Chapter 5: Cultural Exchange
Seeing the metal giant gesture towards the rear of the metal box, Ariana nodded before walking forward with Shirogane following at her side. As she passed the metal giant, he soon followed after her from behind.
Reaching the rear, Ariana watched as the box opened its door. Much like a castle's drawbridge would do, a large section of the box came loose before it slowly lowered to the ground. As it reached the floor, it created a ramp-like structure for entry.
Ariana observed the interior of the passenger bay, with seats posted up against either side of the box, facing inward, allowing for a large amount of space in between. There were also overhead compartments meant to shelve equipment and other miscellaneous items, though Ariana didn't know that at the moment.
Looking to her side, Ariana looked towards Sam, seemingly asking for confirmation whether or not she could enter now.
Seeing Sam return a curt nod, saying,
"Go ahead." in a deep baritone,
An excited smile grew on Ariana's face as she practically bolted into the Albatross, looking around with a wide-eyed expression as if to not miss a single detail.
Shirogane looked at his mistress's actions and the lack of caution she displayed to the situation they were in and sighed, reminding himself to keep alert in case anything happened.
In this regard, Shirogane and Sam were alike, both assigned to look after two women who sometimes allowed their insatiable curiosity to get the better of them. So, while their charges were carefree in their actions, both of them were required to keep on higher alert to make up for it.
After watching Ariana enter the albatross, Sam observed as she looked around, noticing that Ariana could barely resist the unbearable urge to ask questions about everything that caught her eye. Sam sighed, realising he now had two Dr. Halloway's on his hands.
Hearing each other sigh simultaneously, Sam and Shirogane turned to look at each other, both supplying a look of realisation at having found common ground. Though his helmet and reflective visor masked Sam's expression, they both instinctively understood that they were in the same boat when it came to their charges.
Ariana turned back to see Sam and Shirogane staring at each other and was just about to open her mouth to ask what they were doing. Before she could, however, a hissing sound, followed by a clang, interrupted her attempt.
Jumping at the sudden sound, much like a skittish cat, Ariana looked around for the source, only to see that the front of the passenger bay had opened, revealing Dr. Halloway with a teasing smile on her face.
"I can see that insatiable curiosity burning within your eyes. It's a good look, kid. How about we take a seat and answer each other's questions." Dr. Halloway said as she motioned towards one of the seats lining the left side of the passenger bay.
Ariana nodded her head hesitantly before making her way over and sitting down.
Dr. Halloway soon followed suit, sitting next to Ariana while observing the little girl's features. From Dr. Halloway's perspective, Ariana looked like a little white rabbit, especially with her white hair and red eyes. For some inexplicable reason, Ariana's adorable appearance caused Regina to want to hold Ariana and cuddle her, which left Regina confused as it was definitely out of character for her.
Seeing the two women sitting down, Shirogane and Sam looked at each other one last time before supplying a curt nod simultaneously, then making their way inside as well.
Ariana was still looking around while also occasionally making eye contact with Dr. Halloway in an attempt not to seem rude. Seeing this, Dr. Halloway finally opened her mouth to speak.
"Well, I suppose we'll start with each other's names. My name is Dr. Regina Halloway. It's a pleasure to meet you. The young man behind you is Samuel, or Sam for short, and the little lady with him is Solace."
Ariana looked around as Regina began everyone's introduction, with Sam supplying a curt nod at his mention and Solace appearing in the palm of his hand with a smile and wave, similar to the one Regina had shown Ariana previously when she was outside with Sam.
Hearing the pretty lady's words, Ariana brought her focus back on Regina and replied,
"My name is Ariana von Arcadia, daughter to King Amarant and Queen Eleanora of Arcadia, and second princess of the Arcadian Kingdom. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Hearing the title that Ariana addressed herself with, alongside the apparent confidence and pride in her voice, Regina raised her eyebrows slightly before smiling.
"It seems we're in the presence of royalty. I apologise for any lack of decorum any of us might make your highness, as we're not quite used to conversing with members of your standing."
Ariana vigorously shook her head, listening to Regina's words, stating,
"No, no, please, nothing formal. I hate pretenses and false words. I didn't mean to address my full title. It was just a force of habit…"
Smiling at Ariana's adorable actions once again, Regina replied,
"Alright then, I suppose that means we can address each other on a first-name basis? So you can call me Regina."
"Great! You can call me Ariana!" Ariana smiled
"Okay, Ariana, would it be alright if I asked you a few questions? You see, my companions and I appear to be lost and don't have any idea where we are right now."
"Sure, as long as you promise to answer any questions I have as well!"
"That can be arranged." Dr. Halloway smiled softly.
"To start, I suppose by your title; we should be within the territory of the Arcadian Kingdom, is that right?"
"That's correct. We are currently 30KM outside of the Capital City of Arcadia. I saw your metal box falling from the sky while I was sitting at the top of the castle's tallest tower and followed you here on Shirogane's back."
"I see, quite the adventurous one to go chasing after shooting stars, huh. I'm sure your parents must be quite relaxed to allow their daughter to do such a thing."
Hearing Dr. Halloway's words, Ariana visibly froze in her spot, a bead of nervous sweat dripping down the side of her face as she recalled the promise she made to her mother.
Seeing Ariana's sudden change, Regina could guess that the adventurous Ariana had left the castle against her parents' wishes, or more likely, behind their back.
"Do you need to return soon?" Asked Regina.
Snapping out of her anxious thoughts, Ariana brought her attention back and shook her head somewhat hesitantly.
"I think I can stay out a little longer…" Ariana replied.
"I see; if that's the case, I'll ask the most pertinent questions I have at the moment."
Seeing Ariana nod her head in response, Regina continued,
"Are the three of us in any sort of danger being here in this country? Are there laws that persecute outsiders and foreign immigrants that enter the country without proper documentation?"
Ariana tilted her head to the side in thought.
"I don't think so; we have people arriving from different countries all the time, only paying entry fees to the city for tax-related purposes. Other than that, Arcadia is an extremely diverse Kingdom. My Mother and Father had removed most discrimination to the various races found; even the demi-human tribes are considered equal in our kingdom."
"I see… Also, to clear any confusion, when you mentioned races, what did you mean by that exactly?"
"Hmm? Oh, well, many different races visit the Kingdom and settle down. These include Elves, Dwarves, and, as I previously mentioned, Demi-humans, which is just the general term used for races who possess animalistic features. There are others as well, but it'd take a while to list them all."
"I understand." Dr. Halloway replied, while internally, her mind was racing from the information she'd just received. Terms like Elves and Dwarves were creatures she only knew existed in myth and legend. She at first struggled to believe the young girl's words; however, after looking at the creature that sat beside Ariana, she'd have to be an imbecile not to notice that it shared features with what was typically described as a western dragon. To confirm her suspicions, she asked,
"I suppose your friend here is a Dragon?"
"Mhm, Shirogane is a dragon, one of the many legendary sentient creatures that inhabit this Kingdom's lands. He and I share a bond that allows us to communicate telepathically." Ariana explained with a smile.
"Fascinating…" Regina replied.
"Do you mind if I ask a few questions?"
Hearing Solace's voice, Ariana turned around and stared at her, and nodded her head.
Smiling in response, Solace asked,
"How were you able to see our craft when it was cloaked? Also, how are you able to communicate with us so easily? Previously, you were speaking a dialect completely foreign to us while also appearing as though you didn't understand what Sam had asked when he addressed his inability to understand you."
"Oh, I just channelled mana into my eyes and could see through your cloak; it is one of the abilities granted to me through my shared bond with Shirogane. Also, the translation spell I used is a basic level spell that most people with at least decent control over their mana can use. It sends the user's mana into the recipient, traveling to their brain to gather the necessary information about the language. It then travels back to the user, flooding their mind with the information. Can all of you not use it? Translation magic is supposed to be one of the most widely known Spells available in any country."
Though she mentioned their bond while talking about her mystical eyes, Shirogane knew otherwise. It was actually an ability she inherited from her mother's bloodline. However, because of their bond, Shirogane was able to use the same abilities Ariana's bloodline afforded her, allowing him to keep his promise to Eleanora about keeping her secret.
"That word, mana, is that what you call this strange energy that is in the atmosphere and all around us?" Solace asked.
"Of course! Do you not have mana where you came from?!" Ariana asked, stupefied as she looked around.
Seeing Regina, Sam and Solace shake their heads, Ariana asked,
"Wait, then how did your metal box go invisible? How did you fly or, rather, fall out of the sky?"
"We use technology to achieve those effects. For example, the albatross' ability to cloak itself stems from its reflective panelling creating a weak electromagnetic field of a certain frequency to bend light around the ship's chassis to create the illusion of invisibility. Are you saying that people can achieve those effects by using this 'mana' alongside what you call 'Spells'?" Regina explained before asking.
"Technology? Like the magitech the Dwarves are famous for? And yes, people can cast invisibility and flight spells by using both their internal mana and the mana of the atmosphere, though flight spells are really advanced, so not everybody can use it…" Ariana asked in confusion before she explained what she'd learned and discovered herself about magic and mana.
"Fascinating… and I wouldn't know; however, you've piqued my interest about these Dwarves now."
"Ah, the Dwarves are famous for creating contraptions that function off of the mana in the atmosphere. One example I can think of is the dwarven automatons that guard their cities. At first, I assumed Sam was one of those automatons… I was also confused by Solace's appearance… She reminds me a lot of the 'Mana Fairies' the Dwarves use to help pilot their automatons."
By now, Dr. Halloway's urge to meet these dwarves had reached an all-time high. Just as she was about to ask more questions, she saw Ariana's facial expression change as she looked at Shirogane.
"Is everything alright, Ariana?" Asked Dr. Halloway.
"Ah! Sorry, Shirogane was just letting me know that it was getting late, and I'm sure by now my parents have noticed my absence…"
"I see. Do you need to return then?"
"I think so… I'll come back, though! I doubt anyone would be able to find you out here, especially if you keep yourselves invisible. It's rare for anyone to have eyes like mine, so you should be safe here."
"I see, then I guess we'll be awaiting your next visit." Regina smiled.
"Okay! You still haven't answered all my questions, so I'll be back to make sure you keep up your end of the deal!" Ariana said while standing with her hands on her hips.
"Of course, I'm looking forward to our next chat." Regina chuckled lightly in response to Ariana's adorable actions.
"Alright, Shirogane, let's head home! Maybe we can sneak in without mother realising."
"Sigh, I doubt it, Ari…" Shirogane replied telepathically.
The two exited the rear of the Albatross as Sam, and Dr. Halloway followed after them.
Watching as Shirogane grew to his previous 12m size, Dr. Halloway's eyes shone in fascination while Ariana climbed on before turning to face them and waving goodbye.
Shirogane turned his head to look at Sam, both of them supplying another curt nod at each other before he suddenly flapped his wings, shooting into the sky at a rapid pace, aided by his flight magic. As they both disappeared into the distance from Sam's and Regina's point of view, Dr, Halloway said,
"Maybe getting lost here is more of a blessing…"
Sam just continued to watch as Shirogane flew away in silence. He then suddenly turned around, observing the forest that surrounded them, feeling as though he'd sensed a pair of eyes staring at them…
…
..
.