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For as long as Caelus could remember, he didn’t have a family waking up in the Herta Space Station. He’d agree with March if they thought he was one of the Station's staff members.
But he wasn’t.
He had no home, and he only remembered his name and Kafka. Would that mysterious woman be considered his family?
In the definition of family from Dan Heng’s data bank, a family was a group of people usually related by blood, consisting of one or more adults together with children they care for. Kafka and Caelus himself both looked nothing alike to be family.
So did Himeko and Welt when he joined the Astral Express, yet the two senior members cared for Caelus, March, and Dan Heng as though they were their own kids. This led to another definition of ‘family’: a group of people who generally do not have blood relations but share common attitudes, interests, or goals and frequently live together.
The Astral Express shared a common goal among its members: to connect the star rail once again while sealing the Stellarons threatening the galaxy. Although each came from a different background, they were the ‘first’ family he belonged to.
And in his journey, his family circle grew bigger with each person he met. Each one taught a different lesson he needed to learn there would be joy, sorrow, dreams, and regrets, and life wasn’t just either of them alone.
From Himeko's unwavering guidance to March's boundless enthusiasm, from Dan Heng's quiet wisdom to Welt's profound experience, Caelus found himself surrounded by a support network beyond mere companionship. In the chaotic expanse of the universe, this sense of belonging became his anchor, giving him the strength to face the unknown before his destiny to go against the Aeon of Destruction.
Caelus encountered individuals on each planet they visited who left an indelible mark on his soul. In Jarilo-VI, he learned the harsh realities of survival and the resilience needed to protect what one holds dear for one's home in the face of despair.
In Xianzhou Luofu, the intricate balance of duty and personal desire became apparent, teaching him that sometimes, not all words could be taken at face value. Lies and deception were around the corner, and so were loyal new allies who would support the same cause as them.
Through these experiences, Caelus understood that family wasn't defined by blood or formal ties. It was found in the shared struggles, the mutual support, and the unspoken bonds that formed between hearts. It was the warmth of a shared meal after a long day, the comfort of a familiar voice in times of doubt, and the silent understanding that no matter what happened, he was not alone.
As he gazed out at the stars from the deck of the Astral Express, Pom-Pom asked him. “Caelus, did you make any friends there? If you did, you may invite them for a ride on the Express. We have everything here, and not everyone gets the opportunity to board the Express! That would be a precious invitation!”
Caelus turned to look at the Express Conductor and mulled over to a solemn look before answering. “The list is quite huge if you ask me. What do you suggest?”
“Hmm… How about someone you consider to be your family?” Pom-pom answered with a paw raised.
The Trailblazer blinked his yellow eyes with a confused face. “Family? Do you mean March or—?”
“Of course not! They are already part of the Express,” The Express Conductor corrected. “What I mean is family is someone who may not share your blood but your heart. Someone who made an impact on your journey, who made you feel at home even in the farthest corners of the universe."
Caelus paused, thoughtfully reflecting on Pom-pom’s words. His mind wandered to the friends and allies he had made throughout his journey. There were so many faces, each holding a special place in his heart.
A soft smile crossed his face as he thought of these people, each of whom had taught him something invaluable. "Family, huh? I guess many people out there feel like family to me."
Pom-Pom nodded sagely. "That's the spirit! The Astral Express isn't just a train; it's a home: not only to you and everyone here, but also to our guests. And there's always room for more."
A warmth enveloped Caelus’s chest, and he realized and understood his sense of belonging for this train. The Astral Express was more than just a vehicle to ride on the star rail; it symbolized bonds he connected across the galaxy. No matter where his journey took him, he always had a place to return to and a family that cared for him.
“Thanks, Pom-Pom,” Caelus grinned sincerely and nodded. “I’ll think about who to invite to the Express.”
The rabbit conductor beamed happily at the young man’s response. “It's a deal! Please invite them over if you have time. I can stop the Express at the railway platform of the space station! It's quite convenient.
With Pom-Pom turned to walk away from Caelus, the latter continued to gaze at the stars outside the window. He knew that this was only the beginning of a much larger adventure.
-0-
Caelus never doubted Pom-Pom’s advice on the definition of family was a mistake. He had invited several friends he had met along the way to the Express. Yet…
“What's all this nonsense? Even if you were married to him, you still couldn't represent the Intelligentsia Guild!”
The retort from that IPC staff member, Skott, in the efforts to appease the man about having the Sky-Faring Commission team and Yanqing inspect the cargo… left the Trailblazer completely confounded, with endless questions probing his thoughts.
He had only mentioned to Skott his connection to a member of the Intelligentsia Guild, Dr. Veritas Ratio, to prove against the IPC Staff’s own words that someone from that organization needed to inspect the cargo.
Why would he bring up being married to Dr. Ratio?
To Caelus, the dark purple-haired scholar was a family to him. Even though they had unfavorable impressions of each other in the Herta Space Station, the young man viewed Dr. Ratio as a friend for his kind assistance, be it stopping Ruan Mei’s failed experiment or Lord Inferno’s plan to destroy the Space Station.
To the Trailblazer, although Dr. Ratio could be eccentric, rude, straightforward, and harsh in his words, he enjoyed his companionship with him. He learned more than what Dan Heng’s data bank offered him.
The scholar was open with varying patience in teaching him, though the pain of his chalk hitting his head still haunted him whenever he answered a question wrongly.
Despite the occasional scolding and sharp words, Caelus felt a strange warmth in those moments. Dr. Ratio's dedication to his work in his studies, his fierce intelligence, and even his peculiar habits had become endearing over time. The Trailblazer appreciated the scholar's honesty and the unique perspective he brought to their discussions.
But the comment from Skott left the young man puzzled. Married to Dr. Ratio?
The notion was absurd and completely out of nowhere. However, Caelus couldn't shake off the peculiar feeling it stirred within him. He had never considered such a relationship dynamic with anyone, let alone Dr. Ratio. The idea seemed both ridiculous and strangely... Intriguing—
“With your free time to spare on daydreaming, I presume you have finished my test question for me to review?” Dr. Ratio’s nonchalant yet knowing voice snapped the Trailblazer out of his reverie.
Shaking his head rapidly, Caelus apologized and returned to his papers to refocus his task. “No, not at all!”
It was another of Dr. Ratio’s visits, and he gave him another private lesson in his studies. Today, Caelus had an assessment paper on Physics. The scholar wanted to gauge his knowledge of each subject available at the University of Veritas Prime before planning his lessons.
As the Trailblazer refocused on the last few questions, he occasionally glanced at Dr. Ratio. The scholar was busy reading through some notes, his expression as intense and focused as ever. Ratio made the most challenging subjects interesting and engaging despite his strict demeanor.
Hours passed, and Dr. Ratio returned his notes to his inventory and stood up from his seat. “Time’s up.”
Caelus set his pen down and handed the papers to the older man. Dr. Ratio glanced through them with his usual critical eye. After a few moments, he nodded with a hum. “Adequate at a glance. You’ve improved significantly since our first lesson. But I will look it over again in the office.”
"Thanks, Dr. Ratio. Your lessons have been a big help." A surge of pride flushed across the young man’s expression at the compliment. It was always wonderful to hear praise from someone as famous and wise as Dr. Ratio and to know his studies were progressing well.
Dr. Ratio gave a curt nod and added. “Knowledge is a journey, not a destination. You've shown dedication and resilience, which are essential for true understanding. Although do pray to tell what sort of pipe dream distracts your mind during the test?”
The Trailblazer winced at the accusation from the sharp gaze of those pinkish-red eyes. “It’s… It’s not a pipe dream or anything like that. But…”
He began recounting to Dr. Ratio the incident in which he recently helped the Luofu General’s retainer in the Artisanship Commission. Jing Yuan had tasked Yanqing with handling a dispute with an IPC staff member when the Borisins attacked their ship cargo.
Skott, the IPC personnel in charge of the cargo, refused to comply with the Sky-Faring Commission, which caused them a lot of trouble. Caelus said he offered to help Yanqing negotiate with that IPC busybody from his past experiences at Aurum Alley.
“So, after I said: ‘I'm pretty tight with Dr. Ratio from the Intelligentsia Guild, almost like family. Doesn't that make me practically a member of the Intelligentsia Guild too?’” Caelus rubbed the back of his head with a troubled look. “And then he shouted: ‘What's all this nonsense? Even if you were married to him, you still couldn't represent the Intelligentsia Guild!’ I don’t get him at all. How did his mind even think something like that? Dr. Ratio is someone whom I considered a family!”
Dr. Ratio listened intently as Caelus recounted the incident, his expression inscrutable. When the Trailblazer finished, Ratio's eyes narrowed slightly, deep in thought. After a moment, one of the scholar’s hands moved forward to flick onto the young man’s forehead. “Ouch!”
“First and foremost, zero points in your attempts to leverage your connection with me to gain advantage against that buffoon in your negotiations.” The dark purple-haired scholar chided and folded his arms. “Even if the cargo belonged to the guild, that IPC imbeciles could only have themselves to be blamed for their incompetence. Was there something you were trying to prove to him?”
Wincing the pain as the gray-haired young man tried to soothe with one hand, he mumbled, “No…. There isn’t anything at all.”
“As I thought,” The scholar huffed exasperatedly. “Then, let me ask this. In your view, what is family to you, Caelus?”
Caelus blinked his eyes and looked up to meet Dr. Ratio’s gaze. “… Family? Family isn’t something that is related by blood, but—”
When Dr. Ratio raised an eyebrow at him silently, his words immediately trailed off before he was to repeat Pom-Pom’s advice to him. It wouldn’t work on the older man, simply because their relationship weren’t exactly normal friends or equals.
So, what was Ratio to him in terms of family?
The Trailblazer lowered his head to ponder carefully. He realized that his definition of family had evolved since his journey began. Caelus had always seen the concept as more than just blood relations; it was about shared experiences, mutual respect, and the emotional bonds that connect people.
Despite his harsh words and stern demeanor, Dr. Ratio had indeed made an impact on his journey. The scholar had challenged him intellectually when he first accused him of hiding Herta’s whereabouts, taught him valuable lessons in dangerous situations, and even shown him a form of tough love that Caelus had come to appreciate.
Putting Dr. Ratio as a dad wasn’t exactly the right word to put between their relationship; his bones chilled at the dreadful thought of something bigger than his chalk would pummel onto him if he ever said that out loud. Teacher and student were the foundation of their relationship, but the scholar did it to whoever he met.
Caelus’s bond with Dr. Ratio was different and special from any traditional familial ties or friendship between them, and it was more nuanced and layered. When he looked up at Dr. Ratio, he placed a hand on his head and ruffled his hair. “There is no rush. Consider it a homework assignment. Take your time to think about what family means to you, and we can discuss it further when you're ready.”
“H-Huh? Oh…,” The Trailblazer blinked in surprise at the rare gesture of affection from the usually stern older man. The unexpected warmth bloomed inside and made him feel a sense of comfort, reinforcing their unique relationship. “I’ll think about it.”
It wasn't a relationship easily defined by simple labels, but it was clear that Dr. Ratio cared for him in his way.
With that, Dr. Ratio gave a curt nod and collected his belongings. Before he was about to leave the room, the young man hurriedly stood up from his seat. “Wait, Dr. Ratio. What about you? What do you see family as in your eyes?”
The dark purple-haired scholar paused at the door, turning slightly to regard Caelus with an inscrutable expression. He seemed to weigh his words carefully without looking away as if considering whether and how much to share. After a moment, he spoke. “Home. A place where I could cleanse my mind and be free of distractions.”
With the answer given, Dr. Ratio exited the room, leaving Caelus alone to ponder the scholar’s view. “A home, huh….”
“Oh, has Dr. Ratio left already?” Another voice by the door wondered out loud as they only noticed the young man alone in the room.
Caelus turned to where the rabbit conductor was and nodded to affirm. “Yeah, you just missed him, Pom-Pom. Was there something you need from Dr. Ratio?”
“I just want his opinion on one of the engines before the next usual maintenance,” Pom-Pom assuredly shook their head and turned their body to face the Trailblazer. “But since Dr. Ratio often visits the Express like his own home, I will wait for his next visit.”
The Trailblazer was about to nod at the conductor’s reply until a particular word nearly caused him to freeze. “Wait… Home?”
“Don’t you know?” Pom-Pom tilted their head to give Caelus an odd look. They lifted their paws up, wearing an earnest look to explain. “Among all our guests, Dr. Ratio is the most frequent visitor to the Express. He’s often busy with his schedule as a professor and a researcher. But he still makes time to see you for your classes with him. You must be a wonderful student to him, Caelus! I could see that his demeanor relaxed around you even when he did not show it.”
Home… Caelus repeated that word in his head. If the Express were like his home to him, then why would he—OH.
Pom-pom’s blue eyes grew big with curiosity and concern. “Hey, Caelus. What’s wrong?”
The young man’s face turned red when his mind finally connected the dots of Dr. Ratio’s view and Pom-Pom’s words. His hand raised to cover both of his faces, and he blushed like a maiden in love. “N-No… It’s fine, nothing at all….”
The way Dr. Ratio looked him in the eye when he said ‘home,’ wasn’t on familial terms, unlike how he viewed the older man to him, but far deeper than that. Could it be that Dr. Ratio saw him as more than just a student? The idea was both thrilling and terrifying.
The scholar's stern demeanor and sharp intellect had always been a source of admiration and respect, but Caelus had never considered the possibility of a romantic connection. Yet, the signs were hidden in the subtle gestures and thoughtful words.
He thought about Dr. Ratio's words again: "Home. A place where I could cleanse my mind and be free of distractions." The scholar's idea of home was not just a physical space but an emotional sanctuary, a place where he could be himself. And if Dr. Ratio considered the Astral Express a home, then perhaps he saw Caelus as a significant part of that sanctuary.
“Haah… How am I supposed to answer this homework now?” Caelus groaned to himself quietly. The next time he saw Dr. Ratio, he would have to confront these feelings and discover what they truly meant.