Whooo...
The Steam Train, its engine billowing black smoke, pulled carriage after carriage along the tracks and into Mumo Steam Train Station.
The hired slaves and commoners waiting on the platform stumbled back as the huge train rushed in. They stared at the Steam Train with fear and delight, while the merchants at the rear of the platform eagerly drove them forward.
"Quick, unload the cargo!"
"Move faster. No dawdling. If you're not done before dark, none of you will eat."
"Get to work! Come on, get to work!"
"Be careful. Don't miss any of my goods."
Shouts filled the Steam Train station.
As the first to try the Steam Train, the merchants had initially been deeply skeptical. Could something that wasn't magic really transport goods so quickly and cheaply?
After all, hauling goods from one kingdom to another with Pigboars took several days.
Only after the Church of the Three Gods promised free shipping and tenfold compensation for lost goods had they entrusted their cargo to it. And now it had arrived in barely more than a day?
Ieta Cavendish, dressed as a craftsman in a short-fronted tunic, watched the scene with delight. He could sense a new authority taking shape. Since it had only just emerged, it had no name yet, so he intended to call it "Railway."
"Great lord." The man behind him, whose mixed heritage was plain to see, bowed and spoke softly. "His Holiness the Pope died in battle. The Goddess of the Forest killed him. That Evil God descended."
I know he's dead. I knew before you did. I knew when he would die while he was still alive. I just didn't expect him to die at the hands of a descended god... Ieta Cavendish frowned as he listened to the Archbishop.
*Have things