Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

In the past, it had been mentioned that the longevity of the Xianzhou people originates from the power of the Aeon of Abundance.

Yet, Mara is an inescapable curse embedded within the bloodline of the Xianzhou people.

At a critical juncture in the lifespan of the long-lived species, they suddenly transition to the next phase—

The previous "standard" is shattered, and the body undergoes destructive growth. Those who once thrived in a civilized world transform into feral and mindless aberrations, known as Mara-Struck.

This condition, called "Mara," has various triggers and manifests in numerous forms.

The Xianzhou categorizes the descent into Mara under five symptoms: "Residual Wounds," "Taint," "Wrath," "Transmutation," and "Oblivion."

Among the Xianzhou people, the Cloud Knights face a far greater risk of succumbing to Mara, especially frontline soldiers. Many are forced to confront a brutal reality:

When their comrades fall to Mara, they must personally deliver them mercy and release them from their suffering.

This is because there is virtually no "cure" for Mara. Once the body enters the phase of aberration, even the most skilled healers can do nothing. The only recourse is to summon a judge from the Ten-Lords Commission to handle the remains and send the soul for reincarnation.

Yet now, someone had managed to suppress the aberrations caused by Mara—and even hinted at a possibility of "treatment." How could this not shock everyone present?

Amid the stunned silence, Bailu was the first to react. She instinctively crouched down to examine the patient. The once-erratic breathing had stabilized, their chest now rising and falling normally, and beneath the helmet, their pale face was regaining a semblance of calm.

"Oh my… Is this for real?"

Bailu pinched her cheek hard, confirming she wasn't dreaming. Her worldview seemed to shatter and rebuild all at once.

"How on earth is this even possible? I can't make sense of it!"

She turned her wide-eyed gaze toward Venti, who had just finished packing up his lyre and taken off his hat in his usual "tip-jar ready" manner. She couldn't comprehend what she was seeing.

Seriously? With skills like this, why would he even need to make money busking? Our Alchemy Commission is crying out for talent like his!

March 7, however, seemed entirely unfazed by the spectacle. Instead, she scratched her head and remarked, "So, Bailu, you really are a healer? Honestly, I thought you were just making it up to mess with us."

"What nonsense are you spouting? I've been studying medicine since I was a hatchling! I'm a fully certified and practicing physician with the Alchemy Commission! But that's not the point right now! Do you even realize what your companion just did?!"

Bailu's indignation flared, and she felt a strong urge to whack March 7's knee.

But now wasn't the time for petty squabbles. This mystery demanded answers, and she needed to ask the expert right away.

"This—this divine healer, may I ask for your esteemed name?"

Bailu clasped her hands together solemnly as she posed the question.

Awkward as it was, she realized she'd been so preoccupied with eating earlier that she hadn't even learned his name. Fortunately, Stelle stepped in to answer on Venti's behalf.

"His name is Venti. On our Astral Express, he's quite well-known as the third-in-command."

"Wait… so the barrier of his rogue bard act can't be crossed after all?"

March 7 muttered under her breath, her exasperated tone doing little to reclaim Bailu's attention.

Meanwhile, Venti, having received a generous round of tips from the bystanders, decided to quit while he was ahead. Any further antics, and they might devolve into absurd tales like "My 800-year-old mother desperately needs a miracle from you."

Placing his hat back atop his head with a crisp motion, Venti turned toward Bailu, his mood as buoyant as his lighthearted demeanor. He extended a hand playfully.

"Well, more or less what they said. I'm known in these parts as the third-in-command of the Astral Express, Venti."

Bailu didn't find his introduction awkward at all. Instead, she took his hand with the utmost politeness, her demeanor akin to a doctor consulting another expert.

"Ah, so it's Venti. An honor to meet you."

"Eh, no need to be so formal. We haven't even finished our meal. How about we head back and chat while we eat?"

Seeing the crowd grow larger—some even from the Divination Commission—Venti made the suggestion with a casual smile.

"No problem. Let's head back. As for them—"

Bailu glanced around and spotted a member of the Alchemy Commission looking rather stunned. She called them over, gave a few succinct instructions, and entrusted the follow-up to them. Then she promptly whisked Venti away, heading back to their earlier dining spot.

The young healer left to take over the situation was left in bewilderment. But with the patient still lying there, he had no choice but to arrange for them to be taken back to the Alchemy Commission for further examination.

Meanwhile, a petite, sparrow-like girl watched the group's retreat with curiosity, toying with a jade piece in her hand.

"So these are the esteemed guests the Diviner spoke of. Truly unforgettable at a glance."

She tossed the jade into the air before catching it, covering it atop a stack of playing tiles on the table.

"But there's no predicting the game's flow. The more impatient you are, the worse it'll go~ Let me finish this round first, then I'll go have a proper chat with them!"

---

Elsewhere.

"So, Bailu, what did you want to ask?"

"I want to learn that trick you just pulled!"

Bailu's bright, lively eyes sparkled as she practically leaped from her chair, leaning so close to Venti that her face was mere inches from his. Her expression brimmed with unreserved admiration.

"That fiu~ moment just now—one gust of wind, and the patient's Mara was suppressed! You even managed to bring back a Cloud Knight who had already fully transformed into a Mara-Struck! That's something not even gods are said to be capable of!"

In the early stages of Mara, there might still be a sliver of hope. But once it progressed to its later stages, all hope was lost. Even with Bailu's skills, the best she could manage was to prolong the patient's lucidity for a brief moment, just enough for some final words before the inevitable end.

If someone had told her earlier that simply playing a tune could pull someone back from the brink of Mara—

Well, Bailu would've grabbed that person by the collar and taught them a lesson about the dangers of delusion, complete with a heavy-handed demonstration of "shock therapy."

"You're talking about my music?" Venti chuckled. "It's no big deal—just as useless as divination when it comes to making enough for a decent drink."

"Huh? Are you talking about the divination techniques used by the Yaotian clan? That's not useless at all! It's a time-honored skill passed down by a noble family! Whether it makes money or not is one thing, but its cultural value is immense!"

Bailu counted her points on her fingers, launching into an impromptu lecture.

"And besides, you're being way too humble. Do you know how rare it is to find medicines that can suppress Mara? Let alone treatments as effective as yours!"

"Hehe, really? You're making me blush," Venti replied with a sheepish grin, adjusting his hat.

March 7, observing this exchange, raised an eyebrow suspiciously. Knowing Venti, she could tell he was up to something mischievous. Beneath the table, she nudged Stelle with her foot, signaling for her to step in.

Stelle, utterly clueless, asked aloud, "What's wrong, March? Is your mouth feeling weird? Should we have Bailu take a look at it?"

"…!"

March 7 facepalmed, sighing in exasperation.

Why did she ever expect anything useful from this gray-haired blockhead? Clearly, she'd spent too much time with these two and was starting to lose her edge.

Unfazed by March 7's frustration, Bailu puffed out her small chest confidently. "No problem! Consider it my token of sincerity as your potential apprentice. If any of you need treatment—be it injuries, illnesses, or mishaps—you're always welcome at the Alchemy Commission. I'll personally see to your care, free of charge! And I'll even give you an 80% discount on the medicine!"

Having said her piece, she turned back to Venti, grasping his arm with her pudgy little hands and shaking it enthusiastically.

"How's that for sincerity? Please, take me as your student and teach me your ways! Whatever you ask of me in the future, I promise I'll do it!"

As this childlike plea echoed through the room, Venti could feel the piercing death stares of March 7 and Stelle boring into him. Even Welt let out a discreet cough, signaling him to dial it down.

"Ah, uh… hold on, hold on. Don't be so hasty. It's not that I don't want to teach you—it's just that this particular technique probably isn't something others can learn."

Venti's response, while gentle, was enough to make Bailu's eyes well up with tears, her lips quivering as she sniffled.

"Why not…?"

"Well, how do I put this… Hmm, you can ask them," Venti said, gesturing toward his companions. "My real job is as a bard. I used to perform on the streets of Belobog. I've never even read a medical textbook. I only ended up on the Astral Express because I needed to scrape together enough for my next meal."

"Oh, that's absolutely true," March 7 chimed in, barely suppressing her laughter as she nodded. "We've all heard his performances. Even now, they're unforgettable."

"Really? I've never heard of this Belobog place. Are you trying to pull one over on me because I look small? I'm being serious here—I really want to be your apprentice!"

Bailu pouted skeptically at March 7, clearly unconvinced. This left March visibly flustered, while Stelle looked nonchalant—after all, she hadn't been around back then.

Fortunately, Welt, ever the steady and reliable figure, stepped in to corroborate the story.

"What March said is true. I was there at the time as well. Venti's performance was… soothing. The music had a calming effect, even on me."

"Ha! Thanks for the compliment!" Venti said with a wink, earning a faint smile from Welt in return.

"Well… I guess it's true then…" Bailu murmured reluctantly.

Though she was disappointed, she knew her current abilities weren't enough to delve deeper into such mysteries. Still, the thought of using Venti's method to save others filled her with determination. As a physician, she had seen far too many tragic endings among Mara patients—those who suffered immense pain or lost all sense of self. Just the memory of those scenes was enough to make her resolve stronger.

"Don't be too disheartened," Venti said softly, patting her head. Seeing the spark of hope rekindle in her eyes, he continued, "If you truly want to know, I can share part of the principle with you."

"Really?!"

"Strictly speaking, I didn't cure them—they healed themselves. All I did was use music to soothe their restless spirits, granting them a brief moment of clarity to reclaim control over their bodies."

"That's all? Hmm… I mean, there are studies showing that gentle, calming music can help stabilize emotions, but using it to recover from full-blown Mara is unheard of."

Though Bailu believed him, she knew little about this field and would need to consult the Alchemy Commission's records on music therapy.

Venti, of course, wasn't lying, but he hadn't told her the whole truth either. His powers—or rather, his authority—imbued his music with the ability to inspire hope and renewal.

This granted individuals the strength to resist complete collapse, but it was only a temporary reprieve. The real mechanism at work involved the manipulation of time—a concept far too complex to explain in mere words.

Still, Bailu wasn't the type to throw a tantrum. She accepted the explanation, albeit with a hint of regret, and resolved to explore the potential of this method in her own way.

After the conversation, Bailu excused herself, eager to return to the Alchemy Commission and research their archives on Mara.

Before leaving, however, she brought up another matter.

"By the way, this morning during my rounds, I heard people talking about Miss Tingyun. They said something terrible happened to her, and you were accused of being involved."

"That did happen, but the misunderstanding has been cleared up. The Six Commissions should've already issued a joint statement by now," March 7 confirmed.

"Yeah, I saw the update too," Bailu nodded. "Honestly, I was really upset when I first heard the news. Miss Tingyun was such a kind person—how could something like that happen to her? But now that I think about it, something feels off…"

Her expression turned serious as she lowered her voice.

"I shouldn't be saying this—it's technically internal information from the Alchemy Commission—but considering you're involved, I'll tell you this much. Just don't spread it around."

"What is it?" Welt leaned in, listening intently.

"There are still several unresolved questions regarding Miss Tingyun's body. The results aren't conclusive yet, but I plan to investigate personally. If I confirm anything significant, I'll come find you."

Bailu's tone was grave, but she quickly reverted to her usual cheerful demeanor, waving goodbye as if nothing had happened.

The group watched her leave with a member of the Vidyadhara race who had been waiting for her outside. Though her exit seemed lighthearted, the atmosphere she left behind was noticeably heavier.

---

Ahem! Gather close, esteemed audience! Do you comprehend the privilege of basking in my radiance? Truly, you're witnessing history in the making—a performance unparalleled in the annals of Fontaine!

Ah, but don't get distracted! Let me be clear: this brilliance isn't conjured from thin air. No, no, no! It requires effort, dedication, and… well, a touch of your generosity. If you fancy being part of something truly extraordinary, do step forward here: [patreon.com/WiseTL].

Oh, but wait! You're probably wondering, "Furina, how can someone as magnificent as you need assistance?" To that, I say: why deny mortals the honor of contributing to such greatness? Supporting me is supporting art, and who doesn't want to say they were instrumental in a legend's rise?

Now, off you go. Make your offerings, and perhaps, perhaps, I'll acknowledge you in my next soliloquy!

— Furina ✨