Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

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The castle's spire was torn apart by the raging hurricane, leaving its entire structure precariously unstable.

Fortunately, under Venti's careful control, disasters such as breached dams were narrowly avoided. Those in the castle's middle levels only felt the tremors, akin to the heavens trembling and the earth shaking.

It was as though the sky was on the verge of collapse—yet it held, balanced on a knife's edge.

This made the rescue efforts of Dan Heng, March 7th, and the elf archer remarkably smooth.

Those who had survived the torment of the goblins up to this point owed their survival not just to sheer luck but to their unyielding will to live.

When the infiltrators slew the guards of the "food warehouse," the prisoners inside seized the opportunity to escape. Many even reclaimed their stolen gear and avenged their devoured comrades.

Having moved from the castle to a relatively safer location, everyone could see the towering hurricane that seemed to connect the heavens and earth gradually dissipating.

The elf archer, though exhilarated, turned to comfort the survivors, who were understandably shaken by the apocalyptic sight.

"That miracle was performed by our elven princess… Oh, no, wait. Her power isn't granted by the gods—it's magic, right?"

As she spoke, she corrected herself and said with conviction:

"In any case, it was an extraordinarily powerful spell!"

"Is that really something humans—or even elves—can achieve?"

Among the survivors, a few magic users wore bitter expressions, as though their understanding of the world had been shattered.

At the academy of sages where they studied, nothing remotely close to this kind of power was ever taught. Though magic was undoubtedly strong, modern spellcraft had devolved into little more than "parlor tricks" compared to the hyper-advanced divine magic of ancient times.

To wield such overwhelming magic would require a level of talent blessed by the world itself.

And those legendary figures, capable of wielding such gifts, only ever appeared in heroic tales.

Perhaps, they thought, the very reason they had been allowed to survive was to witness the birth of this legend.

The motives of the gods of fate were unknowable. Even when they bestowed blessings upon mortals, they rarely showed remorse for the results of their divine dice rolls or sought to overturn them.

For that would break the rules of their game.

Even now, though aware of the sudden emergence of a "newborn god" in the world, they could do nothing.

All they could do was issue new decrees, hoping to recruit the entity to their faction and ensure that their ancient gameboard endured for countless more eons.

Yet, among these gods, some had grown weary of the endless dice rolls and knew the time for change had arrived.

They were preparing for both eventualities: to address the calamity brewing on the horizon, and to respond to the rise of a new, immensely powerful successor.

---

Meanwhile, in this rare moment when Venti unleashed his full power, he was already feeling apprehensive about dealing with the aftermath.

Though he had obliterated the goblins into particles smaller than atoms in a fit of rage, the overwhelming spectacle couldn't be concealed.

It was unlikely that anyone in this entire forest-bordering region had missed it.

So how was he supposed to explain it?

Should he claim an unexpected strong enemy appeared in the castle?

Or perhaps that he had been divinely aided by a higher power?

No, there was no need for such excuses.

Ultimately, he had nothing to regret or hesitate about.

What he had done was not wrong.

Witnessing such tragedy, if he could still act purely based on self-interest, he would have to seriously question whether he was still "Venti" and not just someone whose mind had been consumed by the Stellaron.

If questioned later, he'd simply say he had swatted a mosquito with a bit too much force.

Surely, anyone with common sense would drop the subject quickly.

Half-convincing himself with this reasoning, Venti descended, returning to the youthful form of Nahida.

The outburst had released much of his pent-up frustration, leaving him ready to play the final act without issue.

Seeing her no longer tense with a stern expression, Stelle commented knowingly, "For the next expedition, you should stick to your usual self."

"Huh? Are you already tired of me?"

Startled by this remark, the elf princess momentarily abandoned her graceful, intellectual tone.

Even her choice of words became oddly casual—

In response, the gray-haired Trailblazer simply shook her head, looking away bashfully.

"No, I like it a lot. But it feels better when Venti is just… Venti."

Her softened gaze returned to the elf princess, carrying a faint gentleness.

"No matter how you change, being able to see that it's still you makes me happy."

"Are you worried I'll never change back?"

Their conversation carried a playful tone, flowing effortlessly between the two.

"Not exactly. Knowing it's you takes away those kinds of dramatic thoughts. But I do worry you might be putting too much pressure on yourself. Venti should be freer—shouldn't adventures be more carefree?"

Stelle knew it wasn't entirely fair to define Venti this way. She understood that travels wouldn't always be smooth, free from hardships or misfortune.

But if it were possible, she wished that today's events would never repeat.

Perhaps understanding her thoughts, the elf princess offered a faint smile.

For the first time, she felt truly grateful for embarking on this journey.

"In that case, how about this? Shall we sleep together tonight? I'll play you a nocturne as your reward for those kind words!"

With a mysterious blush tinting her cheeks, Nahida extended her invitation.

However, a vague sense of danger prompted Stelle to suppress her urge to immediately accept and instead politely declined.

"We can save that for when we're back on the train."

"Once we're back, it'll be too late for you to become an adult."

"What?"

"Hmm~ What do you think I mean? You'll find out when we return."

Leaving this ambiguous remark, Nahida took Stelle by the hand, leading her back toward their companions.

---

Golden Forest

Under the protection of the World Tree, this was the sacred origin of the elves, a place of solemnity where their unique laws were upheld.

The elven queen sat upon her throne, opening her eyes as though she could see everything that had unfolded at the distant border.

Every tree, every leaf, served as extensions of her gaze.

From the moment her successor embarked on the journey to the Forest of Kings, she had been watching.

It was both a trial and a confirmation.

In a typical mortal kingdom, discovering that the successor was not of the same race as the ruler would immediately disqualify them from inheritance.

But the elven queen thought differently. After all, elves were not always elves.

For them, the key to succession lay not with her, the queen, but with the "Tree."

Once the World Tree bestowed its blessing, no one in the world could replace the chosen individual.

Thus, the queen cared more about the successor's character—did they enjoy sweets? Did they hold convictions? Did they have cherished companions?

These precious qualities, preserved in memory, could withstand the erosion of time. They were indispensable.

Fortunately, this child had such invaluable companions and experiences, clearing the final hurdle to the throne.

The queen issued a decree to the Elven Council, ordering a procession to welcome the princess immediately.

She then closed her eyes once more, returning to the dreamlike communion with the Tree.

The grand hall fell into silence, with only the golden leaves' radiant glow flickering softly.

The queen, too, awaited the destined one's arrival.

---

Nahida was seated at the place of honor, surrounded by the enthusiastic forestfolk. It had been ages since an event of such magnitude had graced their lives.

Whether it was the long-prepared wedding of the forestfolk chieftain and the forest princess, or the serendipitous resolution of an apocalyptic crisis by the princess uncovering an ancient seal—both were monumental.

The former had been meticulously planned, while the latter came as an unexpected coincidence.

The castle's foundation bore an ancient teleportation array, sealing a portal that led directly to the depths of hell.

Near-divine magicians of old had long pursued teleportation magic, convinced that the four known worlds were but a fraction of the vast, boundless realms awaiting discovery.

However, they made a grave error.

They linked their teleportation gate to a place that should never have been connected—hell itself.

Despite their efforts to seal the gate and fortify it with a fortress, the portal was destined to open one day.

On the predicted year, on the foretold date—

And then Nahida, searching for a reason to intervene, stumbled across it.

It was almost pitiable: the demonic creatures and rock-eating insect swarms emerging from the portal barely had time to revel in their arrival to the higher plane.

Before they were annihilated by Nahida, who used the incident as a pretext to "unleash her hidden powers."

If not for the rules governing the world's operations, she might have stormed hell itself and exterminated every so-called demon god she could find.

Regardless, with the forestfolk vouching for her and eyewitnesses corroborating the events, her reputation wouldn't be reduced to "the one who used forbidden magic on goblins."

Now, mindful of appearances, Nahida sipped at the forestfolk's fruit wine in small, deliberate gulps, joining her companions in soaking up the festive atmosphere.

---

"Now, let the couple declare their vows."

The elder of the forestfolk, an aged yet vibrant figure, respectfully bowed toward the head seat.

Fireflies carrying phosphorescent light danced in the air as forestfolk and Trailblazers gathered in the grand hall.

Seated on the ground, they used leaves as plates, laden with delicacies and fruit. Giant fruits served as their cups for the wine.

Nahida sat atop a prominent tree root that jutted out from the ground, giving her a clear view of all the guests. She swung her pale, slender legs playfully.

The branches were adorned with shimmering silk and vibrant flowers, while the bride and groom, decorated with butterfly and dragonfly wings, made their entrance.

The two exchanged shy glances and gently held hands.

"Usamia Akito Otok-Lii Nomodin Nei Aii-Ino Yulen Ahe O-Kishi Onokashi Satawa!"

"Usamia Akito Otok-Oshiro Yui Nauto-Iso Tohoto O-Kihe Onokashi Satawa."

The groom, wearing a gleaming helmet, spoke confidently, while the forest princess, donning a crown of flowers, hid her flushed cheeks behind her hand.

Their vows, sung like a melody, resonated with the great tree that spread its branches in response.

The rustling leaves seemed to carry the laughter of fairies, as a soft, lilting song filled the air.

The crowd blessed the couple, wishing them happiness in their union.

"Can you hear the blessings of the forest?" the officiant asked.

The couple nodded joyfully, turning their gaze to Nahida, seated on the throne.

"Then, may the princess bestow her blessing."

"May your union be eternal, and may you never quarrel over trivial matters," Nahida declared.

With her words, the ceremony moved into its final stage.

"Now, let the couple present their reply."

The officiant handed a grand bow and an arrow to Nahida, who touched them lightly before passing them to the couple.

The groom, holding the bow, and the bride, clutching the arrow, stood close, their posture reminiscent of an embrace.

Together, they nocked the arrow and pulled the string tight, aiming at the sky.

Above them, twin moons and countless stars glimmered romantically in the night.

If one looked closely, the canopy of leaves forming the hall's roof parted to create a natural skylight.

If the stars were the eyes of the heavens, then surely no place in the world held as many blessings as this moment.

The arrow shot forth, its path accompanied by a harp-like resonance from the bowstring.

The budding arrow streaked through the sky like a reverse shooting star, vanishing into the distance.

Wherever it landed, it was believed, a new tree would sprout and thrive, becoming part of the ever-expanding forest.

"With this, the vow is sealed!"

The officiant proclaimed loudly, affirming that the marriage had been recognized and blessed by the forestfolk, the forest itself, and even the gods.

"This night shall be remembered as the moonlit night when a rainbow graced the heavens."

With those words, the crowd erupted into applause.

March 7th, who had been feeling down earlier, now joined the forestfolk's dancing with newfound vigor.

Renowned for their music and dance, the forestfolk filled the hall with the melodies of their harps and the rhythm of their drums, transforming it into a grand stage.

Their long lives necessitated abundant celebrations to stave off monotony. Even those with seasoned spirits and tranquil hearts found joy in commemorating countless occasions.

A young forestfolk wedding was already reason enough to celebrate, but the princess's incredible feat of heroism gave everyone cause for days of revelry.

Even Dan Heng, usually reserved, found himself surrounded by shy but newly emboldened forestfolk maidens, spurred by the festive atmosphere and talk of betrothals.

They bombarded him with questions: "What's your type?" "Would you consider living here permanently?" "Does anyone in your group plan to marry soon?"

If not for March 7th coming to his rescue, he might have found himself even more flustered.

Meanwhile, Stelle busied herself with eating and drinking, brushing off questions about her adventures and hobbies with curt replies.

Though she came across as indifferent, her aloof demeanor unexpectedly charmed many.

By the end of the night, people were bringing her fresh delicacies unprompted.

As for Nahida, to avoid being entangled with the obliviously self-absorbed elf archer, she excused herself and stepped outside for some air.

It was there, under the moonlight, that she saw Mimiya quietly nursing her sorrows.

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Greetings, esteemed Readers,

Your steadfast support throughout this journey has been as constant as the tides and as enduring as stone. In the spirit of gratitude, I am pleased to announce the release of bonus chapters, a reflection of your unwavering dedication and enthusiasm.

Should you wish to continue fortifying the foundation of these tales, WiseTL's efforts can be supported here:

[patreon.com/WiseTL].

Even the humblest contribution becomes part of an enduring legacy, a cornerstone for tales yet to unfold.

With utmost sincerity,

— Zhongli