[indent][indent][indent][color=gray][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/2Fo4bfv.png[/img][hr][sub][b]Location [/b]||  [i]Train → Forest → The Village — Outskirts of Genelogia [/i] • [b]Interactions[/b] || Everyone [s]we need dat @everyone tag[/s][/sub][hr][/center][/color][color=#999999]Caelum couldn’t deny himself some of the simple pleasures the train had to offer. Avalice was a beautiful place on its own and Caelum had spent many hours trying to bask in her wonders as much as he could, but seeing her pass by him as the train continued on its path was a different, if not pleasant, experience. Along with some spring rolls he had ordered and some refreshing juice, the boy had no complaints about how he were to spend his time.[/color]

[i][color=#0d98ba]Though, I could do without the death glares from the Queen of Thorns,[/color][/i][color=#999999] Caelum lamented momentarily, daring not to look over to her. Instead, he led his gaze out the window, seeing the hint of colors that shouldn’t be there.[/color]

[color=#999999]It wouldn’t be long after waking up from a short nap, heeding the advice to rest up when he could, they arrived at their destination. The first alert he got was from Professor Nyx who was less enthusiastic than the train conductor announcing it a few moments after. Caelum gathered the trash he had collected, grabbed his bag, and his sword, hoisting both on his person as he followed the rest of the class out. At a nearby trash can, he deposited the empty plastic juice box and sandwich wrappings into it.[/color]

[color=#999999]As they made their way a little further away from the train, Caelum couldn’t help but observe the professor looking at a map and muttering something. He only heard the whisperings of “northern trail”, everything else was out of his range of hearing. Not like it mattered because, within ten seconds, the focused professor declared his instructions to the class, ordering them to stick close.[/color]

[color=#0d98ba]“And yet I hear nobody ask about the five-mile journey ahead of us.”[/color][color=#999999] Caelum let out an annoyed sigh, perking up immediately when the professor gave him the task of the rear, which was just the polite way of saying to the back of the line.[/color]

[color=#999999]But Caelum was, if nothing else, able to follow simple orders.[/color]

[color=#999999]From the back of the line, Caelum had the distinct pleasure of not being able to see most of his class, only those who were probably two or three positions in front of him. He had Stormbringer out as a precaution. [/color]

[color=#999999]Traveling through this forest, although nowhere as serene as the plains and countrysides he’d been to during his couple of years of travel, Caelum felt more at peace being able to put his walking boots to use than being forced to sit down in a train (or in Han’s case, stand up for a few hours). He had fond memories of developing certain skills as he went, being taught what berries were poisonous, what healed, what were best as a snack for the road. [/color]

[color=#999999]These memories often came with a backdrop of a reminder about how he was practically without family and maybe, in some way, Caelum clung to his class as a surrogate. Or maybe he was getting too lost in his memories of the past that he was getting too emotional.[/color]

[color=#999999]But then again, Nyx, though not exactly, had a certain tough, strict older brother vibe that Caelum was starting to like.[/color]

[color=#999999]Smiling at the thought, it was only after he forced himself to direct all of his efforts onto the path ahead did Caelum notice the odd coloring of the leaves. He noticed earlier, but he didn’t give it much thought, but now, as he looked around, something definitely wasn’t right, he just didn’t know what.[/color]

[color=#999999]The group arrived and that feeling from earlier held more weight than he initially thought. The sight of a guy with bark for skin would do that, which clearly wasn’t natural. [/color][i][color=#0d98ba]Or at least I hope it isn’t natural.[/color][/i][color=#999999] Caelum’s understanding of this world wasn’t as expansive as some of his classmates, but he was almost certain having dark brown, barky skin wasn’t organic.[/color]

[color=#999999]As he nodded, he kept most of his vomit-for-thoughts to himself and simply watched as those with the proper knowledge about unnatural conditions, Caelum just listened but found himself a little bored by the details. Still, he couldn’t help but voice his approval of the idea to gather information.[/color][color=#0d98ba] “I second that notion!”[/color][color=#999999] Caelum added, which was nothing useful but it was out there nevertheless! [/color][color=#0d98ba]“We’re strangers in a strange land with strange happenings,”[/color][color=#999999] Caelum mused to the others. [/color][color=#0d98ba]“It’s all just very strange.”[/color][/indent][/indent][/indent]