A pair of crimson caravans idly parked outside of the town’s walls. An orange horizon graced the world with its beauty as the emerald grasslands shimmered with morning dew. The pores, the hoards of monsters and the scorched lands were nowhere to be seen anymore.

It was as if the land had healed its wounds overnight.

None would be the wiser to believe that Brandar’s plains were the perfect place to venture. It was truly the pinnacle of a fantasy landscape, bearing small hills and luscious greenery as far as the eye could see.

But hell laid beneath. A tangible hell that the Nexus called the Derma.

Epiderma and Derma were awfully close to the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin. If CPR was ill known here, then how the hell did they possibly know about these words? Unless they were realized within the Eternal Library?

It was yet another mystery and brought an interesting thought.

Nav. Are there any stories of people arriving from other worlds like me?

“None that I am aware of I’m afraid.”

… I thought so.

Frost did not allow herself to shrug this thought off like it was no more than an aside. It was highly possible that she wasn’t the first to arrive in Elysia. Whatever the case was, only time would tell.

And right now, they had a train to catch.

The next stop was a fortress that housed of one of Caldera Industry’s transport networks. This one was an Express Network which directly linked two intercity stations, allowing for travel between sectors of differing cities.

Although this one was made specifically for the Collection Teams to reach the City of Diamonds.

Frost helped the others embark onto the caravans as Pinna and the Justica Arms approached to say their goodbyes. Atop the battlements stood a good hundred people who cheered on the name of the “Black Dove.” With them were many familiar faces belonging to Scarlet Logic’s collected women who could not be more thankful for the miracles they were gifted.

The dark-skinned 15^th Peace Flock Captain gave his utmost sincere thanks, as did the rest of his team alongside Pinna who fondly looked up to her with sparkling eyes.

“I’ve relayed a message to the 6^th Branch. If you ever find yourself in the outskirts of the City of Hearts, then please give them your name. They’ll recognize your efforts. Justica Arms always rewards the gallant handsomely. And thank you again strange healer. You saved my life.” The man then nodded at the Vice Captain who instantly erected her posture.

“Don’t cause too much trouble. I’m telling you this now because a fighting healer is bound rattle people’s perspectives on our cute doves.” The Vice Captain added, mellowing slightly as Pinna made a strange smile. “Surprising that Inflow Direct hasn’t taken you in. Goes to show that not every healer out there is under their protection. But you’re not the kind who needs them anyway. Not with that kind of strength, Black Dove.”

“Farewell and safe travels. And good work clearing that Infested Heart. It’s what our Apostles would have done.” The Captain thanked right before the Vice Captain suddenly added:

“And I suppose the Scarlet Logic Dawn Collectors are to thank as well. It’s a shame you chose their proposal over ours.” She said, redirecting her attention elsewhere.

This message not meant for Frost.

“How is that working out for you, Caralana?” She then concluded.

“… Justica Arms loves to stick the end of its guns right where it doesn’t belong.” Cara spat with vitriol from within their caravan.

Her voice was barely audible, muffled by the half-walls. But it was enough to elicit a small, regrettable smile on the Vice Captain’s face.

This was the first time these two differing Ateliers interacted at all. Despite the comfort Frost felt in this sendoff; the tension between these two groups could not be understated. Their history was written with blood on the parchment of war, and Cara seemed to have some personal history with this Vice Captain.

It was interesting to see how the dynamics worked between these Ateliers. There was hatred, spite and yet some form of regret existed within the hideous concoction of emotions. But before she could dabble into these thoughts, Pinna slowly waddled towards her and cusped her hands.

“U-Um! I know it’s not much but if you ever need help or a hand then please don’t be afraid to visit us again! As a fellow healer I think we should look out for each other. I don’t know your circumstances, but to be able to fight must mean you’ve been through a lot… It’s been tough, hasn’t it?” She spoke with her heart, and her sincere eyes spoke another dozen heartfelt words.

Frost was taken aback by these words.

Of course it’s been tough. Physically. Mentally. Hell, even spiritually. It was no easy feat to reach this point. She walked bloodied roads ever since arriving in this world. Only now has it changed for the better.

This brief moment of reflection caused her lips to curve into a solemn smile as she then moved her hands to Pinna’s shoulders. She deeply gazed into her silver eyes, as if peering into her soul.

“I like to think my circumstances aren't the worst of it. It’s an unfair world, but at least healers like you are trying their best to make it a little easier to live in. Pinna. I hope you continue to have good people by your side. They’ll be there for you when you’re in trouble. Likewise, you can always come to me for help. Well, if you can find me in the first place that is.”

Frost whispered and broke character on purpose, wanting to get the woman to warm up and smile. She then ruffled her blue coat like they were messy feathers before taking a single step back.

“Goodbye Pinna. I enjoyed my time here thanks to you.”

“A-Ah… That makes me happy to hear. Goodbye Frost! The Black Dove!” She called out as soon as Frost parted ways, raising a hand high behind her as she boarded the caravan containing the others.

The other caravan solely contained the Scarlet Logic personnel. And while they had a Scarlet Wolf attached to the front, Frost’s caravan had Snap volunteer to tow them along.

Funnily enough, it was Snap itself who took the initiative. And despite being a… spider, it could not produce web. Frost as a result had to attach it with her own steel strands. The sight was yet another source of confusion for all that witnessed.

Once aboard, she took a seat at the back beside Jury and across Ignis. And with one final wave, their caravans departed onwards to their next stop as the entire crowd above the battlements simultaneously cried:

“THE BLACK DOVE!”

I kinda like the name. The Black Dove does have a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

“I believe the title of the Harmacist would have painted you more viscerally, don’t you agree?”

Huh? What the hell is a harmacist?

“The pharmacist occupation from your world that harms –”

Nav, please. I can’t tell if you’re joking or not with that tone of voice. Frost mentally winced at the suggested title, but it was enough to make her chuckle.

 

* * *

 

There was nothing new to note along these grand plains, aside from the blurred-out silhouettes of mountains that seemingly poked at the skies in the great distance. Those belonged to the Dwarhelven region; the homeland of the Dwarves and where the largest mountains rose.

Faint outlines of towering crystals could also be seen protruding from these enormous masses. The sheer distance made it impossible to tell the colors of these things.

They were washed up by layers of atmosphere, but it did not detract from its grandeur scale. Rather, it seemed to amplify it; like they were looming, God-like behemoths.

It stirred Frost’s imagination as she blissfully gazed into the distance, devouring these alongside the others. Ignis was much the same, save that she spent an equal amount of time glaring at Frost and the others as she did with the scenery.

Ignis did not talk. She didn’t think she could either. She only spoke through Nav on very rare occasions over the last 6 hours.

“Everyone here looks nice and friendly.”

“Your name is Frost? That’s funny, because mine means fire.”

“Jury like a judge? But you don’t look scary at all.”

“The spider looks nice to sleep on. It reminds me of a big plush toy!”

“Nav has a funny voice.”

Needless to say, Ignis’ inner thoughts were the polar opposite to how she appeared. Never judge a book by its cover as the saying went, because it was entirely impossible for Frost to read her emotions at face value.

She truly believed that Ignis despised her for a while until the young girl simply stated that she didn’t. At all. Perhaps there was some lingering anger towards Frost’s failure to save her father, but in the end, Ignis refused to clarify further.

Frost decided to not pry.

Ignis needed time to process this all. Never alone, of course. Frost and Jury made it their mission to ensure Ignis was never lonely, having her now sit in between them. She was still a child despite her adolescent appearance, although much like Jury, she had gained considerable intelligence after being Realized.

A total of 8 hours elapsed before the scenery changed. Massive boulders began littering the plains, growing more compact and numerous the further they ventured until a massive stone henge-like construct were formed by these seemingly haphazardly placed objects.

They wove between boulders and drove beneath massive stone archways, all battered and weathered down by nature’s course and the creatures that roamed the nights of Brandar. Now that Frost realized it – these were not boulders but were instead ancient ruins of a town that once thrived in these parts.

Perhaps long, long ago prior to the emergence of the dungeons considering there was no evidence to suggest it possessed any defensive wall. It was strange moving through an ancient site. All went silent as if to mourn this long-lost place.

And although the wind howled with sound that could only be described as a dirge, the grass did not dance.

They stood respectably motionless, only disturbed by the creaking wheels of their caravans.

“Civilizations rose and fell as far back as history remembers. This used to be a huge theatre built during the Civitas Era in 500 BA. It’s melancholic, isn’t it?” Hellen softly spoke fondly as she admired these timeless relics. “Music is such a timeless thing~”

Nav. BA?

“Before the First Advent. The Civitas Era marked the beginning of Atlas’ construction, among the rise of other major civilizations. Atlas’ size spanned far more than the cityscapes of your world. It was a true ancient marvel, later lost after the arrival of the Second Advent. The Nexus. But before that it had seen its own fair share of wars, sieges, and disasters for being what was essentially the heart of the world.”

Then what happened between 500 BA and 0 PA then? Something must have sparked the arrival of the Eternal Library.

“War. War and only war. The time period between 200 BA and 0 PA was called the Purge of Knowledge. A dark age as your world would put it.”

And as its name suggests, there is little known about it huh.

“Precisely. But it was after this time that the Eternal Library arose. Ironic isn’t it?”

It really is. Maybe their hatred for wisdom somehow manifested as the Eternal Library. Who the hell knows anymore. But then what would that imply of the Nexus?”

“Unknown.”

Regardless of this, Frost was glad that history beyond the First Advent existed. Civilization did not begin until only 850 years ago, or roughly 1,150 years when converted to Earth’s time. The civilized world evolved far more rapidly in Elysia with the existence of magic.

It created fundamental shortcuts that seemingly allowed civilizations to prosper at an astronomical rate. But this created massive gaps in knowledge. The healers were an example. While they had healers, there was very little they actually knew of the medical world, and likely amongst other things.

Also, the brutality of these ancient time periods was still deeply rooted. Rulers like the King of Puritas controlled Grandis with terror. She utterly despised that major figureheads in this world were chosen purely out of power than any other merit or virtue.

At least as far as she could tell in the little bubble she knew of Elysia. After all, Frost was still no more than a fawn in this new world she had to call home.

They eventually arrived at a stone fortress. It closely resembled the fort-like castles of Earth, save that they were far more simplistic in design. Also, there didn’t seem to be a single soul present within.

Moss and ivy scaled its outer walls. The place felt abandoned, and its metal gates were hideously warped inwards, suggesting that something had breeched through. Thankfully, this seemed to have occurred years ago.

It inspired little confidence that it would protect anyone for more than a few minutes when night fell. But what surprised her the most was the appearance of a train. It rested idly in the center of the courtyard, guarded by a man dressed in a fine, dark blue suit highly reminiscent of an old-time train conductor back on Earth.

As for the train itself, it was designed closely to that of a steam train, holding 5 additional compartments. But this thing was massive. Frost had to steeply raise her gaze just to see the top of this mechanized wonder.

It was highly plated with black steel, appearing like the scales of a dragon, and each compartment had up to three different levels. How such a thing was powered baffled Frost to no end, and that was not even mentioning that it lacked wheels of all things.

The refined man then greeted them with his free hand, all the while the other carried what was quite literally a black hole; one that bent light to its whims.

“Res. What is that object?” Frost had to ask, knowing that Nav wouldn’t be able to answer her.

“The train’s Core. It’s what allows the train to move along the rails.” Res casually explained as if Frost understood anything at all.

“Huh. C’mon Froooost. It’s like you’ve never seen a train before!” Cer belittled obnoxiously, causing Frost to instantly inflict her with Darkness stacks. And to no one’s surprise, it was more of a reward than a punishment for this so called ‘proud’ wolfwoman.

“It’s a train. It moves. Like this.” Ber said, gliding an arm over the other, demonstrating its movements like Frost had the mental capacity of an infant. “What more do you need to know?”

Frost deeply sighed in response and glanced over at Res, who had to apologize in their stead for what felt like the thousandth time.

“I’m so sorry for you.” However, it was Frost who felt truly sorry.

How Res managed these two since birth was entirely beyond her. It must be a skill. An ability perhaps. Otherwise, her patience was commendable.

“And they wonder why we’re called the Jesters. Haaah. At least you understand what I deal with every. Fucking. Day.” Res painfully groaned. “This is our stop. This Express Train will take us straight to D3, right at the entrance of the City of Diamonds. From there it’s just a matter of waving that ticket in front of a receptionist.”

Scarlet Logic exited their caravan in a timely manner as Cara greeted the smiling man who seemed to be taken aback by Snap’s appearance. In the meantime, Usa and Fran arrived to help them disembark.

They all gathered behind Cara with unrivalled awe. Amid their conversation and summary of events; Cer seized the opportunity to steal the show. She took Ber aside and rolled a boulder nearby.

The woman then hopped atop and with folded arms, stared down at the others as she loudly announced:

“You ready to see gold? Coins? Games? Sharply dressed women with a perfect gaze to match?” Cer hyped the City of Diamonds for an entirely different reason than they were thinking, causing Frost to laugh a little.

But even so, the surrounding women grew excited with each spoken word.

“The Golden Index. If there’s one Atelier I can vouch, then it’d be them. They say it’s a city of realized hope! If you got the coin to spare that is! That’s why if anyone here has a few coins to spare then I’ll gladly –”

“Where the fuck is your shame!?” Res exploded, instantly firing a beam of electricity at her, sending the woman topping over. The air instantly smelt of chlorine for a brief moment as a result. “I’m sorry. The Golden Index will take you all under its wing with that ticket~ Until then, let’s ignore that one and enjoy the ride. She’s a bit sick up here.” Her demeanor instantly shifted to a graceful one.

Suffice to say, things were about to get a whole lot more interesting now that they neared their next major destination. And hopefully it wouldn’t be as bad as Grandis. Though that being said –

– Onwards to the City of Diamonds!