The Moon and the Stars

"If only White Kitty would pursue me like that too..."

On the screen, the male lead spoke to the female lead in a seemingly casual tone.

"The moon is beautiful, isn't it..."

The female lead gently placed her hand over his. Rather than looking at the moon, she gazed at him with a tender smile.

"Yes, and the wind is gentle too~"

"The moon really is beautiful~" Cyrene turned around and gazed at Sera.

"The moon needs stars by its side too." Sera's emotional intelligence took the high ground at that moment.

"But there's more than one star."

Sera's mind raced. What should he say...

"The moon will always have one brightest star by its side, won't it?"

"Hehe~"

Cyrene covered her mouth and chuckled.

"That's right. Am I your brightest star, little Sera~?"

Everyone present understood what Cyrene meant: she was staking her claim, declaring that she would always be the brightest star by the moon's side.

"Of course."

Sera answered without hesitation.

"Am I your star?"

Herta looked Sera straight in the eyes. He didn't look away, answering her earnestly.

"Of course you're my star too, Herta."

"That's all I needed to hear." The corners of Herta's mouth rose. She had gotten the answer she wanted.

"Um..." Encouraged by Suzi, Himeko spoke up timidly.

"Sera, what kind of girls do you like?"

"I like people who like me. That's a very important part of it."

Sera looked serious. That was indeed how he felt, though it didn't mean he would like everyone who liked him in return.

"I see." Himeko's eyes lit up, and she made some kind of decision.

"White Kitty, what do you think of a girl who likes anime, snacks, and cosplay?"

Feiying tilted her head, unsure where to look, her face a little red.

She didn't know why, but even though they had only known each other for a few days, she seemed to have fallen for Sera. He would play games with her and read the manga she wanted to read with her. She hadn't had that feeling of having someone keep her company in hundreds of years.

"Feifei Fox, you're describing yourself, aren't you~?" Sera teased, his eyes curving as he gave her a helpless smile.

"I think you're very cute, Feifei Fox. I like anime too, and I've cosplayed before."

Sera was telling the truth. If he hadn't liked anime, he would never have met Kiana, much less come here. As for cosplay, of course he had done that too.

"Really...?" Feiying's eyes brimmed with tears, but she was smiling.

What could be better than having the person she liked like her back?

Sera teleported a stack of tissues onto Feiying's lap.

"Really, really. Come on, wipe your tears." Sera gently soothed Feiying.

Sera felt half helpless and half happy. He felt helpless because both Herta and Feiying had come straight at him at the same time, and he felt happy for the same reason.

He had originally intended to be the one to say it when the time, place, and circumstances were right! He was a little embarrassed that the girls who liked him had spoken first.

It seemed he needed to find a good opportunity to say it properly later.

Feiying took a tissue and wiped the corners of her eyes, still unable to stop smiling.

Herta silently crossed out the word "mere" from her assessment of Feiying. It seemed fools really did have their own luck.

The anime ended...

"It's getting late. There are rooms here, so everyone can pick one they like."

Sera patted Cyrene on the butt, signaling her to get up.

Sakura was the first to leave. She chose the room furthest in the corner.

Kiana picked a room at random, stretched, and closed the door.

Herta and Black Tomb walked into the room next to the master bedroom together, the two of them seemingly talking about something.

"Let's go." Cyrene took Sera by the hand and led him into the master bedroom.

"...?" Feiying stared at the scene with her mouth slightly open.

"Come on." Himeko and Suzi pushed Feiying toward a guest room and thoughtfully closed the door for her.

Ruan Mei shook her head and returned to the research area to begin studying Voracity.

Sparkle lay on the sofa, feeling a little disappointed. There hadn't been a confrontation after all!

Sigh... Never mind.

With their personalities, there wouldn't have been one anyway.

Sparkle opened the screen and teleported back to her own place.

Lying on the bed, Sera took out his phone.

He opened the chat and sent a message to a name.

[Feather of the Eclipsed Moon]: I need something.

[Roaring Sea of Quanta Fishy Cat]: (Kiana OK.jpg)

A little while later, a knock sounded at the door.

Cyrene opened the door and stepped aside to let Kiana in.

"What is it?"

Kiana looked puzzled. She couldn't think of anything there was to do.

"Oh, thanks."

Cyrene poured a cup of tea and handed it to Kiana, who accepted it.

"I want you to teach me something."

"...?"

"What could I possibly teach you?"

Kiana felt more and more confused.

"Edge of Taixuan: Eminence."

"Oh, that."

Understanding dawned on Kiana's face.

"No problem! The class monitor would want someone to carry it forward too!"

Sera's reason for learning it was simple. First of all, as a Herrscher, he met the conditions to skip the earlier stages and use the Divine Key directly.

And Taixuan Sword God was an excellent means of attack. In the original words: this sword has no form, nor does it need one. This sword fills space; this sword is space itself. Thus, this sword cannot be stopped.

"The class monitor said Edge of Taixuan has five stages. Most of the earlier ones are meant to help the body adapt to and control Honkai Energy. As Herrschers, we can skip them and use the Divine Key directly.

Eminence is the pinnacle of transformation. Where there is no sword, there is still a sword. Transform intent into a sword, and sword energy forms of its own accord. That is how one masters the Divine Key.

To use Sword God, you need to temper your sword heart."

Kiana thought for a moment.

"But you've already understood your true heart and resolved your obsession, so it should be easy for you."

"Let's go to the training ground."

"Okay." Kiana agreed with a nod, without asking why Sera was in such a hurry.

"Cyrene, it's getting late. Get some rest."

Sera stroked Cyrene's head, and she obligingly narrowed her eyes.

"Okay~"

Watching them, Kiana covered her eyes with her hand, but peered at the two of them through her fingers, the corners of her mouth raised.

They're so cute together.

Sera and Kiana arrived at the training ground.

"I'll take control of your body and do it once. Remember to clear your body and mind, and don't resist."

"No problem."

Kiana's consciousness attached itself to Sera.

"Watch closely."

Kiana's voice rang out together with Sera's.

"Pay close attention to my movements."

Sera (Kiana) closed his eyes.

"Eminence is the pinnacle of transformation.

It expresses the wonders of all things,

beyond what form can explain.

Edge of Taixuan-"

A brilliant sword of light appeared in his hand, and Sera (Kiana) snapped his eyes open.

"Divine Key!"

Sword God descended.

Boom-

The sword strike pierced straight through Sera's specially made training ground, revealing the reflection of the void outside, but it quickly restored itself to its original state.

Kiana withdrew her consciousness from Sera.

"How was it?"

Sera said nothing, quietly recalling the flow through his body just now.