The kids were sent into a train car for themselves, one over from the adults, with a guard for each nearby and a couple of servants at their beck and call. Darrius and Decan were sitting beside each other, as were Alister and Wisteria opposite them. Neth automatically went to go to the child’s cabin, which got a confused look from everyone… until Neth’rehxis clarified, “I’m only 23,” he explained, “I believe the equivalent would be… 14?” At this description, the duke grimaced.

“I apologize if this brings up anything unpleasant for you, but I am obliged to ask… where were you caught and enslaved?”

“Maybe… thirty miles from Ember?”

This made the grimace turn into an angry scowl, “I see. Apologies, I have business to attend to. That is very illegal in my duchy.”

“Oh…” said the naga awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck, “Does that mean the people who took me from the Temple will get in trouble?”

This got a nod from Blas, who was beginning to turn away, “It does. Among others.”

“Oh… well don’t be too hard on them?” he asked sweetly, genuinely seeming confused about what was wrong with the present situation.

Once the duke left to go manage aforementioned business, the naga turned to the guards who had remained out in the hall, seemingly content to be there with them… despite the somewhat awkward situation it made in the relatively narrow hallway, given the snake-boy’s length. There, he queried the guards about all kinds of things.

Alister had long since left and wasn’t privy to this scene, instead studying the area around him. The interior of the train looked just as interesting to Alister as the exterior.

Most of the cabins were for nobility, of which they took the majority for this train. But there were two train cars at the very end that were for commoner use, something he didn’t think they’d be able to access at all. So that they had cabins was a pleasant surprise.

The noble cars were beautiful, lined with polished leather and velvet, with clean windows that allowed for watching the scenery fly by.

And it was quick! It went as fast as a horse and carriage and didn’t have a threat of tiring. Not to mention, its route was straight and without bumps, set in metal with its tracks.

They set off along the coast, sea always in view along the right hand windows.

Silver trays floated from their stations on the wall and began a practiced loop along the corridor of the car, heading to the front, to a kitchen, and returning with food one could pick up if they wanted some. Small aperitifs, mostly seafood that showed off local catches, fresh, kept even fresher with ice magic. Ice magic was also engraved into the car itself, keeping the interior cool regardless of wherever and whenever they travelled. He imagined they had something for heat as well, as the leather of the seats had patterns gently embroidered into them.

Honestly…? He doubted he would have been able to make something like this. Magic had progressed so much, and he felt the excitement of such a realization buzzing in his bones. He knew magic had progressed, of course it had, it had been so long… but he hadn’t SEEN it, really seen the pinnacle of enchanting or magic, until this train contraption. He left his chair to run his fingers along what engravings he could see - and reach - a pure smile on his face.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

The ceiling of the cabin was domed with mage lights along the peak, and there were two thin strips of glowing crystal embedded into the floor along the aisle to dimly illuminate it - no doubt for nighttime running. Absolutely incredible.

Darrius eyed Alister with clear confusion, “What’s his problem?”

Wisteria huffed a small laugh, “He’s a mage.” What a loaded question. She eyed Alister from afar.

“But he’s younger than us? He’s like… eight.”

“Almost nine.”

“That doesn’t change anything, miss Wisteria.”

“It is publicly known he’s a full recall case,” she rolled her eyes, not realizing she was mimicking ‘auntie’ with a fan, flitting it in front of her face, “You two are in a high position. Surely you knew that?”

Darrius blushed, nodding, “R-right. Of course I already knew that. It’s just… odd! Yeah. Odd.”

“I suppose it is. But he is the duke’s son. It is only right that someone in so high a position be so unique.”

“That… I guess… But what about a familiar! Yeah, a familiar. Mages are supposed to have familiars, aren’t they?”

“I don’t think all mages have familiars… but that’s an interesting question. I’ve never asked him. I hadn’t thought about it. I’m sure he could get a powerful animal as his familiar, his father a beastmaster, after all,” she looked over to Alister, “Alister!”

He jumped, bristled and surprised his name had been called, and rushed back over, “Yeah? What’s wrong?”

“Do you have a familiar?” Wisteria asked.

Alister blinked, “What?”

“A familiar. A lot of mages have one.”

“What’s a familiar?”

“Really? You don’t know?” Darrius laughed, grinning.

“It wasn’t a thing in my past life,” he huffed, folding his arms, “If it’s something mages have nowadays then I’ll just have to get one!”

Darrius had a mean grin, “If you didn’t know then you don’t sound like much of a mage. Are you really one?”

Alister tilted his head, “Child, you don’t want this fight. We’re indoors, and I don’t want to make a mess of this magical marvel. But if you feel like pressing your luck, I can indulge and allow you the experience of drowning on dry land? That’d prove that I am a mage, I’d think.”

“Alister…,” Wisteria pouted, tapping his side with her fan, “Don’t be mean. They’re just boys.”

He stared at her, giving her a squinting glare, “You’ve been hanging out with mother too much. Fiiine. Here. Look.” Alister sighed and made a simple mage light in his palm that changed colors slowly over time, “Magic. Stupid simple… but non-damaging.”

Darrius’s response was only a huff, unsure how to respond to the threat this kid had just leveled at him. Decan’s eyes lit up with interest, “You didn’t e-fen say anyfing fough!” He had a charming lisp thanks to a missing tooth that hadn’t finished coming in yet, “I fhought mages had to chant or use circles or stuff?”

Alister softened, smiling, “Sometimes I use chants, or a circle if the spell is particularly difficult. Circles probably look much different nowadays, though, and a chant is just to help your focus. My favorite is to just say a word or two, because doing it silently is relatively difficult, more than the silence is usually worth.”

Decan seemed interested, but too shy to ask more. Alister sat back down on the comfortable leather chair beside Wisteria, “So. What is a familiar?”

Wisteria answered for them, “It is a mage’s companion. You really didn’t have such a thing in the past? Lord, you’re frightening.” That he did as he said without even a familiar… She sighed, “A higher ranking or higher level mage sometimes buys a magical creature from a beast tamer. They train this animal and use it as a cat… er… cat-a-lyst. Kind of like a magical living staff. They usually get something to make up for a weakness, or something that might make what you're good at stronger.”

Alister considered this, nodding, “That sounds convenient. A way to compensate or enhance… and it would be fitting, my father doing what he does… How many familiars can you have?”

This just got a stare from Wisteria and the boys. “I… don't know. They're expensive, and it's hard to connect to them… I think. It's what I've heard,” she said with a shrug.

“You're really smart, Wisteria,” Decan said, admiring the girl with a stare.

Wisteria blushed, waving him off, “I’m not. I’m just a lucky commoner.”

Darrius shook his head, “As if you could be a commoner with that hair. Don’t be humble! You know so much. And you're stunning too.”

Alister audibly groaned, “Could you two not? Wisteria is currently a commoner but she’s going to be working for my father and mother. And she’s close enough with my mother for her to call her auntie. Don't be a bully about it.”

Decan puffed a cheek, “I’m not! We won’t be bullies.”

“Yeah we’re being really nice for a commoner!”

Wisteria sighed, giggling into her hand, “I don’t think that’s quite what he meant. It’s fine Alister. They don’t mean anything by it, they’re actually quite nice for noble boys.” That time it was the boys’ turn to blush, looking away from Wisteria.