Ender poured the steaming tea into the ceramic cups, offering one to Misha as she sat on the edge of the bed.
He then pulled up a chair across from the table and took a seat. The medication Misha had brought with her was resting on the table.
He takes a sip, Misha who was observing him mirrored his act.
"You're forgetting who we are now, Misha."
His whisper brushes against his wet lips as he sets the cup down. She placed it on the side table by the bed.
"We're not humans anymore."
He added, bowing his head down. It seemed like he was lost in deep thought, no. It was more like countless thoughts were swirling around his mind.
He knew very well why she had come here. At this point, when most of his group were distant with him. He knew someone who understood him the most.
Then it was her.
He even knew the precise feelings she had for him, it was undoubtedly more than a friend. But his feelings for her?
It was quite hard to describe, it was like he was the abyss and she was a candle. The abyss had shrouded all over the candle.
The candle dazzled a gorgeous beam of light, luminously emitting a soft glow that embraced the abyss. Yet in the end, it was perished by the very abyss.
So the abyss moved itself away, afar, so the candle can radiate with light for eternity. But this intense, overwhelming light melted the candle before it could glow.
"Humans who become Astrans can still suffer from the same illnesses they had as humans, if they preserve their humanity and continue to think and imagine themselves as one... as human."
She got to know this information by their professor. When she was discussing these topics with him.
"Tell me."
He glared at her. Frowning.
"What exactly makes you think that I am a human?"
"You have lost your way, you'll find your way back."
"There was never a path to walk, all the time the Ender you saw was an act. I got tired of pretending; and when I showed them the truth, they went away, just like fools."
Misha sighed.
"Then am I different?"
Caught completely off guard, Misha blinked. Then the corner of her lips curled upwards as she accepted the cup, taking a few refined sips of the now-tempered tea.
Ender did the same, mused. When he set it down again. Misha had a scrutinizing expression, like she was eager to hear an answer.
"You're indeed different, but you're far away from my truth."
"What if you show me your truth?"
He gasped for air, his breath hitched.
"I can't.. That's something I don't know either..."
Misha's eyes widened more than usual, she moved her face closer as if intrigued.
"If someone has flaws, you know what they're called?"
She continued instantly, without a pause.
"A living being."
Ender grunted and dropped his chin, pinning in place by the weight of her gaze. Misha let out a slow breath, then tilted her cup to drain the last drops.
Next, she stood up and placed the tea next to him in a slow, relaxed way. The medicines were also sitting there.
"You won't take them?"
Her face remained a mask when he offered a slow, deliberate nod, his gaze still locked heavily upon the floor.
She brushed her hand past him, gathering the medications and walking away. Quietly shutting the door.
He stood like that for a while, until he heard a knock.
This time it was a train staff member who had some sort of scanner in his hand.
"Tickets, please."
He shoved the tickets at the man, who scanned them with a practiced beep before handing them back a few seconds later.
The man crossed to the other side as Ender pulled the open door toward him.
Thrusting the tickets to his black's coat pockets. Which was hanging on the door hanger. He goes to the washroom.
Turning on the lights and standing in front of the mirror, he was gasping for air.
"Why won't it just end?"
He murmured to himself, his eyes were tired. His hands spread across the sink.
"If there's a truth. Then it's to end your existence."
"So there's a meaning?"
He heard a familiar voice before him, leisurely lifting his head up. To find his own reflection monitoring him, wearing a white coat with black t-shirt underneath.
"...You?"
He recognized him, Ender wearing a white shirt right now. But this time, he didn't show any absurd emotions. He bowed his head down again, whispering.
"When will it end?"
"I don't know... I can't see the future."
Ender raised his head up, observing him. He had an unreadable expression pasted over his face.
"I thought you were from the future.. If you're not from the future, are you my past?"
His words carried a trace of emotions.
"I am the one who understands you the most, yet I am not you, as I told you before..."
He spoke with an enigmatic smile, a faint smile.
"Then who are you?"
Ender's eyes widened more and more. He was altered to hear an answer.
"The illusion you created so you believe you're right."
"...So am I wrong?"
"I don't know. I don't exist."
Ender bent his head down.
"Then are you here because of me?"
"Yes."
He crane his neck upwards, but now he wasn't there. His reflection was empty. Startled, he blinked again.
This time it became normal. At last, he was staring at his own reflection. Huffing, he turned off the lights and departed.
Moments Later...
Six hours dissolved in a heartbeat, and the train shuddered to a halt. The moment the doors hissed open, a restless tide of passengers surged forward.
Shoulder to shoulder on the crowded platform, Azon with the kids behind him emerged from the doors, while the waiting passengers surged inward.
Luckily, the elevators were right there. They took their chance and stepped inside, with Azon standing guard at the front while the others crowded behind him.
After several boring minutes, they had reached the top. The doors opened as Azon stepped out. Then the others clumsy and sillily walked out.
The buildings here were different as compared to Riven. Azon took a deep breath, as if he had been here before.
"This is... Barsciminia."
The kids marveled at the distinct local culture. If this place could be compared with Earth.
Northern Europe would be the region that most closely mirrors the refined traditions found here.
Azon's eyes were saying something being here. Like he was recalling a memory. He grunts, turning around toward them.
"What do you think about power?"
Surprised by the unexpected question, they stared at him dumbfounded for a few seconds. Azon's expression conveyed a sense of change rather than his cold look.
After some time. They started to wonder, to give a desired answer of what they actually thought about it.
"A way for a better life."
Zack spoke after a deep thought.
"An essential substance for us to protect ourselves. And our ones."
Ruis mumbled with uncertainty.
"To break free from control of others, things like Fate."
Misha let out a whisper, mused.
"Power is Power."
Lisa shrugged, she wasn't in a deep mood. Sara was standing among all of them like an idiot, Azon sighed before speaking. His voice wasn't that deep, yet it was resolute.
It speaks with the depths of hundreds of years he had spent in his life.
"If you want to see the world, you have to climb to the top of somewhere to see it. To climb to the top, you need power.. Not physical strength, but actual power so that no one can dare to crush you. After relentless years of struggle, you reach the top, only to discover the beauty of lands far beyond, and find they are ruled by your enemies."
Azon continued without a pause.
"You killed them at the cost of your blood, settling in those magnificent lands as you had desired. But at last, your own power corrupted you. Unwillingly, you destroyed the land you cared about, and you slaughtered your own people. You ruined everything with your own hands."
The group went silent, speechless. No one actually knows what to say, letting this moment pass would be a good choice. They thought.
"Power is the greatest illusion the world has ever sold. That is something you all should have learned by now, if you want to survive."
Azon turned around, and began observing the area. As two carriages go by. Seeing him, the riders stopped themselves. He exchanged some words with them.
Before the girls and boys entered their respective vehicles before they drove away.
...
They stopped around a well furnished house. Everyone got off with their suitcases. Clumsy and tired, it was evening now.
Azon shoved them some yurums as they went away. Then he cleared up his throat. And gently knocked on the house two times.
"Who is it?"
An elderly woman's voice was heard from the other side.
"Azon.."
"Azon?"
"Azon Severin Tenebris."
The door creaked open, on the other side there was an old woman. Possibly from her appearance she looked more than 50s. Wearing her mob cap over her gray-brown hairs.
She got flabbergasted, stunned seeing him. Before twitching her lips to say something.
"Master! What a surprise! It's been a while since your last visit here! You still haven't aged a day, just like before. Hehehehe."
Azon dropped his chin, tilting his head down. It seemed like he was used to it.
"You're just as energetic as you were before, Fiona."
He spoke with a change of tone.
"Ahhh! You're welcome. Though old age is getting up to me. It's slow but I can feel it happening."
Amidst their chat, her gaze went over the kids standing outside. Everyone had a rather observant, intriguing face.
"Who are they?"
"My juniors. We're staying for a while here. They are new to this place."
"Aww!"
She walked past him. Standing before them.
"Come in! You all!"
Some of them looked at each other. Before marching their steps.
One by one, they all entered. It was a cozy, well furnished, and tidy house.
"Please be free to do anything here! Just don't break anything, hehehehe."