Stelle: Can you take me in?

Lin Shuang never expected Stelle to pull her aside and ask such a question.

Though Lin Shuang didn't mind Stelle following her around, it wasn't something she thought much about.

After all, based on previous experiences, her involvement never disrupted the script's general flow. Stelle still managed to catch Nanook's attention and set foot on the path of destruction.

From Lin Shuang's perspective, Elio must have been silently approving her actions since there were no specific instructions given. That meant whatever she did wouldn't hinder Stelle's growth.

But for someone like Lin Shuang, who had always been alone, this wasn't exactly an ideal situation. If she had no other options, maybe she wouldn't mind. However, the Starry Sky Train was clearly a much better alternative—there was no reason to keep wandering aimlessly with her.

Besides, Lin Shuang never saw herself as a particularly dependable person. Having someone tail her all day wasn't an issue, but leading Stelle astray would be troublesome.

"I'm just a lone wanderer. I hold no real power."

Lin Shuang smiled as she explained her position to Stelle.

"If I had to say, I suppose my ties to Xianzhou are somewhat stronger."

"Then, can you take me in?"

Stelle tilted her head, blinking at Lin Shuang with an eager expression, as if genuinely hoping to tag along. Though she didn't phrase it as a serious request, her gaze carried a certain sincerity.

Lin Shuang smirked, amused, and said, "I don't mind if you follow me, but I'm a free spirit. If you stay with me, it might be difficult for you to pursue your own goals. If there's something you still need to accomplish, I'd suggest joining the Astral Express instead."

"…Alright."

Stelle seemed a little disappointed, though even she wasn't entirely sure how much of that feeling stemmed from their first meeting.

But Stelle wasn't someone who struggled with decisions. She also noticed Lin Shuang's clear preference for the Astral Express.

"You really think I should board the train?"

"Yeah. But for the specifics, you should ask Himeko. She understands the meaning of the Trailblaze much better than I do."

Understanding different fates in this world was a complex matter. When Lin Shuang had played the game in her past life, she had never fully grasped the explanations given by scholars who studied such concepts. Every destiny held intricate philosophical meanings that often left her with a headache.

So, even if she could roughly comprehend what pioneering stood for, explaining it in detail was another matter entirely.

...

Meeting Himeko went smoothly.

After learning about Herta's invitation, Himeko didn't hesitate to point out her intentions. Of course, considering that Asta was here, Stelle wouldn't have to worry about living comfortably on the space station.

However, Stelle clearly wasn't the type to settle for that.

There were too many unresolved matters—her own past, Kafka's situation, and, most importantly, the Stellaron.

There was no way she'd choose to stay here permanently.

"Besides, we deal with Stellarons quite often. If you ever wish to, you're always welcome to return and collaborate with Herta's research. There's no conflict. I'm sure this will keep Herta entertained for quite some time."

Himeko extended the invitation naturally.

And Stelle, without hesitation, nodded and accepted. She decided to board the train.

"By the way, how long will the Star Train remain at the space station?" Lin Shuang asked out of curiosity.

In the game, the departure happened swiftly—farewells were exchanged, and the train left on the same day without much delay.

But in reality, Stelle still needed to visit Herta, likely to test the simulated universe.

Who knew how long that would take? Would it delay the train's departure?

Considering what had just transpired with Herta, Himeko understood Lin Shuang's concern.

She smiled. "You two still need to meet with Herta, right? Don't worry, take your time. I'll be waiting for you on the platform."

After parting ways with Himeko, Lin Shuang and Stelle received a reminder from Herta to hurry up.

But along the way, they took a short detour, chatting with Asta for a bit and teasing the station's mascot, Peppy.

Eventually, they arrived at Herta's office.

Despite being called an office, the space was lined with holograms of the Genius Society rather than conventional workstations.

At the far end of the room, Herta's puppet was waiting for them.

"Oh, you two finally showed up."

Stelle responded politely, "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Alright, no need for pleasantries. I've teamed up with some colleagues on a massive project. If it works, we might just uncover the ultimate mystery that has eluded us for thousands of Amber Ages—the enigma of the Aeons."

The moment Herta began speaking about her research, her excitement became evident. It was a stark contrast to the casual conversation she had earlier with Lin Shuang.

She eagerly explained her theories to Stelle and Lin Shuang, hoping they would understand the significance of the Aeons.

Among them, many had once been ordinary people who somehow obtained unimaginable power.

Strange, powerful, silent—the Aeons embodied mystery, and they were the ultimate question every researcher longed to answer.

"How were they born? Why did they come into existence? And for what purpose?" Herta's tone became even more passionate. "Tell me, have you ever considered these questions?"

Stelle answered confidently, "I think about it day and night."

After all, her journey had only just begun. From her perspective, contemplating these matters now was no different from having pondered them since birth.

Her certainty made Lin Shuang chuckle.

As for Lin Shuang…

"I've only ever wondered why Permanence vanished."

"Oh? Permanence… Hold on, let me take a closer look."

Herta activated a device and scanned Lin Shuang's body.

Her expression became more intrigued.

"You've got something fascinating within you, yet you never told me? Using Nihility to forge Permanence, then using that Permanence to resist Nihility… What an exhilarating approach! Tsk tsk, I'm almost envious of your body."

Previously, the puppet's basic scans hadn't detected anything. But now, with professional equipment, Herta uncovered something astonishing about Lin Shuang's physique.

Never mind the fact that she wasn't a member of the Vidyadhara—how had she even embarked on the path to Permanence?

More importantly, she was using controlled Nihility to 'refine' her body. That alone was an unthinkable feat for ordinary people.

Nihility was the most dangerous force—certainly not one meant for safeguarding one's destiny.

And on top of that, she had stuffed the power of Heliobus and the Path of Destruction into herself.

This girl had absolutely no fear of death.

"No, I need to create a new Permanence… Maybe then I can uncover the truth behind the disappearance of Permanence."

Muttering to herself, Herta became completely engrossed in thought, ignoring everything else.

"…"

Stelle observed this scene, hands on her hips, before turning to Lin Shuang—the apparent 'culprit' responsible for all of this.

Lin Shuang simply shrugged. "Not my fault. She's the one who wanted to scan me."