It took a few hours but the two arrived at Magnolia. By the time they got there night had fallen on the town. Shura looked at the sky filled with stars this was a new beginning. The times were changing and he had to do so with it to reach the peak. For the moment he needed to get back to Oak. Something did feel off, he felt weaker. The heat that his body used to give off naturally had died down. It was like the universe itself changed suddenly. It was something that he had to investigate among other things. The two walked through the town casually, making their way over to the train station. They were quite familiar with the town because they frequently used the train station. Fiore was a large place and it was easier and safer to travel by train. The two gained the attention of civilians but they paid them no mind. Standing out in the crowd was normal for them.

Shura and Loki approached the counter where the clerk was assigning seats for the next train out. Thankfully trains ran 24/7 so anyone could go wherever a train station was present whenever they needed it. The two stood before the female clerk. A older woman who was reading a book by a small light to pass the time. She heard the footsteps of the two approaching and looked up. “How can I help you guys?”

“Ticket to Baska.” Shura responded.

She began to her job, not really questioning the two. She must have been used to mages of all walks of life coming and going. She pulled out a ticket and handed it over. Shura grabbed it and the two walked over to the corresponding platform for the train. They boarded and took their seats. Loki was looking out the window waiting for the train to start moving. Shura was looking at the ceiling, trying to figure out what exactly was so powerful about Dahlia that brought him back. Maybe it was his encounter with the Red Queen in the forest. Or his transition to becoming a demon. He let out a deep sigh and just leaned back. He closed his eyes and waited for the train to depart.

The sound of the train’s whistle filled the air, signaling their departure. The last few passengers boarded and they were on their way. Shura felt the train moving he leaned forward and looked  out the window with Loki.  “It won’t be long before we get back to Oak my friend.”

Loki was too fixated on the moving scenery to respond. At least he hasn’t really changed. Still the little kid like being that followed him around. Shura just thought about everything that has happened up to this point. He had been out of the picture for sometime, but that wasn’t a bad thing. It gave him time to re-evaluate himself and how he was going to do things. He did have plans to take over Phantom Lord, but that would make him a target. Not to mention all the possible paperwork and such. He would become tied down and that just didn’t work for him. He was too fond of being in the heat of things literally and figuratively. Not to mention his lack of a arm was still problematic. He won’t always have the time to create his arm. He needed to do something to remedy that. For the moment he was going to have to suck it up and deal with it. It was his own weakness that led to him losing it. He still had plans to make that woman suffer for it. He knew he was nowhere near strong enough yet to complete such a feat.

The way she moved was unnatural. He remembered how it all went down. He was sluggish and heavy handed. That was compared to her fleet footwork and deadly precision. It was time to get back to the grind and find a way to get to the point of being able to defeat her. Of course he was going to bring Loki along this time. She was not someone that he could take lightly. Shura laid his head back and closed his eyes again. This time he let himself drift off into a light sleep. At least till they made it to Baska so they can head to Oak.

748/550 WC

[Exit to Baska]