At some point, the train gave a gentle shudder and came to a halt.
Betty rolled over groggily on her bunk, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she sat up.
She let out a massive yawn and pushed open the iron window with bleary eyes.
Outside the window was a pitch-black rock wall, its rough surface faintly visible in the dim light.
“Huh?”
Confused, Betty tilted her head, pushed open the heavy carriage door with an effort, and lightly hopped down.
Looking around, she found herself standing inside a spacious cavern.
Slender stalactites hung from the ceiling, with occasional water droplets echoing crisply in the silence.
The rock walls were covered in moss, and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth.
The train rested quietly in the depths of the cavern like a sleeping behemoth.
Betty suddenly realized something and ran quickly toward the cave entrance.
When she burst out of the cave, the sight before her made her hold her breath involuntarily.
At the far edge of the horizon, a streak of deep blue was faintly visible.
It was the sea. Though far away, it was still clearly discernible under the glow of the setting sun.
Where the sea met the sky, golden ripples shimmered, as if gilding the distant waters with a thin trim of gold.
A few wisps of clouds floated above the sea level, painted pink and purple by the evening glow.
“Weren't we just at Outpost 21 when I went to sleep?!”
Betty shrieked in disbelief, her voice echoing along the desolate coastline.
“How the hell am I already almost looking at Blackwater Bay after just one nap?!”
A light smack landed on the back of Betty's head.
Freya stood behind her, shaking her head helplessly.
“Quiet down, don't wake them up.”
She pointed toward the roof of the train, her eyes filled with an undeniable sense of awe.
It was no wonder Betty was so shocked; even Freya, who had witnessed the entire journey, still found it hard to believe.
Once the sun rose and the field of vision opened up, it was as if Lin Gui had unleashed all his restraints.
Without the constraints of having the Scholar and Theia guide the way, and with two Priests taking turns behind him to replenish his mana...
Lin Gui went completely all out.
Freya still remembered that scene.
Lin Gui poured all of his mana into Levitation, sending the train hurtling forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.
The speed was breathtaking, blurring the scenery on both sides into streaks of color.
This speed was practically on par with when he had led them to escape the demon encirclement.
With such a terrifying speed, a journey that would have taken Betty half a month was covered by Lin Gui in just a single day.
“Once he wakes up, it probably won't be long before we actually reach the coast,” Freya said softly, her tone carrying genuine admiration.
Betty looked where she pointed and couldn't help but widen her eyes.
On the platform at the top of the train, Lin Gui lay sprawled out casually.
His deep blue mage robe was already quite worn, the cuffs frayed with loose threads.
The sea breeze blew past, lifting a corner of the robe to reveal a faded, white lining underneath.
His head was pillowed on his oak staff, his sleeping profile looking exceptionally peaceful under the setting sun.
Beside him, Eve sat cross-legged.
Her short, ginkgo-yellow hair fluttered gently in the sea breeze, shimmering with a warm luster under the evening sun.
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes gazing out toward the distant, faint deep blue.
With a gentle, serene smile playing on her lips, she seemed completely immersed in this quiet peace.
Her slender fingers rested lightly on the edge of Lin Gui's worn robe, as if guarding his peaceful slumber.
The afterglow of the setting sun cast a golden silhouette over the scene.
The distant sea level loomed faintly behind them.
The worn robe, the peaceful sleeping face, and the quiet vigil formed a deeply moving picture.
Betty stared blankly, forgetting to speak for a moment.
It wasn't until Freya gently tugged at her sleeve that she snapped out of it.
“How... how did he even do this...”
She muttered to herself, her gaze still lingering on that worn mage robe.
It was as if she could see the traces of countless days and nights spent rushing about etched upon it.
It wasn't just Betty; as the other team members woke up one after another and saw the distant coastline, they too were rendered speechless for a long time.
In contrast, Theia didn't feel anything particularly special about it.
Having traversed the wilderness with Lin Gui so many times, she had long since grown accustomed to this kind of speed.
Though this time, Lin Gui seemed even faster than before.
It was highly likely that because the train was so heavy, the momentum it carried actually accelerated their pace.
On top of the train, Lin Gui slept deeply.
The Clarity spell could keep him awake, but it couldn't alleviate the exhaustion of rushing through the entire night.
For some reason, though he had always been a light sleeper, he slept exceptionally soundly this time.
When Lin Gui slowly opened his eyes, the first thing that met his gaze was a gentle shadow.
He found himself resting on something soft, and looking up, his eyes met Eve's downcast gaze.
Her short, ginkgo-yellow hair shimmered with a soft halo in the morning light.
A faint, subtle smile danced in her dark brown eyes.
Only then did Lin Gui realize that he was pillowed on Eve's lap.
“???”
Wasn't he supposed to be leaning against his oak staff?
And if he had really been moved, how could he not have noticed?
He looked at Eve's fingertips and instantly understood why he had slept so comfortably. It was... the Mid-tier Light spell—Sleep.
“You...”
Lin Gui was about to speak when his stomach let out an untimely rumble.
Just then, Theia trotted over with a grin, her silver hair swaying gently in the morning breeze.
“Lin Gui, you must be hungry...”
She held a wooden tray in her hands, on which neatly arranged slices of thawed and cut meat were placed.
“I've already prepared the meat. I was just waiting for you to wake up to cook.”
She blinked, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness:
“Hurry up, Eve and I are starving.”
Eve gently withdrew her hand, the last trace of the Sleep spell fading from her fingertips.
She looked down and offered Lin Gui a soft smile, offering no explanation.
Lin Gui sat up and rubbed his forehead, which still felt a bit heavy.
Looking at the ingredients Theia had prepared, and then glancing at Eve's nonchalant expression...
In the end, he could only let out a soft sigh.
“Fine, I'll cook now.”
Meanwhile, the members of the North Wind caravan quickly gathered to prepare their meals.
With Freya, a Legendary-rank dual-element mage specializing in Wind and Ice, handling the cooking smoke was a breeze.
She casually set up a Windless Barrier, perfectly concealing any traces of cooking.
They warmly invited Theia and Eve to join them.
Theia leaned in to sniff the pot managed by Silas, their Priest.
Then she shook her head and declined without hesitation:
“No, thank you.”
The members of the North Wind caravan looked puzzled.
But soon, they understood why.
The awakened Lin Gui began preparing his meal.
Using Levitation, he precisely controlled various cooking utensils to dance in the air.
He took out his homemade spices and seasonings, sprinkling them over the pre-prepared meat.
In an instant, a mouth-watering aroma wafted through the barrier.
The scent was richly layered, combining the robust depth of the spices with the savory freshness of the meat.
Within the North Wind caravan, the towering beastkin Grom couldn't help but swallow hard.
Betty was the first who couldn't hold back, dragging the Scholar Eli along with her as she edged closer.
“Um... could we have some of that?”
She stared longingly at the sizzling meat in the pan.
Right after, the barbarian warrior Barton walked over, rubbing his stomach.
Even Laisa, the Forest Elf who had previously clashed with Theia, silently drifted closer.
“Take a seat, everyone.”
Lin Gui didn't even look up as he continued flipping the ingredients in the pan.
“There's plenty to go around.”
The slightly awkward atmosphere instantly livened up.
Everyone gathered in a circle, sharing this unexpected breakfast.
“This taste... is amazing!”
Betty squinted her eyes in pure satisfaction.
The beastkin Grom wolfed it down, nodding repeatedly.
Even the usually cold Laisa took a small bite, a flash of astonishment crossing her eyes.
In this warm atmosphere, the members of the North Wind caravan had, without even realizing it, completely accepted these three temporary companions.
Rate on N.U.
