Giliath demands your power stones! Keep them coming!
*
"Ding. The next express train bound for the Nortia Main Line will depart in ten minutes. End destination, Roer. The next express train bound for...", A voice suddenly spoke out over an intercom in Heimdallr Station, only to repeat its message twice.
Many sounds of shuffling feet could be heard echoing in the large double sided station, as people went about their travels. The station had two tracks on each end. It was the capital of Erebonia, so it made sense for it to have a big station for its many travelers. Heimdallr was also a central hub for Erebonia. It connected each direction, allowing one to go where they pleased.
A twelve year old violet haired boy holding a sheathed rapier at his waist could be seen waiting to board an orbal train that had just arrived, bound for the north exit, on the opposite end. With him was an eleven year old plum haired girl with a very large tightly wrapped cloth hoisted over her back. It was was very long, and it towered over her.
Obviously, seeing this paring earned a good amount of wandering eyes from others, but no one was able to approach them. But that wasn't because of how they looked, it was the person accompanying the two. An icy blue-haired woman dressed in her RMP uniform could be seen with them. The onlookers could only assume the two were either of high importance, or that they were associated with the military.
Either way, the boy and the girl ignored the eyes of the others, only to have the boy speak to the icy blue haired woman.
"I do appreciate you accompanying us all this way to the station, Claire. It is sad to say we'll be parting for now.", I said, seeing Claire in front of us. Hearing that earned a rare giggle from her.
"Hehe, it is of no matter, Your Highness. All I did was mostly observe you two during this little journey. If anything, I should thank His Excellency for allowing me for this opportunity. It should prove most useful during my time at Thors Military Academy. I am sure both Lechter and Lord Rufus share similar sentiments. They also accompanied you, did they not, Your Highness?", Claire asked.
"They did. Once upon a time, our little group was exploring the outskirts of Calvard. Both Lechter and Rufus were with us at the time.", I answered Claire with a nod of my head. "I'm sure since you now have a similar experience, they would be willing to share you what they had experienced with us.", I continued to say.
"If only time allowed for that. I heard Lechter will be starting his studies where you'll be heading to in a couple years time, Your Highness. I am sure Lord Rufus is busy with his duties as a noble as well, let alone me starting my studies. Should time permit though, I will gladly ask them.", Claire responded. Hearing that, I blinked my eyes for a moment before speaking to Claire again.
"That's right...", I began to say. "Lechter will be enrolling at Jenis, won't he?", I asked. And if I remember correctly, Lechter's final year will be the same year Kloe and I start. Back then, he had to drop out due to him receiving an invitation to join the Iron Bloods, but now that he is already a member, likely from my existence, I wonder if he has an actual chance to finish his studies. The events of cold steel won't happen until after sky finishes, so I don't see anything that will prevent him from stopping that.
"Indeed. His Excellency also called out that you'll be quite busy in a years' time or so, Your Highness. So I will pray to Aidios that you two will be fruitful in your next endeavor.", Claire said, giving us two a salute with her hand.
"Haha, he said that, did he now? Well he isn't wrong. We have something to do back here in Heimdallr, actually. But it isn't time yet for that.", I answered, keeping it vague about the Vermillion Trials.
"Will you head back home then?", Claire asked with interest.
"That's the plan, but we are taking this train inbound for the north line. We have a friend up there, you see.", I answered Claire, which caused Emma to nod her head.
"That's right. After we visit our friend, we'll stay in Liberl until its time.", Emma also answered with a nod.
"I see. My duty will end here then. I take it you have someone on the other end, Your Highness?", Claire asked.
"Yes. Julia will be expecting us after our visit to Roer. Do take care now, Claire.", I said, bidding farewell to Claire.
"Ha!", Claire said, giving a salute, as did the couple of RMP officers she had accompanying her. The couple of them took this time to depart, also ignoring the onlookers who were watching us from afar. Before long, It was just Emma and I again.
As we took our steps toward the front end of the train to enter, I looked at Emma.
"It's been a good minute since it's been just us two, hasn't it, Emma?", I decided to ask Emma. Emma responded with a smile as we continued our steps.
"Yes. It really has. I don't mind it though. It gives me a chance to one up the others in spending some quality time with you, even if its just for a short period, hehe.", Emma responded letting out a playful giggle.
"Now what's that supposed to mean?", I retorted her, only to roll my eyes a bit.
"Teehee, oh its nothing. Just something to chat about with Her Highness once we're back in Liberl.", Emma retorted back at me. After she said this, I glanced back at the tall object wrapped tightly around her back.
"Are you sure you don't want me to store that away, though? You know I have the ability to do so.", I asked Emma.
"I know. I don't mind this. I like to carry it around this way. I could say the same to you?", Emma decided to ask back, seeing me with my rapier. Hearing that caused me to chuckle.
"Heh, fair enough. I'll let you have the window seat then so it won't be annoying while we're seated.", I said.
"Thank you. I'd appreciate that.", Emma responded happily. At this time, we heard a loud horn sounding off from the train we were about to board, signaling that it was soon to close its doors.
Seeing the clerk next to the entrance we were about to board, if one looked closely a few drops of sweat could be going down his back, but he knew he couldn't talk back after seeing the RMP was just here a moment ago. All he could do was ask for our tickets.
"Tickets please.", The clerk asked, keeping his nervousness inside.
Hearing that, the two of us brought out our train tickets, only to hand them over. Briefly checking them, we saw the clerk stamp the two tickets, only to give them back to us. However, just as we were about to step inside, we heard a hurried voice close by, seemingly to belong to a girl's.
"Hurry up, Grandpa! You're always so slow. We need to make this train so we can go back home, you know!", A girl's voice suddenly yelled out, only for us to see a quick shadow dart right behind us.
"Hoho, I told you we'd make it in time, didn't I, Anelace? You heard the train's horn just now. We have plenty of time to board.", An aged man's voice spoke out next. And yet, the moment I heard this aged man's voice utter that time, I came to a sudden halt. Seeing me halt for a second, Emma turned around and saw me.
"Naoto?", Emma asked.
However, before I could say anything, I felt a a soft bump strike my back, only to cause the swift figure from behind me to collapse, as a result of colliding into me.
"Ow...", The girl's voice uttered, only to find herself knocked down onto her butt.
"Haha, that's what you get for being so impatient, unlike Master. Stupid Ana.", A third voice reached out to us, seemingly to that of a girl as well.
Hearing this third voice caused me to be released from my momentary stupor, only to see a short haired brown haired upbeat girl fallen down before me. I didn't hesitate to reach out my hand, and apologized.
"I'm sorry about that. Are you okay?", I asked the girl.
Hearing me ask that, the girl blinked at the violet haired boy who appeared to be a couple years younger than her who suddenly had his hand reached out.
"Sorry. I thought we weren't going to make it. Thank you.", The girl said, reaching out hers. With a quick tug, she was able to stand back up. Seeing this brought a smile to the aged man. He appeared to be quite old.
"Hoho, sorry about that, young lad. To be honest, I didn't think we would actually see anyone besides us boarding first class on the Nortia line. So I guess we'll be we'll be neighbors for the time being.", The old man responded as he spoke out to me.
"Huh. You definitely seem to be a noble too.", The second girl's voice said, only for me to see a girl approach us, sporting very lush silver hair. A katana could be seen at her waist. She seemed to be the same age as the girl who I just helped stand up again.
"You okay, big sis?, A forth voice called out to us, only to belong to that of a boy's. Emma and I saw a black haired boy approach us.
"Oh...", Emma tried to say, quickly realizing who this black haired boy was. He seemed to be the same age as her, eleven years old. Like the lush silver haired girl, he too had a katana sheathed at his waist.
Seeing the first girl had my suspicion, but seeing these four people arrive to board the same line as us, my suspicion was cleared immediately. Behind us was none other than the master of the Eight leaves One Blade school of martial arts, Master Kafai. He seemed to have three disciples of his accompanying him. Two girls, Anelace and Shizuna, and one boy.
It made sense seeing their end destination, but it was a surprise to see these four here in Heimdallr Station. But I guess they were out and about on an excursion, similar to how we were not so long ago.
And I could immediately recognize the black haired boy. And at the same time, I could see the look in his eyes as he took a glance at me. He did not know who I was in the slightest bit.
But I knew well. After all, he was my dearest half-brother, Rean Schwarzer.