"Hey Elsword, when are we stopping?" Aisha asked the boy in front of her. Her pigtails were flying around in the passing wind. She opened a map up in her lap carefully and stared at it.
"We'll be at the first town in about... an hour? First one is called, "The Town of Beginnings," right?" He took no eye off the sky laid out before him.
"Yep."
The plane veered right towards a town with a humongous tree, the leaves and branches delicately stretched over the land and greenery. This was their first place to go.
"And your name is?"
The Minister couldn't help but be irked with another responsibility left on her shoulders. First, the mayor had asked of her to help end a dispute. Then, she ends up in charge of somebody. This definitely would take longer than three days of her time.
"Chung! M-My name is Chung! And yours?"
The blonde wasn't quite as enthusiastic about it either. Sure, he would get the chance to learn from a knowledgable, and beautiful, lady. But at the same time, being left out from the journey wasn't the best. Poor him. He was missing out on the dangers Elsword and Aisha might be going through.
"I see... Chung." The Minister waved her hand at Chung before taking out a small metal ring from her pocket. "You do not need to know my name. You may call me what every other individual does." She placed the ring flat on the ground, and a blue circular rim appeared vertically in the air with a black void inside.
Chung tilted his head at the odd invention. This was strange to look at. The Minister faced him and gestured a hand at the circle. "This is a molecular portal that I made. By breaking up the human molecules like you would take apart a machine, one can be transported from one place to another within seconds. There has to be another portal in place, however, in order to go somewhere. Thus, you may consider this more as a way to return than a way to adventure to a new place. Anyways, this will lead back to my place where we will be staying for the time being." How scientific.
The Minister began walking to the portal. She stopped her foot from entering the black void once realizing the boy wasn't following. "Are you not coming?"
"I-I already have a place to stay..."
The Minister sighed, frowning in the process. Such a difficult person. "You have to come. My intention is on closing the portal and not returning unless I'm reported to."
Chung slung his bag over his shoulder. "Alright." Not exactly what he wanted to do, but the plan was for him to study.
Chung stepped in after the Minister. His pulse seemed to increase, his stomach churned inside, and his brain felt like it had exploded as his molecules divided and connected through the teleportation. Nausea consumed him, causing him to wobble once reaching the other end of the portal. The Minister was unaffected by the travel, observing the boy who might barf any second.
As Chung regained his less nauseous state, Cyan colored eyes met a white mansion of unbelievable size. Compared to that of the previous town, that is. Surrounding the estate were thickets secluding the area. Stray, dead leaves were scattered amongst the ground.
"You live here?!"
The Minister nodded before striding over to the front, double door. "I am The Minister after all."
As the silver-haired lady touched the door, she stopped. A perplexed look was on Chung's face at her action— why had she done that? Quickly she spun around, reaching into her overcoat, and immediately pulled out three metal spears aimed for Chung's neck. Any little movement from the weapon would cause a loss of blood. His eyes flashed as he realized his current position.
"You are not to say a word outside about what you are about to see." Her eyes were cold and so willing to destroy him at any cost. "Are we clear?"
Chung gulped loudly before responding. The Minister was an awfully scary person. "We are... clear."
The spears retracted and The Minister turned back to the door. She pushed it open, revealing the white marble floors and staircase with silver railing inside. A red carpet layed on the floor in the middle of the present room. Multiple servants were rushing around across the room. Only two servants, one pink and the other black and white, approached The Minister.
"Ophelia, please prepare some tea." The Minister stated as the black and white one took her white hat. The one named Ophelia bowed and started off to another room.
Chung followed The Minister into a living room with white walls, a gray couch, and a potted plant on a coffee table. Somewhat dull, golden drapes covered large windows. At another end of the room was a staircase going to the basement, and a wooden desk that stood out in the clean and slick decor because of how worn it was.
The lady sat down on the couch, and Chung followed suit. The white and black man positioned himself to stand next to The Minister. Ophelia came into the room and placed a silver tray of cookies and tea on the table. Chung and The Minister both took a cup of steaming tea.
"Thank you Ophelia. Oberon, system check?"
A blue screen appeared in front of The Minister, to which she started typing. The man named Oberon stayed motionless.
Chung, curious and baffled, sent a strange look to the two servants standing near The Minister. Neither flinched. Neither blinked; well, Ophelia didn't. Neither's chest rose or fell from breathing. Both their clothes were shiny as stainless steel.
In fact, it was almost like they were...
"Robots?!"
"The correct term is nasods, Chung," The Minister responded without looking up.