Volume Two is here! I'll be updating regularly again. Giliath demands your power stones like always!
*
On this fateful day, Father and I departed from the Osborne Villa. We took our steps from the house, full of anticipation in our eyes. It was as if we were ready to take on the world. I do not know what will transpire in this coming Heimdallr visit, but I know it will not be one of leisure. I will encounter many individuals, likely nobles, and Erebonia's Imperial Family. The current Emperor is on his deathbed, and it would seem he has some knowledge on Mother's origins. We're probably going to hold a private talk. I'm still in shock of everything I received from my late mother. I can't think of these as mere pieces of equipment, even if they are the super special growth-type.
These are mementos of Mother, something I'll hold dear to my heart. She even left me a customized Combat Orbment, likely a Generation III model, a house deed, some family history books, and even millions of Mira that Father will likely put into some type of trust fund. I don't know how all that works down here in Zemuria, but there are banking industries, and the International Bank of Crossbell, or IBC, for short, sits at the very top. Will I end up with my own bank card at some point? I don't even know how those things operate. Do they have unique identification numbers to tell who you are? Haha!
Along the way on the frontside of our house stood an open-floor style garage. It wasn't exactly the type of garage you would see in my previous life. Just a couple spots where we can park orbal vehicles. I spotted Father's fancy car, and Kasia also had one for personal travel. She hasn't gone out on a long trip lately though, considering she's been looking after Rean and I. Father's too busy being a General of the Imperial Army, so it's not like we can exactly take time off like a normal Family. Mother had her paid leave due to her pregnancy, but that was it. Father had to assume his post once that duration of time was over.
Not that I mind. It still allowed me to spend my time with my family like this. Father even started my training earlier this year! It's progressing well. I'm about four months of the first twelve for Daily Quest I. I don't know how long this visit in Heimdallr will last even if Father stated it would only just be for a couple of days, but I still need to make room to do my daily jogging. I can't skip out on a single day, or the Quest will be forfeited. No more chance to let it upgrade to Daily Quest II. Hopefully Father understands this point, so he should make exceptions. I'll just have to do it super early, or right after we wrap up for the day. Maybe even at sunrise.
But to my surprise, apart from our two orbal cars, there was a third one parked. It was lit up and running, but completely silent. That was the beauty of orbal tech. Gas-powered technology was a thing of a past. It's not like this style of machinery didn't exist in Zemuria. In fact, it did. And it was widely used before the Orbal Revolution took place. It almost mirrored my previous life to a tee. Around forty years ago, this new technology was discovered, causing humanity to leap and progress by leaps and bounds, treading uncharted territory. At the same time, humans have begun crafting more and more pieces of technology that my previous life had, but also introduced tech like Combat Orbments, allowing humans to interact with the elements without magic. You can see why I'm so excited to test out Arts, right? Especially after Father did that entire showcase!
I saw two men in black standing on each end of the orbal car that was still running. Their faces were hidden by black-shaded sunglasses, and wore full-on black suits. Orbal pistols could be seen equipped at their waists. The moment Father came into view, they paused, and immediately saluted them.
"Greetings, General Osborne. His Highness is glad that you can part some time for this sudden visit. All parties of interest have been confirmed, and are waiting inside the car. Are you ready to depart to the capital?", The man on the left side of the car where the driver's side said. As for me, I stayed quiet, and observed the car. It was very similar to Dieter Croise's orbal car, who would eventually end up becoming Crossbell City's next mayor after Mayor MacDowell. But it wasn't the exact same design. This orbal car was much more fiery red. I also saw Erebonia's golden stallion crest on it, signaling that they belonged to the Imperial Family. Only important figures of a country would flash their crest like this. Erebonia has the golden stallion. Crossbell State has the silver bell. Liberl has the white falcon. Calvard has the three-leaf clover.
Just seeing this crest of the golden stallion alone signifies that someone of importance is seated inside this orbal car...
"We are. I take it things are stirring in the capital which prompted this sudden visit by His Highness.", Giliath responded, assuming what had taken place. "There will be no one else coming with us. Let us depart at once.", Giliath stated.
"Understood, General.", The man responded, giving Giliath a salute. Meanwhile, I was gaining interest in my eyes, observing these suited men. These guys seriously looked like they belonged to what's called the secret service. You know, those guys that would always lurk around important people, especially those who are from a government? They'd have earpieces in their ears and everything. They're personal bodyguards, basically. I'm sure Father has some too, but I haven't seen any assigned to this villa, or maybe they're too good at their job for me to notice. I do have the Vermillion Eyes, but I haven't really tested things out in this fashion yet. A minimap was created of this area during the fight with Agnagarn, but there were no hidden allies during that fight. If I use my Vermillion Eyes again, perhaps I'll be able to spot them.
"Who are these guys, dad?", I questioned. Hearing that, Giliath let out a laugh.
"Haha! Pay them no mind, son. They're guardians of the Imperial Family. You can treat these guys as empty air.", Giliath responded, laughing. Even with that remark being said, the suited men didn't flinch a bit, they just stood there, motionlessly. It also begs the question, will these men in black some day get assigned to me? I don't know if Grandmother even has a secret service in place. She has the Royal Guard whose posts remain active inside Grancel Castle. She might not even have a need for them. But the Imperial Family here is different. They don't have stationed guards inside Valflame Palace. Mostly cleaning maids while these guys lurked in the shadows.
Either way, I saw the left man spoke out in agreement, confirming Father's words. "I will advise you to proceed with caution, General. His Imperial Majesty was the one who sent his personal vehicle over. You will not be alone during this trip.", The man continued to say, warning us. He approached the left side passenger door, and reached his hand out toward the handle. Hearing that, we approached, but Father's gaze soon turned serious.
"This presence...", Giliath murmured. His eyes then turned serious, only to look my way again. What he said next caused me to pause again. It wasn't often you see Giliath this serious. Only very few moments happened previously where he was like this. I could tell he was quite serious here. "Naoto, every action you take from here on will be taken into consideration. Your etiquette training hasn't begun yet, but I will advise you to be on your best behavior the moment we step into this car. Understood?", Giliath said.
"Yes, Father.", I replied. I could only nod my head to his words. Seeing how serious Giliath is here, just who is inside this car? Perhaps it is Prince Olivert, who would become one of the major characters in the first half of Trails, even becoming playable in the Sky games? But Father addressed this supposed figure as His Imperial Majesty. Wouldn't that mean the Crown Prince? If it's the Crown Prince right now, that won't exactly be Prince Olivert, but the Emperor-to-be, Prince Eugent. Or Prince Olivert's Father, in other words...
While thinking that, I proceeded to ignore these men in black. Father said it was fine to ignore them, so I just shifted my gaze back toward the car door, where the one on the left was currently standing. With a single motion of his arm, I heard a faint click, and the door began to pull open. It wasn't one of those where it simply pulled out, but a sliding door that you could slide off to the side, which was pretty neat. The other man in black vanished from the right side, likely assuming his post again. If I had to relate this orbal car to something, it'd be that of a limo? Its size was even around twice as big compared to Father's orbal car.
I saw Giliath approach the orbal car, but didn't immediately step in. To my surprise, he reached his hand out, and knocked. "Permission to come aboard, Your Highness?", Giliath asked, remaining polite as all hell. Seriously, just who is in this orbal car? I even saw him bow!