“Did you know you just chose an Engine that belonged to the strongest Paragon in the Western Holdings?” Reinford asked. “You’re so perspective! How clever of you!”

“Ehehe.” Nakama rubbed her hair and smiled.

Gaius watched as the countess continued to lavish the little girl with praise, and smiled. She was definintely going to make a doting mother in the future, if Orb really survived for that long.

It’s not me who’s a sister-doting idiot, it’s Nakama that’s too lovable! Gaius puffed up his cheeks at the numerous occasions in which the pots called the kettle an idiot, since they too were equally gaga over the adorable Nakama. After resolving to turn that argument around the next time they tried to bring that up, Gaius pulled Nakama away into a less visible corner, where he set Isabelle down.

“We’re here,” Gaius said, poking the sleeping Knight’s cheek. She stirred and then yawned, rubbing her eyes a moment later.

“Where are we?” she asked. “Did we already reach school?”

“Yeah.” Gaius pulled her onto her feet. “I hope that short nap helped you out. Next time, don’t stay up that late to read, got it? Resting early is important too.”

She yawned again, her action swiftly mirrored by Nakama. Gaius rolled his eyes at the sight of the two of them yawning, let out a yawn of his own, and then got them to follow him. Reinford had entered earlier, promising to find them a good place to sit down, and the boy wondered if she would really find a corner for Isabelle to rest in, or pick somewhere everyone could see easily.

In the past few months, Isabelle had gotten used to the ostentatious antics of both her sister and Reinford. In particular was the former, who made it a point to drop by every so often to make up for lost time. Their childhood had been rather turbulent, as Gaius understood it, due to their father’s influence and the absence of of a mother figure, but now that both sisters were now Knights, they were acting a lot like their age.

Of course, Nakama was included in this sisterly love, and once in a while, Gaius would feel a bit lonely whenever he saw the three of them get along well. And yet, that was for the best.

Shaking his head, he brought them into the hall, where he was gratified to see the countess sitting in an unobtrusive corner. The red carpet that her entourage usually prepared for her was actually absent, something that Gaius should have picked on earlier, but failed to. Either way, it showed that she was actually taking this field trip properly, and Gaius had a feeling that this trip wouldn’t be such a bore after all.

A few of his classmates glanced at Gaius when he approached the countess, but rather than running away, they nodded in greeting.

“Morning.”

“Good morning.”

Gaius nodded back and greeted them too. It was a tad unexpected, but the three of them did somewhat open up in recent months. The countess had approached them as a friend shortly after they brought her to meet the Pinnacle, and after a while, they had gotten along.

The rest of the class had started to open up to Nakama and Isabelle, which wasn’t all that hard, since they were the epitome of adorability. The former, in particular, had triggered many a maternal instinct; Reinford had resisted the longest, only to finally fall today.

Perhaps it was the Engine…

“What are you thinking about?” Isabelle asked. “Oh, Reinford’s finally doting on Nakama. I was beginning to wonder if the countess was immune to sheer cuteness.”

“Yeah, me— wait, that’s not what I was thinking about,” said Gaius. Lying came to him as naturally as breathing for this, and with a smooth change of topic, he asked, “How are we going to travel to the Central Circle?”

“I was wondering about that too,” Isabelle replied.

“I heard something about a huge flying artefact,” Reinford chimed in, her right hand rubbing Nakama’s head. The little girl wasn’t bothered by that either; in fact, she was enjoying it, going by the happy look on her face.

“A huge flying artefact?” Gaius echoed.

“Yep. Not too sure what something like that could look like, though.” She folded her arms. “But our spi— the news here is rather guarded about any new technological breakthroughs. This new method of transportation is likely something to do with the upcoming demon invasion.”

Gaius nodded in agreement. This Conference of the Four had multiple purposes — to inform the great gods and the other continents about Xanadu and her warnings, to coordinate a legitimate response in face of the demon invasion, and a truth and reconciliation commission to discuss the Second Extermination. The North, by showing off its latest technology, would have a better qualification to lead the discussion on these matters, especially since the great gods were ideological enemies with it.

Also, the boy could swear that she nearly said ‘spies’, but he wasn’t going press her on that yet.

“If it’s something thought up by the Pinnacle,” said Gaius, “we can at least expect it to defy our expectations. Maybe it’s a floating castle or something. Who knows?”

“A floating castle…”

He could see Isabelle and the others imagining it.

“Wouldn’t it be dangerous?” Isabelle asked. “If such a thing was to fall from the sky?”

“There’s probably a safeguard or two, right?” Gaius replied. “I cannot imagine any nation creating something that has a high risk of squashing people and buildings both.”

The sounds of clapping hands interrupted their conversation, and as the old headmaster ambled onto the stage, the dispersed students began to gather by class. Within moments, neat rows now filled the first quarter of the hall, and a silence fell as everyone, including Gaius, looked at the principal.

“Good morning, kids.” He smiled. “Today is the day of your school trip. Undoubtedly, your teachers must have told you the do’s and do-not’s, so I have but one instruction for everyone. Have fun.”

He nodded, and then stepped off the stage. For a moment, everyone was silent, and then deafening cheers broke out.

Gaius, however, had noticed an odd thrumming in the air. Something was coming.