บท 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.*
*update on 5th of December 2024 when the room update came out and stuff. It's a bit of a scuffed fix, but I'm going to modify a little here on the details and stuff. Thus, Mark's room becomes the training room kinda, so at future mentions, it would kinda be the same thing, and hopefully the rest doesn't become all too scuffed cuz else I might cook myself way too much*
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 around, right?" asked March, grinning from ear to ear. Himeko chuckled and nodded, pouring herself a cup of steaming coffee.
"Perhaps we should. However, we do have a bit of a shortage when it comes to the rooms. Plus, Mark has to say a pledge to officially join our ranks."
March narrowed her eyes, letting out a somewhat annoyed sigh.
"That cringey thing again? Can't we just skip it? Stelle had to say it, and it felt so awkward."
Mark's mind instantly went into overdrive, memories crashing inside, refusing to come out without a fight. The moments converged, causing his nose to bleed out and his headache to take off. He wiped it clean instantly, forcing himself to stand.
"Are you alright, Mark?" asked Himeko, reaching out to help him stand.
"It's not that bad, you know? No need to bleed out for such a thing," added March, looking a bit worried. Mark simply chuckled, forcing the pain to subside with the joy of a warm moment.
"No worries, just a little something. I guess I screwed up one way or another and my body is still upset. I'm fine tho," he said calmly, smiling from ear to ear.
Himeko's warm smile soothed his heart, and the others were just as calm, albeit a touch worried deep down. 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, time to see Stelle's room, right?"
March nodded, but she wasn't that much excited. She shot Stelle a sidelong glance, to which the girl answered by looking away, acting like nothing was wrong.
"Come on now, March. You know I joined not so long ago myself, so why press this issue? The room is empty, large as it may be."
"I would still like to see it," said Mark, admitting that his curiosity was there despite the barren state of the room. Thus, they walked back to the Parlor Car, and entered the door on top of the staircase, which Mark could only ever see in game. Still, the headache was there, persisting in spite of all his efforts. Most probably, it would've been shown somewhere in the future, so that's why the pain lingers.
Quick glances, and he saw the bartender robot, but he didn't focus too much on it for the time being, instead following March and Stelle to the room above. Empty, cluttered with boxes, and one carboard box stood in the middle as a makeshift bed. Mark's face simply blanked out, while March and Stelle were chuckling at his expense.
"I won't ask any more questions," he mumbled, turning around and making haste for the parlor, where everyone had finally gathered.
"Oh, exactly the one we were waiting for," said Himeko, flashing him a soft smile. He was a bit confused, but then Pom-Pom cleared up the situation.
"Mark, you've made your wish known that you would like to join our ranks. Are you sure about that choice?"
Dan Heng looked his way, arms crossed as his cold gaze scanned Mark with sharpened interest.
"Becoming a Nameless signifies leaving the past behind to blaze a trail into the future," he said calmly, to which Mark didn't react much. With a resigned look, he said his piece earnestly.
"Past behind by will or not, I only have the future. As much as the past lingers, the future is our only choice. I accept."
The others were a bit baffled, yet smiles graced their lips at his sincere declaration. It was true, in the end: the past only burdens people, and that much he knows, considering how he ended up there. Going back would probably be impossible, at least for the time being.
"Since Mark has made his decision, let's gather round and formally welcome the Astral Express Crew's newest member!"
Pom-Pom's declaration caught him a little on the wrong foot, and the memories related to it were barely there, just blank flashes of words scattered about that brought more pain than needed.
"Are you ready for you initiation into the Nameless, Mark?" asked the Conductor. With a hand slung over his chest, the new Nameless nodded, taking upon himself the mantle of a burdening past that he was snatched from, and a future where he hoped to do so much more.
"Bring it on, Pom-Pom. I'm ready."
"Then let's recite the Trailblazer Creed. Repeat after Pom-Pom."
Thus, they spoke in unison, the words somehow flowing to Mark naturally –along the bothersome headache that seemed to have dulled a little, hopefully thanks to the information unraveling before his eyes.
"One, no matter the ebb and flow of fate, stop staying within the lines. Two, even in the face of tempestuous seas, we always align. Three, even if we don't gain the upper hand, we'll fight for right. Four, even if forgotten by the world, never care a rap for hindsight. Five, no matter how bleak the cosmos may get, let us light the night. Six, even when there are wheels within wheels, go ahead!"
Then, everyone as one spoke out, their voices carrying within the will of many who had been before.
"May this journey lead us starward."
March sighed, speaking up.
"This is kinda cringey, just as I remember. We should skip this the next time."
Pom-Pom was about to berate her for ruining the moment, but Mark spoke up, a most tender smile on his lips.
"It's always the cringe within someone that brings out their true nature. It's honest, uncaring for norms. I find it beautiful."
Smiles all around, until the matter at hand came up.
"So, Mark, it seems that we have a rooming problem. The Express isn't as big as it used to be, so the only available room we have is in the Engine Room."
Mark rubbed his chin in thought, asking a question that doubled down as a solution for more things.
"Is there perhaps a training room within the Express?"
Himeko's brow rose up a touch, but she nodded.
"We do have one. Do you perhaps wish to move in there?"
He nodded, smiling.
"Sure, I don't see why not. I don't think it's used that much, and not like I have stuff to keep there. I just need a bed and a wardrobe. If you have some spares in a storage, even better. I'll just drag them there and make that room my own sleeping quarters. Of course, everyone's free to come and train there, as long as I'm not sleeping."
"I guess that settles it, then," said Pom-Pom, taking note of Mark's requests. "This is all for now. We will tell you about work and duties on the Express, but for now you should get used to the place."
Thus, the group dispersed, safe for Himeko and Welt, who exchanged curious glances, silently conversing. 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."
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