After getting dressed, I meet up with my party, Cara, and Alara in the family room.
"So, what do you think?" (Mizuki)
My question is directed at Alara, while I gesture towards our MMC – she's already used it to send a letter to Elira and received some in return.
Alara's face lights up happily.
"It's wonderful, Mizuki, thank you so much! Also, Mother told me about your offer to teleport me to visit her regularly…I appreciate that, too." (Alara)
"I'm glad to hear it, Alara! I was becoming a little worried about you feeling lonely and isolated in Eden. Hopefully, the MMC will help you feel more connected in your new home." (Mizuki)
Alara gives me a surprised expression.
"Uhm…Mizuki…do you consider this my home? I thought I was more of a long-term guest." (Alara)
"I mean, yeah? Obviously, it's Alto's house, and she owns it. Still, that doesn't mean it can't be your home. I'm perfectly fine with you living here the rest of your life, and you're encouraged to express any living preferences you have. You're one of us now. That said, I won't be surprised or offended if you eventually build a family home and move out. You should do whatever you want!" (Mizuki)
Alara gives me a grateful smile, then becomes quiet and thoughtful.
"Well, I'd hate to interrupt this touching moment, but…I am also curious about this M-M-C. It truly sends written messages across the country in an instant?" (Cara)
Cara stares at me expectantly, leaning around Alto on our couch. I just give her an amused smile and nod, then she shakes her head in exasperation.
"It's just one absurd magic item after another with you. Hmm…I don't suppose you'd also grace my territory with one of these while you're setting up the train today, would you?" (Cara)
Cara asks the question jokingly, like she has every expectation that I'll reject the request. But now that she knows most of my secrets...
"If your family home is in Wellick, and you show us to the private room you want it in, then I'd be happy to install one for you. I'll also go ahead and make it so that you can send messages to both the royal palace and our mansion. Of course, this will come with the standard conditions that you can't allow it to be studied, abused, or repurposed. How's that?" (Mizuki)
Cara's eyes go wide in shock initially, but she seems to resolve it quickly and responds eagerly.
"Perfect, I accept! My house is in Wellick, and I was hoping to show you around it anyway." (Cara)
I suppress laughter, and just nod my acknowledgement to Cara.
"Great! Now that we've settled that…let's discuss our visit to Wellick and building your train, shall we? The nobles meeting is tomorrow, and I'd like to have it operational by then. First off, Nina and I will obviously need to accompany you there, but I also think it's a good idea to bring Alto. She should soften our party's reception, and I trust her to handle critical tasks alone if Nina or I can't." (Mizuki)
Cara shrugs and nods.
"Sure, that seems reasonable." (Cara)
I see Alto smiling appreciatively during the exchange, and I'm reminded of our talk yesterday. I hope that I'm taking the right steps to show her that I can entrust her with things without coddling her.
I turn my attention back to Cara.
"Wonderful. Next, we should get our travel story straight. I assume that I'll be bringing us there as quickly as possible, and if necessary, we can just say that Nina flew us. Is everyone on board with that?" (Mizuki)
I survey the room, and I'm met with nods all around. Good, guess that's settled.
"In that case, the final thing I want to discuss is where you want this train, Cara. The exact place doesn't matter to me. However, the immediate terrain around the railway needs to be something you don't mind getting perturbed during construction, and the path of the train system in and around Wellick needs to be somewhere that I won't be observed after dark. Is that doable?" (Mizuki)
Cara looks at the ground thoughtfully for a few moments, then meets my gaze and nods.
"Yes, I have a particular spot in mind. I think it would be best to do something like in Avalon, where you make the train station a short distance outside the city. I can take care of building the pathways to connect the train station to a main road." (Cara)
"Got it. I'll also need to avoid any other cities or villages, and any farm or ranch land along the way. Do you have a clear path in mind for the train?" (Mizuki)
Cara nods and looks to Alara, who produces a thickly folded paper and sets it on the coffee table between our couches. As she unfolds it, I see that it's a map of the Elven Kingdom. I've only seen one before – from Dargo – since humans haven't been allowed to survey here.
Alara begins tracing her fingers along the map as she speaks.
"Eden is here, in the western territory, and Wellick is situated here, about halfway between Avalon and the northern coast, towards the western border of Cara's northern territory. The Egris river runs from the northwestern mountains through Wellick. We thought you could build the railway through the unsettled northwestern territory until meeting the river, then continue building along its border until Wellick." (Alara)
Perfect. I'll need to scope it out some, but if I start from the point in Wellick where Cara wants the station, then that will drastically reduce my navigation issues. I just have to follow the river out of her territory, then make a beeline for Eden with magic sense.
I look between Cara and Alara and smile appreciatively.
"Well, it sounds like you two did all the hard work for me – thanks! I'll plan on building the train system tonight. In the meantime, we'll travel to Wellick and have Cara show me where she wants the train station. I can also set up her MMC while we're there. When would you like to depart, Cara?" (Mizuki)
Cara's eyes light up at the question.
"As soon as possible. I know the tasks you mentioned won't take that long, but I'd like to show you all around Wellick with the extra time before nightfall. I'm quite proud of my capital city! Since I've been gone so long, and the train will connect Wellick and Eden soon, I'd like to gather my belongings to permanently return to Wellick. So, could we depart in an hour or so?" (Cara)
"That's fine with me. Nina? Alto?" (Mizuki)
"Fufufu…being hosted in a riverside city sounds nice to me, and I'm prepared to leave whenever." (Nina)
"I also take no issue with that plan." (Alto)
I nod at them both.
"I guess it's settled then. Nina, I have a quick errand in Elmesia that I'd like you to accompany me for while Cara prepares. Alto, could you use your item box to help Cara pack while we're away?" (Mizuki)
Nina looks at me in surprise, then I sense curiosity from her. Alto just nods towards me.
"Mmm…that sounds mysterious. I'm in!" (Nina)
"Of course, I don't mind." (Alto)
Nice. I smile at everyone in the room.
"Awesome, I appreciate it everyone! It sounds like we've got our last day before the nobles' meeting planned then. Is there anything else we need to discuss before we go our separate ways?" (Mizuki)
I survey my friends' faces, and they all shake their heads. Whelp…I guess that's that.
Time to give the newest members of my adventuring party their first present.