"Hm? You're awake?" Dan Heng heard the movement and looked up. "Did you rest well?"
"Not really," Stelle rubbed her temples, yawning with a weary expression. "There were always noisy voices in my dreams, like two people arguing endlessly deep in my consciousness."
"It seems you couldn't sleep peacefully either." Dan Heng's voice was as calm as ever, yet carried a hint of barely perceptible gravity. "The light in Okhema… is too constant, lacking the natural alternation of day and night. It makes it difficult to truly fall into deep sleep."
Welt emerged from his room at that moment, fully dressed and alert, seemingly unaffected by the environment. "Sleep can be caught up on later. Stelle, perk up. We need to go meet the various demigods of Okhema now."
Looking at the radiant Welt and the somewhat listless herself and Dan Heng, Stelle couldn't help but silently muse:
*It's true. The elderly are full of vigor, the young are lifeless. That saying online isn't without reason.*
...
Stelle's phone screen lit up first, breaking the quiet of the morning courtyard. "Hm? A message from Phainon?" She lowered her head to read it.
Phainon: Partner, the demigods will meet with you today at the Worldbearing Altar. I assume you don't know the way? Come find me at Okhema's Hero's Bathhouse. I'll take you there.
As soon as Stelle looked up, she saw Mr. Welt pocketing his phone, and Dan Heng also putting down his communication device almost simultaneously.
Clearly, Phainon had sent this guiding message to each of them individually.
...
Dawncloud Cliff, Worldbearing Altar.
This place seemed to be on the edge of the world. Beneath their feet churned a sea of clouds, while above shone the exceptionally bright Dawn Device that illuminated the entire sacred city.
Three demigods waited in silence.
Cerydra, demigod of Law, stood tall and straight, surrounded by an intangible aura of majesty.
Hysilens, demigod of Ocean, stood as still as a deep pool, her eyes seeming to reflect endless waves.
Aglaea, demigod of Romance, her skirt was like woven from flowing starlight, with faint golden threads flickering around her fingertips.
Cerydra's authoritative gaze fell upon the three members of the Express crew who had just arrived.
"Travelers from beyond the sky, after yesterday's tour, you must have gained a preliminary understanding of Amphoreus's situation. However, compared to your observation of us, we still know very little about you—the Nameless who traverse the starry sea."
Her voice was clear and cool, echoing in the empty altar. "This meeting is intended for candid exchange. Right here, upon the Worldbearing Altar, before the body of Kephale—which bears the final hope of Amphoreus." Her gaze shifted slightly toward the center of the altar.
"As you made your way here, you should have also discovered that this is the sacred ground where we demigods submit our own Coreflames. Amphoreus has already shown you our most core secrets and sincerity,"
Cerydra's eyes swept over Welt, Dan Heng, and Stelle, carrying scrutiny as well as a trace of expectation. "Now, we hope to receive equal honesty in return."
Without needing to deliberately observe, the moment the three Express members stepped onto the altar, their eyes were drawn to the mystical spectacle at its center—six blue-purple Coreflames, like fragments possessing stars, floating and rotating slowly.
Welt stepped forward, his cane tapping the ground with a steady sound. "The Astral Express is willing to establish a bond of trust with the guardians of Okhema."
"Good." Cerydra gave a slight nod. "Then, our first question: Why did you set foot on Amphoreus?"
"To continue our journey." Welt answered frankly. "As followers of The Trailblaze, our Express needs to connect one world after another. This is how we replenish the fuel for our travels and walk the Path of Trailblaze."
Cerydra imperceptibly tilted her head, using her eyes to inquire of Aglaea. Only after receiving the latter's subtle and almost undetectable response indicating "no lie detected" did she continue:
"An interesting explanation. Can it be understood that you need to offer the 'experiences' or 'trails' desired by the 'Aeon' you follow, in order to receive the blessing to continue your voyage?"
"It can be analogized as such, although the term 'offer' is not entirely accurate. But in terms of outcome, it is similar." Welt chose his words carefully.
A faint smile touched the corner of Cerydra's lips. "It seems the gods beyond the sky you describe are, in essence, not fundamentally different from the Titans of Amphoreus. They might even… be far less 'humane' than Kephale, who slumbers here."
"Alright. Then, the second question: If a method to leave Amphoreus existed, would you depart immediately?"
"We would not leave immediately. The stride of Trailblazing cannot remain stalled in one world forever—that would mean departing from our path."
Welt's answer stated their position while leaving room. "But we also respect the order and will of each world. We would not stand idly by and watch destruction occur."
"A wise and cautious answer." This time, Cerydra did not look toward Aglaea. Her gaze grew sharper as she posed the most crucial core question. "The final question. This concerns the foundation of our cooperation."
She paused briefly. "Ancient historical scrolls record that once there was a city-state ruler of great talent and bold vision. He mobilized the entire nation's strength, spending generations of effort to build a magnificent starskiff hailed as the 'Heavenly Ark', intending to break through the shackles of the firmament and pursue the starry sky…"
"However, the moment the 'Heavenly Ark' ignited its engines and was about to depart, the divine punishment of the Sky Titan—Aquila—descended."
Cerydra's voice carried a thread of icy chill. "It was annihilation from the sky upon the world's people. The glorious city-state built by humanity was almost instantly reduced to ashes. In the end, it was Kephale who actively descended with a miracle of protection, barely preserving the lives of that city-state's innocent citizens, preventing them from being utterly erased from history."
Her gaze swept over Stelle and Dan Heng's chests—where two strange powers resided—and over the cane in Welt's hand that devoured all their energy and probing.
"In other words, if you wish to leave Amphoreus aboard any form of vessel, the Sky Titan Aquila is the threshold you must inevitably face."
Cerydra's tone was resolute. "Then, as potential allies, I ask here on behalf of Okhema—are you willing to use those surging, unknown powers within those two, and that cane in your hand that can even devour the threads of Romance, to assist us…"
She enunciated each word, voicing that earth-shattering request:
"To slay a god?"