How could this round's contestant selection be so different? Maybe the show needed a fresh atmosphere. Usually, the passengers came from a variety of professions or different cities, each bringing their own culture. But this time, perhaps the theme was supposed to be different personalities.
"Lasha."
"Lasha?"
The child nodded, still keeping their distance.
"I'm Kei."
"Kei," Lasha repeated.
Kei smiled.
A cameraman approached and filmed them one by one. Clara shifted her gaze toward the train cars. Since she didn't want to look awkward in front of the camera, she would pretend to be indifferent, like the tall man in front of her, Duncan.
A male host with fairly stiff gray hair came over and greeted the viewers through the camera.
"How are you doing, viewers at home—or wherever you may be? I'm Aguin, and I feel honored to be here once again to accompany you through your days with this season of Adventrix! Without further ado, let's greet the passengers!" the man said, gesturing for the camera to focus on this round's seven passengers again.
Another camera began moving closer to Aguin, whose burgundy robe fluttered in the autumn wind.
"Oh, it looks like we should hurry inside. The wind is really strong."
By then, Lasha had already taken Kei's hand. Seeking protection.
"All right, let's get right to it. When I call your name, you can board the train. And don't forget to look at the camera!"
Clara sighed, trying to calm herself. If only there were a hand she could hold, too.
"First passenger, Dianne!"
Dianne's long black hair was tied in a ponytail. She had narrow eyes and fair skin, and the long cream-and-brown outfit and backpack she wore looked classy. Dianne greeted the camera with the signature style of an independent Alpha woman, then boarded the train.
"Tora." Aguin glanced at the name written on the blue card he was holding as he checked the roster.
Tora was the type of young man you usually found in the corners of libraries. He had sandy-blond hair, fair skin, and bluish eyes, and wore trousers and a brown coat. In fact, he looked more like a child in a Magic Academy uniform. Tora smiled and greeted the camera extremely awkwardly before boarding the train.
"Hmm, looking at him reminds me of wizards," Aguin joked, then called out into his microphone, "Next..." He looked at Feronica before announcing the girl's name. Feronica herself looked indifferent.
"Feronica."
Feronica smiled at him for a moment, then boarded the train.
"Oh, my God!" Aguin looked at the camera. "It seems the viewers at home aren't as lucky as I am today."
The TV crew nearby seemed to be holding back their laughter, while Kei was already laughing loudly.
"Kei," Aguin called.
"Can you call her name, too, while you're at it?" Kei pointed at Lasha. "Looks like I have to help her up."
Aguin laughed. "Of course. You're already acting like a good dad."
Lasha smiled.
"Kei and Lasha, go ahead."
Kei forgot to smile at the camera, while Lasha would never miss an opportunity like this! Once the parent-and-child duo had disappeared inside, Aguin called Duncan's name.
Duncan smiled briefly at the camera, then boarded the train.
"And last... Clara."
Clara merely smiled at Aguin in greeting, then boarded the train.
"Wow. It looks like pretty girls love to play hard to get! You'll have to be patient and wait for the next introduction session. Let's get this journey started! We'll pick up passengers at the next station!" Aguin waved as if inviting the viewers at home to follow him, then jumped aboard the train.
"CUT!" the director shouted.