Chapter 160.2 - Resting is important

The soft hum of the train blended with the faint creaks of the wooden panels, creating a rhythm that should have been soothing. But for Irina, it was anything but. She shifted again in her seat, adjusting the thin blanket she had brought along. The night had deepened, and the cabin was bathed in the faint glow of moonlight streaming through the rattling window. 

She closed her eyes tightly, willing herself to fall asleep. But every bump in the tracks sent a jolt through the seat, every faint groan of the train's old structure seemed amplified in the silence. With an exasperated sigh, she sat up, her hazel eyes flicking to Astron. 

He sat across from her, his arms crossed and head leaning slightly against the backrest. His sharp features were softened in the dim light, his usually sharp gray eyes hidden behind closed lids. His chest rose and fell in an even rhythm, his expression calm and untroubled.