Honkai Star Rail: Saving the World with a Mobile Game — Chapter 87

Chapter 87: I Wish You Would Teach Me How to Write Stories

In the distant past, a pair of twins was chosen by prophecy to become the successors of death.

But fate played a cruel trick. As the price for apotheosis, they had to personally take the lives of their closest kin.

“It was my sister who willingly offered her own life, placing me upon the throne of the death demigod.”

“But… I couldn’t accept it. For a future she would never witness, we were forced to kill each other. It was simply too unfair.”

“So, when weaving the laws of the new world, I broke the boundary between life and death.”

As Polyxia narrated the ancient history, her voice gradually grew firm, carrying the weight of centuries.

She had assumed the form of Polykrus and brought Castorice out of the underworld, dragging her back to the mortal realm. Yet fate remained an immutable force. The Hand of Duskhaze, the twin palms that were originally one singular entity of death, could only pronounce judgment. They could never embrace.

Castorice inherited the judgment of the left hand, while what remained for Polyxia was the rebirth of the right. The half of life remained in the mortal world as Castorice. The half of death was born only to die, destined to cease existing. This was the true reason why no one could ever find Thanatos.

“How laughable. My selfish desire was meant to save a life, yet for you, and for this world, I wrote a fate heavier than death.”

Polyxia’s wheelchair slid forward, its wheels grinding softly against the small path. Castorice followed closely behind, her steps silent and measured. Facing this absurd, twisted fate, she did not blame her sister.

Not long ago, Castorice had already found her own purpose.

“To me, you have done nothing wrong. My life has not been in vain.” Castorice looked at the desolate landscape ahead. “Or rather, all of this made me understand that Thanatos cannot shape all things at will, and the Hand of Duskhaze cannot decree the fate of all living beings.”

“Because the life and death of mortals should never be governed by any will.”

Hearing Castorice speak with such quiet conviction, Polyxia was taken aback. A moment later, a laugh escaped her lips, laced with a heavy, lingering bitterness.

“We… truly have walked an utterly absurd journey together.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the screen, the livestream chat was exploding in a frenzy of tears and text.

“Can the BGM please chill for a second? I’m actually dropping little pearls of tears right now!”

“Why does an original story always leave me breathless? The lore is too heavy!”

“Even after a thousand-year journey of hardship, misunderstood by the entire world, unable to touch life, even deprived of the right to hug her own sister… you harbor zero resentment towards fate, Castorice?!”

“Polyxia is so gentle too. She disrupted the River Styx and spent a thousand years alone in the dark underworld just to resurrect Castorice. That was the price…”

“I’m crying. What a pair of tragic, destined souls!”

As the two characters conversed on screen, Guinaifen nodded vigorously, completely agreeing with the barrage of emotional comments flooding her stream.

But at least they had met again. This long, agonizing journey was finally coming to a complete end. Not for a long-awaited embrace upon reunion, but to exact retribution and return what was owed.

Reaching the edge of the blooming sea, both sides seemed to fall into a tacit agreement. The air grew still.

“The divine authority of Thanatos is destined to be wielded by only one person. As Chrysos Heirs of death, as its demigods, as Titans…” Polyxia spoke, her tone shifting into something absolute and final. “Our fated moment has arrived once more.”

Just like back then, even if Castorice remembered nothing of their past, her inherent gentleness remained untouched.

“You no longer have to bear the scepter of death alone. After all, it was always meant to be lifted by two hands together.” Castorice stepped closer. “Just like before.”

“Yes, just like before.” Polyxia affirmed.

Unlike that ancient tragedy, both participants in this trial were fully prepared. A span of a thousand years had passed. One had endured a bitter, lonely journey, while the other had waited in silence. Even Polyxia, who had once feared the inevitable, had completely resolved herself.

Though the reality of it was cruel.

Polyxia lifted her head, looking up at her twin. “As long as you are here, I will not be afraid. Please grant me the embrace of death and ignite the spark of life.”

Watching this unfold, with the melancholic background music swelling in her ears, Guinaifen gripped Sushang’s arm with terrifying strength. Beside the red-haired streamer, Sushang was in so much physical pain her arm was growing numb, but she clamped her mouth shut. She dared not cry out, entirely captivated by the unfolding tragedy.

“Guinaifen, don’t squeeze so hard…” Sushang hissed through her teeth.

Then came Castorice’s next words, silencing the room.

“I will, Polyxia. After that, I will reside eternally in the underworld, guiding the River Styx back here, transforming it into gentle rain from the heavens, scattering souls across this underworld soil.”

“Life and death will flow once more. This sea you sowed with your own hands will henceforth carry countless souls, both joyful and sorrowful, forever brimming with vitality.”

“Thank you.” Polyxia smiled, a rare, stunning sight. “At the very end, could you grant me one wish?”

The livestream chat, which had been weeping in harmony just a second ago, instantly turned into a chaotic sea of classic question marks.

“Of course, what is it?” Castorice agreed without hesitation.

Polyxia’s voice grew incredibly solemn. “Please… do not forget me.”

“What the hell? What does that mean?!”

“Am I hallucinating again? What do you mean by ‘reside eternally in the underworld’?!”

“That’s not the point! The point is Polyxia asked for the embrace of death. This embrace… I’m guessing it’s not a physical hug, is it?!”

“Didn’t the developer say fate would show mercy?! Where is the mercy?!”

“I know the answer to this one: a wholesome, uplifting, and positive story!”

While the barrage was still scrolling wildly in panic, Castorice and Polyxia had already made their final farewells.

“I promise.” Castorice pledged, her voice trembling slightly. “Even if I must traverse the cycle of rebirth once more, when we meet again in our next lives, before we even know each other’s names… I will definitely, tightly embrace you.”

“Castorice… Castorice. A name as beautiful as its bearer, isn’t it?”

As the final syllable fell, there was no warning.

Right there, in the center of the sea of blooming antiling flowers. In the cinematic cutscene, Castorice’s hands left the handles of Polyxia’s wheelchair. She leaned down and gently wrapped her arms around her sister.

In that singular instant, a storm of purple butterflies danced into the air, carrying a heavy, sweet fragrance. A magnificent great dragon materialized, circling around the embracing twins.

Polyxia smiled, closing her eyes as she held her sister back.

Quietly. Silently. And devastatingly beautifully.

A single tear traced a path down Castorice’s cheek. “I will bring peace to death. Henceforth, stagnant life shall flow once more.”

The scene faded to black.

Just as millions of players were entirely captivated by the emotional weight of that moment, the game map abruptly shifted back to Anaxa’s perspective. The time of the fifteen doors was approaching, and the Citizens Assembly was entering the final phase of voting.

Guinaifen, still dazed and wiping her eyes, did not even have time to process her grief. “Huh? The perspective shifted back?”

[Cosmic Shards +500]

[Cosmic Shards +500]

[Cosmic Shards…]

Ash heaved a leisurely sigh and reached out, switching off Guinaifen’s livestream feed on his monitor. He was not planning to watch the rest of the broadcast for the moment. After all, not much of the story remained in this segment. It was time to prepare the concluding content for the current version, and more, to open the Anaxa character banner.

He also had to finalize the exchange shop for version 3.3. The truly massive update was just over the horizon. Dawn would eventually rise over Amphoreus.

Stretching his arms, Ash turned his chair around, only to realize the real Castorice was standing stiffly in the middle of his room, her eyes completely vacant as she stared at the now-dark screen.

“Huh?” Ash opened his mouth, waving a hand in front of her face. “Castorice? Castorice? Earth to Castorice? Little Butterfly!”

“Ah? Oh, oh!” Castorice jolted, blinking rapidly. “Yes, I’m sorry, sir. That was impolite of me…”

She shook her head dazedly. Realizing she had been completely lost in her own thoughts and had blatantly ignored Ash, a faint, warm flush crept up her pale cheeks.

“Because your writing and scene-setting… were too beautiful,” Castorice explained softly, her gaze dropping to the floor. “So I was captivated for a moment. I never imagined a tale of meeting and parting could be written so… enchantingly.”

“Hehe.” Beside her, the real Polyxia nodded in amusement. “Sister is still exactly like this. She gets lost in her own little world whenever she sees a story she likes.”

“But, it’s more than that, isn’t it?” Polyxia paused, tilting her head with an expectant look. “Sister, you actually have something specific on your mind, right? That’s the only time you avoid others’ gaze or stare off into the distance. I wouldn’t remember wrong.”

Though Castorice’s voice usually held very little inflection, Ash could easily tell she had become genuinely uneasy.

“Little Polyxena, is it really that obvious?” Castorice murmured.

“Alright…” She stole a quick, nervous glance at Ash.

“Something on your mind?” Ash raised an eyebrow, leaning back and scrutinizing her.

Castorice unconsciously intertwined her fingers, twisting them anxiously beneath the fabric of her skirt.

“Actually, it’s not really something heavy on my mind.” Castorice lifted her head gently, her eyes meeting his with a mix of hesitation and hope. “It’s just that I feel, since you can write such beautiful stories… could you also give me some advice?”

“I wish you would teach me how to write some fan-made sequels about everyone.”

Ash blinked in surprise. He looked Castorice up and down again. Seeing her eyes immediately dart away in embarrassment, he realized she was simply too shy to ask him directly.

Then, a memory surfaced in his mind. Castorice actually loved fan creation. She was so obsessed with it that she had secretly opened hundreds of alternate accounts online just to write and post her own stories.

Ash nodded slowly, catching sight of Polyxia smiling knowingly at him from the side. “Sure, I can teach you. But Castorice, you have to agree to one condition of mine first.”

“What is it, sir?”

Ash stood up and promptly caught her wrist. “Accompany me for a stroll outside. Polyxia can come too, if it’s convenient for her.”

“Eh?” Castorice looked slightly startled by the sudden physical contact.

Looking at her wide eyes, Ash thought to himself that despite having known each other for so long, their mode of address still felt far too stiff and formal. He needed to have a good talk with Castorice about dropping the ‘sir’ business.

“No buts,” Ash smiled, pulling her gently toward the door. “Let’s go, let’s go!”