Sasha sighed, a theatrical puff of air escaping her lips as she gazed out over the bustling capital city of the Province of Carnelia, Carnelia City. The morning sun, already high, cast long shadows across the snow-covered cobblestone streets, illuminating the vibrant market stalls and the steady flow of people.
"I can't believe I missed it," she grumbled to herself, a pout forming on her lips.
"The opportunity to speak with darling when he astral projected to Ekron. Gone. Just like that."
Koniko, her movements as fluid as always, finished giving a series of brisk orders to a diverse group of raiders – hulking Orcs with tusks gleaming, agile Lizardmen with scales shimmering, graceful Harpies preening their feathers, and a scattering of Hobgoblins. Their disciplined nods indicated their readiness to carry out their assigned roles. Turning to Sasha, Koniko offered a reassuring smile.
"We were busy, Sasha. Each of us had our part to play. It's not a big deal. You'll get the opportunity to talk to him once this is all done."
Sasha huffed, crossing her arms.
"I know that, but what about the fact that you got to ride in the train?" She narrowed her eyes playfully at Koniko.
Koniko shrugged, feigning indifference.
"It's nothing."
"Oh, it's nothing, is it?" Sasha grinned, then lunged forward, playfully pulling at Koniko's ears.
"I bet you had fun being one of the first passengers! Admit it!"
Koniko chuckled, gently swatting Sasha's hands away.
"Alright, alright! It was... an experience." Her eyes twinkled with amusement.
"But the real work begins now. Remember the plan? I was to ride aboard the newly made train with Lloyd and his assistant Heira, for the grand unveiling right here in Carnelia City."
"And I," Sasha interrupted, releasing Koniko's ears, "after flushing out the remnants of that annoying extremist group, Decorum, and then starting to build relations with the Goblin King, Kamau Gwaltchmey, who is now, might I add, my subordinate," She puffed out her chest slightly, a flicker of pride in her eyes.
"Would meet up with you, and we'll guard this entire function. Because, honestly, a lot of things could go wrong with the grand unveiling of new technology. Yeah, I remember the plan."
Her tone shifted, a subtle current of seriousness creeping in.
Just then, Duke Mikael, a man of refined bearing and a perpetually serious face, approached them.
"Duke Mikael," Koniko stated, "we've completed our preliminary sweeps. Nothing appears out of the ordinary so far."
"But we'll still keep our guards up," Sasha added, her voice firm.
"Even within our own country, there are those who would try to sabotage a plan as significant as this."
The Duke nodded, his expression grim. "Indeed. The political landscape is... delicate. I trust the both of you to do the needful."
The Unveiling
The grand function began, the central plaza of Carnelia City transformed into an extravagant display of banners, flowing silks, and glittering decorations. A palpable buzz of anticipation filled the air as Dukes from each province, accompanied by their respective nobles, began to arrive. The King himself, regrettably, couldn't make it, so Queen Morgaine, a woman of dignified grace, arrived instead, accompanied by the youthful and vibrant Princess Klara.
From a distance, amidst the throngs of elegantly dressed attendees, Princess Klara's eyes scanned the crowd. Spotting Sasha and Koniko, standing a little apart with their vigilant gaze, she beamed and gave them a bright, enthusiastic wave. Sasha and Koniko, ever professional, returned the wave with warm smiles of their own.
Duke Mikael stepped onto a grand, elevated platform, the murmur of the crowd dying down to a respectful hush. He surveyed the assembled dignitaries, a deep breath expanding his chest before he began his opening speech.
"Esteemed guests, noble leaders, and citizens of Carnelia!" his voice boomed, amplified by an unseen magical artifact. "Today marks a new era. An era of partnership, of innovation, forged between our proud province and the luminous province of Opal!"
Applause rippled through the crowd.
"We stand on the precipice of a technological revolution, a leap forward in the utilization of our vast Mystium resources. Who knows," he continued, his voice swelling with a hopeful cadence, "perhaps we, together, can even surpass nations like the Empire, who excel at technology but guard their advancements with fervent secrecy. We aim to bring about the perfect balance between magic and innovation, to fuse the arcane with the mechanical, creating a future that benefits all!"
A crescendo of thunderous applause erupted, echoing through the plaza. Duke Mikael raised a hand, calling for silence. "And now, to shed more light on what we have achieved, on this marvel that promises to reshape our world, I present to you the brilliant mind behind this endeavor, the head scientist in charge of this monumental project: Lloyd Opatus Winchester!"
As Lloyd's name was announced, a collective murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd, all eyes turning towards the newly unveiled train that gleamed under the sun's rays. It was a sleek, metallic beast, unlike anything seen before, an undeniable testament to human ingenuity and the boundless potential of Mystium.
********
But even as the Duke's triumphant words hung in the air, a darker, more sinister narrative was unfolding just beyond the periphery of the celebration. Hidden in the bowels of the newly constructed train station, a group of shadowy individuals moved with chilling efficiency. Clad in dark, nondescript clothing that allowed them to blend into the shadows, they descended upon the technicians who were meticulously performing last-minute checks on the colossal train.
There was no warning. No screams. Just the swift, brutal thud of blunt force, followed by the sickening slide of bodies being dragged into the deeper darkness. The technicians, caught off guard, were overwhelmed in moments, their tools clattering to the ground, unheard amidst the distant cheers of the crowd.
Having dispatched the technicians, the shadowy figures exchanged silent signals, their eyes cold and calculating. One by one, they moved, each unholstering a small, cylindrical object – a bomb. With the bombs secured to their persons, they began to melt back into the edges of the crowd, their faces carefully neutral, their movements deliberate. They mingled with the celebrating people, determined to carry out their task.
**********
Lloyd Opatus Winchester, a bundle of excitement barely contained by his unkempt formal attire, stepped to the podium. His tie was slightly askew, a few strands of hair had escaped their meticulous comb-over, and a smudge of grease, or perhaps Mystium dust, marred his otherwise pristine white cuff. As usual, he had dark circles under his eyes. The applause for Duke Mikael faded, replaced by an eager hush.
"Greetings, esteemed guests!" he began, a wide, almost manic grin spreading across his face. Despite his appearance, his voice was surprisingly robust.
"Today, we stand at the precipice of a new age! An age where the raw, untamed power of Mystium is harnessed, not merely for artifacts and magical research, but for the very machines that will redefine our lives!"
He gestured dramatically towards the train, its metallic skin gleaming.
"Imagine, if you will, the tireless efficiency of automatons that churn out goods at an unprecedented rate, powered by the arcane currents of Mystium! Think of leviathan vessels, not merely sailing the seas, but soaring through the skies, their engines humming with magic-infused energy! We're not simply building modern machines; we are reimagining the way we live our lives, infusing them with an arcane touch, drawing upon ancient knowledge and marrying it with cutting-edge ingenuity!" His eyes, wild with enthusiasm, seemed to dart between the crowd and the train, as if already seeing the future he described.
He launched into a more technical explanation, detailing how condensed Mystium crystals would be fed into arcane converters, generating a stable, potent energy source far surpassing traditional fuels.
Sasha, her gaze scanning the assembled dignitaries, noted the presence of Goblin King Kamau Gwaltchmey. He sat among the Dukes, his usual boisterous demeanor replaced by an expression of profound boredom. A faint smirk touched Sasha's lips. She remembered the effort it took, just a few days ago, to nag and cajole him into making an appearance. Still, she was glad he was here; his presence, despite the subtle looks of disdain from some of the human Dukes and nobles, and even a few whispers from the crowd, lent weight to the unified front. The Goblin King, true to form, appeared utterly unconcerned by their silent judgments.
Suddenly, Sasha's senses caused her to snap back and look at the crowd behind her. A potent, deadly wave of malevolent desire washed over her, a dark ripple in the festive atmosphere. It was strong, palpable, before it slowly began to dissipate, fading into the anonymity of the crowd. She dismissed it, a fleeting thought suggesting it was likely just someone harboring deep-seated prejudice against goblins.
But Koniko's nose twitched. Without a word, she sprinted into the mingling crowd. Her movements were a blur of focused speed. She lunged, grabbing the arm of a seemingly innocent man, throwing him to the ground with startling force. The sudden violence caused a ripple of gasps and alarm amongst the well-dressed attendees. Koniko wasted no time, her hands quickly patting down the man's clothes.
"Everyone, back away!" she yelled, her voice cutting through the rising clamor. She yanked out a small, metallic cylinder. With a powerful flick of her wrist, she hurled it high above the venue. It exploded mid-air with a sharp bang and a shockwave that blew over the gathering like a strong gust of wind, startling everyone below but causing no damage.
Sasha, reacting instantly, was at Koniko's side, but before she could voice a single question, the same potent wave of malevolent desire washed over her, stronger this time, emanating from multiple points within the crowd. Koniko, leaving the stunned bomber in the hands of the now-converging guards, shared a quick, grim nod with Sasha. Their eyes met, exchanging a silent understanding, and then, without a word, they dashed off in different directions, their forms blurring into the panicked crowd, ready to confront the escalating threat.