I consider warning Nina to not be combative, but....I glance at Ilina, who seems calm. I am supposed to be trusting them. Before I can decide whether to intervene, however, Nina gives a vicious smile to Tessa.
"No, Darak and Helena are correct...you should be thanking Mizuki. I would not have assisted your people at all without him. In fact, if you want trains of your own, then convince Mizuki you deserve them. Plead your case to him." (Nina)
I immediately feel all the eyes in the room turn to me. Tessa's face goes from shocked, to irritated, to troubled, following the declaration. If Nina thinks this little stunt is going to make them respect me more...I have my doubts.
Jorah is wearing a frustrated and conflicted expression, obviously trying to decide how to interact with his new negotiation partner. Tessa now looks resigned – probably not expecting much. Cara just seems curious, naturally. Meanwhile, Helena looks as calculating as normal, and Darak looks...I swear he looks happy with the news.
After a moment, Helena seems to think of something and looks at me seriously.
"Mizuki...we're all fixated on the train that's already here, and racking our brains about how to get our own. But Lady Nedonera didn't say that no more trains will be built. So, I have to wonder...currently, how many trains are you planning to build, and where? Also, what about other 'gifts' from Lady Nedonera? The trains are the most significant, but they're not the only strange items I've heard about showing up in Eden." (Helena)
Jeez. Leave it to Helena to ask the most incendiary question possible at a time like this. Well...I can't lie to them. Not about something like this, and not today. I give her a polite nod in return.
"Your inference is correct, Lady Helena. My Lady's support for Lady Alara is ongoing. In terms of trains, there are already three that have been built, and you can ask Lady Alara about their specifics. There are no definite plans to build more. As for any other past or planned support, please direct those questions to Lady Alara as well. I am not intimately familiar with all the details of her territory." (Mizuki)
Thankfully, Elira is aware of all three trains. We needed her permission for the Wellick and Avalon systems. But since the train to the coast is entirely within Alara's territory, and she is allowed full control over internal roads, it wasn't necessary to 'report' the western train system. Still, Elira learned about it, and the intended port city, when we had our beach vacation.
She seemed generally excited about the whole arrangement, and asked us to keep her updated. Apparently, she is thrilled about the idea of being able to get fresh fish delivered to the royal capital by train. It's normally very difficult to transport them from the coast without significant spoilage. Alas, I digress.
Unlike Elira, the rest of the nobles are shocked by the mention that three trains already exist. Which is fair. Apparently even Helena, who asked the question, wasn't prepared for the answer.
"Alara...three!? Why!? Where!? I think it's high time we had a thorough discussion of exactly what absurd developments have occurred in Eden since we last saw one another. Most of us have been stuck traveling for the majority of that time, barely scraping together intelligence reports in the meantime." (Helena)
There's a round of assent from Jorah, Tessa, and even Darak. Alara looks like she's been expecting attention like this for a while, and she merely nods.
"Certainly, I have no issue with updating everyone on the situation in my territory. After all, while items like the trains are not something I can give you, I still want to foster trade with the other territories. Regarding my short time as a noble..." (Alara)
Alara proceeds to explain...well, basically everything that's available in Eden, as well as her future plans. She mentions our house on the mountain, just...not that it's an old mansion that was teleported there. She also explains Percivil and the wolf-kin, but says that Nina transported them directly to Eden with Elira's permission.
The only thing she wholly leaves out are the MMCs, and we already warned Cara and Alyse on the train here not to mention them. Ilina was supposed to do the same with the royals.
There are a number of surprised squeals throughout Alara's summary, and the beginnings of protest or interruption, but Elira shuts them all down until Alara finishes speaking. Once everyone is caught up, the questions start flooding in. Honestly, it's quite funny to see which of the absurd revelations are most concerning to each noble.
"Lady Alara, you're living with a human!?" (Jorah)
"You're telling me that you got them to learn...the wolf-kin...and work in construction? Under an elf's command? Hundreds of them!? Also, you convinced a dwarf to do all the crafting and enchanting work for your city!?" (Helena)
"What do you mean you're building an advanced school and it will be free!? And where will you get the books for this public library!?" (Tessa)
"When you all arrived together, I suspected there was a train planned to connect your territory with Cara's. It's already done though, huh?" (Darak)
If you ask me, Darak's response is by far the most interesting. Not only does it reveal that I was right about him deducing something significant, but he also seems completely at ease. Why though? Does he think that Cara getting a train means that others will? He's sorely mistaken, if so.
Alara looks at each of the nobles and sighs.
"It sounds like most of the questions directed at me are just to confirm things I've already told you, so...yes. They're all true." (Alara)
I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing at Alara's deadpan remark toward the other nobles. While the others are all staring at Alara vacantly, Darak turns his attention to me after a brief glance towards Cara.
"So, Mizuki, what exactly does one have to do to earn a train of their own like Cara?" (Darak)
Hearing Darak's question, all the other nobles turn to listen in, their own questions forgotten. Cara takes note and sighs. Well, I guess we're hitting the end credits on this line of questioning. No point in beating around the bush.
"Sorry, Lord Darak, but I'll be frank – that's simply not going to happen." (Mizuki)
The room goes quiet, and I see genuine confusion flash across Darak's face. Ah, so he really did think 'if Cara, why not me?'.
Sorry, Darak, but that's just how it is. If I was considering it before, hearing about enchantment copying from Percivil earlier crushed the idea. I can count on my fingers the number of elves I trust at all, and most of those I still don't trust enough to make sure a train isn't abused how I fear.
It's not just a question of intent, it's competency and control. For example...Darak. With some lie-detecting from Nina, I trust that he'd genuinely put in the effort to never try and study, copy, or otherwise abuse a train under his control. However, could he really guarantee that nobody would do so? Not even Vena? If so, for how long? Vena will take his place eventually.
Even with Alara herself, I only 'trust' her to do so because of all the conditions I put in place, and because we live in Eden. There's also Alto, an elf that Alara and I trust, who is equipped and welcomed to address any train-related problems near-unilaterally even if I can't do so myself.
After a moment with a thoughtful expression on his face, Darak sighs, and I'm snapped back to reality.
"I'll admit, Mizuki, you've surprised me more than usual. You are hardly ever so blunt with rebuttals. More importantly, I'm finding it hard to understand your decision. Not advocating for your Lady to make trains for Tessa and Jorah, or even Helena...that's understandable. However, Cara and I have been in complete agreement on our interactions with you and your Lady. So, I'm confused what the diff-" (Darak)
Darak trails off suddenly, and realization seems to dawn on his face. He chuckles dryly and nods.
"Ah, of course...I'm not very familiar with how the train works, just what it can do, so I didn't realize at first. Cara wasn't given a train, was she? Not really." (Darak)
Oh, I guess he's going to answer his own question, about why we'd 'give' Cara a train but flatly refuse him. Several other nobles look confused, but Cara takes the initiative to answer their unasked question. She gives a sympathetic smile to Darak.
"You're correct, Darak. Though, I do think I've worked a bit harder than you to earn their trust and friendship. No offense. Still, I didn't ask Lady Nedonera or Mizuki to build me my own train, from say, Wellick to Avalon. I asked Alara to facilitate trade and travel between our neighboring territories, and she was given a third train. I have zero control over the train itself. Even so, I don't think the train would have been built into my territory if I was not on good terms with Lady Nedonera's party." (Cara)
As the other nobles slowly realize the implications of that statement, I see frustrated or even angry expressions start to pop up around the table. Helena Izthil gives me an annoyed expression.
"So, to clarify, Mizuki...the answer is no? If us getting trains in our own territories is left up to you by your Lady, which it clearly is, then your answer is no? And there's nothing we can do to change your mind?" (Helena)
Christ, she's not mincing any words. I see Darak, Tessa, and Jorah staring at me intently, while Alyse, Cara, and Elira just look curious about my answer. I see Ilina...it's subtle, but I think she's smiling. However, her expression seems neutral almost as soon as I look at her, so I'm not sure. Regardless, there's no delaying this answer, or the frustrations it will bring. I take a deep breath.
"I am sorry Lady Helena, but that's correct. That also goes for any of the special magic-based items provided by my Lady that you may have heard about in Eden." (Mizuki)
Helena purses her lips in disapproval, and a tense silence falls over the table for a few moments. Eventually, after scowling at me thoughtfully for a while, Tessa turns to Elira expectantly.
"Queen Elira, are you not at all concerned by this inequity? Not just the trains, but Eden's other remarkable items and attractions. The city is already so popular that, when I tried to visit it on the last train yesterday, all the inn rooms in the city were full. I don't think it's unreasonable to say that most elves will preferentially flock to Avalon, Wellick, or Alara's territory to more easily experience these remarkable things. Which, are being hoarded by one noble." (Tessa)
I don't necessarily disagree with her assessment of the situation, but that remark about Alara hoarding everything was childish. Elira gives Tessa a look that's almost as bewildered as it is disapproving.
"What exactly would you have me do, Tessa? While I would love to see these wondrous items spread across the kingdom, I fail to see how I am supposed to facilitate that. I am certainly not going to demand such a thing of Lady Nedonera. I also cannot simply erase the items already in existence. Even if I could, I'm not sure it would be right to deprive our people merely to avoid one noble becoming wealthier or more popular. From what I understand, Alara has even made the train so cheap that commoners can use it regularly." (Elira)
Tessa doesn't bat an eye.
"Then at least order the study and replication of the items like the trains. I can pull the finest elven minds in the world from the Academy and have them determine what spells and metals the train is made of. It will take time, but we are a patient and capable race. I'm sure we can make trains of our own." (Tessa)
There it is. Exactly what I knew they'd be inclined to do. Truthfully, if they're just repeatedly hitting the train's buttons and watching what it does, then trying to match that behavior to known spells, that's not going to get them anywhere. My bigger concern is what happens when that doesn't work...will they begin operating scientifically? Questioning everything?
That's the real danger. I've given them a goal, and the impression that it's attainable. Until that goal is reached through other means, or they are wholly convinced that it is unattainable for them, they won't stop tinkering, observing, and theorizing. I have to explain this away within their existing framework, so that they think they understand how the train works, but now consider it inimitable.