The cold wood of the spoon pressed lightly against Kaidren's lips as he stepped further into the train. His half-melted ice cream rested in his hand, the caramel drips clinging lazily to the rim of the bowl. The sweetness still lingered faintly on his tongue, though he ate it without expression, as if he were consuming something ordinary and not a luxury most would savor. His plain, unblinking eyes looked straight ahead, fixed on the corridor that stretched before him.
The train's interior was not what he had expected. Instead of simple rows of seats, the first floor opened into a long hallway lined with doors. Each door gleamed white beneath the ceiling lights, the silver trimmings catching and reflecting the soft glow. The air smelled faintly of polish, like clean metal and freshly vacuumed carpet. Thin rectangular lamps embedded into the ceiling spilled out a steady glow, soft enough to be gentle on the eyes, yet sharp enough to chase away shadows.
