After putting on his coat and hat and picking up the cat, Shade hurried downstairs. When he opened the door, an exceptionally dilapidated carriage stood outside. Every bit of metal decoration on its exterior was rusted, while the coachman in black seemed almost fused with the carriage itself. The reins in his hands were covered in tiny cracks.
The carriage was made entirely of wood, yet it did not carry the stench of rotting timber. Instead, it smelled of the earth commonly found in cemeteries. As Shade stepped onto the black iron stairs that extended down from the carriage, he heard the entire cabin creaking and groaning, which made him particularly worried about the safety of the journey.
The coachman, who was certainly not human, did not speak with Shade. However, the Saint Byron's School Badge hanging inside the cabin, along with the travel bookshelf prepared by the Academy, the secured teapot, and the tray of pastries, were all in the Academy's style. Shade was not worried that he had boarded the wrong carriage.
The interior was exceptionally refined, no worse than the cabins of the private carriages owned by nobles. The inner walls were lined with soft cushions to prevent collisions, while the seats were antique cushioned sofas fixed to the floor. Four small and exquisite gilded copper Kerosene Lamps hung on the four sides, but as the carriage began to move, all of them went out.
A white oak tea table sat between the two sofas, and a tall round table covered in brown lacquered leather stood to one side. When Shade tried to lift a teacup, he discovered that it seemed firmly adhered to the tabletop. He could lift it with some force, but this meant he did not have to worry about tea spilling onto the