tunein | 04 ❥

[Huh. That went easier than he expected. At least he knows she'll respond to proper logic.]

Thank you. Now please, come with me.

[Ky led her to the elevator and rode it down to the ground floor, then out of the building into the city proper. Cars were not a thing in Ky's world, since the discovery of magic led to a ban on all devices powered by anything other than magical energy, and they hadn't properly replaced cars. So the street was full of people and carriages.]

All right, this way.

[Ky began to walk toward a Métro station. Personal transportation had not been updated for a magical world, but public transportation had been a long time ago.

Better enjoy the view while you can, Milla, because you'll be going underground in a few minutes.]

[Milla nods once, before following him out. The elevator is just as bemusing as last time; humans make the most interesting things. If she had Slyph here to help her fly, she wouldn't need it. It was charming that humans wanted to go higher, towards the clouds. It was something she hadn't really had the chance to appreciate until Slyph was no longer carrying her on the wind.

It's fortunate, then, that Rieze Maxia doesn't have cars, either. The carriages were a familiar sort of sight, as was often seen in the busier towns and sea ports. Smaller villages, like Milla's own, often had little need to trade with the outside world, being particularly self sufficient. They were common enough that they didn't feel out of place to her, but she still stops and observes several times along the way, before walking double time so as to keep her word that she wouldn't go off on her own.

She could protect herself, she was sure, but it was an insistance and she'd rather not get into trouble for it at a later date. Stick with the guardian, easy enough.

Still, when Ky approaches the Métro, she looks contemplative, stopping once more to look at the entrance.]

Hmm. Interesting. What kind of transport do you use, other than carriages?

[Ky was willing to be more lenient with letting Milla sate her curiosity, and he slowed down his own pace so that she could catch up. As long as he didn't lose sight of her, it was fine.]

Well, that depends. For traveling great distances, we use airships, but for smaller distances, such as within cities, we have public transportation systems. The Paris Métro is an underground rail system that spans the entire city. Regardless of where in Paris you are, you're almost always within walking distance of a station.

So you can fly. [Ships, she is familiar with. Airships, not so much, but she gets the general idea. Flying ships.] That is something we do not readily have in our world. Neither do we have transport underground, beneath a city. I suppose the only similar thing would be the abandoned mine shafts, and the carts inside them, though I would assume it would be much larger and safer if it was used to carry humans.

If it goes beneath the entire city, it must be quite useful.

It is. It enables the working class and middle class in the city to avoid the costs of raising horses and owning carriages, and makes commutes useful, particularly from the outskirts of the city. Most major cities around the world have similar underground rail systems much like the Métro here in Paris.

[Ky's voice picked up as he spoke. There was a certain sense of enjoyment he gained from explaining things and educating others.]

As for flight, we've actually had use of that for nearly three hundred years. The first manned flights took place in the early twentieth century, and ever since then we've been traveling through the skies in some form or another.

[Milla was certainly grateful for that, at this moment. Someone willing to satsify her curiosity was good to have around, in her opinion, and she had much of it. The explanation of both the underground and air travel brings her mind back to Sylph, and also, Gnome. She wonders what they'd make of it, if they could see it. She'll have to tell them about it later. Whilst they not be able to manifest, should she wish, she most certainly would be able to call them.]

I wonder if I could see all of those underground systems. Though that would not fit in with the plans at hand. [Hmm. Maybe some other time.]

It is definately the best way of travelling. It is so much quicker than going by foot, even if you don't get to see the city close at hand. [Take that as you will, Ky, she isn't going to specify.] Would it be possible to travel on one of those, at least on one occasion?

[So she can tell Sylph about it. Possibly compare. A number of reasons.]

[They entered the station, and Ky presented his pass to the teller. He also pulled out some money to pay for Milla's ticket.]

You're quite fascinated with the idea. I'm afraid, though, that the underground transit systems are all quite similar in most aspects. Some are more efficient than others, others are cleaner, but other than that, they're all alike.

[But the tone of his voice indicated that he was pleased with her curiosity. It was always wonderful to see people so invested in learning new things.]

But traveling on an airship? I imagine we'll do that at some point. Sometimes I have to leave the city, and you'll be coming with me if I do.

[Ah, money, another foreign concept. Well, to Milla anyway. Why should Maxwell carry money? Everyone does everything for her anyway. That's what Ivar is for.]

Oh. That is somewhat disappointing. I would have thought they wuold have been largely unique to each area, depending on the quality of the ground, and the design and functions of the city.

[She doesn't look too put out by it, though, moving swiftly onto the next subject.]

Then it is an experience I will look forward to.

[Well, just don't expect Ky to be the same. He may be rich, but he doesn't like spending money.]

They tend to go deep enough underground that it doesn't matter. For example, I can think of three cities off the top of my head divided by rivers, and they all go beneath them with no problem.

And yes, there's something...enjoyable about flying. I don't know if it's because it's always been man's dream to soar among the clouds or not, but when you're in the air, you feel...well, more free.

[Sadly, she probably will until he makes his stance on it quite clear.

She would question how they manage to get under rivers, but, well, magic.]

Yes, I suppose that is the feeling for it. Humans have always longed to go beyond their natural means, especially into the air. Not that that's a bad thing. I certainly can't fault the pluses of flying myself.

So, do you mean to tell me that you've already flown somewhere?

[By this point, they've descended to one of the platforms. Now to simply wait for the train.]

Of course I have. I usually have little need to walk - with Sylph, I can fly anywhere I desire.

[... she's being serious. Take that as you will, Ky. Maybe it's a good thing a train is pulling in. She half makes to board it before remembering that it may not necessarily be theirs. And she promised to follow, not lead.]

Is this our transport?

[Ky was about to ask what Sylph was, but then the train arrived.]

Yes. We'll be riding this past a few stops. Please follow me.

[Ky led them toward the rear of the car where there were two vacant seats. Once they sat, the train began to move. The ride was incredibly smooth, almost as if it were gliding along rather than following the rails.]

[After being instructed to sit, Milla looks around at the rest of the occupants - she looks to the ceiling, the windows, the dark around them, noting the fact that nothing is rattling or moving.

Somehow that feels a little too quiet. It lacks a little bit of chaos that she'd associate with humans desire to conquer other things. To get to this point is... new.]

Hmm. I am not sure if I am fond of this motion.

Hm?

[Such was the truth of Ky's world in the year 2180. Humans were more interested in rebuilding and preservation than in conquest now.]

What do you mean? What's wrong?

Nothing. [There's a pause as she considers it further.] Perhaps that is why. It is no longer imperfect. I am so used to seeing you find your feet.

Do you mean about how we learn how things in this world work? Well, would it help if I told you that this was based on magic rather than any laws of physics that might exist?

Even with magic, it is still quite an accomplishment. One I would not expect to see, as I have said. I am used to seeing artes produced using mana. From elemental spells to healing, being used to great extent in some cities to make lives easier. But something this well perfected? It has reached its full valuee.

Well...how many of these "artes" were perfected through war?

Some, but not many. [She considers.] Many that were once used are not irrelevant for making lives of those in cities easier. But perhaps battle artes were perfected in this manner, through warring clans, and warring countries.

In this case, it was because we were involved in a long war. We needed to be able to transport soldiers quickly and efficiently, thus we worked hard to improve our mass transportation systems. Now that the war is over, the general populace gets to reap the benefits of our wartime research.

That makes sense. Sometimes the result of war can be profitable for the populace. That's something I'll have to consider... I've never thought of it to have positive aspects before.

Indeed. That is one of the very, very few good things that that war has brought us. Unfortunately, I would not consider it worthwhile. I would have preferred humanity had not had to fight, but our enemies gave us no choice.

It is something mankind has an apptitude for, unfortunately. [She sighs softly.] But there are many other reasons why I am fond of humans. Why it makes it worthwhile to know of you.

[Ky quickly scans the rest of the car's interior. None of the other passengers seem to have heard her, thankfully. He lowers his voice a little as he asks his next question.]

Such as? If you don't mind my asking.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject