C93- Half a Year (2)

Back at the Institute after the construction of his workshop was completed, Corvin was walking towards his friends to eat lunch together. He sat next to Noah and across Amy.

"Finally we can actually hang out together with peace of mind. It feels like it's been forever since the last time we did this.", said Clair.

"Well, it's been like half a year roughly.", said Corvin.

"Only half a year? It felt like a thousand years for me. Honestly, convincing some stubborn old men to accept that things around them change is the most annoying thing ever. They don't listen no matter how many times I told them that some jobs are just destined to become obsolete.", complained Noah.

While Clair and Corvin nodded their heads in agreement, Amy talked.

"You guys sure had it rough, didn't you?"

"Heh, Don't worry Amy. I got you a great lab back in the village. You will soon understand what we went through."

"Please go easy on me?"

Corvin didn't answer but only changed his smile slightly, to a more cruelly mischievous one.

"Good luck, Amy."

"W-What's gonna happen to me?"

"You'll see when you graduate and become our employee..."

"Right, I remembered something! Clair. Do you remember the moving thing you made way back then?"

"Ugh... That... thing?"

"Right. I was wondering if we could make it into something actually useful instead of a broken and dangerous toy? Because honestly, this back and forth between the village is really tiring and needless."

"Hmm... Maybe... But it's gonna take a lot of time to make one. How big are you thinking about?"

"Like, a carriage."

"I see... I was thinking of something bigger actually."

"What? Bigger?"

"Yeah. Like a massive engine that pulls a bunch of carriages around... But, that would be too hard to control so it would probably need special roads that lead it where it should go."

"When did you come up with that?"

"I was just annoyed at how long it took for samples and letters to arrive, so I was thinking about something to carry a lot of stuff around fast. Since the engines are heavy on their own, I figured carrying a lot at the same time with a massive engine would be cheaper."

"Hm... Which one to choose..."

"Hm indeed..."

"Why don't you just do both?", said Noah.

""...""

Corvin and Clair stared at each other and nodded.

"That makes sense."

"Yeah, it does... Oh, but these things will go way faster, right? What are we going to do about the shake on the road. That's the most unbearable part."

"Why don't you use asphalt roads?", said Amy.

"Huh? What's that?"

"You don't know what it is?"

"No..."

"We use it in the north. Since it snows a lot, stone and dirt paths don't stay good for long. Our people used to use something called asphalt to make the roads stronger and flatter. Actually, the reason the northern trade started and became so big was because our roads were better and many merchants chose to travel through Piscea instead of Avibus, even before the Altus Empire was founded."

"Hmm... How do we do it?"

"Oh, I can do it! It is actually one of the things I worked on a lot before... you know..."

"Can we talk about that sometime later? I really don't want to talk more business and stuff.", said Clair.

"I agree. On that note, how about we go to a trip this winter break?", asked Noah.

"Where?"

"To the south. To be honest, this is a half business trip, but that part won't take long, so I say let's just enjoy a nice holiday."

"I'm down for it. I was also thinking of something similar. Well, except the going abroad part.", said Corvin.

"I want to come as well."

"Count me in too."

"Great. Get ready in two weeks, let's leave after my birthday."

"So, what are we going to do in the trip?"

"Hm... We are going to the Buthaldi Kingdom. They are a relatively new state, one of the Kingdoms that separated itself from the Armilat Kingdom when they collapsed a decade ago."

"Oh, I remember that! Pistachios were so expensive because of their civil war.", said Corvin.

"...Yeah. So, since we are neighbours, their nobles asked for some investment, to help their economy. That's why I've been researching about their land. They surprisingly have a lot of ancient sights to see, actually."

"Like what?"

"For example, the ancient City of Jarant. The city was built in the name of an ancient king who invented a way to cut and work on granite using sand since their tools weren't hard enough to do it back then. Oh, and also, the name of granite apparently comes from his name as well."

"Interesting! Anything else?"

"Well... We can visit the Southern Maers Strait, the sea there is warmer but it gets cold really fast so I don't think it's okay to go for a swim in the winter unless you want to catch a cold. But, I know Ale-An food is incredible, especially their deserts, so I want to eat a lot. We can also just ask for a guide or something to see some interesting places, can't we?", said Noah and then added in a weak voice.

"Uhh... Well also, I read that prostitution is legal in the Ale-An kingdoms..."

Clair hit his head with her empty lunch tray and talked.

"It's going to be my first time going out of the Empire, don't ruin it already..."

"Ah, that's true! The first time going abroad is kind of tense, isn't it? I was also like that a bit when we were in Piscea. But, I wanted to travel more after returning. It is really fun."

"Yes, I am tense. Actually, that's why I don't want you to come with us, Corvin."

"Wait, why!?"

"Isn't it obvious? Because you are a disaster magnet, Corvin."

"What?! Since when?"

"Are you even asking that? Tell me one time where a trip with you didn't result in a life threatening situation."

"Uhh... The Plaguehorn was something I was asked to do. That's me going into danger, not coming across danger by chance."

"Right. It is still danger, isn't it?"

"Ugh... Noah was with me in all those times, why aren't you accusing him as well?"

"Of course, I am taking sides. What else could it be?"

"You... I am leaving.", said Corvin and got up. The lunch break was ending anyways, so he started to walk towards the cafeteria to return his tray.

While he was walking, he silently gazed at the second moon Nanot, inconspicuously hanging in the sky's brightest hour, it's blue color making it almost look like a part of the blue sky. While he was looking at the mint blue coloured moon with a blank mind, he saw a small shining thing descending from the sky.

"Huh. A falling star. How pretty..."