The events at the station would make the papers, the story made all the more tragic that the woman who looked into the ghost train\u2019s coaches was reduced to a gibbering wreck. She spent the rest of her days being looked after by orderlies and her family; her mind forever trapped in a state of horror. The mood of the festival dropped dramatically, with most people not daring to go outside for fear of encountering the ghost. The railways suffered the brunt of it as the passengers and goods clients of both companies avoided them like they were devil-spawn from the Depths. Those that were still determined to try and enjoy the festival also saw Yentil\u2019s ghost train, causing a wide-spread dip in morale. The situation became so unbearable, Jenmar, Golu, Henthal, and the royal families came together to deal with the problem. \u201cAll right,\u201d began Roomef, \u201cso we all know why we\u2019re here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d snarked King Lektem, \u201cwhy don\u2019t you remind us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPut a sock in it, Lektem!\u201d hissed his husband, Tegnar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you, Tegnar,\u201d bid Roomef. \u201cNow this…ghost…has been terrorizing everyone for the better half of the festival and we need to find a way to get rid of it. Now, Princess Malnar studies ghosts as a hobby, even going so far as to publish her findings in various academic journals, so I\u2019ll give her the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you, Your Majesty,\u201d replied Malnar. \u201cNow, I\u2019m gonna open with this: it defies all expectations in spectral science. The only reason ghosts have an opportunity to manifest back home is because of our slightly liberal use of dark magic. The magic weakened the veil between the living and the dead. As far as I\u2019m aware, the Over-realm never even touched dark magic, so it should be impossible for a ghost to manifest. This is a rather unique situation, so, as far as I\u2019m concerned, there aren\u2019t any dumb ideas. If you have one, put it forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow about getting your mother to perform an exorcism?\u201d asked Queen Yumbii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI love my mother dearly,\u201d answered Malnar, \u201cbut she\u2019s terrible at exorcisms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaybe we should get one of her colleagues,\u201d suggested Jeltam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt would take too long for them to get here,\u201d replied Malnar. \u201cWe can\u2019t afford to wait.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaybe we should talk to him,\u201d mused Jenmar. \u201cAsk him to leave and he may do so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAbout that, Jenmar,\u201d interjected Lardeth, \u201cdid you or your passengers and crew get a good view of the ghost train?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was too far away to get any details,\u201d replied Jenmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI got a good look at it,\u201d called Rellmeer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank goodness for the Fae\u2019s telescopic vision,\u201d sighed Felfar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat did the engine look like?\u201d asked Lardeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA teal tender engine with red stripes and a zero on its tender,\u201d answered Rellmeer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe same train we saw,\u201d mused Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not what Dad and Entam drove, though,\u201d remarked Lardeth. \u201cThey had a small tank engine in GNWR green with the initials of the railway on its side tanks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoes that mean we have TWO ghosts here?!\u201d yelped Vumfaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, just one of unknown origin,\u201d replied Lardeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCan we really be so sure it ISN\u2019T Yentil?\u201d asked Endram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe night I saw it, the train jumped the path and plunged into the ravine,\u201d recalled Jenmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was definitely pulling GNWR coaches,\u201d called Rellmeer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd when we had our encounter,\u201d recalled Falnii softly, \u201cthere was a male human and a female Frostik.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd the human WAS at the driver\u2019s place in the cab,\u201d continued Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen, no, Dad,\u201d sighed Lardeth as he rubbed his temples to try and massage away a headache, \u201cwe can\u2019t be sure it isn\u2019t my father.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, if it is,\u201d quizzed Golu, \u201cwhy would the engine look different? That doesn\u2019t make any sense!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s actually a field of study in researching ghosts,\u201d replied Malnar. \u201cThere are those that forgot what they once looked like and have a hard time reconnecting with their loved ones, thus keeping them on the mortal plane.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hate to be the naysayer of this meeting,\u201d called Felfar, \u201cbut we still haven\u2019t figured out how we\u2019re gonna get rid of the thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t say that,\u201d countered Malnar. \u201cYou all saw the engine fall, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe did,\u201d confirmed Felfar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHenthal, how much do you remember of your old days as a station pilot for the GNWR before you became a Mechanica?\u201d Malnar continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEverything,\u201d replied Henthal. \u201cI still remember the station you were at as being part of the old main line before Northern Regional bought it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen we have an opportunity to do something,\u201d declared Malnar. \u201cIt sounds like that ghost train\u2019s a Repeater, doomed to repeat the circumstances of their end. The best way to get that kind of ghost to move on is to interrupt that process. We need to find someone Yentil and Entam would listen to and that person needs to tell them they don\u2019t need to take the train on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut…back in the day, outside of his royal duties,\u201d interjected Lardeth, \u201cthat was only one man.\u201d The entire Felompha family then got the same idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…There is NO way he\u2019s gonna go for that!\u201d declared Twayfar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe only one they would listen to on the railway,\u201d explained Roomef, \u201cwas the manager of the GNWR, Lord Anfelaf Tomfulmaph, my great-grandfather.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen he\u2019s our best shot,\u201d resolved Malnar. \u201cWe need to talk to him and explain the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTwayfar\u2019s right,\u201d remarked Lardeth. \u201cGreat-great-grandfather Anfelaf\u2019s quite a stubborn man. He\u2019s most likely not going to like the idea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cARE YOU KIDS OUT OF YOUR MINDS?!\u201d snapped an elderly Zephyr man, Anfelaf Tomfulmaph, as he pointed his cane at Lardeth and his fianc\u00e9s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI warned you,\u201d muttered Lardeth to his lovers before returning his attention to his great-great-grandfather. \u201cPappy, please, if you\u2019ll let me explain…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s there to explain, Lardeth?!\u201d demanded Anfelaf. \u201cYou want me to tell the ghosts of your father and his co-worker, who\u2019ve been dead for the better part of 200 years, to leave on the vague assumption that they\u2019ll do so?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDad and Entam always wanted to make you happy,\u201d reminded Lardeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s probably one of the reasons they suffered their accident!\u201d countered Anfelaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you mean, Sir?\u201d asked Arsha. Anfelaf drew in a breath, then exhaled before speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI cultivated their egos,\u201d he explained, his voice heavy with regret. \u201cI praised them whenever they delivered their trains on time. They were probably trying to please me when they died, which is why I\u2019m so unwilling to speak to them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou think they\u2019re holding a grudge against you?\u201d asked Falnii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExactly!\u201d confirmed Anfelaf. \u201cThey probably hold me responsible for their death! What if they try to take me or something?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, Pappy!\u201d argued Lardeth. \u201cDad may have been many things, boastful being chief among them, but he was never vindictive! Neither was Entam!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBesides, don\u2019t you think you should try?\u201d asked Foresna. \u201cIf you don\u2019t, and things keep going the way they are, Wysper City may encounter another economic depression as bad or worse than the Second Age\u2019s Money Crisis.\u201d Anfelaf peered at Foresna closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s your name, boy?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cForesna Falshenda, Sir,\u201d replied Foresna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…There\u2019s something about you,\u201d muttered Anfelaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSir?\u201d asked Foresna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you study history?\u201d quizzed Anfelaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFrequently,\u201d answered Foresna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Lardeth\u2019s picked a spouse with a head on his shoulders,\u201d mused Anfelaf. \u201c…All right!\u201d He then thumped his cane. \u201cI\u2019ll do it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReally, Pappy?!\u201d yelped Lardeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMr. Falshenda\u2019s right,\u201d continued Anfelaf. \u201cYou\u2019ve just had your Tour\u2019s End Ceremony, meaning you\u2019re going to be King when your parents step down. I can\u2019t let your first duties be centered around economic recovery. Let\u2019s enact whatever plan you kids have and see what happens!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, thank you, Pappy!\u201d sighed Lardeth. \u201cAnd thank YOU, Farm Boy!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t thank me, Princess,\u201d remarked Foresna. \u201cI was taking a shot in the dark!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was night as Arsha, her lovers, Henthal, and Anfelaf waited at the same station the ghost train stopped at. Black mist then rolled in and formed into an Elf in black, Aldrama, the Fifth Divine One of Ending. \u201cLord Anfelaf, are you okay?\u201d she asked the elderly Zephyr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not shaking just because it\u2019s cold, Lady Aldrama,\u201d replied Anfelaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe really appreciate your help, Pappy,\u201d thanked Lardeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, yes, just don\u2019t go blabbing about it to the other railways,\u201d muttered Anfelaf. \u201cI don\u2019t want them to lose their opinion of me being a cold person.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPerish the thought, Pappy,\u201d joked Lardeth. He then turned to Henthal. \u201cIs everything set?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe station\u2019s been cleared and Lady Aldrama and I will be on standby,\u201d replied Henthal. \u201cThough, I will admit, I fail to see how much help I can be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou never know,\u201d assured Lardeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis station!\u201d grunted Anfelaf. \u201cI wonder if any railway facility in all the Realms has ever been evacuated because of ghosts!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can\u2019t recall any stories like that in the Under-realm,\u201d answered Malnar. \u201cThis is certainly a way to leave your mark in history!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, triumphs and blunders,\u201d muttered Gorfanth, \u201cthe two biggest things people remember.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGorfanth!\u201d admonished Falnii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll right, I\u2019ll keep my cud to myself!\u201d grumbled Gorfanth. \u201cBut, before I do, can I just ask something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat if the ghost doesn\u2019t show up?\u201d asked Gorfanth. A whistle then dispelled that notion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat was definitely the whistle of the engine Yentil and Entam drove,\u201d gulped Anfelaf. The train then materialized just past the signal box and glided into the station, stopping as the engine was just beyond the platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s up to you now, Pappy,\u201d urged Lardeth. \u201cGood luck!\u201d Anfelaf shuddered as he approached the engine\u2019s cab. He could definitely make out a female Frostik and a male Human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEr, Your Majesty? Ms. Onfur?\u201d he gulped. The two figures then twitched their heads as if they heard him. \u201cYentil, Entam, is that you?\u201d This time, the two figures turned their heads to give him their full attention. Anfelaf gulped again. \u201cErm, you two are probably wondering why I\u2019m here tonight,\u201d he began. The two figures stared at him. \u201cEr, well, I er…I can\u2019t stay on script. …I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not what you\u2019re supposed to…!\u201d yelped Lardeth before Malnar stopped him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat may be better for both of them,\u201d she advised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI made your egos so large that you were determined to keep your spotless record,\u201d confessed Anfelaf. \u201cI failed in my duty as your old manager. If you insist on taking me, then do so. I won\u2019t stop you.\u201d The station remained silent. Just then, the Frostik firewoman stepped down from the cab, her features becoming more clearer as she stopped in front of Anfelaf. The human male also left the engine\u2019s cab and became more clear in his features. It was a man in regal clothing and a beard. The Frostik was a plump woman with painted claws on her fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDad,\u201d whispered Lardeth as his eyes became misty. The ghosts then raised their arms…and knelt down to give Anfelaf a reassuring hug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe accident was on our head,\u201d whispered the man, the late King Yentil Felompha, Lardeth\u2019s father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe were the one who ignored the conditions and rules concerning the mountain path,\u201d continued the Frostik woman, Entam Glansar. \u201cWe\u2019ve never held a grudge against you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFrankly, we were too busy trying to reach our destination to even think about holding a grudge,\u201d Yentil went on. He then turned to Lardeth. \u201cMy boy, my precious boy, I\u2019ve missed you. You, your mothers, and your sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve missed you too, Dad,\u201d sniffed Lardeth as he embraced his father. They stayed that way for a few seconds before Yentil broke it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry I can\u2019t stay,\u201d he sighed. \u201cWe still have a train to bring to the Heights. The passengers want another route, but we can\u2019t find one. Every path we take always leads us to the old mountain path.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat if I gave you a short-cut?\u201d called Aldrama. The two ghosts then looked hopefully at her. \u201cNow, granted,\u201d continued Aldrama, \u201cit\u2019s going to be an uphill journey, literally, but I can double-head the train with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…My lady, we would be honored,\u201d answered Entam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBefore we go,\u201d declared Yentil, \u201cthe passengers need to stretch their legs.\u201d The living people braced for the worst as the coaches\u2019 doors opened, still remembering what happened to the woman who looked inside one of the coaches. To their surprise, there was nothing grotesque about the passengers. If anything, they looked as they used to in life. \u201cLadies and gentlemen,\u201d called Yentil to the passengers, \u201cwe\u2019ve just been offered a new path and Lady Aldrama has graciously offered to double-head with us. We will all take five minutes to stretch our legs and draw ourselves to our full height before we continue onwards to our destination. Please be back here as quick as possible so we may continue on our journey.\u201d The passengers were really happy not to be cramped in a box for just a while and took full advantage of the opportunity to walk about. They spoke with the living people and were amazed at Henthal, calling her a credit to all of her places of work. Now, Henthal was a stern engine, but she couldn\u2019t help but feel a small amount of pride at such a compliment. Aldrama then changed forms into a rail-type Mechanica, a tender-engine just like Yentil\u2019s ghost engine, and coupled herself to the front. Once five minutes were up, the passengers boarded the train, asking the living to pass on a message that they loved and missed their loved ones dearly. The living promised to pass the message on from the bottom of their hearts as the conductor, a male Zephyr, counted the passengers. He checked his list over, then poked his head out of his coach\u2019s window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cALL ABOARD!\u201d he called. He also blew his whistle and waved a green flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight away!\u201d called Yentil as he blew his engine\u2019s whistle. Aldrama blew hers as well and both the Divine One and the ghost engine put their pistons to work. A golden track then appeared, leading directly to a light in the sky. The train then switched tracks from the mortal rails to the spectral ones and went straight up to the sky. The passengers waved as the train left the station and the living waved back, still doing so until the train disappeared into the light. It soon faded once the last coach entered it. All that was left was Lardeth and his group. Lardeth wiped a tear from his eye and Arsha placed a hand on his shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDad\u2019s definitely in a better place now,\u201d mumbled Lardeth as he wiped his eyes. He turned to Anfelaf. \u201cI told you he wasn\u2019t vindictive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd you were right, kiddo,\u201d sighed Anfelaf. Everyone noticed that he was standing up straighter than usual. Malnar guessed why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGuilt was weighing you down since the accident, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExactly,\u201d confirmed Anfelaf. \u201cYou know, I\u2019m feeling that much lighter in my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, I don\u2019t know about you all,\u201d remarked Gorfanth, \u201cbut I need some sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe all do,\u201d agreed Arsha. \u201cWe\u2019ll need to address the city tomorrow morning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYep,\u201d confirmed Lardeth. \u201cThe people who lost their loved ones to that tragedy must know what the passengers said.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The events at the station would make the papers, the story made all the more tragic that the woman who looked into the ghost train\u2019s coaches was reduced to a gibbering wreck. She spent the rest of her days being looked after by orderlies and her family; her mind forever trapped in a state of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1439,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,95],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-2822","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-2-the-rise-of-living-metal","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2822","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2822"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2822\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2825,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2822\/revisions\/2825"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1439"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2822"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2822"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2822"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}