"The Train has exited the Space Station's safe zone and will initiate warp travel in approximately ten minutes."
"Passengers, please take your seats and secure yourselves! Hold on tight! Beware of turbulence!"
As everyone settled into their seats, Pom-Pom appeared in the Train's lounge, walking over to Lumina and March 7th to deliver a reminder.
Hmm... Though it was framed as a general reminder, Pom-Pom's gaze remained fixed on March 7th, as if the message were intended solely for her ears.
"Uh... there's really no need to come remind just me specifically..." March 7th replied, a hint of exasperation in her voice. She couldn't help but notice Pom-Pom's unwavering, unconcealed stare and knew exactly what the Conductor was trying to convey.
"Pom-Pom, I've been through countless warp jumps already! I'm no newbie—you don't have to worry about me!"
"Right, Sister Lumina?"
March 7th turned to Lumina, who was seated beside her, and winked, signaling Sister Lumina to help persuade Pom-Pom.
Lumina smiled gently at March's pleading look, shook her head, and said, "March, you must have done something dangerous during the warp transition. Otherwise, Pom-Pom wouldn't have come all the way here just to lecture you."
"Passenger Lumina is right." Hearing this, Pom-Pom nodded in agreement, hands on its hips, gazing at March 7th with a mix of helplessness and exasperation.
"Who told Passenger March 7th to keep challenging herself to stand firm during warp transitions? Every time, she ends up falling."
"Hehe... In Xianzhou terms, what's that called again...? Hmm, it's called 'indomitable spirit'~" March 7th scratched her head and giggled sheepishly.
Pom-Pom: ᄑ_ᄑ
"Passengers Lumina, and Stelle, please sit down and hold on tight. The Train will initiate warp in five minutes. Closing your eyes can help alleviate some of the dizziness caused by the warp."
Hearing this, Pom-Pom couldn't be bothered to say more. After all, there was no real danger to life, just some physical pain at most...
From the start, Pom-Pom had thought March 7th would learn her lesson after a few falls. But to his surprise, she seemed to have taken this as a personal challenge, stubbornly trying again and again, only to keep falling.
Pom-Pom shook his head, said a brief farewell to Lumina and turned to leave.
"Little March, why do you always challenge yourself to stay upright during each warp?" Lumina asked March 7th, her curiosity piqued as she watched Pom-Pom's retreating figure.
"Because I have this feeling in my heart—next time, I'm sure I'll nail it!" March 7th declared, planting her hands on her hips with unwavering confidence.
If she had a ahoge, it would probably be bobbing wildly in sync with her current mood.
"Well, never mind about this time."
A moment later, the confident expression on March 7th's face vanished. She adjusted her posture, settled firmly in her seat, and waited for the warp jump to begin.
"Hmm? Why?" Lumina asked curiously.
"Because you're here, Sister Lumina! I don't want you to see me looking ugly," March 7th grinned, her face radiating innocent sincerity.
Lumina paused slightly, then recovered quickly, responding with a drawn-out, melodious "Okay~".
"Attention, passengers! Please return to your seats and prepare for the warp jump. We will be commencing shortly."
Ten minutes passed quickly. Over the intercom, Pom-Pom's voice rang out once more.
5, 4...
The Astral Express gradually began to tremble, entering the final countdown phase of the warp jump.
3, 2, 1!
As the countdown reached zero, the entire train seemed to enter a quantum state, tearing through spacetime and hurtling toward the starry sky...
-
"Wow! What a beautiful planet!"
Just outside Apricot Grove, March 7th pressed her face against the window of the Astral Express's lounge, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the verdant, emerald-green planet before her.
"This is Apricot Grove, a planet teeming with life," Lumina said with a smile, offering a brief introduction. She then turned to Himeko and Pom-Pom, saying, "Miss Himeko, Conductor Pom-Pom, there's no need to stop the Astral Express outside the planet."
"Apricot Grove has dedicated docking facilities and refueling stations for trains, starships, and other vessels."
"Just follow the navigation system. I've already notified Little Apricot Grove, so the Train won't be obstructed."
Lumina spoke calmly, gesturing for the Astral Express to proceed into Apricot Grove for docking.
"Little Apricot Grove? Sister Lumina, who's that? Why does he share the planet's name?" March 7th asked, her curiosity piqued.
Sharing a planet's name? He must be a super important figure, second only to Sister Lumina!
"He's right there," Lumina replied, pointing to Apricot Grove. "That's him."
"Huh?" March 7th's eyes widened in confusion, her mind struggling to process the information.
"Little Apricot Grove, greet our guests." Seeing March 7th's dumbfounded expression, Lumina waved toward the lush, emerald planet outside the window, signaling it to greet the passengers of the Astral Express.
"Hello there, Lady Lumina's honored guests!"
Apricot Grove: ヽ(o^▽^o)ノ
As Lumina's words fell, the massive Apricot Grove planet suddenly materialized two hands. A smiling face materialized on its surface, warmly waving at the Astral Express.
"Whoa!"
Startled by this sudden display, both March 7th and Stelle jumped back in surprise.
No matter how hard March 7th racked her brains, she could never have imagined that Little Apricot Grove was actually this planet itself...
"To imbue a planet with life and grant it independent consciousness—Miss Lumina, you are truly remarkable," Welt murmured, marveling at the planet's consciousness, which seemed as vivid as that of a living being.
While all planets are inherently alive, achieving self-awareness is an extraordinary feat. Even more astonishing was Apricot Grove, which not only possessed consciousness but also behaved with the exuberance of a living person.
It wasn't the detached consciousness of a god, looking down indifferently upon all living beings, but the true consciousness of a person.
Even Welt, a seasoned traveler of countless worlds, found himself speechless, utterly stunned.
"Little Apricot Grove's ability to manifest such a vivid consciousness is thanks to the Irminsul, not my doing," Lumina explained with a gentle shake of her head, after hearing Welt's praise.
"Irminsul? What's that? It sounds incredibly powerful! Is it even stronger than the Ambrosial Arbor on the Luofu?" March 7th asked, her curiosity piqued.
"It's the heart that connects the pulse of the entire Planet," Lumina replied simply to March's question.
Without elaborating further, she glanced at the time on the Train and addressed Himeko and Pom-Pom:
"In any case, let's enter Apricot Grove first."
"Mm," Himeko nodded in agreement, offering no further comment. Together with Pom-Pom, she entered the train's cockpit and began piloting the vehicle, following Little Apricot Grove's guidance as they slowly navigated into the planet's surface...
-
Apricot Grove
A planet with self-awareness, possessing a consciousness as complex as a human's, capable of experiencing a full range of emotions. It serves as the guardian of the Sumeru Star System.