Chapter 839: Crossing the Border
Night had not yet faded, and dawn had not yet arrived, but a hazy glow from the rising sun was already beginning to appear on the horizon. The faint morning light seemed to be struggling to break free from the earth’s grasp, while the stars still blanketed the land that slept in darkness.
Near the border of Typhon, a tall tower with silver-white spires and grayish-white walls stood quietly on a high ground beside the Shadow Marsh. Starlight poured down from the sky, tracing a shimmering outline along the tower’s surface. At the tower’s peak, a massive circular ring hovered in midair, slowly rotating in the night sky. The starlight reflected off its surface, scattering a kaleidoscope of colors.
Suddenly, a magical transmission arrived from afar. The runes etched on the ring, which had been dim moments before, began to light up one after another.
A middle-aged mage on duty at the communication tower was jolted awake by a sharp, piercing sound. He quickly shook off his meditation and rose from the rune circle in the “Listening Hall.” Before him, a complex and dazzling array of runes lit up continuously on the wall, projecting the emblem of the Royal Mage Association.
His expression shifted instantly. He hurried toward the intricate rune array on the wall and pressed his hand on a specific rune stone. “This is the Shadow Marsh border tower. Please speak.”
“A command from Aldern,” a slightly distorted voice crackled into his ear. “Immediately notify the border outposts to intercept—”
The middle-aged mage’s brow furrowed deeply as he listened. Without hesitation, he turned and struck a nearby rune pillar, calling out to another mage waiting below: “Nim, come relieve me. I’m heading to the outpost. The capital has issued an urgent order—check the records yourself later!”
Before receiving a reply, he swiftly moved toward a window on the side of the hall. Nearby, his robe, staff, and hat floated toward him as if alive, dressing him in an instant. As the staff settled into his hand, the crystal window etched with countless runes suddenly burst open—
The mage leapt out into the still-dark night sky.
Under the starlight, the robed figure flew like a bird, swiftly crossing the high ground where the communication tower stood. Behind him, the massive ring atop the tower continued its silent rotation, more runes lighting up in sequence. Another mage on duty had already taken over the array, and the expensive, intricate magical device hummed steadily in the night, relaying the command from Aldern to the next communication tower down the line…
Steel wheels ground against the rails embedded in the earth. Repulsion runes on the underside and sides of the carriages emitted a faint glow. The power spine pulsed with surging energy, and the hum of the magical machinery filled the air. The metal mechanical serpent crawled along the ground, stirring the thin mist of early spring as it raced toward the border.
The mechanical noises of wheels, bearings, and levers echoed inside the quiet freight car. Lights were out, and the darkness inside the carriage was thick with tension. Everyone remained alert and on edge. Yuri lifted his head; his extraordinary vision pierced the darkness, revealing pairs of eyes and the worried expression on Wendy’s face nearby.
“We’ve already passed the Shadow Marsh checkpoint,” Yuri whispered. “We’ll reach the border soon. Even if Aldern reacts quickly, magical transmissions take time to relay through multiple towers. And this line only reaches as far as the communication tower beside the Shadow Marsh—Typhon has limited towers, and the last leg of the message still depends on human couriers. They won’t catch us.”
“I’m worried about those left behind,” Wendy said softly. “The informants appeared earlier than expected. Many probably didn’t have time to relocate. The identities of mid- and lower-tier cultists are easily exposed through mutual denunciations… Plus, the Empire started population registration years ago. Once exposed, it’ll be hard for our people to hide for long.”
Yuri frowned, then lowered his voice even further. “…Exposed comrades don’t necessarily face death.”
Wendy looked at him curiously. “Why do you say that?”
“If it’s Rosetta Augustus…” Yuri’s voice dropped to a cautious whisper. “He’s more likely to try recruiting the Sleepless—especially mid-level clerics skilled in dream magic and neural cord technology…”
Wendy’s eyes shifted slightly as she listened. Yuri continued, “The Royal Mage Association is completely loyal to him. The archmages have probably found a way to sever the Sleepless from the Mind Network. That ‘informer’ who broke free from the network is proof. Sleepless who disconnect from the Mind Network… will become technicians under the control of the Augustus family.”
Wendy instinctively parted her lips. “You mean…”
“I used to live in Aldern,” Yuri said with a complex smile. “And I know Rosetta Augustus fairly well. As a former noble, I understand how a ruler thinks when it comes to anything that can help consolidate power… The royal family will soon issue a recruitment order for the Sleepless cult. Rosetta Augustus will arrange a series of grandiose justifications to ease public resistance to the dark sect. The noble council will fully support him—we’ll see some clerics become secret advisors and aides to Aldern’s noble houses, while others join the Royal Mage Association or the Engineering Guild. It won’t take long.”
Wendy watched Yuri quietly.
She didn’t understand the noble ways, but she knew Yuri had once been one of them. What he said was likely true. This was the rule followed by the Empire’s upper echelons—and the inevitable outcome of that system.
“You thought of this before?”
“Before the evacuation began,” Yuri said softly. “And I believe a few others thought of it too, but we all tacitly kept silent—some to avoid shaking morale, others… were probably already waiting for Aldern’s invitation.”
Wendy bit her lip. “…I thought the threat of the Outer Wanderers was enough deterrence…”
“The Outer Wanderers need the Mind Network to extend their power, but the network can’t currently support that strength. Mid-level and above clerics understand the technology and the Royal Mage Association’s power. Even with huge risks, some are willing to take the gamble,” Yuri said slowly, shaking his head in resignation. “There are too many opportunists, and staying in Typhon is very tempting—especially for those who the ‘Cecil Order’ will never accept.”
Wendy fell silent. In the darkness and stillness, she heard a sigh in Yuri’s voice—
“Division is inevitable, Ms. Wendy, especially when we’ve grown too large… This is already the best-case scenario. At least no traitors have appeared among the archbishops.”
“I once thought the Mind Network connected us all…” Wendy sighed softly. “But look where we are now.”
Yuri said nothing.
A few faint beams of light slipped through the narrow vents on the side of the carriage, slicing bright lines through the pitch-black interior.
Several figures shifted between crates, eyes pressed against the vents. Nearby, a bishop muttered quietly, “It’s getting light outside…”
Yuri moved closer to a crack behind him and pressed his eye to the narrow gap. He saw the sunrise cresting the distant plains, its glorious corona illuminating the entire expanse and the mountains beyond. Lakes and rivers scattered across the plain shimmered with flecks of gold. Nearby, grass and trees blurred into a shadowy streak as they rushed past the railway.
The mist had long since been driven away by the sunlight.
“We’re approaching the border,” Yuri warned immediately. “Be alert—there’s a checkpoint here—”
Suddenly, the carriage jolted. The screech of steel wheels grinding against rails rang sharply from beneath. At the same time, vibrations shook the walls on both sides, and the clicking of mechanical devices outside grew into a chorus.
The braking system was applying pressure to the wheels, and the repulsion engines outside were adjusting their polarity one by one—the train was slowing down.
“Don’t be nervous,” Wendy said, turning back. “We’re approaching the border outpost. This is a normal stop.”
“I’ll check the carriage ahead,” Yuri said quietly as he rose. “It’s near the coupling. We have to be extra careful.”
Sunlight bathed the checkpoint near the Typhon-Cecil border. A chilly breeze blew in from the plains. Several fully armed Typhon soldiers stood on a high platform, watching as the freight train from Butterfield County gradually slowed and smoothly approached the designated stopping line in the inspection area. The outpost commander squinted, fighting off a yawn in the cold morning air. He ordered the soldiers forward to conduct a routine inspection.
While waiting for the train to open its carriages, the commander took a deep breath of the icy plain air, steadying himself as he looked toward the distance—two battle mage towers stood on either side of the railway. The massive arcane focusing crystals atop the towers glittered brilliantly in the sunlight. Several junior battle mages and knights stood guard nearby, keeping watch on the train’s arrival.
His gaze continued beyond the fence, across an open field, past the low border wall and the blockade on the other side, finally resting on another outpost—the Cecil border checkpoint. Several boxy buildings sat on a concrete platform, with magical crystals floating in the center of the open space. A few weapons known as “railguns” were mounted atop the walls, their barrels pointed high into the sky.
The Typhon officer glanced at the soldiers already conducting inspections, then pulled a small dagger from his belt. Catching the sunlight on the blade, he flicked it twice toward the Cecil outpost.
Seconds later, a similar glint flashed back in his eyes.
The young officer grinned, sheathed the dagger, and headed toward the train.
A bearded man in a blue uniform leaned against the side of a carriage. He was the train’s conductor—a Typhon native.
“Fully loaded with textiles and alchemical materials,” the bearded man said with a smile to the young officer. “Going to exchange them for some shiny gold for our Emperor.”
The young officer held out his hand. “Let me see the manifest.”
“I already gave it to the soldiers—”
The officer frowned. “I haven’t seen it yet.”
The bearded man sighed and pulled out the documents he carried, handing them over. “Alright, here you go.”
The officer took the list, then turned and strode toward the nearby carriages.
The bearded sergeant cast a casual glance toward the distance. Suddenly, a faint black dot appeared in the eastern sky, swiftly approaching like a bird in flight.
His expression shifted instantly. Turning on his heel, he walked over to the officer who was methodically inspecting each carriage with his soldiers, a smile playing on his lips. “Sir Knight, these carriages were just checked a moment ago.”
The young Typhon officer looked to the soldier beside him. “Have they been inspected?”
“Yes, sir,” the soldier replied promptly. “Everything matches the manifest.”
The officer glanced down at the list in his hand, then flicked a brief look at the bearded man nearby. Grasping the handrail by the carriage door, he placed one foot on the step and leaned in slowly, taking a measured look inside.
The dark shape in the sky drew closer, now faintly revealing a humanoid silhouette.
“Sir Knight,” the bearded man stepped forward, smiling ingratiatingly, “these carriages contain alchemical materials…”
The officer’s gaze swept through the dim interior of the freight car. Stacked inside were numerous wooden crates—nothing else.
Recounting every crate again would be a needless waste of time.
Outside the carriage, the sergeant smiled but kept his eyes fixed unblinkingly on the officer’s movements.
He dared not bribe or coax him—either would raise immediate suspicion. After all, the guards here were members of the Black Steel Knights’ reserve squad, noble-born soldiers who regarded the Black Steel Knights as their ultimate goal. They were far more vigilant than ordinary troops.
“Sir Knight, we’ll still have to undergo another inspection on the Cecil side…”
The Typhon officer finally withdrew from the carriage doorway, his boot clicking sharply on the ground.
“To be honest, this double inspection at the border seems a bit excessive,” he remarked casually. “What do you think?”
“I wouldn’t dare say,” the bearded man hurriedly waved his hand. “The higher-ups must have their reasons for these rules. We just follow orders…”
“It’ll need streamlining eventually,” the officer chuckled. “After all, this is all just getting started…”
“Who knows…” the bearded man shrugged. “For me, just figuring out this big rig behind me is enough to make my head spin.”
“Alright then,” the officer seemed to decide that further discussion was pointless, waving his hand dismissively. “Verification complete. Docking time’s up. You’re clear to go.”
The bearded man’s face lit up with a smile. He gave a gentlemanly bow, then turned and climbed the carriage’s handrail. The moment he was aboard, the train’s signal bell rang out.
This massive, intricate steel machine began to accelerate slowly, pulling away from the Typhon checkpoint. It passed over fences and low walls, crossed the broad buffer zone, and rolled steadily into Cecil territory…
Only after the train had crossed the border did a middle-aged mage, cloaked in black, finally descend upon the Typhon checkpoint.
(End of chapter)