Chapter 23: Finishing Touches
*Here with another chapter. These ones are just some sort of 'conclusion' to this arc, let's call it, and we're in for just some moments of chatter. I hope I got the dialogue decently for the characters, since putting myself in that character's shoes to just grasp their personality and way of talking is a bit difficult even for me. So, enjoy, let me know what you think, and have fun. Peace out and Deus vult.*
The words struck a chord within him. For a moment, everything was silent. He simply looked around, smiling faintly, the left side of his lips rising up a little. It was a genuine smile on his side, crooked as it looked.
"Well, since he's one of the Nameless now, I think we should show him to his room, right?" asked March, grinning from ear to ear. Himeko chuckled and nodded, pouring herself a cup of steaming coffee.
"Perhaps we should. We have a few extra rooms in the other compartments. Go on, make yourself at home, Mark."
Himeko's warm words soothed his heart. Without further ado, Stelle and March grabbed him by the arms and began showing him around, taking him for a quick tour. Little did they know that he had a clue about some things, while the others were foreign—and he had the faint idea that what he didn't know, March and Stelle didn't know either.
The tour was quick, they showed him to their rooms and even to Dan Heng's space, where the information was piled up neatly and arranged. Mark took a quick look, noticing books on all sorts of topics, from Aeons to just the history of random things.
March's room was the same as he recalled—a pink paradise filled with fluff.
"Heh, this one's pretty pink. Looks like the perfect room for you, March. It simply yells out 'this is March's room', and I like it."
She gave a satisfied hum, resting her hands on her waist. She was pretty proud of it; that much was evident.
"A cute girl needs a cute space to live in. Plus, it's very comfy, especially the bed."
She jumped on it without even facing the right way, simply tossing herself behind and on to it, jumping slightly as she touched the mattress. Stelle took a dive as well, jumping in like an Olympic swimmer. They chuckled together, and Mark felt like he had somehow snuck in on an all-girls' sleepover.
"Welp, you have your fun here. I'll figure out my way around this place."
As he turned around to leave, he found himself dragged down between them. He froze instantly, blinking slowly.
"Heh, feeling shy again? You sure don't look the part, Mark," teased Stelle, quick on the uptake. It seemed to him that she just loved being sassy.
"Should I summon the Sword of Will and make my getaway through the door or something? I'm deep behind enemy lines."
Alas, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the warmth.
"I could sleep here instantly... March sure has a comfy bed... I hope the one in my room is the same."
The two girls chuckled and sat up, giving him a moment, a moment during which March took a few photos. Mark could hear the camera, but he couldn't be bothered to care that much.
"Yeah, sure, take photos of me when I'm vulnerable," he chuckled, having genuine fun. It's the most relaxed he's been ever since finding himself stranded in the middle of a snowy field.
Five minutes later, he was up and running, following March and Stelle down the hall. One room boasted the strong fragrance of coffee, and Mark could bet an arm and a leg that it was Himeko's private space, while the other one couldn't budge an inch.
"I always wondered how come Mister Welt's room wouldn't open. The door isn't even locked, yet the door stays in place no matter how hard I try to move it."
March was still struggling to pull the door but to no avail. Stelle gave it a try as well, only to get the same outcome. Mark didn't even bother since he knew exactly what was going on.
"Well, this should be a clear sign that Mister Welt doesn't want anyone barging into his room. Come on, on to the next compartment, where Stelle's room should be in, and mine as well."
They walked ahead, entering Stelle's room. It was part of those that Mark had never seen in the game, so he was pretty curious as to what awaited inside. To his disappointment, the room was pretty bleak.
"What did you expect? I boarded the Express right before we've come to Jarilo-VI. It's to be expected that the room is pretty much... empty. Yours should look the same."
He gave a quick nod and moved to the room next over. Inside, it was just as Stelle had said. A simple bed, which was pretty soft, paired with a large desk and a soft chair that he melted into. The wardrobe did wait in the corner, and Mark had finally asked himself why everyone is always wearing the same clothes.
"Hmm, in game it must have been a thing about resources, whatever, but here I'm genuinely curious. Meh, I bet they have wardrobes filled with copies of the same outfits."
He took a deep breath and sat up, rubbing his back a little. He was just 19, and yet it somehow felt like he was an old man with how easily his back became stiff.
The tour of the rooms was over, and both March and Stelle chose to enter their own rooms and just do their thing. They were tired, that much was for sure. He still had to ask around and learn what other things had happened while he was out cold.
Back in the parlor, Welt and Himeko were talking, no sign of Dan Heng in view. Mark thought that maybe he went ahead and retreated to his room as well. Both of them turned to look at him the second the door opened, regarding him with relaxed demeanors.
"They think I can't notice how quiet they got. They must have been talking about me or something."
Mark simply sat down on the plush couch and crossed his legs, looking over to both of them.
"Go on, ask away. I'll answer what I can and leave the rest as secret... of course, secret for me as well, since I don't know everything."
Welt fixed his glasses, giving Mark a run-over. Himeko smiled his way, crossing her arms.
"Straight to business, I like it."
She took a seat next to him, turning to face him fully, her red hair falling slightly over her face. Mark felt something stir inside of him, but he didn't let it cloud his judgment. He was too aware of many cliches like that one, and he wouldn't become prey to things he understood, like his stupid slip-ups next to beautiful women.
"In that case, Mark, I'm sure you are aware of what both me and Welt here couldn't figure out."
She looked out the window at Jarilo-VI, and Mark had just realized that the Express took to orbit in such a smooth manner that he didn't even feel it move.
"Maybe it moved slower so I wouldn't feel it. Touche, I got no way out in case I was a bad guy or something. Heh, these guys sure are something."
Himeko turned back at him, her expression a note more serious.
"Tell me, Mark, how come there is no trace of the Stellaron left? Both Welt and I checked a few times, only to find nothing. What's more, the entire planet was brought to a state of normalcy, as if nothing had ever happened to it."
Welt silently assessed him, and Mark made sure to be obvious with how he looked at his walking cane, not even hesitating with what bits of knowledge he held. He took a deep breath and chuckled, bursting into laughter randomly.
"Well, that's a good question, because I'm not sure either. My best bet is that I absorbed the Stellaron, yet here I am, alive and well. Who knows if it'll have some long-term effects, but the thing I'm sure of is that I'm here, and I'm fine. The Stellaron isn't affecting the planet, and it's all back to normal."
The answer wasn't all that satisfying, and even Welt regarded him with a sense of wariness. Himeko, on the other hand, chose to put a bit of faith in him.
"Fine, I'll take that as an answer. After all, the crisis has been dealt with, and if you do have some ability that allows you to absorb Stellarons and neutralize them, it might come in handy down the line."
Mark nodded, smiling softly. Indeed, that's what he planned to do. The things about the being from the shadows that inserted that weird Stellaron made by it was something he wouldn't reveal for a long time, at least in his own plans.
"Well, seeing as Himeko chose to give you a chance, I shall do the same. After all, you wouldn't have put yourself in danger had you had some prior motives, aiming just for the Stellaron. Please forgive us, but we just had to ensure the safety of the crew and the Express."
Mark nodded, understanding their worries. They weren't paranoid, they actually had a serious basis for their reasoning, which he did follow along, knowing that an individual as weird as him is an oddity from all points of view. He didn't hesitate to flaunt the things he knew around, which did bury him deeper in his own mess.
"No worries, I'm good. It's the logical thing to do. Plus, understanding what my deal is could also help me in turn. If I somehow manage to absorb Stellarons at will, then I sure could help the world get rid of them."
Himeko nodded, relaxing in her seat, somehow maintaining a dignified stance even when leisuring around.
"I'm glad you understand. After all, the Astral Express is a place that anyone is free to join, no questions asked unless danger is imminent."
"No worries. Now, could we bring the Express back down to ground level? I'm sure you tried to sort of secure me up here in space, but still, it's not that good of a choice. If I were some bad guy, do you think I would have boarded this place without a way to escape no matter what?"
He smirked a little, the witty remarks a pleasure in his eyes. Having someone to banter with surely is a beautiful experience. Himeko returned the gesture, intertwining her fingers.
"My, it seems that you're also pretty sharp. You can drink my coffee, and you're also witty. It seems like we have an interesting one on our hands, right Welt?"
Welt gave a light nod, walking towards the door to the living quarters.
"Indeed. Well, please excuse me, I shall take my leave."
Mark suddenly became three times more self-aware as he found himself alone with Himeko. His mind tried swirling in certain directions, only for him to banish those thoughts over and over. His inner turmoil was well hidden by his casual demeanor, as if nothing was going on.
"Well, Miss Himeko, could you please direct the Express back to ground level? I want to take a stroll around and talk with the others, see how things turned out since I was out cold for two days."
She gave a light nod, standing up, the slit in her dress showing off her legs. Mark could feel his heart go crazy once more. There was something about her that just had him in a trance.
"Sure, Mark. Make sure to be careful, alright?"
She went off, leaving the room, and thus Mark was all alone inside.
"Alone in a new place. Heh, how many times has this happened before? Many, indeed."
The Express descended slowly, moving smoothly and at a reasonable pace. Mark simply sat down and waited. When it reached the ground, he stood up and grabbed his metal pipe from its corner. He had the bad habit of just letting it rest wherever. With the idea of checking up on the loose ends, he went ahead and disembarked the Express for the first time.
"In and out, quick experience, but I'm sure I'll grow more familiar with it."
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
stone