Zhao Lun's magic was, of course, not true magic; his utterance was merely for show.
It was something amusing to say, a mere distraction, also serving as a cover for the Divine Kingdom.
The three who were unaware of the situation were genuinely stunned and fell into a moment of silence, unable to speak.
Taking advantage of their confusion, Zhao Lun quietly left. If they recovered their senses, they would surely bombard him with questions.
In the end, Zhao Lun couldn't avoid them. Eventually, he was caught and asked, "Was that really magic?"
"Heh." Zhao Lun gave a mysterious smile, "Wait until Maria goes to school, then ask her." After that, no matter how much they asked, he refused to say another word.
"Since that's the case, you should bring more things with you." Seeing that Zhao Lun wouldn't explain further, they didn't press him but instead asked him to take even more things.
Zhao Lun didn't oppose. The Divine Kingdom was vast and could hold a lot of things, so he packed whatever seemed useful, or what he simply wished to bring.
After a flurry of activity, everything was packed by 10 PM. The things he was bringing could easily fill the back of a pickup truck.
"Alright, Allen should rest now." Nikola grabbed Angela, who was still trying to stuff more things into Zhao Lun's bags, and told Maria and Monica to stop disturbing him.
All necessary things had been packed, and even a few unnecessary items found their way in. Everyone was exhausted, so they decided not to fuss any longer.
After freshening up, they came out to find everyone gathered in his room.
"Have you all finished washing up? Since when have you all been this quick?"
"Brother, I want to stay with you."
"Maria doesn't sleep well, so I'm here to watch over her."
"Me too."
"We have to wake up early tomorrow, so let's get to bed now."
Zhao Lun remained silent, enjoying the near-heavenly treatment, comfortably lying in soft comfort, feeling blissful beyond measure.
The next morning, around four o'clock, Zhao Lun was awakened by Nikola and the others, and after that, he couldn't fall back asleep. He climbed out of bed, dressed, did his usual boxing routine, sweat dripping down, then washed up. By the time he came out, breakfast was ready.
After breakfast, it was already five o'clock. He double-checked everything before setting off for the station. The King's Cross station was quite far, so they had to leave early.
This was not a vacation; Ada was driving, and the car moved swiftly and steadily. Due to the early hour, there was no traffic. The ride felt quick as they chatted, and they arrived at the station by 8 AM.
The train didn't depart until 11, so they had some time. They parked the car in the lot and went to check the platform Zhao Lun was looking for—the famous Platform 9¾.
The station operated 24 hours, with trains arriving continuously, and there were always people around. When they first arrived, a train had just pulled in, so it was a bit crowded as they boarded.
Zhao Lun and the others joined the throng, but after much searching, they couldn't find Platform 9¾. They even began to doubt whether Zhao Lun had made a mistake.
"There's only platform 9 and platform 10 here, did you make a mistake?" Nikola asked, the others eyeing him with questioning gazes. Had they come to the wrong place? Or was this all a joke?
One platform had a large plastic sign reading "9", and the other had a "10", with nothing in between.
"Don't worry, you'll see in a moment," Zhao Lun said calmly. "Pay attention, and you'll notice someone disappearing between platforms 9 and 10. The station is right here."
Zhao Lun remained calm, not in a hurry to explain, instead leading them to a spot to wait and watch.
"There are too many people, it's hard to see," Maria grumbled, frowning.
At that moment, a train from another time period arrived, and people rushed on and off, blocking their view.
"Look at that person, pushing a trolley and carrying an owl. Yes, them—see if they disappear between platforms 9 and 10," Zhao Lun pointed out.
Following his gaze, they saw a child pushing a cart and weaving through the crowd with an owl perched atop. Behind them walked a man in flashy clothes that drew the attention of many. This odd man seemed completely oblivious, glaring at anyone who stared at him.
"Is it them?"
"Shh! He might have noticed us watching."
"He looks so fierce!"
"Isn't it amazing?"
"Quiet! Don't speak carelessly! We might bring down a curse."
Zhao Lun quickly hushed them. He feared that a careless word might provoke the wizard, or worse, attract the attention of an ill-intentioned one.
"Oh," they immediately fell silent, eyes wide, focusing intently.
A person disappeared between platforms 9 and 10, but they couldn't quite catch it. Then two, three people vanished, but still, the view was blocked just at the critical moment. After a few attempts, they began to suspect the truth—this was indeed the platform Zhao Lun had spoken of.
By now, it was 9 AM.
"Alright, it's getting late. Let's grab a quick bite before we return," Zhao Lun called, snapping them out of their magic-induced daze, and led Maria to the restaurant they had scoped out earlier.
The magical world was something many dreamed of, and Nikola and the others were no different. Now that they realized someone around them was about to enter that world, their curiosity was piqued.
The restaurant, called "Tulip," exuded a rich fragrance. Stepping inside, the noise of the outside world was cut off, and a gentle melody played. The warm, inviting atmosphere felt like a serene refuge, offering a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle. Even more rare was how tranquil it was amidst the surrounding noise.
The ambiance was pleasant, and when they saw the food pictures on the wall, their appetites immediately surged.
"I didn't know there was a restaurant here. When did it open?"
Zhao Lun was surprised, as he hadn't noticed this place on his previous trips.
"Maybe one or two years ago."
"The atmosphere is nice, but the prices must be steep. I don't think many people come here."
They chatted briefly before finding a cozy spot by the window, surrounded by potted plants, and began perusing the menu.
"What would you like to order?"
A waitress arrived, a young woman.
"This one, this one, and this one."
Maria pointed at the pictures, choosing based purely on their appeal, not bothering to remember the names. The others smiled helplessly and entrusted her with the task of ordering.
Zhao Lun noticed that the dishes were all new creations, unique to this place, and the pictures alone made their mouths water. When the dishes arrived, they were as exquisite and beautiful as advertised. With forks and knives in hand, they took a bite, closing their eyes in satisfaction, relishing the exquisite flavors.
"Who would have thought the food at this new restaurant would taste so great!"
"The portions are a bit small, though."
"Still, it's quite good."
Maria was particularly happy with the food, enjoying it thoroughly. Monica and Nikola were also satisfied, though Angela remained silent.
The variety of tastes in life, and the cultural differences between East and West, inevitably led to different preferences. What was delicious in Nikola and the others' mouths was merely acceptable to Angela, who didn't find it surprising beyond its appearance.
Maria had ordered dishes that suited everyone's tastes, and overall, they were content, savoring the rare peace.
After staying for nearly an hour, they left around 10 AM.
Soon, they were back at the same spot. This time, there were even more wizards arriving, each one rushing by every few minutes, vanishing between platforms 9 and 10.
The wizards dressed in distinctive, non-mainstream styles, and thanks to Zhao Lun's explanations, they could easily tell who the wizards were, and who were merely regular people.
"Let's get inside quickly; it's better to find a good spot," Zhao Lun urged.
"Brother, don't forget to write to Maria."
"Remember to come home during the holidays."
"You mentioned the wizarding world is dangerous, so be careful."
As the time to part drew near, Maria and the others were reluctant to let go, chatting nonstop, as if there was more to say, clinging to him.
"I'm leaving now. Take care, and Maria, don't cause trouble. It's dangerous outside. Stay at home, listen to your sisters, and don't run around, or you'll make your brother sad."
"Angela, Nikola, Monica, please take good care of yourselves, and keep an eye on Maria. Don't let her fly off."
"Alright, goodbye. Don't worry, I'll write to you."
Zhao Lun waved his hand to them, pushing his cart toward the platform, before disappearing from their sight.
The others stood frozen for a while, unwilling to snap out of it.
The young girl began to cry when her brother disappeared from view, and her tears flowed uncontrollably.
"Let's go, Maria."
"We'll see him again soon."
Nikola hugged the tearful Maria and led her away.
...
Zhao Lun was unaware of what happened afterward. He felt a sudden shift, as if passing through a wall.
When his vision cleared, he found himself in a new world.
A deep red steam engine was parked at the platform, surrounded by travelers eager to board.
A sign above the