The rhythm of the mana train filled the cabin — a deep, steady hum that pulsed through the floor and into the seats. Trafalgar sat near the window, his reflection faint against the glass, eyes unfocused as the landscape of Velkaris rolled past. He wasn't expecting much from this trip. Just twenty minutes of peace before returning to the academy.
That thought didn't last long.
Across the car, two familiar figures sat together. One was impossible to mistake — Aubrelle, her eyes covered by the same blindfold she always wore. The absence of her pale bird, Pipin, perched on her shoulder made her look strangely incomplete. Without its guidance, she faced forward in perfect stillness, seemingly unaware of Trafalgar's presence.
