He Who Feels Guilt [Honkai: Star Rail]

Narrator's Pov

"Am I late?"

Ryan entered the Supreme Guardian office in Qlipoth Fort, seeing the four trailblazers in the middle of a conversation with Bronya.

"Ryan, no need to worry, Mr.Yang has already explained everything" Bronya smiled softly looking at him approaching.

"Yes, even if the Stellaron is sealed, that will only stop the Fragmentum and the Eternal Freeze, but that will not heal the planet completely" Welt explained before letting out a short sigh. "There's nothing else that we as Trailblazers can do, now, the destiny of this planet in your people's hands, Madam Guardian" Welt looked towards Bronya who slowly nodded.

"Only Bronya is fine, Mr Yang" she smiled gently before looking at Ryan and the younger trailblazers. "There's still a favor that I want to ask all of you..."

"Is it about Cocolia's trial?" Dan Heng asked and the girl nodded.

"Yes, even if Serval and I as eye witnesses serve enough for the Architects to choose my mother's fate, the opinion and presence of those who helped defeat her holds great weight" Bronya explained before looking at Welt. "I would also appreciate your presence Mr.Yang, since you seem to have great knowledge about the Stellaron, your explanation on its true intentions could be vital for determining her fate."

"Wait, so it won't be straight death penalty?" Stelle asked with a hand on her waist.

"It's not that simple Stelle, even if Cocolia tried to destroy Belobog, from what we now, the Stellaron Influenced every single Supreme Guardian, Cocolia was just the one who either let herself be taken, or was completely influenced by it, which one was, only Cocolia knows" Dan Heng explained before looking at Bronya. "She also seemed to have done good things for the surface, that might change the verdict of the architects."

"Yes, but I made sure to choose the ones who would be the most objective, I can't have people who only have into account the good deeds on the surface, the Underworld suffered a lot because of mother's choice on the blockade, I need people that understand that, Serval Landau will also take her place as an Architect for this trial, even if she was expulsed by mother due to her 'heretic' research, her presence as a witness, former architect and a past friend of my mother is valuable" she let out a short sigh. "I trust in her, I know she won't take sides due to their past friendship."

"Bronya, when will the trial take place?" March asked a bit nervous.

"It was postponed because I had to give my speech and publicly take place as the current Supreme Guardian, I also have a lot of work to do, it'll be done tomorrow, I'm sorry to keep you all here for another day" she apologized looking at the group.

"There's no need to apologize" Welt smiled at her. "We'll stay here as long as you need us to, we're not in a hurry"

"Mr.Yang, what about Himeko?" March asked a bit curious.

"I think she'll take advantage of being alone in the express and drink that expensive and strong coffee she thinks we don't know exists" The adult let out a small smirk.

"I have work to do now, all charges against you have been revoked, you're completely free to travel as you like around Belobog and the underworld" Bronya smiles nodding softly.

"Yay! I kinda want to go see the Golden Theatre, we never got a chance to see it" March smiled excitedly towards her companions.

"We can go check it out now then" Dan Heng looked at Stelle and March.

"I'll go buy a few tomatoes in case the show is horrible~" Stelle announced with a smirk starting to walk away.

"Stelle! That's not nice!" March quickly followed her friend.

"We'll take our leave now, Bronya" Dan Heng spoke.

"That's fine, hope you enjoy the Theatre" She smiled at Dan Heng who nodded his head and then walked out of the room.

"I will be leaving too, there's a Hotel in here right?" Welt drove a hand to his chin.

"I can take you to the Hotel Mr.Yang" Ryan smiled towards the adult who nodded.

"Thank you Ryan" Welt smiled before looking at Bronya. "It has been a pleasure meeting you, Bronya"

"I can say the same Mr.Yang, I hope you enjoy your stay in Belobog."

With a nod, Welt looked at Ryan. "Let's go"

Ryan likewise nodded his head. "Take care, Bronya, we'll be sure to be ready for tomorrow"

"Thank you Ryan, I'll be waiting for all of you"

After that, Ryan and Welt left the room and soon the Qlipoth Fort.

After entering the Hotel, Welt made sure to book a room close to the ones of his fellow trailblazers, but after that, Ryan mentioned something to Welt.

"It...started to grow again?"

Welt looked down at Ryan, who was now sitting on the bed of his own room, he had taken the coat off, and had folded his kimono around his waist letting Welt see the growing Ice that slowly expanded around Ryan's shoulder.

"Yes, it started after the fight against Cocolia..."

"I see..."

"You were the one who broke the ice before, right? I...I don't think any of the others have the power to do it" Ryan looked up at Welt who slowly nodded his head.

"Yes, I was the one who freed you before"

With those words, the adult sat on the bed beside him, rising up his cane he gave a small bump to the ice, letting some dark energy cover the ice before it slowly broke and crumbled falling on the bed and floor completely exposing Ryan's shoulder and well as the hand print on it.

"Thanks...Mr.Yang" Ryan let out a short sigh while Welt burrowed his brows slightly.

"Ryan...this is no regular ice, and you know it, if you don't mind me asking...what exactly is that thing on your shoulder?" He asked looking towards the boy who started to think in silence. "That mark is what generates the Ice, right?"

Ryan kept himself silent for a few seconds, telling Welt exactly what the mark Perla put on him was, that was.... something he might not be really prepared to, he did tell Herta what it was, telling her was one thing, she seemed more interested on what it did over what it exactly was, but Welt was different, Ryan knew that he'd probably be travelling with the Express for some time before he started to travel on his own....maybe it was time he started to be more open towards them.

"It's...a kind of Curse, someone I fought some time ago put it on me, it feeds on...my guilt"

"It feeds on your guilt...the fact that it's acting now" Welt looked at the mark burrowing his brows slightly. "You...did something you're not proud of didn't you?"

"I guess..."

"Ryan..." Welt slowly put a hand on the other's shoulder. "Listen, in the Express, we all have our past, we all have secrets that we may never tell anyone, but don't let that stop you from looking for someone to talk to, we don't forcefully dwell on others past, I...I know you've not been completely genuine with us, and I can't blame you"

The adult man slowly stood up pushing his glasses up before looking at Ryan with a little smile.

"Away from home, with such a heavy responsibility suddenly forced upon your shoulders, and that mark...you have many things to deal with now, I can't say I know exactly what you're going through, but I do know that even if you think you are alone in this universe, you're not, the Express is here for you" Welt slowly offered his hand towards Ryan, his eyes looking directly as his while his smile grew faintly. "The Astral Express will always be open for Ryan Chevalier, Aeon or not, Trailblazer or not, our family will always have room for you"

Ryan looked up at the man for a few seconds, his blue eyes staring at him, his hand trembling slightly as it slowly went towards Welt, with a soft grasp, Ryan grabbed a hold of the Trailblazer's hand, letting the man help him get up from the bed, then he smiled softly at Welt.

"Thank you...Mr.Yang" Ryan smiled looking slightly down. "It's...good to know that the Express will be there for me" slowly he let the man's hand go.

"There's no need to thank me, I'm sure that all of the Express feels the same, now...is there something you'd like to talk about?"

"There....actually is something, Mr.Yang"

"Well then" Welt smiled and pushed his glasses up. "I'm all ears"

...

"That was Boring!"

"You fell asleep 5 minutes in, Stelle" March looked at the raccoon girl with a deadpan.

"The plot was simple, but it was quite entertaining, it wasn't a masterpiece but it wasn't mediocre either" Dan Heng spoke softly looking back at the Golden Theatre.

"Oh! Maybe we should take a picture" March smiled and grabbed her camera.

"Oh! I found you!"

The three trailblazers looked at Serval, who approached with a smile before she slowly cleared her throat and started to speak, her tone sounding a mix of anxious and excited.

"I've been looking for you, there's something I'd like to ask you" she smiled a bit nervous. "You three came here on a train, right? Are you...uhm...accepting new passengers?"

"You...want to join the Express?" Dan Heng asked rising a brow.

"Yes..."

"You'll have to go through an insufferable trial" Stelle spoke dramatically closing her fist towards Serval. "You'll have to climb the tallest mountain, swim through the roughest of seas, chop the biggest tree and find the miraculous Deez"

"Deez?" Serval asked a bit confused.

"Deez Nu-" Stelle was about to complete the joke before March suddenly slapped the back of her head making her yelp.

"Ignore her please" March deadpanned at Stelle's words. "From what I know, the Express is always open for new trailblazers!"

"Wait...really? I don't have to do an exam or something? There's no problem if an Uhm...'Alien' like me joins you?"

"There's no problem, we would need to speak with everyone though, Mr.Yang is here, you could talk to him" Dan Heng took a hand to his chin. "I don't think he or Miss Himeko would mind you joining, but they'd need to still be informed"

"Yes, of course" Serval let out a short sigh. "They're your seniors I guess..."

"You could see it that way" March smiled before she looked at Serval with curiosity. "But...can I ask why you want to join?"

"Who wouldn't want to join? The opportunity to see what's beyond the sky, to understand the truth behind many of my questions of what is above us..." She made a small pause before letting out a short sigh. "But honestly, now that Cocolia was stopped and the Stellaron was sealed, I don't have much reason to stay here"

"But, what about your work? And your band?" Stelle looked at the blonde woman a bit curious.

"I barely do any kind of work anymore at the workshop, I do like practicing guitar and performing is fun, but the crowds are pretty small" she looked up at the sky with a smile. "Entire worlds above the sky, worlds I could see with my own eyes, I'm a researcher, having the chance of exploring endless worlds is just too alluring, everyone gets tired of living in a small place like Belobog after a few years." She finished and looked at the three trailblazers.

Dan Heng slowly smiled towards the woman. "If that's what you truly seek, then I don't think you'll have any problem in joining us"

"Yeah! We'd actually love for you to join us, Serval!" March excitedly grabbed her phone. "I'm telling Miss Himeko now, Mr.Yang might have gone to the Hotel, so you'll be able to talk to him right away!"

"Oh yeah, I think I caught a glimpse of him after Bronya's speech, he looks quite stoic and a bit strict" Serval smiled slightly nervous.

"He's actually a Cinnamon Boomer" Stelle smiled back at the blonde woman. "Don't use too much young slang, he might not understand"

"I'll...try to, is it okay if I start packing my stuff?" She asked taking a hand to her chin.

"Sure! You're practically one of us already" an excited smile covered March's face and she grabbed him by her shoulder. "I won't be the only girl in the juniors anymore!"

"I'm a girl too you know?" Stelle deadpanned at the pink girl.

"Racoons don't count!"

"Hmph! Fine!" Stelle walked to Serval and grabbed her arm. "How about I help you pack your stuff? I don't want to be where I'm not appreciated" she dramatically cried looking towards March.

"I...I'd appreciate that..." Serval chuckled nervously.

"It's decided then, let's go!" Stelle immediately started to walk away basically dragging Serval across the ground.

"She's such a child..." March let out a short sigh but then she smiled. "Well then~ should we go tell Mr.Yang?"

"You can go ahead March, I'd actually like to check on a few books in the bookstore" March deadpanned at his words. "Don't look at me like that"

"Nerd~" she teased with a smile. "Fine fine, I'll go to the Hotel then, bookworm"

Dan Heng smiled softly before walking away towards the Bookstore, March let out a short chuckle and walked towards the Hotel, taking out her phone she quickly sent a message to Welt.

________________________________________

[March 7th]

"Mr.Yaaaaaang~ did you book a room in the Hotel?"

[Welt Yang]

"Yes, I made sure to book one close to the ones you guys booked, I believe I have the one in front of Dan Heng's"

[March 7th]

"Okay! I have a surprise to tell you~ I just hope Ms.Himeko didn't spoil you yet"

________________________________________

After a few minutes, March excitedly walked into the hallway with all the doors, she had talked to Goethe, and she has confirmed that Welt's room was the one in front of Dan Heng's, she was ready to go and knock on the door, but as she walked past Ryan's room, she managed to hear a conversation.

"I...understand if telling me this was hard for you, Ace" March heard Welt's voice through the door.

March raised an eyebrow slightly, who was Ace? That was Ryan's room, and Welt was inside talking with someone, as much as she wanted to control herself, her curiosity got the best of her, and she slowly leaned close to the door.

"Thanks for Understanding, Mr.Yang...I'd appreciate if you kept all of this to yourself, at least for now" this time she heard Ryan's voice. "And...just call me Ryan, please"

"I understand, as much as I know that the others wouldn't mind, it's still your choice, thank you for sharing this with me" Welt's voice sounded a bit sad. "If you ever need an ear to listen to you, I'm here."

"Thank you, Mr.Yang..."

"I'll be going to my room now, March said something about a surprise she wanted to tell me..."

March quickly backed away from the door, walking towards the door of Welt's room and pretending she was waiting, giving a few knocks on the door.

"Mr.Yaaaang~" she tried to speak as normally as possible.

The door of Ryan's room opened and Welt walked out, giving a glance towards March he closed the door behind him and approached the girl.

"Sorry March, I was in Ryan's room."

"A-ah! I see, that's why you weren't answering, hehe..." She nervously scratched the back of her head.

Welt looked at the girl burrowing his brows for a second before going back to his stoic expression. "Don't worry March, now, what's this surprise you wanted to tell me?"

★ ★ ★

A/N: Okay Okay, I know I took a long while to update again, but it's summer for me, and the strong heat just takes away all my energy for anything, it's ending though, so I should be getting to updating more often...maybe...

Anyways, hope you enjoyed!