Chapter 48: Onwards
For thirty minutes, the train will journey along the border between Lunazel and Cezanne. Then, the two locomotors will part, diverging into the north and west.
Park Noah stood among the travelers, her frail hands gripping the hem of her robe tightly. She held her breath as she waited for her turn to ascend in the train. Muell, who held her hands, muttered.
“I think human life is too complicated.”
“I know.”
“We could just burn everything that threatens Noah. This train and the train station and everything.”
“That’s right- huh?”
Without his master’s guidance, Muell would undoubtedly succumb to the urges of his ferocious nature. Park Noah sighed, brushing his soft curls. “My Mu, if you keep saying such a scary thing, I’ll spank you.”
“I don’t like that…” The red-eyed child pouted.
Soon, it was almost their turn to board the train. Kyle Leonard, on the other hand, queued on the last batch of passengers to ensure all the guards who followed them had already stepped aboard.
Park Noah took a deep breath as the woman before her disappeared into the train. Once she set foot inside, she pulled off her hood; her apricot waves gleamed under the sunlight and danced along the whistle of the wind.
“I see them,” Muell muttered, tightening his grip on Park Noah.
The men who guarded the train previously fixed their eyes on the red-haired woman. Park Noah glanced back at Kyle Leonard who signaled a ‘yes’. Then, she turned around, determined, and hurriedly mingled into the crowd inside.
Immediately, her feet began to disappear. Muell’s magic was working. In less than a second, her entire body was concealed from sight.
“Wow, this feels weird…” Park Noah felt the child embrace her, but there was nothing she, too, could see. She clutched Muell closer, observing the swarm of passengers who were hasty on finding their designated seats. I’m better off invisible in front of a crowd… Even if I kick someone while I’m walking by…
“Argh! F*ck. Who is it? Someone kicked my shin! It’s you, isn’t it?”
…No one would think that there’s some sort of invisible person here.
Park Noah decided to stop being cautious and quickened her pace.
“Don’t push me, please!”
“I didn’t push you, old lady!”
I’m sorry, passengers!
She easily slithered through the narrow corridor lined with the first-class rooms, repeatedly murmuring several apologies. She stood at the junction between the first and second-class compartments and took a deep breath.
Muell pulled her hand and said, “Here comes the old man.”
Kyle Leonard emerged from the front compartment. She swiftly grabbed his arms as he almost passed by them.
“Sir, here you are!”
His eyes widened in surprise at her cold touch. Then, he caught a glimpse of Muell and muttered under his breath, “It ’s perfect. I really can’t see you.”
“I know. It’s perfect except I can’t see myself, too. So, did all of them get on board?”
“Yes, three are in Battuanu and the other two are here. They’ll be over here soon. we’d better move before that.”
Kyle Leonard carried Muell in his arms and ushered Park Noah in the middle as passengers thronged in the hallway. She tried to push past the passengers…
“Wait!” Muell’s voice was small, but his tone was sharp.
Simultaneously, Kyle Leonard’s face hardened together with the child. Muell’s red eyes elongated in an instant. The investigator snatched her hand, pulling her towards him. Her body was flung forward by a formidable grip among the restless crowd.
“….!”
At that moment, different sounds overlapped inside the train — the wind hissed and metal banged against metal. And the very next second, something ripped apart.