Afternoon, the vast central plains of the Pritt Kingdom.
Endless fields stretched out as far as the eye could see, with long iron tracks cutting through the landscape. A steel beast roared along the rails, its wheels turning and thick smoke billowing from its stack as it raced toward the horizon.
Carrying a full load of passengers, the long train sped along the tracks, traversing the kingdom from one end to the other.
In a well-decorated private compartment near the front of the train, Dorothy sat on a soft sofa, sipping coffee and gazing out at the fields rushing past the window. A hint of boredom flickered in her expression.
"Ugh... I’ve already been on this train for a day and a half. It’ll probably take another day to reach the station. I still have to endure this for a while longer..."
Sitting in her seat, Dorothy stirred her coffee absentmindedly with a spoon, yawning as she spoke. Igwynt was located in the southwest of the kingdom’s main island, while Tivian was on the eastern coast. The train Dorothy was on essentially traveled from one end of the island to the other, covering a straight-line distance of over 800 kilometers.
Given the relatively slow speed of trains in this era, the winding tracks due to terrain constraints, and the long stops for refueling and mechanical inspections, Dorothy’s journey to Tivian would take nearly three days. This was already her second day on the train.
To combat the boredom of the trip, Dorothy had prepared several books to read in her compartment. However, she had underestimated how quickly she, as a Cognizer, could read. The books she had brought were finished in no time, leaving her with nothing to do but stare out the window.
"What a boring journey. At least the compartment is comfortable, with a sofa, table, and bed. If it were just a seat, it would be unbearable."
Dorothy thought to herself. The train had three types of carriages. First-class carriages like Dorothy’s had private compartments with all the necessary amenities. Second-class carriages had long rows of hard seats, with many people sitting side by side, packing the carriage to capacity. Third-class carriages had no seats at all—just an empty carriage with some straw and rags spread on the floor as padding. These carriages were the most crowded, resembling large, makeshift shelters.The price of a first-class ticket was ten times that of a second-class ticket and dozens of times that of a third-class ticket, costing three to four pounds. Few could afford it, and the occupancy rate was usually low. For Dorothy’s safety, Gregor had gritted his teeth and bought her a first-class ticket. His monthly salary was only 23 pounds, and the ticket price was a significant expense for him, especially since he was saving up to buy a house.
While the ticket price was a drop in the bucket for Dorothy, she didn’t offer to pay for it herself when Gregor was struggling to afford it. After all, she couldn’t explain where her money came from.
As Dorothy sat in her compartment, lost in thought, the sound of a train conductor’s voice echoed through the corridor outside.
"Ulster! We are about to reach Ulster! Ladies and gentlemen getting off at Ulster, please prepare to disembark! Gather your belongings! Ulster, We are about to reach Ulster! Please..."
"Ulster?"
Inside her compartment, Dorothy perked up at the conductor’s announcement. She tilted her head slightly, recalling that Ulster was a city in the central-eastern part of the Pritt Kingdom, said to be larger than Igwynt.
"If we’re already at Ulster, then Tivian can’t be too far away. I’ll sleep tonight and probably arrive tomorrow morning or noon."
Recalling the maps she had seen before, Dorothy thought to herself. She then turned her attention to the window, watching as the fields gave way to more and more buildings, eager to catch a glimpse of the approaching city.
…
Ulster is a city in the central-eastern part of the Pritt Kingdom’s main island.
Located to the south of the mountains and north of the plains, Ulster had a large agricultural and forestry industry, providing food and timber to other parts of the Pritt Kingdom. It was an important city in the central region.
As dusk fell, a crowd gathered on the platform of Ulster’s train station, quietly waiting for the arrival of the train from afar. Most of them were heading to the capital, Tivian.
Among the crowd was a man in his late twenties or early thirties. He had a clean-shaven face, wore a dark blue jacket and gray trousers, and carried a wooden briefcase with a combination lock. He checked his watch and looked in the direction from which the train would arrive, his eyes filled with anticipation, as if he could already see the billowing smoke in the distance.
The man’s name was Sodod, a member of the Ulster’s Serenity Bureau and a Beyonder. He was currently on a mission—a transport mission to Tivian. Thus, he was about to board the incoming train bound for the capital.
As time passed, the distant whistle of the steam train grew louder. The steel beast, already slowing down, gradually pulled into the station and came to a stop at the platform.
Once the train had stopped, the doors of each carriage opened in turn. Passengers destined for Ulster disembarked, and after they had left, the waiting crowd began to board the train, showing their tickets at each carriage entrance.
Just as Sodod was about to step forward to board, he suddenly felt as if someone was watching him. He immediately turned to look in the direction of the sensation, but aside from the bustling crowd, he saw nothing.
"Just my imagination?"
Muttering to himself, Sodod didn’t dwell on it. He took his ticket and continued toward the waiting carriage. After the conductor checked his ticket, Sodod smoothly boarded the train.
For safety reasons, Sodod had purchased a first-class ticket. After boarding, he was warmly greeted and guided by the conductor to his private compartment.
"Sir, it’s almost mealtime. Would you like to dine in the dining car, or would you prefer to order in your compartment?"
After leading Sodod to his compartment, the conductor asked. Sodod placed his coat, hat, and luggage on the sofa in the compartment, thought for a moment, and then replied, "I’ll go to the dining car. Please show me the way."
"Of course."
With that, Sodod left his compartment under the conductor’s guidance. Not long after they left, a pale human hand emerged strangely from the wall of the compartment and slowly reached for the locked briefcase on the sofa.