The morning air at the Zurich train station was sharp enough to sting the lungs. Kai tightened his grip on the leather handle of his suitcase, the weight of it familiar and grounding. Beside him, Elea looked like a figure stepped out of a classic noir film, her silhouette draped in a tailored wool coat that hid the tension radiating from her frame. The platform was a chaotic blend of commuters and travelers, yet Kai felt as though he and Elea were moving through a separate, quieter dimension.
"The express to Vienna is always punctual," Kai noted, checking his watch with a mechanical precision. "We have exactly five minutes before the boarding call."
Elea adjusted her silk scarf, her eyes scanning the crowd with a rhythm that was too rhythmic for a civilian. "It is a long journey, Kai.
