"Finally, it's co to this... Sigh, saying goodbye always makes one a bit sad."
After waving a final farewell to Bronya and the others, March 7th watched the majestic city of Belobog recede through the window of the Astral Express. A wistful sigh escaped her lips.
The transfer of power on the planet below had gone smoother than anyone could have imagined. Cocolia, with a grace that surprised many, had publicly acknowledged her past mistakes and calmly stepped down from her position as Supre Guardian.
Bronya succeeded her, and with Cocolia's full-throated endorsent, not a single voice was raised in opposition. It was said that Cocolia had made her position on the matter quite clear, materializing an ice lance during one of the final council etings and asking with a serene smile, "Let see, who still opposes my daughter's succession? Anyone? No one...?"
Now, travel between the Overworld and the Underworld was becoming more frequent. Like the first vines of spring, life was quietly creeping back into every corner of the snow-swept city, full of renewed hope.
For the crew of the Astral Express, however, it was ti to set sail once more.
They had arrived with six, and they were returning with one more.
Serval Landau had finally made up her mind, stepping onto the star-faring train to chase a dream she had long deferred. Unlike the painful parting Leon recalled from the original tiline, this ti, her brother Gepard did not try to forcefully stop her. Though his reluctance was plain to see, he offered his sincere blessings, watching his sister depart for the endless sea of stars.
"All good things must co to an end," Leon said, walking over to March 7th. His tone was light and relaxed. "But once you're back on the Express, I'm sure this little bit of sadness will be washed away by new and interesting things."
"Leon! In your eyes, am I really that shallow...?" March 7th puffed out her cheeks, feigning indignation.
"Yes," Stelle and Caelus chid in simultaneously, hands planted firmly on their hips as they nodded in solemn agreent.
"You two have the nerve to say that to ! You don't look sad at all!" March 7th shot a glare at the trailblazing siblings, who practically had the words 'looking forward to the next stop' written all over their faces.
Amidst the easy laughter and friendly banter, the Astral Express passed through Belobog's clouds and returned to the shimring river of stars.
Down on the planet, on a grand terrace of Qlipoth Fort, Bronya and Seele stood side by side. They watched the streak of light that was the Express gradually fade toward the horizon.
"On their journey... they'll still face a lot of difficulties, won't they?" Bronya murmured, her voice soft.
"Mm, probably even more treacherous than what we'll face here," Seele replied, her arms crossed as she stood firm against the wind. Her eyes, however, were as bright as the morning star. "But I know they'll win. They always do."
The Astral Express... and everyone on it... had long since beco a warm and brilliant part of their mories.
They knew, with absolute certainty, that they would et again soday.
...
"Welco ho, everyone."
The cabin door of the Parlor Car slid open to reveal Hiko, who stood smiling just beyond the threshold, frad by the warm, inviting light of the Astral Express.
"Hiko! The Stelle Squad's first mission—a complete success!" March 7th announced, bounding forward excitedly to make her report.
"Even without being there myself, I can see the fruits of your efforts in the results," Hiko's gentle gaze swept over each mber of the crew, finally landing on the newcor standing nearby. "Serval, it's a pleasure to et you."
"The pleasure is all mine," Serval replied, her own eyes shining with amazent as she took in her surroundings. "The Astral Express... it's even more impressive than I imagined."
"The Express always welcos like-minded friends to travel with us," Hiko said with a warm, affirming nod.
"That's right! The Astral Express is very welcoming to friends, Pom!"
A small, fluffy figure suddenly straightened up, doing its best to put on the dignified air of a Conductor. It cleared its throat.
"And who is this...?" Serval asked, looking curiously at the creature that was trying so hard to look serious while being impossibly cute.
Hiko smiled. "This is our Conductor, Pom-Pom."
"Wow! What a cute Conductor!" Serval couldn't help but exclaim.
"Ahem... Cute? What do you an, not at all, Pom~!" Pom-Pom's ears turned a faint shade of red. "I am the Conductor! The dignified Conductor, Pom~!"
"Nyum-nyum..." A tiny creature perched on Pom-Pom's head, which looked like a miniature version of the Conductor, chirped in response.
"And that is...?" Serval's gaze was imdiately drawn to the soft, fluffy little thing.
"That's a Cat Cake! Everyone on our Astral Express has one~" March 7th chirped, having already run over to scoop up her own Cat Cake—a little creature that looked like a frosty, ice-blue popsicle—and was now rubbing her cheek against it affectionately.
Stelle and Caelus moved just as quickly, finding their own "Trash Cakes" and hugging them tightly, their faces buried in fluff with expressions of pure satisfaction.
"What a lovely little life form..." Serval's eyes were filled with affection as she looked at the little creatures, each one colored to resemble its owner and possessing its own unique characteristics.
"Would you like one?" Leon asked with a knowing smile.
"I can have one too?" Serval's eyes lit up. "Is this... a special kind of partner? Where can I buy one?"
"They're not for sale," Leon said, gently raising his hand. A swirling mote of light gathered in his palm, coalescing into a Cat Cake with a hair color similar to Serval's, even carrying a tiny, perfectly detailed electric guitar. "However, I happen to have one right here."
"Nyum-nyum..." The little Cat Cake blinked its eyes, then leaped lightly from Leon's palm into Serval's waiting arms.
"Hahaha, it's so cute!" Serval laughed, carefully cradling the little companion that had so suddenly appeared in her life.
"Nyum-nyum..."
At that mont, another Cat Cake, this one the color of rich coffee and cream, trotted forward with delicate steps. It was Hiko's Cat Cake, and it was carrying a freshly brewed cup of coffee. It walked right up to Serval, tilted its head, and offered the cup.
"Is this... for ?" Serval asked, looking in surprise at the elegantly colored and dignified little creature.
The Hiko Cake nodded, its smile gentle, as if to say, 'Please, enjoy.'
The mont it did, however, a strange phenonon occurred. Every other Cat Cake in the room—including the one in March s arms—shrank back in unison.
March 7th herself wore an expression of mild terror.
Dan Heng and Welt silently averted their gazes, suddenly finding the cabin wall intensely fascinating.
Only Stelle and Caelus watched with bright, curious eyes, looking almost eager to see what would happen.
"You... don't want to drink it?" Serval asked, sensing the subtle shift in the atmosphere.
"No, no! I, uh, I don't really like coffee!" March 7th waved her hands frantically.
"I'm not thirsty," Dan Heng stated concisely.
"Serval," Leon began, suppressing a laugh as he offered a tactful warning, "Hiko's coffee... and by extension, the coffee brewed by her Cat Cake... has a rather... unique flavor."
"Really?" Serval raised an eyebrow.
The more they protested, the more her rocker spirit was piqued. Curiosity flared in her eyes.
"Nyum-nyum!" The Serval Cake in her arms also raised its head, looking like it wanted to try the mysterious brew as well.
The human and the cake looked at each other, a silent, reckless understanding passing between them. They raised their cups simultaneously—the real one and an imaginary one—and in a single, decisive motion, drank it all in one gulp.
Imdiately after.
Thud! Thud!
To try it was to perish.
Serval and her Cat Cake both went rigid. Their eyes rolled back into their heads, and they leaned back in perfect, synchronized harmony, toppling onto the long sofa behind them as if they had rehearsed the move for weeks.
"...I knew it," March 7th muttered, pressing a hand to her forehead with a look that scread 'as expected'.
The cabin fell silent for a mont before a wave of helpless, irrepressible, low laughter broke the stillness.
After a long while, Serval slowly regained consciousness, a dazed look in her eyes.
"Is that thing... really coffee?" she croaked, beginning to doubt the very fabric of her reality.
Her question sent another ripple of knowing smiles through the crew. Even Serval, having just returned from the brink, couldn't help but shake her head with a helpless, amused expression.
"Alright, Leon," Hiko said, elegantly sipping the drink in her own cup as if nothing had happened. She looked up at him. "I'll leave the room arrangents for Serval to you, is that okay?"
She had to admit, the Power of Trailblaze flowing through Leon was always the most abundant and stable among them all. He was, in every sense, the most reliable.
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