Chapter 208 A Time Machine And A Heart Breaker
Chapter 208 A Time Machine And A Heart Breaker
Cardinal Abode Terminal, Sakura City.
This was the biggest train station in the Sakura Abode Country, and maybe in the world.
With an average of 4.2 million passengers passing through its doors every day, Cardinal Abode in Sakura City, S.A., is the Azure Star's busiest train station in terms of passenger throughput.
That was due to the fact that this station was the point of convergence of the whole Takahashi Rail System which covers the whole country.
If someone wanted to cross the country, they would have to pass through this station eventually.
That's why this station was famous worldwide.
Several movies filmed scenes in this station.
And with the highly developed movie industry of the S.A., people all around the world heard of this station.
But this building with great history was much more than that.
It may look like just a building, but in truth, it's so much more.
We are never the same person twice.
When we pass through the doors, we may be headed for departures, with a grand adventure up ahead.
Or returning home from far and wide, to a familiar bed.
Some are greeted by lovers, who have longed to reunite.
Others carry heavy hearts, goodbyes fade out of sight.
Strangers become companions, paths momentarily intertwined.
As they seek out fresh beginnings, leaving their former selves behind.
It may look like just a building, a means to get from A to B.
But it's a time machine and heart breaker.
This was the place to say goodbyes, or greet warmly the loved ones.
And on that November 30th cold morning, a particular group of people could be seen boarding the train to Elffire City.
Some of them hugged their families as tears streamed down their cheeks.
Some were alone as they waited for the train because they did no one to say goodbye to.
These were the animators who were hired by the Tokyo Studios.
Each one of them chose to leave Sakura City, the World's Anime Capital, to live in another city.
Some people may think they were crazy, after all, they were animators so they should stay in Sakura City.
But every one of them had a clear conscience and no regrets as they waited for the train.
That was because they got something much better in Elffire City than the low-paid job they had in Sakura City.
They could earn enough money to survive which was much better than the few hundred dollars they earned per month when they worked 16 hours per day.
They were hired by a big studio and the conditions were so good that they still it was a dream.
And if it was a dream, they didn't want to wake up from it.
"Honey, are you taking your jackets? I heard Elffire City is colder at this time of the year." A middle-aged blonde woman said in a worried voice to her daughter.
"I am, mom. Don't worry, mom. I will be fine." Brianna tried to calm down her mother.
"Yeah, Faye. My little girl is a responsible girl already." An aged woman giggled.
"Grandma! Don't tease me!" Brianna complained.0
*Hahaha*
The twenty people who came to say goodbye to Brianna laughed when they heard that.
Brianna came from a big family.
She had 4 aunts and 3 uncles.
Her father died when she was a kid, but she still had her big family.
The family lived in Sakura City for generations, and Brianna moving to another city was something rare for the big family.
So, most of them came to say goodbye to her.
Brianna continued talking with her family as she waited for her train.
A few meters from her, Nora Wells was seated also waiting for the train.
The talented 26yo editor was accompanied by her little sister.
Nora and Kara Wells were alone in the world because their parents died years back.
Since then, Nora had been fighting to sustain herself and her sister as she also pursued her dream of animation.
But so far, she did not have much luck, and because she also had to feed her sister, Nora had to work part-time jobs to complement the money at the end of the month.
But even then, she still found time to work as an in-between animator.
That showed how much she loved working in animation.
Kara, on another hand, was 18 years old and she was graduating from high school at end of the year.
Kara knew how much her sister sacrificed to raise her all these years, and all she wanted to repay the love and security that her big sister gave her after their parents died.
"I left the fridge and cabinets full of food and ingredients. Please, don't just ramen every day. I also sent you money for you to buy food if you eat all the food I left.." Nora asked in worry as she looked at her baby sister.
"Don't worry, sis. You can go do your work without worrying about me. Plus, it will be just one month, and I will follow you there when the National College Entrance Exams end." Kara tried to calm down her big sister.
Because there was only one month left for Kara high school's graduation and the National College Entrance Exams, the two girls decided that the wisest decision was for Kara to graduate and do the exams before she followed Nora to Elffire City.
Before Nora got a job in Elffire City, Kara was planning to apply for college in Sakura City, but now she was determined to get admitted to the Bluecorn College located in Elffire City.
"I know. I'm just worried." Nora said in a low voice.
"Promise me that you will not go out late, be careful where you walk, and call me every day?" Nora asked.
"I promise, sis! Just wait, and I will get admitted to the Bluecorn College and accompany you there in Elffire City." Kara replied with a brilliant smile.
"Goofy! I want you to study hard this month then, you know that is one of the best universities in the country." Nora snorted at her sister's goofiness.
"Leave it to me!" Kara declared with a goofy face.
While the two sisters were bickering, 5 friends were seated nearby.
They were Bruno and his four friends.
"Who would've thought? 2 weeks ago we had no money and no certain job. But now we are employees of a big studio!" Mark commented loudly.
"Tell me about it!" Bruno agreed in wonder.
"Bruno, you bastard! You even got a job as Background Designer Supervisor!" Kato grumbled with a playful voice.
"What else can I say? I'm just too talented." Bruno replied smugly.
"You bastard!" Kato shouted.
All of them laughed at their interaction.
None of them had family in Sakura City, so they did not have any problems with moving to another city.
Like many other animators from all over the country who came to Sakura City to pursue their dreams, they could leave this city without looking back.
While 5 friends were talking happily with each other.
Aidan Davies was alone by the side as he waited for the train.
The Composition Supervisor hired by the Tokyo Studios also didn't have family in Sakura City, but he was different from Bruno and the others, he was alone as he embarked on this trip.
All these people were there as they waited for the train.
But everyone had the same feeling.
The feeling of excitement because tomorrow they would start working at the best animation studio in the world in their opinion.
"Good morning passengers. This is the arrival announcement for train ride 54BU to Elffire City. The train will arrive in 5 minutes. Everyone will have 30 minutes to board the train." A voice came from the speakers on the gate they were at.
The animators felt their heartstrings tighten inside their chests when they heard that.
It was finally time to go.
And 5 minutes later, when the train arrived.
Some people cried, some people just said a brief goodbye, and some just stayed silent.
"Honey, please be careful! Me, your grandparents, uncles, aunts, and the whole family will be rooting for your success." Brianna's mom whispered in her daughter's ear as they hugged goodbye.
Tears came out of Brianna's eyes as she heard her mother's words.
"Kara, call me every day, okay? And if anything happens, call me too!" Nora asked in tears as she hugged her little sister goodbye.
"I will, sis. Wait for me!" Kara replied also crying.
Bruno and others just entered the train.
Aidan was the same.
But everyone had shining eyes as they felt the train moving.
A new era was starting for them.
They couldn't wait for what the destiny would have reserved for them.