The slight vibrations from the train's smooth operation began to change.
Yae Sakura was instantly jolted awake from her light sleep.
A samurai possesses an extraordinary sensitivity to the sound of a blade cutting through the wind, and Yae Sakura had an instinctive perception of changes in the state of this steel behemoth carrying her and Rin.
She didn't open her eyes immediately. Instead, she lowered her head slightly, let out a soft breath, and gently touched the small head leaning against her lap with her chin.
Yae Rin was sound asleep, her breathing even and long, with the slight snore characteristic of a child.
Good, she wasn't disturbed.
Rin's body felt softer and warmer than it had in the cyclical world of "Past."
Now, without the heavy feeling of being bound by invisible shackles, the heart that had been constantly suspended in her chest settled down a little.
After confirming Rin's well-being, Yae Sakura slowly lifted her eyelids. Her azure eyes looked out through the train's clean window.
The gradually sparse wilderness scenery sped backwards, replaced by increasingly dense lights and building silhouettes.
Finally, the train glided into an indoor platform with a high dome and countless crisscrossing tracks.
Soft artificial light fell evenly, illuminating the platform as brightly as day.
On the platform, the staff in uniform were sparse, but each one was on high alert. The directional signs were clear and eye-catching.
The broadcasts played gentle arrival announcements and precautions.
Everything seemed efficient and orderly, completely different from the former train stations of Sapphire City. The clutter and human touch were gone, replaced by a rigor and grandeur befitting this "doomsday fortress."
ARC City... we've finally arrived.
Yae Sakura silently recited this unfamiliar place name in her heart, her calm gaze sweeping over the platform that was about to become a new starting point for her and Rin.
When the Sapphire City, "grafted" from the [Herrscher of Past]—by Yun mengxi's incredible power and might—truly connected with this main world and condensed into a part of reality, what greeted them was the reception mechanism of the Fire Moth.
Yae Sakura held Rin's hand and followed the dazed and relieved crowd through the temporary registration point, undergoing a basic physical examination, and listening to a briefing on "Honkai," "Fire Moth," and the "current state of the world."
These briefings were much more detailed than the "common knowledge" Yun mengxi had stuffed into everyone's heads.
But if they were to be compared... the information from Yun mengxi was still more important to those who had "died and been reborn."
After all, the news they got from the mouths of the Fire Moth people was still too shocking... Without that subtle "mental preparation," few of them would have been able to withstand such a drastic change.
And what reassured Yae Sakura the most was the result of Rin's physical examination.
Although the root cause of the "amyotrophic lateral sclerosis" had not yet been resolved, Rin's mental state had improved a lot, and she smiled more.
And during the registration process, for some reasons she didn't fully understand, she and her sister received "special attention."
Several young girls with extraordinary temperaments—the sunny girl named Kiana, the gentle woman named Mei, and Bronya with her cold expression but sharp eyes... they seemed to pay special attention to them.
Especially when her name, "Yae Sakura," was called out, she could feel the complex glances exchanged between the girls.
At first, she thought it was just because of Rin's illness, or her brief interaction with Kallen in the "loop."
Until one time, at the temporary settlement, she happened to overhear Kiana whispering to Mei: "...It's really exactly like in the 'story'... even the hairstyle..."
"Story"?
Yae Sakura didn't understand, but she didn't delve into it.
She was more concerned about another matter.
In the world of "Past," it was the person who called herself "Kallen," piloting a mecha named "Arahato," who had forcibly taken Rin away as a "villain," secretly protecting them, and ultimately guiding the entire situation.
Although the method was strange, she should personally thank her, both out of reason and sentiment.
She knew Kallen was a member of the "Kaslana" family, and for a member of the Kaslana family to play the role of a villain...
So, during one of Kiana and the others' visits, Yae Sakura solemnly made this request to them.
"Excuse me, may I see Miss Kallen?
I want to thank her personally for... taking care of Rin in Sapphire City."
As soon as her words fell, Yae Sakura keenly sensed that the atmosphere around them had become extremely strange.
Kiana's mouth fell open, her eyes darting wildly between Mei and Bronya.
Mei coughed lightly, her expression a little unnaturally subtle, her fingers unconsciously twirling a lock of her hair.
Bronya remained expressionless, then she silently turned her face away.
Everyone fell silent.
Yae Sakura frowned in confusion.
Was her request... strange?
This confusion, along with Yae Sakura's request to meet Kallen, reached the ears of Otto, who had traveled through wind and snow just to personally oversee the situation in Sapphire City.
Otto: "?"
This time, everyone saw a clear freeze on his face, which was always adorned with a calm smile.
The next second, he waved his hand and, without hesitation, issued his first important order upon arriving in Sapphire City.
"Miss Yae Rin's physical condition needs to be evaluated by the base's more complete medical facilities and receive supportive treatment as soon as possible. It is not advisable for her to stay in the temporary settlement for long. Put the Yae Sakura and Yae Rin sisters on the first priority transfer list."
After a pause, he added:
"Well, I think the transfer work needs to be expedited...
"Inform Raiden Mei and Bronya. The two of them will be responsible for leading the team to escort the first batch of important personnel and special cases, and set off for ARC City immediately.
"The relevant procedures and reception arrangements will be handled with special urgency."
The order was concise and clear, the reason sufficient—well, it was for the patient's health.
It was a decision that perfectly befitted a responsible leader.
"Wow, he even said 'special urgency.' Overseer Otto is really... eh~" Kiana, who had heard Otto's entire order, couldn't help but voice her opinion.
"Ahem... Kiana, the Overseer... Miss Rin's condition is indeed very urgent..." Mei tried to make excuses for the uncharacteristically behaving Otto.
"But Bronya thinks that compared to the base, the Key of Genesis on the idiot Kiana is more suitable... hmm—" Bronya saw at a glance that Otto wasn't... she saw the blind spot in the matter.
"Do the three of you still have time to stand here and watch me make a fool of myself? In that case, it seems that your workload can be doubled?" Otto, who had just finished giving his orders, also clearly heard the whispers from the side.
It could even be said that the three of them had no intention of hiding their conversation from him.
"Wow! There it is!"
"The petty Overseer!"
"Kiana! Bronya!"