"The question I want to ask is related to the Nameless passengers of the Astral Express."
"The Nameless passengers of the Astral Express?" Sunday lowered his head in thoughtful silence for a moment before looking up and shaking his head. "My apologies, Miss Lumina, but I don't quite understand your question."
"Information about the Nameless should be found in the Astral Express Archive."
"I'm asking about the three Nameless who disembarked on Penacony," Lumina said softly, then continued, "Do you know anything about them, Mr. Sunday?"
"Hmm... Could you elaborate a bit, Miss Lumina?" Sunday wasn't lying or trying to deceive her; he genuinely didn't know.
Almost none of the Nameless who disembarked from the Astral Express ever publicly revealed their identity. Some lived out their entire lives, dying with those around them never realizing they had once been legendary Nameless passengers on the Astral Express...
"Razalina, Tiernan, Legwork."
"They were the Train's cartographer, guard, and mechanic, respectively. As for any other details, I'm afraid I don't know."
Since this conversation would be broadcast to the Players, Lumina revealed only the information she was supposed to know. Naturally, she wouldn't reveal anything she wasn't meant to know.
"Hmm..." Upon hearing these names, Sunday lowered his head in thought once more.
After a moment, he shook his head. "My apologies, Miss Lumina. These names don't ring any bells for me. However, rest assured, I will instruct the Family to keep an eye out for them."
"Very well, thank you." Lumina nodded, saying no more, and took a sip of the luxurious SoulGlad before her.
Hmm... Quite refreshing, but something's missing.
What could it be?
Lumina gently shook the luxurious bottle of SoulGlad in her hand, watching the orange bubbles swirl and fizz. She fell deep into thought.
Across from her, Sunday observed Lumina's pensive silence without interrupting, a gentle smile playing on his lips as he waited for her to speak.
Oh! I get it now.
After a moment, Lumina realized what was missing from this extravagant version of SoulGlad:
A beautiful girl!
If a beautiful girl had handed her this bottle, Lumina would have been absolutely thrilled!
At this thought, a hint of resentment flashed in her eyes as she stole a glance at Sunday, instantly causing question marks to pop above his head.
Sunday: ?
"Mr. Sunday, this is what I wanted to ask you about."
"Since my question is answered, may I leave?"
Realizing her gaze had been slightly impolite, Lumina quickly averted her eyes and flashed Sunday a warm smile, as if the previous moment had been nothing more than a fleeting illusion.
After saying this, Lumina glanced at Sunday, who remained silent, seemingly struggling with something. She ignored him, casually swiped the luxurious bottle of SoulGlad from the table, rose, and prepared to leave.
"Wait, Miss Lumina."
After a moment of hesitation, Sunday finally decided to voice the question weighing on his mind. He hurriedly stood up and called out to Lumina, who had already opened the door.
"Hmm?" Lumina turned her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. She didn't speak, gesturing for Sunday to continue.
"I have a rather... presumptuous question I'd like to ask you," Sunday said.
"Go ahead."
"...In your opinion, which is preferable: strong allies supporting the weak, or the strong dominating the weak?"
As the Head of the Harmony Family, Sunday's question seemed particularly jarring.
"Heh..."
Lumina chuckled softly, unfazed. She stepped out of the room and gently pulled the door closed behind her.
Just before the door clicked shut, Lumina's calm voice, tinged with amusement, drifted into Sunday's ears:
"Ultimately, is it better to support the weak with strength, or to subdue them with force?"
"Mr. Sunday, I'm afraid I cannot answer that question, because..."
"In my eyes, the act of the strong bullying the weak far outweighs both options."
Thud!
With these three sentences, the door closed completely, Lumina's figure vanishing entirely, leaving Sunday alone in the room to ponder the meaning of her words.
"Miss Lumina, she's completely different from what the rumors suggest," Sunday murmured after a moment.
Had it been anyone else, they might have missed the true meaning behind Lumina's words. But Sunday, a man of great ambition, quickly grasped her intent after a moment's reflection.
Does it truly matter whether you support the weak with strength or subdue them with force? What matters is whether you are strong or weak.
If you are weak, pondering such questions is meaningless.
If you are strong, simply follow your own heart.
When Sunday had posed the question, he had already anticipated Lumina would answer with the phrase "support the weak with strength."
After all, given Lumina's actions throughout the Cosmos, she truly deserved those words...
However, He never imagined Lumina would give an answer that far exceeded his own expectations.
"Miss Lumina, you're nothing like the rumors suggest."
-
Lumina: SoulGlad is delicious, but... ( •̥́ ˍ •̀)