Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Where does the Error in our ways begin? Where does it end? ...Or was all origin just Error to begin with?"

Name: Calyste

Title: The Veil of Error, Miss Veil.

Species: Unknown

Type: Playable Character

Rarity: ★★★★★

Combat Path: Destruction

Combat Type: Imaginary

Lore Path: ???, Trailblaze

Factions: The Memoria Error, Astral Express

Worlds: Cosmic, ??? (home world)

Messages: Calyste's Messages

How To Obtain: Error Beyond THEM

...

Introduction

"The Veil of Error that shrouds origin. The song that holds no audience. I pray to THEM, let this journey never look back into the Error of yesterday."

Appearance

Calyste is a tall woman with fair skin and silver eyes. Her hair is tied back into a loose bun held together with a hair pin decorated with crystalline flowers. She wears twin earrings made of intricately carved silver inlaid with diamonds. As Miss Veil, her whole face is shrouded in a error of reality, blocked out by an irremovable glitch.

Her outfit consists of an off-shoulder and layered, black and silver regal gothic dress. The asymmetrical layered skirt is shorter at the front, reaching up to her mid-thighs, and cascades into long flowing panels at the back. The bodice is intricately adorned with flowing silver embroidery and gem-like accents. She wears an black lace choker that covers her neck. She wears white, thigh-high stockings detailed with glittering floral motifs, paired with low heels.

As Miss Veil, her image constantly overlaps with itself creating a blurry mirage.

...

Signature Lightcone: The Error in My Ways.

Rarity: ★★★★★

Base Stats:

Base HP: (Lv.. 1 - 80) 62-1375

Base ATK: (Lv. 1 - 80) 21-476

Base DEF: (Lv. 1 - 80) 18-396

Effect: Encasing

Increases the wearer's CRIT DMG by 36-60%. For every instance of DMG the wearer deals, obtain "*redacted*", up to a maximum of 5 stacks. When "*redacted*" exceeds 5 stacks, it will continue to be recorded as "Forgotten Woes", up to a maximum of 20 stacks. Each stack of "*redacted*" allows the wearer to ignore 8-18% of the target's DEF. After the wearer uses Ultimate, consumes all stacks of "Forgotten Woes", and increases the wearer's DMG by 8-18%, and Max HP by 10-20% per stack. This effect is removed at the start of their turn.

...

Combat

Basic ATK (Single Target): Bestowed in Watchful Gazes

Energy Generation: 0

Toughness Reduction: 10

Calyste fractures a mirror shard into two, before sending it towards the enemy with a motion of her fingers. One shard reflect the enemy while one reflects her.

Deals two instances of Imaginary DMG equal to 25-55% of Calyste's Max HP to one designated enemy.

Skill (Blast): Ordained by Time

Energy Generation: 0

Toughness Reduction: 20 (Main), 10 (Adjacent)

Cutting her wrist with a shard, Calyste sends out multiple mirror shards to the enemy. The blood on mirror allowing her to teleport through and deal multiple direct blows.

Applies a Taunt to herself and consumes 25% of Calyste's current HP. Deals seven instances of Imaginary DMG equal to 35-65% of Calyste's Max HP to one designated enemy and Imaginary DMG equal to 20-38% of Calyste's Max HP to adjacent targets.

Ultimate (AoE): Written Unto the Error Wrath

Cost: 10 points of "Irregular Crystals"

Energy Generation: 0

Toughness Reduction: 20

With a prayer to herself, Calyste plunges through reality into The Memoria Error, her presence constructing the stone spires that reach up to support the floating ocean above. Upon exiting The Memoria Error, Miss Veil collapsed the entire space, letting the ocean crash down.

Transforms into 'Miss Veil', The Veil of Error. During the transformation, deploys the Territory "The Memoria Error".

Within the Territory, other teammates depart and cannot take action, and all enemies have Imaginary Weakness and increased vulnerability to Crowd Control debuffs. Miss Veil does not enter her turn, but has 5 extra turns with a SPD set at 140. After the 5th turn, Miss Veil immediately exits the Terriority and deals Imaginary Ultimate DMG equal to 300-708% of Miss Veil's Max HP that is distributed evenly across all enemies.

If Miss Veil takes a fatal hit in the Territory, it reduces her HP to 1 and collapses the Territory. Calyste will return to the battlefield based on the HP before entering the Territory.

Ultimate (Blast): Mercy of the Forgotten

Energy Generation: 0

Toughness Reduction: 30 (Main), 20 (Adjacent)

Creates an opening in the ocean, letting countless fluid stars fall before sealing it off again.

Heals Miss Veil by 30-50% of her Max HP and deals Imaginary DMG equal to 108-225% of Miss Veil's Max HP to one designated enemy and Imaginary DMG equal to 50-87.5% of Miss Veil's Max HP to enemies adjacent to it.

Ultimate (AoE): Glance Gifted by Gods

Energy Generation: 0

Toughness Reduction: 20 (AoE)

Forms a mirrored dome where she can attack in an unending sequence before shattering the dome.

Consumes 10% of Miss Veil's Max HP and an additional 40% of her current HP and deals Imaginary DMG equal to 485-1187.5% of Miss Veil's Max HP to all enemies.

If HP is insufficient, consume HP until 1 HP. If HP is already at 1, Glance Gifted by Gods cannot be used.

Talent (Enhance): Memory Rewritten

Energy Generation: 0

Calyste gains one stack of "Irregular Crystals" every time her HP increases or decreases, either via an enemy's attack or from an ally's ability. The maximum amount of "Irregular Crystals" is 13, and any unconsumed "Irregular Crystals" after activating Written Unto The Error Wrath are restored after exiting the Territory, The Memoria Error.

For every point of HP lost or Overheal, DMG dealt increases by 8-15%. Miss Veil is immune to Crowd Control debuffs and during the transformation, increases Max HP by 235-397%.

Technique: Reforged, Rewritten, and Reborn

Toughness Reduction: 20

Calyste's body becomes crystalline, shifting between the layers of reality and causing the suspended ocean of The Memoria Error to replace the sky.

After using Technique, enters the "Cosmic Oblivion" state that lasts for 20 seconds. While "Cosmic Oblivion" is active, if Calyste (or any ally) is attacked by a normal enemy, consumes 50% of Calyste's current HP and instantly defeats. If HP is insufficient, reduce HP to 1, but no more enemies can be defeated this way. After defeating an enemy in this way, restores 3% of her max HP.

During "Cosmic Oblivion", active attacks will cause all enemies within range to enter combat, reducing their SPD by 20%. Calyste gains 2 "Irregular Crystals" and deals Ice DMG equal to 80% of Calyste's Max HP to all enemies, and Taunts the targets, lasting for 1 turn. If this unit's HP is lower than 20% when entering battle, regenerate HP to 50%.

Traces:

Waltz of Divinity (Character Ascension 2)

When the battle starts, gains 3 points of "Irregular Crystals". For every point of "Irregular Crystals" Calyste has, increases CRIT Rate by 5% (up to a maximum of 65%).

Mirrors of Resurgence (Character Ascension 4)

When there are 2/3/4 different combat paths in the ally team, increases Calyste's DMG by 10%/20%/40% and increases Calyste's Max HP by 15% of the combined ally Max HP (excluding Calyste).

Enshrouded in Error (Character Ascension 6)

Calyste can resist a fatal attack outside of Written Unto The Error Wrath. This effect can trigger 3 times per battle. After this effect is triggered, restores HP equal to 50% of Calyste's Max HP and increases her Max HP by 15% for 2 turns.

...

Best Builds Best Team (as of Ver. 3.7)

DPS: Calyste (Destruction)

Sub DPS/Support: Tribbie (Harmony)

Sub DPS/Support: Luocha (Abundance)

Sub DPS/Support: Hyacine (Rememberance)

...

Voice

First Meeting

You can call me...Miss Veil. Just kidding! That sounds way too imposing doesn't it? You can just call me Calyste, friend! But just so you know, I know quite alot of things about you already~

Greeting

Oh! I didn't think I'd see you here! It's always nice to see a familiar face while travelling.

Parting

It's always sad to part, but I shall say, May the Error bless you, friend.

About Self: Identity

Who am I? I'm...well who do you think I am, friend? I'm not one to let others define who I am but it is always welcome to recieve audience feedback.

About Self: Name

My name? My name is Calyste...why? Oh! You mean my other title? Well, I just think it sounds rather cool doesn't it? N-No? Oh. I suppose everyone's preferences are different.

Chat: The Paths:

I don't think any one individual has to follow any one Path. Ideals change. And Paths can change too. It's all entropy after all.

Hobbies

I like to sing. I think one's voice holds many memories. It's like chiselling away at layers of ice. Each time, you'll find something new that has always been there. Though...I've been told that my singing isn't very...attuned to the regular person. I prefer to ignore that.

Annoyances

You know, friend, I still don't really know what I'm doing here. That uncertainty and inability of mine to figure it out really drives me insane.

Something to Share

One day, I'll unveil the secrets. All of it. Perhaps everything originated from a single Error. Or maybe it was all foretold by fate. Or, there are mutliple timelined yet this is the most suited one for survival?

Knowledge

No one person is perfect. Even the Aeons THEMselves are imperfect. Everyone will make errors, and Error is simply another word for Origin.

About Trailblazer 1

Your character is truly unique. It's probably why I wouldn't forget you even if I changed universes~

About Trailblazer 2

By all means, my combat prowess really sucks. Teach me sometime, friend?

About Dan Heng

The Guard of the Astral Express, what a dashing title. We know each other quite well for how long we've known each other...though I must say I know more about him than he does about me.

About March 7th

I'll never refuse the friendship of a girl like her. Us girls all have our secrets but who's one to judge?

About Himeko

Ah...Miss Himeko. To be really honest, I'm not a coffee drinker so I don't understand the effort she puts into all those coffee machines of hers. Maybe if she started making some boba...

About Welt Yang

Mr Yang? Oh~ Don't I know quite a bit about him. Until I get a little stronger I won't even consider pulling him into The Memoria Error.

About Sunday

The previous Head of the Oak Family? Not gonna lie, but he actually did a really good job a mass hypnotising. I'm glad we're allies and he doesn't try tune my head or something.

About Evernight

Can't say I expected that when I first saw her.

About The Herta

An Emanator of Erudition...Aeons I spent quite a bit of money on her actually when I was...forget it. It was worth it, she is truly a peerless gem.

Eidolon Activation

Things will only get easier from now on.

Character Ascension

Not bad...

Max Level Reached

And I thought I'd never get this far~

Trace Activation

It glows just like the stars.

Added to Team With Trailblazer

Let's go~

Added to Team with Dan Heng

I'll be right behind you, Dan Heng.

Added to Team with March 7th

3, 2, 1 and pose! Don't worry, I won't forget to send the pictures to you.

Added to Team with Himeko

After you, Miss Himeko.

Added to Team with Welt Yang

What's the strat, Mr Yang?

Added to Team with Sunday

Ladies first? Oh, well, if you insist.

Added to Team with Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae

Same as always...but can I touch your horns?

Added to Team with Dan Heng • Permansor Terrae

Earth, water, wind...all that's left is fire. The coreflame doesn't count.

Added to Team with Evernight

Can I touch the jellyfish? No? Okay.

Added to Team with Herta

Say it with me, Madam Herta is an unrivaled genius. Madam Herta is a peerless...what? I'm not clowning you.

Added to Team with The Herta

Curiosity is a dangerous thing..yes I know that very well, Madam Herta.

Battle Begins: Weakness Break

Let us begin.

Battle Begins: Danger Alert

I'll take this one.

Turn Begins

Let's see how this goes~

Let me take the stage.

(Miss Veil) To glimpse divinity.

(Miss Veil) By the name of Error.

Turn Idling

Take your time.

(Miss Veil) Take a seat. Valuable things cannot be rushed.

Basic ATK

The Error that shrouds origin.

(Miss Veil) I am the Error.

Skill

A song without audience.

(Miss Veil) Never bow your head.

Hit by Light Attack

Excuse you.

(Miss Veil) ...

Hit by Heavy Attack

Ouch!

(Miss Veil) ...

Ultimate: Activate

I pray to THEM...

Ultimate: Unleash

Welcome to The Memoria Error.

Ultimate: End (Territory Collapse)

Let this journey never look back into the Error of yesterday!

Downed

Can I...return now?

Return to Battle

Oh...nevermind.

Health Recovery

Mm! Thank you.

Technique

Divinity, gaze upon me.

Battle Won

Good game!

Treasure Opening

Should we sell this for a profit?

Precious Treasure Opening

Wow...a true rarity. Seems as if you've been blessed with good luck.

Successful Puzzle-Solving

Easy!

Oh! Clock it, twin!

Enemy Target Found

Let's turn back around?

Returning to Town

Not a single fatal Error! We did well so let's crash at your place, yeah?

Chapter Text

It hurts...my head fucking hurts!

Did I hit it somewhere...? 

Calyste's silver eyes flew open with a gasp. Heavy pants left her lips as she took in the blue sky.

Why am I outside?

She struggled to sit up, using one hand to push her up against the warm sand and the other pinching her temples in pain.

Calyste blinked, taking in the oceanic scenery that she rarely got to see from living in inland suburbs.

When did I go to the beach?

Calyste froze as she took in the crisp sound of waves crashing against the shoreline. 

There was no sound of life nor civilization. It was dead quiet apart from the gentle lapping of water.

"Where am I ..." She whispered to herself as she struggled to get up.

She had noticed that she wasn't wearing her usual random t-shirt hidden under an oversized sweater due to the unpredictable spring-time weather. Rather, she was in a beautiful black and white gothic dress. It didn't reach past her knees, but it certainly wasn't something she would normally wear. 

"I must've prayed too hard to win my 50/50, and this is my retribution," Calyste lampooned as she kicked the sand. "This is my first time lucid dreaming, actually..."

The throbbing pain in her head was starting to subside when she managed to kick something solid, sending aftershocks through her leg. 

"Fuck!" A curse unwillingly left her lips as she doubled over and clutched her foot. The pain was certainly rather real for a dream. 

Calyste glared at the space she had kicked. A small piece of dark stone was peaking out from under the sand.

Out of curiosity, Calyste knelt back down and dusted the sand off with her hands, revealing a slab of pure stone.

On its surface were inscribed words. 

Calyste had never seen this language before, yet her mind easily translated. 

"I pray that there will be no Error in my wishes."

Calyste blinked as she read over the familiar sentence multiple times. "Isn't that what I prayed so that I would win my 50/50 on Phainon? But why is the 'E' on 'Error' capitalised?" 

Calyste brushed a finger over the words, her irritation acting up seeing all the small grains of sand embedded in the grooves of each letter.

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as something dragged her down. 

Calyste's scream was muffled as her body plunged through the white sand. Yet she didn't feel the coarse texture. 

Rather, it felt as if she was plunging through frigid water. 

Calyste let out a choked gasp as her eyes readjusted. The scene before her was no longer a serene beach with an unending blue ocean. Rather, she was in a beautiful space. The ground seemed to be made of a galaxy of stars, each step sending ripples along the surface. Yet it was solid. 

Several stone spires rose around her, stretching high above to hold up what seemed to be an ocean suspended mid-air. 

She could see glowing forms swimming through, casting a beautiful, patterned light to where she stood. 

Yeah. I'm definitely dreaming. Maybe I should've taken a major in art if this is what my brain can come up with.

Calyste marveled at the sight before looking down at herself. 

Her body had become blurred, like multiple images of herself were constantly overlapping with one another. 

There was also a slight crystalline nature to her skin, almost as if it was reflecting the stars around her. 

Several glowing stars hung around her, all emitting a different colour.

Unable to restrain her impulsive thoughts, Calyste reached forward and cupped two stars, one in each hand.

One of them was a brilliant icy blue, marbled with hues of purple and the occasional pink. 

The other was a shining gold mixed with shades of emerald greens and a few reds.

Almost instantly after touching the illusory stars, they grew immensely heavy, forcing Calyste's knees to buckle before she hastily let go. 

The two stars sank through the rippling floor. 

Oh shit, what did I do?

Calyste scrambled back as she saw the ripples converge where the two stars fell before shooting up and forming the rough outline of a human. 

Calyste struggled to her feet, squinting as she tried to make out who the person was, yet the swirling water didn't subside. 

Rather, a snide voice rang out. 

"Oh! Well, this is unexpected...did Stephen add another zone without telling me?"

Calyste blinked as she was hit with an undeniable familiarity from the voice. 

Isn't that the voice of The Herta? I would know best, considering I actually swiped to try to get her and her lightcone...

Did I play too much that I'm hallucinating even in my dreams?

"Wait a minute. What are you two? Another couple of memosnatchers that managed to sneak under Fourth Mirror's watch, again?" The woman who formed from the blue star spoke as she caught sight of two other figures. 

One was also a swirling mass of water, while the other was a blurry projection with a veil over her face.

"I would've asked the same thing." The other finally spoke. 

This time, it was a man.

Calyste forced herself not to react as she recognized the voice as well. She had lost her 50/50 for this man's lightcone, too. 

Aventurine? Why's he here too?!

"I have quite a few layers of defense around me, so seeing as to how it was breached just like that..." 

He didn't need to continue his sentence for the other two to know what he meant. 

Neither of the two, nor Calyste, knew how this space even came to be. 

And if her guesses were right, perhaps her subconscious was too excited for the release of Phainon that she started dreaming of her two favorite characters.

Although at this point, she was getting rather unsure whether she was dreaming or not.

Transmigration isn't real, though...maybe I've read too many web novels, too? Oh, Calyste, get a grip. You're pushing 21 and in your last year of study. Lock in!

But if anything, she was going to play along for a while. After all, once she woke back up, she'd be faced with the reality of studying for her finals.

'Herta' did a quick scan of the other mass of swirling water before focusing her gaze on Calyste, who was standing, lost in her thoughts. 

"I see this is not another bug in my experiments. I presume you are the one who pulled us here? Speak, who are you, and what is your purpose in bringing us here?"

Calyste blinked as she looked at 'Herta'. 

Lore-wise, Madam Herta is a Throne-Level Emanator of Erudition. It would be impossible for anyone other than an Aeon to do anything to her. 

Calyste shifted her gaze to Aventurine, wincing slightly as she recalled his story. 

And as a Stoneheart, even if he was demoted, Aventurine is essentially almost an Emanator too. At the very least, he's an insanely powerful pathstrider. 

Calyste wracked her brain for an appropriate response while under the scrutiny of two powerful people. 

Ugh. I wanna sit down. It would be less awkward that way...

Almost instantly, the environment shifted. 

The floor beneath them extruded downwards, creating a pit. From the mirror-like surface, a long table rose where multiple thrones rose along the two sides.

There was only one throne at the end of the table, right next to Calyste. 

Calyste suppressed an awkward laugh as she took a seat at the head of the table. 

My subconscious is even crazier than I thought. Can I do anything to this space?

"Take a seat, then we'll talk." Calyste smiled, although she was sure that they wouldn't be able to see it due to how blurry her image was. 

Looking at her own hand was disorienting.

"Quite the show," 'Aventurine' mused as he leisurely took a seat opposite where 'Herta' was standing. 

"Indeed. Quite impressive." 'Herta' said, although her voice was filled with much apprehension. It was rare enough for THE Madam Herta to give compliments. 

Calyste's heart raced hearing the compliments, though she herself didn't even know how the table came to be. 

"Can you tell us why you have pulled us here? I'm a busy woman, I still have things to do." 'Herta' said as she took a seat as well, slightly impatient, although that was her typical state. 

"This was an error," Calyste said truthfully. 

She knew both of them were watching her every move and tone, and it was nearly impossible to lie in front of a genius and a businessman.

"An error?" Both 'Herta' and 'Aventurine' exclaimed simultaneously. 

"An error that managed to pull someone like...her?" 'Aventurine' looked over at 'Herta'. It was obvious that he had figured out who she was. Or at least, he knew how powerful she was.

What sort of error could result in two powerful people being pulled out of their respective worlds on a whim?

Bro, if even a genius doesn't know, then how am I supposed to know?

Calyste forced a smile to her face. "When you return, you will find that nothing has changed."

I have no idea if that's true, but if this is a dream, obviously nothing's going to happen.

"Really now. Even Droidhead THEMselves has never attempted something like this, among all the other things THEY entrusted to me." 'Herta' said with a hint of curiosity. 

Wow...even in a potentially dangerous and currently unknown situation where your identity could be used negatively against you, you still show off. You're truly one of a kind, Madam Herta. Calyste lampooned inwardly.

'Aventurine' seemed to think the same and scoffed. 

"Well, this is a one-of-a-kind encounter. I might as well use it to ask some questions." 'Aventurine' said, clearly interested in using this valuable time to consult the hard-to-reach genius.

"To me or her?" 'Herta' asked, motioning between her and Calyste, who was silently hoping that he wouldn't ask any questions to her since she didn't know anything.

"Why not both? But I'll ask you first, Miss Genius." 'Aventurine' shrugged.

'Herta' didn't seem taken aback that he had figured out who she was. "Sure. Nothing comes for free, though. What price are you willing to pay, Mr..."

What? Herta didn't figure out Aventurine's identity yet?

'Aventurine' leaned back in his seat as he pondered the question. "Call me Mr Luck then. And what payment would you like? Credits are no problem for me."

"Credits...sure. I'll gauge the price depending on what you want to ask. You can forward the payment to my assistant." 'Herta' nodded, thinking about all the bills she had to pay off for her new experiments and extrapolations with the Simulated Universe.

"What do you know about the situation with the Planet of Festivities, Penacony?" 'Aventurine' asked. 

Eh? What bit in the timeline is this? The Penacony arc already finished, didn't it? We're on Amphoreus right now. 

"Penacony? That's a rather broad topic. From what I know, the Oak Family is the main governing power, with the current Head Representative being Sunday. His sister is the cosmic singer, Robin. What is it exactly that you wish to know?" 'Herta' asked. For a genius that was constantly challenging her own Aeon, she wasn't exactly caught up with cosmic times as much as the regular person. 

Calyste wrung her fingers in thought. 

Sunday's still the Head Representative? Has the Astral Express not accepted the invite for the Charmony Festival yet? Or is Herta just behind?

"What do you know about the Stellaron there?"

'Herta' blinked, as if this was news to her. "A Stellaron? On Penacony? Screwllum has never mentioned this to me."

'Aventurine's' expression soured a little. "It is classified information, so I am not too surprised that even the Geniuses don't know."

"The Stellaron on Penacony was divided into 12 parts by Gopher Wood. These became the 12 dreamscapes of Penacony. Is that news to you, Mr Luck?" Calyste recalled before adding to herself. If the Charmony Festival hasn't occurred yet, then it would make sense that Aventurine doesn't know about the truth behind Penacony's past. But where in the story exactly is this?

"The Stellaron fuels the Dreamscapes?" 'Aventurine' blinked, genuinely taken aback.

He really doesn't know...

'Herta' looked at Calyste. Not only did this mysterious woman manage to pull her out of her own space station without any sign, but she also knew about things that not even the geniuses knew about. 

"How interesting. Then, can you tell me if I should consider expanding my Simulated universe to integrate pre-written equations? It will be rather costly, and I don't wish for Asta to hound me again." 'Herta' asked. 

Is she referring to the Divergent Universe? But why is she asking me as if I'm some omnipotent being? Shouldn't she just go and ask Nous?

"Yes, it will be successful." Calysta nodded, thinking about all the times she managed to annihilate the Argenti boss at Conundrum level 7 simply because of those expanded equations.

"But I have yet to find someone to test it out. I can't always test it out myself." 'Herta' sighed. 

Are you not slaving the Trailblazer already? Wait, don't tell me you haven't even met the Trailblazer yet? How far back is this timeline?!

"Why don't you ask the Astral Express for help then?" Calysta offered.

By now, she was starting to think that this was no longer a dream, since if Herta had yet to come into contact with the Trailblazer, aka the Galactic Baseballer and trashcan lover, then this was before the game's official timeline. 

And should have no way to exist.

Herta pondered the suggestion for a while before nodding. "I suppose I can use the Nameless with the premise of equivalent exchange. They are currently on The Blue and are set to dock at the Herta Space Station, so I can have a chat with Himeko. Yes, it is worth considering.

"But to give the great Madam...uh, Miss Genius, a worthy suggestion, you really aren't a regular nobody. What should we address you as?"

The Astral Express are on The Blue? I know The Blue is the planet that the Space Station orbits, but I don't know anything about the Express visiting it...

Calyste touched the veil that shrouded her face. It had appeared there when she entered this space. 

"If we're all using a pseudonym, then you can call me Miss Veil," Calyste smiled, unable to shake the feeling that she had just made some great connections.

If she really had transmigrated, then she could safely say that she was already on good terms with a Genius Society member and one of the Ten Stonehearts. 

Aventurine cleared his throat to catch Calyste's attention. "Regarding the information you provided earlier, do you wish for me to send you the payment in credits? Or perhaps a being like you does not need money?"

By Aventurine's tone, he wasn't even sure if the aloof Miss Veil was even a regular pathstrider, let alone mortal. Although the IPC could provide almost anything in the cosmos, as long as one required it for a sufficient price.

Damn...I don't have a way to receive money. Are there bank accounts here? Does my usual BSB and account number work?

Calyste fell quiet as she struggled to decide on a response.

Does he think like like a god or something? That would be really useful if both Aventurine and Herta think that I'm an Aeon or something. But an Aeon doesn't need money...But I want money. 

Fuck it, maybe I can use them to figure out a way to get back home.

"I have no need for money," Calyste's heart pained as she made the statement. "If you can gather information regarding the Imaginary Tree, I will consider that as payment."

"The Imaginary Tree? I will do my best." Aventurine nodded. 

"Agreed. If your suggestion holds true, I will search the archives of the Simulated Universe regarding the relevant information." Herta nodded. 

Calyste nodded, heaving a silent sigh of relief. 

As an avid lore reader, she had some basic knowledge regarding the concept of the 'Imaginary Tree', the medium of multiverses and multiple timelines. 

Given enough information, there was a chance that Calyste could return to Earth.

Oh shit, how do I send these two back?

"In that case, Miss Veil, could you hold this meeting every week?" Aventurine asked.

Every week? Girl, I don't even know how to end it, much less how I got here in the first place. All I know for sure is that when I touched your respective stars, you were brought here...

"Sure. How about every 21st System Hour?" Calyste forced herself to nod. If she could never figure out how to summon the space again, at the very least, it would only hurt the lofty image of Miss Veil that these two had been given. 

"As you wish, Miss Veil." Aventurine nodded with a smug smile. Although the upper echelons of the IPC were privy to many secrets, there were still vast amounts of information that were kept only to Diamond himself.

With Miss Veil, there was a high chance that Aventurine would gain some new knowledge, just as he did with the Stellaron on Penacony. 

And besides, the other person there was none other than Genius Society member #83, Madam Herta.

"Well, I suppose the 21st System Hour is a more regular time than the ungodly 3rd System Hour of the early mornings that those memosnatchers try and breach my systems," Herta sighed with exasperation. 

Ruan Mei and Screwllum weren't going to be visiting the Space Station for at least a few days, so the remaining tests and maintenance for her Simulated Universe could only rely on her. Coupled only with the pending research for multiple curios and the Stellaron currently sealed, among other things.

Calyste nodded to stall her time in figuring out the way to end the meeting. She glanced around briefly and saw that the stars had converged at the back of their seats and decided to take the gamble.

"It's settled then. Until we meet again, Miss Genius and Mr Luck."

Calyste willed her actions to be concealed as she reached out and touched the two stars. 

Like before, the glowing stars immediately sank into the rippling ground and severing the connection with Herta and Aventurine. 

With only Calyste left in the space, silence settled once again. 

"Now, how the fuck do I leave?" Calyste looked around, racking her brain to remember what she did to get here. 

Oh, I touched that stone slab with the prayer on it. 

Do I have to touch it again?

The rippled swirled at her feet as the shape of the stone slab formed from her memories. 

Calyste knelt and brushed her hand over it, and instantly she was pulled backward again, plunging through the rippling floor and back out through the sand. 

Calyste blinked as she lay on the sand, staring up at the sun. If her memories served her right, it was in the same position as before. 

It had felt like almost an hour in that space, and yet there were no changes to her environment.

"Does time flow differently in that space?" Calyste pondered as she sat up and searched for the stone slab, only to find it in pieces. 

Not even in pieces of stone, but rather in glass. Like a mirror that had been shattered by some indescribable force. 

Calyste gingerly picked up one of the pieces and studied it. The jagged edge seemed to be blurred, just like her when she was in that space. 

And even though it was reflective, it didn't reflect her. 

•••

Madam Herta blinked as the scene before her changed from the grand space below the floating ocean to the endless void of the various layers of the Simulated Universe. 

Fourth Mirror, accompanied by its previous iterations, Third and Second Mirror, were floating around her. 

"I think it's best to contact Stephen Lloyd for this. Electrical engineering isn't Madam Herta's strong suit." Third Mirror concluded as if Herta hadn't disappeared at all. 

A wry smile spread across Herta's lips as she understood her experience.

"An existence of a subliminal space with no time flow. How utterly fascinating."

"What?" Fourth Mirror remarked.

•••

Aventurine snapped back to his senses, his attention returning to his meeting with Lady Jade.

"So yes, the Marketing Development Department oversees the trade at the Xianzhou ports. The issue with intelligence gathering on the Luofu will be left to the representative deployed there." Jade said as she placed down the file she was reading.

Aventurine let out a scoff as he suppressed a laugh. It was as if no time had passed since he was unknowingly dragged into that mystical place by Miss Veil.

"Something humorous, Aventurine?" Jade gave him a small frown.

"No, nothing at all. I don't think the IPC really needs to interfere with the Stellaron on the Xianzhou. They are capable enough. I suggest we turn our sights onto Penacony." Aventurine said as he leaned back into his seat. "A little birdy told me that there would be a big investment there."

Chapter Text

Calyste had just finished gathering all the glass shards when a feminine voice sounded behind her.

"Hands up where I can see them!"

Wait, that sounds a lot like March 7th?

Herta did say the Astral Express was visiting the Blue...

Calyste looked at the vast blue ocean before her and concluded.

This place I'm on must be The Blue, then. Wowe, is this some kind fucking joke? I land right where the Astral Express is... not like that's a bad thing, I suppose.

"Hey! I said, hands up!"

Calyste slowly raised her hands, inching to take a look behind her to confirm whether or not the Astral Express had found her.

"Oh...it's just a girl." March blinked as she and Dan Heng walked closer to Calyste's turned back. "Hey, are you okay, Miss?"

March 7th was about to rush forward when Dan Heng pulled her back by her shoulder.

"Wait, March. We cannot be rash. The mutants from the Stellaron are still around," Dan Heng said sternly.

March blinked and nodded, as if she had only just considered the possibility of the girl before her being a monster.

"Right...should we jump her?"

At that, Calyste turned around in horror. "What?!"

Seeing that Dan Heng had already brandished his spear, Calyste's fight or flight response kicked in instantly.

"Hey, wait wait wait wait wait!" Calyste immediately scrambled back, holding out the glass shards in her hand as if it could do anything against the guard of the Astral Express. "Hold on! I swear that I'm not dangerous!"

At least, I hope I'm not dangerous!

Dan Heng didn't lower his guard, but March had already long put away her bow.

"See! A girl knows another girl!" March beamed, rushing over after having fought against monsters for most of the day.

Seeing another non-threatening face was more than enough for her.

March's energy was so infectious that Calyste relaxed almost immediately.

"Hi! My name is March 7th! That gloomy guy over there is Dan Heng. We're from the-"

Dan Heng reappeared next to her and covered her mouth.

"Mmf!"

"March, you really need to stop telling just everyone who you are." Dan Heng sighed before setting his gaze on Calyste, who was hiding a smile behind her hand.

Dan Heng cleared his throat. "Like March said, my name is Dan Heng. We just came from the city and encountered various forces outside, so forgive us for showing any hostility."

Calyste nodded, knowing exactly how defensive Dan Heng could be toward suspicious strangers. His first meeting with Galaxy Ranger Boothill was an excellent example.

"That's okay. It's nice to meet you, I'm Calyste." Calyste quickly held up a hand to prevent Dan Heng from asking any follow-up questions since she was planning on making sure the Astral Express didn't see her as a threat. "I don't remember much, but I woke up here, and I can guarantee you that I'm not a monster. And these glass shards are just something I picked up from the ground."

I hope Dan Heng buys that, cause technically it's the truth. But obviously I'm not gonna tell him that these glass shards used to be stone, and when I touched them they brought me to this magical space and accidentally dragged Madam Herta and Aventurine in too.

Dan Heng blinked, not expecting the confession from her. "I see..."

"She seems genuine to me?" March tilted her head slightly as she waited for Dan Heng's decision.

"Let's bring her back to Himeko and Mr Yang. They'll make a better judgment than I," Dan Heng said as he put his spear away.

But in Calyste's eyes, that was already a win. Dan Heng didn't see her as a threat.

"Great! I'll send a message to them then!" March nodded before she subconsciously checked Calyste for any physical wounds, only easing when she found none. "Don't mind him. We've just been fighting monsters for a while, so he's a bit tense. So let's get back to the city before the new monsters come."

Calyste nodded and followed March's lead, whereas Dan Heng followed behind.

If I can join the Astral Express, that's probably the best course of action. Damn, I'm becoming the Trailblazer.

"So, do you live in the main city?" March asked in the form of small talk.

"I don't know. I just woke up on the beach. My head was really hurting, and I don't remember much," Calyste gave her a half-truth as she walked.

"Oh! That's no problem! As long as you remember your name, you're still yourself!" March beamed, and she skipped forward. "No one can take that from you!"

Calyste forced a smile to her face, knowing exactly what she was talking about, even if March didn't know the full extent of her hidden past.

"But do you remember anything else? Like, are you a pathstrider? Do you have any family?" March continued her questions.

"Family...I don't know."

I moved out years ago. It would take quite a while for anyone to realise I disappeared. That's if I disappeared...

"And I'm not a pathstrider...at least I don't remember which path I'm on," Calyste answered.

In truth, even if she did have powers, she had no idea how to use them. In that magical space, everything seemed to just be an extension of her consciousness, so doing unusual things wasn't hard.

"Oh. If I were to take a guess, you'd probably be with the Erudition. Mainly because of how Madam Herta's controlled this entire planet. A lot of their inhabitants have become pathstriders of the Erudition." March recounted before looking back at Dan Heng for confirmation.

Her expression lit up as he gave her a curt nod.

That confirms that this planet is The Blue.

"Do you know Madam Herta?" March asked suddenly, as if she had just remembered that the girl she was talking to had claimed to have amnesia.

"Yeah. I know a few general things..." Calyste nodded.

No shit, I know the whole storyline. Or at least from when the Trailblazer appears. I wonder if I can change things, or am I powerless in that aspect?

"Oh. Great! I was just gonna-"

March was cut off by Dan Heng placing a hand on her shoulder and pulling her to a stop.

"Hey! What was that for?"

Dan Heng used his chin to point into the distance where smoke was rising in columns. Several figures with glowing cracks throughout their inhuman body were barely visible.

"The Antimatter Legion has reformed already," Dan Heng frowned as he took out his spear once again. "March, you stay with Miss Calyste. I'll go and deal with them."

"By yourself? Are you crazy?! Mr Yang told us to get straight back to the city, so why don't we just run straight through them? Or around them?" March frowned as she glanced at her phone.

"You think that the Antimatter Legion won't sense us and chase after us to the city? We can't risk any of these monsters from infiltrating the city." Dan Heng shook his head before turning to Calyste. "Can you fight?"

Calyste looked down at the glass shards on her hands. They certainly were sharp enough to cut something, but it's not like she had, or needed, any prior combat experience.

"Uh, I can try?"

Dan Heng nodded. "March, you clear a path with your six-phased ice, then. I'll protect Calyste and hold you two up from behind."

Do I look that incompetent to you? Calyste lampooned but kept her expression neutral.

"Sure!" March nodded with a smile as she held up her bow. There were already a few Voidrangers that seemed to have noticed their presence and were advancing fast.

"Three of a kind..." March started as she closed one eye.

"Two pair." Dan Heng shifted into a battle stance.

"Ace!"

Wind rushed past Calyste's ears from when Dan Heng dashed forward. March's arrow launched, sending a streak of blue and pink before exploding upon impact and crystalising anything it touched in glittering ice.

Dan Heng's moves were precise and had what seemed to be centuries of technique behind them.

Calyste stood and watched, feeling utterly useless as the two Nameless managed to clear somewhat of a path.

"Calyste! What are you doing standing there?! Come join us!" March called, looking like she was having a lot of fun beating the monsters up.

Almost as if the latent Evernight in her had taken over for a few moments. Minus all the red jellyfish memosprites.

"Huh?!" Calyste looked down at the reflective shards in her hand. Even if a monster was three meters away, she had absolutely no confidence in hitting the target.

Her PE teacher had failed her meager attempts during mandatory cricket lessons due to her missing the ball every time.

"Calyste, watch out!" Dan Heng looked back at her as one Voidranger darted past, its bladed arms stretched out to her.

On reflex, Calyste threw two shards at it.

Yet as the shard began to reflect the Voidranger, time seemed to slow significantly.

Calyste's eyes widened as she saw a mirage before her eyes. It was a Droste effect of her and the space before the Voidranger.

Almost as if she could reach inside and smack the shit out of it.

Which is exactly what she did.

Calyste reached a hand inside and dragged another shard multiple times across its body before successfully severing its head from its body.

"That's fucking disgusting..." Calyste immediately withdrew her hand as the monster disintegrated.

Time restarted again, but this time flowing backward, letting the mirror shards she had sent out flying back into her palm.

Yet the rest of the battlefield was still going strong.

Not gonna lie...that's kinda op.

Seeing that March and Dan Heng had moved a significant distance ahead, Calyste sprinted forward, keeping the glass held tight in her hands.

"You're here! You're not injured, are you?" March shot an arrow, confirming that the target was frozen before turning to her new friend.

"I'm fine. I don't think the number of monsters is going to decrease since more just keep coming." Calyste said. It was an observation she had made when she was running over.

No matter how many disintegrated, most just came to replace them.

"You're right...but we just have to get through them to the city gates and meet up with Miss Himeko and Mr Yang. Just hold on for a bit more-"

March was cut off yet again by a blood-curdling screech.

The two of them instantly looked for the source and saw a towering monster, its body seemingly made of torrents of water that converged to create a mutated beast.

"What the fuck is that?!" Calyste cursed.

"Aeons...it's one of those mutants from the Stellaron!" March frantically looked around for Dan Heng, who was still diligently fending off monsters.

"Dan Heng! Do you see that?!"

Dan Heng's gaze shifted to the towering monster for a split second before returning to his present battle and blocking an attack to his chest.

"Take Calyste straight to the city gates! I'll follow you guys from behind. There's no way Mr Yang and Miss Himeko can't defend the city from that thing." Dan Heng instructed as he brutally stabbed a Voidranger, pulling his spear out before it started disintegrating.

"Okay!" March took Calyste's hand and instantly sprinted forward. "I trust Dan Heng so let's run!"

Only if battle like this was also turn-based...

Calyste cried inwardly as she let herself be dragged along by March 7th.

They sprinted and weaved through the ranks of Voidrangers and the occasional mutant.

"Wait, March! That monster disappeared..." Calyste felt her heart drop as she realised that the water monster had disappeared from where it used to be.

"What..." March slowed down. She hadn't seen or heard any signs of battle from Himeko or Welt, so there was a high chance that it had simply relocated.

Calyste felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end before turning around to see the water giant surging towards them from the back. Dan Heng was nowhere to be seen.

"What the fuck?!" Calyste breathed.

March 7th, too, had paled. Nevertheless, she raised her bow, ice condensing at the arrowhead.

Calyste looked down at the glass in her hand.

Is there a way to drag it into that space? If I can, I can definitely destroy it...

Calyste clasped her hands around the glass shards and recited. "I pray that there will be no Error in my wishes!"

Calyste instantly felt the drag behind her and plunged into the ground, her environment changing instantly to the space beneath the ocean, held up by the stone spires.

"Calyste? Calyste! What happened to you?!" March dropped her bow as she saw her new friend slump backward. March quickly caught her and shook her in an attempt to wake her up.

The monster mutant had also disappeared from the battlefield.

The rippling floors converged without warning as the monster erupted before Calyste.

This thing's ugly as fuck!

Calyste conjured the mirror shards from her memory. She had something she wanted to attempt in this space of no limits.

The monster let out a roar as Calyste threw all the shards at it. One by one, they hung in the air around it like a dome of mirrors.

The same mirage appeared before Calyste's eyes as the monster's movements slowed.

This time, she didn't use only her hand but jumped straight into the mirage itself.

She fell from one of the mirrors, two shards clutched in her hands as she slashed at its watery body, leaving a glowing mark that didn't heal.

Her momentum dragged her into another mirror, where she reemerged and repeated what she did.

This carried on in a matter of seconds before the monster was covered in glowing marks.

Calyste stepped out of the mirage, sweat beading at her forehead.

The mirrors disappeared, exploding into millions of tiny shards as the effect of all the slashes instantly appeared.

The monster roared in pain and agony, but didn't die.

Calyste paled slightly as she looked at the shard in her hand. "What...it didn't die? Can it not die in this space?"

Calyste was so stunned that she didn't realise the monster had surged towards her when she felt pain explode by her side, and she went flying across the rippling surface.

Cough

Calyste spat out a mouthful of blood as she held her side. She could feel a few ribs that were broken, and her skin on her elbows and palms was scraped raw by the friction.

Yet they seemed to be healing on their own. The pain in her ribs had started to subside, too.

The monster didn't hesitate and began launching itself at her, conjuring up a giant spear of swirling water.

"Oh fuck!" Calyste scrambled to her feet and barely dodged in time.

She continued running until a thought occurred to her.

Wait. Aren't I the master of this place? Why am I letting this ugly fucker beat me up here?

Calyste skidded to a stop as a devious smile tugged at her lips.

She glanced at the suspended ocean and willed several openings in it.

She had the idea of fully collapsing the ocean, but she didn't want to take the risk of injuring herself. Since it was proved just then that she could get injured here.

Torrents of water rushed down and slammed into the monster, forcing it against the starry ripples of the ground.

"Fuck you." Calyste gave it the middle finger as she watched it struggle against the pressure. "That's for breaking my ribs."

Calyste didn't let the water stop running as she threw the mirror shards at it again and repeated her exact movements.

This time, the monster exploded into millions of droplets, falling down and converging with the floor.

A glowing ripple spread out through the endless space. The glow of the stars around seemed to get stronger, and the ocean above grew more turbulent before settling once again.

Calyste sealed the openings in the ocean and marveled at the change. It was nothing visible to the naked eye, but she could feel that the space seemed slightly stronger.

Of course, this monster wasn't to be considered very strong.

She had her fair fights with Hoolay in the endgame modes, not to mention the Titans of Amphoreus or the Sunday boss.

If she were to kill them in here, Calyste assumed there would be some very visible changes.

But this confirms that I can bring things in here and kill them. Not only that, but it makes this place stronger too...I can use this place to train as well!

Calyste patted herself on the back before muttering the prayer and feeling the pull again.

"Calyste, I'm so sorry! As a Nameless of the Astral Express, I should've protected you better-"

Calyste opened her eyes to see March about to tear up.

"March? Why are you crying?"

"Eh?! You're awake?!" March's expression was priceless as she instantly let go of cradling Calyste's body. "I thought you died when that monster suddenly disappeared and you fainted!"

"I'm fine...don't worry about me." Calyste looked around to see that a whole circle of Voidrangers were frozen around them, creating a physical barrier.

Dan Heng was here too, looking warily at the monsters that were trying to shatter the six-phased ice.

Calyste brought a hand to her mouth to stiffle a laugh.

"Hey! What's so funny! I genuinely thought that we had lost you after like thirty minutes of meeting!" March sulked. "But if you're fine, then where's the monster?"

"It...died? I don't know." Calyste lied with an innocent smile.

"What...how though? Did it overload from the power of the Stellaron and combust by itself?" March pondered as she helped Calyste stand.

Dan Heng gave Calyste a wary look before clearing his throat.

"We'll discuss the details later. Let's meet and get into the city first."

"Yep! Lead the way, Dan Heng!" March nodded.

Dan Heng slammed his spear against the ice, instantly shattering it, and led the way out.

Calyste sneaked a glance back at where the monster would've been.

There really is no trace of it left.

The space is much more powerful than I thought...Maybe I should give it a name?

Error...it seems to have something to do with 'Error'. But what is that? There is no Aeon of Error.

But it's also a space made from my consciousness and memories. Could it be something like Memoria?

In that case, I'll call it The Memoria Error.

Chapter Text

"On behalf of the Astral Express Crew, I formally extend an invitation for you to join the Nameless, Calyste."

Himeko had only exchanged a few greetings with Calyste before dropping the invite.

Calyste didn't remember much between when she answered with an enthusiastic "Yes!" to now, where she was seated in the Parlor Car, letting Pom Pom look her up and down.

She was far too lost in her thoughts to pay attention to the housekeeping rules the Conductor was listing out.

That was way too easy to join. From what I know, the Express is a home for those with no place left to go, someone ready to embark on a new journey through the stars.

There's a reason why someone like Sunday chose to join the Express whilst people like Bronya and Seele remained on Jarlio IV. It's because they still have a place to be...

So why did I receive an invite from Himeko herself? I don't look homeless...

Is it because I claimed to have amnesia?

Or did they find something wrong with me and are keeping me close to make sure nothing bad happens?

I sure hope not...the Memoria Error isn't something malicious.

Maybe they found out that I was the one who killed that water monster?

Even the Trailblazer was only asked by Himeko after the incident with the Doomsday Beast, and since she had the Stellaron sealed within her.

Or am I just overthinking it?

"Hey! Are you even listening to Pom Pom?!" Pom Pom huffed as they saw Calyste's unfocused gaze.

"Yeah, of course! No running in the Parlor Car, and we take turns washing dishes?" Calyste nodded, knowing full well she had not listened to a thing they said.

Pom Pom stomped their little feet dejectedly. "Not just that! Pom Pom said that Pom Pom put those mirror shards you brought back into your room. But if you plan on using them, just make sure that you don't make a mess!"

"My room? I have a room?" Calyste blinked. Even the Trailblazer had to wait over a year to get their own room.

"Of course! Miss March 7th can show you to it. Your room is entirely yours to customise!" Pom Pom nodded proudly, seemingly having forgotten to be angry at the girl who didn't listen to their detailed explanation of the rules aboard the Express.

Customise? This is starting to feel like those games where you can build your own house. But limited to a room instead.

"Does it cost anything? Like, do I have to pay for this I want to add?" Calyste asked cautiously.

As a third-year university student in London, she had her fair share of firsthand experiences with the cost of living.

"Of course! It will be put on the Express's funds and budget. You will probably be able to pay it off through Trailblazing, though!" Pom Pom explained before pulling out a small broom from nowhere. "Okay, Pom Pom has to clean the Express again. You can go find Miss March! Pom Pom hopes to have a good time with you, Miss Calyste!"

"I see...but what if I designed it to be really expensive? Like that whole gaming booth that the Trailblazer got-"

"Well, if it's really expensive, then we just have to go on more expeditions then!" March suddenly popped up beside her, not giving a mind to how Calyste mentioned a so-called 'Trailblazer'.

"Where did you come from?!" Calyste placed a hand over her heart from the fright she got.

"A girl's secret!" March winked before taking Calyste's hand and dragging her up from the sofa. "We have some time before we dock at the Herta Space Station, so I'll show you to your room! It's next to mine!"

"We're docking at the Space Station?" Calyste tilted her head slightly in confusion.

Neither Himeko nor Welt had made any mention since they had met.

In fact, since she, March, and Dan Heng made it back into the city, Himeko had simply greeted them warmly without any mention of the fight outside, nor the Stellaron issue.

"Yep! Himeko wants a copy of the details regarding the sealing of the Stellaron on The Blue from Herta. Herta agreed and asked us to dock there temporarily." March said as she led Calyste into the Passenger Car.

"Ah...wait what?" Calyste blinked in confusion. "The Stellaron is sealed? Then why were the Antimatter Legion and those mutants still there?"

"No, silly! The Express had to leave the planet for Herta to take the appropriate measures! So she's dealing with the Stellaron crisis there right now! But I suppose sealing it isn't really the right word. More like she's containing the damage so she can keep doing research. Poor planet." March explained with a sigh.

"Herta's going there herself?!"

I know Herta as a lazy woman who would not be bothered to do things herself and would rather leave it to her puppets.

Calyste's thoughts were immediately proved correct when March shook her head.

"Nope! She's using some projection thing of one of her puppets to go and deal with it." March said as she led Calyste past a few doors. "So that's the Archives. Dan Heng's using it as his room too. This is my room, I'll show you around after this. Aaand! This is your room now!"

March slid open the door and presented the uninhabited room to her proudly.

It had a similar layout to March 7th's room, or at least from what Calyste could remember when playing the game.

A fairly large bed, complete with a winter blanket and a few pillows. In due time, she would collect some stuffed toys to make it seem more lively.

Maybe I'll get a fish plushie. I like fish...

Next to the bed was an unfurnished window nook. On the other side was a vanity table with a large mirror adorned with a few fairy lights strung across the top.

The mirror shards that Calyste had held on to were in a small container placed in the centre of the vanity table.

One could easily guess that the new things that were decorated were all based on March's view of Calyste's aesthetic.

The clothes I'm wearing came with the transmigration...it's not something I would usually wear. But I do like the decor.

March really has a good eye.

A longer desk equipped with a PC was pushed against the far wall, where March had hung up some empty photo frames.

March seemed to catch Calyste inspecting the empty frames and quipped. "One should always take photos! What if you forget something? I know that even the things you think you'll never forget, you'll forget them one day!"

Calyste smiled bitterly. She really did like March's quirk with her camera and obsession with photos.

It made all the more sense knowing her backstory.

"I know. But I don't have a phone..." The reality hit her instantly.

March's mouth hung agape slightly. "Oh. Did you lose it? Well, that's okay! We'll get you a new one, and in the meantime, I'll teach you how to use my camera and get the best photos!"

March inched closer and cupped a hand to her mouth as if she were delivering secretive information. "Dan Heng may be really good at a lot of things, but he's so bad at taking photos. Don't tell him I said that!"

Calyste laughed lightly and gave her an assuring nod before going back to observe the room.

A wardrobe and a few cabinets were built into the walls, while another door most likely leads to an ensuite.

The most interesting thing was what March did to the roof.

A glittering wire mesh adorned with a few strings of fairy lights held up a translucent, barely blue fabric. Almost as if it were mimicking the ocean surface.

"Did you do that?" Calyste asked in astonishment as she pointed to the roof.

March nodded with pride. "Yep! Do you like it? I figured that since you're from The Blue, which has a lot of water, you might miss the ocean. There aren't exactly bodies of water in space..."

A smile tugged at Calyste's lips as she gave March a hug.

It looks a lot like the ocean overhead in the Memoria Error.

"Thanks. It's really pretty!" Calyste wasn't stingy with her praises.

After all, her dorm room looked like it was lived in by a rat that was overtaken by a bird that was fighting with a cat.

At least that was what the student accommodation inspector had told her and her roommate.

"Really?!" March beamed as if the single compliment made her whole day, and returned the hug with even more enthusiasm. "Aw! I'm really glad you like it!"

The Astral Express came to a halt, causing the two of them to glance at the window.

The Herta Space Station had come into view and was now accommodating the head of the train in its main docking area.

"Wow....it's bigger than I thought," Calyste murmured.

She knew the Space Station was big. But seeing the size for herself was completely different from it as a third perspective.

"I know right! This is the work of a genius!" March said as if she were the one who built it.

A knock came at the door, which March took the liberty of answering.

"Girls, we've arrived. I'll be heading down to see Madam Herta. If you two and Dan Heng wish to take a look around, feel free to do so." Himeko said with a smile before her eyes shifted to the roof. "March, you've really outdone yourself for Calyste's room..."

"She likes it and that's all that matters!" March nodded, to which Calyste returned a genuine smile.

"Well, Calyste, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask," Himeko smiled. "I'll head off now. Welt will be staying on the Express with Pom Pom, so you don't have to worry about keeping them company."

"Great!" March looked at Calyste as Himeko walked off. "You wanna go down and explore? Let's take Dan Heng too!"

"He wants to come? My impression of him is that he would rather stay in his room..." Calyste scoffed.

March thought for a moment before shrugging. "Oh well! We'll force him to come along. Three's better than two!"

Calyste laughed lightly as March bounded out of her room, down the hallway towards Dan Heng's room.

Calyste followed the pink-haired girl out, swiping a few mirror shards off the table and pocketing them as she did.

I'll have to learn how to conjure them out of thin air like everyone else does. It's better than carrying them around physically.

And I wonder if I can pull March into the Memoria Error. It would be nice to have a friend there...

After successfully convincing Dan Heng with the premise of 'Trailblazing' in Herta's Storage Zone to look at the Curios there, the three of them walked onto the docking zone and marvelled at the feat of engineering enveloping them.

"To think that Herta built all this just to keep some of her stuff that was lying around..." Even Dan Heng seemed to be at a loss for words despite hailing from the Xianzhou who built literal flying ships and and whole world on an interstellar battleship.

"Is this your guy's first time here?" Calyste asked. Judging from their reaction, it very well could be.

But at the same time, there was no way the two Nameless had ever set foot in the Herta Space Station. After all, the Express had pretty good ties with the Genius Society member.

"Nope! We've been here before, but it's still amazing every time," March said as she took the wrists of both Calyste and Dan Heng and dragged them forward. "Let's go!"

The three of them had made it to the storage zone where several researchers mulled around the stored curios. 

"Hey! Look, there's a pistol that rates people! Aren't you curious what you'll get?" March rushed over to one of the displays, where a yellow gun fitted with an eyeball was suspended.

March fiddled with it before activating it on herself. "R-Rating invalid?! What do you mean invalid!"

Calyste inched closer with curiosity, too. 

I know this thing won't rate Emanators very accurately. The Chrysos Heirs, too, will be rated strangely. So it makes sense that March, whose background is unknown, wouldn't have a rating. 

But I do wanna know what my rating would be...

"Let me try." Calyste took her position in front of the pistol and activated it. 

The pistol whirred for a moment before announcing the result. 

"Rating...??? Rating i-i-i-i-i-nvalid...r-r-a-a-a-ti-i-i-i-i-ng?! Error-"

Calyste stared at the spasming display before quickly taking a step back at looking at March and Dan Heng as if they could verify that she didn't do anything to break it. 

"Guys...did I do that? Did I break it?"

Dan Heng frowned slightly before adjusting the pistol onto himself. 

The eye darted around him before giving its answer. "Rating...88 points?"

"It seems to still be working, so you don't have to worry. Perhaps it couldn't access much information about you two to get a valid conclusion?" Dan Heng proposed. 

I wish that were the case, but I have a feeling it has something to do with the Memoria Error...

"Yeah, probably! But that's just pissed me off now. Let's head to the Master Control Zone and get some snacks. We can introduce Calyste to Asta, too!" March said indignantly after taking a glance around the curios on display and determining that nothing else caught her attention. 

"Sure. Himeko might be done with her meeting with Madam Herta soon." Dan Heng nodded in agreement. 

Calyste took a glance at the other curios, spotting the conspicuous broken greatsword belonging to a certain redhead of another universe, and the pair of wing gliders she was familiar with in another game. 

"You guys lead the way," Calyste nodded.

Although if my guess of where in the storyline we currently are is correct, we'll be back down in the Storage Zone pretty soon. 

Chapter Text

March 7th had only managed to introduce Calyste to Lead Researcher Asta as the newest member of the Astral Express before the entire space station lit up with a red glow, triggering the emergency alarm system. 

"What...?" Asta brought up her tablet, her expression growing grave. "The Antimatter Legion? Why are they attacking the Space Station?"

Calyste kept a straight face as she heard the information.

The Antimatter Legion is attacking the Space Station...I fucking knew it. I was thrown into the world just before the Trailblazer's arrival. 

I wonder which one it'll be...Stelle or Caelus. 

Maybe I'm biased because I picked Stelle in-game...

"Why would the Antimatter Legion be attacking out of nowhere? Did Madam Herta do something to provoke them?" Dan Heng's eyebrows furrowed with concern. 

"Not that I know of..." Asta sighed as she looked to the three Nameless. "Can I trouble you guys to help deal with the invaders on the lower Zones of the Space Station?" 

Asta turned the tablet to them, showing them the right red dots that filled the bottom few Zones of the Space Station. "It'll take some time for them to reach the upper Zones, so I'll take this time to evacuate the researchers and contact Madam Herta."

"Wouldn't Herta be aware that something's invading her property?" March frowned. 

Asta shook her head. "Madam Herta assigned me to take care of these 'trivial' things. Half the time, she's not even here—just her puppets." 

Poor girl, I'm pretty sure Herta...I mean, Miss Genius also told Mr Luck to just forward all the payments to her secretary. Although Asta's title is the Acting Lead Researcher...she's really no different than Herta's helper. 

"Wow...you should really consider renaming this place to the Asta Space Station then!" March mused before pulling out her bow and flashing a wink at the other pink-haired girl. "But you can count on us! We'll get rid of those monsters in no time!"

March ran off, leaving Dan Heng and Calyste to run after her. 

"Did you bring a weapon?" Dan Heng asked as he pulled out his spear, Cloudpiercer. 

Calyste pulled out the few mirror shards that she had pocketed before leaving the Express. "Do these count?"

Dan Heng looked at them, his gaze seemingly calculating the worth of the shards, and nodded. "They'll do just fine. You can stay behind me if you're not confident in combat."

What a gentleman... his future partner is truly lucky. Calyste sighed inwardly as she increased her pace to match Dan Heng's. 

By the time the two had caught up with March 7th, they had passed rows upon rows of voidrangers frozen in her signature glittering six-phased ice. 

"You guys are so slow!" March smirked as she tried to pry open the door of the elevator that had been sealed shut after the electrical system had blown in the Supply Zone. "Can you guys get this door to open?"

"Doesn't this need an encryption key?" Calyste asked as she pointed to the panel that was flashing red by the side of the door. 

"Yeah, but the powers busted. Dan Heng, do you know any researchers who might still be here? They probably know how to operate this." March looked at her friend with hopeful eyes. 

Dan Heng shook his head, crushing her hopes. "I've been here as many times as you."

"Then...what do you suggest we do?"

"There can't only be one way down to the Storage and Supply Zones, right? We can look for alternate paths and hopefully, the researchers will be able to get the elevator to work by then?" Calyste piped up. 

If she remembered correctly, they had to get the help of Arlan to fix the lift and return to the Master Control Zone. But that was after they had found the Trailblazer. 

I don't know how much influence I can have on the story, but it doesn't seem to be much. Plus, I don't really know how these managed to find the Trailblazer in the first place. I only know what happens after...

"That's true! You're a genius, Calsyte! Should we split up then? Someone goes to the Supply Zone to try to get the power back up, someone finds the researchers, and someone goes to clear out the monsters?" March suggested. 

Dan Heng shook his head at the suggestion. "No, we currently don't know why the Legion attacked, nor do we know the situation in the other Zones. We shouldn't risk anything by splitting up."

"I agree." Calyste nodded before adding inwardly. I'm pretty sure it was the Stellaron Hunters that led the Antimatter Legion here to seal the Stellaron in the Trailblazer. But they also lead that giant dragon thing here, too.

"Damn. Two against one. But I see your point!" March said as she brightened up again. "Let's look for another way down!"

Having spent an alarming amount of time searching the various pathways and prying open doors of the Space Station, the trio managed to return to the supply zone.

"I realised before, but you're crazy good at fighting, Caly!" March said as she watched Calyste extend a hand to retrieve a mirror shard she had thrown out. "Were you a soldier back at your home?"

Calyste laughed awkwardly as she shook her head.

If the yearly compulsory participation in track and field counts, then yes.

"I just picked up a few things from seeing you and Dan Heng fight," Calyste said humbly.

"Hehe, I can teach you to use a bow if you want!" March nodded, her mood increasing after hearing the implied praise.

"Sure! After we get off the Space Station, though. I don't think Madam Herta would be very happy if she found arrows stuck in the walls." Calyste nodded happily.

I wonder if I can bring March into the Memoria Error. Not only does time flow differently there, but then I'd have someone I know there, too!

Dan Heng walked over, seeing the two chatting instead of clearing the area as they were told to by Asta.

"Let's keep moving. There are still areas we haven't cleared," Dan Heng said, his eyes moving to the place where the curios were stored.

March let out an exhausted sigh. "Back we go!"

Dan Heng tapped a few times on the control panel and opened the door once more, letting March and Calyste through before taking the rear.

This...

Calyste froze as a chill ran down her spine.

Why do I feel such an oppressive presence? Isn't this where the Trailblazer is supposed to be?

March had run ahead, not noticing her friend freezing up.

"Guys! There's someone here!" March gasped as she crouched down next to the Trailblazer, who was unconscious.

Calyste broke free from her daze and walked over as well.

It's Stelle...

Goosebumps ran along her arms as she got closer to the grey-haired girl.

"Are you okay, Calyste?" Dan Heng placed a hand on Calyste's shoulder.

"I...do you feel like you're being stared at?" Calyste whispered.

Dan Heng frowned slightly as he scanned the area and shook his head. "No."

Calyste breathed a sigh of relief.

If Dan Heng doesn't feel anything, then it's probably nothing.

Maybe I'm just anxious...

"Okay. Let's go help March." Calyste nodded.

"Guys, she's not waking up!" March said worriedly after shaking Stelle's shoulders.

"Is she breathing?" Dan Heng asked methodically.

March placed her ear to Stelle's chest before placing a finger beneath her nose to test for breathing. "Uhhh, it's very faint."

Calyste suppressed the cold sweat that was beading on the back of her neck as she crouched down next to March. "Should we try to give her CPR?"

Despite the undeniable sense of fear she was feeling, Calyste had something she wanted to try.

If I take the initiative to make certain events happen, will I be able to change how things unfold?

Maybe I can have so a big effect that Amphoreus can have its happy ending...

"Good idea! Dan Heng, you try!" March nodded in agreement before instantly passing on the duty to the other.

"No...I don't think I should be the one to do it. Why don't you do it, March?" Dan Heng shook his head.

"Me? But I've never done it before!" March quickly refused.

Canonically, Dan Heng is the one who ends up doing CPR on the Trailblazer, but March ultimately shoves him away once she wakes up.

Making a difference would mean that either the CPR actually happens, or it doesn't even get to that stage....

"Why don't you do it then, Caly? You suggested it." March smiled innocently.

"Me?!" Calyste blinked as she snapped out of her thoughts.

Everything in me is screaming not to even go close to Stelle, and you want me to do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation? Hell no!

"Mhm! I guess it's not that appropriate for Dan Heng to do it cus he's a boy...and I don't know how to do CPR." March explained.

Calyste laughed awkwardly. "I don't know how to either..."

"Oh..." March looked back at Dan Heng with a devious grin. "Saving people comes first, right?"

Dan Heng sighed and gave in.

In a second, the familiar scene of Dan Heng attempting CPR and March quickly pushing him away as the Trailblazer opened her eyes took place.

It still happened...Maybe I shouldn't try to force events. What if I try to stop them from happening in the first place? Surely that will have an effect.

As Calyste comforted herself, the oppressive feeling around her lifted.

"Stop! She's awake!" March beamed.

Stelle groggily sat up as she saw the three curious faces peering down at her. 

March helped her stand before asking worriedly. "Are you alright? Can you hear me? Do you remember your name?"

One question at a time, March! Calyste reprimanded in her thoughts. She, too, had been a victim of March's question bombardment. 

Stelle held a hand to her head as she shook her head. "I don't remember a thing..."

March seemed to be at a slight loss for words before recovering. "Oh...this isn't good. Can you try harder? I'm sure you can at least remember your name!"

"My name's Stelle..."

She looks so tame here... Calyste sighed inwardly, recalling just how unhinged the protagonist ended up being. 

"Stelle? Nice to meet you. My name is Dan Heng, this is March 7th, and this is Calyste." Dan Heng took the liberty of doing the introductions. "The space station was just attacked by the Antimatter Legion. We came to help with the rescue at the request of Lead Researcher Asta."

Stelle looked as if she were completely lost. "Who? Lead Researcher Asta?"

"Uh-uhh...a petite cutie with pink hair. Madam Herta appointed her to be the acting lead researcher." March explained with a frown. "That girl needs to step up. I can't believe her own employee doesn't even know her name..."

"Girl, she doesn't remember a thing, remember?" Calyste nudged March quietly. 

"Oh, right!" March covered her mouth quickly. 

"Ah...then what's the Antimatter Legion?" Stelle asked sheepishly. 

Seeing as how the other two had already spoken, Calyste took the chance to answer. "The creatures of the Destruction. Typically, they are led by a Lord Ravanger, an Emanator of Destruction. So far, it doesn't seem like there's one here."

In saying this, Calyste was silently praying that one of the Lord Ravangers wouldn't suddenly turn up. 

March nodded in agreement. "We'll take those invaders out soon, don't worry!"

"Then...where should I go? Am I supposed to do anything?" Stelle asked gloomily. A complete contrast to what Calyste remembered her to be. 

"Back to the Master Control Zone. Asta and the other researchers have gathered there." Dan Heng said succinctly. 

"Plus, that's where we've parked the Astral Express! Don't you worry, we'll protect you from the monsters and clean up this mess!" March smiled. "Dan Heng's a really good fighter. And even though Calyste's only joined us for a while, she's crazy good at throwing those mirror things!"

Calyste looked at March, confused as to why she would divulge such a thing. 

It's not like I don't trust Stelle, but after feeling like someone's been breathing down my neck, I can't help but feel like it's safer to disclose less information.

"The Astral Express?" Stelle's expression was getting more confused by the second. 

"Yeah, you've never seen it? The Express comes here every once in a while. Even Caly knew about it when we found her on The Blue." March explained. 

March...I know you have good intentions, but please stop talking about me.

"It's a unique train that can travel between the stars with the power of the Trailblaze Aeon." Dan Heng continued March's explanation.

"I'll show you once we're back to the Master Control Zone~" March smiled like a child presenting an artwork to her parents. 

Stelle's expression seemed to light up at hearing about the Express. "Let's go then."

A true Trailblazer, isn't she? No wonder Phainon couldn't shut up about the Trailblaze after getting to know her for a while...

Calyste sighed quietly as she observed the conversation from the sidelines. She had no intention of taking the limelight from the two original Nameless. 

Dan Heng nodded at Stelle's suggestion. "You, Calyste, and March go back together. Arlan from the Security Department lost contact in the vicinity. I need to find him first."

"Oh, all right. You stay safe." March said as Dan Heng left. "Wait, Caly, where are you going?"

Calyste had walked over to the stored curios, where a baseball bat was left unattended, and brought it over, presenting it to Stelle. 

"You should take this. To protect yourself." Calyste said.

"Did you just steal that from Madam Herta's collection?" March's jaw hung agape. 

"No! It was just lying there!" Calyste quickly defended herself. 

March frowned slightly. "Hmmmm, I don't recall seeing a baseball bat lying on the ground when we came in."

"Me neither," Calyste shrugged. As much as she wanted to know how it appeared there, all she could do was chalk it down to Stelle being the protagonist. 

"Thanks." Stelle accepted the bat and swung it around a few times. 

"Hey! Careful!" Calyste quickly stepped out of the danger range. 

"Sorry!" Stelle stopped swinging the bat and held it behind her back with a shy smile. 

"Hey, you two! Hurry up, will you!" March called from where she was unlocking the door. 

Calyste took Stelle's wrist and ran over to meet up with March. 

The instance of contact sent a horrifying chill down Calyste's spine before it disappeared. 

"Ugh, it's the Antimatter Legion. Already!" March groaned as she opened the door to see the floating sphere made of antimatter. 

"Leave it to me. You take Stelle and get out of here first. I'll clear the rest out." Calyste offered, wishing to put some distance between herself and Stelle. 

I was looking forward to meeting the Trailblazer...who would've thought that it feels like I'm meeting something horrifying. I don't even know why...

"Are you sure? Can you get back up to the Master Control Zone on your own?" March asked, worriedly. 

No matter how much faith March was putting on Calyste, considering how it was her first time in the Space Station, there was a high chance for Calyste to get lost. 

"Yeah. Trust me. I'll clear these out quickly and make sure there aren't any researchers left behind before heading to the elevator. I doubt you'll have it working by the time I get back." Calyste mused. 

Besides. I'll be able to test my powers out without restriction. If I get lost, I'm sure I can use the Memoria Error to ask Miss Genius how to get out of her Space Station. 

She had long forgotten what happened during this segment of the story, but after their highly unsuccessful attempt at activating the lift on their own, their own hope lay in Arlan, who was currently being saved by Dan Heng.

"Wow, you have absolutely no faith in me getting that lift to work. Well, stay safe, okay! See you soon!" March nodded as she took Stelle down a path that wasn't blocked by the Legion. 

Calyste watched as the two disappeared before taking out the mirror shards and twirling them between her fingers. 

Dashing forward, she sent one out. In the reflection of the one still in her hands, she could see the monster coming into view through the perspective of the thrown shard. 

Time slowed just as it did before on The Blue. Calyste reached inside and dragged another shard across the monster multiple times before leaving the mirror world. 

The instant she pulled her hand from it, time restarted, and all the accumulated slashes materialised, fully obliterating the monster. 

That's kinda satisfying, not gonna lie...

Invigorated, Calyste pulled back her arm and threw a shard towards another voidranger further away. A bit of her blood caught on the edge of the mirror, to which she used to jump directly through and land a kick against the voidranger's head. 

Using the dual mirrors again, time slowed once more as she landed multiple blows onto the voidranger. 

Time flowed once more as Calyste came to a stop, wiping her slightly bloodied hand against her dress. 

The voidranger collapsed and quickly disintegrated into dust. 

Coming into contact with voidrangers is completely fine, so it can't be the fact that Stelle has a Stellaron inside her that's making me feel uneasy. 

So what is it...?

Calyste tossed a shard up in the air with a sigh. 

If anything, she was going to use this time alone to vent some pent-up tension. 

I really hope that the sense of horror that I feel with Stelle has nothing to do with my transmigration. I really want to get to know her...

Chapter Text

The voidranger let out a howl as it burst into dust, scattering the otherwise pristine floor of the Space Station. 

Calyste heaved a sigh of relief as she retrieved the mirror shard. 

I swear there weren't this many when I played through it. Maybe it's cus this is a different path to the storyline?

Calyste paused, realising she had absolutely no idea where she had ended up. To her, the architecture of the Space Station looked the same everywhere. Even in-game, she had to rely on the mini-map to tell where she was. 

Fuck...don't tell me I actually have to seek Miss Genius's help. 

Calyste was about to consider reciting the prayer lines and entering the Memoria Error when she heard several monstrous growls from the end of the hallway. 

Her eyes widened seeing floods of voidrangers pushing against the sealed door, instantly decided to run. 

"Ah...shit."

Calyste bolted through a random door, dashing past various rooms and control panels before finding a series that had been previously unlocked. 

Her face lit up instantly. 

These must be the ones that either March or Dan Heng ended up unlocking!

Racing through the corridors with the Legion chasing after her, Calyste quickly made it to the central atrium that housed the elevator. 

With a quick scan of the area, she saw March, Dan Heng, and Stelle all fighting a centaur voidranger. 

"Oh no..." Calyste cursed as she remembered this part of the beginning storyline. 

Just as Calyste turned to look behind her, the voidranger let out an ear-piercing screech, summoning all the monsters that were chasing after her to its side. 

Calyste gathered strength in her arm before throwing a mirror shard out in hopes that it would go far enough to reach her companions. 

Seeing her friends reflected in the mirror in her palm, Calyste didn't hesitate to jump through and help deflect an energy blast that was heading for Stelle. 

The inexplicable sense of pressure and horror washed over her again as she grabbed Stelle's hand and pulled the dazed protagonist out of the way. 

"Caly! You're here! We're saved!"

March's eyes lit up with newfound hope. 

"Aha...yeah, no! Why don't you pray that Himeko will come save us?" Calyste laughed nervously, seeing the multiple voidrangers begin to cluster and close the distance between the Nameless. 

Although she knew better than anyone here that the Navigator of the Astral Express would make her official appearance at any moment. 

Calyste swallowed as the tense seconds ticked by without any sign of Himeko's drone. 

"Hey...what sore losers! They can't just gang up on us!" March said as she held her bow up. 

Dan Heng, standing in front of the three girls, had his polearm out, never resting his defensive stance. 

The largest voidranger reared up its hind legs and let out another roar. It pulled its arms back as an arrow formed in its hands, blazing with the glow of Destruction. 

Calyste glanced at Dan Heng, who looked like he wanted to usher the rest of them into the elevator and take on the fight himself. 

Calyste inched back to March and whispered to her ear. "March, you guys deal with those smaller floating ones. Leave that horse thing to me."

"You sure?" March looked at her worriedly. 

Calyste gave her a thumbs up before clasping her hands around the shards and inwardly reciting. 

I pray that there will be no Error in my wishes!

Calyste felt the familiar drag behind her and plunged into the ground, her environment changing instantly to the space beneath the ocean, held up by the stone spires.

March paled seeing her friend faint again. 

"Caly! Not again!" March cried before realising that the threatening voidranger before them had disappeared. 

Slightly disoriented, Calyste watched as the rippling floor converged and spat out the voidranger. 

She didn't wait for it to make sense of its surroundings before conjuring the multiple shards around it and leapt into action. 

In the voidranger's eyes, a dome of glass mirrors had formed around it, and a figure darting between each shard at insane speeds, leaving deep cuts and wounds across its body. 

The voidranger let out a slow roar before it saw Calyste's blurred, smiling face appear before it. 

"Bye~" 

Calyste dropped down elegantly as the voidranger burst into countless water droplets. The Memoria Error glowed slightly as it absorbed the voidranger's remaining power. 

"That one was much easier than the one on The Blue..." Calyste tossed the shards in her hand into the endless ripples with a happy smile before exiting the space once again. 

"Caly! Wake uppppppp!" March shook her friend violently as they rode the elevator up. 

Himeko's drone could be seen in a battle with the remaining monsters of the Legion. 

Calyste groggily opened her eyes only to feel a wave of nausea from being shaken so much.

"March...stooop!" Calyste groaned as she scrambled out of March 7th's arms. 

"You're finally awake!" March looked close to tears. "Can you please stop doing that! You're scaring all of us!"

Calyste steadied herself as the elevator continued its journey up. "I'm fine. See?"

Calyste spread her hands to show that she had no wounds. 

"Were you the one who killed that voidranger?" Dan Heng asked. Although his face didn't show it, he, too, was curious. 

He didn't press the matter back on The Blue, mainly because he didn't know the details of what happened, and he had forgotten about it among the rest of the chaos. 

"Mhm!" Calyste didn't hide her achievement. 

Please don't ask me how because not even I know the full answer to that.

"How?"

Calyste let out an awkward laugh before holding a finger to her lips. "A secret."

Hearing that, Dan Heng didn't continue questioning her. 

The elevator came to a stop, and the four, plus Arlan, rushed out to greet Himeko, who was waiting patiently by a control panel in the Master Control Zone. 

"March, Dan Heng, Calyste, you three have been through a lot." Himeko greeted the three Nameless who had returned to her side. 

March, who looked like she wanted to hug Himeko, sighed. "Whew, Himeko~ What took you so long! That last wave of Antimatter Legion came at us like a swarm of locusts, have you ever tried shooting locusts with a bow?!"

"I wouldn't have made a difference. My orbital cannon can deal with a whole bunch of enemies at once, but I couldn't just blow up the space station with it. Herta would not like that..." Himeko defended with a smile before turning to Arlan. "Are you alright, Arlan? Asta's been worried about you."

Arlan nodded and gave a curt answer. "I'm fine, a quick patching up will do. Thanks for asking. I'll report the situation to Lead Researcher Asta immediately. Bye."

"Is he normally that bland?" Calyste whispered to March, who simply shrugged. 

As much as she was sorry for Arlan, Calyste didn't remember much about him at all. 

Himeko turned to Stelle and extended her hand. "Hey, nice to meet you. I'm Himeko, navigator of the Astral Express."

Stelle shook her hand as March piped up once more. "In other words, she's in charge of where the Express goes."

"March hasn't been any trouble for you along the way, has she?" Himeko asked teasingly.

"Stelle...think carefully about how you wanna reply to that." March frowned. 

"In that case, I'd rather not answer." Stelle smiled innocently.

March looked at her with her jaw agape. "Hey! You know who should be the one accused of giving a fright?"

Calyste blinked as March turned to her. "Caly and her fainting acts!"

Calyste quickly held her hands up in surrender. "Did you forget that I cleared out the rest of the Legion for you guys?!"

"Hmph. What do you think, Dan Heng?"

"I have the right to remain silent." Dan Heng closed his eyes in response. 

Himeko let out a gentle laugh. "Look at you all, you've already gotten really close.

"Come on. Asta has been worried about you all."

"Projectile radar tracking, normal. Telemetry signal frequency unusually high! Maintain at normal levels!" Asta commanded as her eyes tracked her tablet. "Our measurements predict that the Legion is about to unleash over ten waves of continuous attacks. We've detected an unknown source of power, too. Everyone, brace yourselves!"

An unknown source of power? I don't remember something like that happening...unless she means that dragon thing that we fight.

"Asta! We're back!" March announced as she gave the pink-haired researcher a hug from behind. 

Asta's worried expression softened as she turned to greet them. "Whew. I'm glad you're all back safe. Arlan just told me about the situation at the Storage Zone and about his injury. Thank you for all your help.

"In times of disaster, I realise more and more that the space station's researchers are its most valuable assets...Alas, we were ill-prepared for such emergencies...we should have built up our security and combat departments." Asta said solemnly. 

I'm sure you would have no problem with that if Madam Herta just put a little more attention on the well-being of her Space Station. Calyste sighed inwardly. 

"But on the other hand, the entire crew of the Astral Express seems to be extraordinarily skilled." Asta smiled.

Calyste stopped herself from scoffing out loud. Yeah totally. There's Mr Yang, who's a literal Herrscher and has a black hole in his cane. Dan Heng is the reincarnation of the High Elder of the Luofu Vidyhadara, a descendant of an Aeon, and will soon attain the Coreflame of Earth. Then there's March, whose secret backstory is that she's a Pure Child of Anasrava, a literal fragment of an Aeon. Not to mention Evernight, that's sealed in her memories. Himeko is a literal genius. Though I prefer for her to stay on the Express. 

Then there's Stelle, who is a ticking time bomb and will collect the gazes of various Aeons. 

Then me...what am I even doing here? 

Dan Heng gave her a slight nod of acknowledgement before bringing the attention back to the situation at hand. "What is the current situation on the space station?"

"The situation is under control for now. The damage to our security system was minor. The intruder only managed to alter a small amount of data, so it was easy to fix." Asta explained. "The real problem lies with the researchers. They trust Madam Herta wholeheartedly and never thought that the space station would be breached by the Legion. A broken spirit is far worse than a broken body."

Calyste frowned, recalling a specific name and his story. Phainon...I hope I can survive until the Amphoreus arc. 

Seeing the dip in the mood, Himeko spoke up. "Let's go speak with the researchers. Right now, the space station can't afford any more unexpected turns, especially from within. Have you tried contacting Herta?"

Asta let out a sigh and nodded. "I sent multiple letters, all met with silence. You know her, Himeko, the space station is but a mere warehouse for followers and rare items. She doesn't really care about it."

"I knew it... No matter. I'll also send a letter to Herta and tell her that we've brought the rare item she seeks. At least that might get her attention." Himeko said reassuringly. 

Is it possible I can send a message to either Miss Genius or Mr Luck in the Memoria Error too? Wait, will that look unprofessional? I made myself seem like a god. A deity won't be sending random messages to their followers...

Forget it. I'll figure it out another time. 

Asta smiled and thanked Himeko. "Oh. Yes, that would be of great help."

Calyste watched as Stelle talked to Himeko, following her around to converse with various researchers. 

March had wandered off while Dan Heng remained with Asta to discuss various issues. 

Presently, she was the only one not doing anything. 

Calyste took the opportunity to look around the Master Control Zone and fiddle with a few meal robots before the entire station started blaring with red alarms. 

"Oh shit, that dragon thing must be coming." Calyste cursed as she put down the robot she had accidentally shut off. 

Calyste and the rest of the Nameless rushed over to Asta, who was worriedly looking at a security projection of the Doomsday Beast forcibly breaching the defensive layers of the space station. 

"Take the Express and leave!" Asta ordered as she grimly assessed the situation. "I'll stay. The Supply Zone's won't hold much longer. You all need to hurry."

"But..." March started to object, only for Himeko to grab Stelle and March and rush to the elevator. 

Dan Heng glanced at Calyste before the two also made their way to the elevator. 

"We've lost all connection..." Himeko said grimly as they exited the elevator. 

"Are you thinking of going back? Let me remind you, that's the Doomsday Beast, the Legion's planet destroyer." Dan Heng shook his head. 

Himeko sighed. "The space station is Herta's creation. As long as a Lord Ravanger doesn't intervene, there should be no problems."

"But we can't just run away like this, right?" March voiced. 

"The Doomsday Beast can rip off the defense shield like tearing paper. And Herta's not here. The station's defenses are too weak to stand against the Antimatter Legion." Dan Heng warned. "Either way, the Legion has the blessing of the Aeon, Nanook. They came prepared, and everyone here is not."

"That's why we have to leave and take Stelle with us," Himeko said. 

Dan Heng blinked. "Stelle? She's that important?"

Dan Heng...only if you knew. That girl's going to save your ass and you're going to save her too...

"She's the one who can help us turn the tides...of course, I may be wrong," Himeko said, although her tone was unsure. 

"I agree. She's special. I can sense the Blessing of the Destruction on her." Calyste nodded, deciding not to hide the fact that she knew Stelle had a Stellaron in her. 

I'm getting that sense of horror again, but not much. Is it still Stelle that's sending off signals in me? Or is there something like an Emanator that's arrived? 

But that never happened in the main story...

"If you two both think so, then alright. What should we do next?" Dan Heng nodded. 

"This is the supply zone where the maintenance crew works. There's a path here that leads to the nearest railway platform. Let's head over there and meet up with Welt." Himeko explained and glanced over at a locked door. 

With a unanimous agreement, the five of them followed the paths under Himeko's lead. 

Clearing through various stray monsters, they reached the railway where the Express was parked. 

The same chill and pressure washed over Calyste, sending her to her knees. 

"Calyste? What's wrong?" Himeko looked back, seeing their youngest member fall to the ground, her hands shaking uncontrollably. 

"T-There's something not right..." Calyste didn't dare lift her gaze to the starry sky beyond.

"You three get to Mr Yang," Himeko ordered as she crouched down next to Calyste. 

Something is looking at me...it's looking at me directly...

"March! Look out!" 

Dan Heng's call snapped Calyste to her senses as March was dragged back just before a wing of the Doomsday Beast swept across the deck. 

"The Doomsday Beast...it's really here." Himeko narrowed her eyes. 

"No...Himeko." Calyste grabbed Himeko's wrist, cold sweat dripping down her forehead. "I think...I think THEY are watching."

"THEY...Calyste, what do you mean?" Himeko frowned, a sense of dread enveloping her at the younger's words.

Why does it feel like THEY are staring right at me? The Destruction is looking for me...?

What did I do?! This isn't supposed to happen!

"The Destruction...Nanook has cast THEIR gaze here."

Chapter Text

The Destruction...why are THEY here?

What did I even do???

Calyste wanted to laugh at her situation, but couldn't bring herself to, seeing how worried Himeko was. 

"...Nanook?" Himeko slowly glanced over at the Doomsday Beast that was circling overhead. 

Calyste nodded as she wiped the tears that unconsciously fell. "Yes...there's no doubt that the Aeon is watching."

Himeko bit her lip as she saw March ready her bow, ready to take on the Doomsday Beast. "Calyste, can you hurry to the Express and inform Welt? If what you say is true, there is a high chance that a Lord Ravanger is here too. We can only hope that that isn't the case..."

Himeko helped Calyste to stand. "I will help those three in defending against the Doomsday Beast until we can confirm the situation."

Calyste nodded, barely standing as her legs went numb from the oppressive pressure still boring down on her. 

"Got it. I'll tell Welt and come back to help you guys." Calyste nodded through gritted teeth. Every inch of her consciousness was telling her to run away from the railway that was exposed to the cosmos. 

"Thank you." Himeko nodded as she pulled out her own weapon and rushed to join March and the others. 

Calyste closed her eyes and ran towards the Express. 

I should try and contact Miss Genius, too. I trust my intuition that Nanook has locked THEIR sights on here for now...there's no way Herta will neglect the space station till the point of ignoring a Lord Ravanger attack. 

Calyste pulled the door to the Express open and rushed inside. 

Almost as if she had stepped into a different environment, that horrifying feeling immediately elevated as Calyste entered the Parlor Car. 

Pom Pom looked at her in confusion. "Calyste? Are you okay?"

"No! Where's Mr Yang?" Calyste shook her head immediately, basically frightening the Conductor. 

Welt looked over at the mention of his name. "Are Himeko and the others fighting the Doomsday Beast?"

"Yeah. And I felt the gaze of an Aeon. The Destruction, to be specific." Calyste nodded as she caught her breath. 

Please believe me. I'm having trouble believing that Nanook would randomly show up, especially as someone who's played through the story. But I'm like 99% sure that's the feeling of being gazed upon by an Aeon that wants to kill you. 

But why??? What did I even do to him? 

When Phainon fought him, Nanook just took it like a boss and didn't even give a shit!

Calyste inwardly cursed her nonsensical situation.

"The Destruction?" Welt cast his gaze out the window and fell silent before picking up his cane. "I will provide assistance. It is up to you whether you can join the fight."

Does that mean you believe me? Calyste silently breathed a sigh of relief before nodding. "I'll be there in a moment."

Pom Pom watched in worry as Calyste rushed to her room and closed the door. 

"I pray that there will be no Error in my wishes!" Calyste clasped her hands over the mirror shards and entered the Memoria Error. 

Frantically searching for the glowing star that corresponded to Herta, Calyste cupped her hands around it before realising that she didn't know what she was doing. 

Do I have to bring her here just to tell her to go back to her space station? That seems a little extravagant...especially for a god-like being. 

Tch, I'm not a real god anyway. Time is of the essence!

Calyste let go of the star and watched as it sank into the rippling ground. 

The starry waters converged to form Miss Genius's figure. 

"Miss Veil? I thought the meeting was once a week?" Herta asked, completely unperturbed. 

Before Herta had arrived, Calyste had recreated the table and seats from before. 

Not bothering to exude a more aloof posture, Calyste simply had one leg crossed over the other and her hands resting in her lap. 

"Yes, that will be once a week. This is a private message to you, Miss Genius, to return instantly to your Space Station." Calyste said calmly despite feeling insanely nervous.

"Why?" Herta inquired, not worried in the slightest about offending a "god". 

"You'll see." Calyste smiled before severing the connection. 

Please, Madam Herta, go there yourself before your poor storage container blows up. 

Calyste exited the Memoria Error and rushed out of the train. 

Swallowing the cry that built up in her throat as she felt the immense pressure again, she ran towards where Himeko, Dan Heng, March, and Stelle were attacking the Doomsday Beast. 

Welt, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen. 

Is he investigating whether a Lord Ravanger really is around? Calyste swallowed thickly as she threw out a mirror shard and jumped through the reflection. 

•••

Herta blinked as the beautiful exospace disappeared from her vision. She had just received Himeko's letter informing her that the Express had brought over an item within her when she was randomly contacted by Miss Veil.

"How curious...someone like 'her' is personally telling me to return to the space station?" Herta muttered to herself as she dismissed the letter from Himeko and turned to Fourth Mirror. "I was intending to go after I finished fixing this bug, but it seems like we'll have to take a trip back to the space station, Fourth Mirror."

"Ah? Why? Do you not trust the Astral Express to handle some petty invaders? Of course, nothing can compare to the defense systems you set up!" Fourth Mirror praised. 

Herta sighed as she stood up and dusted off her dress. "Those defense systems are something I installed last minute. They're not gonna last a second against something...Aeon-level."

"Aeon-level? What do you mean by that, Madam Herta?" Fourth Mirror asked out of curiosity. 

Herta recalled the curt message she received from Miss Veil. Although 'her' tone was calm, she didn't look relaxed at all. 

"Who knows. We'll see what is stirring up trouble on my turf that can agitate a deity." Herta said with a smile. 

•••

March saw the familiar burst of crystalline light as the Doomsday Beast collided with what seemed to be millions of mirror shards. 

"Caly!" March's eyes lit up as Calyste landed beside her. 

Calyste glanced down at her hand that was bleeding after colliding with the beast. "Has that thing not gotten weaker this whole time?!"

March was about to reply when the Doomsday Beast let out an enraged roar and opened its mouth to let out a ray of condensed energy. 

The pink-haired quickly grabbed Calyste and dodged the area of effect. 

"Yeah! That thing is insanely powerful!" March sighed as she readied another arrow. 

Calyste looked at the sizzling ground with wide eyes. You know what? I'm glad combat here isn't actually turn-based. I'd be dead if I had to stand there and take it. 

"March! Calyste! Move!" Himeko suddenly called as her fingers flew over a control panel. 

"What...?" Both Calyste and March looked back up at the Doomsday Beast, only to see it charging up for a consecutive attack.

"What the fuck?! Didn't it just shoot a beam!" Calyste cursed as she scrambled to her feet, helping March up. 

She threw out a mirror towards Himeko and pulled March through the reflection. 

BOOM!

The place where the two once were exploded in a cloud of debris and sparking remnants of Antimatter energy. 

Seeing the two disoriented from their narrow escape, Dan Heng and Stelle took the opportunity to leap up and attack the beast as it began to recover.

"Dan Heng! Catch me!" Stelle yelled as she leapt up and delivered a powerful hit across the Doomsday Beast with her newly acquired bat. 

The resultant force of the collision sent her flying back down. 

Dan Heng swiftly caught her and arched his back to throw his polearm at it. 

At the same time, March had drawn her bowstring. The two attacked simultaneously, creating an explosion of green and blue at the monster's chest. 

Not even a second after, a flaming laser descended from above by Himeko. 

Seeing that there would be a short period without the Doomsday Beast soaking up their attacks, Calyste threw a shard at it and began attacking it through the reflection. 

She didn't dare attempt dragging something like this into the Memoria Error and fighting it alone, even with the help of the unique space. 

Especially not when she was sweating buckets of cold sweat merely being in the presence of it and its creator. 

"Caly! Attack that glowing arm of its with me!" March called. 

Calyste ceased her attacks and traced March's gaze to its glowing claws. 

Damn, only if I fought this weekly boss a little more than I would actually remember what it does. 

Calyste nodded as she placed a mirror before her that reflected the glowing claw and mimicked how March drew back her bow, but with no bow and simply an arrow made entirely of crystalline shards. 

Seeing the two coordinating their attack, Dan Heng, Stelle, and Himeko decided to do a last-ditch effort as well. 

Dan Heng's eyes glowed ever so slightly while Stelle's bat lit up with a golden glow. Himeko had long readied multiple drones as well as prepared her orbital cannon for another strike. 

March nodded her head slightly and released her arrow. 

The rest of them did the same with their respective attacks, causing the beast to convulse upon being attacked and let out a blood-curdling screech. 

Its body armour was badly damaged, with golden blood flowing from it and dissipating as it touched the air. 

Calyste's pupils constricted as she saw it gather energy once more at its mouth. 

Stelle spotted it too and immediately looked at March, who was situated closest to it. 

"March!" Dan Heng and Stelle yelled simultaneously, yet Stelle was the one to run forward. 

Calyste's blood ran cold as she felt another presence start to emerge. 

Time seemed to slow as Stelle shielded the blast for March, the Stellaron in her reacting violently. 

Amidst Stelle's pained yells, Calyste's eyes were locked to the beast's head. 

A thin crack emerged from it, glowing with an eerie golden light. 

No one dared to approach as the power of the Stellaron pulsated around Stelle. 

Yet as the Doomsday Beast finished its attack and began to disintegrate, the power of the Stellaron continued to grow. 

"Stay calm." 

The members of the Astral Express all looked up as they saw Welt Yang appear, a gentle flick of his cane immediately quelling the raging Stellaron. 

March rushed forward and caught Stelle before she could fall, her eyes teary. 

"Mr Yang! Is she...?" March looked up in worry. 

Welt landed gently, pushing his glasses up as he gave her a short nod. "She's okay now."

However, he did not relax and instead turned his attention to the dying corpse of the monster. 

"We have an even greater matter to attend to."

At this instance, the crack at the Doomsday Beast exploded, and a pale hand warped with galactic rings emerged. 

The body of the Doomsday Beast split apart as a woman dressed in flowing white stepped through. Her long hair flowed in waves. Everything about her was a blinding white except for the dark halo that shrouded her eyes. 

"Celenova..." The name caught in Calyste's throat as she felt an even stronger killing intent directed at her. 

Himeko took a step back, her eyes narrowing. "There really was a Lord Ravanger here."

Welt's cane glowed with a faint purple as he tapped it against the ground. 

Ha...isn't she one of the worst Lord Ravangers to run into? 

Does this mean her fleet is here as well?

Or is this just one of her avatars that personally came?

Calyste's thoughts raced as she averted her gaze. I hope Herta comes soon...

Celenova's fair face scanned the Express Crew and the unconscious Stelle before a small smile tugged at her lips as she held a finger in the direction of Calyste. 

"Little one. Come here."

"What?" Calyste's eyes widened as she felt a force drag her forward. 

"Calyste!" Welt attempted to catch her, only for Calyste's body to disintegrate before converging before Celenova. 

"That Doomsday Beast was only a medium through which Celenova could get close to the Space Station," Welt concluded grimly as he held up his cane. A dark gravity well had already begun to converge at the handle. 

March watched in horror as Calyste was forcefully brought over to the Lord Ravanger. "Mr Yang? Himeko? What do we do?!"

"Stay back," Welt ordered as he stepped forward, the black hole burgeoning as he walked forward. 

Blood seeped from Calyste's eyes as she struggled against Celenova and the Aeon that was watching behind her. 

"What do you want!" Calyste screamed as she struggled to grab onto her mirror shards. 

Celenova's expression was serene as she held open her hand, a raging golden sphere converging within her palm. A Stellaron. 

Calyste's eyes widened as she saw the glowing mass known as the Cancer of Worlds. 

"No!" Calyste screeched as she managed to throw a mirror and drew back her arm to throw a punch.

Celenova long foresaw the weak attack and dropped Calyste, letting the girl fall through a wormhole and back into her control.

The Legion wants to make me into a pawn of the Destruction? But WHY????

The FUCK did I do??????

Calyste clasped her hands together, instantly reciting the prayer. 

Please, Memoria Error, don't fail me now!

Calyste felt the familiar tug despite still being in the grasp of the Destruction Emanator.

Not even a second passed, and her surroundings changed to the beautiful waters of the unique space she named the Memoria Error. 

"It worked!" Calyste looked around in happiness. She didn't will Celenova to be brought inside and was rather hoping that by entering the space she could escape Celenova's control. 

Calyste was about to celebrate when the entire place shook. The stone spires holding up the floating ocean trembled; small bits of rock fell from their structures as cracks travelled through them. 

Oh shit. That can't be good...

At a loss for what to do and without a clue to what the space could actually do and withstand, Calyste conjured her mirror shards and laid them out before her. 

I can do anything here...I can do anything...Calyste repeated to herself as she swiped a hand across one of the reflective surfaces. 

My talents lie in being able to use a mirror as a medium to traverse a space and attack. 

The Memoria Error is currently acting as a space between realities. I'm sure there's a way for me to attack from inside. My powers here seemed to be elevated too, since I'm not constrained by laws of physics here...

The image on the mirror rippled before settling on a third perspective of Celenova, who was now in a battle with Welt Yang. 

The other members of the Express were dealing with the army under Celenova's command that had shown up. But it was clear that at this rate, the Legion would overwhelm the Express and the space station. 

Calyste's unconscious body was still floating by Celenova as she and Welt traded blows, both of them seemingly constrained in the scope of what they could do. 

"Well, don't I look fucking pathetic there," Calyste muttered as she conjured a large blade out of the shards in her hand. "And let's hope this fucking works."

Calyste placed the tip of the blade against the mirror showing Celenova. 

With a small prayer of hope to every deity she could think of, Calyste plunged the blade through the mirror. 

Welt sensed an irregularity in the spacetime around them and instinctively dodged as a massive rift opened and a crystalline blade, of equal size, shot out and impaled Celenova. 

Yet the Lord Ravanger did not die. 

Welt didn't pursue Celenova, who was forcibly flung off the railway and instantly went to retrieve Calyste's body. 

Meanwhile, Calyste had shoved the entire sword through, but after seeing how Celenova wasn't injured in the slightest, she quickly abandoned that plan. 

"How do you kill a Lord Ravanger?" Calyste muttered before seeing a few points of light open up around Celenova, who was in the act of demolishing the blade that had stabbed into her. 

"Miss Genius!" Calyste's eyes lit up as she recognised the multiple mirrors that had appeared around the Lord Ravanger. 

Feeling more at ease now that an Emanator of Erudition had finally joined the fight that was occurring at her own property, Calyste didn't hesitate to recite the prayer once more and return to the real world. 

She woke back up in Welt's arms, being rushed back into the Express. 

But instead of a peaceful return like she had hoped, Calyste was met with a splitting headache. Blood flowed from her eyes once more as her veins seemed to be on fire. 

Hearing a sudden scream of pain from the girl he was carrying, Welt looked down, his expression stern. 

"Stay calm. Celenova forced a large amount of the Destruction's path energy into you. Any agitation will cause you to mutate and become consumed with antimatter." Welt said as he rushed into the Express. 

Calyste had barely registered what he said before fainting for real this time.