Valerian tried to turn his sadness into determination, which he only partially succeeded in doing. Following the numbers on his Trans ticket, he found the right wagon. The train consisted of a total of 30 wagons, all of which were covered in a golden alloy. Complex patterns adorned the windows and outer walls of the impressive vehicle. The sheer size never ceased to amaze Valerian. He had ridden the vehicle a few times before, but he was far from used to it. Each wagon had three floors and room for around 500 people, which was only thanks to the Mythium. Without the ore, the transportation of such a colossus would have been unthinkable. There were also smaller versions that traveled off the main routes, but the logistical challenge of transporting all the students of the graduating class to each province's capital required the largest versions.
Excitedly, he boarded the wagon number eight and climbed a flight of stairs to the second floor. There were young people his age everywhere, who seemed at least as excited as he was. He passed a crying girl clutching her soft toy. A boy held out a new gladius to his friends, looking proud and a little arrogant. Some remained silent while others tried to suppress their excitement with conversation and jokes. He finally found his seat and was relieved to see that some of his friends and classmates were already there. Nico and Sabia were sitting next to him and talking across his empty seat. When they spotted him, they happily waved Valerian over. "So you made it after all?" Nico asked him with a grin. "I was about to emigrate to America so I wouldn't become a nameless person." Valerian joked, although he couldn't really suppress his fear. "So if anyone from our year is assigned to one of the big houses, it's you." Sabia cheered him up. "Thank you, Sabia." he said to her with a smile. Even if it didn't really help, Valerian really appreciated his friends' efforts.
After everyone boarded the train, a low humming sounded and the hairs on the back of Valerian's neck stood up. Even though he had not yet been given a name, he too noticed the large amount of mythia released by the mythium. Shortly afterwards, the train picked up speed and quickly reached cruising speed. From the window, he could dimly see forests, fields and settlements passing by as they floated through the province of Germania. After just under an hour, they reached the outskirts of the provincial capital. Mogontiacum, or Tiacum as most people called it, was one of the largest cities in Europe and a hub for military, research and trade. Its central location in the heart of the continent had given the city wealth and power for centuries. Of course, it was still no comparison to Rome, but impressive nonetheless.
The governor of Tiacum and praetor of Germania, Septimus Sentius Cato, was a good politician and an even better fighter, who expanded that wealth since he came to power. He was in the emperor's favor early on and was one of the youngest praetors in a long time. The Elevation had given him enormous abilities and rumor had it that he was capable of destroying entire buildings with a wave of his hand. Valerian had only seen the giant in newspapers or on posters, but even there he exuded great power. Not only was he one of the 1000 strongest exalted people in the empire, the demigods, but he was also ranked 37th, which gave him the status of a god. Many of the citizens even called him the "Pride of Germania". Few individuals who came from provinces other than Roma achieved such a high rank, which made the placement even more impressive. Valerian would see him at the ceremony for the first time today and could hardly wait to get his own impression of the god-warrior.
The landscape was now changing more and more. The smaller foothills of the city were now steadily becoming more densely populated districts that were regularly interrupted by large squares, statues and other magnificent buildings. In the distance, Valerian could make out a small hill dotted with villas and gardens. After a short time, the first towers and palaces rose up from the comparatively small houses of the citizens. Even though most of them were built in the style of Roman architecture, no two of the magnificent buildings were alike. Some towers seemed to defy gravity, forming complex patterns that soared into the sky. Palaces were adorned with huge murals or impressive domes. It was an overwhelming sight that Valerian could not get enough of.
To his disappointment, they had almost reached their destination, which would bring his little sightseeing tour to an abrupt end. By now, the train had slowed down considerably as it entered the huge hub of Tiacum. In addition to the large transport trains for longer distances, there were also plenty of smaller trains for the city and its suburbs. The dome of the station stretched several dozen meters high and was painted with a huge portrait of the first emperor, Gaius Iulius Ceasar. The sublime, but also benevolent gaze of the emperor triggered a feeling of humility in Valerian. "We have to get off the train." Nico's voice suddenly broke through his thoughts. "Or would you rather go back home?" joked his friend. "Ha Ha, very funny." He replied in a resigned tone. They both knew that not attending the naming ceremony would lead directly to the existence as a Nameless. "Cheer up Val! We'll both get powerful names and then go to one of the elite academies together!" "Your optimism is almost contagious." Valerian said with a grin on his lips and noticed how his tension was easing. "Let's get going then. Shall we get a name?"