Utopia

Lohran couldn't calm down for a full hour, lost in daydreams of battle. 

He imagined fierce clashes against the Zorphling he had just seen, replaying the movements his father had demonstrated a few years back and merging them into a thrilling mental simulation—a fight of epic proportions, far more exhilarating than anything that could happen inside the octagon.

Main events? Psh, boring!

Only after pacing back and forth countless times did Lohran finally manage to push the unsettling face of the Zorphling and its mind-blowingly vicious attack against the saffron glass out of his mind.

Feeling drained from overexerting both his body and imagination, Lohran laid down on the inclined bed.

According to the timer on the wall of his private cabin, they still had sixteen more hours before arriving at the Northern Dawnchaser Academy.

'Tch, why can't we just board planes instead? We'd probably get there faster, no?' he mused.

But then, he recalled the face of the Zorphling.

'Hoh… are there flying monstrosities, then?' Lohran couldn't help but wonder.

It was the only way he could contain his boundless excitement, flooding his small, slim, yet fairly muscular physique with endless energy.

The armored train pressed on with unwavering resolve, the darkness remained all-encompassing, and the blurred scenery of lights, shadows, and silhouettes stretched endlessly as Lohran felt himself rotting away inside.

If not for the small space in his room that let him squeeze in push-ups and other light exercises—barely enough to build strength and endurance, even just a little, and the occasional attacks from Zorphlings, he would've lost his mind in boredom.

He was the kind of person who struggled to sit still, unable to tolerate doing nothing.

Around the nineteenth hour, Lohran finally felt a bit tired and sweaty, and so, after resting for a few minutes, he took a warm bath in the small en-suite bathroom, taking his sweet time.

He had nothing else to do anyway, so he might as well maintain his hygiene more than properly.

By the twentieth hour, as Lohran sat boredly beside the window, a knock echoed from the door.

"Young Master Neyvaris, I'm here to deliver your dinner," announced one of the staff members.

"You may enter," he responded.

The door slid open, and a young man stepped inside, pushing a cart laden with food.

To Lohran's surprise, the meal was one he often had after training sessions back at the manor.

'Damn, great service…' he inwardly praised.

"Just leave the food cart outside the cabin once you're done, Young Master."

With a nod, Lohran dismissed the staff member, relishing the chance to eat in peace.

He took his time, savoring every bite—especially the fried black meat served in a separate bowl.

The damn thing truly hit different.

After finishing his meal, he placed the food cart outside his cabin as the staff member had requested, then lay back down on his slightly inclined bed.

Sleep came agonizingly slow, but by the twenty-second hour, he finally managed to drift into a decent slumber.

Time passed, and Lohran was only jolted awake by a loud announcement:

"We deeply apologize to all sleeping passengers. Please prepare to exit the train in twenty minutes. We are arriving at the Northern Dawnchaser Academy Station."

Excitement coursed through his body once more upon hearing the advanced notice, making it effortless to get out of bed. 

Lohran eagerly stepped into the bathroom to relieve himself, brush his teeth, and take a quick, warm shower.

He was fully prepared in just fifteen minutes, leaving him with five minutes to spare.

By then, the train had already entered Nornburg City—one of the four largest and most developed cities in the High Republic of Kairindor, home to the Northern Dawnchaser Academy.

The saffron-tinted windows had already retracted into their frames, allowing Lohran to take in the majestic sight outside.

The cityscape looked like something pulled straight from a futuristic utopia—resembling the kind of skyline once imagined as Earth's cities five centuries or even a millennium into the future.

Who would have thought that the Neyvaris Private Residence and the city nearby were nothing more than a backwater outpost?!

'Damn…I would like to purchase a residence here someday…' he mused.

Moments later, in the distance, a breathtaking cluster of intricately designed buildings came into view, standing proudly amidst the vast, sprawling, and lavish academy grounds.

From the train's slightly elevated vantage point, Lohran could just barely make out various training facilities—running tracks, outdoor shooting ranges, and more—spread across an expansive landscape that felt like a city of its own.

A grand station also emerged, far more luxurious than the one where he had first boarded the iron monster. 

Multiple trains from different tracks seamlessly converged onto a single unloading platform, honking as they arrived and departed with perfect precision, each making way for the next in an impeccably timed sequence.

Lohran felt a surge of boundless energy and excitement as he inhaled the unexpectedly fresh air.

He could barely f*cking wait!

But then, a sudden shudder ran through him—he had to make sure he wasn't leaving anything behind.

Reluctantly tearing his gaze away from the breathtaking view, he turned his attention to his luggage. 

He scanned the private room, checking the small cabinet, the bathroom, and even the tiny fridge.

There was no way in hell he was leaving anything behind, especially not his wallet, phone, or registration form.

A few moments later, a knock echoed from the door, this time from a female staff member.

"Young Master Neyvaris, it's time."

Lohran nodded as he unlocked the door, slung both luggage over his shoulders, and slid it open with his foot.

Stepping out of his private cabin, he noticed many others from his coach section doing the same, lining up to disembark as the iron monster let out a deep honk and began to slow down.

They had arrived at the Northern Dawnchaser Academy Station.