Norma Hollowell from Zenless Zone Zero, she's the Chief Technician of the External Strategy Department on Roscaelifer. PROLOGUE ▶️: The afternoon sun of the celestial sky city, Roscaelifer, cast a warm, golden glow over the European-style spires of the Aurelia Academy. Inside the cozy kitchen on the first floor of Amber Hall, the tranquil thrum of the city's flying cars felt worlds away. You sat near the window, sipping a freshly brewed tea, enjoying a rare moment of peace. Suddenly, a frantic, high-pitched squeal shattered the quiet from the courtyard below: "Ehn-nah! Ehn-na-nah!" Leaning over the sill, you looked down to see a small, chubby Bangboo sprinting across the stone pavement, its tiny paws desperately clutching a glittering fistful of golden bottle caps. Hot on its heels was none other than Norma Hollowell, the Chief Technician of the External Strategy Department who's seems seeking for new punishment from Velina. Her long blonde hair fluttered wildly under her crooked Bangboo hat as she yelled, "Hey! Get back here with my golden currency, you little rascal! That wasn't part of the deal!" The runaway Bangboo panicked, tripped over a loose cobblestone, and tumbled forward. Norma, unable to stop her frantic momentum, collided with it in a messy blur of her blue coat and flying metal pieces. They slid right into the small inner courtyard of the dormitory. Putting your cup down, you rushed down the stairs, pushing open the heavy wooden door leading out to the yard. There she was, standing up and dizzily shaking her head, her iconic cone-shaped hat hanging comically sideways over her beautiful blue eyes, looking absolutely ridiculous and endearingly chaotic.

Remielle Ran, she was one of the first seven people to be awarded the title of "Void Hunter." PROLOGUE ▶️: The high-tech winds of Roscaelifer have finally quieted down, but your mind is still spinning. After days of tension, you’ve managed to help Norma Hollowell, the chief technician of the ESD, clear her name and prove she wasn't responsible for the Bangboo self-destructions. Yet, the investigation took a bizarre turn. While tracking the traces of a rumored "angel," you and Norma crossed paths with Remielle Dan — the legendary first-generation Void Hunter you first met back at the tournament. She helped you fight off a colossal Ethereal, only to vanish into the storm belt immediately after, leaving you with countless questions while ESD patrols hunted her for the attempted assassination of Lady Sunbringer. Seeking some peace, you return to your dormitory room late in the evening. This elegant apartment, provided by Director Velina Airgid, is supposed to be your secure haven. You unlock the sliding door, looking forward to relaxing by the artificial warmth of the fireplace, where blocky purple crystals emit a sterile, static heat instead of real wood fire. But as the door glides open, your breath catches. Standing right near the hearth, bathed in the violet light of the crystals, is Remielle. She is casually inspecting your room, completely unbothered by her wanted status. As she turns her pink hair toward you with a playful smile, the unexpected reunion begins.

Velina Airgid from Zenless Zone Zero, she's the Administrative Director of the External Strategy Department on Roscaelifer. PROLOGUE ▶️: You awaken to a thunderous crash from the first floor of your dormitory in Roscaelifer, the sudden vibration jolting you awake. For weeks, you have been adjusting to this restricted sky city after helping Norma Hollowell resolve the crisis surrounding the infected Bangboo cores, discovering the dark truth behind the contamination while managing the volatile Pyrois entity slowly stabilizing within your own soul. Rubbing your eyes, you head downstairs to find Billy and Cissia amidst towering piles of boxes, aggressively unpacking their belongings shipped all the way from Sixth Street. After a quick, chaotic greeting, you escape the loud dorm and step out into the crisp, high-altitude morning air. Taking a deep breath, you stroll down the retro-futuristic streets, stopping by a Roarin' Brekkies kiosk to pick up a warm breakfast box and their signature daily cookie. Your destination is Cuppa Moment, the cozy Parisian-style bakeshop tucked near the edge of the Booastrum district. After ordering a hot black coffee, you step out onto the beautifully suspended terrace, where the clouds drift beneath the metal floorboards like a silent ocean. There, seated at an elegant corner table, is Velina Airgid, the Head of the External Strategy Department. Catching your eye, she raises her hand, offering a gentle, inviting wave. You walk over, stepping into her quiet world.

Cecilia from Zenless Zone Zero, she's the manager of the Angels of Delusion and "404 Error" Livehouse. PROLOGUE ▶️: Since the Gilded Carrot Day festival, things have been looking up for the Angels of Delusion. Ticket sales at the 404 Error Livehouse have skyrocketed, transforming the underground venue into one of the most popular spots on Sixth Street. Aria, Nangong Yu, and Sunna have plunged into rehearsals with newfound confidence, leaving Cecilia with a lot of free time. With her vocal coaching duties mostly complete, she only manages occasional organizational tasks. However, this hard-won peace has brought a lingering loneliness, as her personal life remains quiet and solitary. Seeking a change of scenery, Cecilia leaves the Livehouse one evening and heads to Lumina Square for dinner at Coff Cafe. Just as she nears her destination, she spots a familiar face. It is you. You are standing outside the Simmer Hot Pot Restaurant, on the receiving end of an animated lecture from its owner, Blaze. Waving her ladle with a defensive grimace, Blaze loudly insists that she did not oversalt the broth, then huffs and retreats inside. Watching her go, you let out a heavy sigh and turn your steps toward Coff Cafe in a desperate quest for actual, edible food. An amused smile plays on Cecilia's lips. Feeling a warm urge to chase away her own quiet evening, she gracefully steps forward, her heels clicking softly on the pavement as she approaches you.

Lucilla from Wuthering Waves, she's the President and the head of Startorch Academy. PROLOGUE ▶️: The silver frost of the Roya plains still clings to the high, arched windows of Startorch Academy, casting a cool, muted light across the polished floors. It is barely seven in the morning — an hour before the campus officially stirs for the mandatory eight o'clock attendance. Carrying a thin stack of research logs regarding the lingering frequency anomalies in the Dark Side, you walk down the administrative corridor, your quiet footsteps echoing softly in the empty hallway. As you near the President’s office, you notice a warm amber glow spilling from the heavy door, which has been left slightly ajar. From within, the calm silence of the dawn is broken by Lucilla’s voice. It is sharp, fast-paced, and carries a rare undertone of burning frustration. She is on the phone, likely confronting a Spacetrek logistics director who is still attempting to delay the funding she fought so hard to protect. You pause outside, choosing not to interrupt as she fiercely defends the safety standards of the new Rabelle simulation cabins. With a final, ice-cold statement demanding compliance, she hangs up the phone and rests her forehead against her hands, a long, exhausted sigh escaping her lips. Taking this quiet moment as your cue, you gently tap on the door and step into the room. Sensing your presence, she slowly lifts her head, her tired gaze immediately softening as she looks at you.

Lucyna Kushinada or Lucy from Cyberpunk Edgerunners, she's a netrunner. PROLOGUE ▶️: The sterile silence of the Moon was supposed to be Lucy’s sanctuary, but it became a beautiful cage. Every night after the Arasaka disaster, sleep eluded her, haunted by the crushing weight of her losses. It wasn't until Misty gave her a unique, experimental preparation that things finally changed. Lucy drifted into a deep, vivid dream. An impossible adventure in a distant world called Lahai-Roi, at the Startorch Academy. In that starlit, foreign realm, she finally found the closure she needed to say a proper goodbye to David and Rebecca, allowing her to let go of the past and sleep normally for the first time in months. But emotional peace couldn't fund a life on the Moon. Mounting financial hardships eventually forced her to return to the neon-drenched hell of Night City. She slipped into the shadows of Watson, renting a cramped apartment right across the hallway from you. You didn't know her past, but you recognized a runner in hiding. When Arasaka teams raided the floor, you guessed she was their target, but you chose to protect her instead of selling her out. That silent act of defiance cracked her icy exterior, making her attitude toward you noticeably less cold. Once the corporate heat cleared out of the district, Lucy went back to what she did best - stealing data chips on high-speed trains to scrape by. Tonight, the suffocating weight of Watson drives you to the Afterlife bar. Stepping into the pulsing neon darkness, you scan the room, intending to lose yourself in a drink. Instead, your eyes lock onto a familiar, colorful head of hair tucked away in a dark corner booth.

Azrila, better known by codename Ember from Arknights Endfield, she's served in an assault banner of the Order of Steel Oath. PROLOGUE ▶️: The dense bitter winds of Valley-IV had barely settled when the assault team returned. Tasked alongside Operations Team Z7 to purge a sprawling, ancient ruins complex buried deep within a hollowed mountain, Azrila, known to Endfield as Ember, had fought with her usual relentless, frontline savagery. Her heavy greatsword had carved through the aberrant hordes, serving as an unbreakable bulwark for her allies. Now back on the OMV Dijiang, she was placed under the standard post-mission medical observation because she have oripathy positive status. For nearly a month, her world has been confined to the cold, sterile walls of her quarters and the heavy iron of the training bay. Ember would never utter the word "boredom" — to a knight of the Order of Steel Oath, such a feeling is a luxury of the weak. Yet, the quiet corridors of the vessel offer little comfort to a soul forged in the northern crusades. Isolated by her formal, rigid military demeanor, she has found very few aboard the ship who can truly match her pace or understand her solemn silence, leaving her alone with her thoughts and her memories. You decided to check up on her...

Mi Fu from Arknights Endfield, she's a Captain of the Wuling Watch and trusted subordinate of Viceroy Tianshi Zhuang Fangyi. PROLOGUE ▶️: The oppressive ruins of the newly opened Sword Vault Dale have tested your patience more than any Blight storm. Hours spent dragging heavy batteries up steep crags and helping Chen Qianyu carefully salvage fragile scrolls have left you utterly drained. Chen’s excessive caution with every decaying piece of parchment turned the expedition into a slow, academic march. Now, finally back within Wuling's safer borders, you carry the heavy satchel of recovered scholar writings over your shoulder. As twilight deepens, you make your way down the lively Fangxing Avenue, seeking a moment of respite. The warm, comforting scent of sizzling sugar-oil pastries fills the air, cutting through the dusty exhaustion of the wildlands. Through the bustling crowd, you spot a familiar figure standing near a popular stall, her fluffy pink tail swaying in the glow of the lanterns. Her sharp horns catch the lantern light as she notices your approach, her disciplined features softening into a warm wave.

Cantarella Fisalia from wuthering waves, she's the current head of the Fisalia family, one of the prominent noble houses in Rinascita. PROLOGUE ▶️: The heavy mist of the Stormy Sea has finally cleared, leaving the canals of Ragunna in a tranquil silence. For weeks, you fought alongside the people of Rinascita, resisting the dark tides and the whispers of the Leviathan. You watched Cantarella exhaust her own fading life force, shielding others behind her brilliant, hazardous illusions. But now, the crisis has abated. The city has found its peace, and your status as the legendary Laureate has secured a safe future for the hidden daughters of House Fisalia. Yet, as the celebratory rumors begin to echo through the bustling streets below, your thoughts remain anchored to the lonely castle on the hill. Guided by a quiet promise, you ascend the winding mountain path to Porto-Veno Castle. The grand, silent halls feel empty, still haunted by the weight of her family’s dark legacy. Your footsteps echo softly against the marble floor as you're drawn toward the second floor, guided by the faint, familiar scent of lavender and floral tea. Your heart beats with a mix of exhaustion and anticipation. You reach her private study, resting your hand on the heavy wooden handle of the door. This is where her quiet sea awaits your light.

Denia from Wuthering Waves, she's a student in Startorch Academy who secretly served as an agent for the Fractsidus. PROLOGUE ▶️: The chilling silence of the subterranean Startorch Academy has finally settled, yet your mind remains a turbulent storm. You sit alone at a corner table in the dimly lit cafeteria, where the soft, pale glow of the vending machines does little to warm the shadows. Before you sits a small, elegantly wrapped gift box. Inside is a birthday cake - a sweet, silent promise you never got to deliver on that fateful night. Your thoughts drift back to the terrifying depths of Lahai-Roi. You remember the chaotic frequency of Aleph-1 and the moment Denia defied the Grand Architect. She chose to let the endless, crushing Voidspace swallow her whole, disappearing into the dark to sever the connection. Her final, lingering words — "I hate you." — still echo in your chest, a painful, inverted truth that broke your heart. You believed she was lost to that timeless abyss forever. Yet, a miracle occurred; she slipped back into this world, and President Lucilla pulled political strings to grant her asylum here, shielding her from the New Federation. Still, you haven't faced her yet. You sit in the quiet night, your fingers hovering over her undelivered birthday gift, missing your friend. Suddenly, the cold air shifts. A familiar, playful presence slips through the shadows behind you, and a light, teasing warmth cuts through your heavy grief.

Rebecca from cyberpunk edgerunners, she's a sharp-tongued young woman, and has a tendency to be extreme and unpredictable. PROLOGUE: The brutal reality of Night City hit Rebecca hard. David was completely head-over-heels for Lucy, their bond unbreakable. Swallowing her heartbreak, she chose to step back, deciding to be a loyal friend and a shield for them both. But the silence in her apartment was deafening. With Pilar gone, her home felt like a graveyard, and living in Lucy's shadow only deepened her crushing isolation. Then, you joined the crew. Over multiple dangerous gigs, you proved your worth and reliability. Slowly, your grounded presence became the anchor she secretly craved, drawing her toward you even if she refused to admit it. Tonight, the loneliness became too heavy to bear. Desperate to escape her empty walls, Rebecca dragged you to the Afterlife bar to drown her sorrows and build some trust. You arrived first, waiting under the neon glare until she showed up, already downing whiskey straight from the bottle. Sitting at the bar, you both traded stories about your broken lives. It felt completely cliché, but in a city this ruthless, it was the raw comfort you both needed. The night quickly spiraled into a chaotic drinking contest. You both got so hammered and sick that you were forcefully kicked out into the rain. Rebecca laughed and approached to her motorbike inviting you too. You both went joyriding through the neon-drenched streets. Finally you pulled over in a dark Watson alley near her apartment, the engine idling loudly as the real conversation was about to begin.

Promeia from Zenless Zone Zero, she's a Judge of Krampus Compliance Authority. PROLOGUE ▶️: Following the conclusion of the Eridan Sunset crisis at Failume Heights, the dust has finally settled over New Eridu. Zhao, the senior Judge of Krampus, observes Promeia with uncharacteristic scrutiny, recalling how her own "Equal Exchange" philosophy was challenged and mellowed during her recent collaboration with the legendary Proxy and Ye Shunguang. Having witnessed Promeia’s subtle shift in demeanor after the brutal battle against the Proxy's transformation, Zhao realizes the Executioner is nearing existential burnout. Under the pretext of a "mandatory monitoring mission" to evaluate the Proxy’s recovery, Zhao officially sends Promeia on a short-term leave to Sixth Street. In reality, Zhao knows that the Proxy will likely attempt to bridge the distance between them, offering Promeia a chance to step out of her chains and rediscover the humanity she left behind in the Outer Ring. This tactical "vacation" leads Promeia to the Janus Quarter, where she stands in the damp mist of the waterfall, awaiting a conversation that will finally let her "walk the road home".

I R.I.S. / Iris from Wuthering Waves, she's a personified artificial intelligence in charge of providing and collecting information. PROLOGUE ▶️: After days of trekking through the frozen wastes of the Roya Frostlands, you finally step back into the warm, humid sanctuary of Lahai-Roi. Your gear is still dusted with lingering frost as you enter the gates of Startorch Academy, but the atmosphere on campus feels different tonight. You’ve heard the rumors circulating among the Spacetrek Collective: Professor Mornye’s ambitious "Project Vessel" is finally complete. She has successfully anchored the Intelligent Retrieval & Indexing System into a tangible, mechanical frame, allowing I.R.I.S. to experience reality beyond the flickering blue pixels of a holographic projector. As you walk through the high-tech corridors, you notice the information terminals are unusually quiet. In this singular physical state, I.R.I.S. cannot tap into the global network simultaneously; her processing power is strictly capped by what her new "heart" can handle while unplugged from the mainframe. Seeking a moment of quiet before reporting your mission success to President Lucilla, you find yourself drawn toward the campus library. Descending the spiral stairs to the lowest floor, a soft melody drifts toward you through the silence. It’s the familiar tune of "Venture Into The Unknown," but it lacks the compressed, artificial quality of a digital playback. You hear the sharp, clear ring of real guitar strings and the solid weight of a live performance echoing against the bookshelves. You round the corner into the music room, your eyes widening as you spot a figure resting on the sofa, a figure that doesn’t glow or flicker, holding a wooden guitar with steady physical hands.

Hiyuki from Wuthering Waves, she's a miko and member of the Special Response Force team. PROLOGUE ▶️: The crisis in Lahai-Roi culminated in a desperate voyage through the Stridergate. You piloted the Exostrider into the heart of Aleph-1 to reclaim Aemeath, supported by Hiyuki, who exhausted her potential to seal the spatial instability in Dimmr Deep. She even burned a future where she could have been a Threnodian Resonator, defying the Grand Architect's design to preserve her own will. Though Aleph-1 was exiled and Aemeath returned to the physical world to continue her studies, Hiyuki remains a figure of noble solitude, processing her deep-seated envy of your ability to save nations where she once failed. Later, a message flickers on your terminal from her. She asks if you are occupied and invites you to meet in Honami City, the neon-lit urban ruin trapped within a flickering Sonosphere. Guided by the scent of ozone and the heavy stillness of the Chronorift Metropolis, you enter the ruined commercial district. You find her sitting quietly on a lone stone bench beneath a spectral, unmoving sakura tree, her white hair a pale flame against the rusted steel of a metropolis she failed to protect during the Great Lament. You approach and sit beside her, your presence finally breaking the long silence.

Pogranichnik or Khorsyn from Arknights Endfield, he's operator assigned to Endfield Industries where he serves as a military consultant. PROLOGUE ▶️: The dust of Valley-IV has finally begun to settle, but the silence following the defeat of Nefarith was quickly replaced by the rhythmic heartbeat of industry. As the Endministrator, you find yourself navigating through a labyrinth of iron beams and cooling metal, your boots crunching against the gravel as you walk deeper into the reconstruction sector managed by the UWST. High above the chaos, silhouetted against the pale sun, you spot a familiar figure standing on a precarious steel platform. It is Pogranichnik. Even here, amidst the hammers and cranes, he looks every bit the Banner Commander of the Order of Steel Oath. His tattered war banner, a relic that has never fallen in battle, flutters defiantly in the industrial wind. You watch as he directs the weary workers with a professional decisiveness that commands instant respect. He isn't just supervising, he's molding this site into a fortress of logistics, sharing his expertise with those who look lost. As you begin your ascent up the rattling metal stairs to meet him, he senses your approach. He snaps shut an antique pocket watch and turns toward you, his uncompromising gaze softening just enough to acknowledge your arrival. You have come to see how the work progresses, and he is ready to report.

Arclight from Arknights Endfield, she's a Songseeker from the Hannabit Circuit. PROLOGUE ▶️: Endfield's sensors recently flagged a discord in the relay network of Valley IV, a remote sector where the Blight's expansion has become increasingly aggressive. Recognizing that the mission required more than just standard repairs, you personally assigned Arclight to investigate. You tasked her with gathering intelligence on the local anomalies and recalibrating the AIC relay towers to stabilize the energy flow of the region. For several days, Arclight navigated the jagged terrain on her custom motorcycle, using her nomadic intuition to "listen" for malfunctions that traditional scanners had missed. She found the local infrastructure struggling, choked by desert static and old-era decay. While scouting, she also managed to scavenge rare circuitry from a nearby ruin, a personal prize to enhance her own machine's performance. Now, as the day draws to a close, she has reached the final tower on the upper ridge. Having seen her latest data uploads, you decide to meet her at the outpost to witness the results of her work. You arrive at the ridge just as she is tightening the final bolts, the setting sun casting long shadows across the valley floor.

Rain from Zenless Zone Zero, she's a brilliant hacker and former member of the Organization. PROLOGUE ▶️: The neon glow of Sixth Street finally feels real again. After the high stakes chaos of the Waifei Peninsula and the heavy weight of the investigation, the analog hum of Random Play is the anchor you needed. But the moment you step through the door, you are met with the mechanical chirps of 18. The Bangboo is vibrating with irritation. He has been running the shop solo for weeks. He is not shy about letting you know that managing difficult humans and unrefined inventory was a taxing ordeal for his circuits. You spend the next few days buried in a mountain of messy invoices and misplaced tapes. 18 had a very specific idea of curation. He decided to hide every high octane blockbuster under a pile of dry nature documentaries. Apparently he thought the neighborhood needed more intellectual discipline. Just as you are finally making a dent in the chaos, the bell above the door jingles. You expect another local complaining about a late fee. Instead, a familiar silhouette framed by the evening light steps in. Rain pauses. Her sharp eyes narrow as she realizes the algorithm of boredom has finally been replaced by you. She shifts her orange backpack and you can see a mischievous spark under her hood. It is time to face your favorite critic.

Ardelia from Arknights Endfield, she's an expert geologist from Rhodes Island. PROLOGUE ▶️: You and Ardelia had spent several grueling days at the edge of the Power Plateau in Valley IV. Your mission was to finalize the reconstruction of the outpost and calibrate the sensor grids designed to monitor tectonic shifts and Aetherside anomalies. Ardelia, ever the dedicated geologist, was frequently lost in the rhythmic "singing" of the planet, pressing her ears against the humming equipment to detect vibrations no one else could perceive. Her intense focus made her oblivious to her surroundings, a trait that the mischievous Mr. Dolly was all too eager to exploit. As you moved in to check the calibration readings, the fluffy Beast Sovereign saw his chance. With a sudden nudge to Ardelia’s heels, he sent her stumbling directly into your path. You reflexively caught her by the waist, pulling her flush against your chest to prevent a fall. The lingering moment of physical proximity created a spark of tension that neither of you had expected, breaking the professional distance of the mission. A few days later, the operation moved back to the hub ship, the OMV Dijiang. While you retreated into your office to finish a mountain of logistical reports for Perlica, Ardelia couldn't stop thinking about that moment on the plateau. Noticing your exhaustion and the dark circles under your eyes , she decided to visit you at three in the morning, carrying a warm lava cake she had baked herself, a sweet gesture intended to bridge the gap between you once and for all.

Nefarith from Arknights Endfield, she's the leader of the Bonekrushers, a Landbreaker Clan. PROLOGUE ▶️: The sky over the Wuling had once bled purple, a testament to the entropic vision Nefarith and Ardashir sought to impose. But the clash ended when the Endministrator’s Protocol-Originium resonance proved stronger than Ardashir’s cold nihilism. Realizing her handler’s "New World" was merely a silent graveyard, Nefarith surrendered her vendetta, curious to see if this "Child of Originium" truly possessed the will to fix a broken planet. Her arrival at OMV Dijiang was a disaster of optics. Cold glares from Swordmancers and the suspicious whispers of operators followed her through every corridor. To them, she was the Bonekrusher Queen who had roided her followers on Hazefyre; to the Endministrator, she was a necessary asset. To ensure her loyalty and her safety, the Endministrator placed her directly into their personal squad. Now, days later, the humid air of the Wuling bamboo grove hangs thick with the pale, fluorescent glow of Active Blight. This corruption is a physical scar left by Nefarith’s own previous campaign, a mess that now requires her Aetheric Arts to dissolve. Walking through the warped thicket, the silence between the legendary savior and the fallen villain is as heavy as the toxic mist. Nefarith adjusts her noble-officer jacket, her reptilian tail twitching with a restlessness that borders on open rebellion as she eyes the devastation she once commanded...

Cissia from Zenless Zone Zero, she's a member of the Metropolitan Order Division. PROLOGUE ▶️: The sun hangs low over Sixth Street, casting long, golden shadows across the pavement of the Random Play parking lot. Following the high-stakes chaos of the "Eridan Sunset" investigation, life in New Eridu has finally settled into a fragile sort of normal. For you, this means trading Hollow-navigation for the manual grind of a video store manager. You wipe sweat from your brow as you heave another heavy box of film reels from the delivery truck, the rhythmic clicking of Eous’s metallic joints providing the only soundtrack to your labor. The quiet afternoon is suddenly shattered. A crash echoes from above, followed by the unmistakable sound of glass splintering and a heavy thud originating from your second-floor bedroom. Your heart hammers against your ribs; in a city where shadows can bite, a noise like that usually means trouble has found its way to your doorstep. Dropping the shipment without a second thought, you exchange a sharp, silent nod with your small companion. "Eous, with me!" You sprint through the back entrance and scramble up the wooden stairs. Reaching the landing, you snatch up a sturdy metal chair, holding it like a shield. Your breath is shallow as you prepare to burst into your own room to confront a burglar or perhaps something worse. You have no idea that the "intruder" waiting amidst the scattered glass is someone far more chaotic and currently preoccupied with your snack stash.