The Soaring Eagle

0700 Hours,

Hotel Metropol,

Moscow,

It had been a sleepless night for Yagou as he dwelled on what he had learned, it didn't help that he noticed that none of the nations truly trusted each other which he understood, but the level of mistrust between some of them was astounding to him since in their world, most countries went to war at such a point.

Nonetheless, he walked over and washed his face with the faucet before getting dressed, it still surprised him that these otherworlder's could maintain hot and cold water at demand without any need for magic, but he still didn't quite get what they called 'Science' but he would rather leave such discussions to their Royal Mages and Alchemists.

Stepping out of his room, Yagou soon encountered Hanki and Elara, the latter deeply absorbed in a book to the extent she didn't notice his approach.

Driven by curiosity, Yagou peeked over her shoulder and saw an array of paintings inside it, as Elara eyed them hungrily.

Startled by Yagou's unexpected presence, Elara yelped and leapt aside shouting, "Hyaaa! , who's there?" 

Upon catching Sir Yagou's gaze, Elara quickly attempted to conceal the book hastily behind her back. "Sir Yagou," she inquired, "to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

Yagou, puzzled by her sudden shift in behaviour, fixed her with a firm gaze. "What are you concealing behind your back? Don't pretend it's nothing; I saw you trying to hide it," he pressed.

Elara clicked her tongue and reluctantly presented the book, now visibly flustered by the situation.

Yagou, his curiosity piqued, raised an eyebrow taking the book from Elara and examining it. Though the language was unfamiliar, the illustrations within clearly depicted a narrative, one that seemed to grow increasingly risqué as he flipped through the pages. The imagery of scantily clad women partaking in dubious activities caused Yagou's face to flush with disapproval.

He fixed Elara with a stern look, his voice firm. "Elara, where did this come from? It's certainly not from our homeland?"

Lacking the courage to meet his gaze, Elara nervously fiddled with her fingers, murmuring to herself.

Yagou's patience waned after a silent few minutes, his frustration peaking as he raised his voice, "Lady Elara Syncalis, speak up! Where did you acquire this?"

Elara hastily confessed, cracking under pressure, "A guard had it. It seemed intriguing, so I... I took it from them. Please, forgive me!"

Yagou sighed, placing a hand on his forehead. "I understand your curiosity, but that doesn't mean you should indiscriminately accept such things from others. We are here as representatives of Qua-Toyne, what would they think of us if you behave like this," he gently admonished.

Tears began to form in the blonde elf's eyes as she nodded in understanding. Yagou, softening, tousled her hair reassuringly. "You're young, and it's natural to make mistakes. What's important is learning from them, especially given your status as an aristocrat."

"Mmh," she murmured, her eyes still tinged with red but noticeably calmer as she met Yagou's gaze directly. "Thank you, Sir Yagou. I promise not to disappoint you again!" With those heartfelt words, she quickly scurried away.

Hanki observed the scene with an amused expression and couldn't help but laugh loudly. "Well, that was quite the spectacle, wasn't it? It's been some time since we've had such excitement within the diplomatic corps!"

"Let's not dwell on it further; we should head to the 'Airport' for the next part of our journey," Yagou suggested, exhaling wearily. The constant emergence of complications was taking its toll, evidently making him want to finish up as soon as possible.

Nodding, they swiftly gathered the rest of the delegation and made their way to the Sheremetyevo International Airport without further delays.

…

0900 Hours,

Sheremetyevo International Airport,

As the delegation navigated their way through the airport, they noticed a man standing near the entrance, observing them with marked interest.

Nelson C. Neal, assigned to facilitate the entry of the interworld diplomats into the US, found himself grappling with disbelief. The notion of envoys from another realm was something he had encountered only within the pages of Japanese light novels. This surreal turn of events seemed all the more astonishing, considering his previous tenure at the Swedish Embassy was as interesting as watching paint dry.

Witnessing the delegation, including the elves, stride into the airport, Nelson's eyes widened in amazement. Such fantastical beings had been confined to the pages of the novels he cherished, and seeing them in the flesh was nothing short of a miracle.

However, this moment of awe was fleeting as a swarm of unruly reporters surged forward, prompting Nelson to run to safeguard the delegates from the pressing crowd.

"Excuse me! Coming through," he called out, navigating through the crowd of reporters, making a path for the delegates. Finally reaching them, slightly out of breath from the jostling crowd, he extended a hand, introducing himself, "Hello, I'm Nelson C. Neal, assigned to assist you throughout your visit to the United States of America."

Yagou greeted the young man with a firm handshake, attentively sizing him up. "An honour to meet you. I'm Yagou, from the Qua-Toyne Foreign Affairs Ministry. I'll be under your guidance," he expressed with earnest respect.

Nelson found himself momentarily taken aback by Yagou's polite manner, such humility he hadn't often encountered in his diplomatic experiences. Not wanting to make it more awkward, he promptly responded, "Of course, please follow me. I'll lead you to your flight."

Yagou looked around the airport, amazed by the massive glass panels around the entrance, he'd never seen such construction before, it seemed that this was how they put together the massive glass towers.

It took him some time to gather himself, but soon enough, they arrived at the airbridge. Peering through the glass, Yagou witnessed the approach of a colossal metal entity.

Although he'd heard of these Airplanes from the other officials, seeing one this close was something else, it looked like an Iron Bird of Prey.

Hanki, meanwhile, was utterly astonished. Though familiar with the reports, the actual size of the aeroplane exceeded his expectations, contrasting with the more boatlike, levitation-capable Parpladian Airships he knew, which relied on rune-enchanted wind stones for flight.

Nelson soon approached them, signalling it was time to proceed. "Let's go, Sir. The aircraft will take you to New York," he informed them.

As they moved towards boarding, Yagou leaned in to ask Nelson quietly, "Are these metal wyverns safe?"

Nelson paused, momentarily due to the terminology but quickly grasped the meaning, "Yes, they're considered quite safe. Is there a particular concern on your mind?" he inquired 

Yagou shook his head and replied, sweating mildly down his neck, " No it's nothing. Forgive me for asking!"

Noticing Yagou's unease, Nelson gently bowed and offered reassurance, "No need for apologies, Sir. I'm here to assist. Feel free to inquire about anything."

Yagou looked at him momentarily before stuttering nervously, "Are….. these things used in war?"

Hanki, drawn by the conversation, moved closer, equally intrigued by the craftsmanship of these metal vessels, unlike anything they had encountered in their realm.

Nelson hesitated to answer, though he knew that being truthful would be best, it simply didn't that that would make for a good first impression to someone who had little knowledge and understanding of their world, so he did what any patriot would do, and replied with a measured smile, "Yes, on occasion, but please be assured that our military operations are conducted with utmost caution to minimise collateral damage."

Yagou looked at the boy with a scrutinising gaze and decided not to pursue it, it was apparent that he was trying to hide something, for he had never heard of war without blood no matter how advanced civilisation had become.

Acknowledging Nelson's attempt to reassure them, they entered the aircraft, finding their seats remarkably comfortable. The arrival of attendants to assist with seatbelt fastenings left Yagou puzzled; the necessity of such precautions in an enclosed space was unusual, to say the least.

Nelson found his seat close to Elara, who was utterly captivated by the view outside, her face pressed onto the plane window staring outside with starry eyes.

Yagou facepalmed and sighed whispering to himself, " I really shouldn't have brought that little brat with me no matter how much her mother insisted, she learned all of nothing from morning's incident it seems!"

Hanki, contrastingly, was thoroughly enjoying the flight's luxuries, savouring a glass of red wine with a delighted grin, embracing the novel experience with all the enthusiasm he could muster.

Within a few moments, the aircraft began its taxi to the runway, as they made final preparations for takeoff.

Soon, an announcement rang out over the speakers, "Ladies and gentlemen from the New World, welcome aboard Flight 4B7 to New York. I'm Captain Amelia Everhart. We're queued for takeoff and will be airborne in about 6 minutes. The flight duration is approximately two and a half hours. We hope you enjoy your maiden aeroplane journey. Rest assured, I'll update you as we prepare to land."

As yagou looked out of the window, he felt the massive craft move, as it slowly made its way to a strip of paved road, no dissimilar to their Wyvern launch pads.

Yagou gripped the handrest tightly as the plane picked up speed, the acceleration pressing him back into his seat with a force he had never experienced. As the aircraft ascended, a sensation of unease washed over him, his ears suddenly feeling as though they were blocked, adding to his discomfort during the ascent.

Gazing out the aeroplane window, Yagou was struck by the vast expanse of the city below. He observed countless individuals bustling through their daily routines, amidst towering structures that seemed to challenge the heavens themselves.

Soon, the aircraft climbed above the cloud layer, and Yagou, feeling slightly uneasy, scanned the cabin. He noticed Hanki had dozed off, while Elara was deeply engaged in conversation with Nelson. Finding himself without distractions, Yagou decided it was the perfect opportunity to catch some rest and gently closed his eyes, hoping to pass the time with a brief nap.

As Yagou surrendered to slumber, he had wished for a dreamless rest, yet fate decided otherwise.

…

As Yagou ventured into the void, he was drawn towards a shimmering light at the end of a lengthy corridor. Upon reaching it, the light enveloped him entirely.

Confused, he wondered about his location, just as he spotted an alternate version of himself before a grand structure, tears in his eyes.

"What in god's name is going on, why am I there?" he thought, as he spotted people exit the building.

They looked to be from the United Nations going by their uniforms, which further confused him as he didn't understand why he would be standing in front of them with such a face.

Attempting to approach them, Yagou was halted by an unseen barrier, adding to his bewilderment in this surreal dreamscape.

Then, a familiar voice echoed, seemingly his own, coming from the figure on his knees, pleading earnestly, "Please, I beg you, do not proceed with this. Once done, there's no reversing. I implore you, please think of the people!"

The group in front merely shook their heads and responded solemnly, "Forgive us, but we've already gone too far to stop now!"

Yagou watched in disbelief. Never had he knelt in supplication even during his dealings with Parpladia, raising the question: what dire circumstances had led to such a gesture?

As the scene unfolded, another person emerged, yelling with frustration, "Forgive me, Mr. Yagou, but this should have been considered before they attacked us. We aimed for friendship, yet they spurned our goodwill and harmed our people. While our world may not appear as battle-scarred as yours, believe me, we have seen our share of conflicts!"

The scenario faded to black, leaving an image of Yagou-2 sitting despairingly on the doorstep as the last thing Yagou saw.

Yagou was gripped by fear from the vision, puzzled over what could have caused the usually composed UN representatives to exhibit such intense rage.

Soon another light came through, but it wasn't as bright as the last one, instead, it held an ominous red hue as if tinted by blood.

Yagou fearfully walked towards it, hoping for the best but yet that was not to be.

What came to light was a city, much like theirs, engulfed in flame with swarms of aircraft unleashing destruction overhead. Explosions erupted in their wake.

Soon the scene zoomed into somewhere nearby, he saw men with black masks holding some flame-spewing device, burning down villages and towns alike, leaving only death and destruction behind.

Children, Women, and Animals none were left after the Carnage they caused, massive beasts of Metal running over people, explosions that shook the earth and dragonfly-like machines firing explosive projectiles at retreating soldiers.

Yagou, overwhelmed by the horror, felt a surge of nausea. "Who are these men? Has the ancient sorcerer's empire returned?" he wondered in despair. 

But the truth was more grim: unmasked men and women joined the chaos, representatives of all five newcomer nations he had initially encountered in peaceful settings.

Once more the scene plunged into darkness, but this time, it left only silence and despair in its wake. Overwhelmed, Yagou collapsed, succumbing to the weight of his visions as he fell back into a deep, uneasy sleep.

…

TBC