Ten system hours went by after the events, but for Noah, it only felt like a blur if he were to be honest about it.

He was sent to a new special room with everything he could ever ask for and unlimited access to the buffet and entertainment modules for his travel. The Interstellar Cruise Ship, Traveler, had docked in this region of space for repair, already contacting Neverland before starting on the crucial repairs. But the ship as a whole was plunged into an air of negativity.

After all, although Noah had managed to stop the Crocodile, many people had already died due to its rampage.

B-54 sent a drone to him and explained that if he could just wait until the Captain was free from all the recovery efforts, he would be rewarded appropriately. Many VIPs wished to reward him as thanks for saving their life, but Noah was not too keen on accepting their money.

Money was great but it could also be dangerous for him. There was no need to create a deeper connection with them at the moment.

In order to avoid all this depression, as well as the people chasing him, Noah simply went and hid in his room.

To spend time meaningfully, he ate as much as possible, drank with no end in sight, and enjoyed himself alongside his new friends.

The Gor’Khath, as Noah learned, were a rowdy bunch. From what he could see, they seemed to be more like a mix between Orc and Vikings fused with the power of Berserk. But it wasn’t as if they would understand what he meant if he relaid that to them.

Their appearance was extremely close to humans outside of their green skins and their tusks. Some of them were short and slim enough, compared to the general populace of their race, that they could pass for relatively tall humans.

One such example was Karnax.

In his Drunken stupor, the two of them became closer and Noah knew more about his massive friend. A sort of outcast in his community but a man beloved and respected by his soldiers.

Noah could see the trace of a respectable general in the alien berserker, something that he appreciated immensely.

“So, I don’t see you guys mourning for the lost lives. No ceremonies?” Noah asked lightly as a robot filled his glass again with an amber liquid. This alcohol was some kind of wine from a planet Noah knew nothing about and he did not care about it either. All that mattered was that the wine was fucking delicious and he could not have enough of it.

“Our brothers and sisters have already received the highest ceremony one could have in our traditions. Dying in an incredible battlefield.” Karnax raised a glass that was easily four times larger than Noah’s own and downed everything in one go. His voice was filled with sarcasm even though his eyes were drenched in barely concealed sadness.

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The two of them were sitting at the counter and ignored the rowdy warriors who seemed more than interested in fighting each other to pass the time.

“You don’t seem happy.” Noah eyed the large man with curiosity.

“I am happy. I am happy they died in the way they loved. But at the end of the day, death is death. And it will always be, accompanied by its own set of grief and loss. Even if Kharn’Valh really exists and they do enter it, that doesn’t make them any less dead than they already are. I failed them.” He looked down at his empty glass and grumbled a little.

“I was born with the talent of a shaman. But I never managed to actualize my talent. Then I left my home planet with like-minded people from our clan. People who were willing to listen to me and follow me on my lonesome path. Over the years, our group grew, yet I remember the names of all those who have fallen along the way.” He chuckled with pain and grief.

“Shaman?” Noah was confused.

“Dark Matter users who can manipulate elements and talk to the dead. They are the spiritual leader of our clan. The keepers of tradition and the ones who decide our laws. I could neither control elements nor talk to the dead. As such, I am a failed Shaman. Karnax the Coward they named me with spite.”

Noah had a clear impression that there was a story behind this nickname. But he did not pry. The two of them had only met after all.

“So you are mourning?” He asked.

“Since the bonehead in my clan cannot mourn the dead, at least, I need to do something, right?”

“You are right.” Noah did not try to discuss too deeply on this topic. Clearly, this was something Karnax had been agonizing for a while now and his answer seemed more or less appropriate.

“To the fallen ones and a new friendship.” Noah raised his glass.

“To the fallen one and a new friendship.” Karnax

““To our fallen companions and a new friendship!!””

Their toast was accompanied by the deafening roar of the other warriors as they cheered as loud as their addled minds allowed them to.

After the toast, the tension seemed to reach an all-time high while Karnax spoke to Noah.

“I don’t know what is happening. But be very careful.” Karnax gave a fair warning. “During the fight against the Crocodile, we were immediately ordered to retreat. In fact, this order came before you even appeared. Clearly, they are observing you.”

“Oh?” Noah raised an eyebrow at his warning but soon shrugged, “Must have been B-54 who informed them. But thanks. I will be very careful with how I handle this. Though I would like to have your opinion on something.”

For now, B-54 had not given him any signs of being a potential enemy to him. Those signs were hard to notice since everything could change in a second. But Noah was not afraid. He had the clear belief that he could at least escape no matter what happened.

“Go on. What question?” Karnax was curious. His time with Noah was short, less than a few hours and yet he had the feeling he understood the man quite well.

Noah was definitely someone who kept himself isolated from others. Both emotionally and physically. It was hard to put this image on the picture of this gallant hero fighting against a group of monsters.

“What will happen when we land in Neverland? I would also be happy to have your insight about the local force.”

Karnax was undoubtedly the best source of information for him at this point.