Chapter 1 – The Start Of A Journey
"Well, I can finally see you off safely… we cut it close a couple of times, but I'm just glad that you're fine in the end. Everything should work out now." Nova said as he released a hefty sigh of relief, unable to withhold a tired but pleased smile at the outcome he had achieved. Yet despite Nova's satisfaction, his company was evidently displeased as she looked at him with pity.
Contrary to the start of their partnership, they and their clothes were a complete mess neither of their states bothered them. Their clothes were covered with numerous rips, tears and muddy stains they hardly looked any better than rags as the girl still had spots of mud adorning her. Compared to the pristine natural beauty which she still possessed despite her current state, it felt almost criminal to see her in such an unkempt state. Despite it all, her sorrow held it among her lowest concerns compared to the ruin she had caused…
"Are you really, ok? I've caused you so much trouble… I haven't succeeded at anything, I only made things worse! Especially for you! Because of me, everyone…" She said, unknowingly leaning forward as she got worked up with her remorse, before retreating and wallowing in shame that prevented her from finishing her sentence.
Nova could only sigh to himself with a weak smile at the sight of her. "It's alright… it'll be alright. When it comes to a war like this, it won't ever end so easily. At least not without something drastic… You... tried your best with good intentions. That's what matters." He spoke, slowly lowering his head to the ground as he considered his words.
A few moments of silence passed before the pair tried to talk again, only that Nova spoke first. "But we're long-lived species, we'll come out of it eventually. I can't say everyone will make it, but most of us will see the end."
The woman hesitated once more at the sight of Nova forcing himself to swallow down a lump in his throat, desperately combating the welling sorrow that filled him right before her eyes. The pain of their experiences was clear in his eyes as his mind wandered back, and it began to crush her heart once more, resulting in her continued silence.
Nova longed, he wished, that he could tell her in full honesty. Tell her that his words were just the opposite of reality and that the end of the war would never be anywhere in sight of shorter-lived races. The nature of the combatant sides only made it worse as they sparked flames amongst themselves, flames which would surely burn until the end of the world. There was only one way to be sure to see the war end, but Nova knew that he would never be able to accept the price that it would cost…
"You should move on, and quickly before something else happens. Just… try to focus on the positives." Nova spoke again as he looked up at her, gently lifting her chin with a finger so that she could see the strong façade he was putting on for her. "There are plenty of other worlds in the universe I'm sure you'll be able to help. And so many more that can smile every day thanks to you already. Don't let this blot out all the good you're doing."
"But what about you? I can't leave you like this…" She replied, shocked that he had so easily suggested that she continue. "I caused you to lose everything, so it's only right that I do something to make it up to you… I know that it might sound wrong, but I can at least offer you the chance to leave. To try and start a new life elsewhere across the universe." She continued, her eyes silently pleading to him as they remained full of hope for one last well-intended deed. One she desperately wanted to have a happier outcome.
Despite feeling that her words were further spitting on the damage she had done to Nova, it was the only offer she could give. The only thing that she felt she could do for him. Her words stemmed from a hope that, whilst shutting out his past potentially forever, would still offer the chance for him to find another happiness in turn. One that she had all but destroyed any hope of the world they stood on.
Nova could only freeze up at the offer, the opportunity one that he had genuinely not considered possible as a hope he had long not once dared to consider. Had things been different, had the world not been the same or at least not when time overlapped with Her existence then the choice would have come to him instantly.
Yes. Of course. Please!
They were all words he wished to say, but anxiety stemming from the back of his mind and long-held memories chained them down. He had always thought there was nothing to consider. Here on this planet, he was out of the way, and with that nothing would be disturbed. It had been his whole relief throughout his entire existence until She appeared.
And now, here she was, further enticing him like the snake and the forbidden fruit of Eden.
He knew that he shouldn't. He knew the best thing to do was to say no, to refuse. He knew that the sacrifice of staying out of the way on his dying homeworld was the correct one for the universe. And yet… he couldn't bring himself to resist temptation. His long battered and worn-down soul begging for the escape out of Hell there wasn't the faintest chance of resisting it despite the endangerment he posed doing so.
"I'm sorry…" He silently and sincerely apologised to the universe in his mind. But he knew that no mere apology would be enough for putting his selfish desire for relief and adventure above the endangerment of the universe...
"I'll… I'll go with you."
"You're late." A harsh, curt statement was made by a short doll that crossed her arms, a scowl on her face with disapproval for the two women who had finally arrived in her office. As the futuristic door slid shut behind them, the doll continued to tap her foot in irritation as the shorter of the two women could only awkwardly scratch the back of her head with a forced smile.
"We're sorry, Herta." The tallest of the women replied, her gentle voice and relaxed posture a complete contrast to her companion. "Unfortunately, the current state of the space station makes it more difficult to traverse, but we brought what you requested as well as something else."
"The only thing I want from you is Curios. I'm not here to take just any piece of junk off your hands. But if you think it's enough to hold my interest, then show it to me." Herta said, her voice dripping with sass as she unfolded an arm, holding it out expectantly.
"Aww~, are we really going to give it to her, Miss Himeko? I mean it's not what she asked for and she just said it's mainly Curios that she's after. It could be our own little discovery!" The pink-haired girl playfully pleaded, her voice mixed with hopefulness and disappointment as she glanced up at the scarlet-haired woman beside her.
But her small but chipper smile and hopeful lilac and amethyst eyes had no effect on Himeko who merely calmly shook her head in denial. Meanwhile, the puppet just across from them could only put her hands on her hips as she glared in response.
"Do you think that you can cheat a Genius out of a deal, and right in front of me? All the Curios and other such treasures from your adventures are mine, and in turn, I give you supplies. I'm not making exceptions." Herta interjected, forcing an awkward laugh out of the young woman.
"But if you don't ask then you don't get! Right?" March replied before turning to Himeko for support.
"She is correct March, and the supplies that Herta gives are quite valuable considering how much she enables us to trailblaze without worry for meals and resources. We should be willing to honour our agreements especially when they're as beneficial as Herta's." Himeko gently chided with a gentle smile before reaching into her pocket.
Despite wearing a classy, frilly white dress, Himeko still managed to manage to reach into a pocket as riding on her shoulders was a large black coat. Whilst it went to give her more warmth than her dress would offer, it also helped cover some of her natural beauty from behind alongside offering the luxury of pockets.
With her gloved hand dipping in for a moment, she pulled out a pitch-black crystal from her coat that she quickly held out to Herta. Only upon opening her hand did it become possible to tell its shape as a flat diamond, possessing a singular faint blue light at its centre.
There wasn't any hesitation from Herta who immediately and harshly swiped the gem from Himeko's hand, closely peering at it before holding it in the air.
"Is there anything you know about it Herta? Its behaviour is so strange, Dan Heng wanted to look into it as well!" March asked smiling at the Genius who paid them no heed, completely absorbed in analysing the crystal despite her utterly bored look.
"I share the sentiment. I've yet to come across anything quite like it." Himeko added on, her focused eyes flickering between Herta and the crystal for any insight as she still failed to respond even after several moments passed.
"Is this it? Unless the concept of a black rock eludes you, there's currently nothing to care about with this thing." Herta harshly replied, her features turning hard as she remained completely unimpressed with the gem.
"It seems to possess some unique qualities, Madam Herta. At first, March picked it up as a keepsake she found but we quickly realized it had some strange properties. For example, upon performing a Warp Jump to the space station, it absorbed some of the residual energy used for the warp. We thought that maybe you would know something more about it, or understand its existence to be a Curio?" Himeko explained whilst waiting far more patiently for the girl beside her who gave a troubled, questioning look.
"There was something else, Madam Herta!" March suddenly spoke up, raising a hand like an enthusiastic student hoping to give a teacher the answer. "I only found the crystal because I heard some laughing!"
"Laughter? Are you suggesting that a Masked Fool planted this?" Herta asked, only giving March a disapproving sideways look.
"I hadn't thought much about it at the time considering how it could have been anything, but while waiting for them to return on the Express we heard Aha's Laughter…." Himeko mentioned, her gentle expression sharpening slightly as she brought a hand to her chin in thought.
"Yeah! At first, I thought someone was nearby, but as soon as I spotted and picked up the crystal the laughing got much louder. Dan Heng said that it was likely Aha but we didn't understand what THEY were laughing at…" March continued with a worried look. "If it really was Aha, does it mean it's dangerous or something?"
"I believe it would be impossible to tell from mere speculation March. Aha's known for having done all sorts of acts across the universe in their Elation ranging from harmless to wiping out whole planets as a result." Himeko said with a serious expression, her eyes fixed on the crystal.
"Mm. It could range from an important piece of my research or just something planted to waste my time." Herta hummed in acknowledgement as she brought the crystal back down again, her eyes never leaving it. The aloof boredom they held moments ago was now replaced with a serious, contemplative look instead before making up her mind.
With a small zap of electricity coming from her, Herta silently increased the power coursing through the doll she utilized causing it to heat up. For a couple of moments, she remained unresponsive until her eyes suddenly shot wide open in shock, a small but genuine smile spread across her face as she looked down at the gem in fascination. It was the lighting of a flame of intellectual curiosity that drove the Genius to immediately begin internally analysing what she was experiencing.
What she had begun to feel should have been impossible, and yet this crystal had made it so. Lethargy. It should have been impossible for her artificial body to experience such a thing, and yet as she continued to hold the gem, she could feel more and more of her doll's power draining into it. She already had another Curio that could attain similar effects of draining stray energy. But their composure was completely different, and most importantly, this one had begun to forcefully extract it as well…
Herta continued to pay attention to the gem, quickly taking note of the changes with the gem itself as it continued to take more and more power, doing so faster and faster. As it did so the light inside it began to shimmer and grow, steadily increasing within the confines of the gem as it drove back and banished the darkness that encircled it. The progress of the light's growth was by no means fast, but it was enough to be noticeable by the naked eye.
And yet it was that very light that then extinguished and put out even the flame of interest that Herta previously felt in an instant with a single action.
It pulsed.
"So, what do you make of it Herta?" Himeko asked again, breaking the silence that had filled the room.
"Does it count as a Curio or not? It's so pretty, I'd love to be able to keep it with me to remember things by!" March chimed in, energy returning to her voice as she leaned forward slightly with hope in her eyes.
But once more Herta didn't respond to them, instead with a huff she made up her mind. Turning around on the spot before walking straight over to a machine in the corner of her office. Wordlessly and without care she threw the gem into place, floating between two thin pieces of metal above and below it.
With fluid movements, Herta typed things onto a keyboard whilst automated whirring sounds filled the room as the machine sprang into action. To the tune of rhythmic tapping, scanners moved around the crystal as faint beads of light were occasionally shot at it until at last a screen displayed a stable frequency wave. It was all that Herta needed to see before sliding up a switch to maximum and pressing one more key afterwards.
As she did so, the machine began to hum as parts of it lit up, moving through it before coming out the antennas as beams of shimmering light. March and Himeko could only stare at the experiment in confusion and interest as the crystal continued to devour the lasers, the light in its core rapidly growing and washing away the darkness with a royal blue instead
"Um, what are you doing with it?" March asked as she and Himeko took a few steps closer to the machine in interest.
"Just charging it up," Herta replied with a bored tone, crossing her arms as she watched the machine work.
A sliver of frustration lingered in March from the Genius's refusal to answer, pouting as she looked at her back, wishing that Herta would just share some of her understanding with them. And yet, she couldn't hold onto it for more than a few moments as a bright glimmer filled the room, quickly drawing her attention to its source: the gem.
Light continued to amass within the crystal as it got brighter and brighter, the darkness of the gem having long vanished as instead, its radiance began to leak out and fill the room. But the machine never stopped, nor did Herta act to do anything but watch unflinchingly as Himeko and March were forced to use their arms to protect their eyes.
"What's going on?! Isn't this kind of dangerous?! Shouldn't we leave?!" March shouted out amongst the chaos caused by the streams of light that wrapped around them and filled the room, blinding them all.
But even as the whole room was filled as equally as March's voice was with panic, Herta still didn't flinch. Her artificial eyes didn't need to so much as blink as she let it all unfold before her. Had she been organic enough, she might have yawned despite the brilliant display as she waited for it to end.
Suddenly, the light all burst apart, separating into countless motes that filled the room to March's and Himeko's amazement as they slowly lowered their guards to look around the room.
"Wow, this is amazing! I need to take a picture of this!" March cheered, quickly grappling for the camera she wore at her hip, attached to a strap on the dark blue skirt she wore.
"Indeed, it is, but it makes me wonder what it's doing. This isn't its only purpose, is it Madam Herta?" Himeko said, returning her attention to the genius after briefly admiring the lights.
"Not at all, they're nearly done," Herta replied finally choosing to approach and tamper with the machine once more.
"They're?" March repeated, her attention snapping back mid-photograph at the unexpected phrasing.
There was no need for an answer, nor was there any time to. As if in response to March's words, the motes of light began to gradually move, drifting back towards the crystal with increasing speed and rapidly forming around the crystal as they returned to it.
Before their eyes, the light took the shape of a late teenage boy standing at the same height as March. Only the glowing gem filled with starlight in their chest betrayed a typical human appearance. Their hair was short, but long enough to appear messily gelled back whilst their fringe parted to the side. Sharp, serious eyes just shy of glaring crept revealing open deep blue eyes that hastily analysed his surroundings as they kept a hard, tense expression.
The first person that he spotted was Herta, causing him to freeze up the moment he locked eyes with her as if frozen in time. Whilst his imaginary heart had stopped, Herta's kept going as she continued to stare back unimpressed.
"Well? Aren't you going to do anything? You're not planning on staying like that are you?" Herta exuberantly asked, her voice full of expectation. It was only by being addressed at the displeased doll was he snapped out of his shock and back into life as he realised his current appearance.
With a snap of his fingers, there was a quick shine from his Core as a flood of sparkling blue energy flooded out of it. It wrapped around his body, behaving in a flame-like way yet taking the general shape of a long, partially open sleeveless coat and trousers to restore some of his dignity.
"Um, sorry about that… but did you have to stare?" He complained as he leaned over Herta, his voice irritated whilst his face was equally unamused to the one, he looked down on.
"I'm not aware of your culture. Usually, energy-based lifeforms don't care about things like that, but Kristalvilians look too human to be acceptable like that." Herta scoffed without care, breaking eye contact with him as she walked back to the machine, presumably powering it down.
"I don't believe it! That crystal was a person this whole time!? I didn't know there were races like that in the world!" March exclaimed in amazement, her eyes full of awe. As the boy turned around to see who had spoken, the colour began to fade from his face as his eyes widened. Only by biting his inner lip did he manage to keep his composure.
"The universe is a large place March, there are all sorts of different races out there all with their unique traits. I'm sure that the more we trailblaze the more you'll come across many more different kinds of races as well." Himeko said to March before turning her attention to the boy who stood frozen before them, a graceful smile completing the soft, warm look she gave him. "But I admit, this is a first for me as well but it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Himeko, one of the Nameless and Navigator for the Astral Express. And this here is March 7th, another passenger of the Astral Express."
He didn't immediately reply, instead remaining in shock at what he was seeing but it quickly gave way to internally cursing himself. 'How did THIS happen?!' He screamed out in his mind, his hands forming fists tightly enough that it began to hurt.
He hasn't been anywhere near the story, not even planets that he thought could get involved with the story! He had been so careful and yet he was still faced with breaking that absolute vow...
'No, I need to focus now... so long as I can get away quickly and without suspicion then it should all be fine. Just one chance encounter shouldn't do any harm right?' He thought to himself, calming, sharpening and honing his mind for the encounter. And then with all the naturalness he could, he spoke.
"Huh… I didn't know that dates could take human form, I guess we're all learning something new?" He said whilst lifting his brows in feigned surprise. Putting a fist on his hip as he shifted his weight, his shimmering Core proudly on display as he gave her his full attention.
"Hey~, what kind of greeting is that? I'm completely human you know!" March responded, pouting as she held balled-up hands to her chest in frustration.
"Ok, sorry. Low-hanging fruit and felt I had to take it." Nova calmly replied, briefly raising a hand before 'relaxing' again. "But on a more serious note… thank you very much for the save. I'm Nova, it's nice to meet you."
"Excuse me? She didn't do much for you aside from handing you over to your actual saviour. You're welcome by the way." Herta snapped, her voice dripping with sass and disapproval as she spun around. "Count yourself lucky because of the attack as well, the damage to the station ultimately resulted in energy going unused which you got."
"And that suddenly explains where the massive quantity of energy came from… thank you very much." The boy quickly replied with a nod, yet his eyes remained focused on the Genius as his smile fell into a thin line.
"What's wrong? Spit it out already or else you can get lost twerp. I know I'm pretty, but I don't appreciate people just staring at me all day." Herta said, crossing her arms in disgruntlement.
"Right, sorry, but I was wondering, are you Madam Herta of the Genius Society? The Emanator?" Nova hastily asked. The lone question was enough to instantly put a smile on the doll's face as she proudly placed her hands on her hips with a triumphant look at the rightful recognition she had received.
"That's right! You cut to more impressive aspects compared to that Nameless navigator merely referencing me being #83 of the Society." Herta answered, her voice full of pride.
"Well, thank you all a lot then… honoured to meet you," Nova said as he fought down the urge to keep looking around the place frantically with the rising need to escape building in him, his mind racing as the possibilities of his scenario came to mind one after another.
'Herta completely just confirmed the antimatter legion attack, didn't she?! It's the only time a place like this could be attacked! Now I really need to get away!' He thought to himself once more, masterfully containing his emotions all the while.
The main immediate issue that constantly plagued his mind, however, was managing to leave the Space Station. Having been brought on via the Express, there likely wouldn't be an easy way off a place that wouldn't have public space travel to and from it. His only hope would have to be making it down to the planet below, The Blue, as a first step somehow…
The thought paired with only a vague plan as an answer was enough to fill Nova with a sense of anxiety but even then, he never allowed himself to show it. He wouldn't sweat. He wouldn't tense. He wouldn't shake. He wouldn't rush.
All he would do was hope. Hope that he wouldn't have an impact, whilst steadily working through the situation and be poised to act on the first opportunity to leave…
"You can remember the fact that you owe me then and answer a question," Herta said, pulling him from his thoughts as he turned to the Genius, forcing down his concern. "Are you aware that Aha the Elation THEMSELF were the reason you were found?"
"Aha?" Nova repeated, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her incredulously.
"That's right! The moment that I picked you up, everyone could hear THEM laughing." March calmly added, "Are you a Masked Fool or something?"
"Not at all… I don't follow the Path of Elation at all. Seriously, I have no idea what THEY would want with you finding me…" Nova replied in a scarce voice as the situation sank in. 'I mean really? Why would Aha be interested in me at all? It's not like I'm going to mess up their lives, if anything I planned to avoid them…' He thought to himself, desperately trying to find any sort of reason for the Aeon's actions.
He was just a mortal. He was nothing to them, and certainly wasn't about to be the beginning of a prank on anyone… But this was Aha they were talking about, the most chaotic and unpredictable of all the Aeons. What would he, or anyone, know?
"That's interesting…" Herta mumbled to herself, unable to resist lowering her head whilst cupping her chin in deep thought. "Even if I usually consider Aha as a nonsensical, chaotic force it doesn't make sense for THEM to simply help save some kid on a whim…"
"I'm not a kid…" Nova couldn't but comment, his voice as bland as the expression on his face.
"You're clearly under 200 at least, especially compared to me, you're all children," Herta replied with a sharp glare causing Nova to twitch in annoyance, but before he could reply Himeko spoke up.
"Um, Madam Herta, this is an Aeon we are talking about. Isn't it possible there might be an even bigger implication to saving Nova than we might initially think?" Himeko hurriedly suggested as she brought the conversation back on track.
"Without it being me screwing you over somehow… what exactly would that be? Because I have no plans of doing anything like that…" Nova spoke up as he looked at the navigator with a serious, contemplative expression. "Even from my perspective, Aha basically just assisted in saving me. Nothing more."
'Well… ignoring how I wished to avoid these people. But it's not like THEY could know that, could they? Is it even enough to be funny to THEM?' He couldn't help but think to himself before pushing the thought from his mind. No matter what the cause of his situation was, his goal remained the same.
"Which is something that makes it all the stranger. But I can't ignore the possibility the whole attempt is to just throw me off… Aha always has to be the most troubling one." Herta complained with an irritated sigh at the thought. "It doesn't matter. If there is nothing that you can say, then I don't need you anymore." She then said with a dismissive wave towards Nova, the last of her interest vanishing with it.
"I don't get any of that, nor what even are you? Did something happen to you to become that black crystal?" March spoke up, tilting her head in confusion.
"The fool ran out of energy and regressed back to his Core." Herta quickly answered for him, boredom filling her voice but her words did nothing to give March a sense of understanding.
"Something like that…" Nova awkwardly said before sighing, lowering his head for a few moments in thought before making up his mind and facing the Nameless once more. "Unlike you, despite my physical appearance, I'm an energy-based life form called a Krystalvilian. I'm like a cripple in a car, only that the cripple is a literal glittering gem and the car is made of the fuel that it's using… somehow…. Fuel's gone? Car's gone. Car's gone? Crystal just sits on the ground like a coma patient in bed, slowly withering away if it's not lucky enough to have life support… that's just enough stray energy in the space around it by the way." He explained with sheer nonchalance that left March completely bewildered.
"Is that… the best way you could have described your situation?" March asked incredulously, her brows creased as she gave him an awkward look filled with the confused and conflicting feelings the bizarre explanation had given rise to.
"It's certainly a colourful and interesting description to hear." Himeko mused with a soft smile in stark contrast to March as she wasn't phased in the slightest.
"You're also a race that has pretty much locked themselves in a civil war spanning several centuries, it's not often to see one you so far from home," Herta added on as the thought came to mind, quickly adopting a serious look once more as she looked him over.
"It's the second time you've shamelessly checked me out now… Can't say I'm terribly happy with it." Nova said with a sly smile quickly receiving a stern look from Herta, completely unimpressed at the quip used to hide his discomfort about the situation.
"You can dream with that kind of attitude, there's no reason for me to take an interest in you. I'm questioning what resulted in you being here. You're just not carrying any hints." Herta harshly reported as she crossed her arms once more, glaring at him.
"Knew as much, should have known better that you would humour a person. Anyways, I literally just emerged from my core; I don't know what you expect." Nova replied as he crossed his arms much the same as Herta, leaning in towards her with a brow raised.
"Perhaps you could tell what happened to you then? When we found your crystal it was in the middle of a Fragmentum, and rather close to a large Fragmentum Beast." Himeko interjected with a soft yet raised voice, swiftly ending the tension with a gentle smile.
"Well, that's simple. I was curious what one tasted like, so I ate one." Nova bluntly answered with a poker face as he relaxed once more.
"There's no way that's the case!" March cried out in shock, her eyes going wide in disbelief as she couldn't help but recoil.
"Eh, 50/50, yes and no. The curiosity about eating one is genuine, actually being there to do it or having done so? No. I might be a Krystalvilian that consumes energy-based lifeforms myself but I'm not an idiot… I've heard human pregnancies cause them to have bizarre food cravings so maybe it's like that? Or not, I don't know what's up with humans, never mind human women. I assume they don't actually eat those things."
"Well… I hope not?" March worriedly said as she shared a glance with Himeko. "Does that mean you're also… pregnant?"
Nova could only lift a brow as he gave the girl a disappointed stare before sighing. "Ever heard of these things called 'intrusive thoughts'? I have a few. More than a few at times. Sometimes they win, just not that time. Besides, Krystalvilins don't get pregnant, we don't reproduce via… whatever it is you do."
"Um… ok, but then what about why you were there then?"
"Well, ever since I escaped that planet which I call my homeland, I've just been wandering across the universe seeing all the different places all the while. But it's not like the world just hands out quantities of energy to consume for free, and whilst running a bit low and being caught off-guard costs me."
"That sounds rather careless of you," March replied, disapproval in her voice.
"…Sure. Yeah, it was…" Nova eventually replied with a heavy, pained sigh. 'Not that great to be called that by her of all people…' He thought to himself.
"But you said that you've been wandering about the universe since, does that mean you're another Trailblazer then?" March then said, excitement building in her voice as her face lit up once more. As she asked the question, she was seemingly bouncing on her toes, bubbly and joyful and the prospect that they had stumbled upon.
Nova however felt struck in the chest by the question, the blow gripping at his chest as his mind blanked for a moment. It took only a moment to realise what he had admitted to the group, to the trailblazers, before immediately scolding himself in his mind for his mistake.
"…Perhaps," Nova said as he managed to keep a calm facade.
"Then Himeko, what about letting Nova join the Express?" March asked the Navigator with a hopeful expression as Nova couldn't but let his surprise show.
"If Nova's already been travelling then I don't see the harm in it. However, we should remain respectful of Nova's potential plans and his predicament." Himeko replied before turning to Nova with a soft, motherly smile that Nova couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth from. "I imagine that you currently have a lot on your mind right now and would like some time to yourself but if you don't mind me asking, do you have any kind of plan?"
"A plan? What kind of plan?" Nova asked in confusion.
"About what to do next. To be honest, the planet which we found you is quite far from here and I imagine that you would wish to get back on your journey." Himeko pointed out.
"Well, a sensible person would first gather enough energy to last themselves a while before seriously heading off…" Nova chimed back. "And clothes. I've lost everything since being forced to return to my core so that's more than just a little issue…"
"Don't worry about energy, do you think I would give you some trickling amount? I already told you; I was generous. You got a good portion of the power no longer being used because of the damage caused by the Antimatter Legion attack. You're good to go for a long time if you play it conservatively. Clothes aren't anything either, just go and trouble Asta to get you something." Herta interrupted with another offended expression whilst she scolded him.
"I've been feeling like I had the energy to blow this place up…" Nova merely murmured to himself whilst looking down at his form, forming and relinquishing fists as if in contemplation.
"You're not… actually thinking of doing that, right?" March worriedly asked with a troubled look as she began to shy away from Nova.
"Muhuhahahah! No." Nova laughed in a maniacal sense as his body began to surge with energy that filled the room, forcing the humans to brace themselves. But it only lasted for a moment before Nova dropped the act, reverting to a calm, casual behaviour. "Yes, the thought crossed my mind, but whilst I may have plenty of intrusive thoughts I'd never actually go and kill myself," Nova replied resulting in a sigh of relief from her whilst Herta merely huffed in response, her irritation steadily growing increasingly evident.
"I think I'd rather hear you wouldn't harm anyone else here as well…"
"Oh yeah, that too. I wouldn't hurt an innocent like that." Nova tacked on almost dismissively until Himeko spoke up, her words stunning him into silence.
"Nova, I'm not expecting an answer right now but the offer to join the Astral Express is a genuine one. And you don't have to worry about your needs, just like any member of the Express we'll do our best to accommodate you." She spoke her voice firm yet somehow soft at the same time.
"I… don't know…" Nova weakly said narrowly diverting his gaze in his inability to come up with an excuse. "I said I was wandering about but… I'm also acting with a bit of an agenda…"
"As I said, you don't have to answer us right this moment. There's another person who is also in the middle of making up their mind as well." Himeko said as she took a step forward with a smile. "Just think about it for a bit and come and tell me later, I'll be with the Express helping load it with supplies. You should have a little while to make up your mind."
"Don't think that you'll be able to stay here, you can beat it either way. Either with them or on your own, I don't care. Just not here." Herta added with her arms crossed, finally having reached her limit with the group. "And with that, you can all get out. I've got things to see to because of the Legion."
"Very well, I've got to help load up the express as well," Himeko replied before turning her attention back to Nova. "Nova, as you're making up your mind, please remember; that Express members are free to get off any time they like. Your final stop is whichever one you decide it to be."
"I'll keep that in mind." Nova quietly said with a small nod before turning to leave, hiding away the solum expression that was steadily growing on his face, "I'll be walking around a bit in the meantime… and getting clothes. I'll come to the station platform in a bit."
"We'll be looking forward to it!" March cheerily replied as they watched Nova take his leave from the office, only to get reminded by the sight of an expectant Herta to quickly do the same.
"I can't believe this is happening… The number one rule I made, violated after only two years…" Nova groaned as he walked through some of the empty halls of the space station, silently thankful for the effect the attack had caused.
"I mean, now that it's come this far it wouldn't be that harmful getting clothes at least, right?" He continued to think, unable to keep his mind from drifting to his current circumstances. "But it's more than that… I need a new phone so I can sign back into my account and get access to my money once again. Maybe… maybe Asta could help with that as well?"
It didn't sit right with him taking advantage of someone with money like that, but it wasn't a small issue either that he was faced with and with how much money Asta spent without batting an eye was plenty to know that to her a phone was insignificant. 'If I remember properly…, doesn't she have the kind of wealth to buy out and own whole planets without it making much of a dent in her money? Perhaps in retrospect, it shouldn't mean anything as long as I'm thankful, right? I'll just steadily pay her back.'
Yet it was just as he was thinking that whilst he was wandering around, he found himself stumbling across a certain grey-haired individual who remained still and quiet, leaning over a railing before a window that looked down at the planet, The Blue, below.
'I know that Himeko mentioned that they were around, but I guess it's nice to see them. Although… I thought he would be livelier…' He couldn't help but think as he remained still, silently staring at the back of the young man who had yet to notice him from whatever state he was in. 'There isn't anything wrong is there? I mean I've had nothing to do with him so far, so I should just leave him alone, right?'
It was the natural choice to make sure the story was undisturbed, to ensure what should happen, would happen. The only way that things could go wrong is if he got involved in things.
'... or if he were to choose the bad ending.' Nova thought as it clicked in his mind, instantly rooting him to the spot at the possibility. He could feel himself beginning to tense at the possibility as he couldn't shake the thought from his head, torn between the idea of the bad end bringing itself into fruition yet simultaneously potentially being the reason that something changed simply by being too nosy about the situation.
It was enough to leave Nova torn, merely staring at the back of the Trailblazer's head with a stern expression as he felt his body remain tense until he finally decided to make up his mind. Only capable of hoping that it wasn't the wrong one whilst taking a shaky breath to prepare himself for his choice.
"Feeling blue?" Nova eventually said, now standing beside the Trailblazer, startling the grey-haired man who looked completely stunned at Nova's presence. "Don't have to look that shocked…"
"A ghost?!" He said, his features now relaxed slightly which made his playfulness clearer.
"Yesn't. I eat ghosts at least." Nova nonchalantly replied, quickly stirring up a more genuine shock and disbelief in Caelus's expression. "The only 'ghosts' here are Wubbaboos, but even they are more accurately just a species of Energy-Based Lifeforms. Still, I'm killing your fun, aren't I?"
"It's fine, but what are you?" He asked, standing up with genuine curiosity.
"A Krystalvilian, there are a lot of differences between me and a human." Nova replied, "But rather than talking about one another's biology, let's talk moods. Yours?"
"What about introductions?" The Trailblazer responded, making Nova's eyes widen slightly before he calmly nodded in agreement.
"Fair, I was jumping the gun. I'm Nova, a wanderer across the universe, you?"
"Caelus, an unknown amnesiac!" Caelus almost proudly declared to Nova's confusion about how that could be his attitude about his background.
"Oh, what glorious, joyous circumstances! Makes me wonder what could be serious enough if that isn't an issue to you." Nova commented with a sly smile.
"I do wonder what my past is like but until now a lot of things have just kept happening, so I haven't had time to think about it," Caelus replied as he turned back to the window, his troubled expression steadily returning to him with a sombre smile. "And now I've already got to decide what I'm going to do."
"What are the options?"
"I either stay at this Space Station and let Herta research me or I join the Astral Express and go with them, but I'd still be visiting occasionally for Herta's research on me."
"And your feelings on the matter?"
"I don't know… I don't have any issue with Herta, I might even need her to make sure that my condition isn't bad or getting worse. But when it comes to joining the Express… I think I'll just stay." Caelus said all whilst struggling to find the words to convey his feelings, but they were enough to put instant dread into Nova's core, his eyes widening in realisation of what he was experiencing.
'…what?' Nova thought whilst being assaulted with an overwhelming feeling of dread with only a small wave of relief at the choice of the 'correct' action he had made to talk to Caelus.