The grand portal station was a cathedral of light and noise, but it all blurred into a background hum for Nero. The goodbyes to the Leclair staff, the final wave to Seraphine's retreating figure, it all settled into a low vibration in his bones. They were heading back. Back to the academy city, back to classes, back to the watchful eyes and the unspoken rules. But as they boarded the sleek, silver super train, a different feeling took over. It wasn't the tense anticipation of the arrival at the estate. It was the easy, worn-in comfort of a long journey with friends.
The train itself was a marvel, a silent bullet on magnetic rails, but inside, it was all plush carpets, warm wood paneling, and private cabins that branched off from a central common car. For the next several hours, they were in a moving, luxurious bubble.
