Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 309: Arc 5, - 3: All Aboard!

Fountain that spewed water in colours of gold—the cream-hued structure with hundreds of windows that glistened the light Sun.

Four suitcases rolled out the massive doors and onto the path where a carriage awaited. "You are certain you would not like security?" Feyan followed behind.

"It’ll be fine. Asobi’ll disguise us before we leave the estate," Hotaru reassured once more.

"I’m sure you’ll get through," Daiyu stepped out the door with both hands behind her back.

"I will make them extra disguise-y!"

"Hey Soaps, catch," Daiyu tossed a small box of greenish-black.

"Wo-ah!" Asobi caught it in the hand she held her wand. She examined the little ribbon.

"Happy Belated Birthday," the princess wished.

Asobi gasped, "Can I open it!?" Daiyu gave a nod. She pulled open the ribbon and the little lid. "Ooo..." The black gems twinkled as she took the pair of clip-on earrings out.

"Go on," Daiyu prompted.

"They’re so pretty! Thank you Daiyu! Thank you-thank you!" Asobi rushed up to hug first.

"Welcome," Daiyu gave her a pat on the back. "It’s nothin’ too big," she grinned and gave a shrug.

"Pure black diopside is quite expensive to be ’nothing’..." Feyan whispered with knitted brows.

"Feyan helped pick it out too, so it’s his gift too," Daiyu added.

"Thank you Feyan!" she hopped over to hug as well.

"You are welcome Ms Asobi," Feyan gave a light hug back before adjusting his blazer.

Asobi clipped them onto her pointy ears and pushed aside her raven-black locks. She gave a twirl, "How do they look?"

Twinkles of a six-pointed white star appeared on each earring within the circular gem bordered by a silver casing; the gem itself while black, had a slight green tint when light hit it.

"Cute."

"Pretty."

"Sparkly."

Hotaru, Fumeko and Jotou replied, to which she beamed as bright as the Sun. Footsteps clacked out the foyer and their heads all turned. "Come later why don’t ya?" Daiyu half-closed her right eye.

Arabella signed something in response.

"Busy, busy," Daiyu exhaled.

The Ashen Whisper looked to the departing four and approached. She gave each of them a brief hug for goodbyes and halted at Jotou; she pointed to Jotou’s hip and cocked a brow.

"Sword’s in the suitcase. Aru said I couldn’t bring it on the train, even though Asobi could just disguise it," the blonde side-eyed.

"You don’t need a sword on the train," Hotaru’s ears pricked.

Arabella signed a reply.

"Believe me, I’ll keep practicing. Why don’t you practice so you can actually beat me~?"

Arabella’s eyes narrowed. Jotou felt a spark down her hair and jolted her head back; narrowly avoiding the ash that sliced past her neck in a crescent shape—it wasn’t going to hit in the first place, but still.

Arabella shifted the eyeshadow back to her eyes and gave a smug smirk to the blonde.

Jotou stood upright and took a breath, "Still didn’t get me," she stuck her tongue out.

Arabella shook her head and took a few steps back. She pulled an envelope out of her pocket and handed it over. With a squint Jotou took the letter with a stamp of a sailboat...

The dark-haired woman signalled as Feyan translated, "Sorry, this letter was taken by the Royal Guard and sorted through to be checked. It came a few days after your birthday, but it was a bit lost. Which is why I was late," Arabella glared to Daiyu.

Jotou read the address, "It’s from Kor..."

"Hey loser," Daiyu got her attention. She approached with one hand still behind her back and placed her other hand on Jotou’s shoulder, "I know I didn’t get you much of a birthday gift; so, I hereby declare you, the Thundering Blade."

Jotou knitted her brows and stuffed the letter into her pocket, "...Hate to pop your bubble, but I’m already that."

"No, you’re the Thundering Blade of Cravolta now too," the princess announced.

"How original," her eyes rolled.

"Be grateful," she stuck her tongue out.

"No," Jotou responded in kind.

"Guess you won’t get your other gift then~"

Jotou sighed, "Fine, it’s pretty cool."

"Was that so hard?" Daiyu revealed the present from behind her back...

The blonde’s eyes bubbled, "This..." She touched the fabric of dark greys.

"Custom-made; enchanted so you don’t even have to wash or clean it. Soft isn’t it?" Daiyu grinned. "You hardly ever took it off back then."

Jotou held up the dark grey hooded jacket... ’It looks exactly like my old one...’ The princess was swept up in a hug, "Thank you... Seriously..." she hushed.

The others said their goodbyes to each other while Daiyu hugged back, "No problem Jotou."

"You psychopath... You waited till everyone was here, didn’t you..."

"Maximum embarrassment for the both of us."

In a groan Jotou let go. Shadows appeared behind Daiyu and a brunette checked her hands. Daiyu turned to face Fumeko. Fumeko averted her gaze, "My birthday’s close you know."

"Hmm... How about I mail you a bottle of something good—top-shelf stuff."

Fumeko smirked, "I’ll hold you to that."

"See you later Fumes; congratz on your graduation."

Fumeko pouted faintly, but smiled, "Yeah, thanks." She was grappled into a hug as well; her eyes nearly popped, "You’re, crushing, me," Fumeko winced as her face was pressed up against Daiyu’s torso.

"Shall we be off?" the redhead smiled. "We should just about reach the station."

Daiyu let Fumeko go, allowing the brunette to breathe. "Well, I wanted to give you all a car, but someeeeone," her half-eyed glare faced the half-elf.

"My lady... I understand cars are commonly used in your world, but it is not the same here... There are countless issues."

"Where are we gonna stop for gas genius?" Jotou raised a brow.

"Just take like, a few canisters or something," Daiyu shrugged.

"Uh huh, cause that won’t slow us down. What if we pop a tyre since there’re no proper roads?"

"Well..."

"Time’s ticking," Hotaru had to interrupt.

Jotou and Daiyu paused and stared at each other... They both took a deep breath and sighed at the same time, before chuckling at each other for syncing.

...

How many more goodbyes before they were satisfied?

The blonde beamed, "We’ll save this conversation for next time."

The princess smiled as well, "Next time."

With their luggage in the carriage and them hopping in, the horses neighed their departure. The bronze gates of Tamara Palace opened up...

"Bye everyone!!" Asobi stuck her body out to wave an illusory hand over the carriage.

Hotaru leaned with folded arms against the windowsill and waved alongside Fumeko. Jotou stuck her head out, "See you guys!" she gave a wink as their figures grew more distant from view.

The massive palace with roofs shaped like unbloomed lotus petals, began to be hid by lush trees stretching high; the gates closed and out they were...

Daiyu took a deep breath after the carriage was no longer in view. She glanced to the skies and smiled, "Take care loser..."

_

A black-haired cat-girl took her seat by the window and set her arms on the table. Opposite her was a brown-haired woman with brilliant blue eyes; with her face a little altered alongside human ears, the Azure Firefly was unrecognizable.

"You look adorable," Hotaru could only smile as the cat-girl’s ear twitched.

"I’m kinda used to seeing your normal ears," Jotou knitted her brows. Another cat-girl sat beside Hotaru with a wand in her hand and Fumeko sat beside Jotou—purple pinafore and all.

"The seats are so soft," Asobi rubbed her hand across it.

Hotaru hummed, "Best tickets money can buy."

The train began to rumble and wheels began to chug. Soon enough, at the hour of noon they were departing southwards. Past the city they went, through the buildings and trees alike.

Not long after, they were leaving Cravolta City behind and were going through Phoolkarana. The tracks twisted here and there, going through pathways of cleared rainforest trees—a glimpse of another city or another town out the window.

Their luggage rattled above them in metal netting, as did their finished plates of lunch on the table. Hotaru flipped through the pages of her journal whilst Jotou read the letter that Kor sent her.

"From here, we go to Ralitaia City where we’ll switch trains and show our documents, before heading to Dolpool Station in Burnetrout. He’ll be waiting for us?" Hotaru checked with Fumeko.

"I sent him the letter, he should’ve gotten it immediately; so probably," Fumeko shrugged.

Jotou folded the letter back with a smile upon her lips, "He didn’t know you could do magic, did he?"

Fumeko pouted, "Guess his insight didn’t really help in that department. But considering everything that’s happened, I’m a hundred percent sure he’s figured it out."

"So Meko, what’s Burnetrout like!?"

"How should I know...?" Fumeko narrowed her eyes to the elf.

"Oh, right..." Asobi shrunk a little, "Sorry."

The brunette sighed and took a glance to the other passengers, "Don’t worry about it. It just means, I’ll get to experience Burnetrout with you all, right?"

Hotaru chuckled, "That’s a good way to look at it."

"Burnetrout’s the City of Fashion and Flare—ironic that more than a quarter of it went up in flames nearly two decades ago; even more so that our flag is red and has a phoenix on it.

Some people spell it as ’flair’, you know, correctly, but whoever decided the name thought ’flare’ had more flair. That, or they didn’t know how to spell flair.

I’d be lying if I said I knew absolutely nothing; I’ve been out before, but it was never for more than a day or without my dad right beside me.

I know some places and shops around my street, a couple of other boulevards, a mall I’ve never been to and the police station not too far away. As for the fashion, well, I’m not an expert. All I know is that the entire world loves Burntish fashion.

Otherwise, I’d just know about stuff anyone would learn in school. The person overseeing the country, would be the Grand Alderman who’s democratically elected every five years," Fumeko propped up her cheek with her arm on the table.

Hotaru gave her a subtle applause, "And for all the complaining you did whenever I explained things."

The brunette gave her a sideways glance, "The difference is wolfy, someone asked for it."

"You little..." Hotaru glared, but Fumeko’s attention was elsewhere entirely for her to even notice. Her eyes softened and instead she opted to open up today’s paper.

"You think they’ll report on us leaving Cravolta tomorrow?" Jotou supposed.

"Probably; they’ve been going on and on about the Azure Firefly even when I help with something minor."

"Like you hate the attention."

"It’s not much compared to yours Thundering Blade of Kria and Cravolta~"

"That’s a long-ass title... I don’t think anyone even knows about the Cravolta addition yet."

"Maybe you can add Burnetrout and Luxinor next!" Asobi suggested.

"That’s a bit much... I think I’m fine just being the Thundering Blade of Kria. I guess you’d be the Azure Firefly of Cravolta."

"Do you think I can get the Amazing Asobi as a super cool title!?"

"I think it’d be easier for you to be more of a celebrity. You’ve already been in the papers for your performance at the gala," Hotaru replied.

"Ooo, where better to do it than the City of Fashion and Flare~!" she lowered her voice to give off a dramatic flair.

"Shh!!!" a passenger from behind hissed.

"Oops, sorry," she whispered.

"It’s a bit of a hassle to disguise ourselves in public these days," Hotaru muttered.

"Oh what an inconvenience that is for all of us," Fumeko rolled her eyes whilst she stared out the window of the table across from them.

"Fumeko, I didn’t mean it like that."

Merely the sound of the rumbling train continued without interruption.

"Meko, look at me," Hotaru uttered.

Fumeko did as she asked—unamused.

"I know you didn’t leave on the best of terms. I don’t think you’re really worried about your ceremony."

"What gave that away?" she snarked. "I know you’re all well aware, no need to beat around the bush about it," she crossed her arms and fell back into the seat.

"I just wasn’t gonna bring it up till you did," Jotou spoke.

"It’s about your dad... Are you feeling okay?" Asobi tilted her head.

"No, I’m feeling terrible," her face said as much. "Look, to be completely honest, I don’t even know what to think right now- I don’t know what to say to him or how I’m gonna deal with it."

"Well, would you like some advice?" Hotaru queried tenderly.

"Sure."

"You’re going to have to plan what you’re gonna say. You two haven’t seen each other for a long while. Whatever happens, you need to think carefully of your actions and words.

I hated my father, but if I had the chance to talk to him I-" she shook her head. "Just don’t take it for granted, no matter what you think of him."

The brunette closed her eyes and took a deep breath... and let her crossed arms fall; she looked to Hotaru, "I’ll try."