A few minutes later, we were already seated inside the train. The silence between us didn't need to be broken for a simple truth to become clear: we couldn't stay there much longer. The biggest problem was hunger and thirst.
Even with the abilities we now possessed, those basic needs still affected us. No matter how much our nature had changed, we hadn't become immune to mortal weaknesses. We were still bound to them—a constant reminder that, despite everything, we hadn't fully escaped our humanity.
Our seating arrangement was simple. My male self and female self-sat side by side, close to the door leading outside. A little farther away, but still within a comfortable distance, Ethan sat in his spot. His modest armor caught the ambient light just enough to highlight his alert posture.
In front of us, Oliver and Alice were talking, with Oliver doing most of the talking as he tried to calm her down. Alice seemed shaken by everything that had happened, and honestly, I didn't blame her. Fear and tension were natural in a situation like this.
Even though she wasn't physically hurt, I had the feeling she wouldn't be able to fight, even if she tried. Maybe that's exactly why she had chosen to be a healer—not out of fear, but because she knew she wasn't meant for direct combat.
And while it's not particularly important, I've got to admit—it's kind of awkward wearing women's clothes. Even though my second body is biologically female, that doesn't change who I am inside.
At the end of the day, I still see myself as a guy... or at least, my core self hasn't changed. I figure it's just a matter of time before I get used to this. At least, that's what I keep telling myself.
Anyway, the main issue was that we couldn't stay inside the train much longer. Some of us, like me, had brought supplies for college. In my case, I had a water bottle and a small container with lunch—a simple meal, but enough to get us through the day if we decided to share.
Still, it was hard to ignore reality: even if we rationed everything, we knew our combined food wouldn't last more than three days. That alone made our situation feel even more desperate.
Sitting around waiting wasn't going to help anything. That's why I was the first to get up, which—unsurprisingly—caught the attention of the three others sitting near Oliver. He looked straight at me, eyes fixed, like he was trying to figure out what I'd do next.
No one said a word, but something in the air made it feel like Oliver was the unofficial leader of our little group. Not that I minded. I didn't have any problem with that. So I didn't challenge his authority.
"I'm gonna take a look outside. Staying in here isn't gonna help us" I said, shooting Oliver a calm look: "Besides, it's better to check things out before something unexpected catches us off guard. We can't afford to just sit here and hope for the best"
My female self, on the other hand, stayed seated, eyes closed like she was resting. And to be honest, she really had fallen asleep, though it wasn't intentional.
The moment she drifted off, I regained full control over my male body. In other words, now seemed like the perfect time to step out. I was still adjusting, and juggling both bodies at once made things... complicated.
"Are you sure about that?" Oliver asked, his voice heavy with doubt. He stared out toward the horizon, like he could see danger waiting just beyond our sight: "We don't know what's out there. Honestly, going out now, without any clue what's going on, seems like a terrible idea"
He crossed his arms, clearly uneasy about taking action without more information. There was something genuine in the way he looked at me. I wasn't sure what to make of it—it felt strange to think someone could care that much when we barely knew each other.
Still, there was nothing in his behavior to make me think he had ulterior motives. No matter how much I tried to figure him out, Oliver remained a bit of a mystery.
But even in the short time we'd spent together, one thing had become clear: Oliver really did care about others. Despite our limited conversations, I could sense an honest sincerity in both his actions and words. So, in the end, I didn't believe he was a bad person.
"I agree with you, but look" I said, pointing toward one of the seats in the train, where the food was laid out like it was waiting for us: "Do you really think we have a choice? What else can we do right now?"
I saw a grimace flash across Oliver's face. He knew I was right. Staying in the train would be a slow death—whether from hunger or whatever threat might come next.
The truth was, we were still in the dark. We had no clue what awaited us outside. But staying inside wouldn't change a thing. It was just a false sense of safety, a fragile illusion of control in the middle of chaos.
"You're right" Oliver finally said, his expression softening as a shadow of understanding crossed his face. He took a deep breath, like he was processing my words before fully accepting them.
I gave him a quick nod and turned to leave. But before I could take another step, he appeared suddenly beside me. His face was set with determination, like he had something important to say.
I blinked, surprised and unsure what he was doing, but I soon noticed the tension in his body. He must've seen the confusion on my face, because he turned toward me with a nervous smile that didn't quite match the seriousness in his eyes.
"What, did you really think I'd let you go alone?" Oliver asked, his voice steady but edged with tension. He stepped a little closer, like his words were offering silent support: "Honestly, things are already bad enough. If one of us goes missing, it'll only make everything worse. And besides, two people are always better than one, right?"
He gave me a brave smile, but his eyes betrayed the nerves he was trying to hide—like he was bracing himself for whatever came next. It wasn't that I didn't want his help, but the truth was, we were stepping into the unknown—a place where the chance of one of us not coming back was real and terrifying. I knew he understood the risk... but even so, it was still a lot to take in.