Back toward Renne's position, some moments had passed since Pater-Mater took to the skies. The capital of Heimdallr bled into the distance, being a crimson red dot with each passing moment, before vanishing from sight altogether. Renne did feel a familiar gaze remain on her as the girls departed the capital, but she knew well who it was. All that remained was a smile on her face as her gaze turned toward the clouds. As for Emma, however, she looked at Musse with an apologetic look in her eyes. Fie had moved swiftly, which caught Musse by surprise.
But now, it was Emma and Renne on one hand, with Fie and Musse on another.
"Sorry for putting you through that, Musse. You know, with you being a Noble and all. I doubt you could have jumped onto...Pater-Mater, was it?", Emma said, looking apologetic.
"We really are doing this, aren't we?", Musse responded, feeling the hard metal frame beneath her feet with the wind whipping her hair. Hearing that, Renne revealed a playful smile.
"Heehee, you put yourself onto this chopping block the moment you agreed to not back down. You will need to see this through to the end.", Renne replied with a playful giggle. "Come along now, we cannot keep the others waiting."
"You mean, it won't just be us?", Musse asked, making her raise an eyebrow. Until now, Musse has mostly received self-defense training, thanks to her Noble lineage, and also received some Sharpshooting training outside of her studies at St. Astraia. Her true combat training won't really begin until she joins Thors Military Academy Branch Campus five to six more years down the line. By then, Rean will have graduated Thors Military Academy and become an instructor himself.
"I was not aware of that myself.", Emma added. "Speaking of which, where are we being taken to, exactly?"
As the girls became comfortable aboard Pater-Mater, Emma used this time to cast an incantation to ease the wind resistance around them. Thanks to soaring into the skies, the wind was rather fierce, but now, it was as if they had gone out on the deck of an orbal airliner, free to look around as they pleased. Except there were no rails or barriers to protect them. They had to be careful if they wanted to move around a little bit. As Emma used a language Musse wasn't familiar with, and found that interesting.
"It will make sense once we arrive on deck. Pater-Mater, everyone is secured now. Continue to our destination.", Renne declared, and turned toward Pater-Mater. Pater-Mater's eyes glowed red in acknowledgement, acting as if he had reacted toward Renne's command. Musse took a moment to look down, only to see the clouds and Pater-Mater's thrusters.
"This sight is quite spectacular...", Musse uttered, not expecting to fly through the skies like this.
"It sure is. Didn't know you had this guy, Renne. Flying isn't the only thing he can do, right?", Fie asked. Thanks to Emma's incantation, her hair whipping around stopped altogether. It was as if they were going through a gentle breeze now.
"Nope. Pater-Mater is capable of many other things, though I do not think I will bring him to where we will be going. Only as backup, in case something goes unexpectedly.", Renne said, wondering how things will go from here.
In the next moment or two, Pater-Mater broke through an opening, thanks to his speed. It did not take long for the girls to spot a rather gigantic object floating in the sky. Its roars were steadily pushing through the clouds, acting as if it was sailing the ocean. It was a gigantic red orbal airship. Seeing this airship steadily come into view, Musse's eyes turned wide. After all, this airship was the epitome of the current Orbal Technology. One couldn't get any better than the sight Musse was presently beholding. It was the pinnacle!
As Musse stood there amazed at the sight, Renne turned toward her and did a curtsy of her skirt.
"Welcome to the Glorious, Musse.", Renne said, officially welcoming Musse. Emma, however, seemed to be deep in thought seeing the Glorious come into view. Unlike others who were with Naoto back on the visit from Nemeth Island, Emma remained by his side once he was aboard the Glorious. It has been some years since she had seen it last. It wasn't just her either, Fie was also aboard the craft, albeit for a lot shorter than what Emma had spent on it.
The only other construct that would ever get close to comparison to the Glorious would be another orbal airship that is called the Pantagruel, which would make its debut during the October War in the next three to four years. Its length was exactly the same as the Glorious, spanning over two-hundred and fifty meters. Imagine the size of two football fields, and adding an extra third to it. That's how big these airships are. They are similar to Naoto's modern day battleships, but much more technologically advanced. That aspect alone was what put the Trailsverse on a different level compared to Naoto's past life.
Creating large constructs like these and actually getting to use them was possible! Mechanized dolls were another such possibility, and Pater-Mater is the result of that. Eventually, more would come into existence, called the Aions. But that is a story for another time. The SSS would be the ones who have the first pleasure in seeing them.
"I have not been back on here in a good minute. Not since you dropped me off with Dad from that island. Glad to see this ship hasn't changed.", Fie said, taking in the sight. "Didn't expect to see it right outside of Heimdallr."
"I'm honestly surprised too. I did not think we would be returning to the Glorious of all places.", Emma said, after remaining silent for a moment. "I wonder, is Teacher on board? I still need to thank her for what she has done for me. Even if it wasn't all that much."
"Teacher?", Renne mused, tilting her head a bit before something popped into her head. "Right, I almost forgot the Steel Maiden took you under her wing. Did you manage to learn some of her spear arts? I am quite curious how you will fare against the other Stahlritter now. I hear that you can keep up with Duvalie's pace now, their newest member."
"Oh you needn't compare me to those three. I am grateful that I could be at Duvalie's side during the training we had this last year. I am still far in terms of the strength they wield.", Emma responded, scratching her cheek out of embarrassment.
"Don't sell yourself short, Emma. The Steel Maiden doesn't acknowledge just anyone you know.", Renne responded, backing up Emma's strength that she has acquired over her training. She had gone quite the adventure this last year, going around not only Erebonia, but other places with the Stahlritter to hone her combat experience. And yet, she is still quite young. She has many years ahead, and hopes to not fall within Naoto's shadow in the times to come. Emma was trying to absorb everything as she could.
Right now, Emma is still a Witch-In-Training, but with Roselia's approval, she is equivalent to that of a Wandering Witch. She just needs time now. Presently, Emma just happened to align with Ouroboros, thanks to Naoto's connection. It isn't like she is an Enforcer like Renne. She has all the freedom to do what she wants to do. As Emma tried to feign Renne's compliment, Fie's eyes couldn't help but land on a particular area on Emma's body.
"Well, I can definitely think of one area that has grown quite a bit since I have joined you on this training excursion.", Fie said as a deadpan expression remained on her face. It took a moment for Emma to realize what Fie just said.
"F-Fie!", Emma retorted, which only made Fie laugh.
"Haha.", Fie laughed, only to stick her tongue out with a smirk. Renne simply shrugged her shoulders, letting that comment slide. She couldn't care less about that.
"Either way, we will be going through another training course of sorts. If there are any particular skills you want to improve on, now would be the time to do so.", Renne added. "I just have to add this little stray cat we picked up along the way into our plan~"
"This ship is really real, isn't it?", Musse asked, finally finding the energy to speak again.
"Heehee.", Renne giggled. "It's a lot of firsts for you, isn't it, Musse? Your identity as a simple Noble will get tossed away the moment you step onto the Glorious. Like I said when we lifted off, it is ever so nice to meet your acquaintance. From here on, you may address me as Enforcer No. XV."
"Enforcer No. XV...", Musse tried to respond, but didn't finish her sentence. As for Fie, she simply raised her eyes.
"You really accomplished the task Naoto gave you, Renne?", Fie asked, showing interest in her eyes.
"Indeed. I never did tell you earlier now, did I? I sure have~", Renne replied, smiling.
"I still find it a mystery of what Ouroboros is trying to achieve here with it being so close to the capital. And undetected. Aren't their current interests in Liberl? Why would they come to Erebonia?", Emma asked, wondering.
"Well, it's more observation if anything. After all, this land will soon descend into chaos in the coming year or two. Plus we are here to observe what is happening beneath Ordis. The Azure Abyss is currently onsite to make sure nothing goes wrong with the Azure Knight.", A strange voice called out to the girls. It didn't take long for Pater-Mater to reach the Glorious's main deck and turn his thrusters off. Clunk.
"Well look who decided to show up. I had a feeling you would, Campanella.", Renne said, squinting her eyes at the boy who hadn't seemed to age a day since Naoto had last seen him. Enforcer No. 0, Campanella the Fool!
"It was you who requested a pick-up, did you not? Enforcer No. XV.", Campanella said, greeting Renne with a smirk. "Has school life already started to bore you?"
"Please. It is going rather well, thank you very much. I have already entered Her Royal Highness's circle. Every day is quite interesting.", Renne said, only to jump down from Pater-Mater. Fie followed Renne.
"Pardon me, Musse.", Emma suddenly said.
"Eh?", Musse tried to say, only to see Emma vanish from sight. Emma's hands then wrapped around her, and suddenly carried her downward, and landed onto the glorious. It took Musse a moment to regain her composure, and squared her footing. Campanella shrugged his shoulders seeing this, but continued speaking.
"By the way, the Bladelord already reported in. You all successfully located where the gates are, and now just the final key remains before we can advance our plans. The Guardian of the Ring should be lurking inside, watching over the gates. I just didn't think the entirety of Lake Valleria would contain it.", Campanella said. "I will say this now. Even if you're going to head there, do not engage the Guardian of the Ring. That idiot Colonel suspects nothing. We will be using him to lay down the final key."
"As long as we don't head into the area that can potentially trigger that, we should be fine. We're basically a scouting party.", Renne said.
"So that is the change of pace you mentioned...", Emma uttered. "We are heading beneath Lake Valleria?"
"It's been approved by the Grandmaster, I am just here to see you all off.", Campanella said, smirking. "I did not think you would be the type to pick up stray kittens."
As Campanella said that, his gaze remained on Musse, who was still in a daze.
"Eh, she said she wanted to get into His Royal Highness's circle, so I figured we ought to test her aptitude. After all, I don't think there is a single individual amongst his circle who doesn't know how to put up a fight~", Renne replied with a playful smile.
"Hmm, you did actually prove a point there. Such an unexpected connection.", Campanella mused after hearing that.", Campanella responded.
Emma also grew interested in hearing Renne say that after thinking for a moment. Whether it was here in Erebonia, or those back in Liberl, those at Naoto's side who formed connections with him all know how to fight one way or another. If there was one exception to this, it would be his new fiancé, Princess Alfin. But in due time, she would come to learn how to wield an orbal staff of her own.
"Anyway, are the rest who were assigned to the others going to accompany us?", Renne decided to ask.
"Nah. Most went to join the Azure Abyss to see how the Azure Trials would go. Speaking of the Direwolf though, he decided to remain in Heimdallr for the time being. Said it was part of a contingency plan, or whatever. I couldn't care less. While it may not be them, I did decide to bring in one more. A change in personnel, if you would.", Campanella said, only to do the classic snap of his fingers. In response to that, the girls, apart from Musse, heard a familiar voice reach out to them.
"Teehee, I heard you had interest in going on another training spree, Renne, so I decided to listen to the Fool's request. I have not seen you three in quite some time. Not since our last visit at Grancel Castle.", A woman's voice called out, only to see a woman arrive. Seeing her, Renne's eyes lit up and dashed, only to give the woman a hug.
"So you decided to answer the Fool's call after all, Ennea!", Renne said, greeting Ennea with a smile. "Didn't you say you were going to stay at Her Royal Highness's side back in Grancel?"
"That was initially the plan, yes. But Her Royal Highness is currently going back and forth from Leiston to Grancel on a training course of her own. I felt like I should not be one to disturb her. Besides, she has a new guard Naoto recently employed during his absence. The castle has gone through some personnel changes. I figured I could move my body around for a little while. I did not think we would be heading into the primal ground.", The woman said, who was of course, Ennea. She is presently Naoto's second girlfriend, with Angelica being the first. With that in mind, Ennea looked at Musse, the newest arrival to their group. "And who might you be?"
Hearing that almost caught Musse off-guard, but she remained composed after she took in the sights of the Glorious.
"Did...you just address His Royal Highness by first name?", Musse asked, becoming surprised again.
"Heehee, well I did just that, didn't I? But where are my manners?", Ennea said, greeting Musse with a playful smile. "You may call me Ennea. I am Naoto's shadow, and we are currently in a relationship together. A pleasure."
It took a moment for that thought to register. Musse's eyes turned wide once again.
"E-Ehhh!?", Musse exclaimed. "You are seeing His Royal Highness!?"
"I am indeed. A part of Naoto's Royal Harem, in fact. I am not the one who is actively managing it, though. That role falls onto someone else.", Ennea responded.
'To think His Royal Highness could get together with such a beautiful woman. That rumor of him having a Royal Harem isn't false after all. I cannot be one to underestimate this...', Musse thought for a moment, before she quickly shook her head, and cleared those thoughts away. Seeing Musse shake her head like this, Renne grinned, but didn't say anything. All Musse did was do a curtsy of her own skirt, and proceeded to introduce herself to Ennea. "Ehem. You may call me Musse Egret. I happen to be the daughter of a Count's family within Erebonia. It is an honor to meet you."
Just like that, another encounter has taken place, which shouldn't have happened at all. It is still roughly two years before Trails in the Sky begins, but just like that, Campanella, Renne, Emma, Fie, Ennea and Musse have gotten acquainted with one another! And it looks like they are intending to head into the Sealed Area beneath Lake Valleria, and by extension, Grancel Castle. How will things go from here?