Stelle woke slowly, drifting upward from a fog of sleep. Her eyes opened to a blank white ceiling.
"An unfamiliar ceiling," she murmured.
It was the plainest ceiling imaginable. A smooth, empty sheet of white broken only by a single recessed light. No patterns, no texture, no character.
"Completely boring ceiling," she added.
"Good morning, Stelle!" a cheerful voice chimed.
She flinched, then turned her head. Mem floated nearby like a decorative plush toy brought to life, smiling brightly.
I guess my name is Stelle now…
Stelle pushed herself upright. The room around her came into focus. Pink curtains. A pastel rug. A little wooden desk with scalloped edges. A bed frame painted mint green with a heart-shaped cutout.
"This room… this isn't really my style." she said softly.
"I like it," Mem said. "It feels cozy."
Stelle squinted at her. "Explain something for me. What exactly is your situation right now?"
Mem put her hands together, slightly slouching over in the air. "After the Irontomb business and fixing the continuity, I went to return the ceremonial blade to Eedes Elysiae. Then I fell asleep. When I woke up, I was with the Goddess of Yuri. She explained everything about your life and how things went wrong. So I decided to help!"
Stelle stared. "If you have all your memories back, why are you in your Mem form?"
"Oh. My remembrance energy got heavily nerfed. I can still shapeshift into my Cyrene form, but it takes a lot of power. This form uses the least. Also it is adorable, so it wins in every way."
Why is Mem speaking like a modern person?
"Why are you talking like that? Like someone from my world?"
"When the Goddess was explaining everything she gave me some of your memories so that I could better understand the context." Mem explained.
"How many of my memories did she share exactly?"
Is Mem aware of Honkai: Star Rail?
"Yes, I am aware of that game you played, featuring me. The Goddess already explained to me, its a result of narrative bleed between different worlds."
Huh? Did Mem just read my mind?
"No, your expressions are just extremely easy to read, and I guessed that's what you would be worried about." Mem explained.
Stelle rubbed her face. "Do you know anything about this world?"
"Nope. But the goddess said that you and I would like it."
Nothing about that was reassuring.
She stood up and moved toward the door. Her hand brushed against a round doorknob painted white to match the overly cute aesthetic. Mem floated after her like an obedient balloon.
The living room was a sudden contrast. Plain white walls. A modern gray sofa. A small table that looked like something from an office lounge. The kitchen lined one wall with compact appliances squeezed side by side. The whole place felt narrow. To the right there was a set of glass sliding doors, looking out into a balcony.
She slid open the balcony door and stepped out.
Cold concrete under her bare feet. The balcony railing sat at waist height. When she looked out upon what appeared to be a dense urban city. Buildings five stories tall. Neon signage on the sides. Huge display screens on corners blaring muted ads. Narrow one way streets packed with cyclists and pedestrians. It reminded her of the images of Japan she saw online, but every sign was in English.
Mem leaned over the railing, eyes wide. "This city is beautiful. I saw sights like this in your memories, but they are much nicer in person."
Definitely not the United States. Too few cars.
A thought clicked. She pulled out her phone and opened the map app.
Crescent City. A river cutting straight through from west to east. Low density neighborhoods and a downtown to the north. High density housing and industry to the south. Beaches to the east. She zoomed in.
Her apartment sat near the city center.
She backed out and checked the country, Pacifica.
She searched online and found a wikipedia article. A nation about the size and position of Japan. Its page mentioned an economic downturn decades ago that it never fully climbed out of.
"Got it. So it is literally just Japan," she muttered.
She stepped inside again and started poking around. The washer dryer unit was stuffed under the kitchen counter. Another confirmation that she wasn't in the United States anymore. The pantry shelves were bare. Only a skillet, one big pot, a colander, and a few metal bowls sat on the rack.
I need groceries. And I should check where the nearest store is. I should probably finish exploring first though.
The second door led to the bathroom. When she flicked on the light, her reflection stared back at her from the mirror.
Silver hair falling perfectly. Golden eyes bright even in the dim light.
"Damn I am attractive." Stelle said.
"Egotistical but correct," Mem said.
Stelle looked down at herself. White shirt. Gray skirt. A simplified version of Stelle's jacket, toned down enough that it was something someone might actually wear in real life.
I should check my wardrobe later.
A different thought crept in and turned her face faintly pink. She turned around, grabbed Mem by the shoulders, and kicked her gently out of the bathroom.
"Wait, hey—" Mem protested as the door shut.
Stelle exhaled and peeled off her clothes. She took a moment to inspect the body the goddess had given her. Athletic. Balanced. Every movement felt fluid.
I cannot do anything improper right now. But I can take a shower to get used to it.
Steam gathered quickly as Stelle stepped under the shower, the water warming her skin in a smooth, even wave. She let out a quiet breath and closed her eyes.
The droplets felt different somehow. Her sense of touch was sharper, clearer, almost too responsive. Every bead of water traced a precise line down her skin.
She reached for the shampoo bottle and paused, catching her reflection in the fogged mirror across the room. The shape of her shoulders had changed. They were a little broader, more balanced. Her arms looked longer than she remembered, toned but not bulky, defined in a way that looked effortless.
So this is what being healthy feels like…
She worked the shampoo into her scalp. Her hair, silver and impossibly smooth, slid through her fingers like fine strands of silk. It reached farther down her back than she expected and behaved with almost magical neatness, no knots, no roughness.
I could never grow my hair this long before. It always got brittle. This feels unreal.
Warm lather trickled down her neck and traced the lines of her back. Her posture felt unfamiliar, straighter, the muscles along her spine supporting her without strain.
She glanced downward. Her frame was slender but solid in a way she'd never had. Her legs were long and balanced. Her stomach was flat, her ribs not visible like they used to be when she spent weeks lying in hospital beds. Her hips were slightly curved, not dramatic but harmonious with everything else.
Nothing about it felt exaggerated. It just felt… complete.
She rinsed the shampoo and reached for conditioner, spreading it through the silver strands until they gleamed even under the weak bathroom light.
I look like someone who goes outside. Someone who can.
The water continued its steady rhythm. She washed the rest of her body while studying each new sensation. Her skin was smooth, unblemished. No IV scars. No rashes from adhesives. No signs of the countless medical routines that used to define her days.
It was almost enough to make her chest tighten.
I do not feel fragile at all.
She cupped water in her hands and let it run down her arms, watching how naturally her muscles moved. Every motion was fluid, like she had been sculpted instead of assembled.
When she finished washing, she lingered under the stream one last moment before turning the water off. The sudden quiet felt strangely loud.
She stepped out, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around herself. Her reflection reappeared in the clearing mirror.
Stelle. A body capable of walking miles. Running. Laughing in crowds. Breathing without fear. Living.
She brushed a hand through her damp hair and met her own golden eyes.
"I guess this is really me now," she whispered to her reflection, unsure whether to smile or cry.
Mem's muffled voice came from the other side of the door. "Are you done admiring yourself yet…?"
Maybe I took a little long. But after everything… I think I'm allowed this much.