The voice in the endless darkness was a young girl's soft, unhurried confession.
Deep in quiet concentration, Lin Chen was in an exceedingly subtle state.
It seemed as though his body had become one with the surrounding Star Sea.
His thoughts seemed capable of crossing infinite distances and barriers.
He listened to Clara's heartfelt, devout prayers.
Rather than listening, peering into her heart would have been a more fitting description.
"I don't want the world I live in to be destroyed by despair."
"I don't want all the familiar faces I once knew to fall before my eyes."
"So... could you help me, Mr. Lin Chen?"
"Help the people in my world escape the ravages of the Eternal Freeze and the Fragmentum."
"Let the flame of hope burn again, so no one has to die alone..."
The girl's inner voice came in fits and starts, sounding rather faint.
But Lin Chen could feel it.
Clara's sincerity and purity.
Her prayers had never sought even the slightest benefit for herself.
Everything she considered was for the well-being of her world.
At that moment, Lin Chen...
Finally understood.
Clara, a young girl who was a key figure in the Star Rail World...
Had managed to break through the boundless barriers and convey her prayers to him.
Her unwavering, sincere, and pure ideals and longing...
Had truly surpassed the limits an ordinary human could reach.
"I'm not a greedy girl."
"If you're willing to come to this planet of eternal winter, Mr. Lin Chen..."
"And bring everyone a new flame of hope..."
"I'm willing to offer you every treasure I've collected."
"And I'm willing to do anything for you..."
"Even working in the Geomarrow mines for twenty years without pay would be fine."
Clara's sweet, adorable voice continued.
With his eyes closed in