Woo-!
The train groaned, and the tracks produced a cacophony of sounds that bellowed as it vibrated in constant motion.
Distant planes rolled past the mound of rocks beneath the train, receding into the dense, luscious forest, the green meadow, and the shadows of the mountains.
Seated in one of the partitions, right next to a window. Selina, in her tied rosy-bun hair, flipped through the newspaper on the table while caressing the black cat Falacy with her left hand.
She was browsing the classified ads section for rental houses in the margins, preparing for when she arrived in Backlund.
During the time she spent reading articles associated with the capital city. Her anticipation for the place plummeted in a matter of seconds. Rendering her disinterested in ever arriving or settling anywhere in its haze-filled streets.
But as the renowned city of cities, Selina couldn't simply brush off the opportunity that awaited there. She could only compromise with the living conditions and carefully select a place that was hopefully diluted from the city's toil.
Another mockery of the polluted air... oh, this time it's a lampooned drawing of a common gentleman tipping his top hat to a mailbox... Selina grinned melancholically, effectively lighting her mood a bit.
In the doodled cartoon, it reveals a man with a bulbous nose, bigger than his eyes and ears, bent down amid an intense fog and greeting the shadow of another gentleman in front of him. All along, the shadowy figure was actually a mailbox with a top hat on the cobblestone street.
"Sigh... Falacy, are you hungry?" Figuring that it would be best to withdraw from reading and have a short break. Selina looked down at the black feline, perched on her lap.
It lifted its tail languidly before turning to her and raising its little head. Meow~ "We just ate."
"Oh, right..." Selina blinked twice before smiling wearily.
The fleeting landscape across the window had occasional river streams passing by. There was even a road that led deep into the woods that she spotted as the train moved. It made her recall the dreamworld, but she was too lethargic to ever commit to visiting it.
Feeling a bit vacant. Selina figured it was the right moment to sort her thoughts.
But then...
Tick! Tick!
As the scenery outside disappears in a constant uphill motion. The trees and passing rocks fade out immediately in a blur. A small avian appeared by the corner of the windowsill.
Tick! Tick! Tick!
Huh? Startled, Selina half-mindedly looked down. There, she saw a bird—with dark brown feathers that thrash against the wind. The little avian was in a battle with the howling wind driven by the train.
Selina's eyes widened. A-A sparrow?
Chirp! "Hellow!"
Selina jolted and retreated away from the window. The cat, resting cozily on her lap, jumped in fright at the same time.
Meow! "My Lady! What happened?"
Chirp! "I want crackers now and seeds! Please give." The sparrow outside the window interrupted the black cat. Its head saccadically turned toward them, as if sizing them up.
Crackers? Selina, both surprised and taken aback, pursed her lips without answering.
She turned toward the linear path of the cabin. Her heart raced as she strained for any gazes from the other passengers looking back at the window again.
Chirp! "Please." A medium-pitched voice of a man echoed from the glass pane.
How could such a little guy compete with a train's speed? Selina, whose emotions were a bit unstable, gazed at the bird with a growing sense of apprehension. It was like a reflection of her time on the steam train, finally departing from Milo.
However, upon noticing the half-empty Fermo coffee on her table, the lemon bread she failed to finish on the plate, and a bar of chocolate on the unwrapped paper, she turned to Falacy with a look that asked for approval.
Meow~ "You want to let it in?" asked Falacy, its fur around its eyes seeming to tilt up slightly.
Choo! Choo! The train groaned.
Seeing that the tiny bird might not last for long on the windowsill. Selina quickly made a decision as she nodded, "Mhm, I'll look after it!"
Ensuring that no passengers were able to notice. She carefully undid the latch and pulled the window pane up a little, enough for the little ave to squeeze itself in.
Then, right after it entered, the feathers on its body puffed up into a ball. It looked like a furball due to its ruffled shape, appearing as though it were novelty merchandise from a carnival.
Selina pressed a finger to her lips as she chuckled. She watched the little ave shake its body profusely and peck at its feathers into shape. At one point, it made her muse, For body as little as yours, how are you so daring as to challenge a steam train for a race and win?
Chirp! "Where crackers?"
"I don't have a cracker. Sorry..." While smiling softly now, Selina continued caressing Falacy, who had resettled again on her lap. She leaned in to observe the bird closely.
"But you can have this lemon bread. Uhm, it's tasty!"
At that moment, she recoiled faintly. Her eyes lingered on both ends of the aisle before retracting away in a slight fluster.
I'm talking to an animal. I should be more mindful of how I speak, lest they think of me as a lunatic... Selina reclined back on her sofa and sighed. Still maintaining a soft but exhausted grin.
Chirp! "That's okay!"
Chirp! "Are all of these for me?" The bird flew from the window and landed on the table in front of Selina.
"Yes," said Selina in a warm voice but with a faintly blue expression. "You can have the rest of what's on the table. Heh, except for the coffee."
Are birds even allowed to drink coffee? Will they suffer a sort of implication if they do? She mused in her heart.
The bird radiated joy as it skipped toward the plate. Then, after arriving, it examined the few bits and crumbs before pecking its way to satisfaction.
Chirp! The bird had a faint expressive smile while eating.
Will I be experiencing visits from these little critters more often? Selina wondered as her mind trailed off, lifting the newspaper she had folded on the side again to try to find a place to settle.
She had a strict standard for a rental house. First, it should cater to her taste regarding air quality and geography, allowing her to get to the Maiden's White Opera and Theater safely and without hassle.
Of course, if it could also involve the distance of Beyonder gatherings to the amenities of these advertised rental houses. That would be very favorable. However, Beyonder gatherings are often strict and secretive. Hence, Selina could only hope for the best.
Chirp!
While skimming the advertisement section. Selina lifted her gaze from the paper, noticing that the bird was trying to communicate.
Chirp! "You look gloomy. Tell me why, My Lady."
My Lady? Selina was slightly taken aback, prompting her to pause in her reading and ask, "Why?"
Meow~ "Hey! Why are you stealing my moniker for My Lady?" Falacy hissed and stood up with its half-body.
Chirp! "Is that not her name?" The bird racked its head before resuming on its meal.
Selina's eyes softened and she withdrew the newspaper on her hand before looking out the window. She whispered, "Klein..."
Before she knew it, a droplet formed from her face. Noticing it trail down her cheek, Selina quickly wiped it with her wrist and say, "I'm just tired..."
She said that with a smile, a sweet and gentle smile.
The atmosphere changed and the bird stopped. It turned its head toward her before proceeding to examine her sacadically.
Chirp! "Did you lost this... Klein?"
Suddenly, the train jolted, a few strands if Selina's hair went loose and covered her face. She exhaled.
"Mhm... He's an idiot. An idiot who left me. An idiot who could not keep his promise.
"I hate him...
"I want to see him again..."
Chirp! "That doesn't look like anguish to me!"
Chirp! "Did he really leave you? Do you really hate him?"
Selina's voice hitched faintly. She opened her lips, only to close them without uttering a word.
There was a little irritation welling up inside her. It came from the thought of being pressed by someone about this topic. However, knowing it's just a little bird, she kept her lips pursed.
Selina unfolded her newspaper again and proceeded to continue to browse the ads section.
North Borough should have a better quality air and environment. It's also close to the theater that Yesir and Piolo built. Seems they're very determined to realize it...
Although the rent is quite pricy. 70 pounds per half a year on average? Sigh, I'll make sure those two spenders fund this for me...
Chirp! The bird chimed again, observing Selina curiously. "My Lady, in loses and failures, there's always something to gain. Did you gained something?"
What a cute nosy critter... Selina sighed and gave in. She thought for a moment before answering it.
"Maybe...? But I dislike what I gained. Little birdie, why so concerned? You should finish your meal and rest before heading out to live again."
Live again... Selina closed her eyes and nodded to herself.
...
Minutes later.
Chirp! "I'm done!" The little bird stood on the empty, stainless steel plate, completely satisfied and brimming with energy.
Chirp! "Can you give me more?"
A corner of Selina's lips twitched. Impressed, she remarked, You ate a whole half of a bread. Now you're asking for more?
"You should stay put. If you continued to force it, you might pop from over-bloating." She advised.
Chirp! "You're right! Then can I stick with you more My Lady?" replied the bird innocently.
At that moment, Selina finally realized something. She was so at ease and overwhelmed with emotion that it caused her to overlook the moment.
An animal willingly staying? Selina furrowed her eyebrows. Withdrew her hand and touched her revolver underneath her dress.
The Black Cat Falacy has long been tensed that he kept a posture of sitting upright. But Selina seemed to have failed to register this odd behavior as an alarm.
Psychological manipulation? A Beyonder? Selina narrowed her eyes and stayed focus on the avian pecking its locks.
Chirp! "My Lady, why scared?" The bird asked after noticing the suspense filling the air.
"What are you?" Selina whispered. "How did you find me? What sort of business do you have with targetting me?"
She wasn't a stranger to chances. Learning it from the fact that in the past, Klein's account that one of her clients when she was doing medicine work inside Blackthorn Security Company was the actual Marvik, was proven true. Alongside Marvik plotting something catastrophic.
Chirp! "My Lady, or whatever your name. I was just holding up your promise for unlocking a door for you!" The bird hopped away a little in response to danger.
Meow~ "That bird isn't ordinary, My Lady. It managed to put both of us at ease and disarmed. That must've been a psychological placation. Known among Spectator bayonders." Falacy kept his guard up.
There's many passengers here. How do I prevent an escalation? Can't I just take this above the train cabin? The tensed Selina was so fixated on weighing the compromises that she failed to notice Falacy's advice.
The moment she did, she was struck. ...Not ordinary? Spectator? Also, a promise?
Selina recalled the nursery room she got locked into back in Blackthorn. There was a sparrow that went with her command to free her.
Realizing this, she slowly eased herself and asked, "You're that sparrow? The one who helped me open the lock of the nursery door?"
Chirp! "Yes!" The bird flapped its wings joyfully. Chirp! "I saw you entering the train station and was about to leave. I don't want to miss the chance of eating! So I snuck into the train's iron bars and looked for you!"
Selina's expression grew weary and soft as she found the absurdity in this avian's radical antics.
Chirp! "I can actually communicate with a human safely! I want to stay! More snacks! More crumbs!"
The black cat Falacy and the rosy-brown haired Selina fell silent.
*****
Author's note:
It's going to be an unstable update but I hope it'll be fun for everyone. I find it comforting to write this and the volume 2 exciting. Although this isn't my training ground anymore, it could still help me maintain my proficiency.
Anyway, I'm not backing down from my originals, two originals, one was the novel Greed of the Sovereign which I figured suits being a full physical book instead of serialization and the other:
"Book of Households."