Rise of the Archmage Alister

The convoy had gotten moving and Blas and Alliana were giggling to each other about Alister’s confused tone and expression.

“A train!” Wisteria squeaked, “I’ve been on one a few times but I mean they’re kinda newer. Not everywhere has a train! That’s like… for capitals and stuff. It’s expensive!”

“A… a train?” He furrowed his brow and looked to his father who was sitting beside him - they were sitting across from the women, “I think I remember learning a little about a train? It’s a vehicle that runs on rails, yes? But… I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before. That kind of thing didn’t exist in the past.”

Blas spoke up, nodding, “Well yes. It’s new, like she said. It’s an invention of magitech. A series of metal carriages that run on rails, pulled along by a special mechanism they’re calling a stirling engine. We’ll be taking it, yes. But the line only goes down to Fornafoss - one of the cities up north. We’ll be passing Losca, Ekrin, Bernoth, and then getting on the train at Fornafoss before passing Tulia and reaching the duchy’s capital of Rythwith. After that, we’ll be crossing into Arfranz’s territory.”

“Unfortunately,” Alliana grumbled, arms folded as she watched the trees pass by, the rattling of the carriage like a soft hum in the background. She sighed, “I wish we could just go north instead, but the train line doesn’t go around the north side of the lake yet.”

Blas sighed in turn, “As much as I’d like that, getting the line down to Losca is the first priority for that.”

“Of course.”

Alister squinted at the three of them, “I want to see this ‘train’ and its ‘engine’ once we get there.”

“No, Alister. You don’t get to play around with something like that,” Blas said, “It’s dangerous stuff that only a few enlightened minds understand… or can fix. We’ll be riding it so you can look around but you don’t get to go poking into its inner mechanics. Understood?”

Alister scoffed, folding his arms much like his mother, “Fine.”

Wisteria giggled, “You’re always so funny.”

“It’s… this is massive! It’s fascinating!” he said, “I’m fascinated. You can’t blame me for being interested in innovation!”

“Oh sure I can! It’s funny!”

“Bah! Whatever. You can find me funny all you like.”

“Well that’s good, ‘cause I wasn’t asking for permission,” Wisteria said, sticking her tongue out at him. The carriage chuckled before resting into a comfortable quietness. Alliana brought out the itinerary for their trip, and Blas rolled his eyes at the sight. She had been going on about it non-stop since yesterday.

“I think we should make good time to Losca,” she said, looking down at her papers, “It’s practically straight east of us, and mostly downhill, so I think we’ll get there before nightfall.”

“I miss spatial magic,” Alister commented, “If I could do that right now I’d just teleport us all right to the capital.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice?” his mother answered, “But that’s not exactly feasible. It’s better to focus on the present and what you can currently do, Alli.”

Alister’s cheeks reddened and he looked back out the window as Wisteria got a cheeky grin on her face. Him getting called Alli always amused her, especially how embarrassed he looked. “Wisteria you should keep practicing your magic,” he deflected, “You want to get more class choices. You could get something like Archmage’s Apprentice if you’re lucky.”

“Hah! As if!” She laughed, the two adults looking mildly annoyed the kids were being loud, but mostly amused, “Not very archmagey of you to not be able to teleport.”

“Rude.”

“You started it, Little Alli.”

“Hey! Don’t call me that.”

“I think it’s cute.”

“That’s not the problem. It’s… it’s demeaning!”

“You’re cute and it’s cute. Therefore it fits.”

“Brat.”

“Half-pint.”

“Weirdo.”

“Old kid!”

Alister rolled his eyes, “Hey father? Sir Jacob and Ode are coming too, right?”

Blas coughed back a laugh and nodded, “Yes they are. They are going to be meeting up with us at Losca. The pair got called to the city ahead of us, so this was the best way for them. I imagine having Wisteria along will surprise them.”

“I doubt it, love,” Alliana said, “Wisteria and Alister have been glued at the hip for months now. I doubt they’ll be surprised.”

“Fair enough… Oh, I really hope Salvator is going to behave while I’m gone… I hate leaving her for this long,” Blas complained, groaning into his hands, “Now, she’d be the real way to get to the capital fast.”

“You and your son both… I swear,” her exasperation and affection clear in equal measure. “Can’t just appreciate a nice train ride through the countryside, always having to be doing strange things.”

That got a chuckle out of everyone again, and Blas spoke up again, “Thank you for accepting our invitation, Wisteria. I know it must be intimidating to come along with nobles and all, but Alister really appreciates your company. I wanted to wait until we were all in the carriage to explain the situation to you. Rumors have spread by now. Archduke Nathaniel Meran has died. We are going to his funeral.”

She nodded, “I figured it was something like that.”

“Smart girl. We’ll be picking up other members of the family along the way - it’s safer to go in a larger caravan, with more knights to protect us and whatnot,” he continued, “Most of them are a little holier than thou. They might be disparaging toward you when I’m not there to defend you.”

“It’s okay, Duke. I don’t mind it.”

He waved her off, “I mind it. I give you permission and authority to tell them off if they do so.”

“Blas!” Alliana snapped, giving him a tap with her foot.

“Fine fine. Tell them off politely if they do so. Better?” He asked with an eye roll. “I’m the head of my family. To disrespect my ward is to disrespect me, and that simply won’t do.”

“Fair enough I suppose,” Alliana sighed, “Wisteria, dear, it’s a matter of status. Some nobles get offended if those of lower status act higher than their standing should allow-”

“By their thinking,” Allister interjected, his tone polite. It was out of character to interrupt so blatantly, though. For now, this just got a strange look from Alliana and Blas.

“To… their thinking, yes,” continued Alliana. “Blas and I don’t mind. We’ve been living at that town for the past five years or so, and we have a lot of contact with the townsfolk. Blas rather enjoys it. Most nobles are keen to spend time with other nobles, however.”

“I understand, Lady Alliana.”

“All the same, Blas dear, I do think we should get her some dresses when we stop by one of the cities. She may be a commoner but she is our ward for the trip. I don’t see why we can’t doll her up. It’s a… responsibility really,” she said, waving off any possible disagreement.

Blas smirked, “I like that idea. You bemoan not having a daughter to dress up and complain to, so Wisteria can be your poor victim.”

“Oh don’t put it that way! I’m not that bad!” she touched Wisteria’s knee, “I promise I’m not that bad to shop with. It’ll be perfectly fine.”

“I’m honored you’d spend such money on me,” Wisteria said with a clumsy seated curtsy, but something about it caught Alliana’s eye.

“Think nothing of it. Alliana is right. You’re our ward. As far as I’m concerned I can spend as much money as I’d like on you. At least as much as Alister - though he doesn’t want for much. He doesn’t play with toys usually.”

Alister rolled his eyes, “Of course not. I’m too busy for that.”

Blas shrugged, “Exactly. The most he’s wanted is books. Spending money on childish things for you will be a welcome reprieve. Especially for my wife. She hasn’t taken the recall in as much stride as I have.”

“I can only imagine, my lord. Alister is my lady’s child, borne of her womb. It’s… different, as I hear it from my mom. A father’s love is special in its own ways, but a mother's love is more… I dunno. Emotional, I suppose? It’s just different. My mom says men don’t feel as much need to care as women do, but she’s pretty jaded about men nowadays,” Wisteria said, still looking out the window as she spoke, “Thank you for being willing to take me on this trip and for spending money on me. I hardly deserve such attention for simply being Alister’s friend. I would be his friend no matter his status. To me he’s just a weird funny mage kid that happens to be the son of the duke.”