Sitting on the train there wasn't much for Ash to do.
All he could do was admire the scenery as he passed through the many parts of Primus.
Most areas were urban, large gray buildings, adverts everywhere.
While some were noticeably different, each donning different exteriors.
Some were suburban houses with large gardens, the places that screamed wealth as he looked at them.
Then there were the least common ones, the areas that were almost completely green.
These small forests were rare to see, but they were most certainly memorable.
Of course a few stand alone trees weren't anything rare, but actual forest be it artificial or organic. Now those were a true rarity.
These forests were a form of showing off in a way. All the forests Ash had seen along the way were ones owned by the wealthy elite, the top of the top.
Still looking at them Ash couldn't deny their beauty, their reason for existing mattered little when it was so pleasing to look at.
He has been sitting on this train for about four hours already, nearly half way through the road, when a sudden urge came to him.
He was hungry.
Picking himself up Ash headed out from his still lonely cabin and headed for the part of the train where the bar or buffet was.
Upon arriving, he was able to witness just how crowded this train truly was.
It seems like most people decided to stay here rather than in their designated cabins as the area was rather packed.
Of course not to the point where the crowd restricted one's movement, but it was still decently packed for its size.
Arriving, before what he assumed was the buffet Ash look through the small menu that was displayed before him.
Of the options displayed the one that grabbed his attention quickest was a good looking toasted sandwich.
"Sorry, I have a question."
"Ah, yes how may I be of help?"
A person behind the counter answered.
"Can I ask for my food to be delivered to my cabin?"
"Naturally, if you tell me your order and cabin number then I can have it delivered to you as soon as it's ready."
Hearing this a sense of ease came over Ash, upon knowing he wouldn't have to stay here much longer.
"I'd like a toasted sandwich delivered to cabin number 21."
"A toasted sandwich to cabin 21. That will be nine Primer."
'That's expensive.'
Though reluctant in the end Ash paid for his food and promptly returned to his cabin.
Opening his cabin's door he was surprised to see another person already sitting within, he was so surprised infact that he even checked his cabin number again only to find out it was the right one.
'Did we stop while I was ordering? How come I didn't notice?'
The other person sitting in the cabin seemed to be an old lady, in her hand she held a large newspaper reading it with great interest.
'Doesn't seem like someone troublesome.'
Being unsure if he should greet the newcomer or not Ash simply decided to sit down next to her, using her absorbed reading as an excuse to dodge having to say anything.
Awkwardly sitting down Ash could only wait for the arrival of his sandwich when unexpectedly the old woman put down her newspaper.
"It's rare to see a young man such as yourself traveling by their lonesome."
Her comment seemed like mere idle chatter or maybe icebreaker, but Ash had no clue what he should say back, so he simply kept shut.
"You know there was a time, when I accompanied my youngest brother to his school opening ceremony. I sort of went as his guardian, since our father couldn't attend."
'Ever heard of oversharing lady?'
"Though he wasn't too excited about my attendance, so I sort of did it in secret. I got caught in the end, but I suppose it was fun."
"Young man are you heading to school too?"
With her having asked a direct question Ash could no longer try avoiding the inevitable conversation.
"I'm going to an academy, its a bit different from a school."
"Ohoh, an academy, in my eyes that still counts as a school, but it doesn't really matter. Why are you going alone, is your family too busy?"
"It's just really far, I don't see the point in them coming with me, especially when my attendance still isn't certain."
The old woman was seemingly in though for a moment before she spoke up as if she was hit by a stroke of genius.
"Uncertain attendance, at this time of year, with this train. Kid are you going to Icarus?"
Hearing the old lady mention Icarus Ash was screaming internally.
"..."
"Kid you do know that silence is a form of admittance too."
"Yeah, I'm shooting my shot at Icarus."
The old lady nodded hearing this.
"Icarus is a good academy, I heard it's founder is still alive to this day. Truly amazing."
"Founder?"
"Huh, did you do no research of your own. Ahh this generation is beyond saving, especially rich young masters like you that have their servants do everything for them."
The old lady shook her hand in a disapproving manner.
"Still, since I'm here I might as well tell you."
"Icarus Academy was founded by Anton Schwartz. An independent Rank 7 powerhouse that came out of nowhere at the time, his ability to control many different elements at a time gave people the suspicion that he may have been backed by Pandora, but such claims were never confirmed."
'She really knows a lot, huh?'
"When was the academy founded anyways?"
"If I remember correctly it was a little after the Day of Dawn. Though I don't know the exact time. I hope you atleast know the Day of Dawn."
"Of course I know it, there are few out there who wouldn't know it."
'The Day of Dawn, was when the Era of Darkness that spanned thousands of years ended. It was probably the biggest event in recent human history. It was around three or so hundred years ago if I remember it correctly.'
"So this Anton person is still alive even now, did he stay at Rank 7 for these past three hundred years?"
"Well, no one really knows, he doesn't show himself very often. These days he probably only shows up for the Great Academy Competition, that happens between the best academies each year."
Taking in the information, Ash had learned something new once again. Once again proving just how under informed he truly was.
Then the old woman opened her mouth once again.
"Also since you are going to Icarus, want to hear a piece of advice?"
'A piece of advice?'
Ash was left unsure on what more this mysterious old woman would tell him.
"Sure, I'd be happy to hear it."
"I heard rumors, that the Special Admission Students this year are especially fierce. So I'd suggest you keep a distance from them, or at the very least don't antagonize them."
Hearing this unusual advice Ash was about to thank the old lady when she opened her mouth to relay another piece of information.
"I also heard that this time the group of wasteland recruits include a team of four that are especially skilled, exercise similar caution... especially with their leader. I heard he's... insane."
Hearing the word wasteland recruits Ash's mind instantly wnet to connect it with Will, but hearing that the leader was insane Ash discarded the possibility. Since the Will he knew was anything, but insane.
He wanted to simply thank the old lady for the info she provided, but there was also something he himself wanted to ask.
"Thanks for the information, but I have to ask."
"What?"
"Since I've already told you where I'm going you may aswell tell me too."
The old lady momentarily paused, not saying anything before reluctantly speaking up.
"Are you sure you want to hear it? If I tell you it may very well end our pleasant conversation."
What the old lady was saying was rather odd, Ash had no idea what the old lady could tell him that would result in such a sudden turn of events.
Though it seemed the warning did the opposite effect as Ash was now even more curious to hear the reason.
"I'm sure."
"Sure why not."
The old lady paused before, speaking up once again.
"I'm doing something similar to the past, following someone younger on their journey through life."
"Following... someone?"
"Yes, this my duty. The one thing I have to do."
"Why is that the case, if you don't mind me asking?"
The woman paused for a moment unsure if she should answer the question, but after a slight shrug of her shoulders she answered.
"It's to make sure the mistakes of the past won't be repeated. We've already wasted too much time."
Ash found it increasingly difficult to decipher the words of the old woman as each sentence seemed to hide layers of hidden information.
That was when the horn of the train sounded across the cart, signaling its arrival at yet another stop.
"I suppose it's best if I get off here."
Then the woman just stood up and headed out from the small cabin.
She carried no luggage, it was just her lone self.
Then just as she was about to leave she looked back at Ash.
"I enjoyed your match in The Arena Ash, I hope you'll continue to steadily improve."
Then the door closed behind her.
Soon as the words registed Ash was quick to get up himself to get an explanation, but when he opened to door he only saw an empty hallway.
The old woman, just disappeared. Leaving no proof that she was ever there in the first place.
'In the end just who was, she?'