As the text floated away, Leonardo gained a general understanding of the meaning of "jinx." "There it—" Anna began before being interrupted by Leonardo, who quickly said "is" to match her pace.
Anna turned to look at Leonardo, confusion evident in her expression. "What was that?" she asked. "I wanted to jinx too," Leonardo explained, his face lighting up with a mixture of excitement.
Elara burst out laughing, her mirth ringing out like a bell, and tapped him on the shoulder.
"You'll get it one day," she said, wiping the tears building up in her eyes. Anna sighed, shaking her head with a smile that showed both amusement and exasperation.
As they walked towards the lift, a small crowd of people followed behind them, their murmurs and whispers creating a low hum of anticipation.
The air was filled with a sense of excitement and curiosity, as everyone seemed eager to explore the wonders that lay ahead. As they approached the lift, Leonardo's eyes widened with recognition.
There, standing tall and dignified, was the conductor from earlier, The one talking about the tower
"What is he doing here?" Elara said, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"Ah, hello there," the conductor greeted them, raising his hand in a salute.
His uniform was the epitome of classic railway elegance.
The dark navy-gray jacket he wore was adorned with gleaming gold buttons that ran in a double-breasted line down the front.
The jacket was perfectly tailored, hugging his seemingly corpulent frame and ending just below the waist.
Each sleeve was decorated with intricate gold braiding, adding an extra touch of sophistication to his ensemble, which, unlike his personality, was surprising.
A matching navy-gray cap sat smartly atop his head, bearing a shiny black visor and an emblem that spoke of his distinguished role.
Beneath the jacket, he wore a crisp white dress shirt with a starched collar, and a neatly knotted black tie that completed the formal look. His trousers, also navy-gray, were sharply pressed, with a crease that ran perfectly down the center of each leg.
His polished black shoes gleamed in the light, reflecting his meticulous attention to detail.
A name tag pinned to his chest identified him as an official representative of the railway, and a gold chain looped from his jacket pocket hinted at the presence of a classic pocket watch, a tool of precision for someone responsible for the punctuality of train schedules.
"Hi," Leonardo replied excitedly.
The man was right in front of him, and he could now ask questions without receiving half-hearted answers. "Hello, young man," the conductor said, his voice warm and inviting.
He seemed to be in his fifties based on his facial features, his hair gleaming with gray and strands of black. His unshaved beard extended an inch below his chin. In a sense, he was the personification of a train conductor.
"You can call me Hector," he added, smiling. Leonardo couldn't help but feel an imaginary warmth emanating from him. "I'm Leonardo," he replied, also in a cheery mood.
Meanwhile, Anna and Elara stood by the side, watching their interaction unfold with keen interest. "Are they related?" Elara asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Definitely a father-son duo," Anna replied, nodding her head in agreement.
"Anyway, this way," Hector said, then continued, "I'm going to guide you through the newly built lift." He gestured at the crowd behind them, inviting them to follow.
The lift in question was as large as a three-story building attached to the side of the stem.
The door slid open automatically as it sensed people entering.
The inside was incredibly spacious, with the only thing dividing them from the outside being glass and the door they passed through. Leonardo approached to touch it, his fingers grazing the surface.
"Looks like glass, feels like glass," he thought, marveling at its texture.
"But isn't glass," Hector replied, his tone mysterious. "What do you mean it's not?" Leonardo asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Let's round everyone up first," Hector said, smirking. The lift was just a vast space of nothingness, with the only color being light gray, matching the floor, which felt incredibly hard, almost unbreakable.
"Everyone, come here," Hector said, clapping his hands together to gather everyone's attention.
"Welcome to the newly built lift, designed by Sage Rolhim," he continued, his voice carrying authority and excitement.
"To clear up some thoughts, the materials used aren't found in this realm," he said. As he spoke, a voice could be heard from the crowd.
"I knew it! This floor," a woman said, feeling the ground with an expert's touch. "I am a materials scientist working for rolls-worth. I haven't seen materials this strong before," she added, her voice filled with awe.
Hector, smiling, said, "The material in question is called polsium, a material similar to stone made from pure condensed rasvian energy." As he continued, most people stopped what they were doing to listen. Objects from other realms were as hard to find as rare beasts; only the families from the tower could get them, and even that was difficult.
"Ah-ha, that explains the toughness," the woman added, her excitement palpable. Most people, however, were getting annoyed by her and left a space around her.
"Ah, yes," Hector said, sweat dripping from his brow. "The glass, on the other hand, is made from the early stages of polsium, before it becomes fully condensed," he explained.
Leonardo listened to every word, absorbing the information like a sponge. "Other realms," he thought, then smiled.
"I'm farther away from that than Ronald," he mused, not for a moment forgetting his brother. Reuniting with his brother was still one of his primary goals.
"I've seen this material before," Anna added, turning to Elara as Hector began to explain the tourism advantages of the lift.
"When?" Elara replied, her curiosity evident. "Dad held a bit before we left. Didn't you see it under construction?" Anna asked, confusion clear in her voice.
"No," both Elara and Leonardo said simultaneously, Leonardo just saying it as a way to butt into the conversation. "Jinx?" Leonardo realized the action performed. Elara started laughing, and Anna couldn't help but giggle a bit.
"I did it! I jinxed someone," he said, only to be stopped by Elara. "Jinxed is an entirely different thing," she said, laughing.
The lift itself was an engineering marvel, designed to transport large groups of people effortlessly between the various levels of the stem. The walls, though transparent, were made of a material far stronger than ordinary glass, offering an unobstructed view of the surroundings.
Leonardo couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. The journey in the lift was not just a means of transportation but an experience in itself, a glimpse into the marvels of engineering and the mysteries of the realms beyond. The other passengers shared in his wonder, their faces reflecting the same mix of excitement and curiosity.
Hector's voice brought them back to the present. "Anyway, let's start the ride, shall we?" he announced. The doors of the lift closed tightly.