estimated time of arrival

1. REMEMBRANCE/RESISTANCE

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        THERE WERE many different archetypes that filled Nee's mental storybook of the Astral Express within the month she had stayed here so far, of which reminded her of people from her far home (merely caricatures at this point, but they would appear in her dreams, her talking consciousness, her habits. For that, she held them in great regard despite not even knowing their names). They all constructed their own tiny kingdom within a crew as they followed Akivili's way.

        There was the guardian, the one who guided and gave. She could be found as a fairy, a spirit of the old wood, a woman who spoke with the wind and had tea with the sea at least daily. Maybe she wasn't old or withered, young and blooming, but no matter what, she knew what to say and always had something to grant. Himeko wasn't exactly a tea person━━more of a coffee one━━but her austerity and quiet confidence were enough to catch the stars' gaze, and the girl liked that.

        The knight followed in suit, a simple, mysterious, wandering savior. He often would rather not be elaborated on, maybe for his safety or for others, and he knew many things. He knew to guard, to fight, to observe his world. His eyes were as sharp as his blade and his words were as cold as the night. Dan Heng reminded her of these yore knights, the particular ones who would separate from their clans and roam the world with a secret desire. He was well-versed in many things from his previous journeys, so of course he would take the role of the itinerant knight in her small reverie.

        To match like cards, there had to be a princess involved. The most unorthodox of characters, to be honest, as she could be anything within the castle walls despite the pretty dress, savvy attitude when it came to diplomacy, and the premise that the knight would save her. She knew the best clothing brands to the best weapons, educated on other means rather than the physics of the cosmos. Desideria was always someone to rely on when you wanted to get to know certain places at a more local, even personal and intimate level. To a princess, it was always the small things that helped when the bigger world overwhelmed your senses.

        The king oversaw this regimen of individuals. Though his presence was rare, he did his best to bequeath from afar. And whenever he could visit below his stoop, he made the most of his stay to spend time with those he cared for. In the books, there were two ways he could go━━a tyrant or a savior. He seemed to be on the path of the latter since he always had performed repairs and given provisions to the rest of the crew. Levent always had what everyone needed, here with answers and what others would ask for in prayer. Although he was absent, he returned to this Express from time to time and did what he could before he left to perform his other duties once again.

        And then, the wizard, another role with strangely broad terminology. Not often was magic required to become such a person, and like the guardian, a wizard's abilities lay within his wisdom. He had wisdom, an overcoat, and a materialistic catalyst for either his comfort or his enchantment. He seemed to know everything about the universe's doctrines, celestial bodies, and the science behind each heavenly principle and process. His powers were often immeasurable, whether they were concrete or abstract, and behind his kindness he could likely topple kingdoms if fallen too deep. Mr. Yang encapsulated the role of what a wizard was and could be, not only with knowledge and a drawn warmth but also a cabalistic gift he wielded in the name of justice.

        It was funny; Nee found herself time and time again inserting the people of current significance in her life into these roles, just to simplify them as a means of remembrance. Frozen in mind within these roles' walls, she was able to infer at least parts of their basic personas throughout the course of their relationships. Because of this habit, it was easier to know how each relationship and person worked. There were roles, then their variations, and then variations within variations. Her neighbors were so different, but with a little allusion-based help, she was able to reiterate her past knowledge and use it to make some new friends.