Wuthering Waves: For The Future of Me, Myself and I

"Hey, go back inside. It isn't safe to be playing outside at night." Rover called out to the children playing with the Echo.

"Wait, we're not done yet!" The young boy retorted back, still feeling energetic.

Meanwhile, the young girl nervously exchanged glances with the Echo and Rover, not knowing what to do.

Katsuri watched all this happened, feeling like she could somewhat understand what kind of dilemma the young girl is going through.

She still wanted to play but she also doesn't want to go against an adult's word.

Witnessing this, she walked closer towards the children, until she's finally at an arm's length.

"It's alright. You still have a lot more time to play tomorrow. I wouldn't want you to worry your parents now." She said as a matter of fact.

The young girl simply looked at her with her eyes wide, as if shocked.

Then, a small mutter escaped her lips, "...small."

Katsuri could feel a vein about to pop, but she held back her anger.

It was just a child, they're extremely honest.

It's fine.

"Just so you know, I'm 16. I'm much older than the both of you."

Realizing her mistake, the young girl bowed her head and apologized.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!"

"It's fine, you're not the first one. Now, go home. Once the Tacet Discord starts roaming nearby, then you'd regret playing more."

"Yes! Come on, let's go home." She dragged the young boy with her with the Echo simply following them towards the village.

"Hey! I can walk on my own! Why did you suddenly change your mind? You were the one that insisted on playing right now!"

"That was then, I'm more matured now."

"What are you talking about!? Let me go!"

Katsuri watched this interaction with a silent gaze.

Then, she turned around.

"...Stop. Not this again." All eyes were on her.

"What now? What did I do?" She questioned it, but did not tell them to stop staring at her.

She's practically used to everyone's antics of looking at her like she's the abnormal one.

All she did was convince some children to go home, ok! Nothing spectacular like defeating the Demon King!

"...No, we didn't expect you to be 16. I guess you really shouldn't judge a book by its cover, huh?" Zani scratched her head, embarassed.

Rover helplessly smiled.

Abby already went to sleep.

They then followed the path, leading to a building that seemed... abandoned.

A masked man was standing nearby, as if waiting for someone.

"Ah, we meet again, valiant warrior of the-"

Though... he seemed surprised as he turned around. 

Katsuri tilted her head as she noticed his gaze on her. She moved to hide herself behind Zani.

"My apologies, I couldn't control my expressions. It appears fate has decided to let our string meet once again on this fateful stage, wouldn't you agree?" He continued talking, as if the previous interaction never happened.

"This lady traveling with you seems familiar..."

"I am Zani, I work at the Averardo Bank."

"Ah, yes. Very insightful and in-character of you to roam the land with your fateful companion. With a weary gaze and listless behavior, I can only dub you as the [Sorrowful Knight]." He smiled slightly.

"That... Kinda fits. You're quite amazing at improvs." Zani said, surprised by Christoforo's eloquence.

"Thank you, it is my pleasure to be praised."

"Allow me to reintroduce myself..."

Katsuri scrutinized his appearance as he began talking.

She knew this guy as one of the bad guys, but she doesn't have any evidence. Plus, he hadn't really done anything worth mentioning as of yet.

Not that she could remember, at least.

Due to that, there's practically nothing she could do.

What? Report it? To who?

The Order?

Hell nah, they're practically working hand in hand with the bad guys!

The Montelli Family?

...She's not ready.

The Fisalia Family?

They're still a prime suspect for the rampage of the Echoes during the Carnevale's rehearsal.

They are all fighting against one another to gain control of Ragunna.

What can a single mortal, weak teenager with a Tacet Mark, can do to help in this political struggle!?

In fact, the best thing she should be doing right now is to not interrupt the storyline and let it happened as it did in the game.

Let Rover handle all the hard work.

By the time it's done, no outside factors could influence the fated outcome that had already been set.

"The script is almost finished. With the home village of the Blessed Maiden before me, I hope to find traces of her previous life in this place."

"Childhood plays a key role in shaping up one's personality, after all."

"..."

"So, did you find any?" Rover asked.

"Sadly, no. The traces are very thin, I highly doubt I'd be able to piece together her past with them."

"Ahem." Zani fake coughed, trying to attract attention to the case at hand.

"Ah, my apologies. I started rambling again. What brings you here?"

Katsuri sighed. Finally, they're back in topic again. It was quite hard trying to listen to this man talking using big words, and trying to actually makes sense of what he's saying.

Although, some of the things he said did... touched her a bit.

But she would never admit that.

As Rover, Zani, and Christoforo talked about the suspect, Gilberto, Christoforo brought up another crisis.

The disappearance of the Echoes inside Whisperwind Haven.

Of course, Katsuri's attention was taken away by something else, so she didn't really hear what they're saying.

As both Zani and Rover make their way up the hill...

Katsuri stayed behind, her gaze attracted to something inside the darkness of the night.

It was quite a compelling feeling, knowing that both something and nothing is there.

Her Tacet Mark glowed as it revealed... a star.

Christoforo watched her lonely back, smiling as he does so.

[Wuthering Waves]

"Ah... This is unexpected. Your very existence has attracted the Etheric Sea. Hm... But that's alright. I'm sure you will come up on top in the end."

"It would be unbefitting of your status as a Threnodian to fall here, after all."

"A symphony as compelling to that of the Carnevale. How exciting."

"I look forward to your performance."

"...Maybe I'll leave a gift or two."

Phrolova waved her Lycoris, controlling the surrounding Tacet Discords to rush towards one location.

It was an outbreak.

Albeit, a very small and controlled one.

...It wouldn't be in control for long.