"He killed your mother?"

I couldn't stop myself from saying it out loud.

—Yes, I doubt you could interpret this memory otherwise.

Oh yeah right, I almost forgot our link communications.

—Do you know anything else?

—Isn't this enough to despise him? I will hunt him down and make him spit the truth before slaughtering him.

The link was losing stability due to her excessive anger.

—Calm down, you will break our connection if you act up.

—I know, sorry I will control myself more.

After viewing her memories we quietly meditated, as always I tried to move as much energy as I could while sustaining a constant connection with Lillian. It was a bit harder since I had to worry not about my spirit but hers too.

----------------------------------------

I opened my eyes for the first time as rare drops of water fell upon my lids. The sun was long gone, and the night sky laid bare before my gaze.

My knowledge in astronomy didn't allow me to understand exactly what did I witness. Never ever on earth have I seen such a sight.

Unlike the boring dark void of the universe, a mesmerizing color palette ranging from green to deep violet painted the space between the blueish stars.

The moon was completely absent, but this night was everything but dark, a milky ambient light danced upon the sand, which gave off colorful glints.

—I wish I could see such a sight myself.

I almost forgot, she perceived the world through reverberation of magic waves, for her even the most colorful place would be devoid of light.

I could give her but a mere aftertaste through my thoughts.

—Is there a way for you to look through my eyes? Like back then?

I ignored what she experienced possessing me back then.

—No, I simply influenced your magic flows, I didn't actually take over your body.

As I was looking for a solution, the rain intensified. Sad gray clouds veiled this gorgeous sight.

—Oh, never mind then haha.

I sensed a speck of disappointment in her thoughts.

—Don't worry, I will bring you back here once you get a real body, I swear you will get to see the stars with your own eyes.

I was the one who broke her body after all… I had to take some kind of responsibility.

I thickened the magic around me, I didn't want to get wet, not only did it feel uncomfortable but also I could get sick.

The magic took a slight reddish tint around me. My heart skipped a beat, I wasn't using Lillian's spell here, I simply used energy to coat myself from rain. Was my soul assimilating the "Carmine Mist' this quick?

—Hmm, you surely do have potential.

I closed my eyes again and concentrated again.

_____________________________________________

By the morning, the rain stopped, as if the sorry clouds were chased away by the warm light of the dawn. I quickly dispelled the magic coat as soon as no rain could be felt.

—Hey Fred.

—Yeah?

—I learned about the 'Train' in your memories. It seemed fun… Even after we finish with my father, could I stick with you guys?

She took a liking for our adventure and wanted to share our story?

—Only if you befriend Jinhyung of course.

—For the notice, I am not the one being jealous over you like a kid.

She got a point.

—I know.

Urggh, why am I always surprised when she can hear everything?

_____________________________________________

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

One day remained until the third car would open, I took a last glance at my spirit. My soul path became way stronger and almost no impurities were left inside my body and spirit.

I had rather great mastery over my energy flows, during the last days I succeeded to stabilize the link with Lillian. The only thing worrying me was the faint bloody stench that was now emanating from my soul.

—We should get going.

—Yeah.

I broke our link and looked around.

Maintaining it outside of meditation required way more concentration and energy since the energy flow wouldn't be so steady anymore.

I looked at the center of the lake where Jinhyung was, as he called it, 'cultivating'.

He was still there, he sat on the hilt of his sword which was somehow stuck straight into the water. His burnt clothes already repaired themself and he seemed completely healthy, no he seemed even better than before.

A bluish aura slowly veiled around his body. Small waves slowly scattered on the lake's surface from him. His flow control was truly unrivaled.

[Hey sword idiot, we are leaving.]

"Shut up wench," yelled Jinhyung.

After a bit of time, the aura disappeared and he opened his eyes. He stood up and sheathed his sword. Then in the blink of an eye, he crossed the whole lake in no more than five leaps. How did he get so fast?

The bluish aura around his feet dispelled as soon as he arrived. Once he saw my surprised face, he answered.

"I created a new footwork technique in my mental realm. This is the 'Azure Sky Shunpo'."

[Mental realm?]

"I can simulate muscle movements with precise Qi manipulations during cultivation, therefore I can master martial techniques without moving," added Jinhyung.

Another outlandish explanation for impossible feats, as usual of Jinhyung.

"We need to buy some consumables before entering the third car, we might have to fight adventurers there."

"We ran out of elixirs," agreed Jinghyung.

I summoned the Gate, an explosion of sparks and blinding light scattered in front of me. I entered the Gate's interior, but the 'R' button wasn't lit.

I looked around confused, fear started to fill my heart, I looked in panic at Jinhyung. But he returned a smile at me as if I was a silly child.

"Don't you remember the rules?, the 'Rest Train' would only open at 6 A.M. The morning is still young."

He was right, I felt dumb for being so forgetful. We had nothing to do so we simply sat inside the Gate.

Luckily we weren't that early, about 10 minutes later, sparks jumped around the car selection panel and the 'R' button lit up per usual.

We were about a day before the next car would be open. We shouldn't normally meet anyone. Before the doors opened, I gestured to Lillian to hide inside my coat, the less is known about our power, the better.

The Gate's room appeared empty, but I felt something was off. Indeed, after we approached the elevator sector, about three capsules were gone.

"Someone was there, a late team?"

"Could be so."

For the first time, I didn't feel sick using the pneumatic elevator, I didn't know why, maybe I just got used or I somehow did offset the nauseous feelings with magic, unconsciously.

First thing we saw when we arrived at the market was the updated ranking board.

Trial of the Second Car Ranking (12 hours left)

1: King (1)-10 000 pts

2: Great Magic Alliance (25) 6 543 pts

3: The Coven (5) 4 556 pts

4: The Circle (9) 3 450 pts

5: OAC (50) 3 200 pts

6: Silver Brotherhood(21) 3 150 pts

7: Heavenly Sect of the Twin Golden Dragon(15) 2 950 pts

8: Lone Swordsman (1) 2 800 pts

9: Companions to the End (2) 2 200 pts

10: New Order (12) 600 pts

Lower ranks: (134)

We lost four ranks, what a bummer; at least we remained in the top ten.

After all, the new teams had a ridiculous number of people, the 'OAC' with 50 members, what a joke. I wondered if they managed to defeat Lillian or did they flee.

The market was empty, only lone steel machines were placing new items onto the tables.

"I like the seventh-ranked team name, although they seem weak," noticed Jinhyung.

I was about to joke about his obsession with martial art novels when the sounds of elevator capsules coming in could resonated.

Jinhyung quickly grabbed the hilt of this sword and his stance stiffened.

"Calm down, they probably want to stock up on consumables before the third car as well, I doubt they will try to fight us."

[Be ready to link.]

Tsk, was I the only one that didn't feel any danger?

The first person to exit the steam of the elevator section was a young blond man wearing a shiny, black leather coat with a high collar. He was of the kind that could wonder, to slap or not Jinhyung's cheeks. Of course, he was,

"Pierre," exclaimed we.

His soul seemed different from before, it was too faint for a human, was he suppressing his presence? I understood now why he escaped my senses earlier.

"How does my new outfit look?" He asked in his usual annoying, bratty manner.

In a single step, Jinhyung bridged the distance between them and stood right before Pierre. Jinhyung towered this poor child.

"You are going to pay for trying to set me up," said Jinhyung, almost whispering into his ear.

"What are you talking about?" Said Pierre with a little laugh, he stepped back and lifted his hand making an 'ok' symbol.

Before even his lips closed, in an invisible movement of Jinhyung's blade, a silent cut made his head fall to the ground.

"Jinhyung, what did you do? The rules!" I screamed as I ran toward him.

Then I saw Pierre headless body still waving, I quickly looked down, his face still had this bratty grin.

"What?" My voice trembled and I stepped back.

I heard someone slowly approaching from behind.

"Hmm, was the mountain of muscle not as dumb as I thought?"

Pierre?

"Link," yelled Jinhyung before cutting down Pierre another time.

[Quick, we are surrounded.]

I immediately accepted the connection and the carmine mist surrounded me. Electrical arcs bounced back from this veil.

Two sorcerers were hidden inside the dimly lit elevator sector. I sensed them perfectly with Lillian's help.

I heared Jinhyung slashing Pierre again and again, but somehow he always came back. Odd, very odd, but I couldn't be distracted as new spells flew my way.