Many people had already gathered near the railway tracks in anticipation.
As the first magic-powered railway connecting Lunaria to Emerald City, it was undergoing its first official trial run today after months of construction. This run consisted of just the locomotive pulling a few empty carriages, and if successful, formal operations would commence within weeks.
News of this strange construction project had already spread throughout Lunaria during the building process. The morning sun was rising from beyond the horizon, though there was still some lingering mist in the air. The area around the station was packed with citizens and merchants who had come to witness the spectacle.
The massive train lay quietly on two parallel tracks that stretched into the distance.
It consisted of a locomotive plus five carriages connected in a line. The main body of the locomotive, paired with brass mechanical components, exuded a sense of premium quality. A large blue runic core was embedded in the center like a pulsating heart while emitting a soft glow outwards.
Precise runic drive rods were exposed on both sides and interlocked with brass gears in complex patterns. The five carriages were neatly connected behind, and the exterior walls of the carriages were emblazoned with the mark of the Lunaria Machinery Workshop.
At the same time, several striking letters were painted on one side in bold.
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DAWN
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Antru, dressed in dark overalls and wearing brown goggles, was squatting beneath the locomotive while conducting a final check-up. After confirming there were no leaks, he stood up and clapped the dust from his hands with satisfaction.
Paste, not far away, was still calculating various data on his clipboard.
"Antru, double-check the cargo compartment fixation and track alignment. We start in five minutes!" He held a testing instrument while inspecting each carriage section by section, bending down to knock on the buckles at each connection point. He listened for the crisp sound that confirmed they were secure.
"Don't worry! All cargo compartment locks are fastened properly, and both tracks have been aligned to perfection!" Antru quickly jumped into the locomotive's driver's seat with his face showing unconcealed excitement and nervousness.
"All data is normal. We can start!"
Staff members retreated to the safety zone as instructed. Paste took a deep breath and boarded the locomotive's control room with Antru following close behind.
Paste stepped up to the controls professionally, trying to remain calm as always. He then turned the runic energy valve while activating the core power supply circuit. The blue light of the runic core suddenly intensified, and a faint blue energy mist overflowed from the power cabin. It was enveloped by the morning mist and emitted a dreamlike glow.
He pulled the drive rod firmly, and the gears began to interlock and operate with mechanical precision.
The drive wheels slowly turned for the first time, and the train vibrated slightly, and the friction between the iron wheels and the tracks produced a clear sound that was exceptionally piercing in the silent morning. Immediately after, it slowly pulled out of the station in the direction of Emerald City.
"It moved! It really moved!" someone in the crowd cheered with excitement.
Children chased the train for a few steps with their eyes full of curiosity for this beautiful feat of engineering. However, they had all been kept isolated by maintenance personnel several meters away to prevent any accidents.
"It's amazing! How much energy does such a huge chunk of metal even consume?!"
"You wouldn't understand the mechanics. Look at the two tracks below; they're clearly for sliding along. This must require much less power than driving on the ground."
The onlookers chattered amongst themselves while pointing.
Some who had played Liberty City found this creation familiar in design.
"Why does this thing look so much like the intercity train in Liberty City?!"
"Yes, exactly! Do you think our Lunaria will become as prosperous as that city in the future?"
"I believe it's inevitable at this point!"
After its initial warm-up period, the magic-powered train had slowly built momentum. With a long whistle that echoed across the fields, its pace quickened.
The train's speed gradually increased, then grew faster and faster with each rotation. Soon, it passed through the morning mist and disappeared out of sight into the distance.
But the shock it caused lingered in the air.
"If this train officially operates in the future, won't it be much more convenient for us to travel to other places?"
"That's for sure."
"But it must be very expensive. How can ordinary people like us afford something like this?"
A group of people exchanged their opinions with each other while discussing the implications.
The train, meanwhile, sped across the open fields between the cities.
The entire route from Lunaria to Emerald City crossed jungles, rivers, hills, and passed through rural farms. While the railway was being constructed, this strange track had already attracted the attention of residents in the villages and towns along the way.
Some elves, busy with farm work, looked at this track leading to an unknown destination with their eyes filled with curiosity. Warning signs had been placed along the route for safety, so they dared not get too close. They only watched from afar with wonder.
At this moment, the train had completed its acceleration phase and was like a charging bull speeding through the forest valley. A rhythmic roar came from its passage.
Followed by a long whistle that announced its presence!
*Toot*
A family of elves, still working on their farm, watched the train emerge from the woods. They were instantly shocked.
"Look over there!"
"What is that thing?!"
But they could clearly see the Lunaria markings on both sides of the carriages. This miraculous creation instantly captured the attention of residents along the way, and some stepped forward to watch its rapidly receding figure with amazement.
They couldn't get over it for a long time afterward.
Outside a barn nearby, several young elves were still playing a game of Heroes vs. Demon King. The little ones held wooden sticks while imagining themselves as legendary heroes on grand adventures.
"Look! Quickly! What is that?" A child facing the river valley suddenly stopped in his tracks. His wooden stick clattered to the ground, and his eyes went wide. His voice was full of astonishment.
His friends, who had their backs turned, didn't know what had happened that froze their friend.
They turned back curiously to see what caught his attention.
Only to see the train suddenly burst out of the distant river valley while moving with a tremendous noise. It was like the tremor of war drums on an ancient battlefield.
"Oh no, it's a demonic beast! Run!" The children instantly screamed in terror!
They quickly ran home to find their mothers for protection.
DAWN continued to speed along the tracks without stopping. Its roar and whistle gradually faded into the distance behind it, leaving only traces of faint blue energy mist that slowly dissipated in the morning breeze.
The villages, fields, and river valleys along the way were stirred by the passage of this miraculous creation. That shock and curiosity settled deep in the hearts of every witness who saw it pass.
Inside the train's cockpit, Paste and Antru were cheering joyfully at their success.
Antru even leaned out the window while spreading his arms and shouting loudly into the wind.
"Wahoo!"
The wind from the fields blew on his face and messed up his hair completely. This speed was simply a thrilling experience beyond comparison.
Emerald City was not far from Lunaria to begin with, in terms of distance. As the closest city south of Lunaria, although its scale was not as grand as the capital, it had gathered a considerable population due to its convenient geographical location. It served as an important node for trade between several cities.
After another half hour or so of steady travel, Antru suddenly pointed ahead with excitement.
"Look! Emerald City!"
Paste looked in the direction he was pointing and smiled happily.