Invitation

Xiao Xi and March 7th were chatting over tea about various Aeons. Midway through, since March 7th wasn't quite used to the taste of pure green tea, they stopped by a street stall to buy a cup of milk tea to bring back.

Just then, Himeko suddenly sent a message.

(Himeko): Xiao Xi, are you free right now? If you are, please return to the Astral Express. An invitation for you to attend the Charmony Festival on Penacony has been delivered to the train.

(Xiao Xi): The Charmony Festival? I understand, Himeko. I'll get ready and head back immediately.

(Himeko): (Pom-Pom nods)

Xiao Xi put down her phone. "March, Himeko needs me for something, so I have to head back to the Astral Express. I can't keep you company while you shop for now."

"It's no problem." March 7th waved her hand. "Taking care of business on the train is more important. You go ahead."

Astral Express - Parlor Car

"Himeko, I'm back," Xiao Xi said to Himeko with a smile.

"Welcome back. You must have had a wonderful time on the Luofu."

"Mhm, the food and architecture on the Luofu Xianzhou are both excellent; they have that unique style specific to the Luofu." Having wandered through quite a few places these past few days, Xiao Xi was naturally able to recount them like a treasure map.

"Although, generally speaking, there are still some lingering effects on the Luofu Xianzhou that haven't fully settled, those are minor issues. Plus, Dan Heng has resolved much of his inner conflict, so everyone has gained a great deal."

"That puts my mind at ease." Himeko listened quietly to Xiao Xi's account.

"Oh, I was so caught up in listening that I almost forgot the main point. This is the invitation sent to you by Penacony."

"Come to think of it, hadn't the Astral Express Crew already received an invitation to the Charmony Festival? Why would they send a separate one just for me?"

"I found it a bit strange as well, but this invitation isn't addressed to Xiao Xi of the Astral Express Crew; it is addressed to the Emanator of the Aeon of Hope, Xiao Xi, the proxy of the Aeon of Hope walking among mortals."

"How should I put it? It's slightly odd, but I wouldn't say it's entirely unreasonable, which is why I wanted you to take a look at it first." As Himeko spoke, she handed the invitation over.

"Is that so? Alright, let me take a look. Oh!"

The invitation was exquisitely crafted; one could tell the organizers had put a lot of heart into it.

But the moment Xiao Xi saw the text on the cover of the invitation, the smile vanished from her face.

She gripped the invitation tightly, her expression turning gloomy—a rarity since she had first awakened.

Himeko quickly sensed that something was wrong with Xiao Xi. She placed her hand over Xiao Xi's fingers, her tone filled with unconcealable concern. "Xiao Xi, are you alright? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you think of unpleasant things. If you don't want to look at it, then don't. Regardless of what Penacony's intentions are, the Astral Express Crew will not be intimidated..."

"No, Himeko." Xiao Xi shook her head and nestled into Himeko's embrace. "You know about my past, and you know about the Moon Sky Planet that was... destroyed by Destruction."

Xiao Xi held up the invitation. "The Moon Sky Planet was destroyed long ago. Its language, its writing, and so many other things have completely vanished. I had assumed I was the last person who still remembered them, but the language and grammar used in this invitation come from the Moon Sky Planet."

"If I didn't know it was impossible, I would even think that the person who wrote this invitation was a survivor from the Moon Sky Planet. Penacony... they are provoking me in this way, trying to goad me into attending the Charmony Festival."