Honkai Star Rail: Saving the World with a Mobile Game — Chapter 19

Chapter 19: A Trial of Golden Threads

The layout of the Bath Palace unfolded before their eyes like a painting of ancient luxury.

To the right, a sprawling bath brimmed with steaming, fragrant water, flanked by platters of fresh fruit and rich wine. Stained glass windows caught the ambient light, casting a crystalline, kaleidoscopic glow across the marble floors. To the left, an ornate folding screen shielded a plush recliner that looked so impossibly soft it practically begged a weary traveler to sink into it and drift into a blissful slumber.

But the crown jewel of the suite was the circular balcony. Furnished with yet another lounger, it offered a sun-drenched vantage point that overlooked the sprawling cityscape of Okhema, stretching all the way to the distant, undulating mountain ranges.

Himeko observed the digital scenery through the screen, a faint smile touching her lips. It was a beautiful place to rest. But was this the entirety of Aglaea’s promised reward? Beyond this lavish suite, did the dressmaker have something else in mind?

On-screen, Stelle and Dan Heng concluded their tour. From behind them, Aglaea’s voice drifted over—calm, measured, and entirely devoid of emotion.

“If you have finished looking around, please follow me this way. I will personally explain this special gift to both of you.”

[Wait, there’s a special gift on top of this?!]

[Holy crap, she gave us a whole mansion. She definitely wants me!]

[Hurry up, hurry up! Show us the loot!]

Unlike the chaotic, meme-filled atmosphere of Guinaifen’s chat, Himeko maintained her quiet observation.

On the screen, a visibly puzzled Dan Heng and Stelle were led to a stone pedestal holding a shallow basin.

“This is… a basin? It looks like some kind of ritual apply,” Dan Heng murmured, his guard subtly raising.

“It looks like a fun-sized dream pool,” Stelle nodded, rubbing her chin.

Himeko sighed softly. They were still so young at heart. If it were her, she would have strictly avoided mentioning off-world technology like a ‘dream pool’ in front of a native. After all, they still knew absolutely nothing about Aglaea’s true nature—whether she was a steadfast ally or a hidden threat.

But Aglaea offered a smooth explanation. “This is no ordinary washbasin. It is a ritual vessel held by the Chrysos Heirs, and I now bestow it upon you two. For the journey of the Chrysos Heirs, I wish to show you both with your own eyes.”

She spoke of ancient myths, explaining that the Ocean Titan, Phagousa, had long ago hidden the world’s starting point beneath the waves. Yet, someone had discovered it and carved out a secret passage.

That place was known as the Creation Vortex Core.

It was the sacred domain where the sparks of the Twelve Titans resided—the promised land where the miracle of creation first descended upon the world. And this unassuming vessel was the key to entering it.

The revelation sent a ripple of anticipation through the viewers, and even Himeko leaned forward slightly. After a relatively leisurely sightseeing tour, were they finally diving into the core plot?

“For this first attempt, I will guide you on the descent,” Aglaea said softly.

She closed her eyes and began to chant, her voice dropping into a hypnotic, rhythmic cadence. Close your eyes. Hold your breath. Immerse your senses. Words like ‘float,”sink,”descend,’and’reach the bottom’ spilled from her lips like a silken lullaby. Gradually, the game’s background music faded into a muted, ambient hum, perfectly matching the soporific atmosphere.

[Haa~ I’m actually getting sleepy, chat. I might just head to bed.]

[What on earth is Aglaea chanting… it’s like ASMR.]

[Honestly, I admire Ash for writing a plotline that can literally put people to sleep.]

This sequence required no player input; just listening to the audio made one feel completely relaxed, body and mind. Even Guinaifen blinked heavily, rubbing her eyes in front of her webcam.

Then, in the very next second.

A cinematic cutscene triggered violently. Stelle plunged headfirst into the basin water. A massive, epic choral arrangement exploded through the headphones, chanting a grand, sweeping vocal harmony that shook the very soul.

When the screen transitioned, a stunning, colossal galaxy shaped like a swirling vortex dominated the screen. Ethereal symbols representing each of the Twelve Titans rotated slowly around its infinite circumference.

The sheer visual majesty instantly washed away every ounce of drowsiness.

[Holy sht—?! JUMPSCARE?!]

[THE MUSIC! Where did this track come from?! It’s so majestic!]

[Is this… the Creation Vortex Core? My god, it’s stunning!]

Players who had been nodding off were violently jolted awake. Guinaifen practically leaped out of her gaming chair.

“This is a massive set piece, family! Old Ash is cooking!”

The sheer spectacle of the Creation Vortex Core caused Guinaifen’s stream metrics to skyrocket, shattering the 50,000 concurrent viewer milestone in an instant. Thrilled, she slammed her keyboard, trying to make Stelle run forward to explore the cosmic expanse.

But the cutscene wasn’t over.

A voice echoed from behind them, shattering the awe. “You have arrived at the Creation Vortex Core.”

Aglaea walked past Stelle, her gaze sliding over the Trailblazer with a chilling, sidelong glance. Then, the unthinkable happened.

“I require your honesty!”

Before anyone could even blink, shimmering golden threads erupted from Aglaea’s hands. The stream chat hadn’t even processed the shift in tone before Stelle and Dan Heng’s wrists were violently bound together. The two instinctively struggled, but the golden silk was unbreakable.

Simultaneously, the soft click of heels echoed through the void. A young woman in a magnificent purple gown stepped into view. She lightly pinched the hem of her dress and offered a flawless, elegant curtsy to the bound prisoners—a grim herald announcing the arrival of death.

A tidal wave of question marks flooded Guinaifen’s chat. The streamer herself sat frozen, mouth agape.

What was happening? Weren’t they just given a luxury suite a minute ago? How did they end up tied to the executioner’s block the next?!

“What is the meaning of this?” Dan Heng demanded, his voice laced with sharp confusion and rising hostility.

Aglaea’s tone remained as placid and unbothered as a frozen lake. “This is no jest, but an interrogation. While you two wandered the city, someone was always observing your actions. Regrettably… you have broken your promise.”

The chat scrolled at lightspeed as Aglaea laid out her cold reasoning. Then, she presented her twisted solution.

“I will give you both one more chance to mend the torn fabric of trust. The golden threads will render judgment for me. Honesty brings life… deception brings death.”

Her expression didn’t shift a millimeter, but her words sent a chill through the audience. Especially when Castorice, who had been so warm and friendly earlier, now stood poised to execute the Astral Express Crew without a second thought.

“A death threat? Interesting,” Welt murmured, crossing his arms as he watched the stream alongside Himeko. His brow furrowed behind his glasses.

Himeko, for her part, was finding it difficult to maintain her usual serene smile. Breaking a local agreement might have been a misstep on Stelle and Dan Heng’s part, but Aglaea had never established that the penalty for a broken promise was summary execution., the Express Crew had just helped save Okhema from the Strife Titan’s erosion. To subject them to a lethal interrogation based purely on a sudden bout of paranoia felt incredibly treacherous.

The Nameless were a tolerant bunch, but they didn’t take kindly to being backstabbed.

“Himeko, it is clear that merely observing from outside the screen, we still cannot accurately assess the political volatility on this planet,” Welt noted.

Himeko nodded, taking a slow, grounding sip of her coffee. “Indeed. But the kids aren’t facing this sort of hostility for the first time. With Dan Heng there, they should at least be able to force their way out if negotiations break down. Let’s see what the actual problem is first.”

On-screen, Aglaea prepared to begin the trial.

“I shall test you with four questions. Dishonest answers will cause the golden threads to tremble; sincere answers will leave them calm. And the number of times the threads tremble will dictate the number of steps the executioner takes forward. After four questions, if she has not walked behind you, you will have passed the test. Otherwise, your journey ends here.”

Aglaea shifted her cold gaze to the girl in purple. “Three steps, Castorice.”

Castorice offered an obedient, sweet nod. “Understood, Lady Aglaea.” She then turned her soft, pitying eyes to Stelle and Dan Heng. “It will merely be like falling asleep amidst a gentle floral fragrance, without a hint of pain… I promise.”

The tension was suffocating. The stakes were absolute.

Yet, when the dialogue prompt appeared and Stelle delivered her next utterly abstract, chaotic reply…

The entire community lost their minds and completely exploded.