"Wake up, wake up, Pom-Pom!"
"Conductor… even if you shout, she won't hear you."
"Then what are we supposed to do, Pom-Pom!"
"Conductor, don't panic. She may look weak, but she's not in danger."
"She has remained unconscious for an extended period, possibly due to psychological stimulation or shock. Dan Heng, what is her physical condition?"
"I've checked her. She's fine physically. I think something else is affecting her."
The white-haired girl lay unconscious on the Astral Express's deck sofa. A short while ago, the crew discovered her drifting through space, and the Conductor, Pom-Pom, brought her aboard for safety.
Vaguely, Ena could hear voices around her. Having played Honkai: Star Rail before, she could easily identify them: Pom-Pom, the small animal-like Conductor; March 7th, "The Peach Soda". Aunt Himeko, "The Star Rail Coffee Engine". Welt yang 'sit-up'. and Dan Heng, the "Matcha Dragon".
Normally, she would have been able to stay awake, but some things are difficult to truly understand without firsthand experience. From a game interface, the Astral Express's headlights might not seem like much, but in reality, in the vast universe, that intense light was enough to pierce the darkness of space and blind her titanium alloy eyes.
"I say your methods are all wrong. The Little Mermaid clearly said you need a handsome prince kiss combo to wake a sleeping princess!"
"Uh… March, I don't want to destroy your childhood logic, but I don't think it works like that."
"If you don't try, you can't confirm the hidden ending route! Trailblaze is literally about trial-and-error gameplay, right?"
March 7th, with her "Peach Soda" hair, put her hands on her hips, squinted hard, and looked fully convinced she had datamined reality.
At some point, the girl had opened her eyes.
Those eyes were vast and beautiful, like a starry sky staring back in confusion. Her soft voice carried an inexplicable sense of age and distance.
"Dan Heng, you go."
"But I refuse."
"Alright, alright, so you won't go? Fine, I'll be the prince!"
The white-haired girl lay defenseless on the sofa. Her delicate face made March 7th think that playing the prince for once might not be so bad.
Welt was about to stop her, but March 7th had already leaned in, her face dangerously close.
"What… are you doing?"
At some point, the girl had opened her eyes.
Those eyes were vast and beautiful, like a starry sky staring back in confusion. Her soft voice carried an inexplicable sense of age and distance.
"You, you, you don't misunderstand! I just wanted to see if the method from the story could wake you up!"
March 7th stood there like a child caught in the act, her hands hidden behind her back, cheeks faintly red.
"That method does work, but… you don't necessarily have to kiss."
The person involved didn't seem to mind, offering a calm smile to everyone on the Astral Express.
"If you're feeling alright, may I ask a few questions? Nice to meet you I'm Himeko, navigator of the Astral Express."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Ena. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Himeko."
"Then, Miss Ena, could you tell us where you're from? And what caused you to drift in space?"
"My hometown is Earth. I was a hospital patient. I lost consciousness while watching the stars with a nurse, and when I woke up, I was already in space. Some of my memories have also started to blur."
Ena wasn't lying.
Her memories of Honkai: Star Rail were already beginning to fade after arriving in this reality.
And if she gained abilities through simulation later, she would simply frame it as amnesia.
Himeko listened quietly.
Ena trusted the character of the Trailblazers, but secrets like the system were not convenient to disclose, just as every Trailblazer on the Astral Express had an untold past.
After saying the word "Earth," she could feel a gaze fall upon her.
"Miss Ena, you said your hometown is Earth?" Welt Yang stepped forward. His gaze softened slightly, carrying something quiet and distant, like the echo of a place long left behind.
In this vast universe, Earth was not just a place, but a memory fragments of remembrance carried by those long separated from it.
"…To meet someone from there again," he said quietly, "is rare."
Of course, excluding a certain blonde.
"Yes, Mr. Welt. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Eh? Eh? Uncle Yang didn't even introduce himself? You two already have secret past interactions??" March 7th stared at them like she had discovered hidden lore.
"No, I know Mr. Welt, but Mr. Welt doesn't know me. Mr. Welt is quite a well-known figure where I'm from."
"Ohhh, I see. Uncle Yang, I didn't know you were a celebrity!"
"Cough… not exactly. I'm just somewhat known in animation production."
"Animation production…? Wait, does that mean Uncle Yang is like behind-the-scenes boss level?!"
"March…" Dan Heng sighed.
Seeing that the Anti-Entropy Sovereign was unwilling to reveal more, Ena simply didn't elaborate further.
After some chaotic speculation from March 7th, she gradually became acquainted with everyone aboard the Astral Express.
"If Miss Ena has nowhere to stay, would you consider joining us as a Trailblazer aboard the Astral Express? Life here may not be as stable as on Earth, but the journey is filled with unknowns, adventure, and a fair share of joy."
"Is that… really okay? I don't have any special skills right now, so I might not be able to help much."
"Don't worry about that. The Astral Express never refuses guests who come without ill intent."
"…Still, if you're willing to take me in, I would like to accept. Thank you."
"WE GOT A NEW MEMBER?!" March 7th suddenly perked up, eyes sparkling. "That means new teammate unlocked?!"
"Wait, wait hold on!" March 7th suddenly pulled out a thinking pose. "We need role assignment first! If Ena joins, she's obviously DPS? Support? Or hidden SSR rare character type?! We need to optimize team synergy!"
"Don't treat this like a game," Dan Heng replied flatly, sighing slightly.
Ena let out a small, awkward laugh, unsure how to respond.
Himeko smiled gently. "Don't worry about her. March 7th just gets… excited easily. You'll get used to it."
To show enthusiasm for the new member, Himeko handed Ena a cup of coffee. Having forgotten some small details about Honkai: Star Rail, Ena accepted and drank Himeko's hand-ground coffee under the watchful eyes of the Trailblazer. The flavor was a bit strong, but still within her tolerance.
So, under Himeko's warm hospitality, she ended up drinking cup after cup.
What she did not expect, however, was that this simple act would later earn her the quiet admiration of her companions on future journeys.
With the help of the two "parents" of the Astral Express, Ena completed her registration and received her visa. In the following days, she gradually familiarized herself with life aboard the Astral Express with Welt's guidance.
During this time, Welt also learned that Ena's Earth was not the same as his homeland, but a co-existent entity within the same universe.
Since she did not possess combat abilities, she initially took on logistical tasks under the Conductor's guidance cleaning the carriages and assisting in the kitchen.
Once they became more familiar, she would occasionally take the opportunity to gently pat the Conductor's fluffy head when he was momentarily distracted.
"Next time, you're not allowed to do that in public, Pom-Pom!"
"Next time, next time."
Life moved forward in an orderly manner, yet she remained unsatisfied. She wanted to shoulder more of the burden alongside the Astral Express crew.
"System, can I start the simulation now?"
"Yes, Host."
"Then… let's begin the simulation."
"Random simulation event drawing in progress. Simulation event 'Taste of a Hundred Herbs' has been selected. Drawing initial skills for you."
For a brief moment, her thoughts felt slightly more "aligned," as if settling into place then it was gone.