The massive metal machine screeched, sending a cloud of white vapor into the morning air. Rusty stared at the front of the vehicle, where a glowing purple core pulsed with immense magical energy. Even through the metal casing designed to contain it, he could still feel its power.
"Wow."
Gwen whispered, her eyes wide as she looked up at the towering train cars.
"I have never actually seen one in person. My family could never afford a ticket for something like this."
"It is a marvel of modern magical engineering. There are only a few of them in the Empire."
Aranea remarked, her voice returning to its usual quiet, noble tone, though her fingers still toyed with her new bond ring.
"You sound like you've ridden in one of these before, Lady Aranea."
Astrella asked, her own eyes widening as they approached the magical train.
"Indeed. The Venomridge family uses them to transport specialized alchemical reagents across the Empire. They are exceptionally secure. Also, they are not called wagons but train cars, a shortened form of carriages."
Rusty listened to the conversation but did not understand everything. Aranea's family sounded important. Perhaps the reagents she mentioned had something to do with poison or venom, judging by her attire, but that was only speculation on his part. No one else seemed interested in asking.
"We will arrive at Rose Knight Academy in two days. Everyone, proceed in the previous order. Train cars five and six have been reserved for us."
Professor Quinten marched past them and stopped at train car number five. One of the station staff opened the door and waited for the students to board. Just like before, there was no strict seating arrangement, and Aranea's group entered first without anyone objecting.
Syber and the other two boys remained quiet near the back while the three girls chatted among themselves. They did not seem particularly close, and Aranea's two retainers clearly disliked the situation, though neither could openly oppose their lady.
"It looks similar, but it's much larger than the carriage we rode in before."
Rusty commented.
"I heard they modeled the train cars after older carriages."
Astrella replied.
The interior of train car number five was lined with polished dark wood and plush velvet seats that looked far more comfortable than the benches in their previous carriage. Soft light glowed from crystal lamps embedded in the ceiling. Gwen carefully moved toward one of the seats, but their new friend stopped her.
"We should move into the more spacious train car. The seats there will be much more comfortable for thou... Lady Gwen."
Aranea hesitated briefly before saying Gwen's name and using her proper title.
"Lady? Oh, you don't need to do that, Lady Aranea. I'm nothing special like that. Just call me Gwen."
"Just Gwen?"
Aranea blinked in surprise. Before the awkward silence could linger, Astrella popped her head between them.
"Yeah, that's better. We're all friends now. What do we need titles for? Gwen is Gwen, Aranea is Aranea, and I'm just Astrella!"
She flashed a broad grin, though the other two girls were far more reserved about such things.
"T-then... Gwen, if that is appropriate..."
"S-sure, Ara... I mean, Aranea, if that's fine with you."
Aranea nodded, a faint blush appearing on her face before she hid it behind her fan. Rusty felt his summoner pull him closer against her chest, something she often did whenever she felt nervous.
“You humanoids can be so strange these days. Let's just move inside before your teacher gets annoyed.”
Once Rusty mentioned the teacher, the group of six finally moved forward into the next train carriage connected to the first one. Although it was the same size, the seats here were larger and far more pristine, as though they had been designed specifically for high nobility.
“Now this is a proper place for Lady Aranea. Let me get your seat ready for you, milady!”
Aldric hurried ahead to make sure everything was in order. Even though the girls had started acting more casually around each other, that did not mean the two retainers would do the same. There was a clear barrier of status that they were not allowed to cross, or at least believed they could not.
As before, Syber merely rolled his eyes and moved to the back of the carriage, choosing a seat where no one would disturb his sleep. Aranea waved her fan dismissively and walked right past the seat Aldric had meticulously prepared. Instead, she settled gracefully into a plush velvet booth directly across from Gwen and Astrella.
Here, the girls could actually face one another without anything getting in the way. A table stood between them, perfect for their strategy game and large enough for Rusty and the other miniaturized summons to wander around on.
The two retainers froze in place, their expressions caught between horror and confusion. Both seemed completely bewildered by their lady's behavior, which was very different from what they were accustomed to. Aldric looked as though he might faint, while Syber glanced toward Gwen with clear suspicion, apparently convinced she was responsible for corrupting Aranea's impeccable aristocratic standards.
“Thee may sit nearby.”
Aranea turned to her retainers and pointed her fan toward a booth behind them. The two could do little more than nod and obey. Soon, the train cars began filling with other students. Thanks to the increased space, there were still plenty of empty booths and seats available.
“Everyone is accounted for.”
Their teacher walked down the center aisle, his boots nearly silent as he moved with impeccable posture. He stopped beside their booth, his gaze lingering on them for a moment, but he did not comment. Once he had confirmed that everyone was present, the doors closed with a mechanical click, and it was finally time to depart.
“Look, we're starting to move!”
Astrella pointed excitedly toward the window. Rusty noticed the scenery shift slightly, and so did everyone else. Standing on the table, he felt the entire carriage tremble for a brief moment before settling as the train began its journey.
‘This place seems well defended. There are probably too many people for them to attempt an attack... but that could also be exactly why they would.’
While the young teenagers had already put the previous incident behind them, Rusty remained focused on his mission to protect Gwen. The train appeared sturdy and heavily reinforced with metal. He could also sense several defensive enchantments woven into its structure. If attacked from the outside, they would likely generate a protective barrier around the massive magical train.
The train moved slowly at first as it gathered speed. There was little to see beyond stone walls and bare rock while they left the waypoint behind. Before long, however, the mountain scenery opened into a vast expanse of cliffs and deep chasms filled with rolling fog.
Gwen let out a soft gasp and pressed her nose against the cool window glass. Rusty anchored his small metal boots against the smooth wooden table, marveling at how steadily the massive machine cut through the rugged terrain. The rhythmic clicking of the iron rails was surprisingly soothing, but even that sound faded away once the silencing enchantments were activated.
The trip was not much different from traveling by wagon, and before long, the game Astrella had brought along was set up again. This time, however, Syber joined them instead of one of the retainers. It seemed that while he could easily slumber in the old carriage, he simply could not relax in this one.
The matches unfolded a little differently this time as the teams began mixing. Astrella was no longer content with having Gwen as her only teammate and even switched to Aranea's side in hopes of finally claiming a victory. To everyone's surprise, Syber proved to be quite skilled at the game, handing Aranea her first defeat after several hours of hard-fought matches.
'Nothing out of the ordinary is happening...'
Rusty remained vigilant as always, but nothing seemed amiss. It was a rather uneventful journey all the way to the next waypoint, which they reached without interruption. Once there, they stepped into another heavily fortified outpost where, just as before, nothing noteworthy occurred.
The second waypoint was another fortress. It was enclosed by high walls, spacious, and bustling with travelers moving between numerous trains. Rusty wondered whether valuable shipments were transported through these stations, as the number of armed soldiers was staggering. Their teacher even had to present the academy's enchanted emblem before they were permitted to enter the hotel.
For Rusty, it was reassuring to see such a strong military presence. With so many guards around, the chances of another attack involving poisonous snakes or a monster stampede seemed low. Unfortunately, it also meant they were unlikely to uncover who was responsible, unless the culprits made another move that very night. The group was scheduled to arrive at the knight academy before dawn the following day.
"I can't wait to see those handsome knights!"
Astrella clapped her hands together, practically glowing with excitement as they walked through the hotel corridor. Gwen blushed slightly at her friend's bluntness, while Aranea merely raised her fan to conceal a small, amused smile.
“Do you know anything about the Rose Knight Academy?”
“Sir Rusty is interested in the academy?”
Aranea seemed surprised by the question. Rusty asked because he knew that the more information he gathered, the better prepared he would be.
"The Rose Knight Academy is known for its discipline and prestige. Many of its students come from the most distinguished noble families in the empire. For many nobles, it is considered a great honor to have one of their knights enter their service."
“See, Aranea knows!”
As Astrella commented, Syber, who was a few steps behind them, chuckled.
“What are you laughing about?”
“It’s nothing... but it’s not like you’re ever going to get a knight retainer of your own. You’re not even a noble.”
“So what if I’m not? I’ll just have Gwen do it for me!”
“M-me? A knight?”
Gwen instantly grew nervous, and Rusty was not sure why. He did not know exactly how things worked here, but neither Syber nor Astrella seemed to have the qualifications to become proper retainers. Gwen, on the other hand, came from an old noble family, even if it had fallen on hard times. If she could find a knight willing to offer their service and swear loyalty to her house, it would be a significant step toward restoring her family's standing.
“Of course. Who else would I ask?”
“S-stop teasing me and let’s just go to our rooms.”
The group laughed, and soon everyone headed off for the night. Gwen and Astrella shared a room once again, while Aranea was given one of her own. As she watched her two new friends disappear into the same chamber, a faint look of longing crossed her face.
The night passed uneventfully. The mysterious intruder from before never showed themselves again, leaving everyone to wonder who had been responsible and whether it had simply been a random incident after all. In the morning, they ate breakfast and returned to the train that would carry them to the Rose Knight Academy.
The platform bustled with activity as white vapor hissed from the train’s lower valves. Students filed back into carriages five and six in orderly lines under Professor Quinten’s watchful eye. Aranea moved with her usual grace, though she deliberately stayed closer to Gwen than to her own retainers. Aldric and Eldric followed several paces behind like sullen ghosts, clearly unhappy with the way traditional social boundaries were beginning to blur.
Once inside the familiar plush velvet booth, the group settled into a comfortable routine. It was also time for their final match. As always, someone brought out the game, and before long, everyone was playing. This time, even Aldric and Eldric joined in, competing not only against their lady but against the other students as well.
The hours passed smoothly as the arcane train emerged from the mountains and entered a greener landscape filled with flowers and sprawling meadows. The fog had disappeared, replaced by cultivated fields tended by villagers.
“Look, it’s the famous rose fields. We must be getting close!”
“It’s so red... are all of those roses?”
“They are. I’ve heard about them, but I never thought they would actually cultivate roses for kilometers around the academy. Look!”
Astrella pointed excitedly at the endless sea of flowers outside. From their vantage point, they could see a great white castle rising above the crimson fields. Its architecture differed from the stone waypoints they had passed along the journey, featuring elegant spires and banners that fluttered proudly in the breeze. Each banner bore the symbol of a blooming rose entwined around a silver sword.
“It is beautiful.”
Gwen said, her eyes reflecting the vibrant red of the fields. Rusty did not pay much attention to the roses, but he could see that they were approaching a settlement. The train tracks rose upward, carrying them through a gap in the massive walls and into the city beyond.
The castle they had seen earlier looked even larger now. It was surrounded by red brick buildings, and the streets were surprisingly crowded with merchants selling all manner of wares. The knight academy was encompassed by a thriving city filled with people and countless facilities, yet it was clearly the focal point of the entire settlement, radiating power even from a distance.
The screech of metal echoed once more as the Arcane Train finally ground to a halt inside a grand station of white marble and glass. Professor Quinten rose immediately and gestured for the students to gather their belongings.
"We have arrived."
The professor announced, his voice enhanced by magic and carrying throughout the fifth and sixth train cars.
"Maintain your formations. We are guests of the Rose Knight Academy, and I expect you to represent our institution with the utmost decorum."
Gwen carefully scooped Rusty up and held him securely against her chest. He gripped his tiny halberd tightly, scanning the crowd through the train window. The platform outside was lined with armored guards whose breastplates had been polished to a mirror shine.
As they stepped off the train, the sweet scent of roses filled the air, thick enough to be almost dizzying. Astrella practically bounced on her feet, while Aranea adjusted her fan with a crisp motion. Even the two retainers looked slightly intimidated by the sheer grandeur surrounding them.
They passed through the station's grand arches and emerged into the academy's main courtyard. Towering statues of legendary knights lined the path, each holding a sword pointed toward the sky. Ahead of them, a delegation from the academy was already waiting to greet them, led by a tall figure clad in pristine white armor.
They had finally arrived, and now the true purpose of his mission could begin…