Chapter 299: A Rude Awakening
Meanwhile, aboard the Astral Express.
Compared to Welt, who was left to contend with Herta's sharp questioning back at the space station, Himeko seemed far more at ease. The familiar, warm interior of the Express brought with it an unmatched sense of security, the air filled with the fresh, clean scent of Pom-Pom's careful care.
"Pom-Pom, rest assured," Himeko said with a gentle smile, relaying the news to the Conductor, who was gazing up at her with nervous anticipation. "March 7th and Dan Heng are both safe and sound in Amphoreus. They're currently getting some much-needed rest and gathering intelligence."
"Really, Pom-Pom?!" Pom-Pom's long, fluffy ears practically shot straight up with joy. "That's great news, Pom-Pom!"
For the little Conductor, this was a delightful double-dose of good news. The first, of course, was the safety of March 7th and their companions. The second was something Pom-Pom could perceive with perfect clarity.
"Himeko, the Trailblaze Power you brought back this time is truly immense, Pom-Pom!" Pom-Pom waved its small paws excitedly. "It's so much more than last time! Pom-Pom can feel the Astral Express is just brimming with power. If we ever encounter an Emanator-level attack like that again, we'll definitely be able to protect every passenger on board even better, Pom-Pom!"
Pom-Pom was the most sensitive to the Express's condition, and the vast, pure stream of Trailblaze Power now surging through its core filled the Conductor with unshakeable confidence for the future.
Himeko gracefully settled onto the sofa in the observation car. She accepted the steaming, custom-brewed drink Pom-Pom had thoughtfully prepared and took a delicate sip, the rich aroma washing away some of the lingering fatigue from her off-world campaign. In a soft, soothing tone, she began to recount her experiences in Natlan—the unique customs of its people, the impressive sight of their unified stand against the Abyss, and the thrilling battle where March 7th and Lumine had transformed into giants to fight a terrifying monster.
As for Black Swan, who had also returned to the Express, she remained in her room, recuperating. The memokeeper's last, desperate attempt to perceive the Emanator who had attacked the train had inflicted no ordinary physical injury. The damage was on the level of memory and consciousness itself, requiring a great deal of time and tranquility to mend.
While discussions unfolded at Herta Space Station and warm stories were shared aboard the Astral Express, a quiet night passed in the private guest room of the Okhema Bath Palace in Amphoreus.
Soft morning light filtered through the exotic window frames, casting a gentle glow on March 7th's sleeping face. The pink-haired girl stirred, turning over in the plush bedding. In her groggy state, she felt something hard and unfamiliar pressing against her waist. It was uncomfortable.
"Ugh…" she mumbled, half-asleep, without even cracking an eye. Acting on pure instinct, she swiped a hand back, casually pushing the offending object off the bed. It landed with a soft thud.
She smacked her lips, shifted into a more comfortable position, and prepared to drift back into her beautiful dream.
Before she could fall back into slumber, however, two more sounds followed in quick succession. Thud. Thud. Something else had fallen, and one of the objects landed—not too heavily—right on her arm.
"Ow! Who is it?!" March 7th was thoroughly provoked now. She sat bolt upright, a heavy dose of morning grumpiness clouding her features. "Can't a person get any sleep?!"
Her sleepy eyes scanned the room, her first assumption being that Lumine, in the next bed, was playing some kind of prank. She rubbed the blurriness from her vision, took a closer look, and then froze.
Floating silently by her bed was the small, blue, jellyfish-like Memoria, Mimi. Its translucent tentacles swayed gently, giving it a look of utter innocence.
And the things that had fallen weren't prank props at all. They were three cards, each one emitting a soft fluctuation of energy, their edges shimmering with a subtle halo.
'Cards?' she thought, her mind slowly catching up.
No, those weren't ordinary cards. That unique material, that contained power of a Path…
"Light… Light Cones?!" March 7th's eyes flew wide open, all traces of sleepiness vaporized in an instant. Her voice shot up several octaves in pure shock. "Mimi?! Did… did you make these?!"
She could hardly believe what she was seeing. Light Cones! These were the signature creations of the Garden of Recollection, followers of Fuli, the Aeon of Remembrance. They were precious artifacts capable of carrying valuable memory fragments and significantly enhancing the abilities of their corresponding Pathstriders. The technology to create them had always been a closely guarded secret of the Garden, and every single one that circulated in the wider universe was incredibly valuable.
She had never, ever imagined that Mimi possessed the ability to create them. also, Mimi was a unique being from the secluded world of Amphoreus, seemingly connected to the Path of Remembrance, yet distinctly separate from the Garden of Recollection's established system.
March 7th's boisterous, shocked cry roused Lumine from the next bed and also drew the attention of Dan Heng, who had just stepped out to bring back some local breakfast specialties for his two somewhat unreliable companions.
"March, what are you doing so early? Why are you making so much noise instead of sleeping…" Lumine grumbled, rubbing her drowsy eyes. She padded over with a displeased expression, but her words died in her throat the moment she saw what March 7th was holding.
Her gaze locked onto the three cards emitting their alluring glow. Her golden eyes instantly widened, all sleepiness thrown to the winds.
"Light Cones?! March, when did you learn how to do this?!" Lumine rushed to the bedside in a single stride, her voice a mix of astonishment and eagerness. "Quick! Let me see what their attributes are!"
Dan Heng walked in just behind her. His expression was far calmer, but a flicker of surprise and contemplation glinted in his eyes. He already had a theory; based on his understanding of March 7th, the odds of her suddenly mastering the art of Light Cone creation were infinitesimally small.
Therefore, the creator was most likely Mimi, who was floating quietly beside them, seemingly oblivious to the commotion it had caused.
'Still,'he mused,'why is Mimi, a consciousness avatar of Olonios, the "Titan of Ages" of Amphoreus, able to follow March 7th to Teyvat without being bound by world restrictions? And how can it manifest an ability related to the Path of "Remembrance"?' The question lingered in his mind, for now, without an answer.
"It wasn't me! It was Mimi!" March 7th quickly clarified, excitedly arranging the three Light Cones on the bed as if displaying the most precious treasures in the universe.
The first Light Cone bore an image of extreme impact.
The background was a battlefield of smoke and shattered earth. In the foreground stood two towering giants. One burned with crimson flames, wielding a colossal Flame Lance; the other was wreathed in violet-blue lightning and swirling wind, a massive elemental sword held at the ready. Together, they faced the mountain-sized, terrifying form of Bakunawa. The sheer dynamism and sense of power practically overflowed from the card itself.
Beneath the image was a single line of ancient text: Records of the Birth of Two Heroes.
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