Three Days Later
The Valoria Express train glided smoothly along the gleaming rails, penetrating the thin morning fog that blanketed the plains surrounding Eldoria City. The sun had just begun to crawl up on the eastern horizon.
Inside carriage number two, Kazuki sat quietly near the window, his eyes gazing at the rapidly changing scenery outside. Three days had passed since they left Valoria, three days that Kazuki mostly spent reading novels on his phone.
Three days that, strangely, Amira spent in deep slumber.
A soft groan and slight movement from beside him caught Kazuki's attention. He turned to see Amira finally beginning to wake from her long sleep. The girl blinked several times, trying to dispel the fog of drowsiness that still enveloped her consciousness. Her usually neat black hair was now slightly disheveled, framing her still dazed face.
"Hmm, did I fall asleep?" asked Amira in a hoarse voice, her hand moving to rub her still half-closed eyes. There was a crease mark on her left cheek—the result of leaning too long on Kazuki's folded cloak that served as an emergency pillow.
"You're awake," Kazuki responded in his characteristic flat tone, though there was a slight glint of amusement in his eyes. "Looks like we're about to arrive."
Amira straightened her sitting position, now more alert. She looked out the window, appearing surprised by the unfamiliar scenery she saw—no longer the vast meadows she remembered before falling asleep, but ordered fields and buildings beginning to appear in the distance.
"We're about to arrive?" She turned quickly toward Kazuki, her eyes widening as awareness began to penetrate her thoughts. "Huh?! How long was I asleep?"
Kazuki shrugged casually, "Not long," he answered, "just three days."
"..."
A moment of silence. Amira stared at Kazuki with a blank expression, her brain still processing the information she had just received.
"..."
And then...
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY NOT LONG, HUH?!" Amira shouted, causing several other passengers to turn toward them with disturbed looks. The girl's face flushed red, either from embarrassment or anger. "How could I sleep for three days like this?!"
Kazuki, still with the same calm expression, leaned his back against the seat. "Maybe because you were tired?" he answered simply, his face remaining expressionless without any significant emotion, in contrast to the commotion Amira was displaying.
Amira opened her mouth, ready to launch a rebuttal or express anger, but then closed it again. She looked at Kazuki suspiciously.
"It's impossible for someone to sleep for three days just because they're tired," she muttered softly, more to herself. "And what about food? Drink? I don't even remember waking up to... um, go to the toilet."
Confusion was clearly painted on her face as she began to check her own body condition. Strangely, she didn't feel hungry or thirsty, nor did she feel weak or dizzy as someone who hadn't eaten or drunk for three days should feel. Even more strange, she felt... refreshed. As if her body had gotten the rest it desperately needed and was now in optimal condition.
Meanwhile, Kazuki turned his gaze back to the window, hiding the thin smile that almost formed on his lips. Secretly, he felt satisfied with the results of using his power—a subtle manipulation of Amira's body.
Kazuki possessed powers far more complex and extensive than he had ever revealed to anyone, including Amira. He was not only capable of manipulating elements or inanimate objects but also able to influence and manipulate the bodies of living beings—including humans. This power he usually only used on himself, such as accelerating healing or increasing his physical endurance. But in this situation, he decided to use it on Amira.
Three days ago, Kazuki saw how exhausted Amira was.
So when Amira fell asleep beside him on the first day of the journey, Kazuki made a decision. Very carefully, he used his power to manipulate Amira's body—maintaining a healthy state of deep sleep, keeping her body's metabolism functioning without needing food intake, and ensuring all her bodily functions continued to run normally despite being in a 'long rest' state. He even arranged for Amira not to experience discomfort due to being in the same position for too long, or other biological needs.
Kazuki's power wasn't merely the ability to control elements or inanimate objects. His ability was far more fundamental—he was able to manipulate reality at a very basic level, capable of altering how laws of physics and biology work within a limited scope. To activate this power, he only needed to focus and clearly imagine the result he desired. If he could imagine it in sufficient detail, his power would 'bring to life' that vision, making it real.
But of course, Kazuki had no intention of revealing all this to Amira. At least not yet. There was too much information for the girl to process at once, and Kazuki worried that if Amira knew the extent of his abilities, it would make her feel intimidated or even afraid of him.
"But I've never slept this long before," said Amira again, still looking confused. "And why didn't you wake me up? What about food and other things?"
"I tried to wake you up several times," Kazuki lied smoothly, his face still without significant expression. "But you slept like the dead. I didn't have the heart to keep trying. And about food..." he gave a dramatic pause, "you did eat. A few times you woke up briefly in a half-conscious state, ate a little, then went back to sleep. You probably don't remember."
This was of course not true. Amira didn't wake up at all during those three days. But this story sounded plausible enough to prevent Amira from suspecting Kazuki's supernatural power's involvement in her unusual sleeping pattern.
"I see..." Amira still didn't look entirely convinced but seemed to begin accepting the explanation. "Sorry for troubling you like this. It must not have been pleasant having to watch over someone who kept sleeping throughout the journey."
Kazuki shook his head slightly. "It's not a problem. I also had plenty of time to read and think. Besides," he added in a slightly softer tone, "you really needed the rest."
Amira smiled faintly, "Thank you," she said sincerely. "I do feel much better now. Like... really refreshed."
"Yes, sleep is indeed the best medicine," commented Kazuki.
The train whistle sounded sharply, indicating that they were approaching Eldoria station. From the window, the city buildings appeared increasingly clear—beautiful architecture with a blend of classical style and magical touches, tall buildings with colorful domes, and arched bridges connecting various districts of the city.
"Wow," said Amira in awe, momentarily forgetting her confusion about her long sleep as she gazed at the spectacular scenery outside. "So this is Eldoria?"
"It looks much bigger than Valoria," Amira commented.
The train began to slow down as it entered the station area. The screech of iron wheels rubbing against the rails sounded louder as the speed decreased.
"How long will we stay here?" asked Amira while fixing her disheveled hair.
"Depends on the situation," answered Kazuki. "We need information about our classmates and how to reach the capital. Maybe a day or two, depending on what we find."
Amira nodded, looking enthusiastic despite having just woken up from a three-day sleep.