Rail Star Universe

["Hmm? I've been writing for two hours."]

Lin rose gracefully from her chair, taking a light coat from the backrest before walking toward the silent corridor. Her low-heeled shoes made soft sounds with every step on the cold marble floor.

Reaching the end of the corridor, she stopped and called out with a calm yet commanding tone.

"Arina, head maid."

Moments later, a woman in a maid's uniform with neatly combed-back hair appeared from one of the doors, giving an elegant bow. "Yes, Lady Lin," she replied, her voice soft yet full of respect.

Lin extended a magical scroll with purple crystal engravings along its edge. "Take this. Activate this spell in front of the palace. It is an isolation spell that will conceal the entire palace and the mystical forest from the outside world."

Arina accepted the scroll with both hands, bowing deeply like a loyal servant to her queen. "Understood, Lady Lin. I will carry it out immediately."

Without further delay, the maid walked away with quick yet graceful steps, leaving Lin to return to her private chamber.

Inside, Lin removed her light coat and placed it on the back of her chair. She sat back down, her eyes falling on her phone lying on the desk. Her clear eyes revealed a flicker of disappointment, though her expression remained as composed as ever.

"Hmm, only 307 views and not a single comment."

She set her phone aside and opened the desk drawer. From within, she retrieved an antique silver pocket watch with intricate Victorian-era engravings, as well as a small screwdriver designed specifically for repairing clock mechanisms. The watch had long stopped working, its hands frozen in time.

Lin turned the watch in her hands, her sharp eyes examining every detail of its engravings and hinges. "It seems the gear is worn out," she murmured as she picked up the small screwdriver. Pressing a tiny latch on the side of the watch, she opened the back cover to reveal its inner mechanism.

The clockwork, though aged, still displayed the beauty of its intricate design. Tiny interconnected gears seemed to wait patiently for her touch. Carefully, Lin loosened a few small screws, removed the jammed gear, and cleaned it with a soft cloth.

She replaced the damaged gear with a spare she had kept for a long time. Once finished, she slowly wound the watch, listening to the faint clicking sound as its mechanism came back to life. A faint smile graced her lips as the hands of the watch resumed their ticking, marking the passage of time once again.

Lin closed the watch's back cover and held it tightly before placing it back on the table. "One thing done," she said softly, glancing again at her phone.

Before she could return to her thoughts, a soft knock at the door drew her attention.

"Lady Lin, the isolation spell has been activated," Arina's gentle voice came from outside.

"Very well," Lin replied unhurriedly. "You may return."