Soren stood still as the train hissed behind him, its metal breath fading into the cold air.
Because of Imperial rules, transportation within the empire could not be airborne without the permission of the royal family.
Therefore transportation was usually by train or modelled vehicles for those that could afford the cost of aether.
The rest just used horse carriages.
Surprisingly, they were easier to maintain regardless of the impoverished state of the empire.
Despite the long journey, and once deciding to run from this fate with an orange haired girl, Soren was finally here.
His eyes gazed ahead.
Before him rose the gates of the Imperial Soulforge Academy.
Even the snow could not shield their brilliance. After all, these did not look like mere gates.
They looked more like mountains carved into obedience.
Two colossal doors of layered soul-steel stretched upward, so high that Soren had to crane his neck until his spine ached.
