Lupaniel was sitting on top of the highest peaks of Menkalinan, looking at the smaller peaks that surrounded it. The sun was still rising, and the dark sky was slowly fading; the stars were starting to disappear, and the blue skies were slowly rising from the direction of the east.
Lupaniel's wings were folded. His golden halo hovering above his head, shining.
"Oh, Mother Celestia..." he preached.
"Neru will fall, definitely... We will have to adapt. A new age is coming; the Holy Grail will select someone," he confirmed to himself.
He then got up and looked at the sky as something approached him. Blazing like a meteorite, but Lupaniel was not scared. In fact, he was prepared for it.
As it approached closer, the air caught his crimson hair, his crimson eyes deepened, his expression was neutral as if nothing had happened, and his pale skin that matched his white robes whipped in the air.
A projection like a golden sword emerged from his pale wrist; it was a nonphysical object that was so sharp that one could easily cut mountains with a scary precision.
As the object got closer, Lupaniel flapped his wings and launched himself in the air, avoiding the object.
CRASH!
He looked down and saw dust as rocks and sand flew in the air. After a while, when the dust settled down, when the environment became a bit clearer, Lupaniel was able to observe the tall silhouette that stood there.
"Merlin...you cannot stop it," Lupaniel said, his face as expressionless as ever, as if he were stating something obvious.
The man who landed there was fair; his golden hair that reached till his shoulders whipped as his indigo linen shirt and black trousers settled. He looked at Lupaniel. "It should not happen." He said, extending both of his hands around him.
"I have the Sage, and you have the tears of your pristine goddess. Caiph's Compass cannot be transferred to 'them,' and the Wand is possessed by Olethros," he explained.
Lupaniel looked at him. "That stray fragment, Kraken, and Phoenix were killed by you. My order possesses one of them. Your nation has the sage, and the compass cannot be transferred to 'them.' It means"
Merlin's eyes widened. "No, you don't mean"
Lupaniel, eyes closed, said, "It's only a matter of time before she returns, and she will make sure that her order does not fall this time."
Merlin closed his eyes, thinking of the consequences. Then he opened them and looked at the Crimson Angel. "Take me to the Garden."
"No..." Lupaniel denied.
Suddenly, even before passing a second, Merlin appeared in front of Lupaniel, grabbing his chin and looking him dead in the eye. "You dare? Denying me?" he said calmly.
Lupaniel looked up, not wanting to face the wrath of a deity. "She is not in a good condition; her miasma has been over exceeding since the tragedy of the frost kings."
Merlin released Lupaniel's chin, making some distance. "I...do not care. The frost kings were quixotic."
Lupaniel looked at Merlin. "Curiosity killed them; they were too ambitious, thinking that their puny mortal power could overtake a goddess."
Lupaniel continues, "Sure. I will take you there."
Lupaniel then raised his sword and stabbed Merlin, but no blood came out. Merlin let out some air, oxygen leaving his body, his body slowly disappearing in the thin air.
...
"Oath to submission? Huh," A man muttered. Sitting in his bed in a modest house that nestled in the heart of the city. His brown hair was shining in the sunlight.
"Have you finally gone out of your mind? Or is your job weighing on you again?" a feminine voice came.
The man looked at her sister, who was the same age as her; her hair was brown too, and her gown was green. She was boiling some potatoes, and beside it, she was also boiling milk.
The stove was connected to the gas pipeline that was present in every house of the middle-class district of the city of Cosford and was measured for 2 Annas for approximately 1 hour of use.
"It's due to my job that you are enjoying our new rented house. Do not get too cocky, Mary." The man commented.
Mary looked at him and argued, "Robert, you're an idiot!"
Robert got up. "I will leave now... Make sure that you leave some mashed potatoes for me."
He got up and slowly reached for his coat and his black hat, which a good gentleman of the Queen's era had to wear to look respectable to society.
Mary poked at the back of Robert; as Robert turned around, she looked down and said, "Another semester is starting...Can you make the payment at the admission office of the university?"
Robert smiled, "My salary will be expected today; I will do it as soon as I get my salary."
Mary looked up and smiled. "Thank you, brother."
Robert nodded, "Anything for you."
He then turned around and picked up his black, silver-inlaid cane and opened the front door of the house. He looked at the closely joined houses and the 2-lane roads with carriages running slowly.
He began walking on the footpath to the left, where other men were walking; most of the people were dressed in shirts and trousers.
Robert walked towards the public bus station and sat on the metal seat that was being shaded by the small roof of the bus stand.
He looked at the timings on the small bus and found that the next bus was to come at 10:30. He reached for his pocket and took out his pocket watch and saw that the time was only 10:06.
He placed his watch in his pocket and thought about all the chaos that has happened recently.
Robert was not actually Robert; he was Rohit. He only remembered that he was just walking back to his home after buying some books for his upcoming examinations. Then suddenly something violet hit him very hard, like it broke everything in his body, shattered every bone, crushed every artery, and slit all nerves.
And then he woke up in this world; he had all the memories of this Robert Smith—his education, his family, his role in society, his workplace.
Apparently Robert Smith worked as a documentor and researcher in the lower society of the Order of Steam and Machinery, the order that partnered with four golden kings of the Denebola continent and started the Industrial Revolution.
Robert looked at the sky; a huge airship was descending near the manor of the Tan Family, the nobles that ruled the city of Cosford and Banbury, the two divisions of the kingdom that were not popular for their growing influence.
"Those are maybe Topez, eh?" A man sat beside Robert.
Robert, who was too busy thinking, looked at the man and nodded. The man was Charles Eck, the mentor of Robert in the lower society.
"Sir, what do you think they are here for?" Robert asked.
"They are sensing the growth of this city; maybe they are here to talk about growing their business," Eck said.
Robert nodded. "They really make fine carriages. I have read that they are partnering with Cecils to enter into the gas industry."
Eck sighed, "This can only mean two things...either the prices will drop or they are going to go up..."
Robert clicked his tongue. "Well...what can we do?"
Eck looked at Robert. "Not much. Being in the upper does not have much influence over the politics."
Robert thought and then said, "How is your research on the Fabrics of the World going?"
Charles Eck's expression became grim. "Well, the protest from upper clergymen and noble society is persistent; it's only with the permission of the head priest that I am still able to conduct the experiments...and to add to that, the pressure for the Themis order and aristocrats is making it hard."
Robert's eyes widened. "I did not know that you had that much pressure on you...However, I am almost amazed that the project of the world is given to a member of Upper Society rather than Noble Society."
Charles's eyes narrowed. "Are you making fun of me, boy?"
Robert looked forward, "No—not at all, sir...Huh, why would I?"
Charles nodded. "Good, I don't want my disciple disrespecting me...and as to answer your question... Almost everyone in the order knows that the Noble society is not just a place for old people who are stuck in their old ways...they always try to stop the research that will prove their research wrong."
Robert commented, "So they suppress new discoveries that prove their old discoveries wrong? Why? The goal of the society is always to improve and make inventions, right?"
Charles relaxed and looked at the sky; the airship finally disappeared, setting into the huge gardens and well-maintained lawns of Tan Estate manor. "Ego...they are fighting for their egos; even the Head Priest cannot do anything before the permission of our God of Inventions and Intellect."
Robert tilted his head and looked at Charles. "Master, may I ask a question?"
Charles, who was talking, stopped. "They are just old, Ma—uhuh?"
Robert adjusted his posture. "Are you sure that you are safe?"
Charles asked, "I don't follow."
Robert continued, "Researchers with such high disapproval ratings often disappear."
Charles tensed, "Yes, I know about it."
Robert pressed further, "Anomalies have been increasing..."
Robert took out a folded paper from his pocket and handed it to Charles, who took it and opened it and looked at it; his eyes widened.
"Anomalies have been increasing... Three members of Middle Society were found dead who were researching about magical phenomena and alchemy," Robert said grimly.
Charles said, his voice was low, "I didn't read the newspaper today... That's why you are so serious today."
Robert nodded. "I figured that out... Investigation is still pending; police are investigating."
Charles held his chin in his hands. "Robert...I will fill out an application for more security to the Head Priest…"
Robert nodded. "I am also researching about anomalies...and you about the Fabric of the world from the old texts of Themis Begette. We both are researching about the things that will get us in trouble."
Charles nodded. "Indeed...Well, gentlemen… I will be on my way now."
Robert's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, you are not taking the public carriage?"
Charles got up, straightening the back of his coat. "No, gentleman... I have some errands to run. I was here to make some small talk."
Robert agreed, "Sure, good day, master."
Charles lifted his hat, put it back on his head in a farewell gesture, and replied, "Good and a safe day to you too, gentlemen."
As Charles bade farewell to Robert and walked away, Robert noticed that more people were starting to gather near the public carriage stop as the time for one public carriage came nearer.
He sighed and wondered. His main aim was to return to his world, and his secondary aim was to survive these grim times.
He was really flabbergasted when he read the news; such renowned scientists of Cosford were found dead in their home, and they were researching magic.
Robert looked as the public carriage came nearer and nearer, the comparatively shorter carriages making way for it on the road.
The people who were late were walking fast to reach the public carriage stop, and after a while the carriage reached towards the stop of Robert.
Robert stood up, waiting until most of the people got inside the carriage, and then got in; he deposited 5 Annas on the fare and looked inside. It had 3 benches, each having 3 seats.
A metal stand was there that had weekly magazines and newspapers. Robert took a seat in the very back and looked out the small window.
"My life...is in danger. I never chose to be reincarnated here; I never chose to be Robert Smith..."
With this saddening realization, Robert sighed and started planning his future in this new world. The carriage began moving slowly, making its way to the upper-class district of Cosford, where all the shopping complexes were established and where high personalities of Cosford lived.