"Her past?" Stelle was momentarily stunned, instinctively sizing up Evernight. "She actually looked this smart in the past... Wait, no!"
She vigorously shook her head. "You almost made me lose focus! March 7th never even got off the train—she's still waiting for us safe and sound on the Express! You absolutely cannot be March! Who are you really?!"
Stelle gripped her Flame Lance with one hand while the other instinctively touched the camera in her bag that belonged to March 7th—March's most precious camera was still right here with her!
"I told you, I am March 7th's 'past.'" Lunarith seemed somewhat helpless as she sighed. "Hah, fine. I know I can't easily convince you. Then let someone who can convince you do the talking."
She gracefully stepped back, and immediately, two solid holographic projections abruptly appeared between the Astral Express crew and Evernight.
"Signal strength 96.35%. Dialogue window: no current restrictions. No external interference... Communication established." A calm, slightly mechanical announcement sounded.
"Members of the Astral Express, learning that you are safe and sound brings Herta and me great relief." Screwllum's unique, magnetic voice came through steadily after a brief moment of signal static.
On the other side, The Herta's projection first cast a scrutinizing glance at Evernight beside her, then turned to Welt and the others, reiterating in a tone that distanced herself from responsibility:
"Listen, we just happened to 'encounter' her while attempting to enter Amphoreus's signal-blocked zone, and she just happened to tell us she could find the crew members. Don't think we're familiar with this mysterious Memokeeper lady."
"However," The Herta's projection shifted her tone, her voice more serious and solemn than before,
"One thing she said is indeed not wrong. We did discover, through data backtracking and trace analysis via special channels, that March 7th's signal became involved in Amphoreus before all of you, independent of your train."
This confirmation from Herta landed like a huge rock thrown into a lake, stirring up turbulent waves in the hearts of the three crew members.
"So..." Evernight's voice chimed in at the right moment. Her tone, compared to before, had calmed considerably, returning to her usual elegance.
"Now... can you trust me a little? My dear companions"
Stelle frowned deeply as she stepped forward. Although the tip of her Flame Lance wasn't raised, her caution hadn't diminished in the slightest.
"Fine. Even if some of what you say is true. You claim to be March 7th's 'past.' Then I ask you, where is the real March right now?"
Evernight's dark red pupils lowered slightly, avoiding Stelle's burning gaze. After a moment of silence, she looked up, her voice carrying an almost cruel calmness:
"She... is not here. And... I hope you can prepare for the worst."
She paused, speaking word by word, "Your companion, March 7th... may no longer be with us."
"Miss Evernight!" Welt's voice suddenly sharpened as he stepped forward, his gaze behind his glasses as sharp as a blade.
"Watch your words! We just chose to believe, based on Lady Herta's testimony, that you're not some malicious impersonator pretending to be our companion. But that doesn't mean you can casually declare our companion's... death!"
"I am not deliberately lying to hurt you." Evernight faced Welt's pressure without showing any sign of retreat. However, her voice grew even heavier.
"She did indeed enter Amphoreus before you. But after she alone caught a glimpse of this world's despairing nature and the terrifying fate of this world, in order to protect you, to protect her most important companions from being entangled by either the amber of 'Preservation' or the flames of 'Destruction'...
She chose to embrace the Path of 'Remembrance .' Like a candle burning itself to light the way forward for others in the fog, she has burned her own existence out."
"If not for... a promise he made to me..." Evernight's final words were as faint as a mosquito's buzz, dissipating into the air like a broken sigh. None present could hear them clearly.
"How could... this be impossible!" Welt tightened his grip on the Star of Eden, his knuckles turning white from the force.
"How could March... how could she have entered Amphoreus before us? This completely contradicts the facts!" He tried to find a logical flaw, but Herta's confirmation made him deeply uneasy.
"Regrettably, this is the cold truth." Evernight lifted her head, meeting Welt's gaze filled with distrust and anxiety.
Just then, she suddenly recalled advice someone had once given her—if communication with the express crew reached an impasse and the atmosphere grew too tense, she could try saying those words; they might produce unexpectedly wonderful results.
She carefully recalled the tone and expression of that passage, trying to imitate the uniquely elegant tone—tinged with both calculation and sincerity—that person had used when speaking those words. She said softly to Welt:
"Indeed, I am not 'her,' but my heart is closely connected to hers."
Then, Evernight's next words made Welt's expression stiffen again and again.
"So... you may have lost March 7th, but you still have me. I can completely be the Little March traveling with you, can't I? Just like she once was with you. If you want, I can even put on a performance of crying bitterly in front of Pom-Pom's little cakes..."
Before Evernight's words "you still have me" had completely faded—
Hum—!!!
An extremely unstable, destructive-filled violent energy suddenly erupted from Welt Yang!
The Star of Eden in his hand seemed to sense its master's turbulent emotions. The core at its tip flickered uncontrollably, purple-black energy arcs crackling. The Zero-rated Power—the pseudo-black hole—was already on the verge of release!
Veins even bulged on Welt's forehead. Behind his glasses, his eyes practically spitting fire as he stared deadly at Evernight:
What are you talking about?!
What do you mean I've lost Little March but still have you???
The deeply ingrained PTSD caused this usually calm and collected senior of Astral Express momentarily lose control.
"Mr Yang! Calm down! Wait a second!!" Stelle was so startled she almost jumped. She dashed forward in an instant, both arms hugged Welt's right arm tightly, her entire body practically hanging off it.
"Black hole! The black hole's coming out! Pull it back! Pull it back, Mr Yang!"