"What's this noise?" A balding worker peeked through one of the compartments.
Suddenly two silhouettes flashed past him, their suits blended within the darkness of the night.
"Yeep!"
The man stumbled backwards to the floor.
Two more silhouettes and a red dot passed his still-open door, though these were somewhat less menacing.
"...Cat pajamas?"
Both of them in their night clothes, Cyril and Myra dashed through the train, dodging and weaving across the few passengers who came out at all the noise.
The two thieves were visible running just a bit further.
"Are you sure you want to play this game with us?" Tony ran ahead while shooting a mocking glance behind.
Tom lightly hit him with a palm on the way.
"Focus on escaping!"
"Cheh. I'll be fine."
Momentarily distracted by his companion, Tony glanced back again.
A fireball was coming right at him.
"...!"
He dodged it in a hurry, bending his body with surprising agility.
The fiery bolt hit the cabin door in front of him.
He glanced at the students, sweat going down his forehead.
"The hell!? Are you trying to kill me, or other passengers maybe!?"
Though he only received a cold glare in response.
"We need a different approach." Tom said with a frown and braked with his feet.
Twisting in place, he suddenly changed his direction and ran like a ram at the two pajama-wearing students.
His body was covered by a subtle glow of blue.
A spell? When did he...?
Alarmed Cyril dodged to the side, Myra doing the same.
Tom ran right past them, the wind from his charge rattling their hair.
The force of that was quite high.
Cyril frowned, preparing for a fight.
However, Tom simply continued running while the light around his body dimmed.
"See you!" Tony waved at his companion and dashed away.
They are splitting!"On a train!? What's the point?"
"You go after Tom."
Without awaiting Myra's response, Cyril dashed after the annoying voice.
Myra briefly observed his back with an excited smile.
Though soon she turned around, and the look in her eyes changed.
As if an eagle locking onto prey, she focused on the thief ahead.
Tom flinched mid-run, almost stumbling.
"What the?" he whispered, sweat suddenly forming on his back.
Without glancing back, he sped up his pace.
...
"Now it's just between us, you creep!" Tony mocked as he ran.
"We must get him and rip out his vocal cords!"
Morpho landed on Cyril's shoulder, conserving her strength.
He aimed with his hand at the thief, trying to get a good angle for a spell.
...Too many people.
As they switched cars, there were only more people around.
Tony expertly weaved in between passengers, workers, and even guards on the way.
Some he shoved behind as a shield.
"There are only three cars left." Cyril shouted at the thief as he jumped over a fallen passenger.
"Then let's change the game!"
Tony exclaimed and jumped into an open hatch at the ceiling.
Without hesitation Cyril jumped in after him.
He pulled himself up and looked around, spell at the ready.
There was silence, broken only by the muffled voices of the people below.
In front of Cyril was a completely dark upper layer of the train, with barely anything visible.
It's too dark.
He was about to cast a light spell but halted midway.
...Can you make me see in the dark?
"I think so! I even have a good reference!"
In a moment darkness retreated in Cyril's view. Whatever little light was present in this place now managed to illuminate everything for him.
It appeared to be a mechanical area functioning as storage. Contraptions made with crystal were mixed in with random old junk gathering dust.
There was no sight of the thief anywhere.
But a dirty mirror standing nearby captured his attention.
Cyril cautiously and curiously walked up to it and looked at himself.
Huh.
In front of him was a familiar young man with blond hair. However, this time his cold blue eyes appeared a bit different.
His pupils were now bigger, appearing as a dark pool, as well as more vertical.
It looks a bit like that cat's...
"Yep."
Giving himself a nod, Cyril turned around, warily scanning the objects around him.
His sharp hearing picked up the clang of the metal floor as he walked and the panicked voices below him, but nothing of the thief.
Walking across the whole upper layer, he reached the end marked by a wall with no exit.
He turned around, staying still for a moment.
...Alright, ask Morpho.
"On it."
The butterfly on his shoulder fluttered her wings, then gently tapped him with a specific intent.
There?
Cyril slowly walked in the direction she pointed, making as little noise as possible.
He reached an old wardrobe, its doors just a little bit open.
Now that he was close, quiet breathing could be heard, along with a heartbeat.
He is quite calm.
"Maybe let's change that? This could be fun."
Rhamn appeared near him, her thin lips making a cruel arc.
Her red eyes appeared slightly more sinister in the dark.
"How about scaring him? Make some eerie noises maybe."
"..."
Ignoring her disappointed gaze, Cyril suddenly shot his hand into the wardrobe, punching it straight through.
"Ah!"
With a panicked yelp, the thief broke through the other end, rolling on the metal floor along with the wooden debris.
Clutching his chest, he gasped for air for a moment before shakily raising his head.
What greeted him were cold blue eyes that didn't seem human.
"-I... I got careless, I admit."
Tony wheezed as he tried to get up.
Cyril dashed in and threw another punch.
Tony agilely ducked and pulled out a knife from his jacket.
"It's your fault, knighty!"
With a ruthless expression, he plunged the knife into Cyril's side.
However, his expression quickly turned confused, then alarmed.
Cyril completely ignored the knife now stuck at his side and threw another punch.
Tony's head flung backwards, his body soon following.
He flew some distance in the air before falling on the floor. His jaw dangled freely, so he grabbed it and pulled it in place.
After a painful grunt escaped his lips, Tony glared at the student in pajamas slowly walking towards him.
"…How are you fine!?"
Cyril already held the knife in his hands, on his side, not a single trace of the wound.
"Maniac!"
Tony exclaimed and quickly cast a spell.
A flash of light went off. Cyril's pupils grew thinner as he shielded his face.
"Your stuff is in the briefcase near the wardrobe. See you never, alright!?"
As Cyril's vision recovered, he only saw smoke where Tony lay before.
He quickly glanced at what remained of the wardrobe, finding the briefcase without issues.
It's all here.
Cyril opened it, briefly rummaging through.
My wallet, Myra's wallet, and keys from our dorms are all here... There is even stuff from other passengers.
"Now what? Do we cancel the chase and find Myra?"
Of course not.
Cyril closed the briefcase back and stood up.
I want to pursue him.
"That's right! That annoying human will pay!"
...Besides, these thieves aren't ordinary. His casting speed was better than mine.
"Where is he now?"
Morpho on his shoulder excitedly fluttered her wings, pointing them above her.
"He is on the roof of the train."
That's where we are going then.
Giving Morpho a thankful nod, Cyril walked towards the place Tony disappeared.
Smoke has now cleared, revealing a hole in the wall.
Wind rattled his blond hair as Cyril stared at the night view outside.