"Ahem…"
Felicity clutched her stomach and quietly returned to her temporary room aboard the space station.
There were still a few empty rooms on the Astral Express, but getting them ready for use would take more time than she had. For now, she had no choice but to return here to rest.
A bitter aftertaste still lingered at the back of her throat. Felicity sighed and gave a slow shake of her head, the memory replaying in her mind with irritating clarity.
It had started with her and Stelle pointing at each other, and then Himeko had stepped in to mediate.
"If you don't want to drink it, don't force yourself."
Her words were kind, but her eyes said something else entirely.
Felicity hesitated, but before she could decide, Stelle had already acted. She took the cup without pause and brought it to her lips.
The scent of the coffee wafted toward Felicity. She watched as Stelle sat up straight, her eyes calmly shut, cheeks gently puffed like a practiced tea drinker enjoying her craft.
Stelle took another sip.
There was something bewitching in that aroma, something that seemed to wrap around her mind and drag her thoughts into silence.
One more sip.
She set the cup down gently. Her face had gone pale, nearly expressionless—but she still managed a bold, unwavering smile.
And then, a thumbs up.
Felicity narrowed her eyes. What was that even supposed to mean?
She felt the stirrings of irritation, but Himeko's eyes were already on her. Before she realized it, another cup of coffee had appeared before her, set down with unexpected care.
A faint mist rose from the dark liquid, the warmth still lingering in the air. The aroma was thick, carrying the silent will of its creator.
The air itself seemed to whisper:
It's now or never.
Felicity swallowed, made up her mind, and brought the cup to her lips in one bold motion.
Bitterness exploded across her tongue.
It wasn't just bitter. It was aggressive—storming through her taste buds, lashing down her throat, colliding with the acidity in her stomach.
She didn't even notice that the Blessing of Abundance had instinctively activated to soften the blow.
"Ugh, I'm dying. This is your fault."
The memory snapped, and beside her, Stelle muttered, clearly annoyed.
She had apparently followed Felicity back in a daze, still not fully recovered.
Felicity opened her mouth to fire back, but paused when she saw Stelle's face. Even now, she still looked oddly composed. The sight sparked an idea.
"This will be your first lesson."
Felicity spoke with a straight face.
"?"
Stelle tilted her head slightly, clearly confused.
"—Choice. The power to choose belongs to you alone. Chase the ending you want, the one you won't regret."
Felicity's tone was serious, like a teacher imparting some ancient truth.
"???"
Stelle's face twisted into disbelief. Her brow furrowed as she tried to connect the dots. Something felt… off.
"In short, whenever you're faced with a choice—don't walk away with regrets."
Felicity finally saw a crack in that calm façade. Satisfied, she extended a hand.
"Now, it's time for the second lesson."
"???"
Stelle hadn't even processed the first one yet, but Felicity didn't wait. She grabbed her arm and dragged her forward.
...
Inside Herta's office.
"Herta! You in there? Hey—!"
Felicity leaned down and shouted directly into the ear of the Herta doll lounging in the corner of the room.
Everyone knew Herta didn't particularly care about the space station. Most of her dolls stayed in standby mode all day. But this one—this one was different. Felicity knew it.
"I'm here. Be quiet."
Sure enough, the Herta doll stirred with an annoyed expression.
"I'm working on the doll you asked for. It'll be ready and delivered tomorrow. If you have anything else to say, say it now. My time is valuable."
Herta glared at her, clearly daring her to waste even a second more.
"Clang~"
Felicity grinned like a cat about to drop a mouse at someone's feet. She pulled Stelle from behind her and, with exaggerated flair, announced:
"Stellaron Core Jinchūriki."
"????"
Stelle's eyes shot open wide.
"You said if I brought her here, you'd give me a rare item. So—c'mon, hand it over."
Felicity stretched out her hand with no shame whatsoever.
"…You really brought her."
Herta massaged her forehead, an oddly human gesture from a puppet. Maybe even the doll couldn't process what had just happened.
Truthfully, she had been planning to message Stelle directly. But she doubted the girl would show up—especially after she'd once threatened to experiment on her.
So she'd taken the indirect route. Since Felicity had already expressed interest in boarding the Astral Express, Herta figured she might as well have her lure Stelle in. And sure enough, Felicity knew the space station inside out.
"Go to my collection and pick one rare item. As for you—"
Herta's eyes flicked to Stelle.
"Let's get one thing straight. No matter what kind of research I'm doing, I'll need her permission."
Felicity cut her off sharply, her voice unusually firm.
"Not everyone is as noble as me, you know. I'm willing to offer my life to Lady Herta, but she's not."
"You talk too much. I know."
Herta rolled her eyes and waved her off, shifting her focus to Stelle. Her tone changed, turning serious.
"I'll be direct, Stelle. A few of us are working on something big. If it works, it could finally unravel the mystery that's plagued us since the earliest Amber Eras: the question of the [Aeon]."
She paused, then offered her hand.
"I'm inviting you to help us. It won't take much of your time, and you'll be well-compensated. I promise it won't be a loss for you."
Stelle stood frozen, then slowly looked toward Felicity.
"Remember the first lesson I gave you."
Felicity patted her on the shoulder and gave her a thumbs up.
"The choice is yours. And now… the second lesson."
She coughed, then subtly began stepping backward until she was right at the door.
"The second lesson is—don't intend harm, but always be on guard."
Click.
The door shut firmly behind her.
And Stelle was left in stunned silence.