Strider Mail Headquarters.

The double doors of a decorated reception area swung open as Vixella stepped inside.

Janitors swept the floors back and forth meanwhile the window cleaners scrubbed up and down.

Workers walked about with stacks of paper and envelopes whilst trying to ease the tension by assisting one another.

Couriers loaded with full messenger bags were also about to head out for the delivery of whatever to wherever requested.

She yawned slightly, covering her mouth as she stretched and took a few steps forward through the archway.

"Sorry, boss... I don't think I can take this job, it's too risky."

A strider pilot paced away from Kasper which sighed loudly on the spot.

"Goodmorning, boss."

Vixella stepped up to meet him.

"Hey, shit... I might as well start calling you, uh- Vicks, was it?"

Kasper shifted himself around, planting his walking stick to get a firm grip.

"It's Vix-"

She corrected him.

"Vicks?"

"I said it's V-"

"-icks!" ((The demo people pronounce it Vicks (ikkisu) instead of Vix (Vics)... LOL IDK HELP- You imagine it ok. XD))

A long pause occurred between the two of them until Vixella slanted her posture to the side.

"So? Do you have anything for me to do?"

Kasper shrugged.

"Depends on if you're done with your assigned work-"

"I've already assorted the paperwork."

"Oh, you work fast..."

"Well?"

"You can probably take this job since no one else wants to... Move after me-- Shit-!?"

He implied with flair but stumbled as the walking stick was lifted and brandished like a cavalry saber.

Vixella pulled him back up to his feet from behind.

"Be careful with the sword."

"Don't worry Vicks, I fell on purpose since I knew you would've helped me--- AGH...!?"

Little did Kasper expect it coming as Vixella released her grip and tumbled him back to the floor.

After signing the contract behind the reception, they went into the hangar to reunite with the Strider that had been refurbished.

"According to the mechanics, your Strider had taken one hell of a beating... The fuck did you do?"

Kasper rested his free hand underneath his chin and turned to face Vixella while speculating on the matter.

"Fought off an Algorian expedition team."

"Hahaha, nice one! That aside... What do you think?"

Kasper then gestured at the Strider in front of them.

Vixella then turned her view towards the newly polished Strider.

"Well, I'm not too knowledgeable on this topic about Striders... But I think it looks a bit better?"

"A bit better, you say...!? Fucking retarded or something? Refitted thrusters... New chassis... They even balanced that stupid ram!"

Kasper stepped forward to gesture sharply at the many parts of the Strider.

"Woah, you went through all of that trouble-!? Really-!? Thanks, boss!"

Vixella exclaimed happily as her face seemed to brighten up and change so suddenly from her usual sophisticated look.

"Well... Instead of me, you should instead thank our mechanics over there..."

Kasper felt a bit bashful and instead pointed out at the men and women standing in the background.

The workers and mechanics who overheard the conversation then began looking towards them with curiosity.

Their easy-going and experienced boss who was usually harsh with his words.

The new pilot was also just too cute to be real... Just what did the two of them want?

Vixella jumped and fisted the air happily before happily waving with both hands at the mechanics in the background.

One of the guys in the background stumbled down onto his knees, clutching his chest.

"Hnng-!? My heart-!?"

He then began to laugh and fool around with his co-workers nearby.

"As I said, I'd whip out my wrench for her any day!"

"You guys..."

"Don't worry section chief, we also have the hots for you--- Woah-!? Oh shit, run boys-!!"

Vixella, after seeing the small woman chase after the men with a pipe wrench, turned back to look at Kasper.

"So I have to go grab the package at Symphotia then bring it back to this address?"

"Might sound simple but do be careful out there... I can only tell so much since the package-"

"Wait... What are the contents of the package?"

"Let's just say... I wasn't wrong to entrust you to this critical delivery..."

Vixella opened her mouth to imply that she wasn't quite content about taking the mysterious job, however-

"I'll try not to worry too much... So just go out there! Good fucking luck!"

Kasper softly shoved her towards the Strider.

"I'll need some kind of continental map."

A while later, the oddly designed Strider flew out of the garage warehouse hangar doors.

Doing a sharp turn, it would abruptly change direction before zooming beyond the distant skyline.

By the main entrance steps, Kasper anxiously saluted goodbye to the clear skies above him before heading back in.

"Godspeed... Pilot."

The back section of Vixella's Strider, unlike before, now had the cockpit extended back into the hollow airframe.

It was meant for storing cargo and surprisingly didn't hinder the flight performance to any significant extent.

Thanks to the improved fittings and fuselage, the new craft could maintain a steady pace without a hitch.

Sir Wolfe's insignia had been done over by Strider-Mail's logo.

It was the vivid painting of a Strider crossing with a folded envelope.

Vixella glanced down at the continental map that was tucked on her lap.

It was well-detailed and was meant for guiding travelers throughout Demo.

Algoria Town was the furthest district which was down by the south-western coast.

The unique landmarks occupied were the Western Mechanical Port and Great Library.

((REMINDER! This is the world map that I had planned ages ago.))

[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/404059426413084672/487996468419100672/Vixs_Fantasy_Map.jpg]

Keeping her right hand on the flight-stick, she used her other to trace the railway with her finger towards the destination.

Symphotia Town.

((I decided to add on the actual map of Demo Sovereignty on the whim.))

[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/244271683781787649/487995483147599893/This_is_ok_for_now.PNG]

Vixella made an unsure face as she didn't understand why there weren't railways leading directly from Vespelia to Symphotia.

All this time, she had piloted her Strider without paying too much attention and was currently waiting in line at a checkpoint.

Ahead of her was a large facility building with a dome-like extension on top.

Trains chugged in and out of the sides by the arrival and departure terminals.

Inducing no smoke nor pollution, they were all combusted by advanced pneumatical wind magic engines.

This wind magic, of course, was driven by magical liquid stored inside batteries.

The batteries had the same concept as Vixella's Magical Induction Jars and were more cost-effective but harder to mass-produce.

"It's your turn now! Open the cockpit and show them identification papers! We have the right to arrest any unlicensed pilots!"

The scruffy checkpoint guard's voice came through the reinforced windshield.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

He was wearing the usual Algoria District police uniform, standing beside two guards, seemingly being the squad leader.

Vixella reached into her messenger bag before carefully drawing out the papers that were needed to be checked.

She slid open her cockpit as the sunlight shone down upon her face, causing her to flinch slightly.

The guard squinted his eyes slightly to see better under the bright sun.

" "What was your name again?" "

Both of them blurted out at the same time.

"Vixella", "Dutten"

The guards in the background began to glance their way.

One of them shouted from the far side of the checkpoint.

"Sir... Is something the matter?"

"Ah, she's merely asking for directions! Tell the others to form another line! You two can handle them well, I believe?"

" "Yessir!" "

"You work under Xenthur, right? Since when did you arrive here? Also, nice accent."

"Hey, quiet down... I snuck on board as one of the sailors when that expedition team left..."

"So you worked your way up as some district patrol officer now?"

"Yeah... It took me a good while to figure out this continent's customs..."

"I see."

"Well, madam... That should do it! May I please have your papers?"

"Here you go."

Dutten traced Vixella's face for a bit before looking down back at the paper, pretending to be occupied at identifying her.

"Ah! These were approved by an inspector stationed at the mechanical port? Moving up the world I see!"

"I suppose so."

"It seems madam is also working under Strider Mail...?"

"Yes?"

"Ignoring the King's orders just as Sir Xenthur had predicted."

Dutten then sighed at the paper before passing it back over.

Vixella scoffed slightly at his remark.

"So you're implying it's fine I do whatever?"

"Yep... However, I'm sure that we'll be seeing each other soon."

Dutten then raised his hand to perform a brief two-fingered salute.

Vixella looked at him for a bit before doing the same.

"The Afrian salute, huh... Sure brings back memories."

Dutten coughed once before resuming his fake accent as some other guards walked past them.

"Ah, but before you depart... Where might you be heading to, madam?"

"Symphotia District."

"Yeah... And hey, watch yourself..."

"My boss also kind of hinted the same thing."

"You mean that limp ass, Kasper?"

"Hey, calling him a 'limp ass' is kinda... But you know him?"

"Well... It's all his former glory... He fought in this continent's first world war... Became a military flight instructor... Then now-"

"Explains his limp leg... Was it a souvenir from the world war?"

"No... Turns out some officer sabotaged his training Strider during an exercise... They executed that prick for treason."

"That's quite the tragic tale..."

"Yeah... Good men aren't all lucky... Let's just hope our luck doesn't run out like that as well..."

Vixella looked at him for a bit before nodding once.

She then started the wind-magic thrusters and took off from the checkpoint area.

"Bye-bye, Officer Dutten!"

She shouted over the erupting thrusters.

"See you, strider girl."

She smiled to herself before pulling down the reinforced windshield.

The Strider ascended further and began to accelerate towards the train station.

She swooped low and entered one of the chutes present on the dome roof section.

Coming through, she hovered above the train platforms before descending to inspect which train she was supposed to take.

Vixella pushed her joystick forward softly to tilt the Strider and get a better perspective of the view below.

After carefully planning her flight path, she flew down to one of the trains and latched onto its side without much trouble.

Sliding open her cockpit and getting out of the craft, Vixella walked towards then proceeded to the ticket-man nearby.

A CENTURY LATER

(Choo Choo Transition Music)

"Waah... I'm kinda thirsty..."

Vixella grumbled as she shifted her view around the noisy and crowded station.

There was a giant clock ticking on the wall over beyond the rows of benches filled with waiting passengers.

According to the ticket man earlier, there were a few long minutes left before the next train departs.

Upon deciding to kill time, Vixella shifted her feet around the bustling station to inspect the place.

Many people of varying attire and occupations paced back and forth onto the trains that came in and out.

Through it all, she spotted a small cafe store in the background and began pacing herself toward it.

After walking inside the place, Vixella slouched over to ponder through a cold locker's glass door.

The cold locker seemed like it was powered by some sort of wind magic and ice magic emitter.

Vixella didn't think too much about it since it surely reassembled a certain thing from the former world.

Despite occasionally remembering the old world through tragic flashbacks, she remained calm and smiled to herself.

She shifted her eyes at the many drinks that seemed familiar through the glass but didn't know which one to pick.

At the corner of her eye, one of the signs above the cashier counter caught her attention.

'Refreshing Taste! Demo Vera!'

"Isn't that just Aloe Vera...?"

She opened the cold locker's door and carefully took out the glass bottle.

Walking to the counter, Vixella was then interrogated by the cashier lady regarding how she does her makeup so well.

In an attempt to clear the misunderstanding, she told the cashier lady that she didn't currently have any make-up on.

The attempt backfired as cashier lady then began pressing on Vixella to confess her secrets further.

After telling random makeup tips from the noble ladies she had courted in her past life as Xiveall, Vixella finally slipped away.

Tiredly sighing to herself as she left the store, the Demo Vera's bottle lid was flicked open.

She took a sip.

She took another sip.

She looked at the bottle for a while before chugging down the whole thing.

Squeeing, she began chomping away happily at the minced bits of 'Demo Vera'.

"This is---- GREAT!!!"

She glanced down at the empty glass bottle, exclaiming out with a content look on her face.

The devilish wicked smile that would rarely show on her sophisticated face came to surface as she rushed back into the store.

Vixella ended up buying three more bottles before she happily walked out of the store while chugging down another one.

The two other bottles were rested carefully in her sturdy messenger bag's side slots.

However, upon coming to a standstill, the satisfied look on her face slowly transformed into one of disbelief and panic.

Choking on the bottle she was drinking, Vixella accurately tossed it into the trashcan on the side before springing into a sprint.

"Excuse me! Please move aside!"

She shouted out and dashed forth.

Vixella picked up the pace as she further drilled through the crowd that began to step aside.

Everyone was humored by the sight of an elegant lady rushing after a soon-departing train.

Applauses sounded out in the background as they all backed away to watch and cheer her on.

The pneumatic train began to chug forward, much to the ticket-man who saw Vixella coming and screamed at them to wait.

Despite Vixella running her fastest without any magic assisting, the train proved to be faster as it was about to leave the station.

At the last possible second, she held onto her hat and leaped off the platform to latch onto the rear-end of the train's final wagon.