Feyd and Ray made their way through the Wastelands with the occasional chatter.
Soon they both noticed railroad tracks in the distance.
"Woah, are those tracks?"
"Seems like it"
"Do you think we'll find a train If we follow it?"
"Well it seems to be on-route anyways, so maybe, yeah"
It was their first time actually seeing railroad tracks though they had heard of them before.
Feyd lead the way as they both trailed along the rails.
Eventually they saw the back of a train.
"The train seems to have stopped to... stock up??"
Ray focused in to the left of the train, as the image became clear in his eyes.
Three men hauled crates into the train.
"Yeah, seems like it"
"Ya think they will give us a free ride?"
"Maybe... let's ask"
Just then a splitting head ache struck Ray.
It was a familiar headache, something only Eribos could do. An uncommon interference by him
The last time he did this was when Eribos' strength was stronger Ray's.
Feyd looked back as Ray grunted from the pain.
"You good?"
Covering his head with his head he nodded.
"Yeah... just a bit hot"
Feyd nodded, resolving to get a ride in the train.
'Ray must be tired... Unusual but it seems we found the train at the perfect time!'
They both soon reached the train.
"Hey! Guys! Do ya'll have space for two more?"
Feyd waves as he calls out to them.
"Huh? Who's that?"
"Hey hey! You see those ears? They seems kinda pointy"
"Score! We can throw him in there with the rest"
Feyd and Ray soon make their way to the group.
"We are on the way to the next town over, so if that's your destination and it's not too much trouble, could we get a ride? My friend is a tad bit tired"
"Uhh, let me discuss things with my friends"
The three huddle together.
Ray squinted his eyes at them but staggered slightly at another bout of pain.
"Don't they look pretty weak? We can take them on!"
"Well an elf out in the open must be strong enough to handle us right?"
Elves, from the great forest up north-east of Cecillia were known for their longevity and beauty.
Any random elf met could just so happen to be hundreds of years old. And after that many years of living it would be embarrassing to not be able to defend themselves.
Especially those who traveled the world, as there were many who tried to capture elves as slaves.
"Let's try get in first and hit them with the special bullets"
"Those things aren't even bullets man"
"Whatever!"
Soon the three make their way inside, to the dismay of Feyd.
"Uhh, can we come in?"
"Sure sure, yeah come in. We just needed to make sure... that there is room onboard"
Feyd's eyes narrowed at their flimsy tone, but noticing Ray didn't say anything he suspected he was being overly suspicious. He soon started making his way towards the entrance.
'Seems suspicious...'
Ray was about to say something when suddenly he saw one of the people infront of him bring out their hand from behind the wall.
A strange gun-like object in hand.
"Wha–!"
A projectile shoot towards him as he prapared to dodge.
Just then a splitting head ache came crashing into his mind, burning through his focus.
It hit his body as a double wave of weakness passed through his body.
One from the head ache, the other from the projectile that hit him in his neck.
It seemed to be a dart of some sorts.
"Huh!?"
Feyd raised his weapons as he glanced back.
Ray was slumping to the floor with something sticking out of his neck.
Flames started to spark around him as he readied his blade.
Two more darts came flying at him as he blasted a small burst of flames at one and deflected the other with his blade.
The faces of the others grimaced as they noticed his powers, but one more dart came flying towards him.
He narrowly dodged it by throwing himself to the side as he shouted.
"RAY! Are you alright"
No one responded.
He was prepared to grab Ray and teleport themselves out, when he saw an object fly towards Ray.
'Crap!'
He wasn't proficient enough to make a rift and teleport either the object or Ray away in time.
A burst of flames gathered under his foot as he dashed forward, exploding from the ground.
Taking the blow himself he fell a few metres away from Ray.
It was an empty crate that hit him. Not enough to damage him, but enough to distract him.
Three darts dug into his body as he struggled to get up.
"How is he still standing!?"
"Aren't 4 enough to take down a horse?"
"More! Quick!"
"There are none!"
Ray prepared to Rift both him and Ray out as he staggered towards Ray.
A shadow loomed over him, startling the drowsy Feyd.
A reaction too late; Feyd sliced his blade to the creature casting the shadow before being hit on the head by a heavy blunt force.
He vaguely felt his blade nick the enemy.
"There. I cleaned him up. Should warrant me a portion of the rewards"
A few annoyed voices slowly faded as Feyd's vision turned black.
...
In the empty abyss inhabiting Ray, harboring Eribos.
"Get me out of here now, before I do it myself!"
Ray roared at the void infront of him.
No one answered
"If I die you'll just be harming yourself"
Ray tapped his foot on the void.
[To kill 1000 enemy soldiers, but lose 800 of your own]
Ray narrowed his brows.
"What do you mean by that?"
[It's an ancient idiom. Though we both lose, you lose more]
Ray's fists clenched as he gritted his teeth. He was quite angry.
'He is getting more annoying every day! Aahhhh...'
He eventually calmed himself down.
'His power is increasing faster than my own... But how? Last time he fed off of the radiating divine energy of the useless artifact. What's he using now?
Anyways, it's not the time to dwell on this. I don't know what's happening outside. Eribos' bluffs are getting more infuriating but I know he won't want me to die just yet.
Though it seems his influence is now enough to give me head aches again.'
Ray narrowed his eyes as he pointed at the abyss around him.
"Let me go now, or I'll break out myself."
The void remained silent.
"Tch"
Slowly Ray's life force coalesced around him as soon his body began floating in the void.
The energy began slipping from his grasps as his eyes glowed a faint, ethereal white.
The force swirled around like a gale before slamming into the abyss underneath Ray.
Somehow it hit a bottom, right under Ray's feet, though the abyss looked bottomless.
A second hit; the void shook.
A third hit; the void shook again.
Every hit seemed to drain Ray as what seemed to be beads of sweat trailed down his forehead.
With one final push the energy broke through the ground, shattering the space.
...
Vision slowly returned as Feyd regained consciousness.
He realized he was in a cramped space. Barely any room to move himself.
His arms were bound by what seemed to be handcuffs. His legs were bound too.
Unfortunately it seemed he was both blind folded and gagged, as he felt something in his mouth and a cloth covering his eyes.
He stopped moving as he tried to listen in on what was around his.
The occasional bumps and sounds of a moving train made him realise he was on the train.
'Well I guess we did get a free ride.'
Focusing more he heard a few people outside.
"Ugh... When can we go off shift?"
"Tch! That bastard Norya took all the credit for the elves, and blamed us for the commotion!"
"Atleast boss didn't make us pay for the darts."
"What 'pay for the dart'!? That was OUR catch, not HIS!"
"I don't care... I just wanna drink some booze and get this over with... I'm so done."
"Yeah... Some booze would be nice."
"Booze, booze, booze! Thats all you two think about! What about power!? Huh!? Fame and glory, and women!"
"Bu-but I like me–"
"SHADDUP!"
Feyd barely held in a snicker as he realized who were outside.
The same three people who attacked him.
He listened more as he gleamed a few interesting things.
First, they were going to be guarding the freight alone, without anyone coming to give them food.
Apparantly they were being punished, though they thought it was an abuse of power by Norya, the vice captain and also the person who knocked him out, who wanted to steal their credit.
Second, the freight Feyd, and also Ray as it turned out, were in a freight of slaves!
Yes, slaves. Individuals caught by the bandits were being taken to be sold in the definitely-not-nearby, definitely-not-in-the-direction of the capital, lawless city Boldust.
The Wastelands had many issues, with the lack of proper law enforcement and administration being the biggest problem!
Many individuals became outlaws, many parts of the Wastelands have been taken over by criminals, and many of the resources were seized by bandits.
Anyways, the third thing Feyd heard from their conversation was– They wanted to drink!
Normally it wouldn't have been important, but Feyd just so happened to have a friend who could make use of this fact.
And right on cue a voice trailed into his mind.
(Hey Feyd... Are you there?)
'Yo wassup! Finally woke up?"
(Why add the exclamation marks?)
Although Ray could talk to Feyd through his psychic powers, Feyd couldn't. So he had to settle with imagining words as a means of communication.
'Heh. Anyways, I have a plan. And I need your help'
(Already? You must have woken up much earlier than. Alright, tell me)
'Alright so those threeoutside wanna drink abit. So why don't you try and influence them to do so? Get them so drunk that they pass out! I know it takes time but we'll take days to reach this trains destination, and no one is going to disturb this freight for atleast a day'
'I'll fill you in on the details of what I know as you do so'
(Alright, let's start)