Lost me there. Felt like too much too soon of the fantasy elements. Dropping in all that backstory stuff felt clunky to me. It’s all interesting and intriguing stuff, but the size here just doesn’t allow (personal opinion here) that much to be dropped in one installment.

this is a decent stand-alone ficly, if not for the weird flashback that told us rather than showed us the special gift. it is mysterious that he disappears, but you are confident you can find him. will your next move be to board the train or seek him out?