Chapter Text
I don't own anything.
A/N: Hey, before we get into reading this story. I do want to mention that I will be making changes to the actual story of HSR. It might have the same story beats as the actual game. However, The Story of The Loufu is going to be pretty different. I mean really different. You may be asking, "Why?" I want this story to really emphasize the Trailblazer's importance to the story and that requires changing some things. Which leads me to saying that I'll be writing my own version. Hopefully, it will be fitting for you if not, there's the review button and or you can drop the story.
A/N 2 1/30/26: Now I will be skipping out on a lot of the padding content or as much as I can. For example, when you go to the Robot Settlement to do the clearance but have to ultimately get Clara. Yeah, that's completely removed and instead you go straight to Clara because the way to the settlement is via Rivet Town. She is in Rivet Town and you'll run into her first. If some of it is missing, that's why. Finally, without further ado.
He felt so groggy, tired but he forced himself to stay awake. He could see two people, he couldn't recongize one of them. The one he couldn't recongize was the teen. The teen had silver color hair in a ponytail. Her eyes were also silver in color. She wore a short black color coat and a crop top that covered her upper body. She wore black unbuttoned shorts with a decorative fabric. She had a white color belt with some sort of machine attached to the belt. The girl had on purple glasses with a pair of blue and black boots. Next to her was a woman that stood taller, he remembered this woman. Her red wine color hair kept in a messy ponytail, her bangs hanging loosely. The woman's eyes were of similar color with the color being lighter than her red wine hair. She had on a pair of sunglasses on her head. The woman had on a white dress shirt with her black jacket hanging on her shoulders. She had on black thigh high shorts but she wore nylon tights on her legs. Her right leg had a black garter on it, black boots. The boots being different in length. The woman had on a pair of dark pink gloves. The memories of the second woman rushed by him so quickly and all at once that he couldn't recall them. The only thing he could recall was her name.
"Kaf...ka." He got out.
His body felt so weak but he tried his hardest not to fall asleep. He could see that the woman looking at him looked pleased at his statement.
"Great, so you remember me."
The girl next to Kafka seemed to have nearly scoffed. However, Kafka didn't bother addressing the change of disposition from the person next to her. Instead, it felt like she was giving him her full complete attention to him.
"Listen, you are in a daze right now. You don't know who you are, why you're here, or what you're going to do next. You think I look familiar, but you're not sure if you should trust me. None of that matters. All you need to know is that I'm leaving, and you will be left all alone on this Space Station. From now on you needn't think about your past or doubt yourself. In the near future, you will encounter all kinds of perils and hardships, but you will also have many wonderful experiences. You'll meet companions who treat you like family, and embark on surreal adventures with them. They're known as The Astral Express, they'll take care of you and help you reach your destinations. At the end of your journey, all that perplexes you and troubles you will resolve. This is your future that Elio has foreseen. Do you like it?" Kafka asked.
She was right, he couldn't remember anything about Kafka but just her name and her face. Everything else was shattered into trillions of pieces that couldn't be recalled. If he could remember everything then it would be helpful. Yet, he remembered nothing but despite that there was this feeling of comfort within him. Like he could trust not only Kafka but the other person next to her. Why?
"I guess..." He replied.
"Lovely, remember what you're feeling in this moment. As long as you know in your heart where you're heading, you are guaranteed to see the ending of your story. This is the you I like." Kafka spoke.
Like? Did she know him in his past life? Did they interact? It seemed like they did especially when he answered her question. She grew a fond and relieved expression. Just what was his relationship with this woman?
"How long do you think you need? According to the script, the Astral Express Crew is arriving soon. We should avoid being seen by them." The Teen spoke.
Kafka peered over at The Teen. The female didn't give way to any emotion but the way she responded. It showed that she was annoyed? He didn't really know.
"I know Silver Wolf, just give me another minute." Kafka replied.
So that's the name of the other female.
"Listen, I must leave now. Someone will come and find you very soon, just go with them besides you won't remember a thing except for me." Kafka said.
"No..." He spoke.
He wanted answers but Kafka took a step back.
"When you have a chance to make a choice...make sure you don't regret it." Kafka spoke.
He didn't have anymore strength to stay awake and that's when his eyes closed. The last imagine was of the pair walking away from him.
"Weren't their coordinates sent out from the space station?" A male voice asked.
"Who cares? They're here and alive. Do they look like a mannequin to you?" A female asked.
He opened his eyes to see two pairs of legs in front of him. He looked up to see two people that had looked down at him.
"Ah! He's awake!" The Female shouted.
The female had light pink color hair with her eyes having a pink and blue color to the iris's. She wore a white color top with a loose blue and pink color overcoat. She had on a black choker. She had on a blue and white pleated skirt with a black vest around her waist. She had a camera attached to her waist with her footwear being black and blue boots. The young woman had a archery glove.
"That's a good sign, who are you?" The Young Man asked.
The Male of the duo had knelt down to get to the other male's eye level. The male that had awaken from his slumber had spoke without thinking.
"Caelus...yes...thats my name."
Strange, how he remembered his name and those two but everything else was a blank.
"I'm Dan Heng and this here is March 7th." Dan Heng introduced.
Dan Heng was a male with black color hair, blue color eyes. He wore a black turtleneck shirt with a white and green colored coat. He had armor on his shoulder that resembled jade. He wore gray color pants with black high top shoes. Meanwhile, Caelus had a white t-shirt black color with a black long sleeve color jacket, black pants, a pair of black gloves, and black color shoes. He had amber color eyes with silver color hair.
"Nice to meet you!" March said with enthusiasm.
Caelus put his attention towards the female.
"Likewise." Caelus said.
"I take it these are yours?" Dan Heng said.
He pointed next to Caelus and the male turned his head to see that there was a well kept sword and shield. He was surprised they were even here. Kafka must have left them here for him considering that she had to leave him behind. The gifts were unexpected. Yet welcomed, the weapons were an indication that she wouldn't leave him completely defenseless. He would have to find her. To get answers from her. Caelus got to his feet before grabbing the equipment. It was far too easy to lift and to hold within his hands. Caelus felt a familiarity with said objects. As if he had used them before but he just couldn't recall on that experience. Maybe, automatically he could do it without him thinking on it, like an act of subconsciousness.
"Now that you're settled and appear okay. This space station was just attacked by the Antimatter Legion. We came to help with the rescue at the request of Lead Researcher Asta."
Caelus felt something on the tip of his tongue. When he couldn't recall the information. Caelus opted to ask March.
"Antimatter Legion?" Caelus asked.
"Goons owned by the Destruction. You're lucky that the most dangerous of them, The Lord Ravager or the Emanator of Destruction isn't around, just some nasty minions." March answered.
"I see, where should I go?" Caelus asked.
"Back to the master control zone. Asta and the other researchers have gathered there." Den Heng advised.
"It's where we parked The Astral Express and don't you worry, we'll protect you from those thugs." March stated.
'Kafka said to go with these people but they would have given her trouble. Why?'
The only sense of familiarity and order in this chaos was Kafka and because of this situation. Caelus was cautious about joining the Astral Express. Is Kafka evil? Did she actually care about him? Is the Express evil and he was the spy? It was just a few of the so many questions that began to swirl inside his head. Caelus found himself completely lost.
"Can you explain to me about The Astral Express?" Caelus asked.
The two looked surprised by his request. March and Dan Heng exchanged looks of worry with one another. They finally looked back at Caelus.
"You never seen it?" March asked.
Caelus readily shaked his head. He didn't remember a lot of things. He was drawing blanks.
"No, I don't. I never heard of it either."
It would be Dan Heng that would answer Caelus's question.
"It's a unique train that can travel between the stars with the power of the Trailblaze Aeon." Dan Heng answered.
March became grouchy as her face showed annoyance and elbowed Dan Heng. The male wincing in pain while March face took a softer tone when she looked at Caelus. Dan Heng glared at March while she ignored him.
"I'll explain it to you more in detail but once we get to The Master Control Zone." March stated.
"Sure, I would like some information." Caelus stated.
"You and March can head back together, The Head of Security, Chief Arlan is missing and I'll have to find him." Dan Heng said.
"Oh, alright. Stay safe." March spoke.
Dan Heng continued on his own way while the pair were left alone.
"At the very least you brought something to protect yourself with. From what we have seen, The Antimatter Legion is swarming the Space Station. Don't worry though, you're safe as long as you stick with me. This way, follow me." March spoke.
Now that Caelus had a moment, he finally noticed the room he was inside and could see all different types of gadgets. As if on display for those to see.
"This place is full of fancy little gadgets that are apart of Herta's collection. I really don't get why she'd go out of her way to collect them and then leave them here to gather dust." March spoke.
Caelus was actually reminded of children. They have such short attention spans. Weird. He remembered what children were like but he couldn't remember other things. Though to distract himself from his thoughts. He talked about Herta.
"Maybe she's like a child. When you get bored of a toy, you toss it away and let it collect dust." Caelus summarized.
"True...she does have a puppet that resembles a kid and she uses it very frequently." March agreed.
March reached a controller and she pressed the button to open a door that was in front of them. The door lead into a hallway. It was the only way forward so both would walk into the hallway until three creatures rushed them from the other end of the hallway.
"Ah! It's the Antimatter Legion! These guys reached all the way here!"
March summoned a bow made out of ice while Caelus took a step forward. His body moving automatically with his eyes looking over the top of the shield to see his enemy. Caelus blocked an attack with his shield but because he blocked it. Caelus suffered recoil, his arm throbbing in pain. This wasn't the time to flinch as he power through the pain and took a swing at the creature. The creature jumped back. Caelus stayed his ground as he would not jump into their grasp. There was three of the enemy and only two of them. He had to treat this carefully. March shoot forth an arrow made out of ice at the sphere shaped enemy. The arrow impaled itself into the orb and the orb became that of ice. It looked like the sphere was frozen in place. Caelus saw the other two rush forward to March and he got in their path. He shoved his shield forward as it hit the first enemy. That enemy was sent staggering back while Caelus blocked the slashing strike with his sword. March followed up by shooting another arrow as it hit the Antimatter Legion soldier. Caelus kicked the creature away from him before focusing in on the creature that was staggered. He blocked a slash before he stepped in to stab the creature with his sword. The creature trembled off of the sword before disappearing into dust. March had dispatched the frozen enemy and this left them to deal with only one of them. Caelus rushed forward to deliver the killing blow. When it was all said and done.
"You're stronger than you look...who taught you those moves?" March asked.
Caelus looked at his sword. A fragment of a memory came to him. It had been Kafka. However, the image left his mind as he didn't remember anything else but him sitting in front of Kafka. The sword in his lap and nothing more. Yet, Caelus didn't trust March. They had just met after all. Therefore, he did lie to her.
"I don't...remember." Caelus stated.
March became sympathetic for Caelus. Her eyes softened.
"Memory loss...those jerks hit you in the head. Don't worry, they're gonna get it from me." March said.
Caelus gave a weak smile as a response. At least she was doing her best to help and deliver retribution on his behalf. Caelus was thinking that March was a good person so far. The two would press onwards to their destination.