{ Chapter 30 }
Anyway, now that I knew the diary was the key to sending Shiz back, I didn’t need to stay in the capital anymore.
‘We’ll leave the capital and travel around. As long as I solve the crack problem before the Dawn Tower does, it’ll be fine.’
It’d be tough living as a wanderer again, but this was the best option for now.
‘The crown prince might change his mind even tonight. I’ll send my resignation letter and leave at dawn.’
Even though I’d never liked the position much, I still felt bitter about giving up my spot as royal mage. I thought about all the projects I’d worked so hard on.
I also wouldn’t be “rivals” with Aska anymore.
‘Well, things are already messed up. No point holding onto regrets.’
I let out a dry laugh. Just then, I felt Shiz wriggling in my arms.
“Hiiing…”
Ever since we came back home, Shiz had been clinging to me like a sad, wet kitten.
“S-sorry… I-I didn’t mean to go outside… It was the kitty…”
“Yeah, yeah. Who would’ve guessed that random cat was actually the crown prince’s?”
Even I was shocked. The cat Shiz had brought home turned out to be a runaway pet from the palace.
‘If I had seen its face properly before, I would’ve recognized it right away.’
But it was too late now.
“I’m sooorry…”
“Say that one more time and you’ll hit 100. Blow your nose.”
I handed her a handkerchief. She’d cried so much on the way back that her eyes were puffy. She looked kind of funny.
“You look ugly.”
“Sniff… I’m you, though!”
“I know. You’re still ugly.”
“Waaah…”
Since she knew she was in the wrong, she didn’t argue much.
After a while, I set her down.
“Okay, enough tears. Time to pack.”
“Pack?”
“Yup. We’re leaving. First train at dawn. We’ll head west. It’s a summer resort area, so it should be quiet right now.”
While Shiz stood there, confused, I moved quickly.
Thanks to all my convenient household magic, I packed our luggage in no time.
I sealed off my underground lab with multiple barriers and wrote a neat resignation letter for the palace, then sealed it in an envelope.
“Uh… sister?”
Shiz asked softly.
“Are we leaving because of me?”
I couldn’t lie and say no.
“It’s dangerous to stay here. You saw that scary crown prince today.”
At the mention of Reyester, Shiz looked even more gloomy.
“I thought he was a nice fairy…”
“See? That’s why you can’t judge people by how they look. Take Aska, for example. He looks fine but is totally insane.”
“Right…”
I helped Shiz pack her clothes and shoes.
‘Alright, looks like we’re set. Did I forget anything?’
As I thought, I suddenly remembered Aska.
“Ugh.”
I should probably tell him we’re leaving. He promised to tutor Shiz, but now things had changed.
So, I decided to leave him a quick note:
Once I was sure everything was ready, I finally caught a little sleep…
And before sunrise, I held Shiz’s hand, and we quietly left the house.
***
The Baden Station, named after the capital itself, was already busy despite the early hour.
Among the small crowd stood Shiz and me.
“M-mom! Look! That chimney is making such loud sounds! So much smoke too!”
With red cheeks and wide eyes, Shiz pointed at the old train on the tracks.
“That’s an old steam engine,” I explained.
“Is that the one we’re taking?”
“Nope. We’ll be riding a magical-powered train. No smoke or sounds like that.”
“Magical train?”
“Yup. It runs on mana.”
“Woooow…”
Little Shiz was amazed by everything at the station. It made sense—when I was her age, trains weren’t even common yet.
“Mom, what does our train look like?”
“It’s not here yet. It’ll arrive at Platform 3.”
“Three, three… Oh! I found it!”
Shiz stared at the big “3” sign and bounced excitedly. I grabbed her collar to keep her from running too close to the tracks.
‘Wait a second… I didn’t think about this.’
I sighed, looking at the two tickets in my hand.
“So they only run that line during peak season, huh…”
Turns out, the early morning train to Labota—the one I remembered—only ran during the high season.
So, our plan to leave at dawn was completely ruined.
And thanks to that, I spent hours answering Shiz’s endless questions until the sun came up.
‘That was exhausting…’
But every wait comes to an end.
Now, the train we had booked would leave in ten minutes.
“Look! Platform 3!”
Shiz pointed excitedly toward the tracks. A sleek, modern train was coming in fast.
“Is that the one we’re taking?” she asked, her eyes sparkling.
I nodded.
“Yes.”
“Yaaay!”
“When we get on, don’t be loud, okay? It’s rude to the other passengers.”
“Okay, okay!”
Seeing Shiz so excited made me feel a bit better. She had been so down yesterday; I worried she might get sick.
‘I’m glad I didn’t turn her into a bag again.’
Before coming to the station, I changed the plan.
I figured it was better for me to be the one disguised, instead of trying to hide Shiz again—it had failed once already.
‘As long as people don’t realize I’m the one with her, it should be fine.’
So I disguised myself instead.
Using illusion magic, I changed my hair color, eye color, and even my face. Additionally, I cast a light barrier to disrupt people’s awareness.
Thanks to that, even though Shiz was talking loudly, no one really paid attention.
The train’s whistle echoed across the platform. I stepped back, gripping our tickets tightly so they wouldn’t fly away.
The clattering sound of the tracks began to slow as the train came to a stop.
Passengers began boarding, showing their tickets and loading their bags.
“Let’s get on too, Shiz.”
“Okay!”
But just as we stepped onto the train—
Beeeeeeep—
“Ahh!”
A sudden high-pitched noise rang in my ears. I grabbed my right ear and winced.
‘What the heck is this sound?’
Then, a low voice echoed inside my head.
[…Rel. Can you hear me?]
“Aska?!”
That’s when I realized the sound was coming from the connector in my ear.
“You crazy mage—what are you doing?”
Aska had just forced open my mana channel and connected to it directly!
The static noise in my ear began to fade.
[If you left a note, I should get a chance to respond.]
“What are you even saying…”
Ah, right. I had left him a short note before leaving.
He must’ve just read it and contacted me right away.
[Where are you?]
“Huh?”
[I asked where you are.]
His voice sounded urgent and dark.
“Hey, are you getting on or what?” someone behind me said as they gave me a push.
I snapped back to reality and quickly stepped onto the train.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Mom? Is that Ash? Are you talking to Ash?” Shiz tugged on my sleeve and asked.
So chaotic. I nodded briefly while checking our seat number.
[Port? Train station? You probably haven’t left the capital yet.]
“I’m not telling you. Oh, here it is.”
I helped Shiz into her seat and put our bags on the shelf above.
I tried to cut the channel—but it didn’t work. I couldn’t disconnect him from my side.
‘Ugh, how did he even do this?’
Opening someone’s mana channel without permission, and making it so they can’t close it—what a genius jerk.
“Hey, can you please hang up now? We’ve got a long trip ahead, and I need to save energy—”
[Don’t go.]
Aska cut me off, sounding more desperate now.
[If it’s because of the Crown Prince, don’t leave, Rel.]
