(...)
(Host, wake up)
Ena slowly opened her eyes and sat up.
"...What time is it?"
(06:00. Morning, as per your request)
She stared at the notification for a moment.
"...I see"
Then she got up and headed toward the bathroom.
"Breakfast is ready, Lady Ena"
Yunmei carefully set the tray on the table beside the window.
"Thank you"
Yunmei bowed slightly before leaving the room.
Ena ate slowly.
'Aha is still nowhere to be seen...'
'And the Express...'
Ena checked her phone.
'Still no reply...'
She frowned.
'Did the Stellaron Hunters alter their course toward Jarilo-VI?'
She held her gaze on the screen for a moment, then lowered the phone.
'March...'
'Stelle...'
She slowly closed her eyes.
'...Uncle Yang is a very capable man... If something happened, he would already have a plan'
'...Himeko is a good leader... She can keep everyone calm'
'...Dan Heng will protect March and Stelle'
"...Ahh..."
Her eyes slowly opened.
Slowly, she continued eating.
(...)
(Good luck, Host)
Her gaze drifted to the window.
Outside, people moved through the morning.
Walking, talking, living.
Ordinary.
"...yeah..."
Step
"There are no openings here-"
Step
"Outsiders are not accepted-"
Step
"We cannot take someone like you-"
STEP
Ena stopped in front of a clinic.
Slowly, she looked around.
'Quiet... No one around...'
After a moment, she looked back at the clinic and stepped inside.
Creak
The door screamed beside her ears.
Inside, a woman in her thirties slept behind the counter.
Ena observed her for a moment.
Then, with measured steps, she walked closer.
"Excuse me" she said softly.
No response.
"Excuse me" she called again, a little louder.
"Ahh... what...?"
The woman sluggishly rubbed her eyes before turning toward the noise.
"I'm looking for a job"
Ena offered her identification card.
"Oh... yeah... sure... whatever"
The woman rolled her eyes then slowly took it.
Xianzhou Diplomatic Registration Card - Ena
Sex: Female.
Race: Human.
Path: Abundance Pathstrider.
"Ehh... it's okay... not bad"
Relation: The Astral Express.
"heh..." She shook her head. "Some connections, ehh"
Short-Lived Species: Yes.
She leaned back and tossed the card onto the table.
"Yeah. We don't need you here"
Ena quietly retrieved it before presenting her medical license.
"My medical skill has been recognized by Herta. Member #83 of the Genius Society"
The woman went silent for a moment.
"Snrk-"
She raised an eyebrow. "Heh... seriously?" she smiled.
"I'm a Nameless. A member of the Astral Express"
Ena turned her identification card toward her.
Short-Lived Species: Yes.
Status: Nameless.
The woman did not look at it.
"Pfft..." Her smile widened. "You really thought saying that would help?"
Ena stared at her in silence.
The woman's smile slowly faded.
She held her gaze for a moment.
But quickly looked away.
"Tch... if you're a Nameless... why are you still here begging for work?"
She clenched her teeth and glared back at Ena.
"Listen carefully, BIRD. The Xianzhou has enough burdens already"
"And if you're a Nameless, so what... You're still just a lowlife... another Nameless lowlife!"
She inhaled sharply before exhaling through her nose.
Ena blinked. "I understand that you are not-"
"AHH! Shut it!"
The woman instantly covered her ears.
"What?! Are you going to start preaching at me now?!"
Ena looked at the woman with pity.
"You really are miserable"
The woman eyes widened.
"You! What the hell did you just say to me?!"
She quickly reached toward Ena.
Ena took a step back, then turned and ran outside.
"You! Get back here!"
The woman jumped across the table and followed her.
Ena glanced at the potted plant beside the door. Her arm lifted toward it.
"Fucking Short-lived bird! Come here!"
Ena looked back at the woman.
"...Just a poor thing, Ena"
She disappeared into the alleyway.
After a long time, she arrived at a park.
Afternoon light washed over the park, rinsing the morning from Ena's skin.
She looked at a bench then sat on it.
Her eyes wandered around the park and eventually landed on her lap.
"Oh, you're here again"
A light voice came from behind.
Ena's shoulders tensed and she quickly turned.
She blinked. "Qingling..."
Slowly she relaxed. "It's you..."
Qingling studied her for a moment.
Then, with measured steps, she moved closer and sat beside Ena.
"Where do you come from?" Qingling asked softly.
Ena went silent for a moment.
"...I'm..." she looked up at the sun. "From Earth..."
Qingling glanced at her. "...I see"
"Well... did you know I'm a writer?"
Ena turned to her.
"Huh. A writer? What kind of stories do you make?"
Qingling scratched her cheek.
"Well... it's, uh... you know..."
Ena raised an eyebrow.
"Ahaha..." Qingling looked away. "it's fanfic..."
"Ehm..."
She turned toward the sky.
"You're a traveler, right? Have you been to other planets?"
"No" Ena shook her head. "I've never been to other planets..."
"Ahh..." Qingling slowly looked down.
Ena looked at her for a moment.
"Uhh... I did go to the Herta Space Station"
"Huh?"
Qingling quickly turned to Ena with wide eyes.
"You actually went to the Herta Space Station?!"
Ena nodded. "I can tell you stories about the Space Station"
"Really?!" Stars reflected in Qingling's eyes. "Yes, please!"
Ena's gaze softened.
Then slowly, she smiled.
Warm afternoon light rested gently over the two of them.
TBC
...
...
...
Hey Hey Reader, Nilvan here.
The woman in this chapter is honestly one of the most interesting person I've ever written.
I had to handle her very carefully.
And I think the effort really showed!
I'm genuinely proud of this chapter. It's officially in my top 3 now.
Ch17 -> Top 1
Ch20 -> Top 2
This chapter -> Top 3
Also, I started a new series called Raccoon Journey. You can check it out on my profile. It only has 2 chapters for now, but I'll be working on it in parallel with this story.
Current schedule: 1 chapter here then 1 chapter of Raccoon Journey then back here then going back back.
...I think my brain is melting.
Also... my sleep schedule is a bit of a mess right now. But worth it for this chapter. Or the instant noodle I'm eating right now!
That's all for now.
Have a good day.