Imperial Capital, Helrom.
The glow of the buildings held up the heavy dusk enveloping this fortress city-state of the Protos Empire.
The enormous city seemed cut off from the outside world. From a distance, its towering, impregnable barrier appeared to merge with the sky and ground, while the hard stone and cold metal of the buildings along its edges gave the city a sense of accumulated history.
At the Magic Train Station on the city's outskirts, quite a few travelers still passed through the Station Hall even at ten o'clock at night, moving along the broad passageways between the platforms and the hall.
In the distance, a train pulled into the station. The shrill screech of its wheels against the rails echoed across the empty tracks, while the lights inside the carriages spilled through the windows onto the moonlit platform.
It was a classically decorated train, though it also bore many signs of modern modifications. Its surface was covered in subtle runes that gradually began to glow as it approached the station, resonating with the station's protective barrier.
Inside the carriage.
"Have we finally arrived at the imperial capital?"
Zestira and Lanchi waited briefly by the door.
Even before it opened, they could hear music echoing through the platform level.
"Not this irritating..."
Zestira muttered, her brows slightly furrowed.
Lanchi could hear her clearly from beside her.
It was as if the music served as the background sound of Helrom City. To showcase Helrom's rich history and the noble bloodlines of its great powers, the main melody used a grand symphony, including majestic brass instruments and solemn, religiously tinged strings. It was stately and mysterious yet calm and lonely. Perhaps because of the northern location and climate, its modulations contained fierce, tense passages. The organ and the high notes of