Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

Bonus chapters are like surprise blossoms—unexpected, yet full of joy! 🌱

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The elfin child who appeared before everyone was indeed Venti—but not entirely Venti.

As mentioned earlier, unlike Barbatos, Venti's gender was fluid, able to shift based on how others perceived him. Though Venti's default form was that of a carefree young man, for someone who once shaped Dvalin with his bare hands, altering his appearance—or even "rebuilding" himself—was trivial.

Wind spirits, after all, lacked a fixed concept of gender. They merely leaned toward specific expressions based on their whims or circumstances.

Following the fiery assault on the goblin nest the previous night, Venti, as one of the group's most reliable members, took it upon himself to look after his companions. After all, he had promised Welt and Himeko that he would ensure both March 7th and Stelle were safe.

Now, March was grappling with a mental hurdle.

While Venti had expressed faith in her ability to make the right choices, leaving her entirely alone would go against the core values of the Astral Squad. Yet directly approaching her as his usual self—especially after boldly reassuring Stelle earlier—might seem strange and even elicit resistance from March.

Considering what she had just experienced, Venti suspected that interacting with her in his male form might unintentionally trigger further discomfort.

Though March certainly understood the difference between her companions and goblins or other aggressors, approaching her in a gentler, less confrontational guise felt more appropriate.

What form could best soothe her defenses and help her open up?

This dilemma brought to mind an old acquaintance from Teyvat: the young Dendro Archon, Nahida.

The diminutive Archon's dream-like domain and soft demeanor had a way of disarming even the most guarded souls. Venti, inspired by her appearance and approach, devised a plan. He would borrow her outward form, not to deceive, but to create a comforting presence for March.

After returning to the inn, Venti played a calming tune on his lyre to help March fall asleep, then used the melody to guide himself into her dreams.

March's dreamscape was as sugary and whimsical as her personality suggested: a giant candy house surrounded by chocolate sculptures of Pom-Pom, train cars made of jellybeans, and her fellow Express crew as plush dolls seated around her at a fairytale-like tea party.

March presided over the gathering as its host, seated at the head of the table. Yet her expression was far from cheerful. She listlessly poked at a soft, cloud-like pastry, clearly devoid of appetite.

Her eyes occasionally drifted toward a towering ice wall that loomed at the edge of the dream. It was the only incongruous feature in this fantastical world, sealing the candy house within while the outside remained an unknown void.

It was clear to Venti that March harbored deeper fears and secrets beneath her bubbly exterior. However, as he wasn't the real Nahida, Venti lacked the Dendro Archon's ability to analyze or reconstruct dreams. All he could do was talk to her and provide some comfort.

And so, a new guest arrived at March's dream tea party.

As March stared at an ice formation that vaguely resembled a goblin, a light, youthful voice broke the silence behind her.

"Pleased to meet you. I've been watching you for a long time, traveler from beyond the stars."

"Wah! Who's there?!"

Startled, March leapt to her feet. Her dream briefly wavered, giving her the sensation of stepping into thin air.

But upon seeing the speaker—a small elfin girl no taller than her waist—the dream quickly stabilized.

No matter the situation, cuteness was a universal remedy.

March exhaled deeply, pressing a hand to her chest. "Phew—thank goodness it's not a goblin. The last thing I want is to dream about them..."

The childlike elf, unfazed by March's initial reaction, offered a slight, apologetic bow.

"I'm sorry if I startled you."

"It's fine," March replied, shaking her head. Then, as if a realization hit her, she frowned and asked, "Wait a second... Who are you? And what was that weird thing you just said?"

"You can call me Nahida," the elf answered politely. "And yes, I did say something unusual: 'Pleased to meet you, traveler from beyond the stars. I've been watching you for a long time.'"

March's defenses softened further in the face of Nahida's refined demeanor, a refreshing contrast to the chaos she had encountered recently.

Or perhaps it was simply that, after so many unpleasant experiences, meeting someone as pure and unassuming as Nahida was a balm to her weary heart.

"Why have you been watching me? And how do you know we're not from this world? We've never met before, have we?"

March's uncharacteristic perceptiveness shone through, her experiences on this planet sharpening her usual inquisitiveness.

Venti, maintaining the Nahida persona, answered earnestly.

"Because your dreams are different from anyone else's."

"My dreams?"

March blinked in confusion, glancing around her surroundings. The candy house, the chocolate sculptures, the tea party—everything clicked.

"Oh, right! This is a dream! Wait... hold on a second." She pointed at Nahida. "The real question is, how are you in my dream?"

"Because I'm a fairy," Nahida explained, her voice calm and melodic. "Fairies are beings born from dreams. The beautiful dreams shared by different races give birth to us."

As Nahida spoke, she wove an intricate story to reinforce her claim. Though it was fabricated, Venti's delivery was so seamless that March fell for it completely.

"So you fairies gain nourishment from dreams, and the sweetest dreams are like a feast for you. Because my dreams are so different from the local people's, you became curious and decided to visit me," March summarized thoughtfully.

"Then, when I started having nightmares, the flavor of my dreams changed, and you decided to step in and ask what was bothering me. Is that right?"

"That's one way to put it," Nahida said, nodding with a gentle smile.

Venti's mastery of performance had reached new heights. The way he embodied Nahida's mannerisms was so convincing that even those familiar with him wouldn't immediately recognize his true identity.

March 7th, oblivious to the true nature of the "elfin girl" before her, slumped into her seat with a sigh.

"This world's range of extremes is wild…" she muttered, her shoulders sagging.

Sensing the need to steer the conversation away from revealing details, Nahida changed the subject.

"You mentioned goblins earlier. Did something unpleasant happen because of them?"

"Yeah…" March hesitated before continuing, her voice subdued. "There was an adventurer girl… The goblins captured her and… awful things happened."

Her explanation remained vague, but her tone conveyed the gravity of the incident.

"I wanted to save her, but by the time I got there, it was too late..."

She lowered her head, her hair falling limply around her face, reflecting her dejection.

"Do you think I'm overthinking this? I mean, saving her should've been enough, right? But I keep dwelling on it like an idiot. And because of that, I've made my companions worry over someone who wasn't even close to us."

Her emotions seeped into the dream, casting a shadow over the once-bright landscape. The towering wall of ice surrounding the candy house grew taller, its oppressive presence blotting out the dream's vibrant hues.

Yet amidst the gloom, a faint glimmer of light persisted.

The diminutive Nahida, dwarfed even further by the massive ice wall, spoke softly.

"I understand how you feel. I've visited the dreams of girls who've endured such pain. Without exception, they all raise their heads only to see a sky without sunlight, and when they lower them, there are no flowers to be found.

"No matter how much they scream for help, no one answers. Their world loses its color, leaving them with nothing but suffering."

Her words seemed to echo March's darkest fears, causing her mood to sink further.

Yet Nahida remained composed, her voice steady as she continued.

"If I had to describe the taste of their dreams, it would be like swallowing something slimy, dredged from the depths of darkness—something foul and unpalatable."

"...Weird metaphor," March mumbled, though her curiosity had been piqued ever so slightly.

"But sometimes," Nahida went on, "someone does hear their cries for help—a hero whose face they can't quite make out.

"This hero looks tired and cold, as though emotionless, and seems to know nothing but how to slay goblins. Yet, despite their indifference, they always lead the girls out of those lightless caverns. It's like plucking mushrooms that have been left to rot in the dark and bringing them back into the sunlight."

"Mushrooms... and a hero?" March repeated, her voice faint with confusion.

Nahida nodded. "For those mushrooms, it might already be too late. Their bodies are decayed, their spores long gone. The hero may not even have intended to save them. Yet sometimes… their dreams take on a peculiar taste. Strange, but fulfilling, and hard to describe."

Her gaze softened, her expression maternal in its warmth. For a fleeting moment, March felt as though she were being watched over by a kind, protective figure—a sensation that brought unexpected comfort.

"Today, I entered another girl's dream and saw that same hero," Nahida continued. "But this time, he wasn't alone. He had companions—one of whom looked a lot like you.

"She was crying, apologizing over and over…"

March stared at Nahida in silence, her mind racing with unspoken thoughts.

"The dream was bitter," Nahida said softly. "But within that bitterness, there was a hint of sweetness—like ice that has endured for centuries finally beginning to melt."

She closed her eyes, as if savoring the memory.

"It was a flavor much like your dream—bitter, yet unforgettable."

March lowered her head, her voice trembling as she muttered, "What is this, some kind of cooking show analogy…?"

Nahida smiled gently. "Perhaps my explanation wasn't very helpful. I simply wanted to say… You don't need to feel so guilty. To that girl, you were the hero who saved her from a nightmare."

Before Nahida could say more, March suddenly sprang from her chair and hugged her tightly, burying her face in Nahida's hair as if trying to hide her own emotions.

"Stop it! Calling me a hero is way too embarrassing!"

She held the small elf-like girl close, taking comfort in her soft, feather-light presence. The faint scent of the forest clung to Nahida's hair, mingling with the serene warmth of her dreamlike aura.

Beneath March's playful outburst, however, her emotions wavered. Her smile, as fragile as thin ice, was on the verge of shattering.

But crying in front of someone so small, so genuine—it felt wrong.

If only I could fall asleep again within this dream, she thought wistfully.

Perhaps then, the next dream would taste sweeter.

As March 7th drifted into a deeper slumber, her lips curled into a soft smile.

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Meanwhile, Nahida—still in Venti's fabricated guise—opened her eyes. The lingering sensation of March's embrace made her raise a hand to her cheek, her expression tinged with surprise and satisfaction.

The morning sunlight streamed through the window, carrying a gentle breeze that stirred the world into life. On the windowsill, a single flower swayed with the wind, adding a touch of cheer to the room.

For a moment, Venti contemplated staying like this. Wandering the world in this form felt oddly liberating—a different perspective on the freedom he so cherished.

But then…

"Wait," he thought suddenly, jolting back to reality. "What was my original reason for keeping my boyish form as Venti?"

His musings were cut short by the sound of the door creaking open.

"Venti, about the commission—"

Mimiya's voice faltered as she entered the room, her eyes widening at the sight of the small elfin girl.

A wild theory sprang into her mind: Could this be Venti's true form?

Her earlier admiration for Venti's skill and charm now seemed misplaced. If this "child" was Venti's true self, then everything made sense—her mysterious charisma, her unparalleled connection to the wind, and even her interest in forest lore.

"Y-You don't need to explain!" Mimiya blurted, dropping to one knee. "Your secret is safe with me, Lady Fairy Queen!"

"...Wait, what?"

"I swear my loyalty to you!"

"No, no, you really don't have to—"

Despite Venti's protests, the situation spiraled out of control.

By the time the Astral Squad assembled, even Stelle and Dan Heng were left speechless at the sight of "Nahida." March, who clearly recognized the ruse, played along with a mischievous grin.

In the end, Venti was coerced into maintaining this childlike form, much to his chagrin.

As Welt, ever composed, listened to the explanation, he pushed up his glasses thoughtfully.

"I see. I may have misjudged you, Venti."

"Thank you for understanding," Venti replied, exasperated.

"However," Welt continued, smirking slightly, "I'd suggest sticking to this form. People generally prefer cute little girls over gruff old men or aloof boys—especially for an animated adaptation."

"…Why do I feel like this conversation is about to get me shot by those forest elves over there?" Venti muttered, glancing at a particularly irate archer glaring daggers at Welt.

"Excellent development," Welt said matter-of-factly, ignoring the mounting tension. "Keep it up."

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Thank you so much for being here. This bonus chapter is like a little sprout—brought to life by all the warmth and encouragement you've given! WiseTL is so grateful to have such wonderful Readers who help these stories grow into something even more beautiful.

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-With love, Nahida 🌱