Tachyon Bullet Trains—colloquially known as Elysiums—were renowned for their high speed and efficiency. With a rate of acceleration of 150 km/h to 320km/h, they were one of the fastest ways of traveling around the Tachyon Empire, allowing civilians to cover long distances in a matter of hours rather than days.

  The cutting-edge technology of the Empire helped bridge the gap between a civilian and a studied Thaumaturge in day-to-day life. While most civilians could never hope to cast massive fireballs or tornadoes without years of studying, training, and a pinch of talent, it was possible to live an ordinary life as long as one had some amount of thaumaturgical capabilities. The Tachyon Empire’s technology made sure of that.

  But for Centrum Supremum personnel, the Elysiums were not only an efficient method of transport but also a weapon in their own right. For instance, with its speed and acceleration, a single train could be sent from San Corona, the Royal Capital and capital of the Pendragon province, to Nova Roma—capital of the western province of Hyperion in just over 5 hours. However, even the most efficient bullet train couldn't completely surpass the limits of physics and time. It could travel at a certain maximum speed, but it couldn't go any faster than that. The same was true for aircraft and automobiles. The only benefits they served in the Tachyon Empire were to increase the efficiency of subject life and to travel across long distances without the use of Thaumaturgy.

  Pendragon, Orion, Vesperia, Solaria, Fiora, and Hyperion, the Elysium could travel to any of the Empire’s six provinces at a reasonable time.

  But when compared to the Miracle Art, they would never ever be able to reach its peak power or speed.

  "Pandora, please explain to me again why we have to go on this godforsaken train." Acacia moaned and groaned as the two of them boarded the Elysium, with Pandora grabbing their tickets for the ride. To hide his prisoner rags from the public, he wore a blue collar uniform. He still looked like a bum, but it was better than looking like a criminal.

  “Believe me, I don’t want to use this either, but walking to our destination would take weeks. You can’t use Thaumaturgy, and I really doubt that you have the stamina and speed to keep up with me when I use [Flux]. This is the best way to get there when considering your abilities. It’ll only take a few hours, and I bought the deluxe tickets, so just shut up and enjoy the ride.” Pandora placed her hands on her hips as she stared at Acacia, her usual cold stare softened by a smidge of annoyance.

  Oh, that’s right. As an Inquisitor, she’s probably filthy rich and used to delicacies like this. She can’t possibly understand how time-consuming this could be. Acacia pondered for an instant before sucking up his ardent displeasure.

  As Acacia and Pandora stepped onto the sleek, silver-bodied bullet train, they were immediately enveloped by an atmosphere of futuristic grandeur. The interior of the Elysium exuded a sense of refined elegance, seamlessly blending cutting-edge technology with luxurious comfort. Soothing lights adorned the spacious cabin, casting a warm glow that danced across the polished surfaces. The walls, adorned with intricate patterns, flowed with dynamic electricity.

  The seating arrangements of the deluxe section were a testament to ergonomic design and opulence. Plush, leather seats beckoned passengers to sink into their sumptuous embrace, offering unparalleled comfort during the journey. Each space was equipped with personal control panels, allowing travelers to adjust their position, ambient lighting, and temperature to their liking. The advanced technology seamlessly catered to individual preferences, ensuring a bespoke travel experience.

  The windows, made of advanced transparent alloys, provided a breathtaking panorama of the passing landscape. As the Elysium gathered momentum, the outside world blurred into streaks of vibrant colors, creating an illusion of soaring through a vivid dreamscape. The view was a mesmerizing fusion of nature and technology, as rolling hills, lush forests, and bustling cities whizzed by in a blur.

  He marveled at the efficiency of the onboard service. A team of impeccably dressed attendants glided through the aisles, offering an array of delectable refreshments and culinary delights. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, tea, and delicate pastries permeated the air, tantalizing the senses and adding to the overall sensory experience.

  Overhead, an integrated audio system filled the carriage with a soothing symphony, blending classical melodies with undertones of Western harmonies. The music served as a reminder of the Tachyon Empire's reverence for the arts and the profound connection between culture and advancement.

  As the Elysium surged forward with effortless grace and velocity, Acacia couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and trepidation. The train represented the pinnacle of human ingenuity and progress, propelling them swiftly through the vast expanse of the empire. The seamless fusion of technology and Thaumaturgy within the bullet train mirrored the intricate tapestry of their world—a world where scientific advancements and mysticism coexisted in perfect symmetry.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “I feel a little out of place here…” Acacia’s mood turned dour, knowing wholeheartedly that an Irregular had no business being in this area—prisoner or not.

  “You’ll get used to it. Ocarina is deep in the southwest of the Empire, close to a few island territories that we got from Hausa. Where we’re going is to the east coast. It’s going to take a while even with the Elysium’s speed.” Pandora replied as she leaned into her seat across from Acacia, allowing her to relax for a few hours. Plotting for a whole night and saving a boy from execution would do that to a young woman, even if she was an Inquisitor.

  Acacia let out a sigh. He tried to find his own spot to sit, but it was all too comfortable. He would probably fall asleep in a matter of seconds if he decided to try to relax. Relenting, he decided to sit across from Pandora, a portable table being the distance dividing them.

  "Are there any more places like Ocarina?"

  "If you mean how the society is structured, then yes. There are cities and places with lower levels of technology than the capitals and the areas surrounding them, but they're not all that far apart in their system of society. The farther you are from the capitals’ spheres of influence, the less Thaumaturgy you will be taught, since it's the easiest way to identify someone as a Thaumaturge. However, the societal structure stays the same. The better of a Thaumaturge you are, the more status, respect, and influence you will gain. This is why certain cities are run by noble families behind the scenes, taking advantage of cities with less talented individuals to remain in power. Ocarina is simply an example of one of those many cities.”

  Acacia merely nodded. He didn't even know why he asked a question like that in the first place, especially in the middle of a train ride. Perhaps he was trying to get a sense of the Tachyon Empire, or maybe he was simply looking for a distraction to keep his mind off of the fact that he was going to leave Ocarina for the rest of his life. It wasn’t like he would encounter situations like these anymore, as long as he kept his head down.

  "So what's the name of the city we're going to? Is it Magnolia?"

  "No. As I said before, Magnolia is the metropolitan capital. I used to live there when I worked for the military, but now that I have pivoted to the Divine Court, my area of operations is up north.”

  “So, the name?”

  “Windsor.”

  At that name, Acacia’s dour expression immediately brightened.

  "Oh, I've always wanted to go to that city! It's one of the top ten tourist spots in the Empire! It’s in Orion up north, right?!”

  “Yeah, The City of Windmills attracts many people. It has the largest number of wind turbines per square kilometer ratio in the Empire with beautiful gardens and valleys as a backdrop. The energy generated by these turbines weekly can power all cities within a thirty-kilometer radius of it, ten times over.” Pandora explained with a wry chuckle, seeing as every fact she gave made Acacia’s face drop with fervent awe.

  “T-that's amazing,” the fanboy in Acacia couldn’t help but stutter. “I guess Windsor doesn’t have a big university or anything right?”

  Pandora nodded, leaning back into her seat and stretching. She crossed her legs and intertwined her hands behind her head, getting a glimpse of Acacia in the corner of her eye. She took this time to grab an idle newspaper on the paper as she flipped around it.

  “Windsor focuses on technological development and management rather than the pursuit of Thaumaturgy. While Thaumaturgy is taught, well-researched, and a big part of its culture, its focus on civilian and everyday science has inadvertently caused Windsor to be one of the lesser prejudiced cities. This is especially impressive considering that it ranks twelfth on the ‘Top 20 Most Renowned Cities of Tachyon.’” Pandora smirked as the San Corona Daily Times newspaper she held had an article just on that topic. “Because of that, Windsor has rather general schools with Thaumaturgy being a backdrop rather than a focus. None of them come close to the prestige of Vanguard University though, and others of the like.”

  Acacia bobbed his head, taking a look at the city map that was embedded on the table. Electronically powered, it displayed a close-up overhead visual of their current position. The map was constantly updated to give the appearance that it was moving with respect to the train. With a module on the right, it revealed that there were still about 4 hours and 45 minutes left before their destination would arrive.

  “Don’t give me that face. You probably haven’t eaten since yesterday morning. I don’t want you to die of starvation. Refreshments will come every half an hour. Just be patient and—I dunno—watch the scenery. This is your first time traveling.”

  Acacia grunted, not having the energy to retort back. He looked at the window, taking in the view of the land he would be leaving forever. Ocarina was a mere port city in the southwest province of Fiora, dominated by nobility and corruption with little way of getting out. His shackles had been set free, and now it was up to his brain to register such.

  “We also need to get you a surname. But, don’t fret. I already have one figured out. You’ll be taking this one.” Pandora said as if it was just a fact of the world. She proceeded to slide him a file that held his new full name.

  “I see.” Acacia blinked.

  The Elysium passed by a vast mountain range.

  “I guess Belmont has a good ring to it.”