Steel and Mana

Chapter 268 – A God’s Formation (1)

The prisoners crowded together on the cleared platform, flanked by members of the Avalonian elite, finally letting them get close to the machines they only saw from far away. Still, until seeing the metal machines up this close, they were unprepared for how mesmerizing it would be, especially listening to the sounds it made, hissing and huffing like a sleeping dragon from the fables. Every now and then, it was exhaling gusts of steam that covered the platform in white fog, rumbling like an actual living beast. Its sturdy iron frame stretched on in a way that dwarfed every castle wall and siege engine they had ever seen.

For the prisoners, the concept of something like a railroad was alien. By now, the word Avalon was whispered amongst their groups like a magic spell or a curse, a reminder of where they would probably live and die. A place that made the walking monstrosities and this... train... had to be frightening. Or majestic. Shivering in his thin cloak, one older man spoke up as they were herded towards their empty carriage, able to read the letters painted on the train's side.

"They call it the Avalon Arrow...?" he muttered, his voice quivering between two sets of coughs and a bit of fear.

"And do you hear that?" Walking behind the old man, Johan flinched, coughing just the same. "This arrow is breathing..."

The train indeed seemed to breathe, with mechanical inhales and exhales sending thick clouds of white fog into the cold air at specific intervals. Each time it settled into place, there was a metallic growl as if impatient to get moving, making the first group think that the two-legged machines may also be... alive.

The tall and long engine was an almost supernatural sight for the prisoners, most of whom came from towns without even cobbled roads and used to see horse-drawn carriages. Some recoiled from it as if it were a fire-breathing monster, and others watched with slack jaws and whispers of disbelief, especially after they were ushered to climb into its belly.

As they entered, each prisoner felt a jolt run through their bodies as they passed from the cold, open air into the confined warmth of the train's interior, heated by part of the hot steam running through pipes hugging the walls next to the floor. The carriage was narrow and lit by strange but bright lamps mounted on the ceiling, giving a surprisingly homey feeling to its interior. Rows of benches lined the carriage, bolted firmly to the floor, with comfortable, leather-covered seating.

They took their spots one by one, settling in with hushed whispers and surprise. Why were they allowed to sit? The more they looked around, the more they felt their guards had mixed things up... this felt like a carriage for nobles, not for prisoners. But, when their Avalonian guards climbed up after them, checking their assigned numbers and ensuring the cart was filled according to their Prime Minister's orders, none of them looked like they made a mistake. When they found everything in order, one of the soldiers leaned out of the open door, shouting forward to the conductor.

"Carriage One is ready!" His shout was followed by another.

"Carriage Two is ready!

And son, and so on. The prisoners were beginning to fidget once again when the clanging of a bell broke through the thick air inside the car. Moments later, a resonating rumble shook the car, jolting many of them in their seats. The growling became louder and more powerful as the Avalon Arrow came to life, finally once again on the move. Outside the windows, plumes of smoke and steam billowed into the air, swirling in ghostly clouds against the clouded sky. The prisoners watched as the platform slowly slid past the snow-covered station, the machine's pace gradually increasing, pushing the snow away, unfazed by nature's obstacle.

Sitting next to Arik, ending up in the same carriage, Johan managed to look outside and saw the rest of their brethren go past them on the platform, watching as if they were witnessing some unbelievable event. The train left them behind, going faster than any horse could gallop, especially in this weather. This was... incredible. The guards, watching them like hawks, exchanged looks, sharing a silent understanding. They knew the prisoners' awe was something they would feel a hundred times more after reaching Avalon. The train was indeed a modern marvel, a symbol of the coming rule of Avalon, and even their prisoners would have a chance to be part of it. If they indeed can make amends for what they did...

"I wonder..." Arik muttered, half to himself, half to Johan. "Were we led here for this?"

"What do you mean?" Johan asked, finally leaning back from the window. His breathing matched the rumble of the train's monotone but reassuring noise, fidgeting in his seat as almost every other prisoner.

"We are traveling... Did you not see it? The number of carriages attached to this... Avalon Arrow. You wouldn't be able to move them, not with thirty horses! Yet we are... flying!"

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"Are you saying..." Johan muttered, tracing the scars on his face with his finger, "The whole reason for coming here was because our lords wanted it...?"

"Who wouldn't want something like this?!" Arik grunted, raising his voice, but he ended up coughing and wincing. "It is clear now–" But their discussion was interrupted by the guard captain's voice ringing out from the front of the car.

"Quiet!" He paced slowly down the aisle, his eyes hard as he glared at each prisoner in turn. "You're not here to speak. Consider yourselves lucky to be alive. This train is bound for Avalon, where you will live and die from now on. That's all you need to know! There is no reason to overthink why. You came and attacked us! That is it. I lost good brothers in this war... We defended Ishillia from monsters every winter...! If not for our Sovereign, the land would be swarmed with beasts, the types none of you could imagine or live to tell about! We bleed for this land, and you DARE come to brandish weapons against us?!" He berated them, scowling at the group, visibly shaken from anger.

"Brother..." Another guard stepped up, gently putting his hand on his captain's shoulders, making him stiffen, taking deep breaths as his balled-up fists began loosening.

"I said too much." He nodded, exhaling a long breath, holding back his temper, looking over the frightened prisoners, and settling on Johan and Arik. "Glory to Avalon, glory to our Sovereign. Place his name on your lips with reverence every day and night because he is the only reason you live."

Johan, Arik, everyone's face was white as the snow outside, and they felt the warrior's fury in their bones. There was no question... He would have killed them if he was the one making the decisions. The captain finally turned his gaze forward, returning to his spot and letting the prisoners breathe again. In the end, in the silent journey, Arik found himself closing his eyes, listening to the relentless chug of the wheels, feeling the sway of the car as it veered around bends. For all his nerves, he couldn't help but feel a hint of weird peacefulness returned to him. He wondered what it would be like to control such a machine, to ride its rails to the farthest corners of the world, free from chains placed on him. Maybe... after five years, he will know.

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"The first train is on its way." Pion shrugged, standing next to Merlin, watching it disappear in the distance.

"Let's continue our preparations. It will return with twice as many carriages." Merlin nodded, "We will split them up with the second train and ferry all of these people over throughout the day. The message from Lady Sasha was clear enough. They are ready to receive them, and Lady Mikan wishes to see the prisoners upon their arrival. She will heal them en masse."

"I don't know if they deserve it." Pion answered, feeling the same way many of his brothers did. Dying was not what bothered the Avalonians. It was their duty... But there was a difference here. They died in a battle against backstabbing bastards and in the power struggles of delusional humans of the Empire. It was not the same as laying down their lives while facing monsters, defending their home, and, in turn, the same people who now attacked them. Their anger may be even stronger than that of the Lothlians, whose city was half-destroyed.

"Even if not," Merlin continued, crossing his arms, "think of it this way. We can't let any disease enter our city. Let them be healed so we don't risk those who we protect."

"I..." Pion mumbled, sighing, "I understand."

"Come! Let's go back. There is much to do, and I must prepare the wreck for transport! I want the ship to reach Avalon by midnight!"

"Yes, Prime Minister!"

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I arrived at the Pass early, way before the twenty soldiers of mine headed into the Pass. I spoke with them and shook their hands, encouraging them before watching the group cut a path through the tall snow with a modified tractor, heading into the jaw of the Pass, leading to the monsters' home. With our radio connection live, we were getting reports back every ten minutes, and the receiver was flanked by almost everybody who could get close to it.

I can't blame them; I also felt nervous. Only if we had cameras or something… Tsk. When Merlin returns with the wreck of the airship, I will dismantle its Imaginary first and foremost. Combining it with their spying tools, I may be able to create something that would be especially useful in situations like this.

In the first few hours, their report was the same. They constantly described the land as covered in snow while their pathway took left and right turns one after the other but remained wide enough for an army to march through. But the most important part was that there was no sign of any monsters or beasts. The snow was untouched, pristine as the tractor struggled to clear a path.

It became evident that one part of our conjecture was right. The passway was blocked by snow. Our scouts were traveling on top of at least four to five meters of snow, which gave me a headache because if this starts to melt, will we have a flood or something? Haaah…

"There is something ahead."

The crackling message made me flinch, pulling me out of my thoughts and making me listen to the voice coming through our receiver. By now, sixteen of them were off their tractor, creating a link so the spearhead of this operation could relay what he was saying, connecting through their radio equipment and using them as signal boosters.

"It is a corpse, half-covered by snow. No… it is two corpses."

"Be careful!" I sent back a message, and I knew we had about a minute delay in our current communication.

"We are not experts, but it seems that these things killed each other; they are entangled. About fifteen meters in length, resembling the one which once attacked us with its cold breath."

"Both of them?" I asked, waiting for my veteran's reply. That beast was the first to cause us casualties… We all remember it still.

"Affirmative. Orders?"

I needed a bit of time to think. What they had just discovered contained much. For one, now I knew that there were different species of monsters. Even though we always slain different ones, that does not mean every beast must be unique. So, there are exact species within them. Then, it was now confirmed that they also hunt each other. It's not that big of a surprise; most animals, especially predators, don't like competition. Was our strange winter because of them? No monsters came because these two killed each other, their corpses scaring away the rest? Could be.

"There is something else in the distance!"

"Report." I jumped, hearing the sudden voice coming through. Waiting for an answer, I felt like staring at the receiver for an hour or more.

"We can't get close enough." When the answer arrived, the static was much stronger than ever before, making me think that whatever they found was actively interfering with our magic. Which means… "It has to be a formation, my Sovereign!"

Of course, it was. So, there is magic within the Pass… Not surprising. As for what kind, I would have to see it for myself. Maybe I will!

"Prepare a second tractor!" I shouted, making every eye land on me, and although Father was about to say something, I raised my hand to stop him. "This, I need to see for myself."