The long-range transcontinental train looked nothing like the cartoon trains Eylan was familiar with.
It resembled a gigantic, heavily armored steel centipede stretching on for hundreds upon hundreds of meters, its long body made up of massive, bulky segments.
There were passenger cars, enormous cargo wagons, several utility cars, and even a mobile repair and manufacturing unit capable of restoring damaged sections of the railway if the train encountered any obstacle along the way.
Rows of heavy-caliber turrets, automated cannons, and firing positions rose from the roof, operated by railway technicians and security officers.
It was a mobile, fearsome fortress. Anything less than that wouldn't be reliably safe, considering the government rarely paid attention to Nightmare Gates that opened far from population centers.
The doors slowly opened, with Awakened guards standing by.
A crowd of people began to pour out, some even running, afraid of missing their transport.
After a while, the train was empty again, ready to receive more guests.
Passengers started boarding, and Eylan squeezed his way in, struggling to reach his assigned car.
The inside of the train was spacious, with enough room for large cargo to be moved through it.
He walked for a while, finally finding his cabin.
He was a Dreamer, so he didn't receive the privileges an Awakened or a Master would. That meant he had to share the cabin with someone else.
Luckily, the other passenger didn't seem to have arrived yet, so Eylan took the opportunity to explore the place calmly.
Murmuring to himself, he analyzed the main features.
"…cabin number 30-2, a window to see outside, and a bunk bed for two people."
He tossed his suitcase aside.
With nothing else to do, he reflected on what Master Antony had said.
'I haven't even made it to the academy yet and I already have to worry about people? So annoying… those legacy brats should mind their own business!'
Grumbling, he waited for the train to depart.
After some time, someone entered without knocking. But upon seeing Eylan leaning near the window, the person hesitated for a moment before stepping inside.
Eylan silently observed, his eyes scrutinizing every detail of the newcomer.
He was strange… to say the least.
He had the kind of presence that went unnoticed—until you noticed it far too much. Thin, elegant, always half-hidden by his own shadow.
Half-lidded eyes gleamed with constant sharpness—the look of someone who had already thought three steps ahead. There was irony there, but so subtle it felt like a polite threat.
Thin glasses stood out on his face.
Dark hair fell in messy waves, a few longer strands framing his face in an almost feline way. A wide-brimmed hat hid part of his gaze, and a heavy cloak followed his movements as if it had a will of its own.
Just as Eylan watched him with suspicion, the man watched back with curiosity.
"Well then, who might you be…?" he said politely, though with a faint hint of unease.
"My name's Eylan. I've got the bottom bunk."
A restrained smile.
"My name is Ravon Elicine, and…"
A glint appeared in the young man's eyes.
"Seriously? You got here before me and picked the bottom bunk? Ha, thanks, I really appreciate it!" he said cheerfully.
A faint ironic smile appeared on Eylan's face.
"Sure. Of course. You can have the top bunk—I just hope there aren't any monster attacks, or the train crashes into something, you know?"
The guy looked at him strangely.
"Should I be afraid of that?"
Still smiling, he asked.
"Maybe? I wouldn't like to wake up in the middle of the night, panic because of creatures, rush down the ladder, trip, and smash my face into the floor."
The boy opened his mouth to say something, but Eylan cut in and kept talking.
"Or maybe the train suddenly slams the brakes and you go flying across the cabin? Falling from up there sounds pretty painful."
He looked at the guy, who now seemed to be smiling purely out of politeness.
"Thanks for the warning. I'll be careful," he said, almost as if the provocation hadn't affected him at all.
'This guy's good… doesn't let himself get influenced by what others say,' Eylan thought for a moment before turning his attention back to the window.
A sound could be heard.
As childish as it was—and even knowing the world was futuristic—Eylan had expected something closer to what he'd seen in cartoons.
Trains puffing smoke, loud mechanical noises.
To his disappointment, the only sound was a sharp whistle, followed by the voices of Awakened soldiers walking through the corridors, announcing the departure.
The train was finally leaving.
Ravon didn't bother him until the train began to move—slow at first, then faster and faster. Soon, the familiar sights of the Coast and the station rushed by, and the great metal beast finally escaped into the wilderness.
Eylan wasn't very excited. Even though the promise of a grand journey was beginning there, he simply watched the scenery of the world, which left no real impression on him. It was just… boring.
The vast wilderness of the Northern Quadrant looked mostly desolate and empty. It was almost entirely made of mud and snow. Any flora still clinging to life in the barren soil looked sickly and dull. The sky was heavy and gray, and the air slightly hazy.
Aside from the occasional skeleton of dead Nightmare creatures or rusted wreckage left behind from the days of human wars, there wasn't much to see.
A weight settled in his heart.
'…I always dreamed of traveling to these corners of the world. But when I finally do, the world I'm in is collapsing. How fun…'
Shaking his head and pushing those thoughts aside, he kept watching.
The sun slowly hid away until it vanished from the sky.
To fill the remaining emptiness, the moon rose, dazzling in its glow, lighting up the entire night.
As he took in the almost dreamlike scenery, a voice sounded beside Eylan.
"Do you feel it too?"
It was Ravon. The young man must have been asleep, but apparently woke up to admire the moon.
"What do you mean?" — Eylan asked, a bad feeling creeping up on him.
"I mean… don't you feel special?" At that point, Ravon turned his face.
Half of it was covered in shadow, the other half illuminated by silvery moonlight.
He continued.
"Don't you feel like you don't belong in this world, like your place is somewhere else?" — turning his face again, he stared at the moon, his gaze fixed on it.
Meanwhile, inside Eylan's mind, shock hit him as he wondered in disbelief.
'…What's wrong with this guy? Who says something like that to a stranger?'
Without letting the shock show on his face, he answered calmly, his voice carrying a hint of mockery.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. You're pretty weird, you know?"
A small smile appeared on the young man's lips.
"Yeah. I know." — just a few words, yet they seemed to carry enormous weight.
'Damn… did I offend him? But I joked earlier and he didn't care. Is he selective or something?'
Thoughts like that crossed his mind, but he didn't say anything to reassure Ravon.
"Anyway, good night. Let's hope we don't get attacked by monsters in the middle of the night."
With that, Eylan walked to his bed, planning to sleep and prepare for the long day that awaited him tomorrow.
"Don't jinx it, you lunatic," Ravon replied amusedly, still watching the moon.
"Good night to you too."
Soon, they would arrive at the NQSC—the largest human hive.