Star Rail: Starting with a Lyre, Living off Busking

Passing through the intricately woven corridors of branches and vines, the group arrived at a massive beech tree hollow, which served as the elves' guest accommodations.

Pushing aside the curtain-like hanging vines, they stepped into a spacious living room. The floor was covered with a carpet of soft moss, and rows of furniture resembled protruding tree knots sculpted into chairs and tables.

The windows were covered with translucent, paper-thin leaves, and the afternoon sunlight streaming through them bathed the interior in a warm, gentle glow.

The ubiquitous vine curtains were an essential part of elven housing culture, extending deeper into the rooms to reveal bird-nest-like sleeping quarters.

The only crafted decorations in the room were elven wall tapestries woven from the silk of heavenly dew.

Their designs were delicate and fluid, vividly depicting tales spanning from the age of gods to the present. Unlike the distorted legends spread by humans, these tapestries told the elves' true history, imbued with both weighty significance and an almost carefree simplicity.

To the elves, perhaps this was their version of keeping a diary.

Entering the living room, the group noticed the lack of a fireplace or other heating source. Yet, the gentle forest breeze passing through the hollow created a cozy, relaxing atmosphere.

Even more soothing was the subtle fragrance of wood that permeated the entire room, filling the air with a sense of tranquility.

"This is amazing! It feels like stepping into a themed attraction!" March 7 exclaimed excitedly, holding up her camera and snapping pictures left and right.

Meanwhile, Stelle approached one of the chairs, its seat padded with a layer of mushrooms. The caps served as cushions, looking surprisingly plush.

It feels weird to sit on something edible... but...

She cast a glance at the elf archer, who was enthusiastically explaining the furniture to everyone without a care in the world. Assured by her casual attitude, Stelle hesitated no longer and took a seat.

To her surprise, the cushion didn't feel brittle or overly soft. The mushrooms provided a firm yet gentle support, as comfortable as the sofas on the Express.

Satisfied, Stelle let out a long breath, curiosity fulfilled.

Nahida, observing her reaction, also sat down beside her without hesitation. A moment later, a similar expression of delight spread across her face.

"...Surprisingly comfortable."

The mushroom cushion's springiness even supported Nahida's petite frame with ease. She imagined the fungi could probably handle her weight even if she stood on them.

"This is quite the experience."

For once, Nahida's youthful appearance was complemented by a genuine childlike smile, bringing a collective grin to those around her.

Since arriving on this planet, much of what they'd encountered had been turbulent, with Nahida often playing a critical role in preventing situations from worsening. This rare moment of relaxation felt well-deserved.

On the other side of the room, Dan Heng was quietly examining the unique furnishings.

Whenever he visited a new place, he always took the opportunity to expand his knowledge by observing local customs and culture.

His attention was drawn to a tapestry hanging on the wall. It depicted a dragon, though it didn't resemble the ones he remembered. Instead, it bore similarities to the immortal dragons—or, more accurately, the dragonkin.

The tapestry told the tale of a half-elf hero and their companions embarking on a quest to recover a lost Dragon Lance.

"Are these furnishings made by the elves? I can sense a distinct style unique to your people," Dan Heng asked, directing his question to the nearby silver-helmed elf leader.

"They're not crafted, but your perception isn't wrong," the elf leader replied with a hearty laugh.

He seemed particularly courteous toward the strikingly handsome youth. After all, in elven villages, where most residents had known one another for millennia, it was rare to find fresh faces that met their aesthetic ideals.

"All of this is a gift from the forest. It changes its form out of kindness, allowing us to unleash our creativity and shape these homes."

"People often say you'd seek dwarves to build sturdy houses, halflings for cozy homes, and lizardfolk for fortresses. But—" Mimiya interjected, stepping on the mossy carpet with a grin.

"Who knew elven dwellings could be so fascinating?"

"To hear such praise from an elf of another forest is truly humbling," the elf leader replied gracefully.

"After all, elves always believe their homeland is the best," they both said in unison, reciting an inside joke common among their kind.

Unfortunately, their human companions merely blinked, not realizing it was supposed to be funny.

Not wanting to explain the humor, the elf leader smoothly shifted the conversation.

"Since the news of your arrival was so sudden, this space was prepared in a hurry. I hope you'll forgive its shortcomings..."

The elf archer, standing nearby, elbowed him and rolled her eyes.

"Oh, come on. Don't be so dull."

"Ugh..."

"Her Highness seemed to really like the room earlier, didn't she? Saying this now makes it sound like you're insulting her taste!"

With a triumphant huff, the elf archer bounded over to sit beside Nahida, draping herself dramatically over a mushroom cushion.

Her casual posture, as if ready to topple into Nahida at any moment, drew a sharp reprimand from her brother.

"Show some decorum. If she sees you like this, you'll get an earful."

"Did you all hear that? He's already calling her 'she'—as if she's already his wife!"

The elf archer's laugh rang like tinkling bells, utterly dismissing her brother's scolding.

"Enough chatter. What's next on the agenda?" she asked, leaning back with an impish grin.

"Well, you've had a long journey, so I've arranged for water for bathing and prepared lunch. Let's discuss business after you've rested," the elf leader said, rubbing his temples as though resigned to his sister's antics.

After more than two thousand years of sibling squabbles, he'd long since grown accustomed to her whims.

"I'll go fetch Her Highness's luggage!" Mimiya volunteered, suddenly bolting out of the room.

March 7 turned to the others, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "So, what's the plan? Lunch first or a group bath?"

"I'll take a walk and meet you all at lunch," Dan Heng said, following Mimiya out without hesitation.

Realizing he was now overwhelmingly outnumbered by women, the elf leader excused himself as well, leaving the room to the ladies.

With the "intruders" gone, March 7 dropped her pretense of modesty, addressing Nahida directly.

"Nah—"

"I must decline," Nahida interrupted, crossing her fingers in an X before her chest.

"She doesn't understand, but you and Stelle should," Nahida added, her voice firm.

The elf archer blinked innocently, clearly puzzled.

March 7 sighed dramatically, leaning closer to whisper conspiratorially.

"What does it matter? No one's going to say anything if you join us, right?"

She turned to Stelle for backup. "You agree, don't you?"

Caught between March 7's pleading look and the elf archer's eager anticipation, Stelle hesitated.

"Well... I don't mind."

Though Stelle wasn't thrilled about bathing with others, if the company was Nahida...

Maybe we should be more worried about her comfort instead?

"Perfect! Let's grab our clothes and head for a soak!" the elf archer cheered, already pulling Nahida along.

Despite Nahida's protests, March 7 whispered, "You wouldn't want your secret exposed and everyone here turning against us, right?"

"Please, March. At least pretend to act like the March 7 I remember..." Nahida muttered with a resigned sigh.

"It's all for the team," Stelle added with a confident thumbs-up.

---

Dan Heng found himself led by the silver-helmed elf to the designated dining area, a space that reflected the elegant harmony of the forest. As they walked, he seized the opportunity to pose a question that had been on his mind.

"So, why don't the elves eat meat?"

"Ah, you've noticed that." The elf leader nodded thoughtfully. "You wish to know why?"

"Yes. For elves venturing out as adventurers, I can understand economic considerations might limit their options. But those living within the forest have no shortage of access to meat. Why exclusively eat leaves and fruit?"

Dan Heng felt compelled to clarify. "I'm not one to judge another's culinary habits or insist that one diet is superior to another. My curiosity stems more from an interest in the cultural or practical reasons behind your longevity."

On some planets, it was well-documented that dietary choices and physical discipline could extend the lifespans of short-lived species. There were also countless myths about magical fruits or elixirs that granted immortality.

If this was a case of balanced nutrition, so be it. But if it leaned toward the mythical, he felt an obligation to explore further.

"Ah, a question from a fellow traveler of the stars," the elf leader said with a warm smile. "It comes down to a matter of balance."

"Balance? You mean in terms of quantity?" Dan Heng inquired. "But in such a vast forest, surely hunting wouldn't deplete the population of wild beasts... Wait."

As he spoke, he caught sight of the elf leader's ageless face, which betrayed no wrinkles or signs of time. Suddenly, he understood.

"Here, try this drink. It's one of our specialties, made with sago pearls."

The elf leader handed him a cup resembling milk tea, its contents fragrant and faintly translucent.

"The roots of cassava, huh?" Dan Heng murmured, immediately recognizing the source of the pearls.

The elf leader sipped from his own cup, his expression softening into one of quiet ease. He returned to the topic at hand.

"You may have realized by now: raising a wild beast to maturity takes many years. But we elves take even longer to reach adulthood. Imagine the number of animals it would require to sustain a single elf through that time."

"In contrast," he continued, "a single tree bears fruit year-round, producing enough to feed many without exhausting the forest's resources."

Taking another sip of his drink, the elf leader leaned back with a relaxed demeanor. "While we're not at risk of becoming prey, we also cannot afford to disrupt the natural cycle by excessive hunting."

"So, if long-lived elves were to consume meat daily, the ecological balance of the forest would collapse?"

The logic felt sound, if a bit abstract. Dan Heng couldn't find fault with it, though it also struck him as deeply tied to the elves' way of life rather than a universal principle.

Perhaps it was simply a cultural preference. If their vegetarian lifestyle worked for them, there was little point in challenging it as an outsider.

"Thus, we primarily consume leaves, grasses, fruits, and seeds as staples. Meat is not forbidden, but it's simply no longer a habit for most of us. Does this answer your question?"

"It does. Thank you for the explanation."

Dan Heng took a sip of the drink. Its refreshing mint-like aroma complemented the soft, chewy texture of the sago pearls.

Even so, his gaze was inevitably drawn to one item on the table.

It was a giant beetle, cooked to perfection with its shell removed. Its segmented limbs could be snapped off, dipped into sauce, and eaten. The pale meat inside was likely as tender and sweet as crab.

An undeniably exquisite delicacy—but still.

It's... a bug.

Dan Heng found himself lost in thought, memories of other such meals surfacing unbidden.

---

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