Once Leon had finally settled into his seat on the train he was reminded of why Pyrosa was a tourist sight. As the train moved along through the countryside he leant against the window, feeling the warmth of the sun as he looked out at the green and lush pastures dotted with bovine and other small animals. Each time the train passed a stream, the crystal blue water glimmered in the sun, dazzling and captivating.

But nothing could compare to the incredible sights he was returning to in Vallora, a place notorious for its eclectic mixture of different species from across the world, with a plethora of winding alleys and streets crammed with all sorts of unkempt amenities. It was almost as though the world’s forgotten had all been dumped into one chaotic area. Leon had been to many different places since leaving his small hometown but Vallora was now his true home – where no one judged him for his background or appearance. The town itself may have been small compared to the grand cities of Pyrosa or Glacia, but that was precisely why he loved it. Everyone in Vallora knew one another, heading out to the local shop or diner and exchanging stories. It was a beautiful but chaotic little community, and Leon wouldn’t swap it for the world.

Leon shut his eyes, trying to get the little rest he could after his long mission. He was beginning to drift off when he suddenly heard a noise and opened his eyes again. Sitting before him was a young man with blonde hair that had been cut in a messy and tousled style. He wore round glasses which framed his face perfectly, and Leon noticed a tiny mole below his lower lip which caught his eye. The man had a look of disinterest on his face, and was making a show of trying to go to sleep himself.

The young blonde sat opposite to him, pretending to go back to sleep; he couldn't help but feel as if the male wanted to start a conversation with him. Heaving a sigh, he said “What’s up?” The blonde seemed startled at his voice, as if Leon had anticipated the man's words. A bitter expression threatened to take its place across Leon's face, but of course, he tried to remain courteous and looked pleasantly at the young man.

Waiting for the male to collect his thoughts, he listened carefully as the man suddenly began to speak a foreign language that seemed familiar to Leon's ears. Leon had learned a bit of Glacian when he was there for a few months, but this was too much.something about being a Pirate, and how his name was Akida. At Leon's comment of 'Woah woah.. slow down, I can't understand you..', the blonde man's mouth cracked into a kind smile and he started speaking at a more relaxed pace.

Akida pursed his lips into a thin line as he tried again in the Pyrosian language, despite being a native speaker of Glacian. He spoke more slowly than normal in an effort to make himself understood. Eventually Leon was able to make out the words, 'My name is Akida Kaida, I am a Pirate of the Glacian oceans. What's your name?'

A Pirate. He spoke with a forced smile on his face, and introduced himself to the strange man. 'I'm Leon, and I work at an orphanage in Vallora.'

Akida gave him an understanding nod and a warm smile, as if he knew the hardships that come from working with orphans. Akida cut an imposing figure, clothed in a long, tattered cloak that practically dragged against the ground underneath him. His face, what Leon could see of it that was, was smooth and soft, and his light blonde hair seemed as soft and tamed as his facial features. His hair being  tied back messily and tucked away in his captain's hat, he sat crossed legged in front of Leon, hands on top of one another in a manner that asserted class from him. Not an ordinary pirate at that.

Akida and Leon had been talking on the train for what felt like hours when they finally heard the horn blare, signaling that they had arrived at the port of Glacia. Akida was an adventurous traveler and he prepared to continue his journey with the vastness of an experienced wanderer. He stood up, tipped his hat and bowed in an extension of courtesy as he bid farewell to the stoic Leon.

Akida's final words of wisdom conveyed the sentiments of daring to try and become something greater than what you are, as he added with a smile, 'It is a blessing for a man to have a hand in determining his own fate, aye? Be that scallywag!' With the last he saw of that pirate being his coat turning the corner, Akida was left to continue his wayward journey.

Leon gazed out the window of the train, feeling the rhythmic lull of the engine numbing his mind and slowly pushing him towards sleep. The silence of the compartment was thick, a far cry from the laughter and warmth of his traveler companions just an hour before. He felt a gentle breeze, and the world around him began to feel dream-like and surreal. Deep down, he knew he was dreaming, and this knowledge gave him a feeling of delight and fear at the same time.

Leon had started to feel himself drifting off into a deep sleep, almost as if the train itself had a calming effect on him. He could feel the peaceful atmosphere of the compartment lulling him deeper and deeper, pushing his mind unawares into sleep. The dreamlike state he had entered was eerie, like the train was in suspended animation, craving the talks between the two passengers. He felt as if the compartment was enveloped astoundingly around him, until his eyes finally closed in complete comfort, finally allowing himself to drift off into a deep, Dawn slumber.

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The blaring sound of the train had awoken Leon from his deep slumber, warning him of the imminent arrival of Vallora. He repositioned himself into a sitting position, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he took in the dim light from outside; there was barely any sunlight as a result of the omnipresent smoke that filled the air caused by the burning of trash and the fumes from factories. The harmful smoke made it impossible for any crops to grow in this region; the water stored in the canals had minimal nutritional values, and practically no sunlight made it impossible for any growth.

All along the horizon, towering factories and cabins presented a somber yet mesmerizing feast for the eyes. The darkness that surrounded Vallora seemed to pulsate along with its inhabitants, giving the sleepy town an air of liveliness and mystery. Although it was not without its fair share of beggars and criminals, no ambitious and imaginative soul should have ever felt disappointed with their time spent in Vallora.

Walking past the market square, a sprawling array of colors, smells and activity, Leon felt a strange mix of dread and excitement. The Square was known as a haven for thieves, conmen, and brigands, a place where stolen goods from all across the region were flaunted and sold. Citizens of the nearby Regions of Vallora scuttled from booth to booth, buying and selling, exchanging gossip and bartering, and it was a sight that Leon wished he could take in more fully.

Vallora was a strange and mysterious place, a place of the unwanted and a dumping ground for the misdeeds and mistakes of the world. All manner of things molded and changed the terrain: a cursed mountain range twisted by the dark arts, an ancient race of reptilian creatures that roamed the shadowed forests, and even a haunted river that was said to bring death to those foolish enough to sail upon it. But Leon remained undeterred and made the lands his home.

Leon kept his head turned up attentively as he treaded through multiple turnings, his boots becoming muddied and dampened with each successive step. The world around Leon was as dark as midnight both day and night, and it seemed that it had always been so; a pall of darkness had pervaded the light of life and cast its ambience thickly about Leon.

As Leon trudged listlessly through the darkness, he heard a strange calling from behind him, like music to his ears that brought an unexpected warmth to his heart. Turning round to the sound, he was met with a sight that he had not expected, but not unfamiliar.

A woman stood behind him, tall and imposing, and her head was adorned with a headscarf of vibrant colors. Her neck sparkled with bead jewelry of all kinds of hues and shades, and the clothes she wore were a combination of fabrics of all fabrics, shapes, and sizes.

Her eyes twinkled like stars and her lips curved into a gentle smile as she held her arms out in a welcoming embrace. Leon recognised such a familiar sight, and his face softened into an expression of joy, one he had not felt for a long while.

'Soo…How are you?' He asked nervously.

'Bah!' She scoffed, 'No need for manners, we both know it's useless here.' She swept aside the drapes behind her, revealing more of the shop, which was filled with all sorts of interesting objects. Tables of root-filled jars, herbal tinctures, and carved statues. They each had their own unique meaning, carefully crafted to bring good luck and fortune to those who frequented the shop.

As Leon took a couple steps further into the store, the woman gestured to him from across the room. She waved a weary hand, indicating for him to come closer and take a seat at the small table in front of her.

He obliged, slowly stirring himself out of the trance he was in, and walked over to the table. It was clothed in a fine silk and adorned with many items that appeared to be herbal remedies, oils and teas.

The mysterious woman, Soo, welcomed him with an enigmatic expression as he took his seat. She offered him a cup of tea, which seemed to be rather peculiar; it was murky dark brown, not the yellowish-brown of a brewed mint tea. Feeling uneasy and uncertain of the situation, he hesitantly accepted the tea and sipped it warily.

Soo continued to watch him with her gaze then, surprisingly, asked him if he would like a fortune to be read. He gave her a bewildered look, not quite sure if fortune telling was to be taken seriously in Vallora. She simply smiled and leaned forward, her hand hovering over a crystal ball that was situated in the middle of the table.

Leon was very hesitant when the woman posed the question, 'Do you want your fortune read?' Her eyes were bright with anticipation, and he had a feeling she wasn't just being polite. Still feeling unsure of himself, Leon tried to shake off the strange feeling he had.

'Uhm..Not really sur-'

But before he could finish his sentence, the woman cut him off.

'Great! Now give me your palm,' she said as she grabbed his hand, facing it towards the ceiling. Leon felt chills go down his spine as she traced her finger across the lines in his hand. The woman stayed silent as she did this, and Leon felt like she was scrutinizing something.

When she looked back up at him, her face was solemn and grim. Leon couldn't help but be curious about what she saw, so he decided to ask her.

'What did it read?' he inquired cautiously.

The woman raised an eyebrow before speaking.

'Your fortune is a difficult one to tell,' she began. 'Your life will be full of struggle, but you must persevere if you want to achieve greatness. If you don't, you won't find your true purpose in life.'

'Great...' Leon whispered to himself, overwhelmed by the knowledge that was suddenly thrown upon him, 'That gives me so much more insight on my future...' He answered monotonously, his expression stayed the same as his lips were formed to a thin line.

He finally stood up from his seat and silently bid farewell to the old lady with a gentle incline of his head. Taking one step outside the door, a crow abruptly darted through the opening Leon had created when he opened the curtains and made its way to the small table in the middle of the shop. He stared in shock as he saw a folded piece of paper attached firmly to the crow's leg with a thin, leather cord.

Slowly he walked closer to the bird, deciphering the paper that had brought it to him. His gaze shifted from the mysterious paper to Soo-Young, looking for any clues that might give him any insight to what the paper might contain. As he looked at her, almost with an unspoken request, she nodded and encouraged him to take a look. The paper bore his seal, the seal in which only specific people knew. So when someone sees this, it usually means that they mean business.

“Sorry Soo-Young, but another job just flew in..quite literally…” He said as he scanned the mess of papers and decor sprawled on the floor.

She smiled, her eyes almost twinkling with the knowledge that he of all people was destined to take this challenge head on. Rising from her seat at the corner of the room, she opened her arms out for a hug. He gratefully accepted it, she was like a mother to him, or more like a nurturing older sister. Either way, he considered her as family and so did she.

Leon sighed heavily as he slung the bag across his shoulder. He had just returned from a two week long mission for his company only to be tasked with leaving again. But this was the life he chose, and how he got to feed and clothe his children. They had been left in the care of his subordinates, which made him more than a bit nervous. Yes, he had chosen to leave, but some of them had a bit of a reputation of being troublemakers.

Leon was just glad he was able to find some work and make some money. Taking on missions like this brought money to his orphanage, and while it might be risky, the reward was worth it. But Leon hoped and prayed his kids were well at home. He had taught them to be good to his co-worker, but he was still worried.

With nothing left to do, but take another train ride to his destination, Leon started walking to the station.

The sound of the train station was deafening; a constant cacophony of thudding and cheering that reverberated through the air, signaling the departure of the passengers and cargo. He could smell the electricity in the air as he took each step, eyeing the station over the roof of the station. He watched as the engine slowly came into view and the little puff of smoke it made with each departure.

He ambled through the station, the crowd of people pushing past him as he made his way to purchase his ticket. He surveyed the benches and found one in the corner that looked welcoming, so he took a seat. Taking out the letter from his coat pocket, he carefully unfolded it to read it.

Sera Walsh...wait, like that Opera singer? He questioned himself, double checking the name he wasn't mistaken. He had only heard of that name in the quiet days when his little girl had begged for her songs. It was soothing, relaxing... different from the typical energetic melodies children roared with enthusiasm towards. But still, he smiled while she sang along, every bar of every song repeated like a rehearsed recital. But now he had to have her blood on his hands.

He looked around the station. Judging by the collection of thrills and trinkets being sold outside the station. He could see the horizon glimmering beyond the dark metal of the train car, the moonlight shimmering off the lake in the background.

Sighing, he tucked the letter back into his pocket and stood up. Trains were meant to be ridden, and he was no exception. He heard the whistle of the engine, and suddenly something else had been added to the sound of the station. It was something exciting and new, and he gathered his belongings and stepped on board the train.

The doors clanked shut and the engine roared to life, the train station fading away as they disappeared into the night.

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