❝𝙷𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚏𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚎𝚕𝚜𝚎?❞

❝𝙰 𝚏𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊 𝚏𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕.❞

🫧𓇼𓏲*ੈ✩‧₊˚🎐
𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐟𝐟 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧
🫧𓇼𓏲*ੈ✩‧₊˚🎐

M/n huffed as he was practically thrown to the floor by Blade. He looked at the dark-haired man with almost a sense of familiarity in his hues.

"Yingxing..? How are you still...?"

"Don't call me that." Blade said harshly as he stared at M/n. Pure hatred wasn't seen in his expression, but that certainly didn't mean none was there.

"Ah, good job, Bladie~. I hoped that you would come back safe with him. Now I know that my prayers are answered, and I'm filled with a sense of ease."

Blade took his eyes off of M/n to pay Kafka a single glance before leaning up against a building wall, closing his eyes to rest. M/n looked at Blade and back at Kafka with a confused expression.

"Excuse me, but who are you? And why are you with Yingxi...- or..Blade...?" The name was foreign on his tongue, but if that was truly was his old friend was called now, then who was he to complain?

"Oh, right. My name is Kafka, and I'm sure you know him as whatever, but his name is Blade. I assume you have many questions, so fire away."

"Well, first off, where are we?"

"We're in the central port of Starskiff Haven. Well, more in an allyway behind of a restaurant, but really, it's the same thing."

"Okay? What was Blade's purpose for retrieving me?"

"He was originally captured by the Cloud Knights and only recently got out to get you. He's here for different reasons than I, but he's just so quiet and so reserved that I've been doing my own thing. We've only just met back up."

Blade opens his eyes and nods slightly to confirm Kafka's words.

"Now, I've just received confirmation that the Astral Express had made the jump to the main entrance. I suggest you do what you need to Bladie."

The mention of the Astral Express' arrival made Blade perk up slightly. M/n was still very confused, but he felt like if he asked Blade anything, then he wouldn't get an answer. Suddenly, clothes were thrown in M/n's direction. He took them and smiled, happy to finally have his own things instead of Jing Yuan's.

"Here. I thought you might want to get more clothes." Kafka smiled and began to walk off. "Go to Starskiff Port. It's about north from here. Look out someone with grey hair with two other people. I'm sure they'll help you find your way."

Blade stood up straight and began to walk away with Kafka, not paying another glance to M/n. Eventually, they turned a corner and were out of M/n's sight.

M/n just shook his head and began to dress himself with the clothes he was given. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep him hidden for a little while. From what he could deduct from the area, it would take a while for their bounty to be released here. Luckily, though, that was a good thing because he assumed he was able to get to the place Kafka suggested before the warnings reached the port.

Small sounds began to echo in the allyway, making M/n's sharp, slitted eyes narrow and turn towards the source of the noise. It was a cat who began to start playing with M/n's long hair. He cooed softly and sat down on the ground, his hair pooling around the both of them. Before he started to pet the creature, M/n used the hair tie provided to set his hair up in a high ponytail, just so it was out of the way.

Well, there was a bit of time, so why not spend it with this curious creature?

🫧𓇼𓏲*ੈ✩‧₊˚🎐
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬
🫧𓇼𓏲*ੈ✩‧₊˚🎐

"Woaaah! So that's the Xianzhou ship?! It's even bigger than Jarilo VI!" March exclamation as she rushed over to the window with Caelus, who looked at the ship with just as much disbelief.

"For Xianzhou natives, these ships are their planets." Dan Heng explained. "Terrestrial environments are cradles that allow civilizations to survive and develop. Some of these civilizations progress further, constructing space-faring vessels that allow them to explore the unknown. The Xianzhou is one of those. I've only glimpsed at it a few times, but it is just as magnificent as I remember."

"You okay there?" March asked."What's with the lonely nostalgia vibes..?"

"...." Caelus could only laugh at the two's antics and state back out at the ship before him. Moments after they fully stopped, Himeko began to call out for the people within the Jade Gate.

"This is the Astral Express, I repeat, the Astral Express. We have arrived in Xianzhou territory. Requesting permission from ground control. F-From the gate, I mean..."

"W-Welcome to.... L-Luofu Skyport... Starskiff Haven... Please await transfer... Please await transfer.... Please await transfer..." The automated voice spoke through the speakers.

"Is it stuck on repeat?" Caelus asked as he rubbed the bakc of his neck. March huffed and turned to face him."

"Now you know how I feel whenever you copy me!" She said with a pout. Welt hummed and looked to Himeko.

"...Something's not right."

"The signal is repeating, but no one is guiding us in to dock." March gasped and covered her mouth.

"Maybe the Stellaron Hinters were right! Something bad probably did happen in the Luofu! A vessel arrives in a deserted space port...isn't that how all horror movies start?!" Dan Heng put a hand on her shoulder to bring Marxh back from her thoughts.

"Let's not have our imagination get the better of us."

"Please await transfer....Please await transfer....Please await transfer..."

"Still the automated signal?" Welt asked

"Yes...it's still on repeat...Ah! There we go!"

"The Jade Gate is now opening. On behalf of the Loufu, welcome guests from afar. Please proceed to dock in accordance with the guidance.."

March turned to Himeko. "It's still automated..?"

"The signal broke off..it seems that's all there is."

"We should get going, Himeko." Welt said, motioning Caelus and March to his side. "Make sure to stay vigilant on the Express."

"Awe, relax, I've got Dan Heng with me! Make sure you guys are properly prepared to head off! Stay safe!"

🫧𓇼𓏲*ੈ✩‧₊˚🎐