I stared out the window, watching the plains roll by in endless waves of green.

  Peaceful.

  For once, the world felt still. No smoke. No gunfire. No screams echoing through alleyways. Just grass swaying in the wind, scattered trees dotting the horizon, and the occasional farmhouse passing like a memory.

  My head slipped from my hand.

  I jerked awake, blinking hard, and propped my chin back up.

  Two minutes later, it happened again.

  This time, I heard giggling.

  I turned my head slowly, face listless.

  Mary sat across from me, chin resting on her folded hands, watching me with barely concealed amusement. Her golden eyes sparkled.

  "What's funny?" I asked flatly.

  She smiled, tilting her head. "You don't seem to have gotten much sleep."

  I sighed, rubbing my eyes. "My body has a certain time it wants to wake up. That's that. Never more, never less. No matter what time I go to sleep."

  Mary's smile widened. She laughed softly, shaking her head. "Seriously. You sound like my uncle more and more."

  I grimaced. "Don't say that."

  Her laughter faded slightly, but the smile lingered. Then I remembered something from earlier - back at the station.

  "By the way," I said, leaning back. "What was up with the venomous look you gave Arthur?"

  Mary's expression shifted immediately. The amusement drained from her face, replaced by something colder. She looked away, jaw tightening.

  "My distaste for him," she said quietly, "after finding out how he deceived you for so long... it hasn't left. If anything, it's only grown."

  I shook my head. "Arthur did it for my own good. I'm annoyed the truth was hidden, sure. But I understand why."

  Mary turned back to me, eyes sharp. "If he cared so much, he wouldn't have lied in the first place." Her voice was firm, steady. "People who care for each other shouldn't build a relationship on lies. A relationship like that is nothing but one of convenience and selfishness."

  I blinked, caught off guard.

  Silence stretched between us.

  I stood slowly, face blank. "I need to go for a smoke."

  Mary's expression flickered - concern flashing across her features. "Did... did what I said go too far?"

  I smiled faintly, shaking my head. "I'm fine. I can disagree without sulking." I adjusted my coat. "I just want some fresh air beside a window. I've always wondered what air not covered in smog smells like."

  Mary's worry eased. She smiled. "Don't take too long. Otherwise I'll get bored."

  I rolled my eyes, still smiling. "Yes, Your Highness. With utmost speed."

  I left the compartment, boots clicking softly on polished wood as I passed the guards stationed in the corridor. None of them moved. Just stared straight ahead, rifles gleaming under gaslight.

  At the end of the carriage, I found a designated smoking window - slightly ajar, cool air streaming through the gap.

  My smile vanished.

  I pulled a cigarette from the tin, placing it between my lips. The lighter flicked once, flame catching.

  A relationship of convenience and selfishness, huh?

  I exhaled smoke into the wind, watching it tear away into nothing.

  For both our sakes... I hope you're wrong, Mary.

  The plains stretched endlessly beyond the window. Green fields. Blue sky. Clean air carrying the scent of wildflowers and earth - nothing like the ash and soot that clung to Morren's streets.

  I breathed in deeply.

  Fresh.

  Air could actually smell fresh.

  I smiled despite myself - genuine this time, small but real.

  The cigarette burned down slowly. I watched the scenery pass, the rhythm of the train lulling me into something close to calm.

  Amy and the others would have plenty to explore once we reached the city. For now, I'd keep my peace and quiet.

  ---

  I woke to the train slowing.

  My head was pressed against the window, cool glass against my temple. I blinked groggily, lifting my head and rubbing the fog from my eyes.

  Then I saw it.

  A city without walls.

  Buildings rose in clusters across gentle hills, constructed from materials that gleamed even under daylight - white marble, polished bronze, stained glass catching the sun like jewels. Colors exploded across rooftops - reds, golds, blues - vibrant banners fluttering in the breeze.

  And in the distance, beyond the city's edge, shapes hung suspended in the sky.

  Airships.

  Not blimps - not the crude, bloated things I'd imagined. These were sleek, elegant, their hulls bronze and steel, propellers spinning lazily as they drifted between docking towers. Intricate engravings covered their sides, too distant to make out clearly, but visible enough to suggest craftsmanship far beyond anything I'd seen.

  I stared, mouth slightly open.

  A pang of excitement hit me - sudden, childlike, undeniable.

  "I almost feel like a little kid at a parade." I muttered to myself.

  Then I glanced across the compartment.

  Mary was asleep, head tilted against the window, lips parted slightly.

  I sighed internally.

  Thank God she didn't see me gawking. Her smug reaction would've been annoying.

  I coughed lightly, trying to wake her.

  Nothing.

  I sighed again. "I tried."

  I flicked her forehead.

  Mary jolted awake, eyes snapping open, expression completely clueless.

  I pointed at my own mouth, holding out a handkerchief.

  Mary frowned, confused - then her hand went to her lips. Her fingers came away damp.

  Her face flushed immediately. She snatched the handkerchief from my hand, wiping her mouth quickly while looking away.

  I pointed out the window. "Look."

  Mary turned, following my gesture. Her expression shifted - but not with awe. Just mild acknowledgment, as though this were entirely normal.

  "Good." she said simply. "What time is it, Damian?"

  I pulled out my pocket watch, flipping it open. "Three twenty-six."

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Mary nodded. "We have an hour and a half of free time to explore before the airship departs."

  I nodded back. "It'll be good. The city has plenty to see, no doubt."

  As I spoke, I caught movement at the edge of my vision.

  A shape - small, black, formless - peeked through the crack in the compartment door. Smoke given vague outline, features indiscernible.

  But I recognized it immediately.

  Amy.

  I kept my expression neutral, continuing smoothly. "I'm almost excited."

  ---

  Mary and I stepped down from the train carriage together.

  The moment my boots hit the platform, I shifted - posture straightening, expression settling into something neutral and distant. I fell into step behind her and slightly to her side, the prescribed position for an attendant.

  This was a town full of the rich and powerful. Appearances mattered.

  A motorcade waited at the station's edge - sleek vehicles that looked like they'd been pulled from some fevered dream of progress - resembling cars from the early nineteenth century on Earth. Early automotive frames mixed with brass fittings, copper piping running along their chassis, small aetheris stones humming faintly in the air. Steam hissed softly from exhaust vents. The engines purred with mechanical precision.

  Standing before them was a woman dressed in formal noble attire - high-collared gown of deep blue trimmed with silver, jewelry glinting at her throat and wrists. Her blonde hair, slightly faded with age, was pinned elegantly beneath a small hat. She held herself with practiced grace, chin high, hands folded before her.

  Around her, other nobles waited in a loose semicircle.

  The moment Mary approached, they dropped to their knees in perfect unison.

  "Your Highness," they murmured, heads bowed.

  I froze mid-step, suddenly unsure.

  Am I supposed to kneel too?

  Before I could decide, Mary spoke - her voice gentle but firm.

  "Please, rise."

  They stood as one, expressions reverent.

  The blonde woman stepped forward, smiling warmly. "Your Highness. I am Duchess Elara Veyholdt - Duchess of Veylen. It is an honor to welcome you."

  Mary inclined her head gracefully. "Duchess Elara. How could I not recognize my cousin?"

  Elara's smile widened, though something calculating flickered behind her eyes. "Distant, perhaps. But the royal bloodline remains strong." She gestured delicately. "You've grown into such a beautiful young woman. Intelligent, poised... truly, the pride of the Empire."

  Mary accepted the compliments with quiet humility, dipping her head slightly.

  Elara glanced at her jeweled pocket watch. "My personal airship, the Aurelia's Grace, is due to lift off at five o'clock. Until then, please - allow me to show you around our humble city."

  "I would be delighted," Mary replied.

  Elara's gaze shifted then - landing on me.

  Her expression didn't change, but something sharp entered her eyes. Caution. Suspicion.

  "And who," she asked slowly, still looking at me, "might this be?"

  I kept my face utterly listless, staring straight ahead.

  She could've just asked me directly.

  Mary smiled, her tone perfectly pleasant. "This is Damian. He's to be my personal ecclesiarchal assistant once we reach the capital." She paused, letting the weight settle. "With my uncle's blessing, of course. I would appreciate it if he were treated as an extension of myself."

  Elara's smile tightened imperceptibly. When she looked at me again, the caution had sharpened into something closer to poison.

  But she turned back to Mary immediately, expression smoothing into warmth once more.

  "Of course, Your Highness. Please, join me in the central vehicle." She gestured toward the lead car. "Your... assistant may follow in the one behind."

  Mary nodded, her composure flawless - every movement precise, every gesture measured. A perfect porcelain mask.

  She's certainly an expert at this.

  A nobleman stepped forward, gesturing toward the second vehicle with exaggerated politeness. "This way, sir."

  I followed, matching his false courtesy with equally practiced politeness. "Thank you."

  The car's door opened. I climbed inside.

  Three other noblemen already occupied the seats - well-dressed, perfumed, jewelry glinting. The moment I sat down, they resumed their conversation as though I didn't exist.

  I didn't mind.

  I just stared ahead, watching the back of Mary's head through the back window of the lead vehicle.

  Then I saw it.

  A small black figure peeked over the boot of Mary's car - formless, features hidden in shadow, but unmistakable.

  Watching me, waiting.

  I nodded once, subtly.

  Suddenly, a chorus of excited yells erupted around me.

  Shadow children materialized everywhere - hanging off the cars, perched on soldiers' shoulders, sitting on the hoods of vehicles. Amy laughed, waving at me from the roof of Marys car. Others chased each other between the motorcade, their forms flickering like smoke in sunlight.

  Good. They get to explore a bit. Can't imagine how annoying it is to be cooped up in my head.

  The convoy began to move.

  Veylen unfolded before us.

  It was night and day compared to Morren.

  No walls. No soot-stained brick. No narrow, crowded streets choked with laborers and smoke.

  Here, everything gleamed. Wide boulevards paved with smooth stone. Buildings constructed from white marble and polished wood, their facades adorned with intricate carvings. Gardens spilled over balconies, flowers cascading in vibrant reds and purples. Fountains sprayed crystal-clear water into the air, catching sunlight in rainbow arcs.

  And everywhere - everywhere - were signs of wealth.

  Theaters with gilded marquees. Cafes with outdoor seating beneath silk canopies. Shops displaying jewelry behind glass so clean it looked invisible. Even the streetlamps were ornate, wrought iron twisted into elegant shapes, aetheris stones flickering behind polished crystal.

  This wasn't a city. It was a resort. A playground for the rich.

  And the technology...

  More cars rolled past, engines humming softly. Pneumatic lifts carried goods between floors of tall buildings. Aetheris-powered streetcars glided along rails embedded in the cobblestones, their interiors visible through wide windows - plush seats, polished brass handrails.

  I leaned my head against my hand, watching it all pass by.

  The noblemen beside me continued their conversation, oblivious to my presence.

  "Such an honor," one murmured. "To be in Her Highness's presence."

  "Indeed," another agreed. "Its unfortunate we most likely won't be able to curry favor. The Emperor has been ill for some time now - publicly so. Her Highness has joined the race for the throne at precisely the right moment. Not to mention the backing of the Lord Regent, and if she plays he cards right, the church."

  I kept my expression neutral, but my mind turned over that piece of information.

  If one of the most powerful men on the planet is sick enough for it to become public knowledge... I can't imagine it's natural.

  The convoy slowed, pulling to a stop before a large shop - pristine glass windows displaying elegant dresses and suits on faceless mannequins.

  Duchess Elara stepped out, conversing briefly with Mary before gesturing toward the entrance.

  Mary glanced back at me - just once, barely a second - then nodded.

  I realized immediately.

  I'm not allowed to follow.

  I stayed in the car, watching them disappear inside with a light pang of anxiety.

  If anything ever happens to her, I'm as good as dead. But I can't be next to her all the time, so this will have to do.

  The noblemen beside me shifted slightly, their gazes sliding toward me with thinly veiled disdain. I didn't react, simply gazing outside with the usual blank expression.

  But inside, I was a little annoyed.

  It's almost like they can smell commoner.

  Frustration flickered through me - sharp, hot, immediate.

  I could eliminate such arrogance in seconds.

  A boy's voice broke through my thoughts.

  "Damian?"

  I glanced up.

  A small black figure sat on the hood of the car, legs swinging innocently while glancing back at me. "Should we kill them?"

  The other shadow children chimed in immediately, their voices overlapping.

  "They look ugly!"

  "Annoying!"

  "We could do it easy!"

  I stiffened, shaking my head subtly.

  The children groaned in disappointment but went back to playing, darting between cars and climbing over soldiers.

  The shadow man's certainly corrupted them a little, hasn't he?

  Time dragged.

  What felt like an hour passed before Mary and Elara finally emerged, both laughing softly as they climbed back into the lead car.

  I yawned, pulling out my pocket watch.

  Four fifty.

  At least she enjoyed herself. We'll be heading to the airship now.

  I glanced at the nobleman beside me. "May I smoke?"

  The shadow children immediately groaned in protest.

  The man barely looked at me. "It's unbecoming for someone of the ecclesiarchy."

  I placed the cigarette between my lips anyway. "I'm not part of it yet."

  I lit it, took a long drag, and turned my gaze back to the scenery.

  The nobleman said nothing more.

  ---

  The docking yards stretched across the city's edge like a monument to ambition.

  Six massive platforms rose from the ground - each one a tower of steel and stone, topped with circular landing zones wide enough to hold buildings. Scaffolding wrapped around their bases, workers moving like ants along catwalks and ladders. Cranes swung cargo nets filled with crates and supplies, their mechanical arms groaning under the weight.

  And above it all - the airships.

  They hung suspended in the air, tethered by thick chains that descended from their hulls to anchor points on the platforms. Each one was enormous - easily the size of a small estate, their shapes vaguely reminiscent of blimps but nothing like them in execution.

  The hulls were bronze and gold, polished to a mirror shine. Intricate engravings covered every surface - geometric patterns, Imperial crests, stylized wings that spiraled across the metal like frozen wind. Rows of windows lined the sides, glass gleaming, revealing glimpses of opulent interiors within.

  At the top of each airship sat a dome of crystal-clear glass, shaped like the conservatories of grand estates, light reflecting through in brilliant cascades.

  Propellers - four on each vessel - rotated slowly, their blades carved from treated wood reinforced with bronze fittings. The hum of aetheris stones vibrated through the air, a low, thrumming resonance that I felt in my chest before I heard it.

  I stared, mouth slightly open.

  Snickering came from beside me.

  I ignored it, continuing to stare.

  The convoy pulled to a stop at the base of the nearest platform. Duchess Elara stepped out first, turning to help Mary descend.

  I followed, falling into position behind Mary as we approached the boarding ramp.

  Elara bowed low, her retinue following suit. "Your Highness, all luggage has been loaded into your respective chambers. I hope your journey is smooth and pleasant."

  Mary inclined her head graciously. "Thank you, Duchess. Your hospitality has been most generous."

  The nobles bowed in perfect unison, murmuring farewells.

  Mary turned and walked up the ramp. I followed, boots clanging softly on the metal grating.

  The interior of the airship was... staggering.

  It looked like a high-class hotel suspended in the sky.

  Polished wood paneling lined the walls. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their facets catching light from aetheris lamps mounted at intervals. Carpets - thick, luxurious, patterned in gold and crimson - ran the length of the corridor. Doors led to private chambers, each one marked with brass plaques.

  Imperial soldiers lined the hallway at regular intervals, standing at attention, rifles gleaming.

  Mary walked ahead, her posture stiff, her movements sharp.

  I caught up, stepping beside her instead of behind.

  Her expression softened slightly - the tension easing just a fraction.

  "What's wrong?" I asked, my voice flat, neutral.

  Mary's jaw tightened. "My so-called cousin. All she did was lie. Such a detestable woman. Not to mention I had to deal with her for so long."

  Her golden eyes flared faintly, patterns shimmering with irritation.

  I nodded once. "It's fine. You'll have a whole week away from such people on the airship."

  Mary glanced at me, and for the first time since leaving the train, she smiled - small but genuine.

  "I plan to enjoy every moment of it."

  here's a friendly reminder to leave a rating or review if you haven't already! The Morren Arc is essentially finished now, so would love to hear your thoughts about how it came out. The next Arc will most likely surpass it in every way, since the Morren Arc was very restrictive. Still, I'd love to hear both your positive and negative thoughts, as I'm always trying to improve.