It takes time to reach the Capital of the Mence. The train, though it can cross spans of land easily. Needed time to cool down its custom-made steam engine to ease the sprites living in it.

Stopping in the middle of an open plain. The passengers sat under the stars while the train’s crew did their best to make the train move again through a series of rituals and offerings to appease the stubborn sprite engines.

On the grassland where the citizens sat. Some brought their lanterns with them. Others laid thick blankets on the grass and joined together in the warmth of the cold.

Milo would love to have someone to sit with. But he was a rather lonesome bachelor. He sat cross-legged on the roof of the train with eyes following the lines on the horizon.

With a journal on the left hand and pen on the right. Tapping the tip of his pen. He started writing his thoughts down.

The train stopped an hour ago. I asked the engineer operating the train why it did. He told me they need to appease the sprites. The ritual of appeasement is always fascinating to see. The Mayor and the passengers went to relax on the flat grassland while the train was being fixed.

Milo stops writing for a while and stares at the grassland. Dotting the grassland were the lanterns the passengers brought. Young children, who were strangers, were playing tag while a young musician does his best to sing while his partner dances to the tune of music.

Milo was unsure of what to feel every time he saw such a sight. Palming his head. He saw the past. His other life before he woke up to this wonderful world.

The fiery lines scratching the skies.

Machines break the land as hundreds of people gather cowering at a building barely protected by kind people who were simply too good to leave others alone in the dark.

If they could be in this land. If they can just see the beauty of this world. I bet they would be happy.

Milo jotted down. He thought he could get away from helping people when he realized he was now going to live in this land. Live more selfishly. Sure, the body wasn’t his, but yet even this didn’t stop who he was.

It all started because of four simple words.

I want to help.

Those magic words kept him going even when the world he lived in became so unkind. Milo felt ashamed for possessing this body. And yet he can’t allow himself to let go of this second chance. Even if he does know who this young man was. He doesn’t really know if he could give it up.

Milo knows it was selfish to think so. However, Milo was a survivor too. Even he can’t deny the wanting to live. Seduced by this beauty called life.

To live was to accept what life throws at you.

Milo was unsure what he did to deserve this second chance in life. There were better and kinder people than him. People who deserved such chances.

But the world chooses him to live in the body of a young man whose memories are clouded in this darkness. Milo had spent the last five years trying to regain some of these memories.

However, it seems like it’s something he can’t easily fix.

Milo did have a clue on what might help him regain the memories of the young man. This world was full of magical aspects to it that may help in regaining what this body lost. However, he was also afraid that regaining the Ego of this young man may also erase him. He had read through various texts about how there were only a few who could conjure them. The Elven-kin and the Blueblood who have gotten the ability from the Kin.

There were legends that only those who have the bloodline of certain creatures or have made a pact with eternal beings.

Milo would be lying to himself if he didn’t entertain the idea of wanting to learn magic.

The ability to see and hear the sprites are one of the most important things a practitioner needs to conjure a spell. He could see them, but he couldn’t understand them.

He was tongue-tied when it came to these creatures. Even now, as he sat on the train, he could see them dancing around the lights of the lantern. Some of them were gathering around, forming a circle on top of his head.

Lifting a finger up. One of the sprites landed gently on his finger. It was a gray sprite. He had somewhat noticed how these creatures were friendly of him. When he’s lost, they would help guide him out of the forest and lead him to where people were.

They are wonderful creatures that are part of this world.

Laying his back on the roof of the train. He faced the stars and its awesome shine. The myriads of galaxies twisted into spirals of stars dotting into these strange drawings.

A cold wind, so relaxing and easy to fall asleep to. Milo thought of the looming trouble. Conflict was part of every history and even now there were surely parts of this world experiencing tragedy.

People are usually indifferent until trouble comes in front of their doorsteps. The threat itself is what motivates everyone to act. Mil had enough of war. He had seen the skies burn and continents in rubble. He didn’t want to see it again.

People are much more superstitious here. Their belief in Gods and Spirits are engraved in their way of life and how they make their decisions.

Milo was hoping people would make sense.

See how futile it was to fight when they haven’t sat down at a table and talked. He had a long time to think about it. Milo closed his eyes and found himself on a rubber tire. Overlooking an encampment full of people struggling against the cold weather.

“They say the war will end soon! But it won’t change. None will change unless we build a community again. If we don’t make it, then others hopefully will. You can be a peacekeeper, but to be truly one, you need to understand that only those who are strong have the ability to maintain the foundation of peace. Others will continue on and try to build the old world where the least of our worries was what the flavor of their coffee was. It’s our job to take them there.”

Even in this world, their words reached him.

Milo opened his eyes as he heard the whistle of the train engine.

The train was about to move again so he went back to his cabin and slept in the bed.

Dreaming about a life he had left behind.

***

On the diner and bar car of the train. Milo was sitting across the table from a stranger who was clearly down on his luck. Milo had persuaded the man to allow him to sit down.

“It may sound nosy. But if you would allow me to hear what ails? It is said that it’s best if you tell a stranger what ails and perhaps doing so will help?”

The man smiled weakly. “That is wise. I can see you have the bearing of a physician, Sir.” He gave it a thought. “Yes, perhaps it's due to the recent news. I simply fear what may come. I have seen war.”

“You’ve seen war,” Milo acknowledged. “So you’re from the Western Curve?”

He nodded. “You traveled there?”

“I had a patient there. I visited two years ago. Such a sorrowful sight.”

He joined his fingers together on the table. “Then you know what pains me. I had moved to the Mence to avoid conflict and to get myself a new arm. The war brought me nothing but pain and I grew tired of the idea of fighting battles.”

His arm was made intricately. A biobotanical arm that replaced his missing limb.

“Then you must be heading to the Capital to get your arms checked?”

“You guessed correctly. It has been three years since I’ve checked it. Some of its parts have been aching.”

The arms were able to imitate the sensation of touch, but never the sensation of pain. How the elven-kin was able to make such intricate pairs of arms always fascinates him. Like the Vitae, and all the biobotanical machinery he had seen.

“But you are clearly not only here for your arms?”

He dressed more like a diplomat than a soldier. “I am here to represent those who have seen war. I will speak in front of everyone and help persuade Mence to not involve itself in such a clear scheme to provoke us into war. I’d rather have them call me a coward, than let the young see what we’ve fought. We refuse this and if need be I will beg in front of them all.”

Milo reaches out for a bottle and pours a shot for him. “Now don’t refuse me. I am a simple Doctor, Sir. I have seen war too. That's why I hope we will all succeed in persuading everyone how foolish this endeavor is.”

“It’s good I am not alone in this.”

Milo looked around. He too followed Milo’s gaze. “No man and woman here wants war. Is it not foolish? To waste such precious days in war.”

Milo crossed his arms. “But I think the good sir understands how difficult it would be if they attacked us first. To attack this nation is foolish and the people of Nao will not hesitate to raise their arms to defend their family.”

“Anyone will take up their arms to protect their loved ones.” He looked down and fingered the ring on his finger. “I fear what may happen to those who try to fight such meaninglessness.”

Milo drank. “Will the new King of Aurel even dare to start a war?”

“Trade is already faltering where I come from. The borders have been closed and many businesses have been revoked. The taxes have been raised and I hear many immigrants from Aurel have been forcibly returned.”

“I hope there are no deaths.”

“We don’t know, truly. All we know is the people are returned. Some are imprisoned, convicted as spies.”

“That will be brought up.”

“It will be. I just hope they don’t use it to justify action.” He takes a sip of the drink. “It may sound cowardly, but I truly wish we don’t fight. If we don’t fight, then we can’t help too. To seek peace is also to understand we can’t help leaving others behind.”

“Are you also worried about how the states will see what choice the Capital will make?”

“Because other states are much closer to Aurel and Eldoria as of late. It’s a thousand islands. Even our Republic can’t truly anticipate what’s happening over the autonomous islands. I even doubt they’ll try to attend this.”

“People tend to follow the majority.”

He smiles bleakly. He takes another shot. Milo takes the bottle away and pushes the cork in with a tiny smile. “Then it’s best if we arrive there with a clear mind. If we are to shepherd the people, then it’s best to do it sober.”

He took the bottle away. “Indeed, you are wise, good sir. Wiser than I was at your age. My name is Frank Rhodes.”

“Milo Stiv. I came here to accompany the Mayor of Arksh.”

Frank reaches out a hand and they shake. “If the people coming to this meeting have sense like you, Mr. Stiv. Then perhaps we can avoid tragedy.”

“Let us pray they are reasonable then!”

Hours pass in discussion. Seeing the train was close to its destination. Milo bid Frank a farewell and returned to the Mayor who was staring at the window, anticipating the sight.

As the train passes through hills and small mountains.

The grand city of Perlshaw, the capital of Mence, reveals its full splendor before them.