With their conversation wrapped up, both Marcus and Bianca waved goodbye to Aeric before walking towards the train platform and waiting for the next one to arrive.
“What was that about?” Marcus asked wondering exactly how Bianca knew Aeric, and what he meant about his father giving his support.
“Ah yes, I guess I should tell you a bit more about Aeric.”
“The two of us lived in the same spire when we were little and were the only children around, so we became fast friends. Also, his family has held a seat on Glenna Reota’s ruling council for centuries now, just as mine has. So, he will try and get his father’s support for you to become Borealia’s representative here in the city.” Bianca said.
After she said that the train soon arrived and following Bianca’s lead Marcus got on board.
Looking around the interior was incredibly nice, with a central walkway going up and down along with rows of large individual chairs.
However, as Marcus examined the inside of this train the three other ice elves that had already boarded started at him curiously.
It was a rare occasion to see an outsider in the city, and they were naturally wondering who Marcus was.
Still, none of them had the courage to approach when they saw Trisra, who was wearing the garb of a personal guard for members of the ruling families..
Once the train began moving, Marcus quickly sat down beside Bianca, and said, “It certainly is luxurious in here. How do you deal with busier times when more people want to board?”
Looking at Marcus with a bit of confusion, Bianca was not sure what he meant, until she remembered that he was used to human cities.
“Ah I understand what you mean. Certainly, if we were in the Borealian capital this train would never be able to transport enough people. But Glenna Reota only has around seventy thousand ice elves living here so overcrowding is never a problem.” Bianca said, answering Marcus’ question.
“I see, so there are not that many people that live here. Still for the area you have, isn’t that just too few?”
“No that is about what the city’s population always is. Us ice elves live a very long time and do not have children at the same rate as humans. So, there are simply less of us. But in return you will find that on average we have a higher level and quality of life than most humans.”
Nodding his head, Marcus was definitely interested in the ice elves’ culture that was far different than the one in Borealia where the majority of the population were humans.
“Ah this is our stop.” Bianca said when the train stopped after having been moving for around ten minutes.
Getting off the train, Marcus now had another question on his mind.
“Bianca, so far, we have just gotten on a cable car and train without paying. Is the transportation here free?”
Hearing this question Bianca opened her mouth wide as if she had forgot to tell Marcus something important, and said, “Oh I completely forgot to tell you. No, the transportation is not free, but we do not use gold silver and cooper coins like Borealia. Here we have credits that are earned by the work and contributions that are made to our community. I just have a magic item that gets charged whenever I enter a train or cable car and have set it to pay for all four of us.”
Blinking his eyes rapidly, Marcus tried to get his head around this far more advanced set up than he had seen in the rest of the world.
‘This is almost too much like some cites were back on Earth for it to be a coincidence. Hm, but I guess it really would not be possible to implement a system like this anywhere in Borealia. The ice elves are only able to do it because their small population is packed densely together, their long lives, and that they have higher than average levels.’
As he walked an analyzed the structure of the ice elves’ city, he lost track of his surrounding and slammed into the closed doors of the cable car they were about to enter.
‘Ow.’ Marcus thought reflexively, even though he was not hurt at all.
“Miss are you okay.” The operator said.
However, when she noticed that Marcus was not an ice elf, her demeanor changed and became cold as she almost glared at Marcus.
She then looked towards Bianca, and said, “Please hurry up and board. We will be departing soon.”
The four of them then got on board, and unlike Aeric who had been incredibly friendly and chatty, this ice elf was completely silent and did not even look at them.
“Are you hurt Irene?” Bianca asked having seen Marcus’ crash into the cable car.
“No, I am fine. Even if I fell from the top of the tallest spire here onto solid ice, I doubt I would take any damage.” Marcus said to alleviate Bianca’s worries.
At this Bianca laughed, thinking that Marcus was joking.
Of course, he was truly serious, and he doubted that any sort of normal impact was going to be able to harm him now.
Soon the cable car made it to its destination, this time the operator having moved at max speed.
Unlike Aeric, she had no desire to talk to Marcus and wanted him gone as quickly as possible.
When they arrived at the next spire, the operator quickly opened the doors and waited for them to leave.
“Okay this is our final stop. Within this spire is my family’s home where you will be staying until we can get you your own place.” Bianca said.
Exiting the cable car, for the first time instead of walking along the outside, they headed in.
Once inside, Marcus was able to look around the spire, which had a shaft on the outer edge that went up and down like an elevator.
And sure enough, when they walked up to a set of doors, Marcus saw the familiar sight of an elevator that allowed for quick transport from one floor to the other.
“Floor twenty.” Bianca said once they were inside.
A moment later the elevator closed and quickly began descending down a dozen floors before stopping.
The elevator then opened up to show the twentieth floor where Marcus assumed Bianca lived.
Yet as he looked down both directions, he only saw the singular door that was right in front of them as soon as they exited the elevator.
“Wait do not tell me that your family has this entire floor to themselves?” Marcus said with disbelief.
Bianca shook her head, confirming that they did not own this entire floor.
“No, we live on the floor above and below as well. In total we have three of the floors in this spire.” Bianca said as if that were normal.
Yet when Marcus heard this, he was astonished.
All of these spires were quite wide, and he imaged that each of the floors that Bianca’s family owned, would have about as much space as his mansion in Borealia.
“Now come on in. I am sure that you are tired from our journey and would like to rest.” Bianca said as she opened the door to her family’s home.
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