*Ok, I'm done for the day. I wrote like 8k words just today. I'm insane :))
Anyway, enjoy this silly little chapter. I used a few ideas from other comments for a silly little moment at the end. From now, I'll focus on a few more random events before setting out for the Xianzhou. Have fun, peace out, and Deus vult.*
Mark had no clue how much time had passed, but he didn't care. The tears had stopped, his eyes red and puffy from crying. Himeko still held on to him, running her hand through his hair, massaging his scalp gently. The feeling was divine, and Mark just didn't want to let go.
"In this very moment... this warmth... I'd die for it..."
Die for it. The words left a bitter taste in his mouth when memories of another world came into his mind, a world where Himeko had faced that once. Death. For her students, she chose to give up herself. No matter who decided to come after her, Mark made it his goal to become stronger and protect her. Welt must share the same goal, but it wasn't enough. The stronger he'd get, the more he'd be able to do.
"Are you feeling better, Mark?"
The whispered words brought him back into reality. He slowly pulled back, looking into her eyes. He nodded, his arms still resting on her shoulders. She was so close he nearly leaned in, but he held himself in check. That would be the worst move to pull in that scenario.
"I'm much better, thank you, Himeko. You're a true lifesaver."
She smiled warmly at him, moving a few strands of hair away from her own eyes. He had never paid more attention to something in his whole life.
"I'm glad I could help. After all, we're all a family here, Mark. Everyone is willing to help one another, so reach out when you feel the need to. Your burden is heavy, so let us lend a hand."
Those words were sweet, but far from what Mark knew. He didn't like doing that, no, he kept trying to grow stronger and carry the weight for others alongside his own.
"Stubborn fool... that's what I am... if only you knew, Himeko..."
Genuine was the smile that formed on his lips, tiny as it was. She noticed it quickly, offering one of her own.
"Well now, I think neither of us is heading to sleep anytime soon, all thanks to my coffee. How about we spend the time talking, sharing experiences, or just doing something to keep ourselves entertained?"
He thought for a moment and simply shrugged.
"Well, since you do have work to do, how about I lend a hand? I'm not the smartest, but I could at least try and do something to help. I don't want you losing more time with me like this."
She waved her hand, dismissing his worries with ease.
"Oh, don't worry about it. Quality time spent with someone is never a waste... but if you do wish to lend a hand, I have the perfect task in mind."
She stood up, grabbing his hand, pulling him somewhere away from the parlor. He clung to her, not letting go, scared that it would all vanish before his very eyes should his grip cease.
Immediately, he found himself in a small room, a desk with tons of papers sprawled out on top. He took a peek, noticing the intricate schematics drawn there.
"Hm... is this the Express? Schematics for it?"
She nodded, a childlike glee radiating from her. She sure did love the Express.
"Yes, that's what they are. Someone has to ensure that the Express is up and running, and I'm that someone."
Mark nodded, putting the paper down.
"I guess you want me to lend a hand with organizing things, right?"
She chuckled and nodded, taking out a few boxes from beneath a shelf. She put them on the desk, handing him one with a smile. She looked straight into his eyes and nodded.
"I knew you were sharp. Yes, I need a hand with tidying up this room, and since you offered so nicely..."
He found himself lost in her gaze, looking for a few seconds more than he should have. Somehow, he managed to snap out of it and take one of the boxes.
"Ahem, yes, let's pack up."
He followed her instructions and began working by her side, both of them talking about the most random topics as they worked. Mark did his best to sort them in as instructed, working non-stop until the sun came up. The two of them had managed to clean the whole room, giving it an entirely different look.
"Now this is something. Hell, I didn't even know that you had a tiny carpet over there beneath all that paper."
She chuckled, placing the boxes aside, making sure to tuck them nicely beneath the shelf.
"Now you do. Thank you for the help, Mark. I appreciate it."
He shook his head, not wanting any thanks.
"No, I should be the one thanking you for the help. I really needed that..."
Their gazes met once more, and they both left the room, the experience etched into his mind.
"Well, I should perhaps walk around a bit and see what's going on around the place. Maybe the others are awake already."
Himeko nodded, heading off to her own room, unlocking the door. The smell of coffee only got stronger as she opened it. Mark tried to sneak a peek inside, but he couldn't without making it obvious.
"See you later, Mark."
She smiled and closed the door. In his head, he couldn't help but acknowledge how much power she held. With just a smile, she could make his day a million times better.
"Well, I'm cooked... that's an issue for another day. Let's see if the others are awake."
His steps took him to the parlor, where he was met by a grumpy-looking March.
"Good morning, sunshine," said Mark, chuckling at how puffy her cheeks were. She turned to him, mumbling a weak 'morning' before sitting on the couch.
"Not much of a morning person, ey? How about a cup of Himeko's coffee?"
March stiffened, sitting straighter than ever.
"I'm awake, I'm awake, no need for that, alright, you big meanie?"
She looked up at him, and a question crossed her mind.
"How tall are you, even?"
He chuckled, remembering that one time during PE class when the teacher had them all measured for some sort of medical thing. The nurse kept taking notes of stuff like their height, weight, and even the rate of their heartbeat.
"Well, last time I checked, I was like 1.90 or something like that. I'm pretty sure Dan Heng is nearly as tall as me, right? So yeah, if you're annoying, you get the fridge punishment. I won't explain it..."
She kept looking at him, the cogs in her mind turning up to nothing good. His threat didn't mean much to her since something as silly as the 'fridge punishment' couldn't be bad.
"Speaking of Dan Heng, how about we pay him a visit? Stelle went out to Belobog, so she's not around. I finally have someone else to spend time with, since he's always holed up in his room, and Stelle just vanished to do who knows what and where."
Mark chuckled, knowing the type of things Stelle would be up doing. The side quests within the game were plenty, and they did take some time to complete.
"I'm sure she's having a blast. Let's go check up on Dan Heng."
She stood up, her steps springy as she dashed to his room, with Mark walking slowly behind. She waited by the door, motioning for Mark to open it, who did so carefully. Inside, Dan Heng was focused on work, which seemed to be the norm for him.
"Hey, Dan Heng, we're all pretty bored here. Mind coming with us to go do something? I personally could use some sparring, if you'd like."
March nodded eagerly, excited for a sparring match between Mark and Dan Heng. Mark, on the other hand, knew he would get his shit rocked and thrown out the window if Dan Heng got serious with the fighting, but he genuinely wished to see how things would go—if he'd manage to at least land a hit.
"Sorry, but I'm busy."
His answer was short and cold, which put a tiny pout on March's lips. Mark chuckled and looked over to him, smirking.
"Aw, come on, stop being a tsundere and just come with us."
He turned around, confused.
"A what?"
March was laughing so hard her stomach hurt. Out of all things, the one she expected the least was Mark calling him a tsundere.
"Did you seriously call him a tsundere?"
Of course she'd know what that meant. She does like novels, and, with their stop of the Xainzhou, she'd also grow to like immersias.
"I sure did," chuckled Mark, while poor Dan Heng was still confused. Rather than arguing, he just closed the door and locked it from the inside.
"I guess it's just us left. Well, I think I should head off to sleep. I spent the whole night awake, helping Himeko with some work."
March let out a disappointed sigh since she was once again left alone to do things. Mark couldn't help it, since his eyes were slowly closing on their own.
"Sorry, March. I'll make it up to you sometime, ok?"
She nodded with a huff, not really enjoying the answer, but she had no choice. Mark went off to his room, sleeping once again. This time, the nightmares weren't an issue, but he did have some pretty weird dreams.
.................................................................
Mark was in the Express, chattering away with Stelle and March, his mouth running without any signs of stopping soon. The two of them were listening to him explain some gibberish that not even he understood. Somehow, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a foreign figure standing tall, his blonde hair pointing up.
The man wore imposing armor of gold, a thick piece of art that was more for display than actual combat usage. The man looked at Mark and clapped his hands slowly.
"Stand proud, you can yap."
Mark wiped his eyes, as if it would do something in the dream, and took another look at the man.
"Gilgamesh? What the fuck?"
The man came closer and handed him a piece of paper, a certificate of sorts. Reading in dreams didn't work well, but Mark somehow knew it was a certificate in yapping from Yappingsvile.
"Congratulations!"
Both Stelle and March applauded him, very eager and happy for him.
"What the hell?"
Gilgamesh laughed and patted Mark on the back, his hand heavy thanks to the armor.
"You amuse me, mongrel. Keep up the good work."
Mark looked around, confused, and out of reflex, he pulled out a giant gauntlet with six stones imbued in it. He put it on, watching as it molded to the size of his hand. Gilgamesh regarded him with a skeptical look, while March and Stelle were worried. Mark prepared to snap his fingers, staring right at Gilgamesh.
"I am... Mark..."
His fingers didn't touch—more like, they couldn't. Before his eyes, a man wearing a weird mask stood with his arm reaching out, holding a red lightsaber in the other.
"Come join the dark side instead. We have cookies."
March stood up instantly, walking to his side.
"Cookies? I'm in."
The man closed his lightsaber and put it aside, taking out a different one from beneath his cloth. He handed it to March, who instantly turned it on, swinging it around like it were a toy.
"What the fuck?" asked Stelle, confused as much as Mark.
From the other compartments, two soldiers in white armor came in, carrying a tray of cookies for March, who began eating them without any issues. The man in black laughed in an ominous tone, still not letting go of Mark's hand, disabling him from snapping his fingers.
"You know what? Screw this, I'm out."
He ran to the Express window and broke it, jumping out into space. Before he'd get lost in the void, he saw everyone else be taken out with him.
.................................................................
Mark opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling. He said nothing for a bit, then muttered.
"What in the actual fuck was that dream?"