After several rounds, Lux emerged the clear winner. Adam groaned dramatically, throwing his cue stick onto the table.
"I swear, Lux, you were born to ruin people's fun."
Lux simply smiled. "Or perhaps you were born to make it entertaining."
Nero allowed himself the faintest smirk. He hadn't won, but the experience itself had been strangely enjoyable.
Soon after, the chime of departure echoed through the station. The train rumbled softly beneath their feet, a deep hum reverberating through the cabin. Then, with a smooth lurch, it began to move. The landscape outside shifted slowly at first, then faster, as the academy city rolled past their window.
The city shrank into the distance, its tall towers and sprawling streets giving way to the wider expanse of the capital. From their first-class vantage, the view was breathtaking.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Lux said quietly, watching as sunlight bathed the rooftops in gold.
