And here comes the next chapter, with a slight bad new: I'm not gonna reply to reviews anymore. At least, not for this story.I'll still update it, when I get the chance, but I won't reply to reviews.And that's it from me. Let's go to the chapter.

It had been a couple days since Hilda had disappeared with the Infinity Train, and as much as Johanna wanted to say things got better, it was as clear as day that that wasn't the case.

Hilda's absence was quickly noticed at school, with only Johanna letting the principal know Hilda wouldn't be available for a while mitigating the damage somehow. Even so, the students were clearly upset, including Frida and David, who seemed to want to be upset for some reason.

But that wasn't all: news about the Infinity Train began circulating, stories about an interdimensional train that took those who were in their lowest point and sent them on a journey of self-discovery, to become better people.

Needless to say, and regardless of how much people bought into it, Johanna knew she was running out of time.

"Thanks for being so understanding, sir," the woman told to her boss as she finished packing up. "I assure you, I'll be back to work in no time."

"Just focus on finding your daughter, okay? And say, Johanna, one more thing before you go."

"Yes, sir?"

"Do you know anything about this "Infinity Train" people keep talking about?"

The woman paused for a few seconds before hanging up as hastily as possible.

"You really should try telling somebody about it."

Johanna turned around and saw a small creature with a head covered in hair, and a large nose that stood out from said hair, come out of a portal with a flashlight in hand.

"News about that thing are spreading fast," the creature said as he handed the flashlight to Johanna. "Sooner or later, you'll have to come clean about what you know."

"First things first, Tontu, I need to go back to that train and get Hilda out of there as fast as I can," Johanna replied as she headed for the door. "Anyhow, I can't stay here: you're in charge of the house while I'm away, Tontu!"

With that declaration, Johanna closed the door and left the apartment.

"So, you're ready."

Johanna flinched and squeaked, only calming down once she turned around to see Kaisa standing nearby.

"Nice to see you too, Kaisa," Johanna said, clutching her chest while catching her breath. "Hey, is teleportation one of the spells Witches can do?"

"No, I just did as you told me and waited for you outside your complex," Kaisa shrugged. "You took a pretty long time to leave, too."

"If I'm gonna go after that train, I have to be dang sure to bring as many resources with me as possible," Johanna sighed. "I already had to survive that stupid locomotive with nothing but wits, I'm not gonna repeat my mistakes."

"Alrighty then, more power to you," Kaisa rolled her eyes and followed Johanna. "So, remind me, what's your plan again?"

"We're gonna summon the train's conductor using that spell you showed me at the library," Johanna scratched her chin. "But it still baffles me as to how you even have a spell that can contact such an enigmatic figure."

Kaisa lowered her head. "The train's changed a lot since you were there."

Johanna raised an eyebrow. "And you know that... how?"

Kaisa flinched and stopped on her tracks, sweating as she looked everywhere for something to divert the attention... until she saw two familiar children.

"Hey, aren't those Hilda's friends?"

Johanna turned to her side, and she frowned at the sight of David and Frida looking rather upset about something. So naturally, she walked to them and asked:

"Frida, David, what's wrong?"

"Hilda still hasn't returned," David answered, lowering his head. "It's the longest she's ever spent outside of Trolberg!"

"We haven't gotten any messages from her since she left... though now that I bring it up," Frida threw a raised eyebrow at Johanna. "Do you even know if Hilda took her phone with her?"

"I did check her room, and I even had Tontu search his place, but we couldn't find it," Johanna scratched her chin. "I assume this means she took it with her, but she hasn't answered any of my messages."

David and Frida exchanged worried looks, and at this sight, Johanna got an idea.

"Say, neither of you are planning to go after Hilda, are you?"

The duo flinched as Johanna continued:

"Because no matter what your journeys with Hilda have lead you to believe, this specific journey is way too much for you to handle."

Johanna petted David and Frida's heads.

"So please, stay safe here in Trolberg, and I'll go get Hilda back, okay?"

And with those words spoken, Johanna kept walking to the library, pocketing her hands as Kaisa and the kids watched her leave.

"I know it must be upsetting to be told you can't go help your friend, but just this once, maybe it's for the better," Kaisa crouched down and looked around before leaning closer to David's ear. "Have either of you found out about where Hilda could've gone to?"

David blushed and fumbled his words, until he answered:

"The Marra that used to give me nightmares said she saw her being swallowed by a train. One that looked like the same one her friend Kelly went to."

"So Hilda's not alone," Kaisa sighed and stood up. "Figures, the train has never been so picky about who it picks up. Let's just hope they don't take too long to solve their issues."

Frida frowned. "Why do you say that?"

"Time on the train flows the same way as in the real world: one day in the train, is one day missing on Earth," Kaisa lowered her head. "And some passengers stay there for months, even years, before they leave."

David raised an eyebrow. "And how do you know that?"

Rather than look worried like she did with Johanna, Kaisa just took a deep breath and gave the duo some advice:

"If you're planning to go to that train anyway, you better prepare yourself. It's a long, self-reflecting road, one that you won't be able to escape from unless you resolve all your issues."

And with that said, Kaisa followed Johanna, leaving the troubled children behind.

Once at the library, Kaisa took the woman through a secret bookcase entrance into a giant room, filled with books that detailed all sorts of knowledge.

Including the Infinity Train.

"I'm still a little surprised Witchkind managed to make a spell that can summon the conductor," Johanna remarked as Kaisa took out a book. "I always thought the train was impossible to see or analyze."

"Long story short, Witchkind has a connection with the train," Kaisa responded while reading the book. "Now, I'd appreciate it if you could help me set everything up for the ritual."

"Oh, right."

Johanna put her stuff on the ground and began helping Kaisa with the ritual: first by drawing a large circle on the ground, then an infinity symbol on the center.

Then, Kaisa prepared to begin the ritual... when she noticed Johanna's troubled expression.

"A parent can only blame themselves so much for how their children grow to be like," she sighed, getting the brunette's attention. "Sure, you gave Hilda a lot of freedom, but she's the one who refuses to adapt to the city," Kaisa rolled her eyes. "Blaming yourself will not get you any closer to finding your daughter, as well."

"I know... still, looking at what I did-"

Suddenly, Kaisa put her hands on Johanna's cheeks and looked directly at her eyes.

"Less focus on the past, and more on the present. Now, let's summon this conductor, shall we?"

Kaisa crouched down and put her hands on the ground. The symbol and her hands glowed as she spoke the ritual phrase, which to Johanna just sounded like a bunch of gibberish.

When the symbol glowed its brightest, Kaisa removed her hands and a sphere emerged from the circle, showing static on its interior.

The static quickly gave way to something else: a circular White and Black robot with a conductor cap.

"Oh, hello there, Kaisa!" the robot chirped. "It's been quite a while, hasn't it!"

"Yes, One-One," Kaisa lowered her eyelids. "It's been a long time indeed."

"Kaisa, you said this spell would summon a direct connection to the conductor, right?" Johanna tilted her head. "So why are we looking at a white-black ball?"

"Greetings, Johanna! Or as you were previously known as, Passenger 683948!"

Johanna's eyes widened. "How do you know my passenger number?! Only the conductor knows a passenger's number!"

"Oh, sweet Johanna, I already told you!" One-One giggled. "I'm One-One, the conductor of the Infinity Train!"

"What?"

"Then again, going by your reaction, you were probably a passenger during the time Amelia acted as the conductor!" One-One poked himself with one of his limbs. "Boy, how weird must it be to see the real conductor after all this time!"

"One-One, we don't have time for this!" Kaisa snapped. "Listen, Johanna's daughter Hilda went missing, and we have reason to believe she might've been picked up by the train! Could you tell us if that's true?"

"Hilda..." One-One hummed. "Does she have blue hair?"

Johanna flinched. "Yes..."

"She wears Red, Yellow, and Blue clothing?"

Johanna smiled. "Yes..."

"Is she intrepid and a little bit cocky, maybe a bit too much for her own good?"

Kaisa and Johanna held hands as she chirped "Yes!" in unison.

"Does she wake up every morning with a thunderous yodeling, then proceeds to ride a winged unicorn into battle, all while singing and strumming an acoustic guitar?"

The women exchanged looks, raised an eyebrow, and said a simple "no." while shaking their heads.

"Oh thank goodness! Because that Hilda has been dead for over a decade now!"

"ONE-ONE!" Kaisa yelled.

"Okay, sorry, I think we do have a Hilda that fits the previous description, though. Let me have a look."

The robot pressed a few buttons, and after a short wait, a list appeared behind him, prompting him to move aside as he said:

"You mean this Hilda, right? She's the new passenger 683948."

Hilda's group walked through a door into an open field, Hilda covered in some tea.

"It's weird, after a Woff-populated land, a forest, and whatever that tea party car was all about, I can't believe the next car is about bike racing."

"And I can't believe you nearly caused a ruckus at the last car," Alfur said, shaking himself. "I mean, did you have to spit the tea right at the patron's face?!"

"Of course I did, that tea was terrible!" Hilda responded as she looked at her surroundings. "But hey, that was then, and this is now, and to be honest, I'm actually kinda worried."

Helga raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Hilda pointed forward, and the group saw a bike race taking place, several children laughing as they sped through the field.

"A bike race?" Alfur asked. "Why would a bike race worry you? Didn't you learn how to ride a bike with David and Frida?"

Hilda scratched her head with a slight blush. "I might've forgot to add I'm still learning how to drive one without training wheels..."

"Out of the way, nerds!"

The group moved away as a Pink biker rode past them, braking and stopping near a corner as the rider reached for their helmet.

And once she took it out, anger surged through Hilda as she saw an all-too familiar face:

Kelly.

"You're the Marra who shoved Frida straight into the Black Hound's jaws!" Hilda snapped as she and her group approached the Blonde. "What are you doing here!?"

"I'm pretty certain," Helga interjected as she walked to Kelly's side. "She's here for the same reason you are."

Helga grabbed Kelly's hand and raised it, revealing a green, glowing "32" on her palm.

"You got a number too?"

"So what if I do!?" Kelly snapped, yanking her hand away. "I can't help it, okay? This dumb train put a number on my palm as soon as I came in."

Hilda looked at her numbered palm and showed it to Kelly. "Same as me."

"Whoa, you must have a lot of baggage if your number is that high to begin with," Kelly remarked as she folded her arms and leaned forward. "What even happened that brought you to the Infinity Train?"

"The Infinity Train?" Alfur and Hilda asked in unison.

"That's what my Mum called it, anyhow. According to her, the train appears to someone when they're at their lowest and gives them a chance to grow for the better, or something," Kelly rolled her eyes and put a hand on her hip. "Now, I'll ask again: what are you doing here?"

"Well..." Hilda looked elsewhere. "There's a chance I got some issues to work out myself. And I'd appreciate it if you didn't try to give me nightmares while I'm here."

"Please, I've had more than enough kids to give nightmares to during my stay here," Kelly replied with a cocky smile. "Why would I switch focus to you?"

Hilda gritted her teeth, and raised her guard as Kelly leaned towards her.

"Besides, there's something much more terrifying lurking around."

Hilda raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"Seriously?" Kelly smirked. "How long have you been here?"

"A couple days... I think."

"And yet... you've never heard of the Apex?"