[Finally someone noticed.]
[Welt Yang spotted the key point!]
[Oh no, something feels really off.]
[During the jump, the Trailblazer didn't get any memory flashback segments. Belobog, Penacony, Xianzhou Luofu—all had flashbacks. This time, nothing.]
[And March 7th's 'no falling during warp' challenge is gone too.]
[You guys… you've watched too much Honkai Impact 3rd. This is Star Rail—don't overthink it.]
[Exactly. No matter the adventure, March 7th is always right there with the Trailblazer. She's the straight-man foil; without her, who's gonna catch his snark?]
[I can't even imagine an adventure without March 7th by his side!]
— —
Caelus glanced around at everyone. "I was about to say—the snark partner is missing."
Dan Heng frowned slightly, a memory flashing through his mind. "I remember before we set off, she said she was going back to her room to fiddle with her camera. She never came out after that."
Hearing this, even Himeko grew worried. "Strange. Normally Little March should be the most excited one. Why is she acting so out of character today? Let's go check her room."
"March 7th, you okay…?" Even Caelus couldn't help feeling concerned for once.
Even the ever-confident Black Swan fell into thought. "I have… a strange premonition. You all go ahead. I'll join shortly."
…
"Little March, are you in there?" Himeko knocked on March 7th's door.
A weak voice came from inside. "I… am…"
Upon hearing her, everyone immediately entered March 7th's room.
March 7th's face was pale, her breathing labored and uncontrolled—she had completely lost her usual energetic self.
"Sorry… I don't know why… after the jump ended, I just… couldn't muster any strength…"
Caelus quickly pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. "You're sick?"
"No way… how could a beautiful girl get sick…"
Himeko turned to Black Swan. "Miss Black Swan, could you please examine the 'memories' in the room?"
"Leave it to me." Black Swan pressed her forehead against March 7th's, as though sensing her temperature.
Moments later, she stopped and shook her head.
"From March 7th's memories, she suddenly became extremely weak—as if something was pressing down on her body. The change happened in an instant. It shouldn't be a pathological cause."
"Perhaps some external environmental influence?" Sunday and Welt Yang arrived at the room one after the other.
[A Memorian and the head of the Oak Family who grew up in Penacony—should be no problem.]
[Two experts—I refuse to believe we can't cure Little March!]
[Yeah!]
Sunday then channeled the power of Harmony, attempting to identify the cause of March 7th's condition.
But his expression mirrored Black Swan's exactly.
"You've all been to Penacony—you should know that during the jump to Asdana, some people fall into synesthetic dreamscapes.
I believe the same principle applies here. Miss March has been affected by some external force—possibly from a Path, an Aeon… or Amphoreus itself."
Black Swan gave a noncommittal nod. "I think so too."
Welt Yang scanned the group, his gaze finally settling on March 7th. "Why is only March affected?"
"The specifics are unclear—perhaps only a matter of timing. But until we determine the cause, I suggest Miss March 7th refrain from approaching Amphoreus for now."
Hearing Sunday's suggestion, everyone fell silent.
At that moment, March 7th forced a smile and instead comforted the group. "It's fine, Himeko. I'm being good. You all go on ahead. Once I'm better, I'll catch right up…"
[Wuwuwu, March baby is so sensible!]
[Still planting flags!]
[Don't say stuff like that, March 7th!]
[Is this culture shock?]
[Hahaha, culture shock!]
Even at this point in the plot, the audience still hadn't grasped the severity of the situation!
"Here, take this." March 7th handed her camera to Caelus. "Bring my camera! We promised to take photos upon landing—this time I'm counting on you…"
Caelus took the camera and aimed the lens at her. "Three, two, one—cheese—"
"No—my hair's not even brushed. Save the battery…"
[Compensation shot!]
[Compensation exchange!]
[Holy crap, daring to knife March 7th too? If you've got the guts, knife the Trailblazer next—I'll write a big FAT respect!]
[Why do I feel more and more panicked the longer I watch?]
[Damn it, March 7th—don't hand your camera to someone else! That's basically screaming foreshadowing!]
[Nooo—if I can't see March 7th, what am I supposed to do? How are us March fans supposed to live?]
[The key is she really looks so weak.]
[Just don't go, okay? Wait till March 7th recovers, then go—okay?]
[Can't. She only got sick after arriving at Amphoreus—so to get better, she has to leave Amphoreus.]
[Old Sunday, do something!]
[And Black Swan—wasn't this your idea to come to Amphoreus?]
Himeko looked at March 7th with eyes full of heartache. She spoke to the group: "Everyone, let March 7th rest properly. We'll talk outside."
March 7th smiled. "Go on, go on. Don't worry—next time we meet, I'll be back to my bouncy, energetic beautiful-girl self. Remember to take lots of photos! I'll be checking your homework!"
One by one, the group left March 7th's room. Only Caelus remained standing in place.
In the end, he could only believe that the beautiful girl before him would surely return to her vibrant self.
Just then.
March 7th called out to stop Caelus. "Oh right, I forgot to say one thing. Looking at old photos just now, I suddenly realized something. Whether it was Jarilo-VI, the Xianzhou, or Penacony…
The very first local we meet always has some incredible secret! This time I can't come along, so you guys absolutely have to stay alert…"
[Sampo, Tingyun, Misha!]
[Holy crap, March 7th is activating her prophet trait again.]
[Real prophets nail every prediction with precision. Fake prophets can only play vague-script games to seem prophetic.]
[Elio: Just read my ID card already.]
— —
Caelus nodded. "Got it."
With that, he left the room. Outside, everyone stood with furrowed brows.
Welt Yang spoke first. "Do you think Amphoreus could be connected to March 7th's past?"
"Not likely that coincidental. I didn't see any clues related to 'Six-Phased Ice.' More probably some power of Amphoreus manifesting on her first." Himeko glanced at Dan Heng and Caelus. "For this Trailblazing journey, I'd like to ask you two to take point. Is that alright?"
This time Caelus didn't joke around—after all, the journey hadn't even properly begun, and they'd already lost a companion.
"No problem. We work well together."
— —