Lord of Mysteries: Goddess of Origin

As the train moves in a relative pace.

Selina, her fingers diligently wrapped to her hair, holding two strands in each of her side and braiding them in place. 

In her years of living alone, she have learned quite a few things, including tending a hair into a low knot, which would always result in a loose curls, for example her currently tied hair. The reason why she hate such style is due to its tendency to fall while she's cleaning, which prompted her to buy a set of velvet hair bonnets during those times.

But now, with Selina's experience in braiding. She's now able to tend it with a mild loose curls in comparison to when it would almost fall off.

Putting that aside, after tying her hair, she noticed a faint red hue from the tip of her hair. Before, she wasn't able to take a closer look. 

Was this body's hair always been like this?

Dismissing the thought. Her fingers took hold of her sunhat, adorned with black stripped bow and edge, followed by a mocha shade base.

Dusting off its brim, Selina turned her head subconsciously on her side, gazing at the scenery sliding pass the window.

Now, with her escape, Selina felt a mental clutch, reducing the past events, her anxiety, and fear into the back of her mind.

With a blank face, her thoughts pondered for her next course of action, My next goal would be to find the next formula of the Apothecary potion. But searching for it would be the problem... It seems like there are many people who aren't aware of the existences of beyonders.

Honestly, they're better off not knowing them, considering the dangers it lurks, and what will happen if they failed... Selina recalled the previous her's state after losing control from the sequence potion.

And the cults... Her hand clenched the handle of her case, before relaxing them after, They would still try to retrieve me, I couldn't afford to be careless. Once we found a shelter we'll prepare for the worst.

After letting go of her suitcase, Selina's thoughts shifted back to her next tasks, We'll finally going to Tingen, your dream place, the only difference is that we won't be there to attend college...

Following that, a certain word resurfaced in her mind, a corner of her mouth twitched as she mused herself, Then... we'll visit the university first once we found a place to stay...

Beyond the glass formed the darkened landscapes, only illuminating by the light originating from the hanged lamps above, outside hides a varying hills and plains, followed by drifting of trees and rivers.

In a composed silence, she began forming a mental list of priorities for when she reached the city.

Food and shelter. I have three hundred pounds, that should be more than enough for me to rent a house for awhile. We'll buy the essentials afterward.

After a pause, another thought surfaced, We'll also need to change identities and keep a low profile. Even in a city, there's always a chance the cult could find us...

Resting her head on her hands, she absentmindedly traced her fingers along the brim of her sun hat, eyes unfocused as she stared out the window, lost in the rhythm of thought and distant worry.

Moments later, a woman dressed in a blue uniformed jacket, walked towards Selina.

She wore a black trouser, pair of white gloves, and her hair tucked into a cap.

The woman asked in a respectful tone, "Miss, our staff are now serving warm tea for each passengers, would you like me to brought you one?"

She's not a replica... Is she? Selina stared blankly at the attendant for three seconds, before retracting her gaze to the table, "Sure."

The female staff nodded before making her way off into the cabin ahead.

Fifteen minutes, later, the attendant returned, carrying two plates containing a tea and a piece of rye bread with both of her hand.

I thought it was just tea? Selina's eyes narrowed at the extra serving she gained.

Seeing the Selina's look of suspicion, the woman explained, "Well, since the train will be arriving by tomorrow morning, we've considered the comfort of our passengers.

Thus, we've added a rye bread in case they're hungry."

How... considerate? Selina turned her gaze towards the other passengers, seeing they've received the same treatment, she accepted the bread and tea before thanking the attendant.

"Our pleasure, if there are anything more, please don't hesitate to call us" The woman bowed to Selina before leaving.

This must be the result of those two day wedding... she silently mused herself before picking the bread and munching on its soft texture.

Satisfied with the quick meal, Selina decided to rest, something she hadn't truly managed to do before.

As night deepened into quiet stillness, a gentle peace settled over the course of their journey.

...

The train groaned as it gradually slowed its tracks.

After halting at the platform, the double door was slid open by two train staffs wearing a blue uniformed vest and a cap.

Dense crowd poured out from the train's entrance, some people wore either a tailed coat, a vibrant dress with bonnets of elaborate decors and top hats for the gentlemen, while others in workers uniforms and linen garments.

The station featured a glass dome above, with walls and pillars to supporting its integrity. Multiple officers wearing caps and unforms stood by the platform, ensuring safety and peace for the passengers who are boarding and leaving.

As the last few passengers disembarked, Selina stepped out through the train's double doors, her leathered suitcase in hand.

Her eyes darted across the scene before her, a vibrant, bustling, alive. The station thrummed with genuine motion: people moving with purpose, laughter echoing from corners, voices rising and falling without script or symmetry.

It was refreshing, soothing even.

The simple, unfiltered presence of real people, unbound by anything, calmed her frayed nerves. For the first time in what felt like forever, she was surrounded by life that wasn't pretending to be alive.

Just as she continue her pace, a swift dash of a child wearing a worn clothes and a cap swept in front of her, followed by three officers chasing him not far from Selina.

"Stop! Stop that thief!" yelled by one of the chasers holding a black wooden baton.

The three quickly slid pass Selina, standing still over the platform.

Thief? Subconsciously, Selina patted her side, trying to feel her wallet from her skirt, but her skirt featured no such convenience.

Feeling a slight embarrass, she turned her gaze to the fleeting silhouette of the child and the three officers, after a moment, she muttered silently, At least, now we know there are still pickpockets in this world...

Tightening her grip of her suitcase, Selina turned towards the left hall and quickly made her way out of the train station with mechanical grace.

Arriving at the entrance, she was suddenly halted by an officer, standing by a corner. He wore a black checkered vest paired with a blue swallowed coat.

"Ma'am, may I see your ticket?"

Selina didn't mind his interruption, pulling out a hard textured paper slip from her suitcase, she handed it to the officer before patiently waiting for his approval.

After a slipshod inspection, the officer nodded in acceptance, extending his hand to his side, he said, "You can go."

She mirrored his action of bowing slightly before proceeding to exit through the entrance.

Beyond the walls of the station, she was greeted by a lively atmosphere, comparable to when she left the steam train. 

Trotting of horse-drawn carriages followed by mobile hawkers who sold vegetables, fruits, and hot food shouted along the streets as they beckoned the rushing pedestrians. Some of them would stop and carefully compare before purchasing. Others would impatiently wave their hands as they had yet to find work for the day.

Selina felt a chilling breeze swept her skin. Which made her cover the bare skin of her left arm holding the suitcase.

Although it was almost July, it was still considered the middle of summer. However, Tingen was situated north of the Loen Kingdom, so it had unique climate characteristics. The highest annual temperature was not even 30°C on Earth, with even cooler mornings. 

Straightening her posture, she took a whiff of the air mixed with noxious and fragrant aromas drifting from the vendors. Clenching her suitcase with her left hand, she pressed her sun hat by the other and moved through the bustling streets with cautious poise.

Such a densely populated area was bound to attract thieves. Though the streets appeared orderly and pleasant, Selina remained alert, her caution never wavering.

She navigated carefully through the crowded avenues, slipping past vendors and passersby with practiced awareness.

In the distance, a soft, ethereal chime rang out, an old bell tone echoing through the cityscape. It stirred a memory within her: the great clock tower of Westminster, the Big Ben of London.

At times, during a short break, she would occasionally read certain articles concerning public reports internationally, this was a habit she made in order to monitor the capital exchange between currencies, this was also a task for secretaries to diligently monitor liquidity for the company they're working.

Putting those thoughts aside, she recalled the inexperience of her body's former owner.

Selina is a country bumpkin and have never been in a city. As for her, she's unaware of Tingen city's layouts, navigating through the streets would meant danger if she got lost.

Let's find a map, hopefully the parliament should have considered the incoming foreigners, that they posted it for the public, With her thoughts settled. Selina proceeds to scour her way from a mass of pedestrians.

From a distance, she could make out a line-up of carriages arriving at a spot of the road. Followed by newsies shouting headlines from across.

Begging paupers from the sides being escorted by officers. Some of these vagrants, especially the children exhibits sallow complexions due to malnutrition.

Selina's gaze followed the officers accompanying the tramps out of the district, gradually vanishing from her hindsight.

Are they... relocating them? A momentary perplexation hit her, before arriving at a realization. Dismissing her thoughts, Selina resumed her pace amidst the tension of the crowd with deliberate stance.

Reaching a wide intersection, the amount of pedestrians seemed to lessened compared to when she exited the train station. Gaining a breather, Selina took a liberty of inspecting the city's architectural designs, darting her gaze from buildings to another.

The city features bricked houses lined in a compact setting, leaning ever so slightly towards the streets. Balconies above draped with laundries and older residents slouching on the railings, silent observers of a street.

These vintage styled residences made her recall the town of Milo. Although it's a rural town, it didn't disappoint in following the world's structural trend, even displaying identical paving of the roads. 

Reducing these thoughts to the corner of her mind, Selina pressed onwards.

Soon, she noticed a wide wooden billboard, standing prominently at the center street of the intersection. 

Selina didn't waste her time. Turning her head over the side and another, ensuring there's no carriages rushing the road. She quickly maneuvered her way across the intersection, arriving at the wide wooden board.

Stamped on it's surface are multiple flyers and posters, adding on a layer to each other. A couple of advertisements accompanied by daily posts and headlines made the city's map, barely be seen from the multiple layers of pasted papers. 

At one of the headlines, Selina's attention was caught by its catching title; "The Rural Town of Milo, A Hive of Cults."

It had already spread like a wildfire... Selina mused internally before deciding to skim its contents.

The headline didn't cover much of the entire situation, some of its statements even baffled Selina of its terrible narration and obvious major forgeries. It's safe to say, they couldn't publicly report the true events that happened...

Arriving at its conclusion, the final statement unsettled her slightly; "The Family of Ivory's only descendant have yet to be identified."

Seems the priority bracket have changed, I'll try to find a reliable identity dealer after I found a place to stay, Casting those thoughts aside, Selina cleaned the view of the map from pasted papers and advertisements. Her eyes scrutinized her current position to the map, finally concluding where she is.

Looks like I'm in the North Borough, at a street known as Birchwhite... Scanning the layout of the city for a possible district that offers renting houses, Selina settled her destination, Daffodil street seems to offer the most affordable one. Alright, we'll head there.

"Miss! Miss!" A voice tinged with squeaky tone called Selina from her side.

Turning her attention over her right, she saw a newsboy, wearing a worn cap, a self-sewn satchel and a slightly tattered coat and pants, a visible stain smeared on his face.

The boy warmly extending his right hand holding a folded newspaper towards Selina.

"Might I interest you with today's Tingen daily posts?" He offered smilingly, his dirt smudged lips curled in delight.

Although Selina couldn't be bothered with passersby. Her nature unintendedly took over.

Without knowing the price, she whisked out a ten pence from her baggage and gave it to the boy.

The boy was stunned by the amount of money the lady gave him. Tightened his grip of his satchel, he quickly denied the lady's offering, "M-Miss, that's too much for a newspaper..."

Too much? Selina raised an eyebrow at the boy's strange honesty. Wouldn't such unfortunate youngsters just take the chance of earning an extra due to a passerby's unawareness? 

Regardless, Selina still chose to gave the ten pence to the boy and proceeded to turn her body towards a carriage's stop.

Seeing the ten copper coins resting on his palm, the newsboy lifted his head with an intention of thanking the lady.

But the sun-hatted woman have already vanished from his sight.

Clenching his palm that holds the pennies into a fist, the boy briskly walked back to the opposite street.

At a corner of a building, ahead of the billboard. Selina leaned on the bricked wall, attempting to observe the boy's reaction.

Heaving a sigh of resignation, she stored the newspaper in her suit case before she resumed her pace towards a carriage stop.