There is a long black train that travels day and night. Its only purpose is to deliver those condemned to the far west where the devil himself resides. Pedophiles and rapists are unworthy of such graceful delights, as those who have committed the worst atrocities throughout the lands of Gridarnia do not qualify for a ticket on this old sinful ride. It screams and crows, but its old bones refuse to give out. Down the tracks it groans to fish you all out. Did you steal and get caught? Did you commit a murder or two? Did you dishonor yourself or those who loved you too? Maybe getting captured in the many lies that you told? Yes! It is you who are worthy of sitting on this train. It is you who I’d gladly help redeem if you make it to the end. Jump on up if you dare but be weary. It's a fight to the end for a seat and a meal. The only place we are heading is the middle of nowhere. To the far end of the land, where death, demons and darkness reign. Help Gridarnia fight evil, and you may be whole, again.

…

“I can’t believe how stupid you are to think that she could ever love you.”

“You fool! You rat! I wish you would were dead”

“Seth”

“You have broken your mother’s heart and…”

“Seth!”

“You are no longer my son. I banish you from this home..”

Seth!”

“You will never amount to anything little brother..”

“SETH!!”

He woke up suddenly, grabbing his knife and thrusting outward. He stopped his blade just inches from her neck as he realized who was screaming his name. The train had pushed onward throughout the night and now the sun was peeking over the horizon.

“Sorry Ati. Bad dream.” Seth said, pulling himself up. He put the knife back in his holster

“It’s okay. It’s been a long week." she said, positioning herself next to him on the floor.

“Where are we?” Seth asked, looking through the three-inch hole in the side.

“I think we have passed into Region VII.” Atiyah said.

She was stoking the small fire she had going in a tin can they had found. It was full of crushed paper and dried leaves. Her silver hair was hidden in a small black beanie and her clothes were more rugged than the finer silk and jewels she was normally adorned in. Seth felt the chilling cold of the north coming in through the many gaps of the metallic walls. Getting on the train nearly killed them. Five days of camping out in the forest on the outskirts of Region II. The cold, wildlife and lack of food was disastrous. When the train finally arrived, they had nearly missed it in the pale moonlight over the snow-covered plains. Two makeshift hang gliders, a terrible landing on the very last box carriage, and they were now stowaways between piles up boxes of weapons and armor.

“Atiyah, are you sure about this? You did not have to come with me.” Seth asked

“I’ve told you a thousand times to stop asking me that. I made my decision. There was no way I was letting you do this alone.” she simply said.

Atiyah Frostbirch was an ice elf of the northeastern tundra in Region II. A princess by birth, she was the fifth daughter of the leader of the northern ice elves. She was shorter and a bit stockier than most girls her age. She was close to five feet tall and had just celebrated her twenty-fifth birthday. She was a master of ice, water, and air magic before the age of fifteen, and although was too young to participate in the war, was top of her class at the Magical Academy of Elvin Kind or MAEK University for short.

Seth Ravensword was human. His parents were the ambassadors from the Kingdom which is how he and Atiyah had become friends. He had spent his entire life in the shadow’s of his older brother Kyle, while she spent most of her time hiding from the shadow that her older brothers and sisters forced over her.

Seth was overweight, five foot eleven inches and had dark brown hair normally spiked up in the front. At twenty-six, his only accomplishment was serving in the Regalian War. Well, barely serving in the Regalian war. Seth had struggled through four years at Compound Alpha, while his older brother, Kyle, won every award and then some. The stupid place of learning actually created more awards just to give to him. After graduating, Seth was then sent to the back lines, where he served as a half-ass healer for some stuck-up Vice Admiral who was incapable of not getting some sort of sexually transmitted disease nearly every single night. Seth actually attempted to go heal the poor boys and girls in that brothel to make his own life easier.

It was a losing battle and thankfully the war ended, and he was able to return home with the standard participation trophy that was, the Gridarnia Medal of Service. Kyle got a medal of honor, a medal of freedom, and a promotion to Major. Seth managed to go from Specialist to Corporal, but he never saw combat. He was more than content with this as his matrix offered zero to no help with anything.

“Glitch, are you still with me?” Seth mentally asked

“I..a….ere…M….Sth..” Glitch tried to say before sputtering out.

Glitch worked once, a long time ago. He was first bonded to Seth’s Grandpa, Chester Ravensword, before old age and dementia took Chester and half of Glitch’s sanity with him. Seth asked about fixing or getting a replacement once, but that was shut down by the Grand Supreme of Compound Alpha. Seth was sternly told to suck it up, figure it out, and do better until he was finally surpassed by everyone he ever knew.

“He's still not talking right?” Atiyah asked

“He talks. Just takes a bit of practice to figure out what he is saying.” Seth said.

He had learned to figure out the different sounds, rumbles, and light sequences throughout the years. No Display windows unfortunately, Glitch was an old school Matrix with an old school instruction manual lost somewhere in the depths of the northern coast.

There was a noise, and they looked up over the boxes to see. A guard walked in, looked around, take a piss out, and then walked back to the next cart. Seth and Atiyah stayed as still and as silent as they possibly could and waited for him to leave.

Stolen story; please report.

“What’s the plan now that we are here?” Atiyah asked

Seth pulled out a piece of paper and read it out loud

“There is a long black train that travels day and night. Its only purpose is to deliver those condemned to the far west where the devil himself resides…” Seth continued the rest of the entry.

“Where did you even learn about this?” She asked

“While I was away, I met some people. I overheard them talking about these crazy fighters at the western edge of the kingdom. They fought fires and demons and the infestation. They were convicts and people who were in need of a second chance. They served their time and were granted a new start. The first step was to make it to the train.” Seth explained

“Did these new friends tell you what to do next?”

“We have to make it to the end. Once we get to the where the train stops, we can join the line.”

“What’s the line?” Atiyah asked

“The line of fighters keeping the demons at bay. We join Hell's Line Walkers, serve our time and come back to live our lives somewhere else. Regalia, Monster Island or maybe even Region XI. I heard they have a new Baron who is nice to people. Our families won’t ever think to look to the west, and even if they find us, they would not be able to do anything. The Line walkers are untouchable because of how important they are to the kingdom” Seth said.

“Do you think they will take us?” She asked

“You have a natural affinity to air, water, and ice magic. You do not require a matrix for any of it. If we find you a sword, you can kill ten men twice your size without braking a sweat. They would be dumb not to let you. I also have an affinity for water and light magic and am an experienced healer with military service. My matrix is slightly busted but we can still be of some use.” Seth said

“How long until we get there?” Atiyah asked

“I would say about four hours if you live long enough?” a voice said inside one of the crates.

The two froze in their place before slowly moving forward and lifting the latch on the crate. The lid fell downward revealing a small plump child looking creature.

“Ello. How are you two doing today?” The creature said

“Fine, what are you?” Seth asked, perplexed.

“Seth! That is rude!” Atiyah said, hitting him on the arm.

Seth rubbed the spot and winced a little before looking back at the small creature.

“My name is Fizzle Whizzlesnipe. Call me Fiz, and to answer his question. I am half gnome.”

“What is the other half? Seth asked before being hit again by Atiyah. She did not hold back this time.

“I have no fucking clue if I am being honest. Dad was a gnome, and I could never get a straight answer anytime I asked. She is not and has not been in the picture since birthing me however. He once told me she was another gnome, but that can’t be right because I am a bit taller than a normal gnome. She could have been a sprite, or a human, or even an elf. Part of me thinks she was a dwarf but I truly cannot say. All I know is she wasn’t there.” Fizz explained before rolling out of the box and sitting across from them.

He took out a small box and started tinkering with it. Electricity sizzled between his fingers as he fiddled with a sequence of wires and pulleys. Seth moved forward to the Gnome.

“It is nice to meet you Fiz. I am Seth. This is Atiya.” Seth said, reaching out and shaking the half-gnome's small hand with three of his fingers.

“How did you end up in the crate?” Atiyah asked, she also reaching out and shaking his hand.

“That is an interesting story. I was near the station over in region I, searching the crates for a particle recepticator joint and…”

“A what?” Seth asked

“A particle recepticator joint. It is a piece of metal that fits between the particle receptor and the main T-bracket of a weapon I am building. Not this weapon, a different weapon, much larger. So anyway, I was looking for one and I heard a noise and slipped. I fell in this crate and bumped my head which I think knocked me out. Anyway again, the station workers must have shut the latch and loaded me up on the train because here we are.” Fiz explained

“How..What..Whe..” Seth started to ask but was very confused.

“How do you know we are about four hours from the end?” Atiyah asked, taking back control of the conversation.

“I overheard some dwarf and another human talking about it.” Fiz said nonchalantly. He fiddled some more with his box and then put it away.

There was a large banging sound, and the door to the next cart swung open. There was some scurrying and some crates were thrown over on the other side of the cart.

The three slowly peeked up over the crate they were hiding behind. Four human men and a female dwarf stood there to the front of the carriage trashing the place.

“If there is anyone in here, you better come out, otherwise we will tear your insides out and shove them up your arse.

The three slowly stood up and walked out into the open. Seth kept his hands by his sides where his knife was holstered. Atiyah held tightly to her bag in case they needed to run. Seth climbed up on a nearby crate. He was only about four feet tall.

“Hiya guys. The weather looks to be getting warmer. Have they served the complementary cheese and crackers yet?” Seth babbled nervously.

The four men stood there holding weapons and were cladded in thick leather hides. The one on the right held a two handed double sided ax. The two on the left had short swords. The female dwarf had a bow and arrow drawn and pointed directly at them. The smaller human in the middle did not have a weapon. He lit a wooden pipe with a match and took a few pulls before staring at the three.

“You don’t look to have a ticket.” he said casually

“Oh yeah, you see there was this dog and a group of rubber ducks and we don’t have a ticket..” Seth said finally. His yammering was not going to get him anywhere.

“Can I play with the little elfie?” the man with the ax said. His smile was yellow and Seth was pretty sure he had shit in between his teeth.

"No! She is mine. I want a taste of her hair." another said

“Glitch, I need you to boot up please. I might need a bit of mana.” Seth muttered to his matrix.

He felt the small cube on his left shoulder start to shutter and warmth radiated over his cold body. Fizz made a glance at Seth, but did not say anything. His happy demeanor became serious as he studied the lights sequencing emanating on Seth's shoulder.

The human on the far right lunged forward to grab at Atiyah. Seth stepped in his way grabbing his sword hand by the wrist, and plunging his knife deep into the man’s chest. The man dropped his sword which Atiyah quickly sprinted up to grab before retreating back half a step

“Light Blast” Seth whispered

He willed a few units of light mana into the knife. The human looked down to see the glow coming from inside his bleeding torso. Suddenly, the man was thrown back towards the front part of the train. His limp body crashed into the side of the interior, and he fell to the floor in a lifeless heap. The other’s stepped forward before being motioned to stop by the shorter man.

“We need to kill them before that man comes and…” the dwarf started to say but was cut off by the appearance of another figure sitting three crates up above them. Seth looked up to see him there staring at the commotion.

“Greetings! Welcome to the long black train. My name is Lance. Are you ready to hear the rules?”