"This is Dan Heng's room, which also doubles as our room since we share the responsibilities of being the Archivist. Or, if you're lame, you can just call it the Archives." y/n was saying after barging into the young man's room, "Pretty neat, right?"

"Yeah, it is..." Caelus breathed, amazement evident in his golden gaze, "But what do you guys do, anyways? As Archivists, I mean."

Y/n beamed with pride, "Hehe, I'm glad you asked!"

...

"Dan Heng, you tell him."

The ebony haired young man looked like he wanted to protest but y/n had already headed to the chair, plopping into it and busying herself with searching for something instead. Dan Heng was better at explaining stuff anyways, y/n's strength was in combat and doing stuff that she was actually interested in.

As Dan Heng explained his and y/n's job as the Archivists, she grabbed a book on the desk and flipped through it with a focused look. It was consisted of a bunch of entries from when Dan Heng first gave her the book shortly after being saved by the Astral Express crew, all the way up to her most recent one before she fell into a 46 hour coma after drinking too much coffee and then crashing completely.

The entries were of the things she could recall.

Memories that would return to her during dreams, when she was spacing out, or when something caused a memory to return to her. At first she thought the idea was stupid simply because it was too much work (mainly because March 7th compared it to keeping a diary), but some convincing from Dan Heng and literally just one comment from Welt caused her to start writing immediately.

'Was there any notable things in my recent dreams?'

...not really.

She dreamed of sitting alone in a vacant room, nothing but stacks of paper and books to keep her occupied. She dreamed of feeling trapped, wanting nothing more than to go outside and have fun.

She dreamed of twirling anything the resembled a polearm or sword, imagining herself fighting all kinds of enemies. She remembered frequently running away from home to go watch the Cloud Knights train.

She remembered a kind face, someone... ▇o▇eon▇...

Someone she looked up to and admired. Someone y/n wanted— no, was going to be like someday.

Offering her a sword, a chance to give it a go.

Name... name... h▇▇ name w▇s...

Y/n closed her eyes, pondering for a long moment.

Thinking. Wondering.

💩, she forgot already.

"What's she doing?" Caelus whispered to Dan Heng.

"Probably trying to think of something to write. She uses the book to record memories she manages to recall, but it's not very often that she's successful." Dan Heng replied quietly.

"Oh, so is that why she looks constipated?"

Not even half a minute after Caelus said that, Dan Heng tapped y/n on the shoulder with a, "Give it a break, you'll give yourself a migraine. You were in the middle of showing Caelus around, right?"

Y/n turned her head to look at her fellow train guard, blinking blearily. Her brain was being a bit slow.

"Huh? Well, yeah, I was." she gave the book one last rueful look before standing up, marching past Dan Heng with a, "Alright, I'll be back later, though. Come on, Caelus, we're headed for March's room!"

"Will she let us go in?" Caelus inquired as he hurried after the h/c haired woman like a little duckling, the two of them exiting the Archives together while Dan Heng remained by the seat where y/n once sat.

"Meh, doesn't matter, she barges into my room all the time anyways." y/n was saying as her and Caelus's voices grew fainter, a sign that they'd moved on down the hall, "Speaking of which... if you're not tired yet, you can take a look at my room."

Dan Heng glanced down at the book y/n had left open, observing the unfinished sentences. He exhaled quietly, moving to put the book away, but paused.

Y/n had been bragging about how more memories had been returning to her lately, mainly to piss off March 7th when the two were actively getting on one another's nerves.

"As my fellow train guard and Archivist, it's only natural for you to know when I remember something." y/n pointed out, giving her book a little tap, "Feel free to read this whenever, alright?"

"Wouldn't you prefer it if Mr. Yang were to read it instead?" Dan Heng questioned with raised brows and y/n choked on air, her eyes widening a bit before she cleared her throat.

"Ahem, w-well, that's different. I'll let everyone else read it when my enough memories come back to where I have a better understanding of my past but, until then, I'm trusting you with this stuff!" y/n decided.

"Why me?"

"Because you're my anti-emotional constipation medicine. In order for you to carry out that job effectively, you've gotta know just what memories are coming back so you can keep me nice and sane! Otherwise, we can't split the responsibilities of being train guards and archivists!"

Dan Heng shook his head, shutting the book and returning it to the spot where it'd been placed originally, 'I'll take a look another time when she's not occupied.'

Occupied as in eating the snacks that March 7th left out. After y/n and Caelus barged into March 7th's room without permission, looked around, and stole some of her snacks *y/n did this* they moved on to y/n's room.

It was neat, the kind of neatness that would only be found in a room that was hardly lived in. There was a gorgeous view of the stars outside through the window, a little reading nook built around it.

On the wall were a couple of weapons, a polearm, a bow, a greatsword, a whole 🚚ing giant axe, and the sword that had been broken in two.

There was a big 🍑 couch too, Caelus guessed that y/n took naps on it, and a little white lion plush that appeared to be missing one of its ears seated on top of it.

He picked up the little plush, a curious look on his face. He didn't expect y/n to be the type to keep plushies.

Especially with all those damn weapons on the wall.

He glanced over to y/n as she placed some photos she stole from March 7th's room into a box labeled Blackmail material.

Caelus blinked, "Erm, y/n, does this little guy have a name?" he questioned, turning around so she could see the plush.

"Hm?" y/n paused as she was tucking away her blackmail box, "Ah! That's Mimi. I had it with me in the tree I was stuck in, according to Mr. Yang. I can't get a wink of sleep without it."

There was a soft snicker and y/n's little soft look turned into a scowl when she realized Caelus was snickering at her.

"Hehe, you really can't sleep without a plushie?"

"Shut up, I'll kill you." she seethed, snatching Mimi away from the gray haired young man, "I'd show you Miss Himeko and Mr. Yang's rooms but I can't without their permission. Unlike March and Dan Heng, I'd rather not get on their nerves."

"Completely understandable, I don't mind at all." Caelus hummed, before a little bit of feedback rang throughout the express.

They both paused, looking up.

"Ahem, hi, hello~" it was Pom-Pom, the cute little bunny conductor who y/n couldn't decide if she wanted to punt or hug them, "Attention all passengers, attention all passengers. The Express is about to conduct a warp jump. All passengers, please gather at the main hall. I repeat, all passengers, gather at the main hall."

Y/n gave Caelus a little smile as she set Mimi down on the couch she it once sat, picking up a bean bag seat that'd been hidden behind the couch, "Shall we head back?"

"Mm."

Y/n and Caelus began to head out, the young man casting one final glance back and Mimi before the door closed behind the two of them.

They did as they were instructed, heading right for the main hall where y/n peaced out right before entering the main hall so she could duck back into the Archives.

"I need a nap." y/n announced upon entry, tossing her bean bag on the floor and flopping onto it, "I hope you don't mind if I nap here."

"I don't have a problem with it." Dan Heng replied simply from where he sat, reading a book, "Just don't snore too loud."

"I don't 🚚ing snore, shut the hell up."

She did indeed snore.

. 　。　　⋆　　•　 　ﾟ　　。 .　.　.　。 .　。

⋆　　　。　　 ⋆。　 ඞ 。　 . • . . ⁎ 。　. 　。　.　　⋆. 　　。 .　 .　　 . ⋆. 。. ⁎ 。•　 　ﾟ　　。 .

Y/n stayed awake once during a warp jump.

Never again.

She was struck in the gut by March 7th as she went flying, the result of yet another failed attempt to remain standing during a jump, and one of her ribs was broken in the process.

It hurt like hell, and y/n made the decision to never join everyone else out in the main hall during jumps.

She didn't care if Himeko and Welt were there, she could admire them literally at any other time. Until March stopped doing stupid 💩 during warp jumps, y/n would continue to hide and take naps in the Archives.

"Damn it, Dan Heng, I'm still tired..." y/n groaned as she was led by the hand out of the Archives, Dan Heng having dragged her off her bean bag and out of the room to move on to the Main Hall.

"Well you'd better wake up soon." he replied simply, "You know how it goes. March wants to go somewhere, we're instructed to go with her."

Y/n only let out a groan in response.

Dan Heng, reliable as always, found a spot for her to sit so she could slowly shake herself awake.

As she was recovering from the post nap drowsiness, Dan Heng waiting for the inevitable "I need coffee", Caelus approached.

Before he could even speak, y/n raised a hand with a, "Don't even 🚚ing say it, I'm not mentally prepared..."

"Yikes, what's up with you?"

"Nap... still... tired—"

Y/n began to slump over in her seat, her face smacking against Dan Heng's hand as he lightly pushed her back up right so she wouldn't fall on the floor.

The gray haired hydrogen bomb gave his fellow Mr. Yang and Miss Himeko stan a mildly concerned look, "Should I be worried? She doesn't look too good..."

"Don't worry about her, she'll be fine in a couple of minutes." Dan Heng said, "What about you? Are you doing alright after your first jump?"

"Meh, I feel alright. A little woozy, but nothing too drastic." Caelus confirmed with a thumbs up, "Definitely better than y/n, that's for sure."

Ughh boring 💩. Dan Heng and Caelus were talking about boring 💩. The miserable Archivist was about to go right back to sleep only for Dan Heng to grab her by the back of her clothing and haul her to her feet.

"Come on. You'll feel better if you move around."

"Noooo..."

Ah, there was nothing she could do.

In the end, despite her complaints, Dan Heng still brought her over to where March 7th and Caelus were standing together by the window.

"Woah, you don't look too good." March said the moment the Archivist duo joined them, "Are you sure you're up to join us on this Trailblazing mission?"

"Mrghhh..." the noise said everything.

"Ah, cheer up already! We're gonna have lots of fun on this planet, I just know it!" March 7th exclaimed.

Y/n gave the pink haired young woman a are you 🚚ing kidding me look while Dan Heng merely sighed.

"I feel sorry for this world. First the Stellaron, and now you." he gave the miserable y/n a glance as well, "And to top it all off, this one will be there too."

"I don't think she'll be causing much trouble in that condition." Caelus commented, only to receive an amused little look from March 7th.

"Oh boy, you're in for quite the surprise."

Caelus was going to pretend like he didn't hear that, turning his to the planet outside the window, "Ah, let's just get this over with. Let's go."

"Alright! Here comes the Jarilo-VI Trailblaze team!"

For such an excitable announcement, the planet sure was a let down. It was cold, the entire ground covered in snow. Y/n didn't quite feel the cold, but she could tell it was the kind of cold that'd have someone clenching their buttcheeks.

"This is it. Jarilo-VI." Dan Heng announced.

"Brrr... it really is just a giant snowball." March 7th commented with a little shiver, brows furrowed.

"It doesn't feel all that cold." Caelus commented, turning to look at y/n, "Is it the work of the hydrogen bomb?"

"Probably." she muttered, "And the Trailblaze."

March 7th looked understandably puzzled.
"Huh? What hydrogen bombs?"

"They're referring to the Stellaron Caelus has sealed inside of him." Dan Heng informed the girl.

"Yeesh, concerning but oddly fitting." March murmured before letting out a sigh, "No matter what direction I look, there's snow as far as the eye can see. How do we even know which direction we should go?"

"Based on the coordinates, the target should be up ahead." Dan Heng replied, "Since we don't know much about this world, we should stay—"

"Hey! Y/n's running off already!" March 7th shouted, pointing towards y/n who was sprinting away. She immediately gave chase with a, "Y/n, come back here! We need to stick together!"

Dan Heng looked like he wanted to call after them but opted to give chase instead, grumbling something under his breath while Caelus had no choice but to run along after him.

"What's happening? Why'd she run off like that?" Caelus demanded as he ran through the snow, a couple paces behind Dan Heng, "Just a moment ago, she was complaining about being tired!"

"Y/n has a habit of running off the moment we find ourselves in a new world. She insists on looking ahead of the time since she's the most durable out of all of us. That, and she actively seeks violence when she can afford to engage in it." Dan Heng replied as the two of them followed the footprints left by the two gremlins of the squad.

"Ha, that's funny. You're talking about the same person who sat back at let us fight that Doomsday Beast while she played around with a cannon." Caelus snorted.

"It was her turn to be the Archivist this week."

"I thought she was joking about that—"

March was the first to catch up with y/n, finding the young woman glaring at a snow pile with suspicious e/c eyes.

"Huh? There's someone in there." March realized immediately as she came to a halt beside y/n, Dan Heng and Caelus catching up a few moments later.

There wasn't any sound after that.

"Yeah, there's someone in there." y/n agreed.

"Holding your breath won't help." March advised.

Still no reply.

"I'm still off Train Guard duty." y/n reminded March when the pink haired woman immediately look at her.

"For another five minutes, why don't you just swap now?" March complained as Dan Heng jabbed the person in the snow with the blunt end of his polearm, earning a 'yeowch!!!' from them.

"Starting a five minutes early means I'll be on duty for 168 hours plus an extra 5 minutes!" y/n snapped back, "Do you realize how much rest I could be getting in that time frame?"

'Is she really that lazy?' Caelus wondered as a man wearing clothing definitely not suited for the cold popped out of the snow with a look of disbelief.

"My fine fellow, was that really necessary?" he demanded, "Is crawling around in the snow a crime these days? I mean, come on, surely it doesn't call for a spearing?"

Y/n and Dan Heng both crossed their arms simultaneously with unimpressed looks, March rested her hand on her hips with a little skeptical look of her own, while Caelus was blank faced as usual.

No thoughts in his brain whatsoever.

The man who'd been hiding in the snow did a complete flip, "...on second thought, how can I blame you? I caught you off guard, so you could say I deserved it, eh? Besides, I've made a gallant group of new friends as a result, hehe..."

Awkward laughter from the strange man, "...uh, is Captain Gepard around? H-He's an old buddy of mine..."

"Who?" March and y/n inquired at the same time.

"Wait, you all aren't Silvermane Guards?" Bros mood did a whole flip, "Well why didn't you say so? Turns out, we're all on the same side after all! Pleasure to meet you! The name's Sampo Koski!"

Y/n blinked once, then twice.

She looked at Dan Heng, "I don't trust him. You should beat him up, y'know, to better do your job at the train guard."

"You can do that yourself when it's your turn." the young man replied curtly and y/n sighed heavily, pouting.

"Now, now, new friends, no need to get hostile-!" Sampo began quickly, "Why don't we join forces? I have reliable intel the main strength of the Silvermane Guards is being deployed to the front line. This is a golden opportunity!"

Frontline... front—

Y/n grimaced as her head began to ache a little, brows furrowing as that familiar sensation of burning. Ah... it was too difficult to breathe...

Burning.

Burning

Burning.

The corners of her vision wavered with tones of murky gold and brown, her vision growing a little hazy before she felt a hand lock around her wrist.

Almost instantly, she snapped out of her little daze, the haziness and murkiness dispersing as the burning sensation subsided and air began to pass through her lungs a bit easier.

She still felt a little off... but better.

She gave Dan Heng a grateful nod to which he simply shook his head. A sign that he'd ask about it later.

March peered past Caelus to look at y/n before glancing back at Sampo, "Uh, could you just take us to the city? We sort of don't know the way."

"The city? Already? I haven't even started trading yet. Showing you the way is easy enough, missy, but it would cost—" one sharp look from Dan Heng was enough, "...B-But it would be my pleasure! Kindness is Sampo Koski's middle name! Follow me, friends, and be sure to keep quiet. We don't want to be spotted by the Guards."

"Hehe, Sampo Kindness Koski. What a dog💩 name." y/n snickered quietly before groaning.

The group of them followed Sampo as he was yammering on about something y/n couldn't hear.

Her mind was a little occupied at the moment.

"I don't think it's a good idea."

"Heh? Why not?"

Y/n rolled onto her belly on the tree branch she'd chosen as her lounging spot, her brows raised.

▇▇▇▇ frowned at her from the ground below, "You're always slacking off during training and falling asleep at the worst times. I don't think putting you out front like that will be very safe. For you or for anyone else."

Y/n snickered, "You think I'm not suited to be a Cloud Knight, huh? And here I was thinking you were my friend."

"That's not what I'm saying—!"

"I know, I know. Just trust me on this one." y/n hummed, dropped down from the tree and teaming a seat beside her friend.

She leaned against her friend, closing her eyes with a pleased little hum, "Hm, you're gaining muscle. You might have to retire as my personal pillow soon."

"Now really isn't the time to be sleeping, y/n."

"Fine, fine, how about we spar then? I shake off some of the sleepiness and you gain some assurance that I'll be alright out on the frontlines." y/n decided, "Deal?"

A sigh, a smile, then a hand affectionately pinching her nose, "Fine, then. But if you lose, we're going to ▇▇▇▇ together to have you transferred from the front lines!"

Y/n's frown deepened as Dan Heng helped her walk, the little group following Sampo as he continued talking.

'I wonder if I won that little sparring match.'

"...rule number seven! Never leave a footprint. I have my own special