Choo! Choo!
A train whistle resounded in every corner of the station as a metal behemoth, in the form of a steam locomotive, came to a slow stop with more than twenty carriages in tow.
In her knitted dress, carrying a luggage slightly incongruent to her proportion. Selina anchored her mocha-shaded sunhat and looked far ahead.
She took a firm step onto the soil of Backlund. Following closely behind was a chonky black cat with green eyes.
Divided into two regions by the Tussock River, which flowed to the southeast. The two lands were connected by the Backlund Bridge and ferries, with a population exceeding five million people. It was the most prosperous capital in the Southern and Northern Continents.
It was within a split second that Selina instantly felt the city's shortcomings to be overwhelming.
She saw faint hazes everywhere. Visibility is terrible. Despite the already lit gas lamps hanging above the train platform, they still fail to completely dispel the gloominess and darkness, even in concentration.
At least the air quality still seemed to be manageable... Selina looked around for a bit before walking.
Seeing Falacy try hard to maneuver his way across the crowd just to stay close made her feel a sense of delight and esteem for the little things around her.
During this moment in time, she fished out her silver pocket watch, bearing her initials.
7:21... I wonder if I can still make it for the opening... Selina sighed and put away her watch. She blended right into the crowd, her hand closely guarding her pocket.
Meow~ "My Lady, someone's tailing us."
"I know," Selina replied in a whisper.
Taking the advice, she suddenly took a sharp turn. Denying a man his reach for either her luggage or her pocket, just falling short of the distance.
This is going to be common now... She wearily exhaled. Not surprised by this episode.
Thankfully, Falacy, having jet-black fur, could camouflage himself seemingly in the open. It could act as her secondary eyes for any mishaps along their way to North Borough.
Selina continued following the cement-paved road until she stumbled upon an intersection.
Before her, there was a lawn and garden that circled around a column that resembled a chimney.
She paid no attention to the display of architecture. Continuing to look for the nearest metro.
It continued to bellow a grayish-dark smoke that rose high into the sky. It condensed into droplets soon after.
This kind of environment would inevitably breed a portion of society with health problems, intensifying by day. As a former medicine apothecary, regardless of the time spent in her profession, she still felt indignant and opposed to such damage done to the public.
Meow~ "My Lady, I think I saw a metro entrance ten blocks from here." Falacy turned its head toward a certain direction.
Selina traced where the black feline was looking. Sure enough, there was a building that seemed to be a department store's entrance.
Feeling a slight humor in her situation. Selina playfully remarked, Did my eyesight go bad from the fog? Right, Captain did mention nightmares are able to see in the dark...
Then, she whispered while looking down, "Lead the way, Falacy."
Chirp!
A sparrow's high-pitched sound muffled from the inside of Selina's sunhat.
Chirp! "Can I go out now? I want to see Backlund!"
"Not now." Selina was feeling a bit hesitant about allowing the frail bird to roam around her.
This wariness was further enhanced by the fact that she had not yet spotted a single avian all this time. If the little sparrow were to introduce itself into this ragged environment, perhaps it would not be long before it croaked.
Or maybe I'm just being hysterical? Selina shook her head indiscernibly. No, I'll let it fly around once we arrive in North Borough.
This brown-feathered avian, as per its account, experienced a qualitative change during an experiment in an asylum far north of Hornacis Mountain. Likely from Feysac.
As it confessed, it was an ordinary bird before this fateful event. The perpetrators responsible for this experimentation harbor telepathic abilities that made the little sparrow naturally submit to their tests.
Then, as the natural change in weather came forward, long after it escaped and blended again into a flock, it migrated into Tingen City.
As absurd as that sounds to Selina. After the ordeals she had undergone, and the mental experiences she had, playing different roles long before she realized, made Selina consider the absurdity to be a little sound. It even resulted in her understanding of the true essence of a Beast Tamer—"Life is always subjected to control, even one's own. Even then, one must continue despite restraints to see the beauty of progression."
During that moment, Selina clearly felt the Beast Tamer potion "digest". She believed that if she continued to "act" around finding freedom in restraint, it wouldn't be long before she prepared for another advancement.
The Apothecary potion pathway seems to center around the concept of life... Apothecary handles caring for life, and Beast Tamer handles restraints... Selina felt as though she tapped into the core of her pathway, understanding its purest simplicity.
Finding her next potion. Herein lies the perks of having an organization, not to mention being the tether to it.
Chirp! "Will I get crackers if I stay put?"
Amid her thoughts, Selina heard that and momentarily sighed.
"Mhm, yes, as long as you behave." She muttered, audible enough that only Falacy and the bird could hear her.
"Later, I'll prepare you a biscuit, or perhaps you're more into cookies? Heh, I haven't baked cookies in a while."
She was referring to her past life. When she had the time to visit her parents, she would learn from her mother how to bake ginger breads and chocolate-chipped cookies in the comfort of their kitchen.
Chirp! "Really?" The bird said with high anticipation.
Meow~ "I'm so glad you're fattening up my meal, My Lady." Falacy spoke languidly.
Selina smiled, but it was a little frail. Of course, she understands that cats eat avians, but for it to be the black cat she knew for quite a long time toward a frail bird, it seemed a little too unethical.
Chirp! "H-Hey! I heard that! Ms. My Lady, you're going to feed me to your cat!?" There was a clear anxiety in the bird's voice.
So animals can communicate to one another fairly well... I always thought they had different tones that render them distinct... Selina replied, "Falacy is just playing with you. He won't eat you. Heh, I promise."
Chirp! "You laughed!"
Before arriving at the lobby. Selina stopped at the entrance and observed the crowd alongside Falacy.
The crowd was pouring in and out. She figured since it was now evening, the population would die down a little in activity. However, she was mistaken, and that made her wait for a while until it was mild enough for her not to lose Falacy.
Ding!
"The Metro Steam Train Line 3-44 will arrive shortly! Please keep your distance along the tracks, secure your tickets, and be careful on boarding. Thank you!"
In the main foyer. Selina scanned the bulletin, hoping for an available steam train that would stop here and carry out a trip to North Borough.
Backlund's metro was born twenty-five years ago. Initially, it connected both banks of the Tussock River. But it has since been expanded to the key city boroughs such as West Borough, Cherwood Borough, the core Empress, and her destination, the North Borough. Of course, there weren't many entrances.
The first time Selina read about this in magazines and newspapers, she was shocked. It certainly didn't occur to her that such a transportation would exist in this era that hadn't entered the age of electricity.
Aha! There it is! Selina saw a label that read "7:30", heading to North Borough's Böklund Street.
After checking the time, it had struck "7:25". She realized that the earlier announcement was actually referring to this passenger train.
Let's see... right, the cashier! She turned her head and spotted the ticketing booth right away.
Minutes later in line, she finally saw a lady with curly brown hair and dark pupils.
The lady didn't raise her head. All she did was point at the wooden board by the side of the window with the prices.
Peak period (7 am-9 am, 6 pm-8 pm): 10-minute headway.
15-minute headway for all other times.
First-class seat: 6 pence
Second-class seat: 4 pence
Third-class seat: 3 pence.
Return trips are: 9, 6, 5 pence.
Annual Pass
First-class: 8 pounds
Second-class: 5 pounds 10 soli
Third-class: No Annual Pass
Interesting... Selina was piqued by the use of the annual pass and return trips. She mindfully picked the second-class.
After settling with the ticket and passing the non-strict security checks, she hurried down the flight of stairs and came down to the platform. She followed the labels on the ground and found the corresponding location for second-class seats.
The Black Cat Falacy walked up beside her and wagged its tail gently before it gracefully sat down.
Her next goal after arriving in North Borough is to locate the Maiden's White Theater and get her believers to take care of her residence matters on her behalf.
She had made sure to inform Yesir that a "mysterious member" important to the recovery and rise of the organization would arrive in Backlund earlier during the first hour of her trip. Ensuring that this addition, her, is given necessary treatment and respect.
She was glad with his reaction. Thus, did not escalate.
Choo-choo!
Selina didn't wait long before she heard the chugging sound of the train and the thunderous steam whistle. She saw a huge steam locomotive.
Its large and meandering body, together with its black metallic luster and complex machinery, mixed together to form a unique beauty.
Backlund's metro still used steam locomotives. The smoke that they spewed was specially designed to enter a pipe above and travel through a chimney, out into the world.
This was also the true usage for the lawn and garden out on the streets.
Amidst the screeching sound of metal, Selina first waited for the passengers to alight before anchoring her sunhat and carrying her luggage over slowly. She then allowed the conductor to check her tickets.
Unlike the third-class seats, the second-class seats were one person per seat, so there were no concerns about having one's seat snatched. And although Selina could afford the first class with its quality reserves, she much preferred practicality over boasts.
Selina sat down, looked over both sides of the aisle and the people, before taking her sun hat off and stowing away her luggage.
Chirp!
"Stay hidden, okay? I don't know if they even allow birds into such places. Falacy is an exception; he's able to sneak in thanks to his fur." Selina advised before placing the bird down.
Chirp! "Alright!"
After exhaling her held breath, Selina reclined in her seat and opened her newspaper and map again. Just like any other passengers on board the cabin.
...
The journey went by smoothly, and Selina arrived at one of the four metro stations in North Borough in no more than thirty minutes.
She first took the time to visit a local bakery, named Swan Brisk Bakery, which has a lovely patio that accommodates four to six tables, to buy a small bag of nut-chipped cookies.
This was for the bird. Selina found a park right after the bakery and sat on a metallic bench to finally take off her sun hat.
"Here. As promised," she whispered.
Chirp!
Watching the avian fly to her hand, began pecking the cookie until it finished it.
Impressive. For one's size, you sure can eat a lot! Selina, seeing the satisfied look, stood up and finally said, "Well, I'll get going now."
Chirp! "You're leaving?"
Selina tightened her heart as she sighed, "Well, I cannot take care of you... It's too dangerous for a little bird like you, even if you're a beyonder, to be around me."
You're better off living as a normal and innocent animal than being caught up in real Beyonder matters...
For anyone, even animals. The Beyonder world brims with danger, and it isn't selective about its victims.
Selina was even a bit green of the avian. It could fly away, migrate, and still live with an intelligence far superior to its peers.
This is such a crazy world we live in. It hasn't been a year, and I've already encountered two animals that survived the ordeal of becoming a beyonder creature... Selina hardened her resolve over her decision.
Chirp! "...Alright. Thank you for keeping your promise."
Selina fell silent as she watched the bird, which had been standing on the bench just a second ago, fly far away into the open clouds.
Its silhouette slowly turned into a dot before completely vanishing.