It's now been about a week since I first placed the railway between Avalon and Alara's new city, Eden, and several days since Alara announced its impending opening to the residents of Avalon. Eden's inn has been fully constructed, furnished, and stocked with food. The hot spring resort is ready for customers, though it's still only accessible by stairs.
The neighborhood in the southeast housing quadrant is unfinished, but the cobblestone streets and roughly twenty percent of the houses are completed – houses closest to the main streets were prioritized for the city opening.
There are about thirty houses that are sized for a small family. They are relatively close to one another in an organized layout, but the neighborhood is not as crowded as an American suburb. I think it's perfect housing for commoner elves looking to move.
Alara has already secured workers for the hot springs and inn, including chefs, all of whom are short-term hires, not employees. However, if they like it, some of them might decide to work here permanently.
The bigger concern is the train operators – I insisted that those be trusted full-time employees. Currently, Alara has two 'promising' candidates, and Nina and I are supposed to meet with them in Avalon today.
Tomorrow is the grand opening of Eden, and the people of Avalon are already aware of it. What's more, news that the strange thing called a train will be taking normal people to Eden tomorrow for five coppers each has already spread outside Avalon.
There's so much demand to be on one of the first train rides that, the day of the announcement, Queen Elira commissioned a paved road and waiting area to be quickly built around the train station outside Avalon's west gate. From what I understand, it should be finished by tonight.
Alara has already come up with a system to fairly allocate seats if needed. The train currently holds 144 passengers, and Alara has about twelve merchants and other business prospects she wants to personally tour around the city.
That leaves 132 commoner passengers to be decided by raffle from the gathering crowd for the first train, and 144 for the second. The train ride is about two hours each way with a magic power level 3 operator, so I think that two round trips per day is the current limit.
Today, Alara, Zara, Alto, Nina, and I are making a trip to Avalon by train to collect all the temporary workers and bring them back for day-before training and orientation. Alto, Nina, and I will be going to interview the two train operator candidates at a local inn – Alara already arranged a conference room there for us. With each passing day, I'm more impressed with how much she's rising to the challenge of managing people and Eden.
At present, we are on the train to Avalon. Alara insisted on operating the train this time instead of Alto, and I didn't see any reason to object. With her extensive magic reserves, we've only traveled a little over an hour and are already within ten minutes of arriving.
Honestly, she could have gone even faster, but I warned her not to – she's exceeding 600 kph, and even with magic, no friction, and gradual turns, that's got to be stressing the railway already. Best not to push our luck.
"This train of yours travels at remarkable speed with Alara operating it Mizuki. Can you imagine how Veyron and Halzar would react to being beaten in a race by this metal snake? Fufufu…I would cherish the horror on their faces forever." (Nina)
Jeez…hell hath no fury like a dragon scorned, I guess. Still…
"Fufufu…I think you're right, Nina, that would be hilarious!" (Mizuki)
Nina and I share a nice laugh at the thought, while the others stare at us like we're deranged for joking like that about Elder Dragons. Soon, we arrive in Avalon.
Alto retrieves the control plates and stores them in her item box. As she does, Alara stares at her ring enviously.
Alara became aware of the rings after Zara's was bestowed, and she was shocked to learn that everyone else in my inner circle had one as well. She hasn't asked for one yet, but I suspect it's coming. I'm thinking I'll grant her request once she proves herself a bit more.
I turn my focus back to the tasks at hand as we all file out of the train.
The stone walkway that Elira commissioned next to the train station has already been finished, and I can see it trailing off in both directions to the north and south gate roads. It looks like how we designed them in Eden – the walkway widens to wrap around part of the railway loop, and stone benches line the area.
There are two city guards stationed nearby, sitting on a couple of stone benches. I'm guessing they're here to make sure that nobody does anything to the railway. As far as I can tell, no elves are trying to cause trouble. None are even hanging around.
However, once the elves notice our arrival, a small crowd begins to form, and they stare at the train. Their excited chattering can be heard as we pass, and several of them wave at us eagerly. I smile back and wave, and while they seem surprised, they don't seem upset. Progress, in my mind.
We arrive at Avalon's south gate, and the guards wave us through immediately – there isn't a guard in this city that doesn't know who we are at this point. Alara is leading the group, but she stops to address us.
"Okay, Zara and I will begin rounding up the workers. Alto, do you mind showing Lady Nedonera and Mizuki to the inn? I'm assuming you know where it is. Mizuki, the candidates were not told who they will be meeting with, or what the meeting will entail, just that it's the last step to get the job. The pay you suggested was advertised." (Alara)
Alto and I nod our acknowledgement.
"Sure, Lady Alara, I don't mind. Mizuki, Nina, follow me. It's not far from here." (Alto)
We all say our farewells, and we agree to meet back at the train station after our respective tasks. Then, Alto leads us to the inn.
When we arrive, Alto speaks to reception to explain our situation, and gestures at Nina a couple times. A young elven man is working the counter, and his eyes go wide in shock during his conversation with Alto.
After, he leads us to a small side room with two couches and a coffee table, while staring at Nina with stars in his eyes. Honestly, I don't blame him – even ignoring her status, she's beautiful.
We all take a seat on the couch, with me in the middle, and the receptionist returns to his post after a final lingering glance at Nina. It looks like we've arrived before the interviewees. Reception is supposed to send the first one in when they arrive and hold the other one until we're done.
If we have time, then I guess I can spend it teasing Nina. I smirk at her.
"Fufufu…you're quite popular with elven men, aren't you Nina?" (Mizuki)
I sense a rush of anticipation from Nina…the hell?
"Oh my, am I going to be treated to jealous Mizuki again? Fufufu…I quite enjoyed it last time!" (Nina)
I was just messing with you, damn dragon! I sigh deeply, but at that point the conference room door opens.
An early 30s-looking elven man walks in, and he's dressed nicely. He looks at us each in turn, gives a polite bow, then walks over to the couch opposite us and takes a seat. When he sees Nina, a look of shock flashes across his face, but he suppresses it and quickly addresses us with a polite smile instead.
"Good morning, my name is Ferrin. I appreciate the opportunity to meet with you today. I confess…I'd heard that you built this so-called train for Lady Alara, Great Dragon, but I never expected a personal meeting with you just to operate the magic item. I'm honored." (Ferrin)
"It is my subordinate here, Mizuki, who your meeting is with. I just happen to be in Avalon with him today. Please direct your questions and answers to him and treat his words as if they were my own." (Nina)
I'm sure that's shocking information, but to Ferrin's credit, he hides any surprise and immediately alters his gaze to focus on me politely. He gives off a very earnest and trustworthy vibe.
"Hello Ferrin, thank you for coming. As my Lady said, my name is Mizuki. I'm sure it's a surprise to you that your last meeting would be with a direct representative of an Elder Dragon. This was merely one of my Lady's conditions to Lady Alara for building the device called a train. Such a magic item is far more advanced than anything in your kingdom, and my Lady wants to make sure her gift is used respectfully. Its operators would be the main access point for abuse, so we asked to approve any new ones personally." (Mizuki)
Ferrin nods agreeably.
"That makes sense. Please feel free to ask me whatever you'd like." (Ferrin)
Good…that's a good start. I nod appreciatively to him.
"Very well then, thank you. Before we begin, I believe in being direct in an interview. I won't ask you unfair or invasive questions or judge your answers unfairly. In return, I expect honest answers. If your answers are dishonest, we will not hire you. My first question is…what do you know about the train and the job?" (Mizuki)
"I understand. I was told that the job is to operate the train between Avalon and Eden, and that the pay would be one silver per one-way trip. The requirements for the job are the willingness to make 80 to 160 trips per month, and a magic power level above 2 ½. All I know about the train is that it is made of a strange metal nobody has ever seen, it uses strange magic that nobody knows, and it moves so fast that it could cross the whole country in half a day. Truly mysterious." (Ferrin)
Hmm…that's interesting that they'd have enough information to know that – his speed estimate is reasonable. Maybe one of our people mentioned it, which is fine. A quick magic sense tells me he has a power level of almost 3, that's perfect. I nod at him appreciatively.
"That's all correct, and the number of trips you make would be flexible – you just have to provide notice for time off and meet the minimum trips per month. My next question is…why do you want this job? There are no impolite or incorrect answers." (Mizuki)
"I'm alteration class…a rarity that usually attracts one to the guard or construction work. I'm not the soldier type, though, and I'm not very good with any skilled labor techniques. This job pays far better than any other job that I'm qualified for. Plus, I do think the train is really cool." (Ferrin)
Good pay and sweet toys…I've got no problem with that.
[Mizuki…I sense deceit from him.] (Nina)
Wait, really? He's definitely alteration class, so maybe he's not as enthusiastic about the train as he says, or he's just being modest about his skilled labor qualifications. This would still pay more anyway. Those aren't really lies in my book, just politeness. Still, Nina brought it up on her own, so…I better be sure.
I smile at Ferrin and nod approvingly.
"I take no issue with doing a job because the pay is good – that's what jobs are for. Now, this is probably the most important question. It is one of my Lady's highest priorities that the trains are only used as-is to transport elves and cargo. So, if you were a train operator, what would it take for someone to convince you to break this policy and let them study the train or otherwise exploit it?" (Mizuki)
Ferrin shakes his head earnestly.
"I would never do that; it would be a betrayal of the trust you put in me." (Ferrin)
Damn it, Ferrin…I really had high hopes for you. Call me cynical, but everyone has a breaking point where they'd betray something or someone – especially if it's just a job. If he says otherwise, he's lying or naïve.
[That is a lie, Mizuki.] (Nina)
I sigh deeply…liar it is.