Bloodflowers Bloom (The Astral Wanderer Book 2), D'Artagnan Rey [essential reading .txt] 📗

masterpieces,” Victor said with pride. He was now dressed in the white-and-gold armor of the city guard, and on both hips were large curved blades with a grip in the middle that connected Glaives, his unique exotic. “Only Britana has more travel than Renaissance, but we still have the most elegant station in all the kingdoms.”

“Monleans had the first cobalt grid trains as I understand,” Wulfsun remarked as he looked around the station. The Templar stood head and shoulders above all others there.

“Indeed. They started to bring them in twelve years ago and most of the cobalt furnace trains have been phased out already,” Victor added, so boastful one would think he had a hand in inventing them.

“Here, Devol, take these.” Lilli insisted and handed her son two large bags. “The blue one has extra food for the trip,” she explained. “And the white one has clothes and other supplies for when you return to the order hall.”

“I’ll be back, Mom, I promise!” he assured her and gave her another hug. “Like Wulfsun said, I’m only a portal away now.”

“Is that our train?” Asla asked and pointed to one of the tracks. The group turned as a large, sleek train pulled into the station. It was white with gold trimming and white light streamed from under it as the mana transferred from the cobalt engine in the train and connected it to the tracks.

There were no doors on the front. Instead, a man in a white suit and hat teleported out and held a hand up as blue mana formed the word Levirei in the air. “Train to Levirei! All aboard!” he shouted and finished his declaration with a whistle as he began to march down the line. The group all began to hurry forward along with dozens of others.

Devol produced his ticket and an official punched it to allow him onto the transit area. The others did the same except for his parents, but thanks to his father’s position, the man simply bowed and let them through to see their son off.

He loaded his bags onto a cart, which was taken by a bellhop whom he thanked with a few cobalt bits. As the cart was pushed away, he noticed a set of odd figures in the distance. There were four of them and all wore dark robes that shadowed their faces. They were dressed from head to foot in black, but he noticed an odd curve to the fingers of their gloves and felt a strange yet familiar presence from them. As he began to send mana into his eyes, a hurrying merchant bumped into him and almost knocked them both over.

“So sorry…not paying attention!” the man apologized and helped to stabilize him. “It’s best to get on soon, young one. The train waits for no one.” He stepped quickly on board and when the boy turned to look at the figures again, they were gone.

“Last call for Levirei!” the conductor shouted as he passed through on his way to the front of the train. He teleported inside once he reached his mark.

“We’d best get going,” Wulfsun said and Devol turned to confirm that everyone was behind him. “Are the bags on board?”

He nodded absently. Although he wanted to mention the cloaked figures, he did not know where they had gone and he decided he shouldn’t worry his parents at this juncture. He gave his mom one last hug and shook his father’s hand as he and the others climbed aboard. Their train car was decorated with white carpet and similar orange glass above, which bathed the car in the same warm glow as the station. He found his seat, lowered the window, and waved to his parents as the train started. The car lifted slightly and he ducked inside before it set off and he closed the window.

“So, are you excited, apprentice?” Wulfsun chortled as he chose a seat across from the three and his bulk almost filled the row.

“Are you already calling me that?” Devol responded and folded his arms. “So you’ve finally come around, eh?”

The Templar stroked his beard and regarded him with an unrepentant look. “I never minded the idea at all. I merely wanted to make sure my ass was covered,” he admitted and looked out the window as the fields of Renaissance flew past. “In case Elijah does come back, it’s better to be safe.”

The boy frowned as he thought about that. “So, Elijah…you make him sound like a rather stern man.”

Wulfsun hesitated for a moment before he shrugged. “He’s not exactly the rowdy type at all, but he is a gentle soul normally. It’s merely best to not annoy him.” He waved a large hand as if to dismiss the thoughts out of the air. “That’s something you should still talk about with your parents. For now, I’ll mark this as the official start of your apprenticeship. You’d best be prepared.”

“Technically, you have been training him until now,” Asla pointed out. “This is only…ceremonial, is it not?”

“Templars are big on ceremony.” Jazai chuckled. “Haven’t you noticed?”

Devol took a moment to look down the car from his seat. A stewardess was checking on passengers but he did not see any signs of the figures he’d noticed before.

“Is something wrong, lad?” Wulfsun asked, an eyebrow raised as he looked curiously at the boy. “You seem anxious.”

Devol wondered whether he should bother or not. Perhaps he was being paranoid. Before he could make his mind up, the Templar leaned forward. “Being your mentor is more than only training, Devol. If you need something, let me know.”

The man’s seriousness was rather disarming and he put his thoughts together quickly. “A few minutes before we left, I saw these guys—four of them—in dark robes. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something off about them.”

“Oh, good. It wasn’t only me then.” Jazai sighed. “I think they may have been dark magi. It’s not technically illegal as long as they don’t use blood magic or necromancy,