[open] The journey begins

The constant thrumming of his thoughts mixed with the sound of the moving train. Up and down, up and down, he imagined the wheels to turn. It wouldn’t be long before he was in the Upper Ring of Alderrath. Outside the window, the buildings started to grow taller and wider, nothing like the space he used to share with too many people, where only some were lucky enough to sleep near a crack in the wall where they could get some air.

The train slowed as it came into the station. Ishir exchanged the bored expression on his face for one of curiosity and wonder as he took his luggage and stepped out of the train into this world that was all new to the character he was playing. A wealthy landowner and businessman from another continent, that’s who he was now.

The train had been hot, but outside it was cool. Ishir let his hands travel over his suit, making sure he looked perfect. He was back in town and as he let his eyes travel over the familiar architecture, he could only feel a combination of utter rage and pure longing, all mixed with a dash of sadness. It had been twenty-six years; no one would recognise him, but he remembered all of it.

Plastering a smile on his face and looking at the buildings as if he’d never seen them before, he took his luggage and walked further into the station. “I’m sorry, could you help me, please?” he asked a random passerby. Feigning to be lost, he looked up at the person with a polite smile.