A sun emblem rested on his shoulders, and a white-sheathed sapphire sword hung at his waist, nearly as long as his legs, the hilt bearing another sun symbol.
Yet it was his face that captivated the most: silver hair and sea-blue eyes softened by a gentle expression, exuding the air of a refined gentleman.
Turning to the servant carrying his luggage, he spoke with a calm and elegant voice:
"I'll handle the rest. You may return to my sister's side."
"The young lady wanted me to stay with you, young master Damien." When he bowed his head and refused to leave, a slight smile appeared on Damien's face.
"My sister Leila will need your help much more than I do."
Leila, the young lady of the Lionheart family and Damien's sister, insisted they should be in first class together, but Damien refused. He was certain his sister was still waiting for him in the first-class cabin.
"But, sir, your father—"
"Do not worry," Damien interrupted gently, offering a kind smile. The valet hesitated, but under his insistent gaze, he handed over the luggage, conceding.
"The young lady won't be pleased to find you in a third-class compartment," the servant said impassively. Damien chuckled softly.
"Please calm her nerves for me." As he finished speaking politely, the servant sighed and shook his head.
"Safe travels, young master," he said, placing his right hand over his heart and bowing.
Damien entered the cabin, closing the door behind him, his eyes falling on the two occupants. He hesitated briefly before seating himself beside the navy-haired man, realizing that staring might be rude.
Looking at the man, he noted the powerful aura emanating from him. The icy beauty of someone who survived autumn's last bloom without fading was striking.
High-quality clothing further emphasized that he was no ordinary individual. And his face… undeniably handsome.
Feeling a strange familiarity. "Have we met before?"
Felix's gaze lifted from the screen to meet his, golden eyes as cold and calm as the winter sun.
"No," he replied succinctly, turning back to his screen.
Silence enveloped the cabin, broken only by the hum of the train and the rustle of pages.
Damien, noting Felix's refusal to engage, returned to his book, a worn leather-bound volume with cracks and fingerprints on the spine and cover. Felix's eyes flicked momentarily to the title:
[The History of the Sacred Kingdom]
Returning his gaze to the sword beside him, Damien felt a warm scrutiny. Glancing up, he caught Felix's eyes fixed on the weapon, prompting a strange, embarrassed smile.
"Does my sword draw too much attention?"
Felix's expressionless stare created an awkward pause, after which he returned to his reading. Damien cleared his throat and buried himself back in the book.
The cabin, quiet, resonated only with the hum of the moving train and the turning of pages.
Suddenly, both felt a ripple. Damien looked up, sensing Felix's awareness of the same disturbance.
What is this?
Peering out the window, Damien felt an unshakable unease. The air carried a strange heaviness, the atmosphere oppressively silent, as if something were about to occur.
"Something's… wrong," he muttered just as the train shuddered violently, accompanied by a loud explosion. The cabin rocked alarmingly. The train tilted dangerously on the rails.
Gripping the armrest to avoid falling, Felix furrowed his brows, holding on tightly as well.
"What's going on?" Damien shouted in surprise as the train settled back onto the tracks and emitted a long, high-pitched screech from the friction against the rails.
Felix ignored him, focusing instead on the sound of approaching footsteps above their heads, echoing from outside.
Checking his watch, he noted the progress. As the footsteps moved forward, they soon heard a sound like breaking glass and screams coming from the front compartments.
"This must be a raid," Felix stated, his eyes cold as he met Damien's.
"A raid?" Damien furrowed his brows.
"Most passengers here are wealthy. Northern mountain thieves must have marked this train."
Five years ago, fugitives from Bone City fled to the Seplika Mountains. To survive, they targeted trains passing through and looted them. Avalon launched an investigation, but the harsh mountain conditions thwarted their efforts.
Still… attacking a train of the Sacred Kingdom? Such audacity… utterly reckless, Damien thought.