The carriage rolled steadily along the winding path, its wheels crunching softly against the packed dirt. The bustling vibrancy of Wellington Town was now far behind them, giving way to the vast openness of the countryside. Gentle hills stretched into the horizon, dotted with sparse patches of trees and jagged outcrops of rock. The air held a faint chill, carrying with it the scent of distant rain.
Inside the carriage, silence reigned.
Emma sat by the window, her forehead lightly pressed against the glass as her gaze swept over the passing scenery. Her mind was a storm of thoughts and emotions, guilt the most prominent among them. Though she had watched her mother quietly heal her hand—her fingers now as flawless as they had been before the incident—Vivian had yet to say a single word.
The absence of conversation was heavy, suffocating even, and Emma struggled with how to break it. She had rehearsed countless apologies in her head during the journey, but the weight of her misstep left her unsure of how to begin.
The terrain began to change subtly as the carriage approached a flatter region. The towering forests and rocky cliffs faded, replaced by stretches of open plains. Emma recognized the signs—they were nearing the air-train station.
The rhythmic motion of the carriage and the quiet hum of the wheels provided an odd comfort, and for a moment, she allowed herself to close her eyes. Gathering her courage, she spoke softly, her voice trembling slightly.
“Mom… I’m sorry.”
She didn’t dare look at Vivian, keeping her gaze fixed on the landscape outside the window as she continued. “I know I disobeyed you. I shouldn’t have left the carriage, and I definitely shouldn’t have stayed in that ring when I realized how dangerous it was. I just…” She hesitated, her voice faltering. “I thought it was like the festivals in Windfield—something to celebrate, that's why I went there. I didn’t mean to make you worry. I’ll accept whatever punishment you decide when we get home.”
The silence that followed her words was unbearable. Emma’s chest tightened as she stared at the reflection of her downcast face in the window.
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Then, unexpectedly, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her.
Warm, firm, and trembling slightly, Vivian’s embrace caught Emma off guard. Turning her head, Emma saw her mother’s face, her usual stoic expression replaced by something raw and vulnerable. There were unshed tears glistening in Vivian’s white eyes as she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Enough with the apologies,” Vivian said, her voice cracking slightly. “I’m just glad you’re safe. That’s all that matters.” Her grip tightened as though she was afraid Emma might disappear if she let go. “I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if something happened to you. That’s why I was angry—not because I wanted to punish you, but because I was scared.”
The words hit Emma like a tidal wave, and she felt her own tears well up. She leaned into her mother’s embrace, wrapping her arms around her in return.
“Thank you, Mom,” she whispered. “You’re the best.”
Vivian let out a soft chuckle, her voice lighter now. “That doesn’t mean you’re off the hook,” she said, pulling back just enough to meet Emma’s gaze. “You’re still getting punished for disobeying me.”
Emma groaned inwardly, her shoulders slumping dramatically before she smiled and nodded. “Okay, I accept.”
They both laughed, the sound breaking the tension that had lingered in the carriage since they left Wellington. For the first time in what felt like hours, the air felt light again.
As the laughter faded, the driver turned slightly in his seat, tipping his hat. “Ma’am, we’ve arrived at the air-train station.”
Emma’s head snapped toward the window, her eyes widening with excitement. In the distance, the grand structure of the station came into view. A towering iron latticework reached skyward, its intricate design resembling the skeletal wings of a great bird. The air-train itself was visible in the distance, a sleek metallic marvel hovering just above the rails that hummed with barely contained energy. Steam hissed from various vents along the platform, mingling with the soft glow of mana-powered lamps.
“Wow,” Emma muttered, her breath fogging the glass. The sight filled her with awe, her earlier worries momentarily forgotten.
Vivian smiled faintly at her daughter’s enthusiasm.
As the carriage came to a stop, Emma stepped out eagerly, her shoes clicking against the polished stone platform. She turned back to her mother, her heart brimming with renewed determination.
“Eldo-Clearoth Kingdom,” Emma said softly, her voice carrying a mixture of trepidation and excitement. “Here we come.”
Vivian placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder, a rare warmth in her expression.
“You’ll do great, Emma,” she said. “Just remember—this is only the beginning.”
With that, they began walking toward the station, the hum of the air-train growing louder as the future awaited them.