As the Express descended, another city lay a hundred kilometers away from their destination, far smaller than the metropolis hosting the train.
Its buildings were severely dilapidated. If not for the occasional figure shuffling through the streets, one might mistake the area for ancient ruins. Even if not completely abandoned, the crumbling structures and broken public infrastructure made it feel like a ghost town.
The people walking the streets were gaunt, sallow, and coated in dust. Their eyes held absolutely no spark of life. Their clothes were tattered rags. Their faces were hollow. They looked like refugees fleeing a forgotten war.
The streets were bleak and gray, the shops stood completely empty. The whole city breathed an oppressive air of desolation.
At a street corner, a figure cloaked in a heavy brown mantle paused, only the lower half of their face visible.
They approached a man sitting slumped on the ground—ragged, pale, his eyes vacant.
The man looked up and saw the cloaked stranger.
Under the hood was a strikingly pale face. Light blue-gray bangs fell naturally across their forehead. But he couldn't see their eyes—they were completely covered by a black blindfold, with a distinct silver moon motif printed across the middle.
The ragged man showed no surprise. He didn't care how this person walked while blindfolded. He didn't care where they came from or where they were going. Expressionless, he glanced briefly at the stranger, then looked away.
Then the cloaked figure spoke—a woman's voice, piercing, cold, and entirely flat:
"Do you... believe in the Abundance?"
The man froze. Then his head snapped up.
"You... you're one of those lunatics?!" He scrambled to his feet, his face suddenly twisted in abject terror.
"No."
"I... am their nightmare."
The woman shook her head calmly, but her next words spiked with a chilling, almost manic killing intent.
But the man didn't stay to listen. He ran. He didn't even dare to look back.
"Boring."
"Seems this isn't my hunting ground." The cloaked woman muttered coldly, turning her blindfolded gaze elsewhere.
....
Back at the Astral Express.
The train had fully landed on the docking platform. Yuki and the others disembarked.
Greeting them was a man dressed in pristine, opulent white robes. He beamed warmly, waving enthusiastically at the crew.
"Welcome, Nameless of the Astral Express!"
"Welcome to the Star of the Sanctus Medicus. I am Marki, the High Priest here," he introduced himself smoothly.
Himeko blinked, slightly puzzled by the localized title, but stepped forward.
"Hello, High Priest. I'm Himeko, Navigator of the Astral Express. These are my companions: March 7th and Yuki."
Despite her internal caution, she maintained a flawless, polite smile.
"Oh! Pleased to meet you!" Marki's face radiated warmth as he greeted them.
He seemed friendly and highly hospitable. But to March, something felt... off.
Especially when she looked around and noticed the potted plants placed everywhere: they were half-cut wooden logs planted in decorative pots. Strange decorations, but they were absolutely ubiquitous.
What really caught her attention, though? Those severed logs still pulsed with an uncanny, fleshy vitality—and many had fresh flowers blooming directly out of the dead wood.
March edged closer to Yuki and whispered, "Something's off here. Don't you think?"
Yuki smiled, giving her a slightly longer look than usual. March might be an airhead sometimes, but she had a terrifying knack for accidentally hitting the bullseye.
Huh. Not bad. Fuli's daughter has sharp instincts.
Yuki smoothly switched to telepathy, speaking directly into her mind.
March jumped, startled by the sudden, echoing voice in her head.
"What the—?!"
Her yelp drew the immediate attention of Himeko and the High Priest, who were mid-conversation.
"What's wrong, March?"
"Miss, are you feeling unwell?" The High Priest's tone and expression instantly shifted to one of deep concern.
Then Yuki's voice echoed in her mind again.
[I'm using telepathy. Just think your response—no need to speak aloud.]
Oh. That's what was happening.
"Nothing! Just saw something funny on my phone," March quickly covered with a flimsy excuse.
Seeing she was physically fine, Himeko resumed talking with the High Priest.
March tentatively tried responding in kind.
[Hello? Yuki? Can you hear me?]
[Loud and clear. Go ahead.]
March's face lit up—it actually worked!
[You said something's wrong. What is it?]
[These people aren't here with good intentions. They're fanatical followers of the Abundance], Yuki's voice echoed calmly in her mind.
March scratched her head, confused.
[The Abundance? Is that an Aeon? So what if they worship an Aeon? That's pretty normal, right?]
She didn't see the immediate issue. Worshipping an Aeon seemed ordinary enough in this universe.
[Normal followers? Sure, no problem. Even Aha has plenty of loyal followers], Yuki smirked as he explained.
[But these people? They're fanatics. When faith goes beyond reason, reaching absolute fanaticism... they'll do anything for their beliefs. Unthinkable things. Dangerous things.]
[But... would they really come after us?] March clung to a sliver of optimistic hope.
[Silly girl. If you hadn't met me, with your personality? Someone could unlock your ice seal and sell you on the black market—and you'd probably thank them while counting the credits,] Yuki shook his head, highly amused.
[I'm not silly! Stop calling me silly!] March shot him a physical glare, protesting loudly in her head.
[Alright, alright. Don't be stubborn. Just watch—you'll see what these people are really about soon enough.] Yuki didn't bother arguing further. Only harsh reality would convince her.
[I'm not being stubborn! Besides... even if I am gullible, I still ended up getting tricked by you!] March muttered internally, feeling a bit defensive.
[Oh? Tricked you into what?]
[Uh... nothing. Disconnect already! Stop listening to my thoughts!] March's face flushed bright red as she realized he could still hear her internal rambling. She quickly demanded he cut the telepathic link.
Yuki just smiled to himself and turned his attention back to Himeko and the High Priest.