Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

Two days later.

In the royal court, the elders of the Elven Council exchanged uneasy glances, murmuring among themselves.

Commander Ceria looked utterly baffled, her expression betraying her struggle to comprehend the sudden decision of both the Queen and the Princess.

Though she had never disobeyed a royal command in her life, this time, she couldn't hold her tongue.

"Your Majesty, I must respectfully voice my objection!"

Kneeling on one knee, her head bowed low in the most solemn display of deference among the forestfolk, she pleaded with the Queen.

"Her Highness the Princess is still so young. Even with her miraculous power, it is reckless to set such a dangerous task as part of her trial."

"Commander Ceria speaks wisely," added another elder, his age marked by visible signs of weariness that stood out among the council.

"Even if Her Highness possesses strength rivaling that of a Gold or even Platinum rank, the Demon King's forces have grown stronger due to the emergence of that calamity. It is said this Demon King may be the most powerful in history."

The elder's words drew nods from others present.

"To send the Princess on such a perilous mission without thorough preparation… is this not too hasty?"

After all, the task of defeating the Demon King had always fallen to mortal heroes.

Not because the forestfolk feared the Demon King—they had often taken part in the hero's quest to defeat him, their contributions immortalized in songs and legends.

Every generation of forestfolk warriors was at least Gold rank. Though they lacked the blessings unique to heroes, their absence in battles against the Demon King was unheard of.

But sending elite warriors to assist the hero's party was one thing. Sending their princess to the front lines herself was entirely another!

"Moreover, the Princess has only just received the Tree's blessing. Should she leave now, the consequences could be dire!"

The elder implored earnestly, his voice filled with concern.

Many others turned to Nahida, hoping the young princess would seize the chance to back down.

However, as this decision was presented as the Queen's "decree," Nahida had no choice but to play her part to the end.

"If this is a mission given by both my mother and the Tree, then I will see it through."

She feigned the attitude of a stubborn child, unwilling to let the adults look down on her.

Simply mentioning the Tree's approval unsettled the council further, throwing their resolve into disarray.

"But…"

Under normal circumstances, even if her own child were entrusted with such a duty, Ceria wouldn't have hesitated.

But this was the Princess. If she were just a bit older—at least 2,000 years old—Ceria might have deemed the task feasible.

However, based on her investigation the day before, while the Princess's companions hadn't revealed her true age, their behavior suggested she was no older than 200.

By mortal standards, this was akin to sending a toddler to combat a world-ending calamity.

Even though the Demon King had been defeated many times, it was not a foe anyone could challenge lightly.

Historically, hero parties had always consisted of multiple Gold-ranked members, led by a Platinum-ranked hero.

Such a force, capable of conquering an entire nation, still suffered losses when facing the Demon King.

Now, with the emergence of the calamity's radiance, the monsters had grown significantly stronger, and the Demon King—sealed at the calamity's point of impact—had reached an unprecedented level of power.

No matter how gifted the Princess was, no matter how extraordinary it was for someone of her age to reach Platinum rank and be hailed as a hero of the forestfolk, how could they possibly feel at ease sending her into such danger?

Her official succession had only been formalized two days ago.

According to forestfolk traditions, the transfer of power should take centuries. Dispatching her now risked an unimaginable catastrophe if anything happened to her.

Ceria felt a chill run through her at the thought.

Reluctantly, she bowed even lower, nearly pressing her forehead to the ground as she pleaded.

"Your Majesty, I beg you to reconsider. Allow me to take the Princess's place. I will bring back the Demon King's head and offer the glory to you and Her Highness."

If she had to find a justification, it was this:

Perhaps the Queen intended this mission to establish Nahida's prestige.

But even Ceria couldn't deny the Princess's qualifications. Chosen by the World Tree itself and blessed by it, who would dare question her worthiness?

Besides, the Princess's fame had already spread far and wide. She had sealed a portal to the underworld in the King's Forest, preventing a catastrophic apocalypse.

This alone had brought her renown, even among the neighboring human kingdoms, who had sent envoys to offer congratulations.

In these tumultuous times, who wouldn't want an ally as formidable as the forestfolk?

The Queen wasn't just failing to protect her precious princess; she was sending her on a trial against the Demon King himself…

Were it not for the Queen's thousands of years of wise rule and her proven prudence, the elders might not be having a respectful discussion. Instead, they would likely be plotting to "escort" her back to the palace for a peaceful retirement.

It was true that the forestfolk revered their Elven Queen. But now that a new queen had emerged—a child with tremendous potential—they could see in her a protector who might safeguard them for tens of thousands of years.

In contrast, their current Queen, nearing the end of her life, had a few thousand years left at most—a mere generation in the eyes of the forestfolk.

Such a reckless decision, they feared, could lead to the kingdom's ruin.

Despite their fervent objections, led by Commander Ceria and the elders of the Elven Council, the Queen remained as immovable as a stubborn elder. Her voice, calm but resolute, echoed through the chamber:

"Do you have anything else to say? If not, you may all leave."

"Your Majesty!"

The anguished cries of the forestfolk elders filled the air.

Nearby, the royal scribe diligently recorded this historic moment, her quill trembling with excitement. Though she too believed the Queen's actions to be unwise, her duty was to remain objective and impartial, ensuring the truth was faithfully preserved for future generations.

For the forestfolk, whose lifespans stretched into millennia, the idea of recording history often seemed unnecessary. To them, even a hundred-year war was little more than something that "happened yesterday."

But for the fleeting lifetimes of mortals, such records could seem incomprehensibly vast—an entirely different world of memory.

After dismissing the court, the Queen's impassive facade gave way to sorrow and melancholy.

She wasn't concerned about her reputation or the potential backlash against her decision. To the Elven Queen, who believed she would soon return to the World Tree, such things were inconsequential.

Her worries aligned with the council's concerns:

"Are you sure this is okay?"

The Queen couldn't help but ask Nahida again, her voice tinged with doubt. She believed in Nahida's ability to face the Demon King. Against a "typical" Demon King, there was no doubt she would triumph.

But this time was different. The Demon King had been empowered by the Calamity's radiance, and even the Queen couldn't predict the extent of its newfound strength.

Records showed that the Demon King's power grew with each revival, becoming more formidable with every defeat.

Even humans, after stumbling in the same place nine times, would have learned how to adapt. How much more so for a being crafted by the gods—a being designed to be the ultimate, most terrifying Demon King.

In her prime, with her blessing intact, the Queen could defeat the Demon King in the forests where her strength peaked. But outside the forest, where her power waned, the fight would not be in her favor.

And now, with Nahida struggling to control her own powers, she might not be able to afford holding back. Against lesser creatures, this was manageable. But against the Demon King? Restraint would be impossible.

The Queen wasn't afraid of Nahida getting hurt. She was afraid of waking up to find the world covered in an unending forest.

If that happened, not even the Queen would know how to resolve the disaster.

"Please, trust me and my companions," Nahida reassured her. "They're all incredibly capable, and one of our allies will be joining us soon."

The Queen looked unconvinced, but March 7th chimed in cheerfully:

"That's right, Your Majesty! We'll make sure the Princess comes back safe and sound. And when we do, we'd love for you to treat us to another meal!"

March seemed slightly bitter about missing the Queen's first dinner invitation.

Even Stelle, normally reserved, nodded seriously, recalling something from the internet as if to lend credibility.

Dan Heng said nothing, merely offering a silent nod of assurance.

Looking at the group, the Queen couldn't help herself. Rising from her seat, she embraced each of them warmly, finally resting a hand on Nahida's head with tender affection.

"Very well. I won't stop you anymore. But promise me, if you encounter any difficulties, you'll send word through the leaves to let me know."

The Queen had already received so much comfort over the past two days—experiences she had never dared to dream of. It was time to let them go, to let these children face the world.

Brushing away her tears, she held Nahida's hand like a mother seeing her daughter off on a journey. Together, they walked to the teleportation portal.

Commander Ceria, pacing anxiously nearby, stopped in her tracks when she saw them approaching. She knew she couldn't prevent this. Sighing deeply, she reluctantly stepped aside.

"Your Majesty, allow me to accompany the Princess!"

"No. This is her trial with her companions."

In front of others, the Queen maintained her cold and detached demeanor.

Ceria, confused by the Queen's behavior, couldn't fathom why someone she had served for millennia now seemed so distant.

The portal's glow began to intensify, leaving no time for questions.

Before stepping through, Nahida did something unexpected. For the first time, she hugged the Queen tightly.

"I'll be back soon. Please wait for me…"

If she could, Nahida would have preferred to sneak away unnoticed. But that was impossible.

The Golden Forest was protected by the World Tree's barrier, which not only sheltered the forestfolk but also restricted their movements. The closer one was to the Tree, the more its influence bent the perception of time, making years feel like days.

To leave, they had to use the portal.

As Nahida bid farewell, the Queen didn't show her sadness. She merely nodded, her gaze filled with warmth and longing.

"We'll always be waiting for you."

With that, they stepped into the portal.

---

The radiant light shifted, and the lush greenery of the Golden Forest transformed into the familiar terrain of the King's Forest.

Their arrival, unannounced, left the local forestfolk stunned. News of the Princess's coronation had already spread through the trees' whispers, and most had learned of Nahida's ascension.

But no one had expected her to leave the Golden Forest so soon.

Among those rushing to meet her was a forestfolk adorned with a gleaming helmet, who seemed at a loss.

"Your Highness… have you returned to find my sister?"

It was the only reason he could think of that might bring the Princess back to their borderland.

"Partially," Nahida replied. "But mainly, I'm heading to confront the Demon King. Can you tell me the current state of the frontlines?"

The forestfolk explained that the Demon King's army had gathered at the borders of a human kingdom, preparing for a second assault. His sister's team, after completing a mission in the Water Capital, had been reassigned to a forward outpost to eliminate goblins occupying a cave.

With this information, Nahida began plotting her route.

She had no intention of meeting up with Goblin Slayer again—her upcoming task was too dangerous, and bringing them along would only complicate things.

As she deliberated, a forest princess adorned with a flower crown handed her a letter.

The sender was Zaryus. Though his role in the Golden Forest was minor, his presence outside could still be valuable.

Opening the letter, Nahida read its contents aloud:

To the esteemed Lady Venti, Lord Dan Heng, Lady March, Lady Stelle, and Miss Mimiya,

It has been months since our farewell. The frontlines are in dire straits. Lady Fina and I have been repeatedly assigned to missions but, due to our limited strength, have achieved little and barely escaped with our lives.

As I recuperate in the rear, I pen this letter with a heavy heart, entrusting it to a messenger bound for the King's Forest.

If any of you receive this—or even just Mimiya—I humbly ask that you return to the border town of Getlow. I fear my days are numbered and wish only to see you one last time before the end.

---

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