Predicament at the Taigoren Border

They ran as fast they could towards the accelerating train while being chased by three guards.

“STOP” they yelled, but that couldn’t stop Atsuo and Lord Kaiser.

They caught up to the observation platform and climbed over the railing. Lord Kaiser made it look effortless and helped Atsuo by pulling him inside.

The already exhausted guards gave up as they watched them go further away, out of their reach.

“Contact Vekte Station” one of the guards instructed, “Notify them that there are two criminals on the next train.”

“Yes, sir,” said another guard.

Meanwhile, Atsuo and Lord Kaiser were already discussing their next steps.

“While this might’ve solved our current problem, what do we do at the next station?” Lord Kaiser asked importantly.

“We’ll probably have to try to pull off the same trick. Let’s hope that whoever is checking the train doesn’t stay” Atsuo replied.

“We should focus on getting to Drezore without delay, and hope that the association will take care of the misunderstanding” he added.

“It would probably be best if we aren’t seen by any of the passengers. What do you say we stay here and jump off once the train starts decelerating at the next station?” Lord Kaiser proposed.

“I was about to suggest the same thing” Atsuo said.

They sat down and patiently waited for the next station.

After about twenty minutes the train began decelerating.

“Sleepwalker” Lord Kaiser nudged Atsuo.

“Yeah” Atsuo said, “Any incoming trains?”

“Not that I can see” Lord Kaiser said.

“Let’s go” Atsuo said, and they jumped off the train.

They were lucky the station was surrounded by a forest and ran straight into the woods.

“Let’s go further ahead and prepare for it when it takes off” Atsuo suggested.

“Wait” Lord Kaiser suddenly stopped him, “They’re looking over here. They might know what we’re planning, and if they see us get on the platform at the last second, they’ll just alert the next station like last time.”

“We might make this harder for ourselves if we get on” he said honestly.

“I agree, but what other option is there?” Atsuo wondered.

“You see the number on the locomotive?” Lord Kaiser said, “Remember it, we’ll use some other means of getting to the next stations until we board it again.”

“For now, it is important that they know we’re not on the train” he added.

“The only way we’re catching up to it is with a car” Atsuo said.

“Then we’re getting a car” Lord Kaiser said.

They walked along the forest until they were out of view from the station and made for the city to find a car.

After asking some locals, it seemed that the city was further than they thought.

They weren’t able to get a car, but they did manage to hitch a ride with a kind old man.

“Thanks, old man. We really appreciate it” Lord Kaiser said sincerely.

“Ahh… Don’t mention it!” he answered with a trembling voice, “So you folks are headed to the next station?”

“The one after that” Lord Kaiser clarified.

“Alright” the old man said and stomped on the gas.

The old man accelerated so fast, they slammed back into their seats.

The way he was driving, they would easily make it to the next station before the train, they thought to themselves.

After fifteen minutes, Lord Kaiser and Atsuo crawled out of the car at the second station after Vekte.

“Thank you again, old man” they thanked him.

He waved at them and drove off.

“We might’ve gotten here too early” Atsuo said nauseously.

“At least we’re here” Lord Kaiser muttered back.

Atsuo agreed.

They took precautions by waiting for the train from the bushes.

After eleven minutes, some train came into view.

“I see it!” Atsuo whispered.

“Same number on the locomotive?” Lord Kaiser asked.

Atsuo nodded.

“Ok, we move when the train departs” Lord Kaiser said.

“What? Why?” Atsuo said, “Isn’t it safe now?”

“We can’t risk the conductor or other passengers snitching us out” Lord Kaiser responded.

“The passengers I understand, but the conductor knew who we were, no? Maybe he works for the association” Atsuo explained.

“I wouldn’t say he ‘knew’ who we were, he just had our names written in his notepad” Lord Kaiser said.

“But there’s still a chance of him getting orders from the association” Atsuo tried to persuade Lord Kaiser, “other than that, we just have to make sure we end up only being seen by Rivia, Crod, and Eskasa.”

“Fine” Lord Kaiser said after a change of mind, “Look for their compartment, we need to make this quick.”

Atsuo took off his jacket and changed his hairstyle.

He walked along the station, relying on his peripheral vision to spot their friends’ compartment.

Not a minute passed, when he came back running into the bushes.

“What are you doing?!” Lord Kaiser hissed, looking back towards the station.

“Well… I found the compartment” Atsuo began, “the problem is that some bastards took our spots.”

“WHAT?” Lord Kaiser exclaimed.

“Yeah… I guess we have to go back to our old plan” Atsuo said grimly.

“What did they look like? Were they young? Potential students?” Lord Kaiser asked desperately.

“I don’t think so, why?”

“Ok. Let’s hope they don’t go as far as Loto station, or we’re going without dinner tonight” Lord Kaiser said.

Atsuo sighed.

They waited out the train’s departure and got on the observation platform again.

They made themselves comfortable and waited patiently until the intruders left.

After more than two hours, they heard someone causing a scene at one of the stations.

“Hmm? What’s going on?” Lord Kaiser turned to Atsuo from his lying position.

Atsuo got up to check.

“HUH?” he uttered.

“What?” Lord Kaiser asked impatiently.

“Crod is fighting the bastards who took our spots” Atsuo said.

Lord Kaiser quickly got up and jumped out onto the station.

Atsuo followed, but before they got there, the fight was already over.

The two strangers were lying on the floor unconscious.

“Oh? I thought you guys remained at Vekte” Crod said surprised.

“Long story, we’ll explain later. What happened here?” Lord Kaiser said.

“They were harassing Rivia and Eskasa, and then picked a fight with me” he said with a revulsed expression.

“Hey! What are you doing?!” one of the guards yelled.

The guard ran up to them demanding to know what happened.

Crod was not in the mood, seeing this, Atsuo quickly stepped in.

“It was self defense, sir” he said.

“Self defense?” the guard said, “they’re barely breathing!”

“It was warranted, sir” Lord Kaiser chimed in.

“Huhhhh?” the guard looked in Lord Kaiser’s eyes, derisively.

Lord Kaiser expression became stern out of nowhere, causing the guard to break in a cold sweat.

“Arghhh…” he uttered, “Help me pull them to the bench.”

They pulled the two bodies to the side.

The two strangers were no longer recognizable with their faces a bloody mess.

The guard shooed Atsuo, Lord Kaiser, and Crod off, and they got back on the train.

“I’m back” said Crod, opening the compartment door.

“And he’s not alone!” Lord Kaiser said walking inside with Atsuo.

To say Rivia and Eskasa were surprised would be an understatement.

“We thought we’d never see you again” Rivia laughed, “What happened?”

They sat down and Atsuo started explaining what happened and how they got back on the train.

Throughout his story, the look on their friends’ faces reflected feelings of concern and amazement at the same time.

After he finished, Rivia began explaining what happened in their absence.

The train was thoroughly searched, and everyone was asked whether they have seen the criminals on some pieces of paper.

On the papers were rough sketches that looked nothing like Atsuo and Lord Kaiser. The poor drawings made them think that they would have been safe even if they remained on the train.

Then, the two strangers that joined them started harassing Rivia and Eskasa. After repeated attempts at asking them to stop ended in failure, Crod stepped in.

According to Rivia, that was basically it. ‘It wasn’t as eventful as yours’ she said.

Three hours passed by in a flash.

They had dinner and spent the rest of the time chatting right before reaching their destination.

The train started decelerating, and everyone heard ‘Loto Station’ on the speakers.

They were finally here.