I, The Aeon of Trailblaze, Trailblazing the Multiverse

The return of Elias as the Aeon of Trailblaze aboard the Astral Express left the crew in a state of prolonged excitement.

Even after several hours, they couldn't calm down.

Initially, everyone was incredibly reserved, glancing at him cautiously before doing anything.

Pom-Pom, however, chattered non-stop, recounting everything that had happened during his absence. Occasionally, the lively and slightly naive March 7th would interject with her own comments from the side.

Himeko, sitting gracefully, listened attentively, her admiration for the bygone era evident.

Dan Heng and Welt sat at a respectful distance, but their ears were perked, attentively soaking in every word.

As time passed and they spent more time together, the crew gradually adapted to the reality of sharing a train car with the great Akivili.

Despite his divine status, Elias's casual and approachable demeanor, coupled with his ordinary appearance, made him feel remarkably human to them.

Eventually, the bold March 7th cautiously began asking him about his background and various curiosities.

When a god reveals a humanity that mortals can comprehend, the invisible barrier between them disappears.

March 7th eventually lowered her head, her spirits dimmed. "So that's it… Even you don't know my past. I guess figuring out my origins is going to be nearly impossible…"

Elias looked at the cute and earnest girl before him. With a warm smile, he reached out and patted her head. The gentle warmth of her hair met his fingertips. "I'm the Aeon of Trailblaze, not the Aeon of Remembrance. Besides, I just got back—how could I know? Silly girl."

March 7th's cheeks puffed up instantly as she pouted. "Even Lord Akivili thinks I'm silly. Am I really just a fool?"

Ah, heehee, I got a head pat from the legendary and great Aeon!

Elias couldn't help but chuckle. "Pfft… Of course, you're a fool."

The previously untouchable girl now sat right in front of him, her reactions so genuine and lively. For the first time, Elias felt an unprecedented sense of joy.

It felt almost unreal.

Without the composure of a Aeon, he might've been too overwhelmed to speak coherently at that moment.

Just then, Pom-Pom, who had gone to wash up, came back grinning ear to ear, carrying a tray of coffee.

"Hahaha! Coffee time!"

"Akivili, you've been talking so much—you must be thirsty! Himeko's coffee is the best. You should drink plenty of it!"

Welt and Dan Heng's expressions froze instantly. At the sight of the coffee, their stomachs reflexively clenched in phantom pain.

Himeko's beautiful face twitched ever so slightly as she recalled Pom-Pom's earlier remark about giving Akivili her coffee.

March 7th stared at the approaching coffee, her mouth agape. "Himeko's coffee… Pom-Pom, you're serious?!"

"Yep!" Pom-Pom shot March 7th a warning glare, as if to say, Don't you dare ruin this! She then turned her attention back to Elias with a cheerful smile. "Drink up, Akivili. This is Himeko's heartfelt gesture!"

Himeko, rendered speechless by Pom-Pom's insistence, swallowed her words. Her crimson eyes glimmered with a faint hope.

Maybe, just maybe, Lord Akivili will enjoy it?

After all, she liked the coffee she brewed.

Elias squinted slightly. Pom-Pom, you're really pulling this, huh?

As the eternal conductor of the Astral Express—a creation of Akivili himself—Pom-Pom's intentions were transparent to him.

Still, when he saw the hope in Himeko's eyes, and given his genuine curiosity about just how bad her coffee could be to elicit such fear, he decided to go along with it.

With a bright smile, Elias picked up the cup. "A heartfelt gesture from my navigator? Of course, I'll finish every last drop."

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he took a sip.

Hmm… With normal human taste buds, this would definitely be bad enough to make someone wish for death.

But Elias wasn't bound by mortal limitations. As a Aeon, his divine form could digest anything—even dark matter would taste like water to him.

Smack!

Elias drained the coffee in one go, smacked his lips, and said with a satisfied smile, "Hmm~ Not too salty, not too bland. Absolutely delightful."

Welt and Dan Heng, who had been worried about Elias getting upset, both let out a sigh of relief.

Himeko's face lit up with joy, her happiness plainly visible as she pressed a hand to her chest. "Lord Akivili, if you like it, I'll brew it for you every day from now on."

This was the first time anyone had ever complimented her coffee—well, perhaps not a person, but the great Aeon himself.

Elias glanced at Himeko, whose hand rested lightly on her chest, accentuating the fullness of her figure, and nodded. "Then I'll leave it to you, Himeko."

Himeko immediately replied, "It's no trouble, no trouble at all."

Elias turned his gaze toward the crew, who had been keeping their attention fixed on him the entire time.

The moment news of Trailblaze's return had spread, all the Nameless had taken him as their anchor, their guiding light.

Now, all eyes were on him, waiting for him to speak about the future of Trailblaze.

Only by setting the course for Trailblaze's path could he redirect their focus and relieve the overwhelming attention directed at him.

A faint smile appeared on Elias's lips. "Himeko, as the navigator of this era's train, how do you intend to carry out Trailblaze?"

At the mention of Trailblaze, the atmosphere in the car grew heavy and solemn.

Everyone understood that their leader, their god, was about to decide the Astral Express's next course.

Himeko froze momentarily, then her gaze grew resolute as she instinctively placed her hands over her chest.

"Lord Akivili, before your return, I had resolved to follow the starry seas you left behind, tracing the footsteps of our predecessors, seeking the once-prosperous era, and venturing into the unknown worlds where even our forebears had never set foot."

Elias nodded in approval. "To go farther along the paths of those who came before—truly worthy of my navigator."

Receiving such recognition and praise from the god she followed, Himeko blushed faintly. Her hands dropped, clasping together in her lap.

In the vast cosmos, no honor could surpass the commendation of a Aeon for walking their Path.

Elias then turned to Welt and Dan Heng, his smile inviting. "And you two? What are your Trailblaze ideals?"

Welt's gaze grew firm. "Lord Akivili, I've traveled to countless worlds aboard the train, yet the location of my homeworld remains a mystery to me."

"My Trailblaze ideal is twofold: to search for my homeland and, wherever possible, to assist the worlds and people we encounter on our journey."

"Those I've helped, and those who've helped me, have all become part of my Trailblaze journey."

"And after spending so much time with the crew, the train has become my second home."

Dan Heng glanced at Welt, then at Himeko and March 7th, before lowering his head. "I have no place to call my own. The train is the only place that has accepted me, so I want to treat it as my home."

"I'll do everything I can to help those who've accepted me."

March 7th eagerly raised her hand, but before she could speak, Elias gently pinched her lips shut with his fingers.

"March 7th, there's no need to say anything. I already know your ideals: to uncover the truth of your identity before you lost your memory, to find the people and things connected to your past, and, after that, to live happily every day, eating and drinking without worries."

March 7th's blue-pink eyes widened as if to ask, How do you know that?!

Then it dawned on her: Oh, right. Lord Akivili is a Aeon. Of course, he'd know.

Elias continued, "I understand everyone's ideals. Now, it's time for me to set the Trailblaze compass in motion."

He spread his arms slowly, his presence filling the space.

"I hereby declare, from this moment forward, Trailblaze will no longer be confined to the sea of galaxies. Our goal shall extend to the infinitely vaster and more profound myriad worlds1 beyond the universe."

"The 'Unknowable' beyond the universe has already been touched by Trailblaze—by me."