As I'm mulling over how to do that, I glance at Elira, expecting her to be looking to me for guidance. However, she's shaking her head at Tessa.
"I have already asked Mizuki if they would explain how we could make trains of our own. He seemed rather confident that, even if we knew more about the metals and spells, it would not be possible for us to replicate the train system without Lady Nedonera." (Elira)
Tessa cuts an annoyed glance towards me.
"With all due respect to Mizuki, and to you my Queen, I don't think a teenage human with zero ability to use magic has more of a grasp on magic principles than our entire race. Perhaps he truly believes what he said, but that does not make it so." (Tessa)
Damn...that was scalding. Also, I don't think she actually intended any respect towards me. I glance at Elira, and I see that she's frustrated. She's wearing a conflicted expression as well. That's likely because she knows damn well that I know what I'm talking about, but has no way to convince Tessa of that without spilling the beans about me. I'll need to step in shortly.
Shockingly, I see Alto step forward to my left without warning, and she fixes her gaze on Tessa. In return, Tessa stares back in surprise. I'm immediately nervous because, while most people would think that Alto has a neutral expression right now, I can tell...she's pissed.
"With all due respect to you, Lady Tessa, you're actually the one that is ignorant on the subject, not Mizuki. I say so as an elf who was recruited to your Academy as a scholarship student specializing in magic, studied under the very minds you're probably referencing, and then finished at the top of her class. Would you like me to enlighten you as to why you're ignorant?" (Alto)
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit! All the politeness drops from Tessa's face, and she stares back at an unfazed Alto. A look of shock makes the rounds on everyone else's faces. That is, everyone except for Alyse, who is wearing a stupid grin.
[Hey, uhm, Alto? Do you really th-] (Mizuki)
Alas, it's too late. Tessa spits back a response, with a tone so venomous that I realize she's actually been relatively polite with me.
"I'd be delighted to hear your thoughts, commoner, and you can make sure to mind your tone as you give them." (Tessa)
Immune to any sense of when a situation is in need of diffusion, not escalation, Nina interjects with a grin on her face.
"Oh, you must not remember, elf, that Alto is your equal now. Your own Queen decreed so, yes? All members of my party are to be treated as nobles when in your country lawfully. So, if Alto is calling you Lady Tessa, then I expect you to call her Lady Alto. I will not overlook a repeat of the disrespect you just showed her." (Nina)
For the faintest moment, Tessa looks shocked. Then, she only grits her teeth with rage. Alto just watches Tessa expectantly with a small smile on her face. What the hell is wrong with these two today!? I expect this shit from Nina, but not you Alto!
After several more moments of clenching her jaw, Tessa responds tersely.
"Tch...it must have slipped my mind, Great Dragon. As I said, why don't you tell me your thoughts, Lady Alto." (Tessa)
I'm sure the shock is clear on my face....she actually did it!? Alto smiles sweetly without missing a beat.
"Certainly. To start, can you tell me what you know of Elder Dragons' magical abilities? If Lady Nedonera doesn't mind me discussing her like this." (Alto)
"Fufufu...no, go ahead, Alto. This shall be quite entertaining!" (Nina)
Tessa seems agitated by Alto's love of the Socratic method, but I notice Helena perk up for the first time in the meeting. The others at the table seem interested as well, but she really stands out. Come to think of it, she was pretty gung-ho about seeing that lie detector spell from Nina a while back. Helena takes the opportunity to interject.
"Oh ho, maybe I'm not so upset about the trains after all. From what we understand, the Elder Dragons do not age, have incalculable magic power, and have one elemental affinity. The spells they use are mostly unknown by other races, and do not require incantations. Of course, they are also physically strong. Still, Lady Nedonera recently revealed to us that they can take human form and use non-elemental magic. So, it's clear that there's a lot we don't know." (Helena)
Got it...Helena is to Elder Dragons, what Alto is to flight spells. Alto just nods at her approvingly. I sense immense satisfaction from Nina, and I notice her watching the whole conversation with an amused grin. She's obviously loving her time as an academic exercise.
"Correct. For example, why can they take human form? Why are Elder Dragons so much more adept at incantation-less magic than the other races? Why are their spells unknown to us?" (Alto)
Helena nods impatiently, but Tessa beats her to the punch with some sarcasm.
"Oh, and you're going to answer these great mysteries?" (Tessa)
Alto just smirks in response, which seems to irritate Tessa.
"Yes, I have learned much in my time with Lady Nedonera. The answer to those questions is related to another...what do you know of the gods and their magic?" (Alto)
Wait, is she seriously about to give the Elder Dragons whole origin story? I can't think of any serious downsides to that, but...telling these people anything about gods makes me nervous. Although, Azazel just straight up introduced himself to everyone he brought here, so I guess it's fine. I just hope Alto knows what she's doing.
"The gods? We know of Nedilir, from our home world, and Azazel, who brought us here, and that the other races of Azura probably had gods on their home worlds. What we know about gods' abilities is as minimal as it is incredible. They can revive the dead, move us between planets, and create objects from nothing. We speculate that they created all the races, and gave us magic abilities. Regardless, such feats would be more appropriately called divine power, not magic power. Their abilities seem so fundamentally different from the 'magic' we know." (Helena)
Alto breaks out in a huge smile.
"Exactly, Lady Helena! The gods do not have magic, they have divine power. In essence, their abilities are not like ours. They are distinct. Unattainable." (Alto)
I finally understand where Alto is going with this...
[Alto...you're a genius. Thank you. Sincerely, I was wondering how we were going to deter them from messing with the trains.] (Mizuki)
I see Alto smile smugly at my thought message. At the same time, realization seems to dawn on some of the faces in the room. This time, Elira is the one to respond.
"Alto! Are you implying that the Elder Dragons have the same power as the gods!? That's the reason why their abilities seem so different from ours?" (Elira)
For those that hadn't reached that conclusion on their own yet, Elira's outburst is an eye-widening revelation. Alto just nods.
"Yes, at least a very similar power. Essentially, the Elder Dragons were created by a god on their home planet. However, they weren't created from nothing. The god altered humans on the planet into Elder Dragons. In the process, they were blessed with abilities that defy the limitations of our magic. For example, the ability to will their thoughts into others' minds, or to manipulate earth in any way they want, all without incantations." (Alto)
No sooner than Alto finishes speaking, does Dargo speak out in disbelief.
"Lady Nedonera....truly!? Is everything Al-....err, Lady Alto says true? Even the part about the Elder Dragons being created from humans by the gods!?" (Dargo)
All eyes turn to Nina in anticipation, as though they won't believe it until she says it herself.
"Fufufu...oh yes, that's all correct. Alto did quite well explaining. That is also the reason that I can take on this human form....it was the original form of my ancestors." (Nina)
The room falls completely silent as everyone takes in that surprising information. Tessa turns to Alto with an immensely irritated expression on her face.
"So, Lady Alto, the point you're trying to make..." (Tessa)
Alto nods.
"My point, Lady Tessa, is that this is why you will never replicate the trains. It uses abilities that are fundamentally outside of the bounds of elven magic. Of course, that may not be enough to convince you to leave the trains alone. So, let me ask you this as well – why do you think that Mizuki doesn't want any of you to have trains in the first place?" (Alto)
Wait, what is she doing? I turn towards Alto nervously, and she gives me a nod that I think is meant to be reassuring, like, 'trust me'. The nonverbal exchange is seen by the others in the room, particularly my apprehension, and they seem to realize that Alto is about to reveal something I'm nervous about. Naturally, Tessa leans forward, suddenly interested.
"Well, naturally because Jorah and I do not like or trust him, and would prefer him out of the country. He resents this, and is obviously withholding something he considers valuable to make a point that we should play nice, like Alara and Cara. Helena is more neutral toward him, but the same wisdom applies. Darak...well, that decision I'm genuinely confused about, but I assume it is to make his petty withholding of the trains less obvious." (Tessa)
I can feel my mouth drop open in surprise. Not because I'm surprised that Tessa thinks that...it's pretty predictable. Rather, I can't believe she just admitted it so casually. Alto just shakes her head.
"No, not even close. To tell you the truth, Mizuki couldn't care less about your personal feelings for him. I'm sure your blinding prejudice towards humans will make it hard for you to accept, but would you like to know the real reason you're not getting any trains?" (Alto)
I look toward Alto again nervously. The real reason is Azazel's rules; I don't want to violate them and go on a killing spree. But....there's no way she'd say that.....right? If she told them that right now, I'd have to kill everyone in here except her, Ilina, and Nina. But what lie is she going to tell, and what purpose could this possibly serve? We're supposed to be building trust with these people.
Tessa raises her eyebrows skeptically, and everyone else in the room turns to look at me suspiciously. Like I'm hiding some sinister secret from them. Although, I guess I am.
"Oh? Mizuki seems nervous at the very least, so obviously there is something that he's hiding. Let's hear it, then." (Tessa)
Fuck...she's right. I do my best to make my expression neutral, and I turn towards Alto. She knows Ilina's plan, just like I do. I trust Alto. I trust Ilina. There's no way Alto would tell them the truth. I fix my gaze on Alto, and watch as she scans the faces of those in the room.
"The real reason Mizuki won't give the rest of you trains of your own is...he doesn't want any innocent elves to die." (Alto)