Norbert looked around the hallway he was now in, quickly running through. Norbert looked in the side rooms, seeing office equipment like desks and chairs positioned, all having the same layout in each room. Norbert quickly went forward, not caring about stealth for the moment, just not wanting to be surrounded by whoever would generally occupy this area.
Coming to the end of the corridor, it branched into two areas. The left with a corridor going further, and to the right, a staircase spiralling down, cut out of the stone; torches placed evenly going down the staircase and along the corridor. Scanning both sides, the left going further on the level and the right the spiral staircase. Taking out his compass, Norbert looked for which way it pointed, pointing more to the right than the left. His decision made Norbert leapt onto the railing.
Crouching down, his feet spread apart; sliding on the railing of the stairs as he went down level after level. Nearly falling off the first time, it levelled out, showing another hallway—flight after flight of stairs; Norbert shot by, going faster and faster down each one.
The further down he went, Norbert could hear sounds bouncing up to the top as he flew by an entrance way seeing steps. As he continued down, none of the hallways positioned itself correctly, Norbert not even bothering to delve into it, knowing time was of the essence.
At the bottom, Norbert saw an exit, looking out on the floor again, pulling out the compass it pointed in the direction out the door, still going to the left. Knowing it was his best bet, Norbert stuck his head around the corner, seeing what room he was dealing with, able to hear people moving about constantly from behind the entrance.
Walking up, Norbert peaked his head around, slack-jawed at what he saw. Within the mountains was an entire organisation set up. Crates closed off were being sectioned into piles, humanoids walking around carrying them, others with tools, and some just watching all of it, shouting and pointing at places they wanted it to go.
The humanoids all types, from globs with tentacles and eyes to having nearly looking human but with a single extra trait like having a tail, cat like irises or scales covering them. As well as what would be classified as normal beast people. Everyone came together in a mixing pot, the result spread out before him.
Norbert just stared, seeing the same number of people in a city, wondering what they could all be doing there. As Norbert looked around, he spotted something he would have never guessed, a train.
Well, calling it a train was not entirely correct; it was a vehicle on rails; the train engine looked like nothing Norbert expected, just a box at the front with a door. Behind it, Norbert saw the carriages open-topped, allowing items to be placed inside, not protected by the weather.
The grey machine was sitting. Still, the humanoids climbed aboard and lifted the cargo boxes; taking out his compass again, Norbert saw it was pointing right at the train, unable to tell precisely which carriage it was coming from.
Looking down at his attire Norbert knew he would stand out like a sore thumb; even if he did have a change of clothes, he felt he would still stand out. Staring at the crowd, Norbert saw a group coming his way, carrying multiple crates. On the stairs he was, Norbert saw nowhere to hide. Breathing in, knowing that now was the time for action. Norbert went out and ducked behind a pile of crates near the stairs.
Watching the group approach, Norbert waited in tense silence, seeing one of their eyes passing over him as they walked up the stairs. Breathing out the breath he was holding, Norbert focused once more on the train.
Waiting patiently, Norbert continued getting closer and closer to it until he was nearly a hundred meters away. Taking out the compass once more, Norbert located one of them in the second carriage and the next in the third; not knowing how many more carriages they would be in, Norbert just sat down and waited, examining the comings and goings of the people.
As he sat there, Norbert wondered why they didn’t use magic to get out or if anyone here used magic to move items around. Shaking his head as the compass confirmed his selection, Norbert clicked through the three, confirming their positioning was as he expected.
“Move out, off the tracks, everyone, the trains moving!” One of the humanoids with a clipboard shouted. Awoken from his daze, Norbert looked around, seeing the wheels on the train slowly move silently, the only sound of the metal wheels scraping against the tracks.
Seeing his time was now, Norbert waited a second more, wanting the train to leave the station before leaving his hiding spot. Breathing in, Norbert focused his energy all around his body, feeling it burst around. Keeping it in, Norbert started counting down from ten.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The train was moving nine, eight seven, and only two carriages left in the station. Six, five, four, it had left the station entirely; Norbert seeing those around him, started to move about, getting the last of the crates into position three, two.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” a voice came from behind Norbert. Not even turning, Norbert sprinted forward, bursting through the crates in front of him, smashing through bottles and straws, hearing them smash behind him.
“GET HIM!” one of the humanoids said from before him. Norbert took out his sword, holding it next to him. Norbert kept it at his side, hoping it would deter anyone from coming near him if they could. Ahead Norbert saw the train lights come on, showing a tunnel cut into the mountain.
Bundling his energy into his legs, Norbert pushed forward, seeing an opening before him. Forwards, Norbert ran, people around him whizzing by until he dropped, feet nearly getting caught on the rails.
Righting himself and placing the sword back in the sheath, Norbert focused on going ahead, happy that he had the mask to hide his identity at least and not become a wholly wanted fugitive inside the mountain.
Seeing the train start to gain ground on Norbert, the light going further and further away, hearing the clickety-clack of the rails getting further and further. Not believing this second-rate technology could outrun him, Norbert ran as hard as he could.
The wind was tearing at his face; opening it up, needing to squint as he felt the planks connecting the rails underneath his feet crack and crumble under the strain. Thankfully Norbert saw the lights come closer and closer.
Focusing on going even faster, not knowing who could be on the train. Norbert finally reached it, clasping it to the top of the last carriage with his hands. Norbert lifted his feet off the ground, pulling himself up.
Feeling the train not going any faster, the wind through his hair Norbert pulled himself up, instantly ducking down again when a stalactite was seen, nearly getting thrown off the train.
Calming his nerves from nearly losing it after just making it on, Norbert pulled himself before landing into the last carriage, his feet banging on the metal floor. Looking around, Norbert found himself in an empty container, happy nobody was around.
Steadily walking, the train constantly rocking on the tracks, he walked to the other end, sticking his head up once more and looking ahead. Counting ten more until the front, Norbert breathed out, seeing he had many more.
After going through another two, Norbert poked his head out again, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Before he could move, he was awash in light, squinting, his eyes blinded by the amount of light after being in the tunnel. Norbert sat down, waiting for his eyes to adjust.
After several seconds Norbert looked around, seeing a cloudy blue sky above. Carefully poking his head out, Norbert looked around, moving past water lakes, hills poking up everywhere.
Not believing it was on the other side, Norbert turned back, watching the mountain he came from. Realising from this side that it wasn’t a mountain he was looking at, it was a mountain range, with towers and walkways built all along it.
Staring slack-jawed at the operation on the other side, Norbert looked to the front; happy nobody was around. Now not needing to care about the ceiling, Norbert quickly climbed over the next two, finally seeing people inside.
Hands bound and feet bound in chains, Norbert saw ruins pulsing on them, leather cords in their mouths stopping them from speaking as he stared at the expedition; they all talked to him, mumbling their words through their bindings.
Taking the leather out of the first person, a warrior by the gear that they were wearing, Norbert placed a finger to their lips, hoping for silence. Taking the chains binding their hands in his, Norbert pulled as hard as he could, hearing the metal bend, and with a final groan, it relented.
Tearing the shackles on their feet as well, Norbert looked as they rubbed their hands around the chains, now dull metal shackles that were once glowing.
Norbert leaning forward, whispered, “Can you help with the others?”
Receiving a nod in return, they began opening more and more until the ten people there had been freed. Jumping over, Norbert repeated, seeing Dobert and Martitia there. Smiling and waving at them as they looked at him wide eyes, Norbert continued, hopping from carriage to carriage, freeing them.
Those behind him could as well join until; finally, all of them had been released. Now around the front, Dousan, rubbing his wrists, looked up at Norbert, nodding his thanks. Standing up, Norbert looked into the first carriage, seeing the equipment inside.
Further along, Norbert spotted the train's engine, two people just staring at him; Norbert just stared back, mask on his face he shouted, “If you change this train at all, your dead man!” Taking out his sword and holding it in front of him, blade unwavering as he pumped energy into him, knowing the veins on his neck would be exposed, shining purple as Norbert tried to be as intimidating as possible.
The drivers not moving as those around Norbert quickly got their baggage, passing it between each other until it was all collected. Quickly turning back to Dousan, Norbert waited for him to go; on the side of the train, Norbert saw another lake shoot past, right next to the tracks.
Dousan nodded in return shouting over the wind, “Ok, everyone, looks like this is our stop; follow me into the lake!”
Before waiting for a reply, Dousan had a foot on the side of the container and leapt off, flying past and splashing into the water. One after the other, they all began jumping off, Norbert watching Azalea go over as well, heart steady knowing she was with them, hoping they were still together.
The last one, Norbert, looked back to the two drivers. Taking out two silver coins, he threw them, both of them rattling on the floor. “To keep your silence and make it worth your trouble!” Norbert shouted before he leapt off the container, plunging into the water.
As his feet touched down, Norbert finally remembered he wouldn’t have a set of dry clothes. Groaning internally, Norbert once more was flush with cold water.