Overwhelming Firepower

The preparations for the train presentation were done. They did minor tests to see if the train would move, but they didn’t make it go too far.

Once they were sure that everything was fine, Lucen decided that it was finally time to show everyone the fruit of their labor.

Vardon had sent an invitation to the King to see what his son and the people in Ironhold had created.

The invitation did not go unanswered. Three days later, the banners of the royal house appeared on the northern road, their colors unmistakable even from afar.

King Ragnor came alongside his wife, but none of his children were with them. It had been quite some time since the King had last set foot in Ironhold, the most powerful stronghold of Norvaegard, its greatest shield from all threats inside and out.

He had been here precisely six times in his life. One with his father, the previous king, the second time was when the former duke died, and Vardon became the duke.

The third time was when Vardon got married to Veyra. That was the happiest he had seen Vardon; the stoic he had was filled with smiles on that day.

The fourth was when Lucen Thornehart was born. The fifth was when Cael Thornehart was born, and the last time was when Veyra died.

That day should have been the most devastating day for Vardon Thornehart, knowing how much he loved his wife. Yet the Iron Duke showed no emotion.

He, who had survived numerous battles, from monster waves, skirmishes against other kingdoms, and barbarian raids, seemed like he had no more emotion left to give.

It had been some time since then, but he did not expect Ironhold to change so much. The walls, which were the very symbol of Ironhold, had grown twice as tall and twice as thick.

The materials used had become much better. Not to mention the weapons on the walls were no longer the ballista that used to be there. It was a huge metal object that had some similarities to the arquebuses that Lucen created.

’As expected, he has more unknown weapons made.’ Ragnor had already expected it, but he did not imagine it would be something like this.

Inside the walls of Ironhold, there was another wall that seemed to be the original wall before they expanded.

This wall also had those new weapons mounted. Ironhold had grown larger and now had more people walking around.

Ragnor’s gaze followed the movement within the walls. The streets were wider than he remembered.

Workshops lined the inner districts, their chimneys releasing steady streams of smoke. Storage buildings stood reinforced and orderly.

The only thing that seemed not to have changed a single bit was that the people of the North did not care for the royal banners, as they simply continued doing what they were doing.

This was, of course, not because they did not respect the authority of the crown, but they would follow orders if given. They simply did not believe in ceremony for its own sake.

To the people of the North, banners were cloth, titles were words, and authority was proven only through action, blood, and responsibility.

As the royal procession moved deeper into Ironhold, the sounds of industry grew louder. Hammer strikes rang with a steady rhythm.

He then saw the familiar mansion. Despite the change in Ironhold from size to look, this mansion remained the same. Not a single stone had changed from the last time Ragnor had been here.

Another thing that hasn’t changed was the man who came to greet him. The stoic figure that stood tall no matter the circumstance. Vardon Thornehart came to greet him alongside his sons, Cael and Lucen.

Ragnor exited the carriage and helped his wife, Celine, down. Ragnor then looked at Vardon with a huge grin on his face.

”It has been a while since I last visited. Ironhold has changed a lot, but your house remains the same.”

”Some things do not need changing,” Vardon replied calmly. He inclined his head, neither stiff nor overly familiar. ”Welcome to Ironhold, Your Majesty, Queen Celine.”

Lucen and Cael followed suit, bowing properly. Cael’s movements were rigid, almost military, while Lucen’s were smooth, practiced.

”So then what is it you want to show me?” Ragnor then went straight to the point as he understood that the Thorneharts were not ones for pleasantries.

Hearing what Ragnor said, Vardon gave Lucen a look. Lucen then stepped forward and spoke.

”Then please follow me, your majesties.”

With Lucen at the front, everyone followed behind him, including the royal guards who were with the king.

***

Lucen led them away from the mansion and toward the eastern district of Ironhold. When they arrived at the destination, Ragnor, Celine, and the royal guard had their eyes wide open for what they saw.

A wide stone platform stretched before them, reinforced and cleared of clutter. Iron rails ran straight through its center, embedded firmly into the ground, extending far beyond the platform and disappearing toward the northern road.

At the far end of the platform stood something that they could not understand what it was, but they could see it was a massive object made of steel and other materials.

Thick iron plates formed its frame, riveted together with precision. The front was blunt and imposing, reinforced like a battering ram.

Pipes ran along its sides, valves and gauges exposed rather than hidden, as if daring the viewer to understand how it worked.

Behind it, several cars were coupled together, some enclosed and solid, others open and reinforced for cargo.

Steam drifted lazily from vents along the engine, white against the cold northern air. The royal guards instinctively tensed, hands hovering near their weapons.

Ragnor stopped walking. For a long moment, he simply stared. It was taking him some time to take in what he was looking at. After several seconds of silence, he spoke.

”That,” he finally said, voice low and incredulous, as he pointed at the object. ”What is that?”

Lucen smiled that confident smile of his as he spoke. ”This is the future, your majesty. I call this a train. It can travel long distances faster than horses ever could. Not only that, but it can bring along hundreds of people, and even other heavy items. As long as there are tracks, it can reach the capital city, which would usually take a week or two on horseback, but using the train, it will only take a day to reach.”

For several breaths, no one spoke. The wind brushed past the platform, stirring the steam drifting from the engine. The faint hiss echoed unnaturally loud in the silence.

”So it’s that fast, is it, and it can carry a lot of people... You said as long as there are tracks. I’m assuming it’s those things that are on the ground, where do they end?”

”Right now, this is the only track, and it’s headed to Dorsen, passing by two villages. What would normally take three days of travel to reach will take only a few hours on this.” Lucen proudly declared.

”So, your majesties, what do you think? Would the two of you wish to be one of the first to ride the train?”

The king’s gaze moved from the iron rails beneath his feet to the towering engine, then to the faint line of tracks stretching northward. A smile then formed in his mouth.

”I guess this day would be something written in history. Heh, what a time to be king, when the genius Lucen Thornehart lived.” Ragnor spoke as he chuckled. ”Very well, I’m excited to be one of the first to ride. Can my guards come as well?”

”As I said, your majesty, this can bring hundreds. The Mages and craftsmen who created the train will also, is that alright with you, your majesties?”

”Of course, those who work hard should be rewarded.”

”Thank you for your understanding, your majesty. Now, please follow me inside.” Lucen then guided the group inside one of the passenger cars.

The interior of the passenger car was wider than any carriage Ragnor had ever ridden, its walls lined with layered materials rather than simple wood.

The outer shell was steel, but beneath it ran treated hardwood reinforced with pale monster bone, polished smooth and etched with faint, geometric runes.

They did not glow, nor did they pulse. They simply existed, anchoring the structure, reducing vibration, and dulling sound.

The floor was made from interlocking plates of dark metal and resin, each panel slightly flexible underfoot.

When one of the guards shifted his weight experimentally, there was no creak, no echo, only a muted firmness that absorbed movement.

Seats were arranged in orderly rows along both sides, forged frames bolted directly into the car’s skeleton.

Thick leather cushions rested atop them, dyed a deep gray-blue and stitched with threads reinforced by monster sinew. They were firm, not indulgent, built to keep a rider steady rather than comfortable.

Along the ceiling, narrow vents ran the length of the car, faint warmth flowing through them. Small rune-inscribed plates were embedded at regular intervals. This was to stabilize temperature, suppress noise, and counter sudden jolts.

The king, his wife, and the royal guards took their seats. Next, the craftsmen, as well as the mages, entered and took their seats on different passenger cars; among them were Robert and Durik. There was also Milos, whom Lucen brought along since they were going to his village, which was now a city.

The Thorneharts sat in the seats in front of the King and Queen. It wasn’t Lucen who was going to drive the train for the first time; Instead he had trained a few people to be able to not just drive the train but to fix it.

Those people were already in position.

At the very front of the train, inside the engine cabin, three figures stood in silence. Their clothes were thick and practical, reinforced with leather and metal plates where heat and pressure were highest.

Each of them had trained under Lucen and Durik, learning not only how to operate the levers and valves, but how to listen to the engine itself.

One hand rested on the throttle. Another hovered near the pressure release. A third watched the gauges, eyes sharp and steady.

Lucen waved his hand outside the window, giving the signal. The second, they saw the signal, they sounded the horn outside, it was low, heavy. The sound rolled through Ironhold like a declaration.

Inside the passenger car, the faint hiss of steam deepened. Slowly, deliberately, the piston engaged.

The vibration traveled through the car, but due to the rune engravings and how they built the passenger cars, the people sitting down barely felt it.

This was the day that would be later written in history books as the first train ride.