Aeon of Creation Chapter 3 (Patreon)

The Nameless who looked upon me including Himeko shared a look before the red-haired beauty spoke carefully. "Were you a Nameless... Or did you know Akivili?"

I shook my head as although I had a bit of an outsider's context and could play at knowing a good deal of hidden information, especially with what I had burned into my brain from doing the Simulated Universe and other events. I didn't know the actual Aeon's though.

"No, I never met the Trailblaze before my ascendance... I just saw too much when I saw beyond my mortal shell and vision of the universe." 

Which was completely the truth to say the least, as I had seen... Some really weird things in my journey to this universe and my powers over Creation had filled my mind with some eldritch truths to say the least.

"Sooo! I don't suppose we could get a snack or something and sit down as I imagine there will be alot of talking ahead of us?" Elysia asked as she bounced in place slightly as I shrunk my throne of power and after a moment of thought made a necklace that it could attach to.

The Nameless shared another look before March 7th clapped her hands and said excitedly. "I mean sure! This space station has some coffee shops, plus I bet Asta, Arlan, and Madame Herta will want to talk to you two." 

I nodded and said genially. "Alright, I imagine you yourselves have questions as well." 

They all nodded in some way or another and then March brought the two of us, Stelle, and Welt to a coffee shop while Himeko and Dan Heng went to go talk to the Space Station Hera's leadership.

Once we got to the coffee shop I took a long sip of my coffee and gave a slight hum of comfort before I looked at Welt Yang.

"Welt I have a... Difficult question to ask as I can feel we are similar." 

Welt raised an eyebrow before he spoke slowly. "I see. If it is an answer I am capable of answering I will share, so long as it does not harm another." 

I nodded in respect before I asked bluntly. "Have you had any luck in finding... Your particular Earth? The Earth that had to face the Honkai infection." 

His gaze became hard and there was a tense moment of silence before March 7th looked between the two of us with some fear as I saw him squeeze his cane holding the black hole.

Finally, he exhaled hard and asked. "How... How do you know of the Honkai and how do you know of my connection with them? But to answer your previous question. No, no I have not had any luck in finding them."

I gave a shallow nod and spoke softly. "I was reborn while upon my own version of Earth, in my failed ascension... In that ascension, I saw a great number of parallel Earths and their Paths of Creation, including yourself leading the Anti-Entropy forces against the Honkai." 

There was a moment of silence before Welt closed his eyes and spoke calmly. "You mean to say that there are parallel Earths, and it's less of finding Earth in this universal Cosmic Tree... And instead finding the correct Cosmic Tree."

I gave a short nod.

The cosmology of Honkai Star Rail was rather interesting, rather than doing odd interdimensional travel through some hell dimension or between dimensions in general.

The method of faster-than-light travel consisted of following set lines of cosmic 'roots' that would lead to separate 'leaves' or 'branches' that held the Galaxies points of interest in sectors planets etc.

The Astral Express was a famous outlier in how it had made 'silver rails' that could lead to branches on its own without needing to follow the convoluted branches the Cosmic Tree had.

"I am sorry to hear that. I don't have a way home either, though at least I know of this universe to an extent." I admitted frankly.

"So how did you two meet?" March asked me and Elysia with the pink-haired elfish girl smiling mischievously as she spoke without shame.

"Oh... I died!"

Welt, Stelle, and March both gawked at Elysia who giggled and continued. "Oh, it wasn't that bad. I died doing something great for my friends and family and as my body broke apart I guess during Jake's ascension he was passing by my alternate earth. And he just gave me a new physical body to house my soul as I had lost my body."

Both girls gave me looks and I shrugged saying. "Human flesh isn't anything difficult to manifest with my powers. But anyway..." 

I looked over at Welt and asked plainly. "Welt, I have a favor to ask you and the rest of the Nameless." 

He nodded and waved a hand for me to go on. "I would like to join the Astral Express along with my companion." 

Before Welt could even answer March spoke up as Stelle looked a bit awkward as she obviously knew she shoudn't interced in the conversation with how new she was to the Astral Express.

"What do you want to do if you do join the Nameless though?" She asked curiously.

I took a breath and answered honestly. "I want to see this universe is a lot of the reason, but I... I am completely opposed to the forces of I̸̢̽X̷̥̿,̴͍̈ ̷̻̿N̶͖̽ǎ̸̰n̵͖̅ò̵̩o̸̯͘k̶͇̑,̷̧̑T̴̨̃e̴͓͐r̷̼̆m̶̨͠í̴̼ǹ̸͔u̶͕͑s̸̻̃. I want to help people, and help the universe itself stay alive."

Everyone including Elysia grimaced and I realized that I tapped into my 'Creation' aspect that my sponsor had made fit into this universe which made me part Aeon.

So my naming of IX the Nihility, Nanook the Destruction, and Terminus the Finality. Was painted by my instinctive hate for their existence as their very core ideals were against my core of Creation.

"He wants to help people. Isn't that enough?" Stelle spoke for the first time and both March and Welt shared a look before March shrugged helplessly and Welt slowly nodded.

With Welt brushing a hand across his lower face before saying. "Hmm. I will throw my vote in agreement, as turning down someone and their companion who wants to help the universe is going agaisnt the spirit of Trailblaze." 

"Woohoo road trip!" Elysia cheered with a giggle and I knew as March cheered as well.

That those two were going to get along all too well.

Though March 7th did raise up her hand and say. "Well, we also need to speak with Himeko though she was obviously going to say yes after hearing how you could fix the train." 

I nodded and I put down my drink and said easily. "I am ready to fix it whenever. I just need to touch it to restore it back to its best state." 

But before we could move on in the conversation I saw several of the guards of the space station following a woman in an elaborate lab coat outfit who also had pink hair coming straight for us.

"Oh hey, Asta!" March spoke excitedly as she waved at Asta who gave a weak smile with her responding weakly.

"Hello March, I and the others wanted to thank you for helping the space station in its time of need."

Then she looked at me and I raised an eyebrow as she shifted and spoke. "So my name is Asta. And Madam Herta, the owner of this Space Station wants to meet with you now." 

I gave her a long look and said evenly. "The Genius Society is filled with monsters... Their intelligence and genius are belied by their lack of morals and willingness to go to any lengths to continue their Path of Erudition."

There was a moment of silence as Asta winced at my blunt words before I finished calmly. "Meeting Herta... I think without giving her some time to cool down would go quite poorly should I be forced to defend myself as she tries to dissect or lock me in some form of stasis field."

"I think that Jake is right. If anything... With how Jake has healed so many members of the Space Station, it might be time for the Astral Express to leave sooner rather than later with how you all have things well in hand." Welt spoke as he stood up with his black fucking hole-containing cane clacking as he stood up.

I stood up along with March, Stelle, and Elysia with Asta biting her lip and nodding saying with a weak smile. "I understand... Madam Herta isn't a bad person, but she does have her faults and the Genius Society. Does have it's history." She finished.

After a moment... I took out the healing crystal from my pocket and I walked over towards her with her flinching as I came closer to her. "Here," I spoke quietly offering the gently glowing ruby crystal.

"I made this ruby with the ability to heal all who are touched by its rays to their peak state... I am curious to see how quickly she can copy it. No... Actually, I am curious as to if someone else can beat her to copy it. Her or Genius #84 Stephen Lloyd as this is more his wheelhouse." 

I gently dropped the undoubtbly priceless gem into her hands and I walked away towards Welt who was leading our group back to the Astral Express.

"That was a good idea in giving Herta a mystery to solve. But if she solves it all too easily she will be insulted." Welt said with a wry smile and I shrugged and responded calmly.

"I made a simple ruby glow and put out healing light... It doesn't work off rules, science or even 'Imaginary' energy. It simply is healing light, and good luck to her figuring that out." 

We quickly made our way through an elevator back down to the hanger bay with March texting Dan Heng and Himiko to meet us at the train. But in the mean time I was walking beside Stelle and I spoke seriously.

"So, how was the glance at the Path of Destruction?" 

Stelle grimaced before she wore a thoughtful look. "Nanook was... Weird to say the least. He just seemed, tired and wanted things to end. But... But there was so much hate in his gaze as he looked upon the cosmos."

I exhaled as I heard that and I nodded as it was about right. "Yeah... Nanook is my opposite in all things. And he hates all existence and wants it to end here and now with how his life was utterly systematically destroyed by an invasion of the Propagation Aeon's cosmic bugs."

"You now have the gaze of the Aeon of Destruction Stelle, you just got to be careful you don't walk too forward on that path." 

Stelle gave me a wry smile and retorted. "I am surprised you are so... Calm around me, I would think you would hate me or something with the Stellaron inside me and having the power of the Path of Destruction." 

I couldn't help a snort of amusement as I responded with a wide smile. "Stelle the path of Destruction inherently isn't terrible, just as the same of Finality and Nihility. At some point all things must break, must die, and must end... It's for example not evil for you to destroy monsters is it?" 

To her obvious eye-roll I could only shrug and say. "See there you go. So long as you only destroy what needs to be destroyed and not the lives of innocents who cares." 

Me and Stelle kept silent as we made our way through Herta's Space Station and a couple of minutes later we reached the hanger where I could already see Himiko in the distance with her vibrant red hair making a large bullseye out of herself.

"Hello Jake, and Elysia, I don't suppose you two have any luggage to worry about before we get onto the Astral Express?" Himiko asked with a slightly teasing smile.

To which Elysia and I both snorted with Elysia putting on some crocodile tears and pouting out. "Nope! All I got are the clothes on my back!"

But I shrugged and said a bit more evenly. "Yeah, being dimensionally displaced doesn't exactly give us the time to really pack... So did anyone speak with Pom Pom about me being able to fix the ship?" 

Himiko gave me a long look before she shook her head and smiled saying. "Yes I spoke with him for a bit, and he trusts my opinion. But let's get on the train first thing above all, then I would like to test something before I let you mess with my life work."

I certainly wasn't going to argue with the woman who put together a divine train that could travel the cosmos on her lonesome.

We got onto the train without incident with March grumbling about having to unpack her stuff as she was planning on us staying here for a few days at least to resupply.

Elysia and I in the boarding cabin of the train took our seats on the plush soft red colored sofa seats while Himiko spoke. "Give me a moment Jake, I need to go grab your test from my room."

The red-haired beauty quickly made her way deeper into the train and then I heard a... Anime-like series of noises of plopping and popping noises making Elysia and I look over toward the front engine of the Astral Express.

"Oh, we got two new passengers! Hello, can I get your names beyond what Himiko told me?" 

And there was the 'mascot' of Honkai Star Rail. The superior Paimon of Genshin Impact, the great and wonderful Pom Pom!

"Awww you are such a cutie ufufu!" Elsyia chuckled as she scooped up the stuffed animal-looking conductor of the train who made a loud shout of shock as Elysia's eyes all but glowed with glee as she held up the mascot in the air as she spun around.

"Wagghhh! Pom Pom isn't meant to fly!" The conductor cried out while I put a hand to my face as Elysia put Paim... Pom Pom down on the ground.

"Hmph! I will remember that now who are you two? I need to put you two in the archives so I don't forget you in the coming years." Pom Pom spoke as it carefully patted its conductor outfit back into order.

I gave a sad smile as I remembered that Pom Pom over the... Many millennia had forgotten many of its previous passengers and could barely even remember Akavilli the Aeon who made this train despite being the spirit of the train.

"My name is Jake Bariss, if you need any material in the cosmos to help the train. So long as I have a sample of it, I can infinitely generate more." I spoke genially.

Elysia lazily however slumped into the bench beside me as she then introduced herself. "My name is Elysia, please treat me well."

Then while Stelle introduced herself to Paimon, I heard the passenger door opening up leading to the back of the train making me look back over as Himiko brought over a large fist-sized... Contraption in her hands.

"Here you go Jake. This is a part of the train itself more specifically a broken down part of the autopilot that was used when too many members of the Nameless were too drunk after leaving a world." Himeko spoke as she carefully handed the contraption to me.

I raised an eyebrow and asked. "What do you want me to do? Fix this particular part?" 

Himiko gave a slight hum before she spoke carefully. "I would rather you put it back together in the train altogether. If you can fix this without studying the train at all then, I would be assured of your capability of fixing the Astral Express." 

'Uhhh... I have zero fucking clue how the Astral Expresses entire core functions.' I mused with a wry smile as Himiko's face became slightly strained at my wry smile.

Just as she went about to take it back from me I exhaled and the contraption flickered in my hands before glowing as I reversed time upon it... By what felt like literally tens of fucking thousands of years from the drain of mana upon myself even if I had unlimited power within myself.

And then the contraption flickered brightly before with a cracking noise it disappeared as it reverted back in time to its peak state... And was inlaid upon where it needed to be within the Astal Expresses systems with Pom Pom giving a squeak as it rubbed its head.

"Oooh! I felt something in me pop into place just right. Is this the wonderful feeling, organics feel when they get their neck popped Himeko!?" He asked excitedly.

Himeko gave a warm smile as she responded softly. "For you? I have no doubt it feels just wonderful having a part of you restored.

She looked back at me with an intensity in her eyes as she spoke. "So Jake, what would you think should be fixed first, I am rather curious?"

I took a breath and spoke honestly. "Himeko, I am not on the Path of Erudition, I do not understand the secrets of the Astral Express, so before I add features to the train that could cause it to need more fuel or anything else. Maybe I should just recreate one of the lost passenger carts along with the storage and kitchen cart?"

The train's navigator gave a hum but from the side came March 7th's voice as she called out. "I want a kitchen, please! The Omnisynthesizer always has a metallic taste to its food!"

Himiko's face twitched as she muttered. "The Omnisynthesizer is fine... We don't need a whole kitchen."

But I coughed and said. "Either way... It would be a bit difficult if Elysia, myself and Stelle need to sleep out here on the seats no matter how plus and soft they may be. Plus... There aren't any bathrooms in the boarding cart." 

Stelle, Elysia, and even March's eyes lasered in on Himeko who froze as she seemingly realized with two new ladies joining their bathroom space was going to be squashed into nothingness. We actually needed more personal space.

So Himeko nodded with steel in her eyes as she spoke. "Go ahead, Jake... Summon, create, or do whatever you need to make another train cart."

I took a deep breath and my form glowed with sparks cracking over my body as I reached the peak of my output of infinite energy as I connected myself with the Astral Express around me.

My eyes closed as I could feel the divine construct that was the Astral Express within my mind and a loud rumble rang out as Pom Pom held its chest. "Oooh... The floor is getting further away from Pom Pom... No Pom Pom is getting bigger!" 

I could feel the sparks around me intensifying as I was breaking reality around me. I was reversing time on a large scale for massive amounts of divine enchanted mass as the Passenger Cart that was lost when Aha the Aeon of Elation destroyed part of the Astral Express was being restored.

"I can see the other cart forming from outside the train Himeko!" March called from ahead me probably from where she was looking out of the door leading into the Astral Express.

I spoke with a bit of strain to my voice. "This is going to take a few minutes... Divine materials take a while for me to manifest, so give me a bit."

And Himiko spoke quietly. "Take all the time you need. No one will disturb you."

I could hear the... Deadly threat in her voice in her statement and I pitied anyone who tried to shake or stop me from finishing the train.