Outside the wide windows, the city slipped by beneath the night. Convenience stores glowed at street corners, apartment buildings stood packed close together, and vending machines flashed between stretches of road.
Now and then, the bus passed beneath an elevated railway, just as a train thundered overhead and disappeared into the darkness.
Ruvian sat near the middle of the bus beside the window, while Morvayne occupied the seat beside him.
Her dark grey eyes kept moving from one thing to another with an interest she was clearly trying, and failing, to hide.
She watched the doors open and close on their own, stared at the glowing display above the driver, and even leaned slightly forward whenever the vehicle smoothly began moving again without a single horse, beast, or trace of mana pulling it.
More than once, Ruvian caught her looking toward the floor as though she were trying to figure out exactly what kind of power was hidden beneath it.
