Chapter 249: Forging an Ancient Name
Having settled on their next course of action, the three members of the Astral Express temporarily went their separate ways within the tranquil confines of Okhema's private bathhouse.
Stelle was a woman of decisive action. After a brief rest, she was out the door, heading once again toward the Cloudstone Market. Her target was the organization known as the "Pink Haze Celestial Maiden Research Society" and its enigmatic leader, Damianos. This time, she wasn't just indulging her curiosity or seeking amusement; she had a clear objective. By sifting through folk legends and unofficial histories—sources often overlooked by orthodox scholars—she hoped to extract genuine clues about the "Pink Haze Celestial Maiden" and, in doing so, perhaps unravel the millennium-long mystery of the other March 7th.
Meanwhile, March 7th herself remained in the bathhouse. A small, jellyfish-like creature named "Little Moon," which emanated a soft, ethereal starlight, floated gently above her shoulder. She sat cross-legged on a plush cushion, her gaze fixed tenderly on it.
"Little Moon," March 7th began, her voice soft, yet threaded with a tension she couldn't quite conceal. "You… you were very close with the other 'me,'weren't you? Otherwise, you wouldn't call her'Mother.'"
She was trying to connect with this avatar of Olonios's consciousness on a deeper level. "Can you tell me about her? Anything at all… What kind of person was she? What did she go through? Why… why did she become the person you remember?"
The starlight shimmering around Little Moon's form rippled, conveying a powerful wave of dependence, adoration, and a tangle of other complex emotional fragments that were difficult to parse. It seemed to be trying desperately to express something, but limited by its current form and awareness, it couldn't assemble a coherent stream of information. It could only respond through emotional resonance and scattered, fragmented images.
March 7th patiently absorbed these flickers of memory, attempting to piece together a vague portrait of her "other self." It was a process that would demand immense patience and careful care.
Dan Heng, seeking solitude, chose a quiet corner for himself. He summoned his personal data terminal, his expression focused as he began to input, organize, and cross-reference all the information they had gathered since arriving in Amphoreus. From their initial observations and contact with the Chrysos Heirs to the fragmented legends Stelle had heard from Damianos, nothing was omitted. His fingers moved swiftly across the light screen, his eyes sharp, ensuring he missed no potentially overlooked detail or underlying logical connection. He was determined to dredge up the key clues that would point to the core truth from this vast, complex sea of information.
The scene shifts to the distant continent of Teyvat.
In Liyue Harbor, Hu Tao, the 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, was as energetic as ever. Her morning was spent enthusiastically promoting the parlor's "one-stop" afterlife services, while her afternoon was dedicated to her favorite pastime: a harbor-wide game of "catch" with the little zombie, Qiqi, who, with her perpetually poor memory, was always trying to hide.
Meanwhile, in the parlor's inner sanctum, Consultant Zhongli sat surrounded by ancient books, unfurled scrolls, and the faintly glowing World Rune: Guardian. His brow was slightly furrowed in concentration, fully immersed in the grand vision of constructing a Ley Line communication network and tackling the project's initial challenges.
Within the chat group, most members seemed preoccupied with their own goals and responsibilities. Except for one…
In Mondstadt City, at the Angel's Share tavern, a certain green-clad figure had quietly slipped in, taking advantage of the fact that the owner, Master Diluc, was away inspecting his vineyards. He skillfully sidled up to the bar, flashing a most amiable smile at Charles, the bartender on duty.
"Ehe~ My dear Mr. Charles," he pleaded in a theatrical, operatic tone. "You see, the sun is simply perfect today, and the breeze so gentle—isn't it an especially suitable day for a refreshing, sweet glass of apple cider to moisten a bard's parched fount of inspiration? Just one glass, I promise! I shall savor it slowly, taste it carefully…"
After much persuasion, he finally received his coveted glass of clear apple cider. He held it as if it were a priceless treasure, taking a cautious, reverent sip. A look of extreme satisfaction spread across his face, which was immediately followed by a nervous glance into the glass to check how much was left, terrified of drinking too quickly and losing the "hard-won" vintage before he could fully appreciate it.
The Anemo Archon of freedom was, today as always, leisurely strolling the path of avoiding proper work in his endless quest for fine wine.
On the fiery lands of Natlan, Lumine and Paimon had just concluded an extremely fulfilling, if not utterly draining, day. In the afternoon, they had uncovered the Captain's true plan from Olorun's memories, then rushed nonstop to the Holy Fire Arena to report this critical discovery to Mavuika.
Immediately afterward, with barely a moment to breathe, they smoothly joined the Pyro Archon on a deep dive into Natlan's underground, exploring the ancient ruins of the Secret Spring and the primeval power it harbored. There, they endured several fierce battles before finally encountering the Captain, who was also investigating the site. Under complex circumstances, they forged a fragile, temporary alliance to confront the looming threat of the Abyss.
By the time they dragged their weary bodies back to their temporary lodging, night had fallen deep across the land. Even then, they forced themselves to stay awake, conducting a lengthy post-battle review and intelligence analysis with Mavuika and several of Natlan's key figures. It wasn't until the dead of night that they were finally able to rest.
The continuous travel and the high-intensity mental and physical exertion of the past few days had left them with no time to even pop into the chat group. Even Paimon, ever the glutton, had forcefully resisted the urge to sample the exotic delicacies from the group's shared warehouse. After all, if the scent of food clinging to her gave away their position during a daytime infiltration, her reputation as the best guide in Teyvat (emergency food status rescinded) would be ruined! She would surely be laughed at for ages.
But as Lumine and Paimon finally lay down to rest, drifting into their dreams, they were unaware that the Natlan night was far from peaceful.
Xilonen and Citlali, two friends deeply concerned for Lumine's well-being, had set off under the cover of darkness to pay a secret visit to the Night God. They carried with them a firm resolve, hoping to seek a method to create a unique "Ancient Name" for Lumine's safety. They understood better than anyone the importance of an Ancient Name for an outsider in Natlan; it was a key that would help her better understand and use the power of this land, and more, it would serve as a vital safeguard for her life.
The next morning, at the first hint of dawn.
"Lumine! Paimon! Wake up!"
Xilonen and Citlali arrived early at their residence, rousing the two from a deep sleep.
"Here, take this," Xilonen said, handing Lumine an item that emitted a soft glow. It had a peculiar texture, as if woven from night and starlight itself. Her gaze was clear and firm. "This is the 'Holy Night Journey Weave,' a very magical tool. It can automatically record the important events and emotional resonances its holder experiences."
She continued, "With this, I can more accurately grasp your experiences and characteristics to create the most suitable 'Ancient Name' for you."
Lumine accepted the artifact, feeling the gentle yet mysterious power contained within it. She offered her sincere thanks to both Xilonen and Citlali, completely missing the emotion hidden deep within Citlali's eyes—a fleeting worry, deliberately concealed.
They did not mention the extremely heavy, unspoken price required to successfully forge an Ancient Name.
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