Chapter 430: Better to Find an Intermediary First
Hometown. The very word acted as a key, unlocking a vault of memories long sealed within Welt's heart.
The clinking glasses and bustling background chatter of the banquet gradually faded into a dull hum. In their place rose the phantom echoes of war, a chorus of clashing steel and unwavering conviction from another world. He could almost see that scarred yet unyielding land stretching out before him, populated by the familiar figures who had ignited sparks of hope amidst suffocating despair.
He remembered the brutal, world-ending battles against the Honkai. He remembered the dear friends who had willingly sacrificed themselves to protect humanity's fragile future. And, inevitably, his mind drifted to a certain scientist with a temper as fiery as her signature red twin-tails.
Tesla.
Yes, Tesla. Welt's thoughts anchored on her. If he could accumulate enough Heart of the Feral Ghost or Heart of the Skeletal Remains to redeem that precious [Cordial Invitation], she would undoubtedly be the very first person he invited. She was sharp-tongued but possessed a soft heart, always grumbling and complaining yet caring for her companions more fiercely than anyone else alive.
Yet, no sooner had the fond thought formed than a vivid, terrifyingly realistic scenario played out in his mind's eye. He could already picture Tesla's reaction upon learning the truth.
She would absolutely ignore the fascinating technical principles behind world-crossing or consciousness projection. She wouldn't even care that he had been hopelessly lost in the universe thanks to the Void Archives' convoluted schemes. Instead, what awaited him was a head-on, full-firepower verbal barrage. She would demand to know why he had been wandering around outside for so long, only bothering to contact her now.
A heavy, almost imperceptible sigh escaped Welt's lips. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, the gesture carrying a deep sense of helplessness.
Inviting Tesla directly would result in a shock far exceeding any pleasant surprise. Their first cross-world reunion would likely devolve into utter chaos. He needed a safer approach. A buffer.
He needed an intermediary.
He required someone who could comprehend this impossible situation and relay the information to Tesla in a relatively calm manner, softening the blow before he had to face her wrath.
Without much deliberation, a specific name surfaced in his mind. Kiana Kaslana.
The reasons for choosing Kiana were numerous and sound. First, her energy level was astronomical. As the existence who had ended the Honkai of the previous era and currently bore the authority of Finality, her sheer power provided the perfect excuse. He could easily explain it to Tesla by saying, 'You see, the higher one's energy level, the easier it is to intercept these cross-spacetime invitation signals.'
Secondly, and far more, Kiana had chosen to remain entirely alone on the moon to protect the Earth's future. She bore a crushing weight of responsibility and an isolating loneliness that ordinary people could scarcely comprehend. Inviting her to this vibrant world full of joy and adventure, allowing her to relax, witness new horizons, and forge new friendships, was the absolute least he could do for the girl who had sacrificed everything.
Finally, there was one last factor—a quiet arrangement that might serve as a bittersweet surprise. Welt's gaze shifted, inadvertently sweeping past the elegant, composed figure of Himeko standing beside him.
The navigator of the Astral Express possessed the exact same appearance as Murata Himeko. She looked identical to the woman from his hometown who had resolutely marched toward her own death to save her students, igniting the final, enduring flame within Kiana's heart. Though their souls were completely distinct, that uncanny resemblance alone might offer Kiana an indescribable comfort.
Complex thoughts rapidly integrated within his mind, solidifying into a preliminary plan. He picked up his porcelain teacup and took a slow sip. The warm, fragrant liquid washed down his throat, calming the lingering fluctuations in his chest.
Himeko had been waiting with quiet patience, never once rushing him. She watched his gaze sharpen, pulling back from the distant shores of memory to restore his usual, unshakeable composure. She knew he had reached a decision.
Welt turned his head to meet her eyes. His gaze behind the lenses was calm and deep. "About my hometown, Himeko... it is a long story. One full of bitter struggle, heavy sacrifice, and the eventual hope of rebirth. However, there is someone far more suitable to tell it."
He paused, a rare, gentle expectation softening his tone. "It is better to wait until she arrives. I will let her tell you herself. She is the most shining witness and the true successor of that era."
Himeko offered a knowing nod. She didn't press for details. Instead, she simply raised her cup in a silent toast. "Then, we shall look forward to that day together."
While Welt remained anchored in nostalgia and careful planning within a quiet corner of the banquet, a drastically different scene unfolded across the cosmos. Far away on the continent of Teyvat, deep within the bustling Court of Fontaine, Furina sat in her private residence.
Having finally shed the crushing, centuries-long burden of divinity, she was currently relishing a life of absolute freedom. At this exact moment, she was deeply focused, attempting to fully synchronize her consciousness with Fubufu—her designated Bangboo avatar located lightyears away in New Eridu.
The sensory experience of inhabiting a Bangboo chassis was incredibly novel. The sensation of moving without her usual physical limitations, of freely running around and playing in a completely strange, hyper-modern world, flooded her with an intoxicating excitement.
"Thank you so much, Lumine, Paimon!" Furina cheered. A radiant, entirely genuine smile illuminated her features. It was the pure, burden-free joy that belonged solely to the mortal Furina. "I never expected something this interesting to exist! Another world! A Bangboo! There are so many strange people and incredible foods I've never even seen before! Ehn-na!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Furina froze.
'Ehn-na?'
Why had she suddenly blurted out that bizarre interjection? It sounded exactly like the noises those round-headed, pill-shaped Bangboos made. She subconsciously raised a hand, her fingertips gently tapping against her own lips. She blinked in confusion, trying to confirm if that playful, robotic verbal tic had actually just come from her own human mouth.
"You're very welcome, Furina," Lumine replied. Her voice remained perfectly steady, carrying the patient tone of a seasoned veteran explaining the ropes. "I'm glad you're enjoying it. It's completely normal to feel a bit disoriented when controlling two bodies at the same time for the first try. It's basically like watching two different television screens at once. Occasionally, your attention slips, and you end up mixing up your small physical habits."
Nearby, Paimon hovered right above the coffee table. Her wide eyes were locked intently onto the very last piece of frosted cake resting on the porcelain plate.
The second she heard Furina deadpan an 'Ehn-na', the little fairy shuddered violently. The silver fork in her hand slipped, nearly plummeting into the plush carpet below. Paimon abruptly slapped her free hand over her mouth. Her cheeks puffed out to a comical degree.
Desperate to keep herself from bursting into hysterical laughter, she moved with lightning speed. She grabbed the exquisite little cake and shoved the entire thing into her mouth in two massive bites. She chewed vigorously, using the dense pastry to physically suppress the laughter rolling up her throat. Because she had stuffed her cheeks entirely too full, she could only produce muffled, strained 'woo-woo' noises, her tiny face turning a vibrant shade of red from the sheer effort of holding it all in.
Furina immediately noticed Paimon's strange, vibrating state. A faint flush of embarrassment crept up her neck, dusting her cheeks in a light pink. She offered a delicate, highly artificial cough to clear the air.
"Ahem... it seems I still require a bit more practice. It felt incredibly smooth when I was running around and eating with everyone over there—and please don't ask what I was eating, Bangboos apparently consume batteries! But here, back in my original body, I feel like my wires are getting crossed..."
"Your consciousness just needs to learn how to distinguish between your primary and secondary states, as well as the immediate context." Lumine took over the conversation smoothly. She forced her expression into a mask of professional seriousness, casually reaching over to hand the choking Paimon a warm cup of black tea. "We were exactly like this in the beginning, too. It is incredibly easy to mix up the physical feedback of two different bodies. It was only after a lot of intense training in the cultivation room that we slowly adapted to the split focus."
Lumine leaned back against the sofa cushions, offering a helpful smile. "You can try setting up some mental cues for the two different states. For example, when your consciousness is primarily focused on your human body here in Fontaine, actively remind yourself: 'This is my home. This is a place to rest and receive guests.' If you do that, your speech and physical behavior will naturally default to your usual habits."
"And when you need to devote the majority of your attention to the Bangboo body to participate in the Chat Group activities," Lumine continued, gesturing vaguely with one hand, "you just switch your mindset over to a mode that is... well, more adapted to group adventures and relaxed, chaotic gatherings. Don't rush it. Take your time, and you'll adapt eventually."
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