The Astral Express.
Inside the observation carriage, the crew was in the midst of a route briefing.
"Before warp begins, this conductor will announce it to everyone, pa!" Pom-Pom declared, bringing the meeting to a neat conclusion.
"So now we just wait for the jump, right?"
"Penacony… the Planet of Festivities?"
"Sounds like it might actually be fun."
Steluna walked over to the sofa and sat down, quietly awaiting the incoming warp, a faint spark of anticipation stirring within her at the thought of their next destination.
[Ding! Divine Plot Playback Live Room successfully activated!] [Searching for broadcast content…] [Please wait patiently!]
Out of nowhere, a strange and unfamiliar voice echoed directly inside Steluna's mind.
"What the—?"
"March, were you just talking?" she asked, turning in confusion toward the girl beside her.
"Huh? No?" March 7th blinked. "I've been perfectly quiet this whole time, thank you very much. You must've imagined it."
"Really…?" Steluna frowned. "Maybe it's just auditory hallucinations?"
"Ugh, I knew I shouldn't have stayed up last night!"
"This has to be what happens when you overdo it…"
After a moment's thought, she decided the culprit was probably exhaustion. Maybe she should ask Bailu for a tonic later—something to properly replenish her strength.
"Weak? You?" March snorted. "With that body of yours? Not a chance."
After all, Steluna was practically a walking Stellaron miracle — her constitution alone left ordinary people miles behind. Calling her 'frail' was almost comedic.
"True enough," Steluna chuckled. "My one redeeming quality is probably this indestructible, eat-anything, never-gets-sick body."
[Ding! Playback source successfully located!] [Broadcast will begin in thirty minutes!] [All viewers, please prepare accordingly.]
The voice returned once more.
This time, before Steluna could speak, March beat her to it.
"Steluna, you're not gonna believe this… I just heard a voice talking inside my head!"
Her face had gone pale.
"I believe you," Steluna replied quietly. "Because I heard it too."
"Wha—?!"
"What is going on?"
"Did something creepy sneak onto the train?!"
Recent horror films flashed through March's mind, and her scalp instantly began to prickle.
"Um… Steluna, March… did you two hear something strange just now?" Welt approached, his expression puzzled.
"Yang, you heard it too?! Then Himeko and Dan Heng—"
"Yes," Himeko said calmly, exchanging a glance with Dan Heng. "We heard it as well."
"What?! I thought this conductor was the only one hallucinating, pa!" Pom-Pom exclaimed upon entering the hall, having overheard their conversation.
...
Teyvat, Sumeru.
Lumine had been in Sumeru for quite some time now. After everything she and Paimon had endured, they were currently deliberating how to rescue the Lesser Lord Kusanali.
"Hmm?" Lumine glanced sideways. "Paimon, did you hear that too?"
Inside the quiet room, Paimon—half-asleep—mumbled groggily, "A voice…? Yeah… something was talking in my head… but isn't this just a dream?"
"No." Lumine's expression sharpened. "This isn't a dream. I definitely heard something."
"Could it be Nahida… or…"
"Scaramouche?!"
"S-Scaramouche?!" Paimon shot upright in panic. "He's back again?! Where?! What now?! Waaah, that's scary!"
Their past encounters had left deep impressions. Just hearing his name made her tense all over.
"Calm down, Paimon. Scaramouche wouldn't pull something this bizarre," Lumine soothed. "It might be a message from Nahida instead."
"According to that voice, if we wait another ten minutes, we'll find out more."
"Then let's wait," she concluded calmly.
...
Within the Sanctuary of Surasthana, the imprisoned Nahida heard it too.
"Divine Plot Playback Live Room…?" she murmured. "That's a term I've never encountered before."
"What exactly could this be?"
The young Goddess of Wisdom knit her brows in quiet contemplation. If even she was unaware of its origin, then this phenomenon was undoubtedly extraordinary.
....
Liyue, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Consultant, did you hear something strange in your head just now?" Hu Tao asked, massaging her temple uneasily.
"Indeed, Director Hu," Zhongli replied, setting down his birdcage with a composed nod.
"Wait, what?! In broad daylight? Did we just run into a ghost?!" Hu Tao gasped. "What kind of spirit would dare mess with Wangsheng Hall? Not afraid I'll cremate it on the spot?"
"Or… is it some ancient, high-level ghost? If that's the case, things could get tricky…"
Lost in thought, she began pacing around, already plotting ways to capture this so-called spectral intruder.
"A ghost?" Zhongli sighed softly. "I fear it is not so simple."
....
Windrise, Mondstadt.
"Has the direction of the wind changed, I wonder?" Venti mused, gazing up at the sky as he slowly swirled his drink.
"But where will this current lead the world…?"
That same strange voice echoed within his mind, yet even he could not discern its true nature.
"Heavenly Principles… is this your doing?"
His whisper drifted away like a fading breeze, vanishing into the open sky.
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