Chapter One - The Train Terrorist

After walking for a while, the text on the building could be clearly read ‘Empty Town Train Station’. “A train station?” I looked over at Astral. “Did I have to spawn in the incorrect area?”

“No, this was on purpose.” Astral shrugged. “Before you even meet the other Gods, you have to communicate with others to gain believers. We went over this.”

“But why at a train station?”

“No one but you with your memories knows.”

What on earth was the old me thinking?

Upon entering the train station, only a few benches stood. On one of the benches, an older girl with two younger kids, one boy and girl, sat. I felt a shove from behind. Turning back to scold Astral, only a glowing, bright orb remained.

“Astral?”

“I’m here!” The familiar voice was heard from the orb. “For most of our mission, I’ll appear as this mini, glowing star. Since this is how others see me, I thought it’d be easier for you to see me as this appearance in front of others.”

Seriously.

“Um, excuse me sir.” I turned around at the high-pitched sound behind me. The smaller girl with long, straight black hair looked up at me. “Are you also here to board the train?”

I paused. I forgot how long it’s been since I actually communicated with another person. I was talking to the believer and Astral just as easily as drinking water so why did I only realize that it’d be hard to communicate with others now.

The transparent window appeared in front of me again. This time, with a picture of the girl with wolf ears. I swiped the screen and then her appearance turned into a unique wolf-like creature. The text next to it said as follows: “Remember that appearances change according to species. To them, you look just like them! The first slide is their actual appearance, and the second slide is the appearance you'd like them in! - Astral”

So it’s not another human.

If I look at the small girl in front of me as a small pup then it shouldn’t be an issue. Unconsciously, I moved the window in front of the girl’s face and smiled. “Yes, that is correct. Do you know when the train will arrive?”

“It should arrive soon!” The girl smiled back. “Would you like to sit with us sir?”

“Say yes!” Astral said excitedly. “You could get believers this way! Don’t forget to mention that you are ‘The Forgiver’!”

I’m supposed to tell them?

The girl grabbed my hand and brought me over to the other two. I immediately put the window filter in front of them and sat next to the small girl.

“This is my older sister Dernica and my younger brother Jenica.” She then pointed to herself. “I am Anica! We’ve been waiting for the train for several years!”

“Several… Years?” I tilted my head with confusion. What did she mean?

“We’re the only people in Empty Town.” Dernica interrupted. “The rule for the train is that there must be at least four people to board the train. So everyday, we’ve been visiting the train station in hopes that one more person would finally show up so we can escape this place.”

A weird feeling of deja vu welled up inside me. From my memories, the only thing I’ve seemed to ever want was to leave my town. “I think I understand that feeling. But how did you three pups end up in this situation?”

“Pups?”

“I mean kids.”

“You don’t look that much older than me.” Dernica said. “How’d you end up here as well?”

Right. I forgot that my appearance is when I had my memories. So I should look between eighteen or twenty. “I travelled too far.” In time. “And I seemed to have gotten lost.”

The three pups gave confused glances at each other before looking back at me. Did my answer seem too vague?

Dernica raised her hand to her chest. “Us three were brought here by our parents. They escaped their old homeland with us, but unfortunately, they passed five years ago. Since I am still young and unknowledgeable, I hope to take my younger siblings somewhere they can grow and live well. Which is why I hoped for someone like you to be at the train station.”

“I’m confused. If you have enough food and water to live well, why haven’t you tried walking out of this town on your own?”

Amidst my confusion, the train appeared in front of us. Where’d the train even come from? I didn’t see it nor hear it.

The three kids got up from the bench and walked inside the train as soon as the doors opened. I followed behind. The train doors dramatically shut as soon as I walked inside. The small boy, Jenica, grabbed my hand and led me to sit beside him, across from his sisters.

There was no one else on the train.

I looked outside as the train started moving. But instead of going forward, the train seemed to be going upwards? Outside the window, the wheat filled land came to a stop. Was the Empty Town a floating island?

“Now you understand why we couldn’t just escape?” Dernica said with her palm on her chin. “Which is why we’re confused about who you are.”

I nodded as if realizing something. “I’m unsure if you’ve heard of me, but I am known as ‘The God of Forgiveness’ or ‘The Forgiver’ for short.”

“The Forgiver?” Dernica said in a shocked tone. Her head raised and eyes widened. “I thought that was just a myth. Also wasn’t ‘The Forgiver’…”

So I’m famous? “Yes, I am ‘The Forgiver’. I woke up at the Empty Town to find believers while also figuring out my current situation.”

“Figuring out your current situation?” Janica, the boy, finally spoke while tilting his head.

I nodded. “Although I’ve woken up with the title ‘The Forgiver’, I don’t seem to remember much of anything.”

The two younger kids looked at me as if I was saying something impressive while the older one looked at me as if I was crazy. She sat up and grabbed the two younger ones. “It seems you still have a lot to figure out on your own. I’ll sit with my siblings somewhere else so you have time to figure yourself out.” She bowed her head. “Once you give us an actual answer of who you are, please let us know.”

Huh?

Dernica pulled both of the younger ones to the other end of the train cart. Janica and Anica looked back at me with sullen expressions. What happened?

Astral’s light appeared before me once more. “She thinks you’ve lost it.”

“You’re the one who told me to tell them that I was ‘The Forgiver’!”

“Yes, but I didn’t tell you to tell them that you lost your memories!” Astral sighed. “That girl is smart though. She thinks you’re using imaginary tactics to lure them into doing something.”

“But don’t I look as young as her? Why would I do something like that?”

Astral turned back to his normal appearance across from me and shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess years without other interactions causes one to be cautious.”

Eventually, the train landed on another floating island. Dozens of other people entered the train. I quickly put a filter over them but they weren’t all the same species anymore. Uncomfortable, I removed the filter and hid my face with my hands while Astral turned back into his light appearance.

Amongst the people, one person sat across from me with a bike uniform and helmet. That’s a fashion style from my time. Although curious, their familiar wardrobe only made me more uncomfortable.

After bowing my head for a while, I found myself dozing off.

…

“Warning! Warning!”

I quickly opened my eyes to a loud obnoxious sound.

“Warning! Warning!”

A robotic voice was heard from the train intercoms.

I looked around, the biker dressed person across from me disappeared. Behind me, the other people and three siblings still remained. Suddenly the train's cart door opened, revealing the biker dressed person once more.

“Warning! Warning!”

“Boom!”

The train cart shook and an explosive sound could be heard from another cart. I fell to the floor and looked up. The biker dressed person held a button up above his head.

“Listen here.” The biker dressed person spoke in an androgynous voice. “Everyone stay seated or else I will press this button. One of the other train carts has already exploded. I’m guessing you don’t want the same thing to happen to you?”

Just what kind of situation have I found myself in?