Sitting in the tram, Lon glanced around at the passing views of streets and people. They moved by at a leisurely pace, giving him enough time to observe them.
«What an interesting combination of pipes and houses... The pipes are like the electrical wires from my world. They wrap around the entire building, creating a strange, captivating aesthetic.» — Lon marveled, watching the buildings go by.
The architecture of this world was unusual. At first glance, it seemed similar to Earth's, but that wasn't true. The defining feature of the local buildings was steam — it was used everywhere.
At least in Seon, steam was more than just another state of water. Steam was culture. All those countless pipes didn't always serve a practical purpose. Many people connected them simply for the sake of aesthetics.
And it worked. Watching the city was a true pleasure, even knowing that many of the pipes led nowhere.
One couldn't forget the various steam-powered machines that existed in this world either. Though they didn't have as many pipes as houses, they had their own unique charm that set them apart.
For example, the massive, thunderous airships that drifted across the sky. Or the two-story trams that spent their lives weaving through city streets.
And that was only the tip of the iceberg.
Lon didn't know exactly how many kinds of steam-powered machines existed, but based on the experience of Renvel — an engineer of air transport — he could say there were many in just Seon alone. In the Empire of Zaka, they even had entire sky cruisers that terrified the western regions.
In short, steam in this world was much more than just another form of water. It was an entire culture, used everywhere.
That was Lon's current conclusion about steam in this world.
«Steam is like electricity on Earth. It creates a kind of symbolism that sets this world apart. And I like that — studying a new culture, learning new things, delving into its history — it always brings me joy.»
He leaned back slightly in his seat and continued gazing out the window.
«I know Earth like the back of my hand. But this world… it's completely new, and my knowledge of it is minimal. That's why I'm amazed by every little thing I see.»
«And let's not forget how whimsical this world is. It's fantastical. No, even more fantastical than others. In the books I read, the worlds were either flat or spherical, like Earth. The creatures in them were the usual mythological kind — dragons or fairies...»
Lon looked up at the sky and thought:
«But this world is different. There's no familiar land, only endless floating islands, each with their own inhabitants. I haven't seen any strange creatures yet... but something tells me I will very soon.»
Turning away from the window, Lon glanced around the tram's interior.
It was fairly standard: seats lined the sides near the windows, with walkways in between for passengers. But the tram's most unique feature was the network of pipes that carried the driver's voice throughout the carriage.
These pipes were used to announce the names of the upcoming stops.
«That's a pretty convenient system — it helps passengers know where to get off without confusion.» — thought Lon.
He was a bit surprised that something like this existed in this world.
Just then, the tram conductor approached to collect the fare.
He was an elderly man with a wrinkled face and a bald head hidden beneath a dark blue cap. He wore a uniform of the same color and held a notepad in his hand.
Looking at Lon with a blank expression, he said:
— Five Gor, please.
Lon nodded, pulled a copper coin worth five Gor from his pocket, and handed it over.
The conductor took the coin and moved on to the other passengers.
Watching him, Lon sighed and turned his attention back to the window, continuing to take in the city sights.
===
After a while, Lon finally heard the long-awaited announcement through the pipes:
— White Street! Approaching the stop! Passengers getting off, please make your way to the doors!
He smiled and stood up, heading toward the nearest exit.
Around him stood a few people, mostly well-dressed men, clearly not from the lower classes. And that made sense — White Street was known as one of the wealthiest in the Green District.
Located on the northern side of the city, it was home to many affluent citizens. They weren't quite as rich as those in the Blue District, but still lived comfortably.
Why had Lon come here? Simple.
This was where one of the largest natural parks in the Green District was located — a place he wanted to visit.
From Renvel's memories, Lon learned that he had once walked through this park with his parents — his father Donald and his now-deceased mother Ramana.
Perhaps it was due to Renvel's lingering influence or his memories, but Lon decided this park would be the first place he'd visit in this new world.
«Whether it was his influence or not, I still want to see the park for myself. The park's most notable feature is the presence of constant white doves.»
«In Renvel's memories, I saw how those white doves wandered the park freely — not just any doves, but pure white ones...»
It would've been a shame not to visit such a place.
As soon as the tram doors opened, Lon stepped out nimbly and headed toward the park.
He was surrounded by neatly planted trees, and the sidewalk he walked on was even, without a single crack. The street itself felt calm and pleasant, clearly well-maintained.
The park wasn't far away, and soon Lon arrived at its entrance.
Before him stood a sign that read: "White Dove Park." It represented the park's main feature — the white doves.
Deep in his heart, Lon felt a strange wave of nostalgia, as if he were stepping into his past, entering the park with his parents.
But the problem was — Lon had no memories of this world. He had never walked here with his family. That meant the nostalgia came from Renvel's memories.
Lon frowned and thought:
«Can the influence really be this strong? Even though I'm in control of Renvel's body and memories, I'm still affected by him. I just hope it doesn't reach a dangerous level. For now, I can ignore it.»
He slowly approached the entrance, where a small line had formed, and stood at the back, patiently waiting his turn.
When it was finally his turn, he looked at the guard and handed over three copper coins worth five Gor each, saying:
— Here. I still remember the entrance fee being fifteen Gor.
But the guard, instead of taking the money, looked at Lon like he was an idiot and said:
— Sir, the price has gone up. It's 25 Gor now, not fifteen.
— …
— E-e… sorry. I must've gotten stuck in the past. — Lon said with an awkward smile, handed over 25 Gor, and entered the park.