Yvette departed in high spirits.
Lord El-Melloi II, who'd nearly resorted to a good old-fashioned skull-cracking on her, massaged his temples and began adjusting the temperature.
"Miss Aesc, where did you go investigating last night? Are you alright?"
After making some minor arrangements in her room last night, Miss Aesc had left a familiar behind and gone out to investigate, not returning by daybreak.
Gray, standing nearby, looked at Aesc with concern.
"Fine, fine," Aesc replied between bites of breakfast. "Just had a little scrap with a Servant. Have you been practicing what I taught you?"
"Ah, yes, I'm starting to get used to it... Wait, that's not the point, is it?!" Gray shot a stunned glance at Aesc, then turned to stare blankly at her mentor. "A... a Servant...?"
"...My apologies, madam, but I trust my ears are not deceiving me." Lord El-Melloi II's hand, reaching for a cigar, began to tremble slightly. "You said... a Servant?"
"Yes," Aesc took a sip of milk, her eyes on the contorting expression on El-Melloi II's face. "Last night, while I was scouting the train, I encountered a Servant."
Though her tone was utterly matter-of-fact, the words struck Gray and El-Melloi II like a thunderclap, sending their minds reeling.
"My intuition tells me it's different, but I must ask just in case." El-Melloi II adjusted his glasses. "This Servant's circumstances are different from yours, I presume?"
"Of course," Aesc wiped crumbs from the corner of her mouth. "She definitely had a Master."
Just then, a tiny Habetrot came wobbling over.
She seemed a bit miffed about being left in the room last night, but still held a letter up high, muttering a few sounds before handing it to Aesc.
"Habetrot says she didn't see who delivered it."
Aesc took the letter and promptly passed it to El-Melloi II.
Snapping out of his thoughts, El-Melloi II broke the seal and read the contents.
"It's a message from that thief," he said, his expression turning cold. "Inviting us to the last carriage this evening."
Having finished the letter, he tucked it away.
"Madam, how powerful was that Servant?"
"Required a bit of effort."
"I see."
El-Melloi II pondered for a moment, about to say something more to Aesc.
"Lord El-Melloi II."
He turned to see the daughter of the Lord of the Department of Astronomy standing at the carriage door.
"Might I have a word?"
"My apologies, but I don't believe I possess any information that would be useful to you."
"You are likely the most suitable person in the Clock Tower to consult on this matter."
"Oh?"
"It concerns the Holy Grail War."
"...I'm listening." El-Melloi II adjusted his glasses. "Let's talk in our room."
With that, El-Melloi II took the lead, followed closely by Olga Marie, then Trisha, with Aesc and Gray bringing up the rear.
As they moved from the dining car into the lounge carriage, they spotted Karabo's large frame leaning against the window, gazing at the scenery outside.
Due to the Church's longstanding hostility towards mages, neither El-Melloi II nor Olga Marie greeted him, and the group passed by in silence.
"Gray, have you adjusted to the environment here now?" Aesc, walking at the back, struck up a quiet conversation with Gray.
"Mhmm, I've been taking the motion sickness medicine, and the symptoms have improved a lot," Gray produced the medicine as if to demonstrate she was fine.
Indeed, Aesc had brought motion sickness medicine and had been guiding Gray since boarding to acclimate to the train's influence, averting the original future where Gray suffered from travel sickness.
She knew this small change wouldn't prevent the future vision from showing an incorrect future, but it certainly wouldn't be the same as before. What would happen now?
Would an apple fly from the table into Lord El-Melloi II's hand? Or would a jolt of the train send him flying to the ceiling to do push-ups?
Aesc mused with amusement.
She also noticed that as she and Gray discussed the medicine, Olga Marie, who was walking directly behind El-Melloi II, paused for a moment, for some reason.
Never one to miss a chance to tease the adorable Mini Director, Aesc didn't let it slide. "Miss Olga Marie, would you like some motion sickness medicine?"
She pulled out another bottle and shook it.
"N-no! You probably don't understand. This train isn't running on an ordinary route."
Glancing back at the medicine, Olga Marie quickly turned her head away, the tips of her ears tinged with red.
"The Rail Zeppelin travels on a path formed by magical circuits along ley lines. Experiencing motion sickness here is perfectly normal."
"But what if it's not the Rail Zeppelin's environment, but just plain motion sickness?" Aesc retorted with a smile.
They were nearing the door to El-Melloi II's room.
"Urgh..." Olga Marie, who grew up sheltered and had never ridden a train before, seemed stumped by Aesc's words. She looked back at Trisha with a plea in her eyes.
For some reason, the attendant who had been with Olga Marie since childhood seemed oblivious to her mistress's silent cry for help. Instead, she addressed El-Melloi II.
"Now that I think of it, I don't believe we've been introduced. Who might this young lady be?"
Since the door opened outward, El-Melloi II had opened it and stood aside, gesturing for the ladies to enter.
Hearing Trisha's question, he was about to respond when a clear voice chimed in from the other side.
"Huh? Didn't I tell you while we were waiting for the train? She just joined the El-Melloi Classroom, and with quite the reputation as a magical prodigy."
Olga Marie, about to step into the room, looked at Trisha in confusion.
Aesc's eyes narrowed.
Some keyword must have triggered Trisha. Her steps halted abruptly.
Gray, walking behind her, bumped into her back. Staggering forward half a step, Trisha placed one foot inside the doorway, shoving the confused Olga Marie, who had stopped in front of her, fully into the room.
The tiny Habetrot suddenly sprang into action, kicking the bewildered El-Melloi II behind the now wide-open door.
A staff materialized instantly in Aesc's hand.
"By my Command Seal, I order you, come forth at once!"
A blinding light flooded their vision.
Ah, I grew too complacent, trusting the flow of events, thinking this period before things truly began would be safe.
To think I've been around her for so long without paying proper attention, even though I could see right through that facade with a single glance.
This is truly a lapse in judgment.
The armored woman who materialized immediately swung her blade at El-Melloi II, but it failed to cut through the door Aesc had reinforced.
Staring at the unscathed door, the armored woman seemed momentarily stunned, then reached out to grab Olga Marie, who was near the entrance.
Before she could react, several jets of water pierced through her right arm, the one holding the short sword.
Seizing the chance, El-Melloi II lunged further into the room, pulling Olga Marie up from where she'd fallen.
The armored woman shot a look of sheer shock at Aesc, who held her staff, and at the wound on her arm. She then kicked the still-disoriented Gray, sending her flying towards Aesc.
"Aren't you a Saber?"
Suddenly, several slashes materialized from the past.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.