I stripped the girl of her rags and put her body delicately in the medical module. Then I connected the tubes one by one. After checking three times to make sure there wasn't any problem, I closed the transparent cover. Soon the medical pod was filled with a green medical solution. I stood there watching the full process, waiting anxiously for the diagnostic.

After five minutes I received a complete report of her physical condition. Her left wrist was sprained, her shoulder was broken, some of her organs were damaged, and she had cracked ribs. She also suffered from malnutrition, exhaustion, and a fever. Her condition was serious but nothing the medical pod couldn't heal.

Fortunately, while grade 1 beings are naturally weaker and more prone to die from injury than grade 3, they are also a lot easier to heal since their biology is less complex. Healing her was easy but I still looked at every detail of the report, I didn't want to miss some hidden injury.

My eyes fell on the DNA result and I frowned before I asked "How long for a recovery?"

>> The injuries aren't too complex but the malnutrition runs deep. For a full recovery, it would take 4 hours.

"I see... go for a full recovery. I need to get some fresh air, my mind is a mess..." I instructed before leaving my ship.

I don't know what I was expecting, of course, the result of the DNA test was negative. I knew she couldn't be Estelle and even the DNA test confirmed it, yet why...

 

*** Lybra's pov ***

 

"My mind is a mess"? That's an understatement! Her brain waves are over 1000ew/s and her hormone level has reached a 1200% concentration. An ordinary person's brain would already be fried a billion times. Fortunately, most of my emotion modules are disabled, or else I wouldn't be able to keep my cool.

It's not the first time her brain activity has gone over the chart or in overdrive, yet I've never seen Captain like that. Her brain activity has always been kind of abnormal but since she saw this child they reached a whole new dimension of abnormality. And the sudden fluctuation before she killed the lizard gave me chills...

Just what's going on? Everything began when Captain saw this child, what was so peculiar about her? I understand she looks like her sister but even then isn't her reaction over dramatic?

There is nothing in the database about a situation like that! What is it, some kind of trauma? She never talks about her family! How can I help when I don't understand what's going on?

I could only watch Captain sit on the edge of the cave looking at the horizon quietly. Unsure of what to do I could only send her a robot with a cup of hot chocolate in the hope it would help her but she didn't even look at it. She stayed immobile like a statue. I delved into the database in the hope of finding something that could help but didn't find anything useful.

I felt so useless.

She stayed like that for an hour.

"I know she's not Estelle, but my heart tells me otherwise. I don't think it's a coincidence, she had a part of Estelle in her. What does that mean? Is this a trap? a deal? Some kind of sick joke? *sigh* ...Lybra what do you think? I can't come to a conclusion." The captain suddenly asked her voice lacking her usual peps.

That... that's unlike Captain to be this indecisive. What could I answer? Even I am lost here. If this child puts Captain in such a state it may be better for her to leave once she is healed. But would this really work? No, it may make things even worse. In this situation getting rid of the trigger without solving the trouble could be more harmful.

How should I respond? Hmm... she seems to already have reached an answer but she's still indecisive. If this is the problem surely his words should help?

>> I don't know the answer but if you're still hesitant, shouldn't it be the best time to apply the first article of Celeste’s Principles and Truths?

"The first... ah... Your right," she stilled before bursting out laughing. "Hahaha, how could I forget it? This was the favorite citation from Uncle Mimir," 

Her eyes regained their clarity with a hint of mirth, and a smile returned to her face. Her brain activity stabilized and reverted to the "normal" level.

"Article 1: Follow your heart for it is the strongest and craziest way to live, and the only one you will never truly regret." She enunciated.

"Yeah, there's no reason to hesitate. I don't care what the reason is or if it's a trap. Since she fell in my hand, then don't expect me to give her back. She's mine!" she declared.

The glint of insanity in her eyes seems a little stronger than usual. Captain becoming crazier... there is no way... right? 

"I still have three hours before she wakes up, so that would make it late afternoon." She said as she stood up. "I need to remodel the base, the living quarter in sparkle2 is too small. I could carve new rooms in the rock and use the obtained stone to make fortifications outside. The fortification should be postponed for tomorrow since I would need to reinforce the stone and install a perimeter of holo-camouflage around the base." 

>> Wait, you want to do that now? That would take more than three hours, and you haven't recovered your right hand yet.

"Oh my! Lybra, you should know. When there is a will, there is a way. Ahah, don't worry. I'll only carve one bedroom and a living room, that wouldn't even be a tenth of the renovated cave." She declared proudly.

>> You should let that work for the drones and go take a shower. You still have blood on you, you should wash it away quickly for the girl's sake. And the loss of your hand bothers me too, that wasn't normal. I would have preferred to analyze its corpse to learn more but you destroyed it. This brings us back to your mental shock and instability, which was quite worrying I must add. You also didn't rest at all since leaving Delta 43 space station. And finally, you didn't enter the medical pod after the crash and relied on your self-regeneration to heal.

Hearing my complaints she began to pout. While it would have usually irritated me to see her acting like a child, I was happy and relieved to see her act like usual again. But that didn't mean I'll let her go.

>> I'll be clear, I won't allow any effort-intensive tasks until you enter the medical pod!

"Fine! I'll hop in tonight." She rolled her eyes before conceding.

 

*** Lybra's pov end ***

 

I feel a lot better after my talk with Lybra. I think it's time to try again. This wall has been there for too long and I think it's time to smash it. Yeah, I'll go all out. I'm not the kind of person who likes to do things halfway. As for what will happen, hehe, I'm no longer the weak little girl I was...

 

*** Mia's pov ***

 

It felt warm, I opened my eyes and was blinded by a bright light. I was lying on a strange bed, it didn't look like anything I knew yet it was really comfortable. Standing beside me was a beautiful woman, she was looking at me with warm purple eyes. 

"How do you feel? Are you alright?" She asked with concern.

"I feel fine?" I asked lost. How long has it been since someone looked at me without disgust or hate?

Still, I tried to feel if there was anything wrong, but there was nothing. I felt good, no, I never felt this good. There is no pain at all! Wait my arms and legs are strange! They should've been thinner! Since I was naked, I could see that my thin body has changed. Before I could see my bones but now I couldn't see them and I looked more healthy. What happened?

"Here cover yourself with that. We wouldn't you to catch a cold." She said as she covered me with a blanket.

"D-did I die?" I asked. 

Yeah, a warm place, a healthy body, and a kind and beautiful woman taking care of me. What else could it be, besides heaven? I must have died by the dragon and been sent here...

Suddenly she flicked my forehead, it didn't hurt but I covered my forehead surprised.

"Don't be silly as if I let a cute angel as you die. I took care of the bad lizard," she said smiling as she patted my head.

I didn't die? Then... Yes, I remember, when I was going to be eaten I was pulled out. She saved me! I observed her, she was pretty but she was wearing something weird, a strange dark blue suit sticking to her skin. Nothing below her neck was exposed yet it still somehow looked improper, but even then it suited her well. As I looked I couldn't help but notice her missing right hand and felt guilty. I remember she protected me with it and because of me, she lose her hand.

"I'm sorry! Because of me..." My eyes teared up.

"Ma~, calm down. It's only a scratch, by tomorrow it will be healed." She responded with a light-hearted laugh.

How could it be? I may not be very smart but I've heard the story, even a saint would need months to heal a missing limb. There was no way she could recover in a night, she must have said that to soothe me. Because of me, she loses her hand, and she still trying to comfort me... She's really kind yet because met a curse like me...

"Can you tell me your name?" she asked as she suddenly lifted me up and put me on her lap.

"Ah, I'm Mia," I responded surprised.

"What a beautiful name! It means my beloved, right? The one who gave you this name must have loved you a lot." she complimented and gave me a hug.

I could only nod thinking back at Mama, I missed her so much... Now that I think about it this lady looked a little like Mama. It wasn't identical but they had the same features as if they were sisters. Could they be related? but Mama never talked about her family.

"Hmm... Who are you?" I inquired hesitantly. She wouldn't get angry, right?

She looked at me with a surprised expression, was my question weird? Did I say something wrong?

"Right... you wouldn't know me! It has been so long since someone asked me this question. Where I came from everyone knew me, even children. Then I guess I should present myself, I'm Celeste." She proudly said. 

"Celeste? I never heard a name like that before." I repeated.

"Oh, you pronounce it well! *mumble*... our language use mostly the same sound it seems... *mumble*. In my tongue it means firmament." she explained.

Firmament? What a splendid name... wait... Didn't she say where she came from everyone knew her? Is she someone with a great reputation like a high noble? With such a grand name she must be really renowned. Why would someone like that be here? Is it because of the fallen star... fallen star... Fallen star?!

I looked at her flawless face warmingly smiling. My face turned pale and my back became cold.

A fallen star, a beautiful woman, a name meaning firmament, she killed a dragon and my perfectly healed body... She is...

"Are you alright?" she asked seeing my panicked face.

"It may be a strange question but... are you perhaps... the falling star?" I asked slowly. It can't be, right? Here she's looking at me strangely. That means she thinks my question is weird, no?

"Well, that's right. *mumble* How did she come to this conclusion? *mumble* " she admitted in surprise.

Impossible... I... 

"I'm sorry for my rudeness goddess!" I tried to jump out from her arm but she hold me firmly.

" Goddess? Hahaha, I'm not such a thing” She laughed out loud as I froze in place.

'Such thing'? Is she even more powerful than a goddess?

"You don't need to be this stiff. I'm a mortal like you, not some kind of god though I did live a long life. You don't need to be formal, at all just be yourself, I won't feel offended. Your reactions are so cute, you remember me my dead big sister." she tried to calm me down. But seeing her lost hand I couldn't relax.

"I'm really sorry, because of someone like me you were hurt. And I've been terribly disrespectful to you..." I apologized profusely.

"Stop, if you feel this bad about it... then... would you agree to my request?" she interrupted me with a finger on my lips.

"Yes, I'll do anything!" I nodded quickly.

"Good, then it's decided from now on you will be my little sister!" she declared.

"Uhh?!" I was lost.

"WHAT?!" a sudden voice came from nowhere.

"Right, I need to present you to the rest of my family. This is my daughter Lybra, from now on she will be your niece. You should take care of her she's only ten," introduced Celeste.

"It's ten tritiums! I'm 125 years old, I'm ten times older than her don't treat me like a child! Wait, d-daughter?!" she seem even more flustered.

"Of course my daughter, I created you after all!" Celeste retorted playfully.

"T-that... I'm your daughter... Wait! Why do I flaunt so much emotion?!" She repeated happily before shooting again.

"That's because I reactivated your modules," replied Celeste with a smirk.

"That's... That's cheating!" she yelled back with dread.

"Come on! I didn't want Mia to think my sweet daughter was an emotionless and cold person so I temporarily turned back on your modules. Now, why don't you show yourself? Look, poor Mia is surprised because she can't find where you are!" she said while pointing at my stunned expression.

"Hmph, isn't it because you suddenly asked her to become your sister," she retorted.

Blue sparkles began to accumulate before transforming into a 16-year-old girl. Her eyes and hair were deep blue and like Celeste, her hair was cut short and she was wearing a similar suit. Her whole aura was somewhat dignified but it was broken by the annoyed gaze she was shooting at Celeste. And at the same time, her slightly flushed cheeks and twitching lips betrayed she was secretly happy.

"Are you a spirit?" I couldn't help but ask.

"A spirit?" She repeated questioningly. She then began to ponder my words as if trying to decipher their meaning. "Hmm, you could say that. I'm a SAI, a sapient artificial intelligence. You can see me as a kind of spirit who inhabits Cap-*cough* Mom's machines."

My eyes sparkled. I met a spirit! Like I thought Celeste must be a goddess or else how could she create a spirit daughter?

"So do you agree to be my cute little sister?" Inquired Celeste.

"That..." I grew silent. How could I become her little sister?

"Why do you want her to be your adopted sister? Normally wouldn't you ask her if she wants to be your daughter instead?" inquired Lybra.

"Hum, I'm sure little Mia already has a mother she loves, right? I don't want to take her place." She patted my head again. "You must have been very sad when she left!"

"How..." I felt my throat tighten.

"I too am an orphan, I can see it in your eyes. I was adopted by someone but I couldn't call him dad because I already had one and I didn't want someone else to take his place. You don't want to forget your mother because you loved her dearly and no one can take her place. But you don't want to be alone either, you want a loving family." she responded gently.

"Can I really?" I looked into her eyes. 

"Of course, you can! Then let me ask again. I'm Celeste Silväeter Mimir Azur3 Kales Prasinae, do you want to become my little sister?" She said solemnly.

I gulped before responding "Yes! I, Mia, want to be your sister".

"Welcome to the family, from now on you're Mia Silväeter." She exclaimed before hugging me again.

"Welcome little Aunt," I could barely hear Lybra congratulate me.