The Northern Bear

Murmansk Central Rail Station,

Russian Federation,

As Yagou gazed at the elongated metal structure before him, memories of a similar creation from his travels to Parpladia surfaced. They called it a 'Magic Locomotive', a marvel of their time. But this... this was different. 

The metal snake lacked the prominent spouts that belched magicites, driving the locomotives of his world. Nor could he spot the enchanted stones that typically fueled such engines.

A sudden realisation dawned on Yagou, prompting him to approach General Hanki with a hint of apprehension in his voice. "General, these people... I believe they might be devoid of magic."

Hanki's eyes widened in disbelief, his voice barely a whisper. "Impossible! How can that be? Even the Mu, unable to wield magic, possess magicites within. How could any living being completely lack it?"

Yagou shook his head, his confusion mirroring Hanki's. "I'm not certain. But when I looked at the people through my skill glass, there was no trace of Mana's glow. I've never encountered a living being devoid of it."

A cold shiver ran down Hanki's spine as he grappled with this unsettling possibility. "What could they be? They craft such marvels yet lack mana. Are they akin to demons, or something beyond our comprehension?" The thought left him unsettled, the unknown nature of these people casting a shadow over their technological wonders.

Shaking off their sudden discomfort, Yagou and Hanki quickly took their seats by the train window, their minds still swirling with unanswerable questions. The delegation soon joined them, filling the cabin with a murmur of voices and the rustle of movement.

As the train began to move, Yagou pressed his face against the cool glass, watching as the landscape of Murmansk gradually transformed before his eyes. The city's buildings soon gave way to the Snowy Tundra of the Siberian Lands.

Hanki, sitting beside Yagou, seemed lost in thought, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery. The rhythmic clatter of the train seemed to lull him into a contemplative silence.

A member of the delegation, a young diplomat named Elara, leaned forward with a look of excitement. "Have you ever seen anything like this in our world, Sir Yagou?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Yagou turned from the window, considering her question. "Quatoyne has its wonders," he began, "but this... this is something else. The sheer scale of everything, the speed at which we travel, it's like living in a tale from the ancient scrolls."

Elara nodded her expression a mix of fascination and eagerness. "And to think, this is just the beginning. We have so much more to see, so much more to learn from these people."

Engrossed in their thoughts, the delegates scarcely noticed as time slipped by, fluid like a river. Before they knew it, the day had melted into night, and they were gently roused from their reveries as dinner was served.

As they began to dig into their meal, a man donning a Fedora approached their table. With a confident stride, he sat opposite them, resting his arm casually on the table. He flashed a quick, enigmatic smile and said, "Good evening, I hope I'm not intruding," he began, his voice carrying a hint of a Russian accent. "I'm Agent Ivanov, with the Federal Security Service."

Yagou's gaze sharpened upon hearing Ivanov's words. "And what exactly would your business be with us?" he asked, cautious not to entangle themselves in the internal politics of this unfamiliar country.

Ivanov's response came with a quick, knowing smirk. "Naturally, we wouldn't want to impose any inconvenience upon you. However, might I pique your interest with some insights into our world?" he proposed, deftly producing a book titled 'Theory of Mechanics'. "In exchange, perhaps, for a small measure of cooperation on your part?"

Yagou's eyes widened at the sight of such knowledge since the diplomats had told him that books and cultural exchanges would begin only after their apparent visit to the five nations.

Resting his arms on the table, he scrutinised Ivanov keenly. "What exactly are you proposing?" he inquired, his voice tinged with caution.

The man, Ivanov, smiled enigmatically. "Let's consider a mutually beneficial arrangement," he proposed smoothly. "You could provide us with some of your rare magic stones; in return, we offer technological secrets. The government will soon regulate these exchanges so that direct negotiation could benefit us both."

Yagou studied Ivanov's face, searching for any hint of his true intentions behind that smile. With a grim expression, he responded, "Why the need for directness? Wouldn't official channels be more appropriate for such discussions?"

As Ivanov was about to respond, he suddenly glanced at his watch and swiftly donned his fedora, standing up. "I would have loved to continue our talk, but time is not on our side. Consider the book a gift," he said hastily.

The next moments were chaotic. Alarms blared throughout the carriage, and security personnel rushed in. Amidst the confusion, Yagou stood up, calling, "WAIT!" But it was too late. Ivanov had already vanished into the night through a nearby exit, leaving a trail of unanswered questions behind.

…

Central Calendar Year 1639, Month 2, Day 8

Leningradsky Railway Terminal,

Moscow,

As dawn's light filtered through the window, Yagou awoke, the previous day's startling event replaying in his mind. The entire delegation was in disarray, struggling to make sense of the man's abrupt exit from a moving vehicle.

Following the security team's debrief, the group gathered for breakfast, visibly shaken by the previous day's events, they looked rather bewildered by the incident with more and more things about the unusual world that the New Worlders lived in coming to light!

Yagou cast a worried glance at Hanki, leaning in to whisper, "We might be in over our heads. From what I've seen, these people could either be our world's salvation or its undoing."

Hanki offered a silent nod, unable to dispute Yagou's insights. As the train stopped and the delegation disembarked, they were immediately enveloped by a sea of reporters and journalists surging forward with their microphones and cameras intent on being the first to show the world these Otherworldly beings.

Security personnel swiftly formed a protective ring around the delegates, holding back the tide of ambitious journalists.

Amidst this chaos, Yagou and his companions could hardly catch their breath before being swiftly ushered into a limousine. 

The vehicle surged forward with such velocity that it left several New World delegates grappling with nausea, the abrupt acceleration catching them off guard. They were swiftly conveyed through the city's arteries, all converging towards the Kremlin—signalling the onset of their inaugural negotiations.

…

Kremlin,

Moscow,

As the limousine doors gracefully opened, the delegates were greeted by Moscow's brisk, refreshing air. Yagou and Hanki, leading their group, found themselves marvelling at the Kremlin's grandeur. Its iconic red brick walls and the majesty of the surrounding cathedrals were a spectacle that commanded awe.

Yagou especially, was struck by the sheer architectural magnificence, a sight unrivalled by anything he had encountered before, even in the famed palaces of Parpaldia. The towering glass structures he had seen during their journey here, although impressive in their own right compared to this grandiosity.

Catching up with Hanki, who stood astounded by the scene with a hint of a smile, Yagou shared his amazement. "General, the depth of these people's heritage is astounding. If such structures were built even within the last 200 years, then the roots of their civilisation must extend far deeper than we ever imagined!"

Hanki brought a hand to his chin and snickered lightly. "It appears they're not as alien to us as we initially thought," he remarked with a soft chuckle, gesturing towards the familiar brickwork of the walls.

Yagou returned Hanki's smile with a gentle one of his own and offered a reassuring pat as a silent gesture of their combined realisation. Together, they proceeded toward the entrance, where the Russian delegation awaited their arrival.

Upon reaching the entrance, they were greeted by the familiar face of Victor Mikhaylov, the Russian diplomat they had first encountered during the initial contact. He approached them, arm raised high in a gesture of welcome.

Yagou momentarily hesitated, recalling the diplomatic customs they had been briefed on, before firmly shaking Victor's hand. Victor greeted him warmly, "Welcome to my country, Mr. Yagou. It is our pleasure to host the first delegation from your world!"

Yagou curtly bowed, expressing his gratitude, "The honour is ours, to explore the wonders of your esteemed nation. We are truly grateful for this opportunity."

Viktor acknowledged with a nod and signalled to the security personnel. Leading the way, he guided the delegation into the majestic Grand Kremlin Palace.

They soon arrived at the grand entrance of the Hall of the Order of St. Catherine, where the Russian president and his council of Ministers awaited. 

Gathered around an oval table, the assembly was poised to greet the New World Delegation with open arms, symbolising a momentous occasion in their diplomatic endeavours after the disastrous conflict had isolated them.

Yagou and the rest of the delegation poised themselves and confidently walked in offering a respectful bow to the assembled Russian ministers, a customary gesture in their culture. 

"We represent the Qua-Toyne Principality and are honoured to accept your gracious invitation to your esteemed nation," they introduced themselves.

The ministers were visibly disturbed by their excessively self-deprecating greeting though quickly regaining their composure, expressing gratitude for the delegates' presence and inviting them to take their seats to commence the session.

Around them, the historical event was being captured by numerous camera crews from national and international news agencies, broadcasting this groundbreaking meeting between the natives of Qua-Toyne and Earth to the five nations.

Once the initial pleasantries were concluded, Russian President Boris Lavrov commenced the session with an enthusiastic tone, "Welcome, esteemed delegates from Qua-Toyne. This day marks an extraordinary chapter in the annals of the Russian Federation. As we embark on this role as pioneers in interworld relations, let us celebrate this momentous occasion with joy and fellowship!"

The applause filled the room, and a shared expression of enthusiasm and solidarity from the ministers and the visiting delegates eventually subsided as the first negotiations commenced.

Foreign Minister Irina Gobulev, whom Yagou had encountered earlier, rose promptly to initiate the discussion. "Let's address our stance on international trade between Qua-Toyne and Russia," she proposed, setting the stage for the pivotal dialogue.

Yagou was momentarily startled by the unexpected direction of the conversation. He had braced himself for demands of resource handovers or worse, subjugation. Yet here they were, delving into the possibilities of trade, a prospect they had only dared to hope for.

In a moment the solemn expressions of the delegation had turned to joy as the Russians presented an elaborate overview of their market.

Yagou found himself rather perplexed by the details, encountering terms completely unknown to him. 

But what truly drew his curiosity was that all the people he had seen on the streets, had a rather acute sense of time even though it seemed that they lacked any sort of bell or central clock.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Yagou rose, his expression alight with eagerness. "Pardon my interruption," he began, his voice tinged with fascination, "but could you enlighten us on how the people of Russia manage to keep track of time so precisely?"

Irina responded with aplomb, clearing her throat before enlightening them, "Ah, we commonly use devices like phones or, more traditionally, wristwatches to measure time. I trust this answers your question?"

The revelation left the Qua-Toynian delegates in awe, as such compact timekeeping devices were unheard of in their realm.

"I understand that these may be included in the list of traded goods?" Yagou replied with much intrigue.

"Indeed, wristwatches would be included among the items in our free trade agreement," affirmed a minister, extending a translated document towards them, detailing the various trade items.

Following a lively exchange, both parties reached a consensus, culminating in the signing a free trade agreement. This pact included provisions for exporting certain crops, identified as being in high demand within the Russian Federation, marking a significant step forward in their mutual relations.

The moment was historic as both delegations concluded the treaty signing with a handshake between Lavrov and Yagou, captured in a photograph, marking the official completion of the first-ever treaty between the New World and a Terran Nation.

…

Hours later,

Inside the Hotel Metropol Moscow,

Overlooking the Red Square, Yagou found himself lost in thought yet again as he gazed upon his diary, reflecting on the stark contrasts between their societies.

 The day's discussions had revealed a surprising openness, a far cry from the dominance he had anticipated from a nation of their stature. With the treaty now sealed, their journey would take them to the 'United States of America', the most formidable of the five nations. 

Compelled by these reflections, he once more opened his leather-bound diary to chronicle his insights,

||

8th day of the Third Month of 1639

Life in the Russian Federation,

It has been an eye-opening time for me in this Country, these people, are just so different I find it hard for me to relate, their thoughts, lives and worries are so drastically out of the world for us that it seems like a fairy tale, of course, they aren't without flaws either, since inequality and poverty are still issues but on a scale far smaller than I have seen in the lands I've visited till now.

Their apparent lack of magic has made them seek alternatives we would have never thought of, a method of high-speed transportation called the 'Railways' seems to dominate the public transport system as I have seen myself, large towering glass buildings line large methodically paved roads which streak high into the air and from what I hear this country is not even the richest of them all.

It makes me wonder what kind of history necessitated such intricate development, for I've never seen growth without conflict in my entire life thus it leads me to believe that these people may have a long and bloody history much like ours, though it does comfort me to see brick and mortar buildings time to time making it feel less distant to my home.

Nonetheless, this was but one of the five nations and each is supposed to be as distinct as the three civilisation spheres, I will learn more about the way of life and technology when we reach the United States of America, this single moment may have changed the destiny of Qua-Toyne forever.

Thus with a joyous outlook I end this, may the goddess watch over our lives and bless the souls of her children.

||

Swiftly closing his aged leather diary, Yagou reclined on his plush bed, quickly succumbing to sleep, weary from the day's endeavours.

At the same time,

Inside the Kremlin,

Hours after the meeting concluded, President Lavrov found a rare moment of tranquillity in his office. Seated comfortably with a glass of wine, he savoured the quiet, a luxury seldom afforded since the onset of the conflict initiated by his predecessor. Balancing the demands of the Duma and the nation's oligarchs had left him little peace, especially with sanctions-straining recovery efforts. Despite some relief from reserves, the pressures from Western scepticism and domestic opposition weighed heavily on his mind leaving little room for rest.

Exhaling deeply, President Lavrov reached for the landline, dialling a number. He waited for the connection, a hint of anticipation apparent. Upon hearing the line pick up, a slight smile graced his features. "Rolan, have we any updates on the thawed territories?"

"Yes Mr President, we've found traces of the element as per the reports from our agents inside the PRC, it seems they weren't lying after all!" an eager young voice replied from the other side.

Lavrov swirled his last bit of wine and drank it before putting the glass down and clasping his hands, "Excellent work. Keep digging for more information. We must keep this under wraps, especially from the Americans," he instructed firmly, as he glanced at something underneath the table.

"Understood, Mr. President, "came the prompt reply before the line went dead.

After setting the phone down, Lavrov's gaze shifted to a folder bearing the ominous title "Журнал Межпространственных Путешествий".A rueful laugh escaped him as he mused, "It seems this incident has far more to itself than we first thought after all, for all I know, we may just be pawns in the hands of some entity, but I'll be damned if I let them walk over my motherland while I'm alive!"

Seizing the folder, Lavrov exited the room, his thoughts still swirling with unease at the revelation.

…

TBC