Meanwhile.
The bullet chat was also full of praise.
Hesitation, who had only an image but no voice for two consecutive versions, now had a voice-over that perfectly matched her appearance.
This made many players marvel that not only was the game quality high, but the choice of voice actors was also incredibly strong.
While excited about this, the conversation with Orionis arrived as scheduled.
Over the long years, Orionis had nearly withered away, and it asked Stelle for help.
Stelle also expressed her willingness to take over its fireseed, helping it find release from eternal loneliness.
"Poor child, it's okay. Please let us help you. Please have a good sleep," Hesitation comforted.
But next, amidst Orionis's continuous mutterings, a terrifying fact was heard.
"You have... the aptitude... the power..."
"Willpower... strong... resilient..."
"But... the thing you lack... is only one!"
Guinaifen, who was staring intently at the screen, was confused. The plot had just started and it was already full of riddles. What could Stelle possibly lack?
Just then, Sushang, who had brought breakfast, arrived at Guinaifen's house.
"Guinaifen, you've already started the stream? Sorry I'm late."
She put the things down and was about to look at the stream when she saw a sentence pop up on the game screen.
"The thing you lack is... a future!"
"Celestial Traveler, you should have... dissipated."
[?]
[?]
[?]
[...]
A large number of question marks floated across the bullet chat. Sushang, who was about to give Guinaifen breakfast, also had her hand suspended in mid-air.
What on earth is this?
Is it this explosive right at the start?
She just got here!
But without a doubt, it was exactly as everyone thought.
Orionis confirmed once more: "The Father's gaze stabilizes your form."
"Because you... at the moment you crossed the heavens... had already discarded your life..."
This last sentence was specially highlighted in yellow, for fear that some players might miss it.
[What?!]
[The friend upstairs, please speak the Galactic Common Language.]
[Are you kidding me, Author? This Time the 'werewolf' killed the protagonist? What do you mean Stelle has been dead all along?!]
[What! What did you say? That Stelle from the Astral Express? She died way back when she entered Amphoreus!]
[What Route 13 Astral Express?]
[This twist came too suddenly. Stelle has been dead for a long Time? So it was Fuli's glance that allowed her to maintain her current state?]
[Ah—?]
After Orionis's explanation, everyone learned that Stelle was indeed gone, and was now just a walking Remembrance.
When they went back and asked Dan Heng, they found that when the crash happened, his description had been too mild; the truth was that Stelle was covered in wounds, with several gashes still seeping blood.
During the final check, she wasn't even breathing anymore.
...
Astral Express.
Himeko sat on the sofa by the window, lost in thought.
The good news was that what was said in the preview PV didn't come true; Stelle escaped the clutches of 'death.'
The bad news was that she was elbowed to death by 'strife' one step before 'death.'
Well, this is just great.
No need to save anyone now, and no need to regret not saving them sooner.
Because Stelle was gone right from the start.
Seeing Himeko's expression as if the world had lost its light, Black Swan, fearing she might do something extreme, hurried over to console her:
"Don't worry, Miss Himeko."
As a Memokeeper, she gave a professional explanation: "Existing in the form of memory—though some call this equivalent to self-destruction, from a Memokeeper's perspective, it cannot be called death."
"In fact, we believe it's a better way."
"Also..."
Taking out her mobile phone, in the plot, Orionis gave Stelle a way to break the deadlock before leaving.
Retrieve the stolen future and deceive the Ashen Hand of death.
Although there are only fifteen door-hours of Time, this is the true Trial of Time!
"Fifteen door-hours..."
According to the calendar of Amphoreus, that's fifteen days.
But what made Himeko even more uneasy was that she didn't know if Time flowed at the same rate inside and out, nor did she know if Stelle would ultimately succeed.
Just as Himeko was unsure what decision to make, a message came from Welt.
[Welt: Himeko, look at the community.]
[Welt: The livestream is about to start!]
Himeko froze for a moment, then quickly switched from the game interface back to the official account.
Sure enough.
The countdown for the Special Program livestream had already begun, with an hour of pre-heating.
Himeko sighed: "I understand, Miss Black Swan."
"Regardless, the livestream starts in an hour. Let's see if it releases any new information first. Everything will have to be considered based on that."
...
Fortunately.
Stelle is still alive for now.
After coming out of the trial, Hesitation revealed all of Stelle's circumstances to the Chrysos Heirs.
Dan Heng was about to head to the Tree Court to investigate, while Stelle went to find Castorice to discuss the situation of the Trial of Time.
One step.
Two steps.
Halfway there.
Suddenly, Castorice attacked from behind, accompanied by a chill that pierced the skin, and the faint fragrance of a nameless flower filled the nostrils.
On the screen, a beautiful and melancholy face appeared as she tried to touch Stelle.
But unfortunately.
"As expected, I can't feel anything..." Castorice said with some disappointment.
There was nothing to discuss.
Castorice, who couldn't get close to anyone, could only touch Stelle.
Not just her, but even the players in the stream gradually understood why Stelle wasn't affected by her when she caught Castorice in the Tree Court.
It wasn't because of the Celestial Traveler's special ability, but because Stelle herself was already gone!
She was as dead as she could be, so how could she die again?!
Realizing this, Guinaifen herself really couldn't hold it together.
She remembered she had casually mentioned before whether it was because Stelle was already gone that she was fine when Castorice touched her.
Now she actually turned out to be right?!
[Oh my god, is Guinaifen a prophet? She actually got it right once?!]
[Quick! Guinaifen couldn't possibly have such a brain. Who are you? Give us back our Guinaifen!]
[I know, Guinaifen must have the game Author's contact info. It's confirmed she's leaking info on orders! Catch her and make her tell us the rest of the game's plot!]
[Actually, Guinaifen is the game Author. This is all a conspiracy she directed and acted in herself!]
[Is that so? Has no one noticed... that Guinaifen and the game Author seem to have never appeared at the same Time?]
"Hehe~" Guinaifen scratched her head, looking quite happy. "Low profile, keep it low profile."
"I just said it casually. Don't praise me! Really, don't!"
However, there was still good news.
Castorice sensed Stelle's straying soul; it was just missing.
If she could find Thanatos and inherit the fireseed of 'death,' there would be a way to return Stelle's life.
For this reason, Stelle and Hesitation ran to Aglaea and Phainon to seek a solution.
Before leaving, Castorice gave Stelle the book of fables about Styxia she had mentioned before.
Fortunately, Aglaea really did have a way to find Thanatos.
"It's not yet Time to give up," Aglaea said solemnly. "At least for now, I can think of a glimmer of hope."
"Cipher... if there's anyone in this world who might know the whereabouts of 'death,' it's her."
This name was highlighted.
"Cipher, is she a new Chrysos Heir?!" Guinaifen felt a sudden sense of anticipation.
The new version had just launched, and there were too many things happening at once.
Besides various foreshadowing, she also wanted to see what was written in the book of Styxia's fables that Castorice had given.
But just as she opened it, she received a message from the bullet chat.
[Stop reading, stop reading, Guinaifen! The Author has started a livestream!]
[honkai: star rail's first livestream! Hurry, hurry, hurry, Guinaifen!]
[Snagging the front row!]
"W-what? The stream started?!"