["Listen to me. Your mind is in chaos right now. You don't know who you are, why you're here, or what you should do next. You feel like I'm familiar, but you're not sure if you should trust me."]
["Soon, you'll face many dangers and find yourself in terrifying predicaments—but you'll also encounter many wonderful things. You'll have companions like family and embark on adventures beyond your wildest dreams."]
["And at the end of your journey, all the mysteries troubling you will be resolved. This is what Elio has foreseen… the future you will reach. Do you like it?"]
[Kafka's words carried the effect of a Spirit Whisper. She wasn't attempting to control Stelle's thoughts but rather using the Whisper to stabilize her turbulent mind.]
——
Outside the Celestial Screen, in a forest just beyond the imperial capital, Najenda, leader of the Night Raid, watched alongside Akame and the others.
As the head of an assassination organization, Najenda immediately recognized the value of Kafka's Spirit Whisper—it was even more suited for covert operations than Chelsea's Gaia Foundation.
"Words that can not only manipulate the mind but also stabilize emotions… What a convenient ability," Najenda mused. If such an Imperial Arm existed, infiltrating Minister Honest's estate would be child's play. And if they were bolder… even killing Esdeath might not be an impossibility.
"Najenda, I know what you're thinking. But if you truly desire peace in the future, an Imperial Arm that can control minds should never exist." Susano'o, Najenda's humanoid Imperial Arm, easily saw through her thoughts.
If this woman named Kafka were to appear in their world, her razor-sharp blade skills aside, her Spirit Whisper alone could effortlessly manipulate a king—twisting an entire nation around her finger. It would be far too easy.
And that wasn't even considering her elegant and beautiful appearance. As a combat-oriented Imperial Arm with keen instincts, Susano'o could tell that Kafka was likely deeply calculating—her danger level might even rival Esdeath's.
As for the girl named Silver Wolf beside her… Susano'o couldn't comprehend what she meant by "hacking," but anyone who could accompany Kafka on missions and casually wield teleportation abilities akin to Shambhala was clearly no pushover.
["Where are you going?" Stelle asked.]
[Kafka smiled faintly. "To the next place, to pave the way for the future that has been prepared. It's like weaving a tapestry—you and I can only weave one golden thread at a time, but eventually, it will form a beautiful picture."]
["How much longer are you gonna talk?" Silver Wolf interjected impatiently. "The Astral Express crew is almost here. We shouldn't run into them."]
["I know, Silver Wolf. Just a moment, just a moment." Kafka turned her gaze back. "Listen to me. Soon, someone will find you. Go with them, and don't worry. Also… when you have the chance to make a choice, don't let yourself regret it."]
["Kafka…"]
——
Mine sat beside Tatsumi, watching the impending farewell on the Celestial Screen. Her eyes lowered slightly, a fleeting, barely detectable loneliness flashing within them.
"When you have the chance to make a choice, don't let yourself regret it."
She repeated Kafka's words in her heart over and over. Only after the seventh or eighth time did she finally muster the courage to look up at the boy beside her.
Though his features still carried a hint of youthfulness, there was already a trace of a man's bearing in them. Mine couldn't remember when she had started developing feelings for him. Not long ago, when he first joined the organization, he had just been a naive country boy…
Her fingers clenched tightly around her skirt. Right now, Mine finally made up her mind.
This time, she had to say it…
"Ta… Tatsumi…"
The moment she spoke, all her hard-won courage vanished like smoke. Her voice grew inexplicably weak, her eyes darting away involuntarily, her words as tiny as a mosquito's hum.
Tatsumi turned slightly, leaning his face a little closer. "Mine? What's wrong?"
"Uh…" Mine instinctively shuffled back. She still couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze, her face flushed as she fidgeted with her fingers, her eyes skittish like a deer's. "I-It's nothing, really…"
Tatsumi frowned, studying her flustered expression. "What's up with you lately? You've been acting weird."
"Sh-Shut up!" Mine let out a "hmph!" and turned her head away, her rosy cheeks practically steaming. She bit her lip lightly and hugged her Pumpkin tightly, vowing never to look at this clueless guy again.
…If she was ever going to confess, it'd have to wait until he finally got a clue!
——
[Meanwhile, in the Celestial Screen, after Kafka left, Stelle—no longer supported by the Spirit Whisper—soon fainted. But before long, a young man and woman approached her.]
[The young man wielded a spear, his short black hair framing sharp, handsome features. He wore a black inner robe adorned with gold-cloud patterns, draped with a loose white-and-blue outer coat—clearly a skilled fighter.]
[The girl had short pink hair, her rainbow-like pupils resembling the Intertwined Fates from a certain two-word game, as if they'd come to life.]
[Her white innerwear traced graceful curves beneath a blue dress, the blue-and-white hues hugging her figure and accentuating her charm.]
[Her slender legs, straight and delicate beneath her short skirt, were adorned with white garters, adding a touch of adorable allure.]
[She carried an enormous bow, fighting alongside the black-haired youth with seamless coordination. Though cute, her archery skills were nothing to scoff at—her arrows, formed of ice, encased every enemy they struck in frozen crystals.]
[The two's brutal beatdown of the Voidrangers had the Pyro Archon Mavuika thoroughly entertained. She watched with keen interest, nodding in approval.]
"That boy's spear technique is extraordinary. In all of Natlan, few could match him…"
"The girl's archery isn't bad either. She manipulates Cryo without a Vision. If she came to Teyvat and obtained one, her control over ice could reach even greater heights."
The scenes on the Celestial Screen had sobered Citlali up by about 70-80%. As the Grand Shaman of Mavuika, she had originally intended to analyze the events on the screen alongside the Pyro Archon. But when she accidentally noticed the Traveler staring unblinkingly at March 7th, a surge of jealousy rose in her chest.
"She's not even blinking… Is that pink-haired girl really that pretty?"
"Do people from another world just dress more attractively?"
"Tch… I shouldn't have stayed up reading light novels last night. Now my eyes bags are puffy."
Citlali suddenly felt a pang of regret—she should've worn heavier makeup before leaving today.