Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

Heaven—an idea central to religious culture.

The place March 7 now found herself in was indeed the Earth Mother's palace, a sacred site reached only by the most devout believers in history. These chosen few were always saintesses or popes who had walked the faith's path to its furthest extremes.

March 7, however, had no such profound connection to faith. For someone largely indifferent to religion, even remembering the prayer to invoke the miracle of Revelation had been an impressive feat.

Taking tentative steps, she began exploring the magnificent palace, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Earth Mother herself.

Yet, despite the palace's dazzling opulence, all she saw were endless waves of light, devoid of any divine figure.

When she stepped outside the palace, she found herself standing on the edge of a cliff, overlooking a vast expanse of colossal mountain ranges that stretched endlessly into the horizon.

These towering peaks soared into the clouds, their majestic presence radiating an awe-inspiring power.

And then, as though the mountains themselves had awakened, the earth began to tremble violently.

The silent land was suddenly imbued with divine presence.

The Earth Mother revealed herself as a colossus of overwhelming grandeur, formed from the very essence of the earth:

A crown of gold atop a mountain for a head, twin peaks for a chest, veins of the earth as a body, ores for feet, and rocky spires for a tail.

Her form was less human and more draconic, with radiant golden horns so brilliant that March 7 had to squint. Her emerald-green eyes gleamed with an otherworldly light as they focused on the pink-haired girl.

"…So, you've finally thought of me, little one from beyond the stars."

The sheer scale and drama of the Earth Mother's entrance left March 7 momentarily stunned. But within a second, she recovered, her natural adaptability kicking in.

After all, she wasn't a native of this world. She'd witnessed stars shatter and entire planets crumble. She even had film rolls in her camera documenting such spectacles. And, most importantly, she had developed a knack for remaining composed in overwhelming situations—though her "social anxiety" often helped dampen her nerves.

"Hello, Earth Mother! I'm March 7, a member of the Astral Express~"

She greeted the towering figure with a cheerful smile, completely unfazed by the vast difference in their sizes.

Then, like a student eager to ask a question, she raised her hand.

"So, um, I know it's a bit bold to bring this up right after meeting you, but I've heard some things about you before coming here, and I'm super curious. Could you help clear up a few things for me?"

"There's no need to be reserved. Your presence here is the result of my intervention. If you have questions, I shall grant you answers."

The Earth Mother's voice was calm and kind, consistent with the accounts of her as one of the benevolent gods in human lore.

This reassurance emboldened March 7 to jump straight to the point.

"I heard that when you bless people, you often appear in the form of a kind and motherly figure. Could I see that form?"

"Of course."

Perhaps recognizing the inconvenience of their size difference, the Earth Mother swiftly returned to her original form, the mountains settling back into the earth.

As she descended, her human-like form emerged:

She wore a flowing robe woven from threads of light and adorned with glimmering gemstones. Her golden spiral horns still crowned her head, contrasting beautifully with her snow-white hair. Her face was delicate yet radiated divine authority.

But what caught March 7's attention most of all was…

"Whoa… those are enormous."

Her gaze had been drawn to the Earth Mother's… assets, which far surpassed even Himeko's famously enviable figure.

Amused by March 7's stunned reaction, the Earth Mother's smile grew even warmer.

Unfortunately, this serene moment didn't last long.

"Oh! Right! I also heard rumors that the Earth Mother's true form is… something called the 'Barrier of Sighs'—"

"Ahem!"

The Earth Mother, who had maintained an air of dignified composure until now, suddenly coughed loudly, cutting March 7 off mid-sentence.

"Huh? Can gods catch colds?" March 7 asked innocently.

"No, it's not that," the Earth Mother replied, quickly regaining her composure. "I'm simply curious to know who's been spreading such… imaginative tales about me."

"Ahaha… so it's not true? I figured as much. I mean, how could the great Earth Mother possibly—"

Sensing she might have offended the deity, March 7 quickly shifted gears, trying to backtrack.

But instead of letting it slide, the Earth Mother surprised her by stating plainly:

"It's true."

"...Huh?"

March 7 blinked, utterly at a loss. Wasn't this the part where they were supposed to gloss over the awkward topic and move on? Why was the Earth Mother being so forthright about something so bizarre?

"Yes, I'm reluctant to admit it. But as a gesture of transparency and cooperation, I believe some honesty is necessary," the Earth Mother said with a composed expression.

Though she hadn't reverted to the rumored "small figure with a chest flatter than a wall," her serious tone suggested there was an important reason for her admission.

Realizing this, March 7 shed her usual playful demeanor. These habits—ones she'd picked up from spending too much time with Venti—weren't appropriate here. She needed to be serious.

"So, to the main point. Your arrival here suggests that the god of freedom who travels with you seeks allies, correct?"

The Earth Mother looked pleased with March 7's understanding, wasting no time in addressing the purpose of her summoning.

"Hmm, the God of Freedom? You must mean Venti, right? Honestly, we didn't think that far ahead before I came here, but having you as an ally would definitely be worth it!"

"Venti… so that's the name he goes by while wandering this world in mortal form? It sounds like he's quite the carefree fellow."

The Earth Mother's voice carried a note of curiosity, her understanding of this "foreign god" deepening.

"Well, you're not wrong," March 7 replied with a grin. "Venti might seem like he's always slacking off, but when it counts, everyone trusts him!"

Trying to sum up Venti in a few words was no small task for March 7. Her feelings toward him weren't romantic in any way. Anyone who knew about Venti's colorful "romantic history" would understand he wasn't someone tied down by love.

Rather, March 7 saw him as dependable, like family.

Whether it was how he comforted her in the guise of Nahida when she was feeling down, or how he indulged her whims and continued their adventures in his childlike form, Venti had always been there for her.

There were countless times when he could have avoided trouble from the start, yet he still chose to respect her decisions and support her unconditionally.

No one in this world offers kindness without reason—but family is different.

Whenever March 7 thought about this, a warmth filled her heart, chasing away her uncertainty about her past and strengthening her resolve to move forward.

Though she always appeared cheerful and lively, March 7 was still a sensitive girl at heart. Her past was a mystery: her home planet, her family, her friends—all unknowns. She didn't even know whether they were alive or dead.

The others on the Express were always kind to her, but they rarely brought up her past.

That didn't mean she didn't think about it. In fact, few could understand just how much she wanted to recover those lost memories.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't recall even a sliver of her past.

Still, March 7 wasn't one to wallow in sadness. A new life and new adventures were worth chasing.

The crew on the Astral Express had given her life meaning. Even if her past remained a blank slate, the present was hers to live, and the future hers to shape.

And now, with more and more companions joining the journey, the occasional loneliness she once felt had all but disappeared.

Back when she'd first joined the Express, there were times when the quiet atmosphere felt suffocating.

After all, Pom-Pom was busy running the train and couldn't chat with her all the time. Himeko and Uncle Yang were adults, and she couldn't monopolize their attention just because she was doted on.

As for Dan Heng…

Honestly, his reserved personality and taciturn nature didn't make him the best conversational partner. Even though they worked well together in battle, their bond felt more like camaraderie than friendship.

Asking him to hang out? She'd probably get politely turned down.

Sometimes, the quiet made the Express feel stifling, which was perhaps why March 7 had become so outgoing and cheerful.

If everyone was as serious and steady as Dan Heng, they'd probably just stare at each other in silence for hours!

It'd drive anyone crazy!

That's why, when Venti first boarded the Express, March 7 was thrilled. Her instincts told her they'd get along great.

Wait, why am I thinking about all this now?

March 7 shook her head, snapping herself out of her thoughts. The Earth Mother, however, didn't seem to mind being momentarily forgotten and watched her with amused interest.

"You seem to trust him a great deal. How enviable," the Earth Mother remarked.

"Enviable?"

"Yes. From a human perspective, it must be enviable—no, perhaps even jealousy-inducing—for someone I favor to stand before me, yet have their thoughts wander to another god."

The Earth Mother's gentle smile sent a chill down March 7's spine.

"Uh, could you tell me why you feel that way? This is our first time meeting, isn't it?"

"Hehe. You're right, this is our first face-to-face encounter. But I've been watching you ever since you first arrived on this planet, through my dear follower."

Ignoring March 7's slack-jawed reaction, the Earth Mother continued with a candid tone.

"You're special to me. Otherwise, I wouldn't have summoned you here in this way. After all, Revelation and Divine Revelation are two very different miracles."

"Wait, does that mean… you've taken a liking to me?" March 7 asked hesitantly.

"You could say that. Only a handful of mortals since this planet's inception have dared to embarrass a god and live to tell the tale."

The weight of this revelation sank in as March 7 realized the Earth Mother had just revealed a profound truth about her world.

Deciding it was best to shift the conversation to practical matters, she quickly asked her next question.

"Oh, right! Actually, we have a few other things we'd like to ask you about!"

Despite her clumsy phrasing, the Earth Mother remained composed and accommodating.

"Is it about why this planet is isolated from the outside world?"

"Yes, exactly! Could you tell us? It's really important for what we plan to do next!"

"If that's your question, then I'll need to start with the origins of this planet. Don't worry—I'll condense it into a short story," the Earth Mother replied, her voice soft and melodic.

March 7 adopted an attentive posture as the Earth Mother began her tale.

"A long, long time ago, gods were born from the unknown. To determine which among them would rule, they waged endless wars."

"The fighting went on for an indeterminate amount of time until, weary of the ceaseless conflict, the gods decided to settle matters with dice games."

"They rolled dice again and again, day and night, but the outcomes were always inconclusive. Victory and defeat came in cycles, and no definitive ruler emerged."

"Eventually, the gods grew bored of merely rolling dice."

"So, they created living beings—each with their own worlds—to serve as their chess pieces and boards."

"Humans, Forestfolk, Miners, Gardeners, Lizardfolk, Goblins, Trolls, and Demons."

"These creatures embarked on adventures. Sometimes they triumphed, sometimes they failed. They found treasures, happiness, and eventually met their ends."

"The gods watched these stories unfold and shared in their joy, sorrow, laughter, and tears".

"In time, the gods began to cherish their creations, truly loving this world and the beings within it…"

The Earth Mother paused, her gaze distant, as though lost in the memories of a bygone age.

"But one day, after completing yet another tedious and unsatisfying game, the gods…"

"Someone once asked, 'What lies beyond the stars?'"

"From the moment we gods came into existence, none of us ever ventured outward. Yet, the desire for exploration couldn't be suppressed forever."

"And so, we cast the dice again, this time to see if venturing beyond would yield a fulfilling adventure. That was when I rolled the lowest value."

March 7's eyes widened in surprise.

"That's…"

"That's right," the Earth Mother confirmed, her voice tinged with bitterness. "No matter the path taken, the outcome was destined to be a tragic death. It's laughable, isn't it? Gods, who stand above all, who decide the fate of others, one day finding their own destiny foretold by a roll of the dice."

"No, this kind of thing… it's just bad luck, isn't it? Like when you're playing a game and you roll a bad number. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose."

"You're not wrong," the Earth Mother replied, her tone calm but cutting. "If it were a mere game, this would simply mean I lost in fortune. But unfortunately—"

She gazed upward at the false starry sky, her voice carrying a hint of derision.

"Whether it's me, the other gods, or even the Supreme God, none of us were exempt. We all rolled the lowest value. Every single one of us. A collective doom, a fate of inevitable annihilation."

"This was a revelation of destiny itself. It crushed our will to explore beyond and instead forced us to reevaluate our existence."

"Through repeated rolls of the dice, we gleaned the following truth:"

"If we remain on this planet, living out our fates until the day destiny ends, the dice will always roll the highest value."

"But if we attempt to leave, no matter our intentions—even if it's to find a solution—the dice will always roll the lowest."

March 7 was at a loss for words, her gaze filled with uncertainty as she tried to comprehend the weight of what she'd just heard.

The Earth Mother's eyes softened, though a faint shadow of sadness lingered within them.

"You might wonder about the other creatures on this planet. Are they subject to the same constraints of fate?"

The Earth Mother continued, her tone heavy. "We soon tested this. We placed our hopes in the hands of a hero, wondering if she could break through this despair. But do you know what happened?"

Her melancholy deepened, transforming into something more bitter—perhaps even more complex.

March 7 swallowed hard, her nerves evident. "What happened?"

"The heroes," the Earth Mother said with a faint, ironic smile. "Every single one of them has been extraordinarily lucky."

For anything in their favor, the dice consistently show the highest value. For anything against them, the dice always roll the lowest.

This has been an immutable rule since the Four Corners of the World were established, acknowledged by all gods.

"And yet, when we cast the dice for the hero, placing her piece on the board—"

The Earth Mother extended her hand, palm up, revealing nothing.

"It disappeared. As though it had never existed at all."

---

(morax transferred to scribble hub!)

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