[A Few Minutes Earlier]
The front carriage of Mana Rail 17 was calm, almost too calm.
The soft hum of the train echoed beneath the floor. Steady and smooth as it cut across the landscape. Through quiet valleys and mana-charged hills.
Outside, golden grass swayed in the wind. Untouched by the chaos that brewed in other parts of the world.
Inside, everything felt normal.
A merchant wiped sweat from his brow as he counted his ledgers. A mother gently rocked her sleeping child, whispering lullabies under her breath.
A group of students in matching uniforms played cards on the floor, laughing softly.
There was no fear. No tension. Just the gentle rhythm of travel.
In the very front row sat a man who didn't belong.
He looked like he had stepped out of another world. Clad in a high-collared black coat with golden trim, the fabric too fine, too flawless.
