The Journey to Taigoren II

Atsuo and Lord Kaiser were at a loss for words.

“You’re also going to Drezore?” Lord Kaiser asked, impressed. “I thought we were the only ones who’d be going so late into the year.”

“Yeah, though I’m going there for another reason” she said after taking a sip of tea.

“Oh?” Uttered Lord Kaiser, “Well, I won’t inquire further if it’s private”

“It’s not much of a secret” she said, “I’m actually supposed to represent my institution at Drezore’s aptitude competition.”

“Heh… Are you famous? By the way we still haven’t asked you your name” Lord Kaiser remembered.

“I’m Rivia of Revne Academy in Queros. I’m not particularly famous outside of our school” she smiled.

“Hehhhh… I have an uncle in Queros” Lord Kaiser said, “That’s quite far, no?”

“Yeah, I’m already travelling for four and a half days…” she said exhaustedly, “Anyway, what about you guys?”

“I’m Kaiser, and that’s sleepwalker” he said pointing at Atsuo.

“I’m Atsuo, not sleepwalker…” Atsuo exhaled.

“Is that like a nickname?” she asked curiously.

“You could say that… Got promoted from ‘pleb’ after this incident” Atsuo said wearily.

“You guys really get along, huh?” she chuckled.

“Feel like I’ve known him for years” Lord Kaiser shook his head.

Atsuo gave a faint smile as he looked down at the ground. For better or worse, he felt the same.

“That’s not the case?” she asked surprised.

“Met him yesterday… technically…” Lord Kaiser tittered.

Rivia burst out laughing.

“What? I was prepared for a week or two…” she said, “But one day? That’s not much longer than me!”

They continued chatting until the train came to an abrupt stop.

“Hmm? What’s going on?” she asked.

“Maybe we’re at Taigoren’s border already” Atsuo said from a lying down position.

“Maybe we take a look outside sleepwalker?” Lord Kaiser said seriously.

Atsuo sat up and looked outside the window.

They stopped in the middle of a viaduct, surrounded by what appeared to be the Volste Lake – the largest body of water in Rozair.

He was at a loss for words.

“And here we thought getting to Loto Station at eleven was bad” Lord Kaiser said as he reclined back, putting his arms behind his head.

“…Whatever it is, let’s hope it gets figured out soon” Rivia said worryingly.

Shortly after, the conductor got on speaker and explained the situation.

The train has broken down, and they had to get out and walk the rest of the way, where the new train would take them to their destination.

Luckily, they were a little more than halfway through the viaduct, Atsuo thought to himself.

All that was left was around eight kilometers on foot.

Everyone got out on the railway tracks and began walking the remaining distance to the end of the bridge.

It was a silent, yet beautiful walk.

Until Atsuo broke the silence.

“Would be funny if a train from the opposite side started coming towards us” Atsuo joked.

As if by command, a train came into view.

In a panic, everyone started hugging the side of the bridge.

The train safely passed and no casualties were sustained.

Right after, the people around the trio turned to Atsuo, clearly perturbed.

“Let’s keep those thoughts to ourselves, sleepwalker” Lord Kaiser suggested.

Everyone agreed as they nodded their heads.

The silence resumed, with occasional whispering around the group.

The walk took everyone slightly over an hour at a brisk pace, which was set by none other than Lord Kaiser.

“I see it!” he said ahead of everyone.

“Hurry up! There’s not much left” he hurried everyone as he pointed at the train.

“We’re tired!” some people said from the crowd.

“You can rest on the train!” Lord Kaiser replied.

Atsuo and Rivia caught up to him, and they went towards the train where a conductor was already awaiting them.

He got out his megaphone and started speaking

“Good afternoon” he said, to which everyone nodded.

“First off, I wanted to apologize to everyone for this incident, rest assured you will be compensated with a free lunch and possibly dinner, depending how far you’re travelling with us.”

“Secondly, I am sorry to say, but this train is slightly smaller, because this was an emergency. Be prepared to share the compartments with others.”

“Finally, please let the elderly get on first, starting with the first compartment” he pointed at the closest train car, as people began to move, “Everyone else, please make your way down afterwards, and be mindful of limited space and others.”

He finished talking and people started boarding the train.

It took the group of three around ten minutes to settle down. They were fortunate to find an empty compartment waiting for them.

“Ahhhh…” Atsuo uttered as he made himself comfortable on the other side of the table from Lord Kaiser and Rivia.

It was a long walk, and everyone was happy they could relax again.

“Well, let’s hope the rest of the way is going to be ‘smooth sailing’,” Atsuo said.

Lord Kaiser and Rivia both looked at him, alarmed.

“Sleepwalker, don’t tell me you forgot!” Lord Kaiser hit the table.

Atsuo looked at them perplexed, until he remembered what happened not too long ago.

“Oh…” he said, realizing, “Yeah, let’s not hope…”

Right after, someone knocked on their apartment door.

“Yes?” said Lord Kaiser irritably, as he looked away from Atsuo to the door.

The door opened and a boy and a girl walked in.

They seemed to be of the same age, if not a little older.

The boy was tall and bald, with green eyes, while the girl had short, dark cyan hair and light-blue eyes.

“Forgive us for the interruption” the boy said, “All the other compartments are full, and we were hoping we can join you.”

“Please!” the girl added, as they bowed down.

“Why not?” Rivia said, looking at Atsuo and Lord Kaiser.

“I don’t mind” Atsuo said, shrugging.

Lord Kaiser motioned them to take a seat.

“Thank you!” they said simultaneously.

The boy sat down near Atsuo, and the girl beside Rivia and Kaiser.

“My name is Crod, and this is Eskasa” the boy introduced himself and the girl.

“We are students from Folio Academy in Nomo.”

“Lord Kaiser, sleepwalker, Rivia” Lord Kaiser gestured at Atsuo and Rivia, as he introduced them.

“Sleepwalker and I are from Brimor, and Rivia is from Revne Academy” he explained.

“Hmm… I’ve never heard of someone being named sleepwalker bef–” Crod said.

“There isn’t… probably. My name is Atsuo” Atsuo said awkwardly, all thanks to Lord Kaiser.

There was a moment of silence, until Rivia took the initiative and continued the conversation.

“So where are you guys heading to?” she asked them.

“We are going to Drezore Academy in Taigoren” Eskasa replied.

It was another surprise for the trio, as their jaws slightly dropped.

“That makes the five of us!” Rivia said cheerfully.

Crod and Eskasa glanced at each other in disbelief, followed by wide smiles.

“Then it’s time to celebrate!” said Crod, taking out some bottle from his briefcase.

“This is ‘Aquis’. It’s a staple in Nomo” Crod said, putting the bottle on the table.

He then noticed the group’s bewildered expressions.

“Rest assured this is not alcohol” he quickly clarified.

The comment was answered with laughter, as Crod poured the drinks.

Soon after, they ate their lunch and drank the unknown mixture that reminded Atsuo of juice but carbonated.

***

They arrived at the Taigoren border a short while later, where everyone was quickly checked and left to do their own thing.

Everyone, except Atsuo and Lord Kaiser, that is.

They were brought outside for questioning while the train stood there, waiting for them.

“Like we said, it was an emergency” Atsuo tried convincing the guards, “We’d have our identification otherwise”

“That doesn’t change anything” one of the guards said sternly.

Atsuo was racking his brain for any excuse he could come up with in this situation.

“Why does it matter, if the tickets were paid for?!” Lord Kaiser exclaimed.

“First and foremost, we need to verify your identity” the guard replied, “If we can’t do that, then the border is as far as you go.”

“Tsk” Lord Kaiser uttered, turning away.

“Wait” Atsuo put his hand on Lord Kaisers shoulder, stopping him.

He turned to face the guards.

“Ask Deimos from the association” he said confidently.

“WHAT ASSOCIATION?” the guard said irritably.

“Oh. Uhh… Misuse–” Atsuo tried to remember, “Uhh… Phenomena Misuse Association?”

“Phenomena Misuse Prevention Society?” the guard said bitterly.

“Yes! Call Chief Deimos, he knows who we are” Atsuo said.

The guard signalled another man to go check, as he turned back to face them.

“And what business do you have with PMPS?” he asked suspiciously.

“They… ‘sponsored’ our trip” Atsuo answered.

The man suddenly called the guard to come over, telling him something as he passed the phone.

When the guard finished talking, he could be seen mouthing something to the conductor before returning to Atsuo and Lord Kaiser.

Atsuo was a little optimistic, until the grin on the returning guard’s face completely shattered whatever hope he had left.

“There is no ‘Chief Deimos’” he said with scorn, “The chief of PMPS is Veto.”

Shit, Atsuo thought to himself. He forgot that what happened to Veto wasn’t made public.

Before he had time to think, the train horn sounded and it began to move.

Atsuo quickly glanced at Lord Kaiser, and they sprinted towards the train.