Sora no Ato: Chapter 6
Gift of Dreams: Morning Flight
Rio sat beneath the entrance to the keep of an abandoned fortification not far from the Seize glass factory. She and Noël had stopped by Windmill and then the pavilion near here where they were readying the hot-air balloon for flight, hopefully tomorrow. Noël needed to spend some more time making last-minute adjustments to the burner and checking everything else out, so Rio had left her to work and gone off to think.
Naomi had told what she learned of the legend of the Fire Maidens when they stopped by Windmill. Apparently the Roman version from Aisha was closer to the original story. The citizens of Seize had ended up burning the maidens along with the daemon—or was it an angel—and the festival started to mourn their deaths and in contrition for killing them. In the years since, it had turned into a celebration of their sacrifice. Thankfully today's townspeople supported Filicia and their platoon, but elsewhere there were definitely people who still wanted and tried to kill those helping save them from war.
``Rio-sempai. I found you.'' Kanata's cheerful voice echoed from the remains of the stairway above her.
Kanata apologized for interrupting her, but Rio didn't mind, and they fell to discussing the legends and also the dreams Kanata had been asking people about all day long. Rio found that Kanata's positive outlook cheered her up as well. Kanata gave Rio the special delivery letter that Klaus had delivered. Emperor Franz Leopold had included the world map along with his letter and family picture, just as he had promised. Kanata politely gave Rio privacy to open and peruse the contents, though Rio chose to show her the world map as it followed on their previous conversation. This led to a discussion of Nomansland and its expansion, which turned back to a discussion of dreams. Kanata had been talking to everyone about them that day.
Rio returned directly with Kanata so they wouldn't keep Klaus waiting any longer for her to officially acknowledge receipt of the letter. Noël would stay to finish her work on the balloon and return by herself.
Kanata drove much better on the return trip than she had on the way out to find Rio. She paid closer attention to the road, perhaps because she wanted to impress Rio. At any rate, Rio didn't scream like Yumina had, but neither did Kanata have any no near collisions.
As soon as they were back, Rio disappeared into her room, telling Klaus, ``I'll get my seal to certify your delivery and also something else for you to take back in just a moment.''
There, she quickly sat down at her desk and pulled a letter from an envelope she kept there. It was to Franz Leopold, and she had been writing something in it to him every day since her return. She dashed off a last paragraph letting him know his letter arrived, thanking him for it, and promising to write more later. ``I am being brief here so Klaus the courier can take this letter back as he returns from delivering your letter, and I do not want to delay him overly much,'' she wrote in closing.
Rio glanced quickly over the letter, then sealed it in its envelope and addressed the outside. She brought the letter down to Klaus who was relaxing after enjoying the lunch Kureha had made. She signed for receipt of the letter from Franz Leopold with her personal seal, then gave him her letter to take back. His eyebrows raised in surprise when he noticed it was addressed to the Roman emperor. In spite of his experience as Rio's flag-bearer, he still wasn't used to dealing with royalty from one country, much less two. But he did not let it bother him. Klaus was an experienced courier, and getting a letter or package through was what he did, and did well.
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That evening, after dinner, when the whole platoon had finished their traditional—though far-from-regulation—bath together, the three younger girls headed off to their rooms. ``So,'' asked Rio with a grin, ``since you've sent the children off to bed, what now?''
Filicia didn't even blink at the implication, as she happily accepted her role as ``mother'' to this little family. However, there was some hesitance in her voice as she answered, ``If you aren't thinking of heading right to bed yourself, I'd like to sit and talk for a while. That is, if you don't need to go to bed now in order to get up early tomorrow.''
``Sure. I'll be fine,'' said Rio, smiling at Filicia's concern for her flight the next morning. ``Your office?''
As they headed there and opened to door, Rio asked, ``Was this prompted by the letter from Franz Leopold that arrived today?''
``Yes, in part it is,'' Filicia answered, her cheeks then colored. ``Thank you for being willing to talk. Though I'm also glad to chat simply because I've missed you, Rio.''
Rio nodded. ``Me too,'' she said quietly as they sat down, the expression on her face unreadable.
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``Is your balloon all ready to fly tomorrow morning? I assume that's why you went out to those old fortifications by the plain.''
``Yes, it is,'' Rio answered. ``Noël finished her last checks on the burner and the rigging, and the tanks are fueled up. We're so lucky to have her and her talents. I wonder if she realizes how nice a girl she is, too.''
``That she is.'' Filicia wholeheartedly agreed with this. ``You must have checked it over pretty thoroughly given how long you took.''
``Actually, it didn't take that long. I spent some time sitting at those fortifications just thinking.'' Rio grinned at her. ``And then, Kanata and I spent a while chatting.''
Filicia's expression urged her to continue.
``We talked about the two versions of the Legend of the Fire Maidens. Naomi found that the Roman version is closer to the original. Of course, Kanata has a positive way of looking at it, as a celebration of both thanks and apology by the town. We also talked about the wider world and I showed her the map of the world Franz Leopold sent me.
``The whole world?'' Filicia wondered.
``Yes, or at least all that we know.'' Rio sighed. ``There's a lot we can't get to on foot, and much is second-hand or guesswork, but that map shows how little habitable land we have left. There's an awful lot of Nomansland out there, and its growing, eating into the Roman north.
``Really?''
``Yes. I'll have to show you that map too. On my travels I saw a good deal of Nomansland, and even made it to the lifeless sea. I believe the world really is dying like they say, but before that Nomansland will eat up all of the Roman Empire.'' Rio shook her head. ``Why do we have to fight over this disappearing land instead of cooperating to make the best of these last days?'' Her voice echoed her resignation.
``I don't know either,'' Filicia answered, her voice as comforting as always, ``but you're helping us end the fighting. Maybe we can help others to see that cooperating is better than fighting. Sadly the Roman-Helvetian war isn't the only one out there.''
``True, we can try, but...'' Rio shook her head. ``But enough of depressing thoughts at this late hour.''
``Yes. I should... we should be more like Kanata, hopeful and cheerful.''
``We should.'' Rio nodded in agreement. ``And Kanata also turned our conversation away from these depressing thoughts to our hopes and dreams. She's still trying to find her dream, so I told her of mine, and promised her a flight in the balloon tomorrow.''
Filicia nodded, approving. ``She'll find her own dream someday. Until then, her happy outlook on life will be an inspiration to the rest of us.''
Rio had to agree.
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The two sat in silent thought for a while. Filicia finally broke the silence. ``I don't want to pry or upset you, but I am curious what made you finally decide to agree to your father's request? I really am grateful that the war is over, and I want to thank you for your part in ending it, but I'm still curious.''
``I don't mind.'' Rio shook her head. ``Though it's not all fully clear to me either. I'd like to be able to show you a nice logical chain of reasoned decisions, but it's not that simple. That is, beyond the fact that this was something that nobody else could do.''
Filicia rewarded her with a kind smile. ``I understand. Tough decisions like this never are simple ...or easy.''
``I guess one way to look at it—given that it really did end the war—is simply, `why not?' I mean, no matter how I felt about my father, wouldn't it be awfully childish of me to condemn so many to death in battle just because I said `no' out of pique?''
``Not necessarily. I always figured you had to have legitimate reasons for the way you acted toward your father, even if you never told us.''
``Filicia ...thank you.'' Rio blushed and played with her fingers in her lap. ``But I came to realize that regardless of what you and others might think, that I would feel responsible, and I don't think I could have lived with myself afterwards. I've only heard a little bit of Noël's story, but I have seen what guilt has done to her.''
Filicia nodded, accepting what Rio said and prompting her to continue.
``And not all of my motives are necessarily altruistic.'' Rio continued with a grin. ``You see, by accepting this engagement of my own free will, I showed our venal nobles what honor and service actually are. I found that my dad isn't the worst of our nobles in that regard, either. Several of them can give the priest who wouldn't help my mother stiff competition in the corruption tournament.''
``Oh my,'' Filicia grinned back. ``I really hope they do learn from your lesson.''
``Regrettably, I doubt they will, though.'' Rio's expression turned sad and pained. ``I wish it were otherwise.''
``Are they really that bad?''
``Yes, some are. Why do you think we had such problems with supplies and pay?'' Rio shook her head. ``I heard that Baron Condé was supposed to keep us supplied and was paid to. But since we were few and far away, he took the opportunity to just pocket the money and not do anything for us ...just like the priest who killed my mother.''
``People like that deserve to be stopped. Hopefully not all of our nobles are that bad.''
``Thankfully, no. Though many more are than I would wish. And many are susceptible to manipulation by the corrupt ones.''
``And your father?'' Filicia asked hesitantly.
``I'm still trying to decide that myself. He is definitely good at sensing which direction the political winds are blowing, and he told me he had to make some political deals to buy support for the peace treaty.'' Her eyes grew distant as she remembered that conversation. ``I'm sure we'll never know what they all were, but that's one of the things that was holding up the talks: some of the nobles were demanding more in terms of territorial concessions and reparations in exchange for agreeing to withdraw the Royal Princess counter from play. The Roman Empire wasn't willing to give up any territory. What we didn't know until later was that they're already losing a battle against the desert. Anyway, my arrival put an end to those nobles' schemes to expand their territory.'' Rio's expression grew cold. ``They just view war as a source of profit.''
``It sounds like Colonel Hopkins would have fit right in with them. If all men were like them, then I could perhaps see that some people might be right about the world: that despair is the only answer, and that the world is not worth saving.'' Filicia shook her head to clear it of her unwelcome memory of her involuntary sojourn below Bienenland. ``But enough of that pessimism. Personally, I prefer to hope.''
``As do I, Filicia. As do I.'' Rio nodded in agreement. ``But all we can do is hope and do what little we can on our own.''
``Yes, that's what we can do for this world.'' She tilted her head, thinking. ``Though what you did may not be quite so little.''
``Yeah, and that's another reason. If we can't stop this constant fighting, this war, then they're probably right: this world is ending. I have seen more Nomansland and maps showing how much of the world it covers. And I've learned that I love this world—flawed as it is—too much to want it to end, though I fear that it may well be ending anyway. We should spend its last days in peace and joy, not warfare. Kanata really helped me see that. ...as did you.''
``Thank you.'' Filicia blushed at the complement, then nodded in full agreement. ``And Princess Iliya and Kanata taught me that as well.''
``And Iliya herself is another reason.'' Rio nodded, continuing her explanation. ``After all, she agreed to this clause before she died: she accepted it with dignity. Were I to do otherwise, that would mean that I failed to live up to her standards.'' Rio shook her head. ``That's not quite right. It isn't because they are Iliya's standards that I am doing this. Yes, they are hers as well, but I have decided on my own that they are what I want. So I want to protect the country, to protect the people, the way she did, not just because she did, but because I too have decided that this is the right thing to do, decided that is my purpose. ...That is why I am here.''
``Rio.'' New-found respect filled Filicia's expression. ``You truly have grown.'' This brought a blush to Rio's face and Filicia stammered a bit as she continued on. ``Princess Iliya really was a remarkable person. I'm so glad I knew her.''
``Yeah, she was. Emperor Franz Leopold would have been better off if he could have married her. She'd have made a better wife and empress for him than I ever could. But...''
Filicia nodded, understanding what she did not say, but not fully agreeing. ``Don't sell yourself short, Rio. I think you've grown fit to be an empress.''
Rio paused, thinking for a bit and ignoring Filicia's last comment. It was easier for her to ignore it than to think about what it might mean. ``You know, I think this does kind of tie back to my mother and sister as well. You know how much they meant to me, and to have them both taken from me, by the church and the government, was something I wasn't prepared to forgive, especially my dad since he was involved in both. You know I never forgave him for abandoning my mother. I mean, if he loved her, why didn't he come see her more often. I know mother loved and missed him and waited for him. And he rarely came, and didn't come at all during her final illness. And if he hadn't sent Iliya running all over the country, trying to hold it together for him, she wouldn't have been there to drown trying to save that kid.'' Her eyes grew distant. ``But both mother and Iliya would have wanted peace, would be proud of me if I work—even sacrifice—to attain it.''
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On returning to her room, Rio's mind would not let her sleep in spite of the early morning she had planned tomorrow. She sat at her desk, thinking over what she and Filicia had discussed. She added today's letter to a small bundle of letters and photos lying the puddle of lamp-light in front of her, then picked up the one which began this bundle. She took it out of the fancy envelope in which she had received it a couple months ago and unfolded it. As she stared sightlessly at the letter, she remembered when it was given to her. It was probably not surprising that those days stuck in her memory and kept coming back. After all, they had completely changed the direction of her life, and she was still trying to sort out and come to terms with this new direction. Her talk with Filicia brought it even more into prominence. Rio let the memory wash over her.
She then looked to one of the photos. This was a formal one, taken at the end of the peace talks. She and Franz Leopold stood next to each other, both dressed in their formal robes, and together they held the signed peace treaty. Rio knew it was hard to judge pictures of yourself, but she wondered at the calm smile on her face. Why didn't her nervousness at the time show through? Of course Franz Leopold was smiling, but as many times as she looked at this photo, the word which always sprang to mind to describe the way he looked over at her was ``tender.''
.
Next in the bundle was letter from Franz Leopold she had received today. Kanata had not peeked when she opened it, granting her privacy to see it contained a letter and a photo as well as the map she showed Kanata. Rio had waited until she was back at the fortress to actually read the letter in private. She skimmed its contains again, though they were mostly still fresh in her mind from her first reading this afternoon. Franz Leopold hoped that she had a safe trip and that her friends here were doing well. He had returned to the capital directly after she had left, and wrote her upon arriving. He told of the latest adventures of his three daughters and included greetings from them. Theresa wrote a few lines of greeting and news in her own hand, telling of her plans for the palace garden. Eleanor did the same, though her interest was their new pet kitten. Franz Leopold translated both of these into Helvetian for Rio. Anna was too young to write, but she was very much looking forward to her birthday party coming up in a few weeks.
Rio took a long look at the photo he had included in the letter. It was the same family portrait he had shown her in his office. Franz Leopold and Maria stood behind their three daughters. Maria was tall and slender with carefully coiffed blond curls, and you could see both strength and caring in her eyes. Something in her carriage spoke of a hidden frailty, but maybe that just echoed the hint of protectiveness from Franz Leopold. Their three daughters stood arrayed in front of them, trying to act good and proper for this formal photo. Rio sat staring at the letter and picture for a while, as if they could somehow help her come to know these people who were now destined to be her family.
As Rio re-folded the letter and put it along with the photo and map back together into the bundle she thought to herself: perhaps life with Franz Leopold wouldn't be all bad. She certainly hoped that would be the case.
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She took out paper and a pen and began her own letter.
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Dear Franz Leopold,
I hope this letter finds you doing well and that this springtime of peace is as beautiful for you as it is for me here. Thank you for your letter, and especially for the map and the photo you included in it and the greetings and news of your daughters. Tomorrow I will head into town and get a frame for it so that I may also have the same two pictures on my desk as you do. I am looking at them as I write this...
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She continued the letter, telling of the upcoming Water Sprinkling Festival and of her friends in the platoon and their activities. She also wrote about what she was doing, especially how the balloon was coming and her hopes for a flight tomorrow. I wonder what he will write about in his response, she thought to herself.
Rio stayed up long enough reading and writing that she hoped she would prove Filicia's faith in her ability to get up early tomorrow morning for the balloon. It wasn't good to scrimp too much on sleep. After carefully putting away her letters—she would finish and post the one she wrote tomorrow—she turned out her lamp and collapsed into bed.
As she lay there, she thought about tomorrow. She would need to go into town to purchase frames for the two pictures, so she could display them on her desk. She paused for a moment. Yes, she decided, she did want to display them like that, to make her engagement and relationship open and acknowledged, and also to keep her mindful so that she wouldn't forget Franz Leopold. Though this shopping might have to wait until the day after, as tomorrow was already looking very full with the balloon's first flight and also the festival in Seize.
And while she was in town, she also needed to see what she could find for Anna as a birthday present. But what should she get? Maybe she would see if Kanata could come along and give her some ideas. Her youthful joy in life might be just the thing, and Kanata would definitely enjoy shopping together. Hopefully Anna would enjoy the present they would find, or at least the thought behind it. Rio knew how much she had appreciated it when Iliya remembered her birthday back when she was Anna's age.
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The next morning, everyone in the platoon got up before dawn and headed out together to the field next to the abandoned fortress. The balloon that Noël and Rio had prepared sat ready under a pavilion there. Takemikazuchi worked just as well as a support vehicle for the balloon as he had defending Seize. Rio's book on aeronautics had been a big help to them both, as was Noël's scientific and technical insight. Repairing the balloon system had been an easier job than Takemikazuchi, though that was expected as the balloon was nowhere near as advanced a technology. Rio pretty much understood the whole balloon, while many parts of Takemikazuchi she still could only think of as ``magic.''
Thanks to yesterday's preparations it didn't take them long to set out and inflate the balloon. Rio chose to keep the balloon tethered to the ground for their first flight. She didn't know how well she could control it nor where the wind might try to take it. Thankfully Takemikazuchi's winch made this easy to do, and there was no way the balloon could budge the tank, so they would be safely tied down.
Rio and Kanata got into the basket, and with the addition of a little more heat and paying out Takemikazuchi's winch, the balloon slowly and gracefully rose skyward. Kureha and Kanata thought this was wonderful. Noël was quietly proud of her work, and Filicia of her ``daughters.''
As Rio and Kanata floated above the countryside, the sun slowly peeped over the eastern hills, bringing dawn to them before any of the land below, and the owl insignia that Lizette had applied to the side of the balloon looked out over the now peaceful landscape beneath them. When Kanata finished exclaiming about the view, Rio told her the rest of her dream. This balloon was merely the first step. She wanted to revive the airplane someday. Then she could fly over the landscape like a bird, like Shuko was doing now circling the balloon. It would let her explore places where feet could not take her. Right now this was distant and but a dream, but she wanted to see it through.
She also told Kanata her mother's story of the land at the ends of the earth with oceans reborn and new life springing forth. Rio wanted the airplane to search for that land. She also told how Franz Leopold had granted her time back her to work on and fly the balloon. ``I'll need to tell him about this in my next letter to him.''