Capítulo 144: Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking [144]
In the guest chamber, Mimiya busied herself preparing clean clothes for Nahida. Though the group had invited her to join their bath, she politely declined, citing her duty as a bodyguard to remain on standby.
However, the real reason for her decision wasn't entirely about responsibility.
She wanted to personally select an outfit that would suit Nahida perfectly.
In her homeland, this act held deep significance—it was something one did only for someone they cared for as deeply as family.
Unlike the flamboyant Starwind Daughter, Mimiya wasn't the type to express affection through overt closeness or teasing. Instead, she preferred to show her feelings through thoughtful gestures, quietly embodying an "old married couple" dynamic.
That's why she now found herself debating between the traditional long dress of the elves or a more contemporary garment crafted by human weavers.
But before deciding that, there was another crucial question: what style of undergarments would be best?
"Hm, this one's nice... and this one too... Honestly, Nahida would look adorable in anything."
Mimiya's thoughts spiraled into an excited fervor, her hands pulling items from the wardrobe.
A faint sound broke her trance.
Ahem.
Startled, Mimiya turned toward the doorway, where a figure stood. She hadn't even noticed their approach.
"...As a bodyguard, creating such a mess in your charge's quarters is hardly commendable," the visitor said, their voice melodic yet carrying an unmistakable note of reprimand.
There was no mistaking who they were. The speaker's elongated ears, slender as bamboo leaves, framed a face of ethereal beauty.
Their long hair shimmered like a river of starlight, cascading down to match the luminous, silken gown that draped their tall, willowy frame. Soft golden eyes radiated warmth, while their graceful form exuded both strength and delicacy.
The flower crown adorning their head enhanced their regal aura, while the gentle curves of their figure, accentuated by the dress's intricate fit, embodied an almost divine abundance.
The serene smile they wore seemed to forbid any impious thought.
It was the Elven Princess of the Forest of Kings—a beauty so transcendent that even the most skilled artist would find their hands inadequate to capture her essence.
"Y-Your Highness?! What are you doing here?!" Mimiya stammered, her surprise evident.
The princess ignored her flustered tone and stepped gracefully into the room. Picking up some of the scattered clothing, she neatly folded the garments and placed them on the bed.
"I heard that Her Highness the Princess has come to visit. As the princess of this forest, wouldn't it be rude of me not to offer my greetings?"
"Well, yes, but... this isn't what it looks like! I wasn't—"
"And yet..." The princess's eyes flicked to a set of undergarments with a subtle frown. "Though I understand Her Highness didn't grow up in the forest, as her attendants, you have a duty to teach her proper decorum. These... inappropriate garments..."
"T-Those aren't hers!" Mimiya yelped, hastily shoving the Trailblazers' clothing under a blanket. "They're her friends'!"
The princess tilted her head curiously. "And what of it? No one can live in the past forever."
"Coming from you, that feels... oddly disillusioning..." Mimiya muttered, feeling her image of the princess begin to shift.
Unlike the boisterous Starwind Daughter, Mimiya hailed from a remote southern elven village. To her, noble elves like this princess were figures to be revered, their lofty stature evoking both awe and a sense of personal inadequacy.
Yet now, standing before her, this regal figure reminded her more of an older sibling—one who would scold younger relatives with an air of practiced authority.
"You—" the princess began, her tone soft yet deliberate.
And just like that, an elegant stream of words flowed forth, weaving together a tapestry of gentle chastisement.
"Your skin looks a bit rough, and your hair's quite untidy. Do you practice moderation in the evenings? Are you properly caring for yourself?
"As someone so close to Her Highness, you should embody poise and grace, ensuring that you can teach her how to become a refined young lady.
"Moreover, you've been taking on dangerous work as adventurers, haven't you? Looking at how impulsive you seem, have you ever mistakenly taken a questionable commission, like my sister often does?
"Though these days, other races thrive even within human kingdoms, you must remember: mortals can weave schemes so insidious that even demons would pale before them.
"So, you must be vigilant. Never let Her Highness fall victim to their machinations. Ah, but of course, once she returns to the Golden Forest, such concerns will no longer matter."
Finally, the princess straightened her posture with a graceful sigh.
"Perhaps I've said too much."
Mimiya remained silent, unsure how to respond.
Far from feeling resentful at being scolded by a stranger, she found herself overwhelmed by the eerie familiarity of the moment.
After a long pause, she shook her head and replied quietly, "No... not at all."
Seeing Mimiya's lack of protest, the princess's expression softened.
"I must apologize. You remind me so much of my sister. Unconsciously, I projected the expectations I hold for her onto you."
"I'm me. She's her," Mimiya replied curtly, her tone tinged with awkwardness.
The princess's golden eyes narrowed slightly, her smile deepening. "Even that response is identical to hers. If she knew I was comparing you to her, she'd react the same way. Though... lately, she's stopped coming to me for every little thing. It seems she's grown up—if only a little."
Her voice, like wind chimes, carried a gentle fondness that reminded Mimiya of the Starwind Daughter's own carefree demeanor.
"My sister must have caused you all a great deal of trouble. Has she been a nuisance to Her Highness?"
Mimiya hesitated, her mind flashing back to the elf archer's bold antics.
"She can be a bit reckless at times," Mimiya admitted. "But... she's surprisingly dependable. She's helped us out a lot, actually. So, no, I wouldn't call her a nuisance."
The princess raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
"That's... unexpected praise. I had assumed, if there were more capable hunters among you, you'd have abandoned her by now. I never imagined she would one day contribute meaningfully to someone like Her Highness."
Mimiya blinked, realizing too late the trap in those words—a seemingly casual remark that could turn into a scolding if she agreed.
Before Mimiya could respond, she noticed a figure kneeling silently by the door—a maid.
The maid's hair was cut unevenly, her body half-hidden in shadow. She seemed to be deliberately concealing something.
Memories—dark and unpleasant—flooded Mimiya's mind.
"Ah, you've noticed her," the princess said, her tone hesitant.
"She is..."
"I know her," Mimiya interrupted, stepping closer to the maid. She knelt to meet the woman's gaze, her eyes fixed on the shadows that concealed the maid's frail, malnourished frame.
"I didn't have the chance to say this before, but... Her Highness asked me to tell you: the creatures below—the ones who hurt you—have all been dealt with."
The maid's trembling eyes met Mimiya's.
"Not just the goblins," Mimiya added solemnly. "The trolls, the darklings... all of them have been fed to the carnivorous plants."
Tears welled in the maid's left eye, spilling down her cheek. She tilted her head, revealing the right side of her face—once bruised and swollen, now healed thanks to Her Highness's magic.
Yet some wounds didn't heal so easily.
Time, people often said, could mend any hurt.
But what happens when time itself feels broken? For near-immortal beings like the elves, the weight of such pain could stretch endlessly.
---
"Thank you. That child has been struggling since her return. After everything that happened, she finds it difficult to live alone," the Forest Princess said softly. Her sorrowful expression conveyed more melancholy than grief as she watched the retreating figure of the maid.
"There's no need to thank me—it wasn't my doing. The credit belongs to Okeborug and the others... and, of course, Her Highness," Mimiya replied.
"Yes, I know that. Still, I wanted to express my gratitude."
The guest chamber had a door leading to an open balcony.
Supported by intertwined vines and leaves, the balcony offered a breathtaking view. The village, nestled within the vast hollow of the forest, stretched out before them. Wind constantly swirled through the massive space, carrying whispers of the trees.
This guest room was among the best accommodations in the village, located at nearly the same level as the chieftain's quarters. Standing on the balcony, the Forest Princess held down her flower-adorned hair as it danced in the breeze, then turned to Mimiya.
"When I came to visit, I was filled with apprehension—both for my sister and for the princess who will soon decide the fate of all our people, despite having never met her before."
She leaned lightly against the vine-woven railing, her weight balanced with a practiced elegance.
"You may find my words irreverent, but... I struggle to envision a future where the sky is graced by a new moon."
Her voice carried a mixture of loneliness and fear.
"Do you think me a coward for admitting this? I am a branch of the royal bloodline, one who should have been a contender for the throne. And yet, I am terrified of this change."
Mimiya fell silent, understanding the weight of her words.
For long-lived beings like the elves, wisdom and composure came naturally. They weren't prone to expressing emotions over decisions already made.
Yet this moment felt uncharacteristic.
It dawned on Mimiya that, perhaps unknowingly, she might have committed an irreparable mistake.
Was it truly wrong?
No. The elves had waited far too long for someone to inherit the throne, someone who could lead them into the future. Their yearning wasn't insincere.
But was the decision entirely free of fault?
She realized she had ignored the perspectives of those most affected, acting rashly and imposing her own assumptions upon them.
Seeing the shadow of regret on Mimiya's face, the Forest Princess lowered her gaze. Had there been any men present, they would have surely fallen to their knees, pledging to alleviate her sorrow.
The aura of grace she exuded—effortless and innate—was a hallmark of the elven royal lineage.
Even Nahida, young and unassuming as she was, carried a similar radiance. Simply sitting idly, she drew the world's focus as though she were its axis.
Perhaps it was this allure that Mimiya had longed to share in, driving her to act without enough consideration.
"How shameful... I've spoken without thought and caused needless worry. Please, forget my rambling. I'll—"
Before the Forest Princess could finish, a deafening roar echoed from deep within the earth.
The sound was thunderous, shaking the air itself. Birds scattered from the treetops in droves, and countless trees snapped like twigs, sending up a cloud of dust and debris.
"Please, Your Highness, head to a safe location immediately. I need to reunite with Her Highness the Princess!"
Mimiya quickly stepped into a protective position in front of the Forest Princess, her expression resolute.
"But... but—"
"No time to argue! Whether you run, climb, or crawl, you must evacuate now!"
"Crawl on the ground?!"
"Well, that thing up there is making tremors worse than any earthquake!"
---
Meanwhile, from the cavern below, Nahida and her companions—having hastily dressed—caught sight of the monstrous creature causing the chaos.
March 7's eyes widened in disbelief, as though a creature from an ancient documentary had come to life.
It was a colossal beast.
Its legs were like massive pillars, each step carving deep craters into the ground. Its tail, as thick as a rope, lashed through the air with a sharp whistle.
Fan-like plates protruded from its back, flexing with every movement of its powerful muscles. Its thick hide encased a body that loomed like a towering fortress, and its horn—sharp as a lance—effortlessly felled trees.
Its massive, throne-like back rose at least fifteen meters tall, casting an imposing shadow.
The beast craned its vine-like neck, opening a jaw filled with razor-sharp teeth.
"MOOOOOKKEEEEEL——!!!"
"So that's... an elephant?" Stelle muttered, her voice laced with incredulity as she stared at the beast.
"Absolutely not! No way am I calling that an elephant!" March 7 exclaimed, shaking her head vigorously.
Even the elf archer, momentarily stunned, whispered, "This... this is the River Severer?"
Though she had never seen it herself, she knew the legend.
This creature had gone by many names throughout history: Emela-Ntouka (Water Beast Slayer), Mbielu-Mbielu-Mbielu (The Back-Plated One), and Nguma-Monene (Great Snake God).
But here, in the Forest of Kings, it was feared as the Mokele-Mbembe—the River Severer, the beast her brother had warned would threaten the village's safety.
Faced with the titanic creature's sudden appearance, all eyes turned to the one person they trusted to lead: the young elven princess, Nahida.
Standing firm despite her diminutive stature, Nahida's floral-hued eyes locked onto the monster with surprising intensity.
Finally, she broke the tense silence with a calm remark.
"That doesn't look like a herbivorous dinosaur."
March 7 nearly toppled over, groaning as she rubbed her temple.
"Please, don't join Stelle in saying dumb things right now!"
"This isn't the time for quips! What do we do about that thing?!"
"Don't worry," Nahida said, her tone unwavering. "I'll handle this."
---
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