Zenon hugged his mother tightly, his heart pounding in his chest. He was leaving home for the first time and the thought of it made him nervous, yet excited. He was about to embark on a new journey and he couldn't wait to see what the future held for him.
As he pulled away from his mother, he saw tears in her eyes. "Take care of yourself, my dear," she said, her voice wavering with emotion.
"I will, Mom," Zenon replied, trying to sound confident. "I promise."
William's father shook his son's hand firmly. "Make us proud, son," he said, a hint of emotion in his voice.
"I will, Dad," William replied, his eyes shining with determination.
Zenon and William stood side by side, watching their family members disappear into the crowd. They turned to each other and shared a knowing look.
The train station was bustling with activity as people rushed to their destinations. The sound of chatter and announcements echoed throughout the building. The scent of coffee and pastries filled the air as travelers grabbed a quick snack before their journey.
The hustle and bustle of the station created a sense of urgency and excitement. Everyone had a destination in mind and the train station was just the starting point. Amidst the chaos, two friends stood calmly, observing their surroundings before embarking on their own adventure.
Zenon and William went through the security gates. They didn't have any luggage on them, so it was a fast checkup. They looked at the large clock hanging from the ceiling.
"Don't you think we got here too early? Our train leaves in an hour," said William.
Zenon smiled and shrugged. "I couldn't help it. I was too excited. Plus, I didn't want to risk being late."
William chuckled. "I guess that makes sense. I'm just glad we're finally on our way to Halsey. It's going to be an adventure."
Zenon nodded in agreement. "Definitely. I can't wait to see what's in store for us at Halsey."
As they made their way through the bustling train station, William glanced around at the crowds of people rushing by. "Wow, it's really busy here," he remarked.
Zenon nodded. "Yeah, it always is. Especially during peak travel times. But I'm just glad we made it through security and have some time to grab a quick bite before we board our train."
William followed Zenon to the train station's cafeteria, the crowd making it difficult to move around.
After scanning the menu, they placed their orders. Zenon's eyes lit up as he ordered his favorite drink, a Matcha Latte, and William decided on an iced coffee.
They took a seat at one of the small tables and waited for their drinks to arrive.
As they waited, William took a sip of his coffee and let out a satisfied sigh. "There's something about the bitterness of coffee that just wakes me up," he said.
Zenon chuckled. "Matcha is much smoother and has a more complex flavor. It's like a warm hug in a cup. Plus, you don't usually find it in coffee shops that often."
William rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay, we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. But have you looked at the list of establishments near the school?" he asked, pulling out the welcome packet from Halsey Academy.
"I've scanned it quickly, but I haven't really read them thoroughly," Zenon admitted.
"They all sound pretty cool. I'm excited to check them out," William said, flipping through the pages.
Zenon nodded in agreement. "I'm most excited about Lofi-Cofi. It sounds like the perfect spot to relax and do some studying."
There was a surprised look on William's face. "I was sure we would agree on Azalea Coffee being the most exciting."
"It sounds like a nice place, but it also says it's usually packed with people, so I don't think I would like it that much. Maybe if it were more empty…" said Zenon.
Their drinks arrived, and they took a moment to appreciate them. Zenon savored the creamy sweetness of his Matcha Latte, while William enjoyed the coolness of his iced coffee.
As they finished their drinks, they checked the departures board and saw that their train was leaving in 15 minutes.
They gathered their belongings and made their way to the platform, the crowd starting to thin out as people boarded their respective trains. The train they needed was already there, waiting for them to board.
Zenon and William entered the empty train car and took their seats. The silence was interrupted only by the soft humming of the train's engine.
William looked around, perplexed. "Isn't it weird that nobody asked us to show our tickets?" he asked.
Zenon nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, it is strange. I'm guessing it's because the train from Lade to Halsey is a really odd one… It's closed to outsiders after all."
William raised an eyebrow. "I had no idea. That makes sense, I suppose. It's a shame that friends and family aren't allowed to visit, though. I bet there's a lot to see in Halsey."
Zenon shrugged. "Maybe. But I'm just glad to be going there as a student. It's going to be an amazing experience, I can feel it."