[Honkai: Star Rail] A Journey Among the Stars

Note: An ensemble anthology

[Trailblaze] Dan Heng x Nameless

The stars are vast, and the universe is boundless.

In this age of interstellar travel, it is incredibly difficult for short-lived species to visit every place they want to see in a life of less than a century.

But after truly setting out on his travels, Fu Yuanjue came to believe that this was not the hardest part.

The hardest part was how to spend his brief life turning it into love, and fill the future of a Long-Life Species with it.

[Preservation] Aventurine x Preservation Emanator

“Devote everything to the Amber Lord.” This was the declaration made at the very birth of the Interastral Peace Corporation.

Jeremiah, who had grown up surrounded by the toxic influence of capitalists, thought it was all bullshit.

Those capitalists cared about nothing but profit. There wasn't a shred of “Preservation” in them. If it were up to him, the lot of them should be strung up from lampposts.

He grew up as an “oddity,” with “capital” constantly wearing away at his principles, until he met the last Tsygonian in the cosmos.

Jeremiah decided that the world still needed “Preservation.”

For example, to protect this little fellow, who was doing his best to cling to life.

[The Hunt] Argenti x Galaxy Rangers

The Knights of Beauty were among Idrila's many followers, a group that revered classical beauty above all else. They rode their steeds through the cosmos, singing songs and spreading the name of Idrila's beauty far and wide.

But Idrila fell, and some stubborn knights continued to follow in Her footsteps across the cosmos.

The Galaxy Rangers were a vigilante group that formed spontaneously, following “the Hunt” and believing in “Lan.” They championed Lan's use of force to combat force, praised Lan's decisiveness in striking down enemies, and believed that goodness and justice in the universe had to be upheld through individual action.

But after making an enemy of “Dr. Primitive,” member #64 of the Genius Society, they gradually faded from sight across the cosmos.

In the vast universe, a Knight of Beauty and a Galaxy Ranger traveled together.

“Swear first that you acknowledge ‘the beauty of the Goddess of Beauty, Idrila, is unrivaled beneath the heavens.’”

“Keep your distance! You're way too close to that bug. If I hit you, that's your problem.”

Vilit, an innocent IPC employee in need of rescue: Can't you get me out of here first, and talk later? T_T

[Abundance] Jing Yuan x Emanator of Abundance

“The Hunt” has always pursued “the Abundance” throughout the cosmos, and the Xianzhou, blessed by “the Hunt,” is no exception.

The Xianzhou Alliance hunts down the abominations of Abundance, but there are always a few... exceptions.

For example, this Emanator of Abundance: the most devout follower of the Abundance, who fights those Denizens of Abundance who go around robbing people even harder than the Hunt does, and whose hobbies include traveling the cosmos to heal the sick and help civilizations prosper.

As the Masked Fools would put it: This is just too much fun.

As Jingzhe herself would put it: Those "Xianzhou expletives" who only tarnish the Aeon's reputation don't count as followers of the Abundance! Those "Xianzhou expletives" should hurry up and report to IX!

So when Jingzhe heard that the Xianzhou had been badly weakened after an ambush by a colleague she did not want to acknowledge, she went to the Xianzhou Luofu with a guilty conscience. She planned to work hard for them, unpaid, for several hundred years, helping them rebuild and restore production, and to delay the onset of Mara-Struck while she was at it.

The Xianzhou Alliance, having just fought a death match against an Emanator of Abundance: feeling conflicted.jpg

Though they had mixed feelings, there was no denying that she was incredibly useful. Jing Yuan, the newly appointed general of the Luofu, sighed as he read the report from a certain Emanator of Abundance, who had just submitted a request to stay on the Xianzhou for a hundred years, and approved it.

That said, the Luofu really was short on people right now. If even an Emanator from the opposing side was useful, then so be it. At worst, this Hunt Emanator would just have to spend more time keeping an eye on her!

[The Permanence] Sunday x Exiled Prisoner

Tiamus had long since forgotten how long he had been exiled. He simply woke up one day to find that the people in charge of this place had changed: the Interastral Peace Corporation, which served the Preservation, had been replaced by the Family, which belonged to the Harmony.

Perhaps it was the Harmony's tolerance, or perhaps the Family feared his power. Either way, they did not drive him out, and both sides simply acted as if the other did not exist.

Until one day, the current head of the Family came to find him.

He held out a hand and invited him to help protect this world, where he had stayed for so long that he no longer knew how much time had passed. Tiamus knew full well that it was a sweet trap.

Perhaps it was the allure of the Harmony. Perhaps he had been alone for too long. Without much hesitation, he took that hand.

Even if it was a trap, he would gladly fall into it.

[The Hunt] Blade x Artisanship Commission Artisan

The contest for the title of “Master Craftsman” was the first time Shaoguang had ever lost.

While he was still reeling, the Xianzhou Alliance issued an order assigning him to take charge of the Artisanship Commission.

Shaoguang was completely bewildered, but when he heard the explanation, he couldn't stop himself from smacking the messenger in the face with the order.

A loss was a loss. He could accept that. But to lose the title and then be handed real authority... Wasn't that an insult?

In a fit of anger, Shaoguang applied to leave the Xianzhou Alliance and travel to other star systems in search of a breakthrough in his craft. On his journey, he only ever heard merchants mention the name of the High-Cloud Quintet.

By the time Shaoguang had forgotten how long he had been traveling, he met “Yingxing” in a remote corner of the universe.

Looking at the man whose white hair had turned black, Shaoguang couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong. He simply shouted from a distance, “Yingxing! I've come to get my revenge! Come on, spar with me!”

Yingxing, or rather Blade, responded by swinging his Shard Sword at him with a fierce, whirling flourish.

“Whoa, what the heck! Yingxing, you brat, that's dirty! Who said I wanted to spar for real? Aaaaaah!”

[Elation] Gepard x A Hilarious Stranger Who Fell from the Sky

As soon as he got back to the “Tavern,” Ash Ford heard that his (self-proclaimed) best friend had gone to a planet on the brink of destruction due to a Stellaron, looking for some fun. With nothing better to do, Ash decided to go see how his friend was getting on.

Though halfway there, an unexpectedly fierce blizzard swept through and tore his spaceship apart in midair.

And then he came falling from the sky, straight into someone's arms.

He was caught by a strong body that radiated warmth and was brimming with youthful vigor.

He looked up and his eyes lit up. What a perfect blond-haired, blue-eyed hunk!

Ash, Masked Fool, never scams anyone for money, only for their heart, ex-boyfriends scattered across the cosmos, universe-famous for changing boyfriends more often than clothes, figured he was in love again.

And he'd just gotten over a long relationship (one week). Wasn't this very scene a gift just for him?

By Aha, God of Elation, he had never been wrong to put his faith in you!

Aha, out in the universe looking for fun, sensed something: Fun.

Ash, finding new fun and tagging the God of Elation in his mind: Fun.

Gepard: ???

[Remembrance] Screwllum x Memokeeper

The Memokeepers of the Garden of Recollection dedicate themselves to preserving and sharing memories. They give up their physical bodies and become messengers of “Memory,” traveling through the universe as memes to seek out the most precious memories among the stars for Fuli.

That is the official introduction to the Garden of Recollection.

Memokeepers are devoted to recording things, but among those who roam the universe, there are always a few exceptions who would rather slack off.

For example...

“Question: Of all the days in the 367 years since we met, which day was the most memorable for this individual known as ‘Hyacinth’?”

The day they met? The day they confessed their feelings to each other?

No. For Hyacinth, neither of those was the answer.

It was...

“Every day.”

Memokeepers wander through the river of time. And, just as the language of the hyacinth flower foretells, he is destined to “remember forever.”

He used himself as a book to record every day. Now, it is time to write the final chapter.

Its title: The Mechanical King.

[Elation] Sampo x Mournful Actor

As a Mournful Actor who lived a very restrained life, Dolores always thought his life would stay that way.

Until one day, a man knocked on the door of his heart and brought him an experience of elation unlike anything he had ever felt since birth.

And then he stole his mask.

Although “Elation” quickly gave him a replacement, Dolores still couldn't stop himself from crying in his room for a long time.

Afterward, he came to a conclusion: Not a single follower of “Elation” is any good!

Dolores, who had never faced much hardship growing up, had only just managed to get over that failed relationship after a long time, when the man came back!

Dolores thought the man had turned over a new leaf. Who could have guessed that he would bring someone else along to steal his mask again?

Dolores wanted to cry again, but he did his best to hold it in.

Then he went back to his room and saw dozens of new masks piled up on his bed.

Dolores tried and tried to hold it in, but in the end he let out a loud sob and roared from the depths of his soul:

Not a single one of you, from top to bottom, who follows “Elation” is any good!

[The Hunt] Jiaoqiu x Dragonkin

This time, the Yaoguang Xianzhou returned from a great victory with a Vidyadhara.

That was a rare occurrence. Everyone knew the Vidyadhara guarded their children like the apple of their eye. It was truly unusual for one to end up outside their community, especially one capable of transforming into a dragon.

Even more surprising, the little dragon they had found was not handed over to the Vidyadhara to raise. After discussions with all parties, the child was ultimately entrusted to Jiaoqiu, the physician who had already withdrawn from the world to live in seclusion.

Talk about sitting at home and having a child fall from the sky.

Jiaoqiu really wanted to object. The Yaoguang crowd, with their heads full of fighting, couldn't handle it. Wouldn't the Vidyadhara of the Luofu be a better fit?

But after looking after the little one for two days, he realized that raising this tiny dragon wasn't such a bad idea after all. The little thing wasn't even as tall as his waist, yet had already set foot on the Path of the Hunt and spent every day thinking about running off to fight. Its martial spirit was remarkably strong.

[Abundance] Moze x Holy Child

His tears can heal pain.

His blood can bring the dead back to life.

This is a blessing.

This is a curse.

His followers lifted him high and revered him as their holy child, hoping he would grant them eternal life.

They took his blood and forced him to live on, telling him that this was the only way those people could survive.

Bloodletting, death, resurrection, recovery, healing. The cycle repeated for countless years, until the boy was brought before him.

“Are you my new guard?”

Are you my new keeper?

“I have to protect my family.”

“You're family too.”

Theme: Get men to fall for you!