The Train

Arthur hummed in appreciation. The Train station was beautiful, he’ll admit, but in contrast to the living situation just outside of it– it sticks out quite a bit. 
“If the city got a fraction of the funding this place got, life might’ve been easier for many.” He scoffed.

He boarded the “Behemoth,” the large steam locomotive that stops at exactly five stations around the large city. Arthur flashes the ticket to the bouncer, who promptly punched it with a punching tool, and he gives it back with a stinking glance.

Arthur doesn't appreciate the look and scoffed. “You got something to say? Grow a pair and spit it out,” he growled at the man.

He kept his silence and walked away. “No balls.” Arthur huffed, sitting on the closest seat from the exit. Taking a large cigarette tin, that holds up to forty cigarettes, Arthur takes one and holds it in between his lips.

With a snap of his finger, the tip lights up with a magical spark, promptly lighting the item and he takes a puff out of it.

“Compared to the ones sold on earth, these are superior by a longshot.”

Arthur opens the window to release the gathering smoke.

“In the game, there were seven school years in total. By the end of it, all graduates are given official mage licenses. The first three years are about learning knowledge while the other four are about applying them. Swords and mercenaries exist, but everyone is naturally given magic at birth– so many strive to be licensed magic warriors or mages for hire.”  Arthur puffed.

“The school provides the bare necessities and a few luxuries on top of that. The curfew in place puts a lot of freedom on the students so that is a plus when the academy is filled with—”

“Fourth Stop! Outer City!

 Arthur's train of thought was interrupted by the loud call of the bouncer. The train halted at an even more luxurious station, and more passengers boarded the locomotive.

"The city is also heavily judgmental about where one was birthed, the outer wall or a royal castle." Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose. "Right, hierarchy, the Academy professors and students are obsessed with it. They also don't treat is a place of learning, but as a place for matchmaking."

"One last thing, the world is heavily feminocentric. because of the magic sensitivity of women compared to men, pedigree is valued by many families and political marriages are commonplace-- thus becoming the source of forbidden romances like Evangeline's."

"This is already becoming a headache." Arthur huffed, resting his head on the seat. "I guess I should enjoy the view at least."

The Train left the Outer station and journeyed around the Middle City. beautiful houses with thick and secure brick roofs and whitewashed walls-- it was an envious sight for Arthur, who had to struggle through poverty. Normally, one would be jealous, but not him, he is instead thankful they never have to worry about supplies ever reaching them.

"Third stop! Middle city walls!"

The train stopped again and more board, the amount significantly less than the previous. it was starting to crowd. The train whistle loudly and the gear began to turn.

The train departed the Middle Station and rode above the city through a Skyrail before entering the Inner Walls. Compared to the earlier stops, the number of travelers has significantly diminished.

“Inner Walls!”

The city entered the city through a tunnel and as it exited, the passengers were given a full view of gold shimmering in the air. 

“If this isn't fitting to be called the Golden Circle- then I don't know what else.”

The majority of the non-student passengers have left the train and the remaining are all students bound for the Academy. Arthur looks around to see many of the passengers were like him, his rank, holding in their anger. He hadn't been paying much attention to all the buzz and didn't care to, but it seems that it has taken a toll on his fellow low-borns.

“Don't even think about doing anything stupid–” Arthur tried to reprimand.

“The only reason why you pigs are breathing the air around her is because of the empire’s pity laws.” The bouncer guffawed, earning laughter from many of the privileged.

Arthur flares up. “That bastard!-- shit, come to think of it, in the first cutscene, they talked about an incident on the train.”

“What did you say!?” someone in front of him say. The man stood up, towering at six feet two inches. His muscular frame dwarfed his frail-looking seatmate. 

Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sit the fuck down, unless you want to screw all of us.” he hissed.

The bouncer gave a sour expression, taunting the big man. “Tsk!” he clicked his tongue before sitting down.

“That's what I thought, you pigs would never amount to any– ah!!” the man yelped, his pants on fire, specifically the groin. “W-water!” he pleaded. 

“HaHaHa! Say that again asshole!”

“That's what I thought bitch!”

The cart began to throw obscenities at the speaker, watching him burn and writhe in agony. For a while it was funny, but the whole train watched as he began to tear up and scream from the pain, clearly everyone except Arthur was enjoying the sight.

“Man, poor guy, poetic justice if you ask me. He at least won't pass on his genetics”

The train ride got somber as the man cried in a pool of his own blood. “augh…mom…augh…”

The train stopped to a halt beside a grand castle, a castle that was repurposed as an elite academy. The train doors open and everybody files out the train in peace, probably traumatized by the event.

Arthur walks through the entrance and breathes in the air. “Ah~ privilege.”

 Someone tapped his shoulder, making him turn around. he was greeted by two boys, just about his age, but with a drastic height difference. The first one was the giant from earlier and the other was his much smaller seatmate. 

“Was that you back there that told me to shut up?” the giant meekly asks.

Arthur raised an eyebrow. “Whose asking?”

The two boys beam for a moment. “Ah, shit– I forgot, the name’s George Baker.”    The other adjusted his glasses. “I-Im David Henry, please to meet you.”

“I just want to thank you for sticking up for me. I promise to pay you back,” he said gruffly, and with sincerity 

Arthur smiled at the gesture. “What are you talking about? I didn't do anything to the poor guy.” he shook his head with sarcasm.

“God, you’re an asshole.”

“Thank you. Name’s Arthur.”

The three guffaw and giggle as they walked through to the lobby. They took seats together and Arthur stopped smoking. 

the room started to fill up and before long, the doors were shut by guards. 

The large curtain hiding the stage opened up to reveal a beautiful woman dressed in a golden dress. Her crown was shimmering from the sheer wealth it had on, a gemstone of many colors. 

George gasped. "Is that the E-Empress?" David was in shock too, his glasses all messed up. "She's beautiful…" 

Arthur smirked at the two adolescent humans with a confused smile. "Who else could rock a crown worth more than this castle?" 

The empress tapped on The microphone, gathering everyone's attention. "Good morning to you all." She said. 

Her hair was glowing in reddish-gold, sparkling in the spotlight. Her chest was large and her 

frame was alluring. Her beauty was peerless, and her authority was great. 

"I am Helena Rosegold VII, Empress of the Rosgold Empire." 

"My grandmother before me has set laws to guarantee you a chance to improve your future and the Empires. Don't fail me." She commanded. 

Arthur zoned out. "Ugh, I've memorized this empty speech in my previous life. They promise equality, yet ignore the suffering of the less. Such bullshit."

Make it end, please! Make it stop!" Arthur cried out internally. 

The introduction ceremony ended and everyone was ushered out of the auditorium. 

Phew! Talk about serious!" George smirked, as they walked to the banquet hall.

David nodded. "That's true. The Empress was quite adamant about equal treatment. It's inspiring!" 

Arthur could only scoff at them. "How innocent." 

The two look at him as he uttered blasphemy. "W-what?" 

"Do you honestly believe that all the Academy professors would conform to her words?" Arthur scoffed. "The Empress is a busy lady, as she had an empire to run." Arthur reasoned. "Do you think she has this place under surveillance 24/7?"

They both shook their heads. 

"Damn right, I'm willing to bet that many of the professors are in the pockets of many Major families." 

David raised an eyebrow. "Do you have proof?" 

Arthur chuckled. "Not yet, I don't, but I will promise you this, there will be preferential treatment." 

The two boys were somber the rest of the way to the banquet hall, pondering on the probable truth Arthur just said, but they were blocked by the gathering of students.

They gathered at the front of the entrance, watching something with great interest. 

George grumbled. "What's the hold-up? David, climb on my back and tell me what's going on." 

David shook his head. "Hard pass" 

George turned to Arthur, who just shrug. "Alright, Bet"

Arthur jumps on his shoulder and stands above the crowd, balancing on George. 

In the hall was an argument between two ladies and one prince. "Oh, shit is going down." 

In the distance was the protagonist, Evangeline Nightingale, arguing with the villainess, Ellis Simmons.

Arthur took not of their unrealistically mature and bountiful proportions. The developers worked hard on the fan service of both the heroine and the antagonist. 

Ellis Simmons had red eyes and black hair tied into two twin tails. She was in a casual red dress, clearly stained by mayonnaise. 

Evangeline has green eyes and blonde hair tied in a cute ponytail. She was in a white sundress, smeared with ketchup. 

Prince Albert Rose gold was in between them, trying to well the situation. "You two, please settle your dispute. You're Makin a scene!" 

"I shall refuse! This commoner destroyed my dress!" 

"I didn't! We bumped into each other and it was an accident! Your Highness, you have to believe me." 

"I am your fiance! Listen to me!"

George couldn't see much beyond the crowd, but he could tell a fight if he heard on. "I-Is it getting worse?" 

Arthur shrugged. "Depends on your definition of Bad. I say it's getting good."