Smoke blocked his vision and lungs. Illiad could barely breath through all of this. Fire and screams everywhere, people desperately scrambling away—those that could— from the fire and probably bodies strewn around the carriage. He could still feel the train moving, albeit slower than usual. But still fast.
The train passed another station and Illiad could hear the horrified screams as it passes. After that it's silence besides the murmurs of "Help me".
He wished he could stand up and give his two cents about this situation but he found himself unable to breath nor speak. He coughed blood again. Right now his lungs are hurting alongside his legs that he's sure are gone. Lost and probably in pieces now because of the earlier explosion.
He's partly grateful for the smoke clouding his vision. If not, he'll probably see blood, limbs and bodies.
Illiad admits he's not a huge fan of gore.
The pain never subsided instead it only got worse as time passes. Couple with the fire raging around him, Illiad wouldn't be surprised if it'll eat him soon.
He wonders what will do him in first, The fire or this painful feeling of barely breathing?
He didn't have to worry for long because apparently the latter did its job when his vision blackened and the pain began to feel unbearable.
Well at least Illiad didn't have to feel the sensation of being eaten alive by fire. He read too much fantasy book for that, thanks.
...
Illiad tried to open his eyes as soon as he felt the softness under him. A familiar feeling of bed soothes his anxious heart. At least. For now.
He tried hard to open his eyes but it's as if something blocked his eyes from opening or it's not time yet.
He felt voices around him speaking in an unknown language that sounded like french to him. But he'd known french, he'd heard and experienced french. It's not like this. It's oddly similar to the language but it's...wrong in all places.
But fortunately he knows the gist of what they're saying—or rather feeling. From their tone they sounded anxious mostly. Impatient, Worry and Fear.
Someone held his right hand in a tight grip on his right. From the hand he could guess that it's a male. But he doesn't want to assume because he'll probably know once he's awake.
The joined hand hits the person's forehead. It's sweaty and Illiad could tell that this person is frowning.
After that, a wave of sleepiness hits him. Illiad lets it takes over him and he fell asleep in no time. Soaking up to the warmth the people around him gave him.
Yeah this is nice, thought Illiad before succumbing to dream land.
...
Illiad opened his eyes to a brightly lit room, making him blink and squint his eyes at the sunlight pouring in from the balcony.
He looked around and took in the new scenery before him. Is he kidnapped? Did someone somehow saved his dying ass and brought him to Europe? He deduced that whoever owns this room is a filthy rich Second Generation Young Master of some sort.
Just as he was trying to figure things out, the door to his room opened with a loud bang that startled him. Reflexively, his hand went towards his heart. "You...startled me"
Illiad flinched. His voice is really nice to hear. He knew it shouldn't be like this. After all those time he spent inside the train, it shouldn't be possible. His throat was dying and his lungs too. If he's brought here after the incident then it shouldn't have been this nice sounding. Hell if he became mute after that he won't ask anything. Because he knew he'll be.
He then pulled away from his thoughts to look at the man approaching him. Now, Illiad has never been bent his whole life. Heck he's a virgin! He never held anyone in his arms until the day he died. Yes kisses here and there but that was when he had his rebellious emo phase!
But he could say, confidently, that if this man told him kneel, he would.
'No Illiad no! Don't have your sudden gay awakening in this unknown place! What if he wants to kill you?'
Then a traitorous part of his heart answered, 'Look, if his face is the last face i'll see before my death, i won't complain.'
Illiad cursed himself for getting bent in such an inconvenient place. He preferred doing it in a nice place with a meet-cute kind of situation.
But hey, this reminded him of that Mafia AU he often reads on—
Banishing the last of his thoughts, he realized that he'd been staring at the man since he came in. His blonde fluffy hair is in disarray, Red eyes clearly conveying his worry and distress, and his cute pout. He's clearly trying to K.O Illiad here.
'God Bless'
"Illiad, my little brother Illiad. How are you feeling? Does your head hurt? Your lungs? Tell Big Brother here, he'll fix you in no time."
Illiad brain stopped working. Little Brother? Big Brother? what is this man going about? Illiad would surely remember if he have a brother like him.
Seeing the confusion on his face, the man sighed. He kneeled beside the bed, "Do you remember who i am?"
"Ah i—"
Fuck, Illiad can't get rid of the kicked puppy image this man has. It feels like both of his ears and tail are drooping low. Coupled with the jewel like tears that threatened to fall from his ruby eyes, Illiad felt extremely guilty.
Then his headache got worse. He only felt uncomfortable before this so this sudden pain made him grab his head with both of his hands.
"Illiad!"
Illiad didn't hear the man calling for him and didn't even realize the hands that snaked around his shoulder to stabilize him. Instead he paid attention to the series of memories, belonging to someone else, that entered his head.
He went through every memory as if he were watching a movie that is being fast forwarded.
By the time he stopped, he found himself out of breath. And in the arms of someone. He also felt other presence nearby. He unconsciously leaned into the warmth of the embrace.
Illiad opened his eyes once again. Now greeted by the sight of two people in the room. One is the man from before that he now know as Ellias Foster. An older brother by 4 years. The other is also a man, but way older than Illiad and Ellias whom Illiad recognizes as his Uncle Mitras.
"Are you okay Illiad?" asked the person above him. Ellias tightened his hold when he felt Illiad's body going limp.
Illiad looked up and connected his eyes with his brother's ruby ones. "Yeah...fine"
"Illiad, Uncle thinks that you should go to school a week later for recovery. How about it?" his Uncle Mitras suddenly spoke, startling Illiad who had started to melt into Ellias' warm embrace.
"En.." answered Illiad. He really have no energy to spare and only wanted to sleep.
Uncle Mitras smiled and bid them farewell before telling Ellias that he should leave too or else he'll be late for work and not to worry because Illiad is in the capable hands of the Foster family butler.
Ellias was reluctant to let go after seeing his little brother in so much pain. But Illiad somehow managed to shoo him out. Ellias hugged him for the last time before getting up and walked out of Illiad's room dejectedly like a kicked puppy.
As soon as the door closed and no one is inside, Illiad cursed. "What in the everliving fuck is this development?"
First he's dead because he got caught up in a train bombing now he's transmigrated inside a novel? Not just any novel. It's the 'S-Hero Trainer' novel that garnered a lot of attention in his past life for the collection of never ending beautiful casts and a good story.
It's also the type of story where the protagonist transmigrated into a novel, become OP, build a secret organization then flip the world upsidedown as he battles the Gods or whatever is out there.
Now Illiad transmigrated inside a transmigration novel. He's super confused but he's not complaining. Well maybe a bit when he'd learned of his character earlier.
His name is Illiad Foster. A mob character who died at the hands of the first Magical Beast attack on Yuiha Academy. The school he's attending right now. Someone who is used for a plot device later on when his brother became a villain!
What kind of bullshit is that?
So that's why his brother looked extremely good. Because he's a to-be-villain and it seems like everyone acknowledged the number one rule of;
'Make a villain more attractive than your hero'
But Illiad thinks the author likes to create beautiful characters in so they made everyone look equally attractive.
The story is about our transmigrated Hero, Shohei, who possessed the body of Shu Zeppelin who is also a mob. After that he was given a cheat power and starts to gain followers. Loyal followers. To battle against another secret organization, in charge of the underworld named 'HADES'.
Illiad liked the hero for his badass, tsundere like attitude. As a protagonist with a strong plot armor and protagonist halo, he's definitely the most cool character here. Illiad thinks he'd drop on spot if he ever saw that man.
Illiad would also painfully recall the R-18 parts of the novel of him doing it with both men and women.
"Aaaargh!!!! Begone!! Impure thoughts begone! Get your mind out of the gutter!" he says as he held his head and bowed towards nothing in particular.
Illiad went silent for a moment to compose himself. Yeah he better not encounter that man or else he'll start proposing.
"Phew, i have to restraint. I don't want to make him uncomfortable in anyway possible. Wait, do we even have a chance to interact though?" Illiad placed his hand under his chin in thought.
"Probably not...? Because i'm an extra and he rarely talks to extras....except maybe one or two but that's just pushing it. Ah, so maybe it was for the best. It's better to admire him from afar.."
Now after going through another crisis, Illiad listed his priorities first in his mental list. It looks like this;
1. Avoid Death Flag (It's 5 months away, do whatever you need to avoid it!)
2. Stop Ellias from going dark(he may look gorgeous while wearing that murderous look but he's too kind for that!)
3. Meet Shu Zeppelin at least once (or not it's not that important)
Once done, Illiad slumped back onto the fully bed behind him and released a contented sigh. He was about to go to dream land once again when a realization hits him in the middle of yawning.
'Wait, holy fuck. Didn't i just literally thirst over my own brother?! Oh God. No Illiad! Don't go there! Doors may be opening for you right now but there? it's dangerous! You'll be at the point of no return! Let's just admire him moderately okay? As a sibling.'
After that Illiad forces himself to sleep.
He really didn't need to open anymore new doors today.