Kyle's eyes widened as he stepped into Eryndale City.
He had read about the modern city in the novel, but seeing it in person was still a shock. The towering buildings made of glass and steel stretched into the sky, their surfaces reflecting the sunlight like mirrors.
Hovering vehicles zipped through the air, following glowing lanes of light that crisscrossed the city.
The streets were packed with people dressed in sleek, futuristic clothing, and neon signs lit up the sidewalks, advertising everything from magical gadgets to potions and arcane tech.
"Whoa… this is a city?" Kyle muttered, his jaw dropping.
The contrast between the ancient ruins he had just left and this futuristic metropolis was staggering. It was like stepping into a sci-fi movie.
He walked further into the city, his head swiveling as he tried to take it all in.
Holographic billboards floated in the air, displaying flashy advertisements for the latest magical devices.
"This is insane," Kyle said under his breath, a grin spreading across his face.
As he wandered through the streets, he couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and unease.
The city was incredible, but it was also overwhelming. He had a lot to learn about this world.
"Well, I guess this is what happens when magic meets modern life," Kyle thought, shaking his head.
"Better get used to it."
With that, he took a deep breath and continued exploring.
His stomach growled loudly, reminding him that he hadn't eaten anything but packed food for the past month.
Spotting a ramen shop, he decided to give it a try.
When he entered the shop, he was surprised to find the interior decorated in a medieval style, a stark contrast to the futuristic city outside.
Wooden beams, lanterns, and traditional decor gave the place a cozy, old-world feel.
"Two bowls of miso ramen, please," Kyle said, sliding into a seat at the counter.
The shopkeeper, an old man with a kind smile, nodded.
"Right away, young man," he said, clearly pleased to have a customer.
While waiting, Kyle pulled out his phone and logged into his account using the fingerprint scanner.
His eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw the balance: 100,000 Crystas.
"Whoa," Kyle whistled, impressed. "This guy is loaded!"
Crysta was the currency of Aevorath, and 1 Crysta was roughly equivalent to 1 dollar.
Kyle couldn't help but grin. "Is he some millionaire's son or something?" he muttered to himself, half-joking.
Just then, the shopkeeper returned with two steaming bowls of ramen.
"Enjoy your meal," he said, placing them in front of Kyle.
Kyle's stomach growled again, and he didn't waste any time.
He pushed his worries about Kyle's identity to the back of his mind and dug in. The ramen was delicious, and for the first time in weeks, he felt truly satisfied.
After finishing his meal, Kyle thanked the shopkeeper and headed toward the train station, which was just a short distance away.
As he walked, he thought about how trains and vehicles in this world operated.
Unlike Earth, where machines ran on fuel or electricity, here they used mana cores from monsters.
Mana cores were found in mid- and high-ranking monsters.
Low-level monsters also had mana cores, but they self-destructed after death because their cores weren't sturdy enough to handle the mana force released when they died.
That's why Kyle hadn't bothered searching for a mana core after killing the Silver-ranked monster.
Iron, Bronze, and Silver ranks were all low-level monsters, so their cores were useless.
"Guess I'll have to aim higher next time," Kyle said with a playful smirk.
"Maybe a Gold-rank monster? Nah, let's not get ahead of myself."
With that, he reached the train station. The building was massive, with sleek, modern architecture and glowing signs directing passengers to their platforms.
Kyle couldn't help but feel a little excited.
"Time to see what a mana-powered train is like," he said, stepping inside.
The station was bustling with people, and Kyle noticed some floating robots scanning tickets and assisting passengers.
He walked up to one of the robots, which had a glowing screen and a friendly, mechanical voice.
"Select your destination," the robot said.
Kyle tapped on the screen and selected Valtheras City. The robot displayed the price, and Kyle quickly made the payment using his phone.
"Your ticket has been confirmed," the robot said.
"The next train for Valtheras City will arrive in five minutes."
Kyle nodded and found a spot to wait.
He glanced around, taking in the busy station. People hurried past, some carrying bags, others chatting on their phones.
The atmosphere was lively, and Kyle couldn't help but feel a little out of place.
"Guess I'm not in Kansas anymore," he muttered with a chuckle.
After a few minutes, the train arrived.
It looked like a sleek, futuristic bullet train, but instead of running on tracks, it hovered a few inches above the ground.
The sides of the train glowed faintly with magical energy, and the words "Valtheras Express" were displayed in bold letters.
Kyle double-checked to make sure it was the right train.
"Yep, this is it," he said, stepping forward as the doors slid open.
He boarded the train. There were plenty of seats, so he chose one by the window.
The interior was clean and modern, with comfortable seats and large windows that offered a great view of the city.
As the train began to move, Kyle leaned back in his seat, watching the cityscape blur past.
The ride was smooth and quiet, the hum of the mana core engine barely audible.
"This is pretty cool," Kyle said to himself, a grin spreading across his face.
"Mana-powered trains, floating cars, and holograms everywhere. This world is something else."
He pulled out his phone and started scrolling through the maps app, planning his next steps.
The entrance exam for the Solvayne Magic Academy was just days away, and he needed to be ready. But for now, he decided to enjoy the ride and take in the sights.
Kyle couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement.