Chapter 49 – Gate Capital (Part 3)
Chapter 49 – Gate Capital (Part 3)
The rest of the evening passed without incident, just as the conductor had promised. No more monsters, no sudden disasters—just the rhythmic clatter of the train’s wheels cutting through the quiet of the Lower Earth wilderness.
Zane, however, remained alert. Even if the threat had passed, he kept a constant watch on the landscape flashing by outside, his sharp eyes scanning the distance for anything unusual. That caution, honed through hardship and experience, never truly relaxed.
Still, he didn’t waste the downtime. As the hours ticked by, he used the opportunity to practice his Energy control. With his eyes closed, he sat cross-legged, channeling the flow of power through his body again and again. He’d condense it in his limbs, hold it in his core, then disperse it with precision—repeating the cycle over and over.
This particular training method had been taught to him by Fiora. Her instructions had been clear: constant repetition, precise control, and focus on smooth transitions. Zane had taken her words to heart. And now, after several hours of rigorous practice, he could feel it—his control was getting sharper. His channeling was faster, smoother. The changes were subtle but unmistakable.
Small gains, maybe. But on the longer run, those gains will snowball into something really significant.
"Zane, Zane..."
A soft voice tugged him out of his focus. He opened his eyes slowly, blinking as Elizabeth leaned closer.
"Yes?" he asked, his voice calm but curious.
"L-Look... Look out the window." She pointed eagerly to the side.
Zane turned his head, shifting his gaze to where she was directing—and then he saw it.