looking at her hands.
She had tried three times to move them closer. Three times she had stopped halfway.
"Breathe. It's not that hard. Just take his hand."
Aleph let out a small, surprised murmur when a streak of light cut across the sky.
"It's… incredible." He said, unable to hide his enthusiasm. "I didn't know they could look like this up close."
Bronya swallowed. Her heart pounded too hard, far too hard.
"Yes." She replied, inwardly cursing herself when she noticed her voice came out lower than intended. "Jarilo-VI… has its charm."
Aleph nodded, not noticing anything unusual. He was completely focused on the sky.
Bronya glanced at him from the corner of her eye, at his calm profile. That gentle expression, the faint gleam in his eyes whenever something filled him with wonder.
"Come on. Do it. Don't be a coward."
Her hand moved slowly, as if she feared breaking something. Her knuckles brushed his in the lightest touch.
He blinked and looked at her in confusion.
"Bronya?"
She almost pulled her hand away.
Almost.
But she managed to close her fingers around his before fear overtook her.
"It's…" She searched for a quick excuse, but nothing convincing came to mind. "It's… cold."
Aleph looked at their intertwined hands calmly, blinking.
"Ah. Yeah. That makes sense." He said, glancing away.
Bronya could not help feeling a little guilty. He did not question her at all. He accepted her words as they were, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
A knot formed in her throat, a faint ache pricking at her chest.
"Is it that easy for him…? If I tried to hug him, would it be the same? Would he do this for anyone else without a second thought?"
She looked back at the lights in the sky.
For a moment, she considered giving up. Perhaps someone like her held no appeal for a traveler among the stars, someone who could meet countless women more beautiful and more interesting than she was.
Perhaps there was no way a man like him would ever look at her the way she wished to be seen.
"If you fear stepping forward, you will lose everything. Be brave. Even if your heart trembles, move ahead. The woman I raised is no coward."
Cocolia's voice echoed in her mind, steadying her.
Bronya took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts.
She shifted slowly, placing her free hand on the snow to steady herself, and before Aleph could ask anything, she settled onto his lap.
He caught her by the waist out of pure reflex, not appearing disturbed in the slightest. Though for a fleeting moment, Bronya thought she saw his eyes tremble.
"B-Bronya? Are you colder now?"
She nodded stiffly, even as embarrassment burned through her.
"A little… yes."
Aleph wrapped his arms around her in silence, as if trying to shield her from the cold.
Bronya pressed a hand against his chest. The fabric of his coat wrinkled beneath her fingers. A part of her filled with quiet sadness at the lack of reaction from him.
She lifted her gaze.
She saw him, the face that had lingered in her mind night after night, that visited her even in her dreams.
The absolute calm in his expression. His kindness. The faint trace of an endearing awkwardness.
"…Aleph." She said softly, suppressing the tremor in her body. "Look at me."
The difference in their height placed his gaze directly in line with hers.
Bronya lifted her arms and looped them around his neck.
She leaned in quickly, fast enough that Aleph could not react in time.
She could feel her own pulse pounding at her fingertips.
It was at that moment that their lips met in a clumsy, inexperienced, warm kiss, full of the feelings Bronya hadn't dared to say.
Aleph froze, eyes wide in shock, almost as if he'd seen a ghost.
Bronya squeezed her eyes shut, convinced she had ruined everything and that he would push her away.
"Idiot… stupid Bronya, you ruined it… now Aleph will leave forever, he won't even want to stay friends. You ruined it, ruined everything."
She was about to pull away, but Aleph's reaction ruined her plans.
His arm wrapped around her waist firmly, pulling her closer and deepening that awkward kiss.
Bronya let out a stifled moan, tears welling in her eyes at the strange, warm sensation spreading through her body like an electric current as their tongues intertwined.
Aleph held her tighter, as if afraid she might pull away.
"Ah."
When they finally parted, Bronya gasped, her face burning so hot she could barely think.
Before he could say anything, she buried her face in his chest, pressing her flushed cheeks against him.
She didn't want him to see the embarrassed expression on her face. Her fingers clutched the fabric of his jacket tightly.
Aleph lifted a hand and hesitated for a moment before beginning to trace small circles along her back.
Bronya swallowed hard, trying to gather the courage to speak.
"S-so… does this mean… that Aleph…" Her body pressed against his, her throat tightening as she struggled to get the words out. "…likes Bronya… as much as Bronya… likes Aleph…?"
Her heart was pounding so hard she could hear nothing else. She didn't have the courage to lift her gaze to see his expression, but her hand refused to let go of his jacket.
For a brief moment, Bronya wondered if the warm flutter in her stomach was what Pela had described in the novels she liked as "butterflies in the stomach."
************
Aleph finished his day's rounds and took a longer shower than usual. When he came out, his hair still damp, he crossed the panoramic car and collapsed onto one of the sofas, closing his eyes and resting his hands behind his head.
Dan Heng was at a nearby table preparing tea.
Aleph opened one eye at the sound of something familiar, Corruid perched on Dan Heng's shoulder.
The lizard looked at him with complete indifference, then calmly continued moving along his friend's shoulder.
Aleph closed his eye again.
Dan Heng observed him with curiosity.
"Did something happen, Aleph?"
Aleph sighed and yawned.
"Too many things have happened too quickly these past few weeks. I think I may have rushed…"
He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.
"I'm not sure my actions were the right ones."
He turned his head to look at Dan Heng.
"There's one decision in particular that, the more I analyze it, the more I feel like what I chose was unnecessarily stupid."
Dan Heng held his cup between his hands.
"Making a mistake like that is normal."
Aleph opened his eyes fully and turned to face him.
"Everyone here has made a fair number of mistakes. Some serious enough to shape the rest of their decisions. No one on the Astral Express acts with a flawless track record."
Dan Heng stroked Corruid's head with a finger as he watched Aleph.
"The difference isn't the absence of mistakes. It's the ability to recognize them and keep moving forward."
Aleph adjusted his position to sit more comfortably, elbows resting on his knees, hands interlaced.
"There were circumstances that awakened a need in me to improve. I don't know if that's good or bad."
He lifted his gaze with an uncertain grimace.
"But that need… it might start turning into something more insidious."
Dan Heng sighed, giving him a compassionate look.
"Do you think you might have made a hasty decision in the heat of the moment?"
Aleph nodded.
"I think that at some point, I stopped wanting to do the right thing and started wanting to prove I could do it better."
"That's more common than you think."
Aleph looked at him silently, as if waiting for further explanation.
"When I joined the Astral Express, adapting was hard. I wasn't used to an environment like this after leaving the Prison of the Chained and my time at the Corporation… You could say they were completely opposite worlds, and I could have ended up acting inappropriately, though that stopped when Mr. Yang and March put me in my place. But that's a story for another time."
He took a sip from his cup.
"Since you and Stelle joined, large-scale problems have increased in frequency. It's understandable that, after being under that kind of pressure continuously, your mind can play tricks on you."
Aleph's eyes trembled as his gaze met Dan Heng's calm eyes.
"I know the type of person you are, Aleph Avesta. You can be childish, clumsy, and a bit foolish, but I know you're not inherently evil. Everyone does a fair number of bad things for different reasons. But not everyone feels guilt for them. Most people seek justification. You blame yourself for everything, even what isn't truly your fault. I can be sure that even if you do something wrong, you'll try with all your strength to make it right, because that's the kind of person you are."
Aleph lowered his gaze to the floor.
"How can you be so sure of your words? What if you're wrong in your judgment?"
"Hmm." Dan Heng set his cup on the table and looked at Aleph with a small smile. "Didn't you just prove my point yourself? If you accepted my words without question, maybe that would have introduced some doubt in my judgment. But seeing that even after hearing them you still question rather than just use them as justification for your actions, I can hold my position firmly."
Aleph stared at him, stunned, before quickly looking away, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"I… um… have you seen Welt and Himeko?"
Dan Heng blinked at the sudden change of topic.
"…Now that I think about it, I don't think I've seen them all day." He muttered puzzled.
As both wondered about Welt and Himeko, the main door of the car opened.
"Finally home!" March shouted as he entered.
Stelle came in and sat on the sofa farthest from Aleph. March let out an exasperated sigh and sat down next to Aleph.
"Eh?" March blinked, confused by their expressions. "Did something happen while we were gone?"
Aleph scratched the back of his neck, a little embarrassed, trying to think of an excuse for March—but just then, an interruption arrived all four of their phones started vibrating.
Opening the Astral Express group chat, they saw that Welt had sent a file titled "Formal Invitation."
[Welt Yang: "While Himeko and I were gathering supplies in Penacony before departing to carry out the task requested by Lady Herta and Ruan Mei, we received this announcement from General Jing Yuan."]
[Formal Invitation]
"To the honorable Astral Express and its esteemed travelers along paths and custodians of stellar memories,
Under the sky guiding Luofu and on behalf of the Xianzhou Alliance, I extend this letter with sincere regard. The Stellar Skills Tournament will once again open its doors, this time on the restored deck of the Skybifurcator, a ship that once knew war and now will host skill and discipline.
The presence of those who traverse the cosmos with integrity will not only honor the event but strengthen the bonds forged along our paths. Seats befitting distinguished guests have been arranged so they may observe the martial and strategic arts that flourish under our banner.
May the journey be auspicious and the observation rewarding."
March's eyes lit up as thousands of cinematic scenarios played through his mind.
"A tournament on a restored warship? That sounds exactly like those movies where all the masters gather to see who's the strongest!"
He quickly started checking his bag to make sure he had enough memory ready on his camera to photograph absolutely everything.
"Do you think there'll be some mysterious old man fighting with a wine jug in hand? That would be amazing!"
Dan Heng nodded slightly.
"Returning to Luofu… doesn't sound like a bad plan. What do you think?"
Stelle let out a slightly mischievous laugh, smiling like a politician who just convinced naive voters to believe in her campaign promises.
"I'll be the richest lady under the skies!"
She looked at the screen with interest.
"The key will be to observe before deciding. Reckless bets lead to misfortune, and this lady seeks to avoid them while embracing the path to fortune and eternal bliss."
March gave her a strange look.
"…Why are you talking so weirdly?"
Aleph held the phone a few more seconds.
"…A tournament? Sounds interesting." The corners of his lips lifted slightly in a smile at the thought of how much "inspiration" he might get from observing the participants' martial arts as he calmly swiped across the screen. "Gathering fighters from different styles in an environment where they're forced to showcase their techniques… it's a rare opportunity. Maybe I can learn a move or two."
March shook him by the shoulders.
"It's going to be amazing! Can you imagine if there's a grandmaster with mystical arts like in the movies? Ahhh! I can't wait!"
[Himeko: "I'm glad the invitation excites you all so much. I hope the four of you can enjoy attending."]
March blinked in confusion as she read the message.
"The four of us?"
[Welt Yang: "The next task for Lady Herta and Ruan Mei requires Himeko and me to mobilize the Astral Express. Due to the circumstances, we will not be able to attend. It's truly a shame, but that's the world of adults, March."]
[Welt Yang: "I would have been pleased to attend and watch the tournament personally with all of you. However, duty calls us elsewhere."]
[Welt Yang: "I wish you good luck. I hope you enjoy the event. If possible, record the matches. I'd like to take a look later."]
[Himeko: "We've almost finished gathering the necessary supplies. We'll be on our way soon. Until then, you can start packing for your stay in Luofu."]
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I got Yao Guang but not his cone… Well, at least I've got the guaranteed one for the cones.
How have your pulls in 4.0 been so far?
I still need to finish the version's mission, but so far I'm liking it. I took a bit more time than usual to write while thinking about what I wanted for this arc and how it will affect the future.