SSS Talent: From Trash to Tyrant

The doors of the train had not opened yet.

Selara stood beside Trafalgar on the platform, clearly enjoying the fact that he was looking at the train with more interest than he probably wanted to show. The thing waited on the rails with a low hum running through its entire body, pale metal shining under the station lights while dark mana conduits pulsed along its sides.

”Listen well, dear chef,” Selara said, lifting one finger as if she were about to begin a lecture. ”This train has several passenger cars. Our group will have one reserved for the academy. The other cars will be occupied by alchemists, invited researchers, merchants, nobles, investors, and other people important enough to receive an invitation to Aurevane.”

”So without invitation, no entry.”

”Basically.” Selara smiled. ”The Conclave loves money, but it loves control even more.”

Trafalgar glanced along the platform.

The people waiting there made that obvious. Expensive coats. Sealed cases. Assistants guarding boxes as if their lives depended on it. A few old men with the look of people who had spent too long inhaling fumes in laboratories. Nobles pretending they were not impressed by the train. Guards pretending they did not notice everyone pretending.

’Who knows how Caelum will sneak into the city,’ Trafalgar thought. ’Knowing him, he probably already obtained someone’s identity. I just hope he didn’t kill anyone important and take their place. Although... that is definitely an option.’

Selara continued speaking beside him.

”There are private lounges for meetings, resting compartments, and if someone pays enough, private rooms with beds and windows so they can watch the scenery while the train cuts straight across the route. There are protected cargo cars too, where most of the guests keep their inventions, materials, and other delicate things for the event. Private security has also been hired. Everything is monitored at all times, so the security is excellent.”

Trafalgar looked at her. ”Do you think someone could sneak in and create chaos on the train?”

Selara waved a hand.

”It should not be possible. Everything is very well guarded. As you can see, this platform is almost empty compared to the normal lines. You need to pass several checks before reaching this point.”

That was true.

The platform where they stood had none of the usual chaos of Velkaris station. No shouting vendors, rushing families, random travelers carrying too many bags. Only people with permission, money, status, or all three. The train doors finally opened with a soft hiss.

Selara clapped once.

”Good. Roll call.”

She passed through the academy group with a small tablet in hand, somehow managing to sound both lazy and precise. Four third-year alchemists. Two more third-years. Two second-year summoners. Two students connected to healing classes. Cynthia. Trafalgar. Selara herself.

Once she finished, she tucked the tablet away.

”Everyone is here. Let’s go in.”

The wagon assigned to the academy was luxurious, even more than the first car of the train that ran between Velkaris and the academy. That one already looked expensive, but this was another level.

The floor was dark and glossy, with thin lines of mana light running beneath the surface. The seats were wide, soft, and arranged in small sections instead of tight rows. Long windows stretched along the sides, reinforced with faintly glowing formations that seemed almost invisible unless one looked closely. Crystal lamps hung from the ceiling in elegant arcs, and the walls had polished panels with small control runes set into them.

Trafalgar entered near the back with Selara.

The others began taking seats quickly. Most sat with people they already knew. The third-year alchemists gathered together almost instantly, already talking about formulas and names Trafalgar did not care to learn. The summoners sat near each other. The healing students picked a quieter section. The two other third-years acted like they had traveled together before and claimed a table near the middle.

Trafalgar knew almost none of them, so he chose a seat a little apart from the others.

He had enough things in his head already.

Cynthia noticed.

She had started toward another section at first, where a few students she vaguely knew through classes related to ammunition and combat equipment were sitting. But after seeing Trafalgar alone, she changed direction and came to sit across from him.

Obviously.

They were part of the same group of friends.

Trafalgar looked up as she placed her bag down.

”Coming to keep me company?”

Cynthia sat and adjusted the strap of her bag beside her.

”You looked so lonely I started feeling bad for you.” Her attention moved around the car again. ”Honestly, this wagon is incredible. It’s...”

”Extravagant?”

”Yes. Exactly.”

Trafalgar leaned back slightly. ”That was the polite word.”

Before Cynthia could answer, Selara’s voice rose from the front of the car.

”Listen well. No vomiting because of the speed, no touching sealed doors, no opening suspicious containers, and if anyone loses their appetite before we reach the restaurant car, I will take it personally. The food here is very good, and I refuse to have my mood ruined by weak stomachs.”

Several students stared at her. That sounded completely normal for Selara.

Cynthia glanced toward him with a small crease between her brows.

”I would have liked Bartholomew to see this.”

Trafalgar rested one arm against the window frame.

”He went on that excursion with Professor Rhaldrin, right? I’m sure he’ll enjoy himself there too. Your brother loves history enough to make a dusty ruin sound like a festival.”

Cynthia’s expression softened a little.

”That is true. He was excited, even if he tried not to show it.”

”He is terrible at hiding excitement when old records are involved.”

”Yes,” she admitted. ”He really is.”

A member of the train staff entered the car shortly after. She wore a neat uniform of dark blue and silver, with a small emblem of the Council near her shoulder. Her posture was professional, and her smile did not move even when Selara waved at her like someone greeting an old machine she liked.

”Thank you for traveling with the Silver Salamander,” the woman said clearly. ”We welcome the Velkaris Academy delegation aboard.”

Trafalgar turned his head toward Selara.

”The Silver Salamander?”

Selara’s chin lifted at once.

”Respect the name. I helped name it.”

That made Trafalgar laugh under his breath.

The staff member, to her credit, did not react at all and continued in the same professional tone.

”The estimated travel time will be twenty-four hours, or slightly longer depending on weather conditions. We apologize in advance for the delay. A snowstorm crossed one of the northern sections of the route this morning, and the winds remain strong. During that portion of the journey, the train will reduce speed significantly to ensure passenger safety.”

’So we are basically sleeping here tonight. Fine.’

As he thought that, Trafalgar opened his luggage.

Cynthia looked down at it, then back at him.

”That is all you brought for two weeks?”

”I can wash clothes there,” Trafalgar said. ”I brought what I need. Nothing more.”

That was true, in a way.

Everything else he might need was with Caelum. Since the delegation had gone through prior inspection, Trafalgar had decided to leave the more delicate preparations to him. Caelum had probably already found a way to smuggle whatever was needed onto the train, into Aurevane, or both.

Cynthia gave him a doubtful look.

”Hm. It looks more like you were too lazy to pack properly.”

”That is also possible.”

She almost smiled, then looked out the window.

”I have never spent this long on a train. Actually, I have never spent this long on any transport. It feels strange.”

”Oh, I spent a long time in a carriage once,” Trafalgar said. ”I do not recommend it. Flying ships are much smoother and quieter.”

Cynthia turned toward him.

”You’ve ridden something like that?”

”Of course. Is that not normal?”

Cynthia stared at him for a second, then shook her head.

”Maybe for you, oh great important person. The rest of us are not like that.”

Both of them laughed at that.

Trafalgar tapped his fingers lightly against the armrest.

”If you remind me, I can take you on one someday. I know someone who has a monster that crosses the skies.”

Cynthia smiled briefly.

”Then I’ll hold you to that.”

”Fair enough.”

Her gaze moved to the table beside them.

”By the way, have you seen the newspaper?”

Trafalgar followed her attention.

A folded paper rested there, probably left for the passengers. He picked it up and opened it, the fresh ink catching the light from the crystal lamps above.

The headline filled the front page.

The Council of Sages Announces the Creation of The Concordant Wardens of the Council.

Klotz