"Trailblazer, you two as well... we still have something very important to do right now. If you don't have anything else, I need to go with Miss Elysia to the Alchemy Commission to retrieve some medicine."
Dan Shu's tone carried a hint of helplessness, with a trace of urgency in her words. After all, their original goal had been to obtain medicine from the Alchemy Commission to treat that Cloud Knight suffering from mara. The longer they delayed, the more that Cloud Knight's suffering would deepen.
Elysia naturally understood this as well. She quickened her pace and followed behind Dan Shu, then turned back and waved at Stelle.
"Sorry, Stelle. We have something important to take care of right now. Let's talk next time we meet."
Seeing Elysia's departing figure, Stelle hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward to her side.
"I... I'll help too!"
Hearing Stelle's voice, Dan Shu turned around. Her clouded eyes fell upon the two of them, but in the end, she said nothing. She simply turned back again and continued leading the way.
After seeing Stelle follow along, Elysia turned to her with a smile.
"Since you're coming along, let's continue what we were talking about earlier. What exactly is a Stellaron? Can I touch it?"
"Well... it's inside my body, so I can't take it out. Ever since I woke up at the Herta Space Station, it's been there. Everyone on the train says it's like my heart..."
As she spoke, Stelle looked down at her chest. Then her gaze shifted to Elysia's soft, fair hand. As if realizing something, her face flushed red.
"You can't touch that... how about something else? You can play with my bat instead."
As she spoke, Stelle summoned her bat with a wave of her hand.
At first glance, it looked like nothing more than an ordinary baseball bat. But within it lay a powerful force. Faint blue light shimmered along the patterns etched into its surface, as though it concealed an unknown secret.
Elysia puffed out her cheeks.
"No... If I can't touch the Stellaron, then how about you tell me why Dan Shu called you a Trailblazer earlier? Is that your profession?"
"Trailblazer... it's because I'm one of the Nameless aboard the Astral Express. Someone who walks the Path of Trailblaze."
A trace of awkwardness crossed Stelle's face, as if she were unsure how to explain it to Elysia. It seemed like this was the first time someone didn't understand the term. Her voice grew quieter as she spoke haltingly.
"It means traveling through the universe, exploring unknown worlds, connecting different worlds together... something like that, I guess. I haven't been a Trailblazer for very long, after all."
Seems like a newcomer... It's perfectly normal not to fully understand your own work yet.
Elysia blinked, then spoke reassuringly.
"I may not fully understand, but when you rushed in to protect me earlier, you looked pretty cool."
Hearing Elysia's encouragement, Stelle scratched her head shyly. Though she tried to act composed, the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her.
"Well, when you see someone in danger, you can't just stand by... helping others is part of Trailblaze too."
"You're really interesting." Elysia smiled faintly. She leaned closer to Stelle and whispered softly, "Life aboard the Astral Express must be fascinating. If I get the chance, can I come visit sometime? I'm curious what you're like in your daily life."
Her soft breath brushed against Stelle's cheek, carrying a warm, gentle moisture that caused a faint blush to spread across her face.
It was as if a thin layer of makeup had been applied—her cheeks tinted with a delicate pink, like blush lightly dusted across her skin. The longer Elysia stayed close, the deeper the color grew, until even her earlobes turned a vivid red.
Stelle felt dazed, as though her ability to speak had malfunctioned. She didn't even dare look directly at Elysia. Breathing in the faint, captivating fragrance from her body, Stelle's legs grew weak, and she unconsciously took two steps back.
"Of... of course you can. The conductor said we're welcome to bring friends aboard the train." Stelle scratched her head awkwardly. "If you want, after we get the medicine, I'll take you to the Astral Express..."
A smile curved Elysia's lips as she reached out and took both of Stelle's hands.
"Then it's a promise. After all, we're good friends now."
Startled by Elysia's sudden action, Stelle instinctively tried to pull her hands away. But feeling them wrapped in that warm, soft touch, she found herself wanting to linger in it just a little longer.
The hands she had intended to withdraw ultimately remained within Elysia's grasp.
"R-right... you said you're a streamer, Elysia. I'll definitely follow you later."
"Alright." Though she didn't know why Stelle suddenly brought it up, Elysia responded with a gentle smile.
Stelle silently memorized Elysia's username and made up her mind—she would become a devoted fan of Miss Pink Elf from now on.
Still, Stelle felt as though she had forgotten something important just now. She looked at Elysia, wanting to speak, but after hesitating for a long time, she ultimately swallowed her words.
As if seeing through her thoughts, Elysia reached up and brushed aside her hair, revealing her long elf ears. Tilting her head, she brought them closer to Stelle.
A faint fragrance drifted from her hair, lingering at the tip of Stelle's nose. She couldn't help but swallow.
Lowering her head unconsciously, she inhaled the scent lightly.
"A promise is a promise. But you only get to touch them once."
Elysia's words snapped Stelle out of her daze. She quickly raised her head, afraid of being caught doing what she had just done. Her gaze shifted to those beautiful ears.
The long, elf-like ears swayed gently, as if inviting her to touch them—to knead them.
With a hint of nervousness, Stelle slowly reached out and placed her hand upon them.
A soft sensation spread from her fingertips. Her movements were as cautious as if she were touching a sensitive plant, afraid that any roughness might cause it to close up—or that she might hurt Elysia.
She lightly pinched the outer rim, gently rubbing it with her fingertips.
Soft. Smooth. The texture was irresistibly pleasant, enough to make one lose themselves in it.
Just as she began to indulge in the sensation, the elf ear suddenly twitched and slipped free from her grasp.
"Wait—"
Stelle instinctively tried to stop it.
"We agreed—just one touch. Time's up now."
Elysia smiled brightly. She lifted a hand to smooth down her pink hair, letting it fall and once again cover those beautiful ears.
Stelle felt a lingering sense of regret, yet she was too embarrassed to ask again. She could only watch unwillingly as glimpses of those ears occasionally peeked through her hair, silently reminiscing about that wonderful sensation.