Chapter Summaries

Stelle met Topaz, Silver Wolf, Dr. Ratio, and Argenti aboard the Radiant Feldspar and Dreamjolt Bar, asking about Cornerstone powers and a locked chest while discussing Aventurine and the Charmony Festival. Argenti told her she already walked the Path of Beauty and explained how its admirers could become Omens.

• Stelle met Topaz, who explained that the Ten Stonehearts had different Cornerstone abilities and warned that some could read thoughts and desires.
• Silver Wolf returned to Dreamjolt Bar and was shocked to find Chair Blake serving drinks, including a concoction called Soap Fizz.
• Stelle met Dr. Ratio, who advised her to enjoy the Charmony Festival, described Aventurine as an imperfect but capable student, and said her locked chest needed a key hidden somewhere unexpected.
• Dr. Ratio refused to attend the Charmony Festival, calling noisy gatherings harmful to contemplation.
• Stelle met Argenti by the aft pool, and he told her she already walked the Path of Beauty and explained that lost admirers could become Omens.

Stelle and Firefly discussed their experiences on Penacony, Firefly’s search for a way to live, and her apology to Stelle. Silver Wolf endured Blake’s absurd Eternity Bar promotion before Robin opened the Charmony Festival aboard [The Radiant Feldspar].

• Stelle and Firefly talked about Penacony’s troubles and Firefly’s belief that her journey might reveal a way to stay alive.
• Firefly told Stelle she wanted fate to repay its debt to her rather than involve anyone else, and apologized for deceiving her as an [Iris Family performer].
• At the Dreamjolt Bar, Blake gave Silver Wolf ten glasses of [Soap Soda] as a supposed buy-one-get-ten-free offer and claimed the ice cubes were laundry-detergent cubes.
• Robin opened the Charmony Festival aboard [The Radiant Feldspar] and welcomed the gathered guests on behalf of the Family and in her own name.
• Robin said the festival celebrated Penacony’s recovery and [The Radiant Feldspar]’s return to the skies.

Robin celebrated the Astral Express’s role in Penacony’s Charmony Festival and announced that the Five Families would give [The Radiant Feldspar] to the Nameless. During the festivities, 'Lycurgus' appeared to Stelle, revealed a bomb threat aboard the ship, and gave her ten minutes to find the explosives before time resumed and the evidence vanished.

• Robin praised the [Trailblaze] and announced that Penacony would transfer ownership of [The Radiant Feldspar] to the Astral Express.
• March 7th and Stelle celebrated the gift as Robin led the ship’s guests in a toast, while Old Oti approved of Robin’s decision.
• 'Lycurgus' froze time around Stelle and warned her that bombs had been planted aboard the ship with ten minutes to defuse them.
• 'Lycurgus' transformed into 'Sparkle' and disappeared, then his voice challenged Stelle to accept the 'gift' from [Elation].
• Time resumed, the map and 'Lycurgus' vanished, and Stelle was left amid the ongoing celebration with the threat unresolved.

Stelle learned that Sparkle had triggered an Imaginary bomb hidden among the ship’s loot, while Ye Yan discovered a bomb inside a Sparkle doll. With the guests evacuated, Firefly decided to carry the chest into the primordial Memory Zone before it exploded, despite Stelle’s objections.

• Sparkle told Stelle that she had activated the bomb by pressing the recovered buttons while confined and said the bombs were hidden in 999 dolls.
• At the Dreamjolt Bar, Blake invoked [Eternity] as Silver Wolf worried about a Soap Bubble Drink made with laundry detergent.
• Ye Yan watched a Sparkle doll explode and learned from its mask that the real Imaginary bomb was hidden inside the loot Lycurgus gave Stelle.
• Stelle and her companions evacuated the guests from [The Radiant Feldspar] and examined the locked chest, which Dan Heng warned was too dangerous to force open.
• Firefly proposed taking the bomb into the primordial Memory Zone, believing she could endure the pressure and protect the ship, while Stelle tried to stop her.

Stelle and Firefly faced Aha’s dangerous gifts, which became a fireworks display across Penacony’s dreamscape. As Firefly caught Stelle and shared a farewell beneath the fireworks, she urged her to remember their brief time together and keep moving forward without regrets.

• Stelle opened the chest by calling Aha’s taste lousy, revealing a Sparkle doll and a soap bomb that began counting down.
• The soap bomb scattered miniature bombs across the Radiant Feldspar, and Dan Heng rushed March 7th toward one of them.
• Firefly carried the doll and bomb into the depths of Penacony’s dreamscape, where they transformed into brilliant fireworks instead of exploding.
• Lycurgus attacked Stelle, and Sparkle struck her off the deck of the Radiant Feldspar with a giant hammer.
• Firefly caught Stelle, removed her armor, and held her beneath the fireworks as they discussed their different paths and the reality of their brief connection.
• Firefly told Stelle to remember their embrace and carry the strength of the experience forward without regrets.

After Firefly departed, Ye Yan reflected on Penacony’s dream and the brief connection between Firefly and Stelle. The Astral Express crew honored the departed Nameless and said goodbye to Dreamflux Reef, then returned to find March unsettled as they prepared to leave Penacony.

• Firefly vanished after sharing a quiet farewell with Stelle, and Ye Yan sensed the fireworks and their moment together from the Asdana Galaxy.
• March 7th and Dan Heng laid bouquets at the Nameless monument and honored Borekline Tiernan and Lazarina Jane Estella.
• The crew said goodbye to Mikail, who explained that Dreamflux Reef’s residents would keep watch over the primordial Memory Zone.
• At A Child's Garden, Ye Yan explained that the two Mikhails represented Penacony’s past and future, and said Gallagher and Mikhail had gone to the Church of Eternity.
• March 7th said she felt an especially strong unease about leaving Penacony, and Welt invited her to explain what was troubling her.

The Astral Express crew discussed Mikhail’s regrets and how [Eternity] preserved the spirit of his Trailblaze after his life ended. They prepared to report what they had learned in Penacony and continue their journey.

• March 7th wondered whether Mikhail’s life and ending were truly special, and questioned the regret she felt for him.
• Himeko explained that the Nameless’ journeys connected worlds and that their stories endured as long as others remembered them.
• Ye Yan said [Eternity] preserved the spiritual essence of those who had followed the [Trailblaze], allowing Mikhail’s spirit to live on as Misha.
• March 7th tried to lighten the mood, and Dan Heng joked that [Shut Up] was in the Party Car.
• Welt reminded the crew that they would face farewells someday, and Himeko prepared to leave for the next stop after reporting what they had learned in Penacony.

Stelle and Acheron shared a final farewell in Dreamflux Reef, discussing Acheron's past, their uncertain chance of meeting again, and what their memories meant to them. Earlier, Black Swan appeared at the Dreamjolt Bar after Silver Wolf left, and Blake confronted her for intruding on a private conversation.

• Stelle stayed behind after the others returned to the Astral Express to say goodbye to Acheron.
• Acheron told Stelle she was a Self-Annihilator seeking Device IX in the Black Net to sever Nihility.
• Acheron apologized for mistaking Stelle for an old friend and explained that her memories were fading under the curse of Self-Annihilation.
• Stelle and Acheron reflected on their past companions, their shared journey, and the possibility of meeting again.
• At the Dreamjolt Bar, Blake confronted Black Swan after she emerged from the void and admitted to overhearing a private conversation.

After Pom-Pom broke down grieving for Misha, Tiernan, Lazarina, and other former companions, the Express crew discussed its dwindling Trailblaze fuel and possible destinations. Black Swan appeared with a proposal: journey to Amphoreus, an unknown world where the Express might lay a new stretch of silver rail.

• Pom-Pom tried to hide their grief over former Nameless companions, then wept as Himeko comforted them and asked the others to leave.
• March 7th, Dan Heng, and Welt discussed how Pom-Pom had repeatedly delayed departures for the crew, and Welt revealed the Express had fuel for only two more warps.
• March 7th suggested asking the Church of Eternity for fuel, but Stelle and the others doubted Ye Yan would intervene, so they considered nearby worlds Lushaka and Melustanin.
• Black Swan emerged from March 7th's room with a Soap Bubble Drink and offered a proposal after overhearing the crew's fuel problem.
• Black Swan proposed that the Express travel to Amphoreus, a little-known world bound by multiple Paths that even Akivili had never reached.

The Astral Express agreed to prepare a Trailblazing expedition to Amphoreus after Black Swan and Blake asked for their help reaching the mysterious world. Meanwhile, Ye Yan returned to his milk tea shop on the Xianzhou Luofu, where Qingque told him the neighborhood had been quiet and pointed out his broken hanging lamp.

• Black Swan and Blake asked the Astral Express to change its destination to Amphoreus, citing its dangerous remnants of Destruction and its hidden memories.
• Welt and the crew accepted Black Swan’s proposal, and Himeko agreed to prepare supplies and support before the expedition.
• Ye Yan returned to his milk tea shop in Central Starskiff Haven and thanked Qingque for looking after it.
• Qingque told Ye Yan that work at the Divination Commission had eased and that no one had caused trouble nearby.
• Qingque warned Ye Yan that the shop’s hanging lamp was loose and could be a safety hazard.

Ye Yan returned to his Luofu milk tea shop, spoke with Qingque, and received visitors from the Yaoqing and Zhuming. As the Astral Express received Jing Yuan’s invitation to the Luminary Wardance, Yunli tried Ye Yan’s new Qiongshi Bird Skewer and invited him to Aurum Alley, but he declined.

• Ye Yan reassured Qingque about his eerie hanging lamp and told her the shop would keep its single milk tea flavor.
• Qingque discussed her increased workload at the Divination Commission, and Ye Yan offered her extra milk tea.
• Ye Yan saw March 7th and Stelle tagging him in the Astral Express group chat before Moze arrived with a message about the Yaoqing shop being demolished.
• March 7th and Stelle messaged Ye Yan aboard the Astral Express, and Dan Heng read Jing Yuan’s invitation for the crew to attend the Luminary Wardance.
• Yunli visited Ye Yan’s Luofu shop, tasted his Star Taro Boba-flavored Qiongshi Bird Skewer, and invited him to Aurum Alley, but Ye Yan declined.

The Astral Express accepted an invitation to the Xianzhou Luofu’s Wardance, sending Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng while Himeko and Welt planned a research trip to Ginnungagap. After the group arrived safely, Ye Yan closed his milk tea shop and asked Yunli if she wanted to work there while they waited for the Wardance.

• Stelle, March 7th, Dan Heng, Welt, and Himeko discussed the Wardance invitation and agreed that the trio would represent the Express on the Luofu while Himeko and Welt retrieved an ancient beast’s remains from Ginnungagap.
• March 7th urged Dan Heng to explore the Luofu with her and Stelle, and Dan Heng agreed to visit his old friends there.
• Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng arrived on the Luofu, where March 7th remarked that their arrival had been unusually smooth.
• Ye Yan closed his milk tea shop in busy Starskiff Haven and asked Yunli if she wanted to work there until the Wardance began.

March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng arrived at Starskiff Haven for the upcoming Wardance and met Yanqing, who was taking them to see the general. When Borisin wolf soldiers attacked the crowded streets, they helped stop the rampage and found Ye Yan at the scene.

• March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng met Yanqing at Starskiff Haven, where he explained how the Wardance was drawing visitors and boosting morale after the Ambrosial Arbor crisis.
• Yanqing set out to escort the Trailblazers to the Palace of Astrum, but howls from a nearby attack sent him to investigate.
• Dan Heng and Yanqing fought a rampaging Borisin wolf soldier while March 7th and Stelle evacuated the crowd.
• March 7th fired an ice arrow that exploded, and Stelle used her trash-can-shaped shield to knock a scorched Borisin soldier away.
• March 7th and Stelle joined the fight and were surprised to find Ye Yan at the scene.

Ye Yan and Yunli helped defeat Borisin who had escaped during a prisoner transfer in Starskiff Haven, while Yanqing investigated the incident with the Cloud Knights. The Borisin were sent to the Prison of Deep Seclusion, and Yanqing headed to the Palace of Astrum with Stelle and the others, still hoping to recover his stolen sword.

• Earlier, Ye Yan watched as Aha’s Fool’s Mask admitted it had thrown two Borisin into a milk tea shop and hinted that a Masked Fool would compete in the Wardance.
• Yunli struck down a Borisin escaping Yanqing and took one of his swords, while Ye Yan dealt with other Borisin that had threatened the Sleepless Earl teahouse.
• Ye Yan went ahead to the Palace of Astrum, and Yanqing questioned the Cloud Knight captain and duty officer Lujun about why Borisin prisoners had been brought to a passenger terminal.
• Lujun explained that the Zhuming delegation had captured Borisin raiders who attacked a company ship, and the Cloud Knights calmed the crowd before arranging to transfer the prisoners to the Prison of Deep Seclusion.
• Yanqing explained the Borisin’s history as enemies of the Xianzhou and wondered whether their attack signaled renewed trouble.
• Yanqing told Stelle and the others that Yunli had taken his sword, then led them toward the Palace of Astrum to meet the general.

Ye Yan grew suspicious of the Cloud Knight Lujun and dragged Yunli away to investigate him, while Yanqing brought the Astral Express crew to meet Jing Yuan and the visiting general Huaiyan. The chapter ended with Lujun sensing that something bad was about to happen.

• Lujun concealed his reaction to Yanqing’s departure by pretending to be a newly assigned security officer dealing with the Borisin.
• Ye Yan met Yunli outside the Palace of Astrum, hinted that Lujun was suspicious, and forcibly took her away to apprehend him.
• Yanqing brought Dan Heng, March 7th, and Stelle to meet Jing Yuan and Huaiyan at the Palace of Astrum.
• Jing Yuan introduced the Astral Express crew to Huaiyan, who praised the young people and asked about his absent granddisciple Yunli.
• Lujun sneezed somewhere in Starskiff Haven and felt that something terrible was about to happen.

Jing Yuan asked Yanqing to reassure the Interastral Peace Corporation about its impounded cargo, while Huaiyan warned Jing Yuan that the Yaoqing's Merlin's Claw had come for him. Elsewhere, Modu encountered a masked stranger demanding money as he worked with his brothers on a plan to rescue Hoolay.

• Jing Yuan sent Yanqing to the Artisanship Commission to calm the Corporation's representatives and explain that the Luofu would respect their rights.
• March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng discussed Huaiyan and joined Yanqing, who worried about handling the Corporation's diplomatic dispute.
• Stelle offered Yanqing help negotiating with the Corporation, then left with March 7th and Dan Heng.
• Jing Yuan asked Huaiyan whether the marshal had instructed him, and Huaiyan said the marshal knew what was happening on the Luofu and that the Yaoqing's Merlin's Claw had come for Jing Yuan.
• Modu, planning with his brothers to infiltrate the Prison of Deep Seclusion and rescue Hoolay, faced a black-clad man in a crimson Fool's Mask who demanded payment.

Yunli watched Ye Yan confront Modu’s disguised Borisin, while the Luofu’s visitors discussed the political scrutiny Jing Yuan faced over the Ambrosial Arbor disaster. Yanqing resolved to handle the IPC’s protest at the Artisanship Commission, and the Astral Express Crew agreed to accompany him.

• Modu suspected the lone Masked Fool was a powerful expert, while Yunli watched from above and decided her trip to the Luofu was worthwhile.
• Jiaoqiu and Moze told Jing Yuan and Huaiyan that Merlin’s Claw had arrived early but had gone to see the sights before visiting them.
• Dan Heng explained to March 7th, Stelle, and Yanqing that the Arbiter-Generals’ visits likely concerned the Luofu’s responsibility for the rebirth of the Plagues Author.
• Yanqing said he would arrange the Express crew’s accommodations before handling an IPC protest at the Artisanship Commission.
• March 7th and Stelle offered to go with Yanqing, and he accepted their help.

At the Artisanship Commission, Yanqing mediated a dispute between Scott and the Xianzhou officials over suspicious cargo aboard his company freighter. Stelle and Yanqing pushed March 7th to persuade Scott, leaving her bewildered as Dan Heng realized the credit for the Aurum Alley incident had been wrongly attributed to her.

• Stelle, March 7th, Dan Heng, and Yanqing arrived at the Artisanship Commission and found Scott arguing with Xikui and Kongqing over his seized cargo.
• Scott recognized March 7th from the Aurum Alley incident, while Stelle and Dan Heng recalled his past conflict with the Astral Express and the Luofu.
• Xikui and Kongqing explained that scans had detected biological-tissue-like material in the crates, requiring an inspection that Scott resisted on patent-confidentiality grounds.
• Yanqing learned the details of the dispute and asked March 7th to help persuade Scott because she had supposedly dealt with him before.
• Stelle told March 7th to use persuasion on Scott, and Dan Heng realized that the Church of Eternity had been responsible for resolving the earlier incident.

March 7th and Stelle pressured Scott into agreeing to discuss an inspection of the Corporation’s transport, while Yanqing warned him that the Borisin attack could implicate the crew. Lingsha arrived at the Artisanship Commission to examine the sealed cargo, though she said they would leave it alone if Scott refused.

• Modu admitted that the man in black had overpowered him and ordered the Borisin soldiers to disguise themselves and prepare the beast ships before the Wardance.
• March 7th and Stelle argued with Scott over whether the Sky-Faring Commission could inspect the transport and offered confidentiality and compensation assurances.
• Scott objected that the cargo belonged to the Genius Society and demanded that one of its representatives be present.
• Yanqing warned Scott that the Borisin attack could raise suspicion that someone among the crew had colluded with the raiders.
• Scott agreed to consult Corporation headquarters about a safety inspection, and Lingsha arrived to examine the sealed cargo.

Lingsha forced Scott to allow an inspection of the cargo, where the group discovered a dangerous wolf-shaped Howling Casket and biological tissue used as wetware. As the Luofu prepared to send the prisoners and weapon to the Prison of Deep Seclusion, March 7th feared trouble and urged Stelle to contact Ye Yan.

• Lingsha used import regulations to make Scott agree to an inspection, and Scott reluctantly ordered his employees to stand aside.
• The Howling Casket suddenly activated, frightening Scott, while Yanqing and Stelle shielded Lingsha and Dan Heng questioned Scott’s explanation.
• Ye Yan told Yunli that he hated the Borisin and hinted that he was preparing to catch a bigger target, though he claimed he was planning nothing.
• At the Artisanship Commission, Lingsha and Kongqing confirmed that the cargo contained biological tissue and that the machine used an organism’s nerves as wetware.
• Dan Heng linked the Borisin attack to the weapon, and Lingsha planned to consult the Ten-Lords Commission about containment at the Prison of Deep Seclusion.
• March 7th worried that danger would strike the Prison of Deep Seclusion and told Stelle to contact Ye Yan.