Finish the Fight 11: The City of Tristain
"So you insert the ink into this chamber, slide it into the case like this, and…" Sasha screwed the case shut, and pushed the button atop the case. "Voila! This is a pen, professor." She made a few demonstrative strokes on a piece of parchment. "This will surely save you resources and time when writing documents. Distribute these with the notebooks that I made."
Colbert's face lit up with tears, and the man broke down into a sob.
"Oh, Miss Sasha, you are a genius! Thank you, thank you so much for your help! To think I could have so many of my inventions completed, and in just the span of a few days!" Turning to Matilda, Colbert handed the samples to her. "Please, Matilda, bring these to Osmond! Tell him we are mass producing these and wish to have them used at the Academy!"
"Very well, professor." With a small nod and smile, she took the pen and notebook and left swiftly. As she went out of sight, Colbert sighed.
"Still a little nervous about her, professor?" Sasha asked. He nodded.
"Osmond was rather quick to give her job back to her, and while I'm grateful she is on our side now, I still can't help but feel a little cautious."
"Oh, don't worry about that. It's a good mindset to have, but if she starts anything you can rest assured I'll do something about it.
"Thank you, Miss Sasha."
"Oh, think nothing of it. I'm just glad I could help. Speaking of which, if possible," she gestured to her inventions behind her, "I would like to make revenue off of these."
"Yes, of course! You mentioned wanting to gather savings for your son, correct? You are as admirable as they come, Miss Sasha. With your standardized process, we can sell the notebooks, pens, pencils, clocks, and pocket watches all at reasonable prices! Even the commoners will be able to afford them! Although…" Looking to the back of his workplace, Colbert scratched his head with a chuckle. On one of Colbert's desks at the back sat a large, black box. "I'm not sure how we're going to sell the, what was it? The camera obscura?"
"Oh, that old projector? Don't worry about that. That model is a rather old style. There are vast improvements that I can make, but I'd rather not introduce too many things too quickly. We can finish the printing press first."
"Very well, let's get started! Now, about automating it, I was thinking…"
"Colbert, before that, I have a question."
"Yes, Sasha, what is it?"
"If you wouldn't mind, is it possible for me to see the contents of the vault? I would like to ascertain any other possible items from our land that may be dangerous."
"Hmm… Its true we do have many foreign objects in storage. You're worried about if someone may steal something again, like Fouquet?"
"Yes. And who knows? Maybe we can find something to help us with your inventions. I'm quite certain of it.
"Very well. I will ask Osmond and get his permission. Now, back to the printing press..."
-Finish the Fight-
"Wow, the city looks amazing from up here!" Avalon shouted. The wind rushed as Sylphid flew high in the sky, directed by Tabitha. Avalon, sitting behind her with his hands on her shoulders, looked over her head at the approaching capital of Tristain with great delight. Though Avalon couldn't move too much as Louise kept a firm grip on his shirt, Kirche sitting behind her with her arms around Louise's waist.
Tristain's capital sat at the edge of a tall hill, rolling green hills on one side, with the ocean in full view on the other. Louise had seen the city many times, but what always awed her was the main cathedral in the center. It was easily the biggest of them all. To Avalon, seeing the structures was a dream come true for him. He had always wanted to visit Europe, and this was nearly identical. Stone bridges and streets decorated the city flooring, the roofs of the houses tiled red and the people dotting the streets, packed together like it was making a great impression of closeness. River streams flowed between the roads in the city.
"This is so awesome! Dragon riding is awesome!"
"Have you never ridden a dragon before?" Kirche shouted in reply. Avalon shook his head.
"Dragons are an endangered species where I come from!" That greatly shocked Louise. Just what did they do to their dragons?! "We aren't allowed to keep them as pets!"
"What?! Why?!" Kirche shouted. Louise almost joined her but kept herself in check.
"It's a long story. But on another topic, who thought it was a good idea to have your school in the middle of nowhere? How do you guys even manage to get help if the school is attacked or something?" Though Avalon didn't mind, it was because it had taken them a short flight to get here. He couldn't imagine how long it would have taken on horseback; or worse, on foot.
"The professors are more than capable of protecting the school. And with your mother around, I think we can rule out danger," said Louise proudly, thinking of Professor Colbert and Sasha. Though he was a pacifist, Colbert had more than proved himself to be a capable mage. Sasha was just overkill. She honestly thought she would feel sorry for anyone who would dare attack.
"Hold on," Tabitha interrupted in her usual tone. Louise and Avalon had barely heard her over the wind and tightened their grips on each other. Kirche seemed much more relaxed about it.
Sylphid lowered towards the ground as they approached the city's main gates, the hustling, and bustling of men and women coming and going from the city keeping the guards busy. The gates towered above the residents, sentries armed with bows atop the walls keeping a tight watch. Louise decides to take the lead. This was her idea, after all.
"Just keep close and don't say anything. I'll do all the talking," she said a bit more harshly than she intended. Shaking off the jitters of the flight, Louise composed herself. Avalon couldn't help but snicker.
"Louise, you say that like I want to start trouble." Avalon gave her a sly grin, which Louise replied with a glare.
"Knowing you, you probably would. Look, just don't go off on your own, okay? Tristain is big, and I can't say for sure I'll be able to find you in time if something happens."
Without another word, Louise strode towards the gates. The guards let her in without a word, the commoners making way. Avalon followed, making sure Kirche and Tabitha were close behind. Sylphid took off with a powerful jump into the air and headed towards the forest, most likely to hunt, Avalon assumed. As he turned his attention back to the commoners around him, he noted the fear in their eyes, closely watching the poor and dirty hiding in the shadows as they leered.
He guessed it was to be expected. Divides in class were never good.
"Alright, I get it. I'll be good." Avalon sighed.
"Good. Tabitha, keep an eye on him, please."
"Understood," Tabitha answered without missing a beat. Avalon couldn't help but slump his head.
"Is this the kind of faith you have in me?!"
"Yes! Now hurry up, we're going to Dimitry's first!" Louise shouted as they approached the main market. Kirche's laughter stopped them from proceeding, and Louise groaned.
"Oh, Louise, such poor taste! You actually intend to take Avalon to that poor man's tailor?" Kirche brushed back her hair, flaunting her figure shamelessly as some of the men they passed by drooled, forcefully pulled by their wives. "Let's go to Roberto's instead!"
Louise couldn't help but freeze. "W-What?! B-but Roberto's is…"
Kirche pauses, examining Louise's expression. She smiled.
"Oh, dear me, Louise, do you even have any money?"
Louise felt her face heat up at the seductress' amused gaze. "S-Shut up! Of course, I do! But I don't have enough to afford anything at Roberto's!"
"It's fine, don't worry! I know the clerks there very well. I'm sure I can convince them to give us a discount."
As the two continued to argue, Avalon gazed at the scenery with great interest as they continued on. He had never been to Europe before, but he had seen many pictures that his mother took before she gave birth to him. It was nice to see it all up close and in person. However…
"Your writing is weird, here. I can't read it at all." He turned to Tabitha, who kept her eyes firmly on her book. "Tabitha, can you teach me how to read later?"
Taking her eyes off her book to stare, the sudden eagerness in Tabitha's eyes caught him off guard. Yet, she caught herself, coughing with slight embarrassment as she regained her composure.
"Yes, I'll help." Tabitha nodded her head. Avalon couldn't help but laugh.
"You really like reading, huh? I'm glad, I do too. I'll tell you some of my favourite stories when we get back."
"…Language."
It took Avalon a moment to realize what she was talking about.
"Shoot, you're right. I don't know your language at all. But it's weird; how come I was able to understand you when I first came here?"
"Summoning portal… translation spell attached."
"Huh. Is that true, Gungnir?"
"It appears so. Would you like me to analyze the spell?"
"Yeah, thanks. If we can find out how to disable it at any time, it would make learning the language easier. Anyway, tell me about the city! I can see some really old structures here, what's the deal?"
"You have a good eye. The city of Tristain was built on the foundations of an ancient ruin from long ago. We haven't been able to uncover much on the history of it, but many of the structures and machines Tristain's researchers were able to salvage became the foundation for today's inventions. Certain instruments like the panpipe, the viol, and the lute wouldn't exist. We wouldn't have mirrors, we wouldn't have the sun dial… although, I guess your mother's… clock, makes that obsolete. And other things like water powered saw mills." Louise slowed her pace, a glitter of intellect in her eye. Kirche, now leading, eyed Louise with a sly smile.
"You may be able to escape me now, my little harpy, but I'll get my hands on you eventually."
"What does that even mean?" Avalon asked, but Kirche did not reply. Instead, she went back to leading the group, a slight skip in her step. Avalon looked over at Louise, who seemed very disturbed. "Do you have any idea, Tabitha?"
"You don't want to know." She shook her head.