The commotion sparked by Dublinn's unsettling spectacle didn't last long. Once the fallen were laid to rest, the panicky rumors slowly began to die down.
Jeanne found herself marveling more than once at how resilient these Tarans were. They could take an unsettling event like this in stride and go right back to waiting patiently for a shot at a new life.
Then again, it only proved how desperate they were. They would rather cling to hope in a risky borderlands encampment than stay under the thumb of this nation, which was a heartbreaking realization in itself.
As for Reed, the young Draco didn't rush off after the incident. She stayed to rest and recover for a few days, residing in the temporary Rhodes Island outpost.
Jeanne had been curious how Reed became connected with Rhodes Island in the first place, but then she remembered Kal'tsit mentioning they had taken her in once before. Thinking about it, it didn't seem so strange—Rhodes Island was already full of oddities.
Roughly a dozen days passed before the landship returning from Kazdel finally made its way back into Victoria. After wading through a mountain of tedious paperwork and red tape, it successfully arrived near Hillock County.
Just hearing the news, Jeanne could easily guess what kind of endless harassment the poor crew had endured along the way—a reality Outcast had hinted at during their daily catch-ups.
Much like Dublinn's troops, even though the local authorities couldn't toss Talulah aside while Fafnir was standing behind her, they certainly made life as difficult as possible.
"You've all had a rough trip getting here. I take it crossing the border wasn't easy?" Jeanne said apologetically, looking at the dark circles framing Kal'tsit's eyes.
It was the first time Jeanne had ever seen such obvious dark circles on the doctor's face. Even young Amiya, standing nearby, carried faint dark circles of her own, which spoke volumes about how little rest anyone had gotten.
Knowing even a child like Amiya had been pushed to her limit made Jeanne feel guilty for dumping this whole affair on them.
Hearing Jeanne's words, Kal'tsit fought off a weary yawn, her gaze drifting down to Amiya, whose long ears were drooping slightly with exhaustion.
"To be frank, while I anticipated Victorian bureaucrats finding petty ways to hinder our passage, the sheer degree of their senseless pedantry exceeded my expectations," Kal'tsit remarked flatly. "Victoria's administrative network has grown so convoluted that it manages to offer new, unpleasant surprises."
Kal'tsit began recounting the ordeal. From her explanation, Jeanne could tell just how much effort it had taken to secure passage.
The doctor had called in every favor imaginable, meticulously mapping out each stop in advance and spending hours negotiating before daring to set foot on land. Otherwise, Rhodes Island would have preferred making longer supply runs into the barren wilderness rather than anchoring anywhere near a Nomadic City.
Having nearly memorized the Victorian legal code to counter every bureaucratic barrier thrown her way, Kal'tsit felt she had gained a whole new appreciation for Victorian law. Those officials had given the ancient Feline a fresh perspective on human pettiness.
"I might not catch all the legal details, but I can definitely guess how much trouble you went through," Jeanne said softly, looking with sympathy at the young rabbit beside her. "I'm really sorry to have put all this on you."
Having not seen her for a while, Jeanne noticed the young girl seemed a bit taller—or perhaps her ears had grown longer.
Feeling Jeanne's gentle hand stroking her head, Amiya offered a bashful smile, greeting her before recounting what they had experienced during the long trek.
"Even though it felt like everyone was picking on us along the way, I feel like I learned a lot," Amiya said with a bright smile, though her words only made Jeanne feel more protective of the poor child.
"And there's no need for you to feel guilty," Kal'tsit interjected, taking a sip from her coffee cup. "Compared to the hurdles we faced, we gained far more from this arrangement. We owe you a debt of gratitude for taking care of Theresis. You spared us from a massive, dangerous headache."
She had been relying on caffeine and specialized stimulants for days just to keep moving; otherwise, even her stoic frame would have collapsed under the strain.
"Dr. Kal'tsit, you really shouldn't be drinking any more of that!" Amiya blurted out, her drooping ears perking up as she watched Kal'tsit pour another cup. She stepped forward, puffing out her chest to scold her elder. "If you keep this up, your body is going to break down! What happens if you fall ill? Her Highness Theresa specifically told me to keep an eye on you, and if I fail, she's going to give me extra homework when we get back..."
Jeanne's eyes widened in surprise as she watched Amiya take a firm stand. She hadn't expected the little bunny to speak up with such assertive authority after missing her for a while!
This was no longer the timid girl who always deferentially nodded along in front of Kal'tsit. Who knew what had transpired between them during the journey to bring out this fiery side? It was genuinely amusing to witness.
"Her Highness noticed Dr. Kal'tsit's unhealthy sleeping habits," Amiya explained innocently, turning back to Jeanne with an honest expression. "So she gave me an official assignment: make sure Dr. Kal'tsit gets proper rest."
Jeanne nodded in realization. No wonder the young girl sounded so confident!
She had official backing from Theresa to keep the stubborn doctor in line. Even Kal'tsit couldn't easily dismiss her order, forcing the doctor to resort to sneaking sips whenever Amiya looked away.
"I am merely drinking this to maintain focus," Kal'tsit defended smoothly, though her posture visibly lost some of its usual dominance. "Moderate coffee consumption will not impair my long-term health. Such minor matters do not warrant overreaction. Theresa was simply being overly cautious, and I am entirely capable of managing my own physical condition..."
Yet it was clear Kal'tsit was losing this debate. Jeanne watched with amusement as Amiya's sheer earnestness completely overwhelmed the ancient doctor. What on earth had Theresa threatened the young girl with to make her so relentless?
"You can save that explanation for Her Highness!" Amiya insisted, pouting slightly as she pressed her point. "Even if you don't care about your own health, you have to think about mine! If this keeps up, I'm going to end up drowned in..."
Listening to Amiya's desperate grievances, the seasoned doctor sighed and quietly set her coffee cup back down. It seemed wiser to wait until the child was looking the other way.
Seeing the look of utter dread on Amiya's face, Jeanne felt a sudden flash of empathy, imagining the horror of Talulah dumping a room full of advanced mathematics homework on her. She could completely relate to the young girl's plight.
Looking at Kal'tsit again, Jeanne couldn't help but feel that this ancient doctor had changed considerably since their very first meeting, appearing far more human and grounded than before.
"None of that is important right now. Let us return to the main topic," Kal'tsit cleared her throat, steering the conversation firmly back on track before it derailed completely.
The moment business was mentioned, Amiya instantly snapped back into her usual gentle, polite self. It was hard to believe this well-behaved child had just scolded Dr. Kal'tsit seconds ago.
"Regardless of whether anyone has expressed it yet, we must extend our formal thanks," Kal'tsit said, her eyes turning grave. Jeanne could tell she wasn't joking around. "If you hadn't stopped that fool Theresis when you did, the consequences would have been unthinkable."
"What was he planning to do in his original scheme?" Jeanne asked, leaning in.
"He intended to seize the opportunity while the Grand Dukes were locked out of Londinium," Kal'tsit revealed, laying bare a scheme so audacious it took Jeanne aback. "He planned to take the capital for himself."