53. A Reunion in the Making

53. A Reunion in the Making

The triplets dug into a whole rotisserie chicken each like rabid animals. Res was a little more civilized with her food but given how long it had been since they had something that resembled real food; this rare, wild side of her sprouted forth.

The wet smacks of their lips caused the seated healer to fondly smile at them from across. T.C Gral, the train conductor, left her alone with them in a private compartment reserved only for the onboard healer, conductor, and those they allowed.

Was it because they were about to unravel some heinous secret? That there were too many prying ears about? No. It was simply to prevent them from causing noise pollution. It was midnight now and most aboard were either asleep or in the process of falling asleep.

As for the whereabouts of the train conductor? His bidaily rounds were still not over.

“You three can sure eat a lot. Should I ask the vendor for more food?” The healer offered, wondering where on Elysia the scoffed food ended up. “But it would be bad to bother her in the middle of the night…”

There was an air of awkwardness with her. A clumsiness that caused Res to see imaginary question marks appear over her head from time to time.

“Two more!” Cer exclaimed, brandishing a honey-glazed chicken leg high above her like a blade.

“Two and one quarter!” Ber did the same, except the leg had a thigh attached to it… like a battle axe.

“No more! She’s spending straight out of her pocket!” Res intervened, watching the woman make a strange look as she fiddled around with her dimensional storage. “Show some courtesy you animals!”

She seemed rather thankful for Res’ help, but she was also more than willing to continue feeding them.

A Goddess… That’s a healer for you.

This woman’s name was Sana; a relatively new healer straight from the Institute of Magic. That place was a massive educational campus that oversaw the growth of aspiring Adventurers, particularly those that utilized magic.

Normally, weak individuals like Sana would remain there for years on end. This was not the case for healers, however. They were too special. Too sincere, like fawns in the predating eyes of the greater world.

Hence why they were all acquired for protection under Inflow Direct.

“Plucked straight from your studies by an Atelier. Must’ve felt like you were ascending as soon as you received your Blessing.” Cer said, grinning as she ate.

“Um… I couldn’t say that. But it’s nice being protected.” Sana spoke timidly before her face lit up. “Could it be that you’re also Blessed?”

“Was it not obvious from the start?” Ber questioned, also speaking with her mouth full.

“I… couldn’t tell to tell you the truth.” Sana managed to keep smiling passively at them. “It must be troubling being unable to return to the Nexus. All those crystals are destroyed, aren’t they? I still have yet to enter, so I don’t know what other Blessed really look like.”

“Weirdoes. But good weirdoes. Dressed like they’re on a budget and knee-deep in debt is the best way to spot a good majority of the Blessed.” Cer answered… and it was surprisingly accurate. Enough so that Res couldn’t help but to agree.

“Equipment is the best way to tell them apart. We can see the defense values in our status screen. You think anyone with a brain is going to use low-DEF gold-trimmed armor over a high-DEF shabby-looking robe? What is this, a fashion show?”

That’s an exaggeration. Materials matter a lot, as well as what parts of the body the armor protects. But the cloth made from Beholder Marionette’s string does provide absurd levels of DEF for how ‘weak’ it may look. What she’s wearing right now is partially made from it.

The same with our usual garbs… but we’re stuck with these receptionist suits. Ber wanted to say this out loud, but she risked further confusing the already overloaded Sana.

“Sis, you’re not a receptionist anymore.” Ber whispered loudly, commenting on the advice she casually handed out.

“But she bought us food! She’s got a big heart! Unlike a certain group of healers out there!” Cer exclaimed.

“T-There are bad healers?” Sana spoke with extreme skepticism. “You sure? That doesn’t sound right.”

To a healer like herself, it was almost impossible to comprehend that another healer would be capable of causing harm. The concept of the Wandering Healers was like an entirely different language. White noise even. Such was the mind of a real healer that did not rely on the Serums.

They were truly too innocent to fathom it.

“Forget she said anything. You’re right. Healers can’t do any harm.” Res was quick to react as she sent a side-long gaze towards Cer. “Right?”

“Hah. That’s right~”

“That’s my sisters! They’re never wrong!” Ber affirmed for no other reason than to not feel left out.

To Sana’s elation, Gral made his return through the compartment doors. He hummed as he strode through the carpeted floors towards their table:

“I suppose even Moons can fall given the right circumstance.” Gral took a seat beside Sana as the woman as she scooted closer like some cute animal. “Hardly surprising knowing that a Star has fallen. I heard they managed to steal a vial of Infusion S as well.”

“Someone must’ve opened their big mouth.” Res sighed.

“You’d be surprised what I tend to hear as a train conductor.” He said, bringing a finger to his lip. “That’s why they put us all under the watch of the Golden Pinky.”

The Golden Pinky was a subsidiary of the Golden Index which focused primarily on upholding promises, whether it be regular people, merchants and trade agreements or with Atelier personnel. How these were upheld was unknown, but when a promise was broken the offending person usually disappeared without a trace.

Sana looked concerned when she heard this, wondering if it was ok for her to even be here. The man assured her it was alright, as did the triplets. Healers were one of the few exceptions to this rule. A healer wouldn’t lie by nature.

Did that woman have the face of someone capable of subterfuge? Of using their status to their advantage? No. Definitely not. No healer did. Even the Wingless Doves were incapable of lying.

If a healer capable of this ever did exist, then they’d certainly cause an uproar in many ways than one.

That being said –

“A rescue mission? In Grandis? You realize how many treaties Beholder Galia and Marionette are breaking just by sending you three in?” Gral said, though his voice lacked any concern. This recklessness was quite like these three. “Actually no. It won’t be Beholder Galia and Marionette taking the blame. You’re not affiliated with their Ateliers in the first place.”

“None of the Ateliers are worth our time. And I’d like to see them try to stop us. Who the hell do they think we are? Their priorities are too muddled to focus on three Moons in the first place. Thus, making us the perfect candidates.” Cer said proudly, taking pride in the fact that they were the only ones capable of carrying out this mission.

“What she means is that the Ateliers would rather have unaffiliated Moons recover their target. Makes you wonder where their priorities lay if not even a…

An Archetype. If not even the rescue of an Archetype can bring them together, then I wonder what can. They’re really overestimating Frost. I don’t think she was that strong… The fall of Paradise was the first time the Ateliers truly went and worked together for once, creating this vast place. But fast forward 15 years later and things haven’t improved a single bit.

Res sighed, unable to bring forth the information of the Amalgam to their close friend.

“Truth is, a healer of Inflow Direct was kidnapped by Iscario. Our mission is to bring them back.” She lied.

“That… can’t be…” Sana choked with emotion.

“In Grandis of all places. Well, I look forward to hearing of your success. But it’s surprising.” He laughed to himself, pondering on the miniature singularity he held in his palm.

“Our return to Grandis. Can’t say I’m looking forward to it.” Cer bared her fangs, as did her sisters.

They had a long history with Grandis. Being Demi-humans that were born in that wretched place – it went without saying that they despised it with every fiber of their being. The mere mention of Grandis caused them to react with angst. With innate fury. Sana could sense this and gulped, tugging onto the sleeve of the train conductor.

He only cleared his throat.

“How is Raoul doing these days?”

“Huh? Oh. Still pessimistic. Unmotivated half the time. A professional Star now with zero affiliation like us, but still under the wraps of that snake Galia.” Cer briefly painted. “Raoul is Raoul, like how Sana is Sana.”

The woman blankly blinked.

“And you’re still the same Cer. Ber. Res. Never change. Well. Shall I leave you three? I assume you’ll be heading through Divas Pass within the next 48 hours. Just a reminder, try not to make any trouble.” He raised a hand before parting ways with them.

“Trouble this, trouble that. Always us. Oh, and goodbye Sana~” Cer hummed, as did the others. Res was the only one who properly saw off Gral, as usual.

I’m so sorry for these two.

The healer strayed behind him, waddling almost clumsily. She bowed twice in goodbye before leaving them with a single gold coin.

“Please eat properly from now on.”

“SANA! You’re… so perfect…” Ber clutched onto the coin with happiness.

“Res… what do I do? Sana or Frost? Quick, before she leaves – Ngh!? W-Why!?”

“Show some respect! Goodnight!” Res exclaimed angrily after stomping on Cer’s foot.

These last 48 hours were going to be a struggle with these two.

But their goal was within reach now. Divas Pass was the only avenue of entry into Grandis. If they were lucky, then they’d find clues to Frost’s whereabouts there.

They briefly wondered if Frost would be any different from the helpless fawn they knew just a week ago. A week was too short of a time for someone to change, but Grandis had a certain air of poison that changed people for the worse.

There was a plate of fruits in front of them. It was not part of their diet to eat such things. They disgusted them to no end. Among those fruits was an apple. Res recalled the tale of the princess and the forbidden apple like it was etched onto the back of her palm.

The fact that a single eaten apple caused the entire downfall of Paradise was nearly as humorous as it was sad. People were corrupted easily by such little things.

But thankfully, people couldn’t actually become Corrupted. Not that anyone knew how they even came to be in the first place.

Now that would truly be an existential nightmare.