Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

Bath time.

After sharing dinner with the Elven Queen and returning to the royal chambers together, Nahida politely declined the Queen's invitation to bathe together. Instead, she chose to soak alone in a bath large enough to host a small party.

Now, wrapped in a towel, her hair fading from white to green tied up in a bun, a few damp strands fell loosely around her face. Her skin, glowing with youthful softness, had turned a delicate shade of pink from the warm water. Her vibrant floral eyes stared absentmindedly at a small wooden toy floating nearby.

Her room was filled with similarly whimsical items, from handmade trinkets to a handcrafted teddy bear sitting at her bedside.

"...Doesn't this make me look like a complete little girl?"

She muttered with a half-hearted sigh.

She didn't truly dislike being treated this way, but the overwhelming gentleness felt like a trap—a soft, inviting cage.

And that was not ideal, especially with so many perplexing things happening around her.

What exactly was causing the temporal disturbances?

Even Yaoshi couldn't accomplish something that defied their own destiny.

And this World Tree, rooted in the planet yet never invasive or aggressive—what could its role be?

The Elven Queen below it? Even less likely.

If it wasn't them… could it be me?

As the thought emerged, Nahida closed her eyes to examine herself internally.

The Stellaron within her was stable, showing no signs of activity. The authority of the Thousand Winds she inherited was calm and cooperative—

Even the newfound ability she had gained through Yaoshi's enlightenment, the one only tangentially related to time—

Wait, what's going on here?

Nahida stared in shock at the swirling tempest of winds that had once been a gentle breeze of opportunity and hope. It had grown into a roaring gale, nearly unrecognizable.

Worse still, at its center was a red-and-green vortex spinning faster and faster, threatening to form a storm capable of consuming the cosmos.

This isn't good.

Even Barbatos, the master of the Thousand Winds, never sought to crudely dominate or command them. She understood the winds' free spirit, preferring to guide them with the melody of her harp.

Though it wasn't impossible for her to forcibly wield the power of a tornado—after all, she had inherited that authority upon defeating the Storm God—Barbatos rarely used such power. It was simply too dangerous for anyone or anything else.

With her own strength sufficient for most situations, and with Yaoshi's guidance now further refining her abilities, Nahida was confident in her unmatched combat potential.

But now, the cause of the temporal distortions was clear.

Yaoshi's enlightenment had been a tremendous boon, granted without malice and with no intention of harm. Yet such gifts from a Stellaron Hunter could be overwhelming, even disastrous, for those too small to bear them.

For those weaker than herself, the overflowing vitality could consume their consciousness, body, and memories in time.

Though Nahida hadn't directly received Yaoshi's raw power, the enlightenment carried its abundant aura. It had encouraged her authority to grow uncontrollably, resulting in an imbalance.

The storm hadn't fully formed yet, and she could barely suppress its growth, but the disturbances it caused couldn't be undone.

More importantly, the storm wouldn't stop growing.

If it ever reached the point of becoming a curse of abundance, devouring life around it to sustain its abnormal growth…

She would have two choices:

Release the restraints and ascend to Yaoshi's level, erasing the effects entirely.

Allow it to run rampant, disrupting the universe and eventually becoming a fragmented "god of calamity."

This was bad. Really bad.

Nahida shot to her feet, considering possible solutions.

First, she had to visit the Xianzhou Alliance, whose fate was deeply intertwined with abundance. She needed to meet Lan—or at the very least, their general—to warn them and avoid misunderstandings.

But until she found a solution, she had to suppress her power as much as possible. Otherwise, she risked being hunted down by Lan.

And with her current abilities enhanced by Yaoshi's experience, she could outrun most threats—but living in constant fear and dragging the Astral Express crew into her mess wasn't an option.

If the Xianzhou Alliance deemed her a fugitive, the Trailblazers could become accomplices, derailing their journeys and their freedom.

It wasn't an ideal plan and carried significant risks, but the universe didn't revolve around her.

Losing control even for a moment could lead to catastrophe. Before Lan could arrive, entire fleets of Xianzhou ships might be wiped out.

Still, there was no avoiding the Xianzhou. No one else in the universe understood abundance better than them.

Even the remaining followers of abundance were nothing but deluded remnants, greedy for its blessings.

Gaining insight from the Xianzhou could help her construct a barrier to minimize the storm's effects.

In the process, she could also progress further on her path. Becoming an Aeon herself would naturally resolve these problems—but that was an idealistic scenario. Becoming an Aeon wasn't something that could happen overnight. She needed more time.

Thus, the Xianzhou journey was inevitable.

That said, she couldn't recklessly wield her power anymore.

If she did, the aftermath might turn any storm-ravaged area into a forest within days, causing massive ecological and social upheaval.

Her current position as the princess also complicated things. If she acted impulsively, the forestfolk would undoubtedly interpret her actions as a divine mandate to expand their dominion.

And with their inherent strength and resources, they could. The only reason they hadn't ruled the four corners of the world was due to the cyclical threat of Demon King invasions.

With a new queen—and the former queen backing her—they would become unstoppable, rivaling gods themselves.

Once Pandora's box was opened, it couldn't be closed.

Yaoshi… always causing trouble with their good intentions. Nahida sighed internally, chastising her own carelessness.

She needed a clear strategy. After some deliberation, she decided to inform the Astral Express crew.

Welt and Himeko were surprised by her revelations but showed no anger or disappointment. Instead, they comforted her.

Welt: I see. Himeko and I understand the situation. You can choose to return to the train to recuperate if needed.

Himeko: If you decide to return, I'll handle your duties and complete this Trailblazing journey in your stead.

Himeko: Once we've secured the Stellaron, we'll set off for the nearest Xianzhou ship immediately.

Nahida thought about it. There was no reason to refuse. Himeko's strength was unknown, but with a railgun capable of reducing a capital city to molten glass, any Demon King wouldn't stand a chance.

And with Welt, Dan Heng, and even the mysterious capabilities of March 7th and Stelle, it was hard to imagine any situation overwhelming the crew.

Satisfied, Nahida accepted their offer but resolved to delay her departure. Leaving abruptly on her coronation day would only spark panic among the forestfolk, who might suspect an assassination attempt.

But staying indefinitely wasn't an option either.

She needed to face the Elven Queen honestly and prepare for what lay ahead.

---

In the end…

She still ended up being dragged into bed to sleep together.

Lying next to her, the Elven Queen gazed at Nahida with pure, childlike curiosity. Tugging lightly at her sleeve, she urged softly, "Nahida, is there more? I want to hear the next tale of adventure."

How did this happen?

She had come here intending to discuss countermeasures and openly talk about her departure, yet now she found herself in this situation.

Nahida fell into deep thought.

Just a short while ago—

Dressed in pajamas, barefoot, and clutching a teddy bear, she had walked to the Queen's chambers under the watchful, affectionate eyes of the maids.

Before she could knock, the Queen herself had opened the door. Draped in silk sleepwear that revealed glimpses of her skin, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes filled with a mix of mischief and ambiguity.

"You, coming to my chambers so late… you couldn't resist, could you? You must have been tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep because you wanted to be with me."

"Please stop fantasizing to yourself again," Nahida replied, her tone as flat as an iron wall.

But for someone with skin as thick as armor, her words had no effect.

Smiling warmly, the Queen welcomed Nahida inside, effortlessly lifting her into a gentle embrace. Despite only knowing each other for two days, the bond she expressed felt far deeper than that of a mother and daughter who had spent decades together.

"Ugh… just how much do you love little girls?"

"Hmm~ About as much as someone who can't sleep without counting every star in the sky each night."

The Queen's chambers had a massive skylight that offered a clear view of the boundless night sky and twin moons. For the forestfolk, who lived in harmony with nature, sleeping under the open sky wasn't unusual.

"I don't know whether to admire you or call for someone to lock you up!"

Nahida sighed in resignation but didn't resist the Queen's affection, merely voicing her complaints like half-hearted grumbles.

The Queen cherished even these small moments of rebellion, treasuring every interaction as if they were precious, ephemeral gifts.

To her, Nahida's presence was like filling the forgotten void of thousands of years with vibrant new colors.

Knowing Nahida would inevitably leave, the Queen saw no harm in indulging her feelings a little longer.

"Hmph~"

For some reason, the Queen began to hum a soft lullaby, her mood light and content.

Nahida didn't interrupt, listening patiently until the melody faded. Then she broached the topic she had come to discuss: her plans to leave.

The Queen fell silent, but the tightening of her embrace and the faint tremble in her arms betrayed her unease.

"Do you really have to go?"

"Yes. It concerns not just me, but this world, and perhaps the entire universe."

"If it's for that, then I suppose there's no helping it."

The Queen sighed softly, stroking Nahida's hair with a loving hand.

"You're… not angry? I could have told you sooner…"

Nahida couldn't help but ask.

"Not at all. From the moment you arrived here, it's been me and everyone else causing trouble for you."

The Queen shook her head, pressing her cheek gently against Nahida's as she gazed into her confused eyes with a hint of guilt.

"I'm sorry. I haven't been a very competent mother. I don't have any way to help you with your struggles…"

"There's no need to apologize. If anything, it's my carelessness that led to this…"

Nahida couldn't stand seeing the Queen like this and tried her best to ease her guilt.

"But what kind of mother just stands by and watches her daughter suffer?"

"…Honestly, why are you so fixated on me? You know what I really am…"

"Hmm? Maybe because from the moment I first saw you, I couldn't help but care about you."

The Queen gently took Nahida's hand, speaking in a tone as soothing as a lullaby.

"And as I got to know you, I saw so many wonderful things. Like how endearing your tsundere nature is, or how soft and pinchable your cheeks are, or how you care so much about others even more than yourself. Aren't all of those things just so lovable?"

It was as though she were opening a treasure chest, sharing each cherished gem inside.

"Ugh—! Even if you say such embarrassing things, it won't change my decision!"

"That's okay. You have more important things to take care of, don't you?"

The Queen smiled, her expression as serene and beautiful as the moonlight.

"Don't worry. I, the tree, and everyone else will be waiting for your return—"

"Aren't you afraid I might not come back?"

"I'm not. I know you're the kind of person who takes promises very seriously."

This inexplicable trust again.

Nahida found herself flustered under the weight of such unwavering belief. The Queen, unfazed, scooped her up and carried her to the bed.

"Still, if I had to say what makes me unhappy, it's that you're leaving. So, I hope you'll make it up to me—"

"What do you want?"

"Tell me more of your stories. I want to learn as much as I can about you before tomorrow."

"You always say such shameless things!"

The Queen's melodic laughter, light and airy like wind chimes, filled the room.

She hid her fears, her sorrow, and her reluctance behind that laugh, showing only her gentlest side.

---

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