Chapter 11: Grancel City

As always Giliath demands your power stones!

*

Elie MacDowell...Granddaughter of Crossbell City's Mayor. So that must mean this old man is before me is...

Seeing my curious gaze, the old man smiled. Giliath began exchanging some words with him.

"This is a rather unexpected encounter indeed. What is one of Crossbell City's mayoral candidates doing here? And you even have a little one with you. What's your name?", Giliath questioned.

"I'm Elie!", The little girl happily replied.

She really is Elie...

And did father just say mayoral candidate? Now that I'm thinking about it, this old man isn't mayor yet of Crossbell City. The next election is set to take place soon. Ironically enough, it happens the same year Emperor Eugent III ascends the throne in Erebonia. More than one leader is decided then. Either way, the old man before me is Elie's grandfather, who goes by the name Henry MacDowell. He continued speaking to Giliath while Elie shot curious gazes in my direction. She probably wasn't expecting to see a kid her age like this.

There were quite a few characters in the Trailsverse that were born the same year as I was. Estelle was one. And now Elie is another. It didn't end with just them, either.

"I could say the same to you, General Osborne. You have a little one with you, even. ", Henry said, looking at us.

"It is nice to meet you two. I'm Naoto!", I replied, introducing myself.

"Naoto, is it? I'd say this is a fortuitous encounter. Elie doesn't get too many chances to make friends. Her parents...let's say are in a busy state, so I often look after her.", Henry explained.

That made sense. Elie's parents aren't exactly on good speaking terms with one another. You'd get to meet her mother, Diana, during the Cold Steel games. By then, the two would have divorced already. I'm sure this event caused Elie to become alienated with other people her age. And on top of that, she's exposed to the mayoral office and Crossbell's politics. Raising a child on top of all of that is no easy feat. Henry is very much in a similar position to father. They just have different sorts of duties to attend to.

"I take it we share the same destination, seeing you board this airship. Did Her Majesty send you an invitation to the funeral?", Giliath asked, getting right to the topic.

"Indeed. I'll be paying my own condolences to Her Majesty and her late son. I didn't think a General of Erebonia's Imperial Army would be in attendance.", Henry replied.

"My title holds nothing to this visit. I'm merely attending as a father with his son. You are welcome to sit beside us, even though Elie here already decided on her seat.", Giliath responded, laughing. Fair, Elie was already seated next to me.

"Thank you. This flight might be short, but would it be alright if Elie took Naoto to go play around for a little while? Like I said, it isn't often Elie gets a chance to make friends with her peers.", Henry asked.

"That's fine with me. Be nice to Elie alright Naoto?", Giliath said to me.

"Okay!", I happily replied. "It's nice to meet you, by the way. Why don't we go explore the airship? As long as we're in sight, that is.", I suggested to Elie.

"Okay!", Elie happily replied to me. She was shy at first, but to my surprise, she grabbed me, we jumped off the seats. Seeing her do this caused Henry to laugh, but the two adults let us to our own devices. We just wandered around wherever our curiosity went. We were two kids after all. We just made sure to stay within sight.

For the most part, we mostly glanced outside where the big window screen was, watching the airship lift off. We were in the skies before we realized it. Next destination? The country of Liberl. The home of the first Trails games, Trails in the Sky! The place where everything began!

I am not sure if I'll get to see Estelle during this trip, but I wouldn't consider my chances zero. This is a funeral service under the supervision of Liberl's Royal Family. That meant its Royal Army would be in attendance. And guess who leads the Royal Army right now? Colonel Cassius Bright.

The father of Estelle, in other words. The event to prompt his immediate retirement and become a Bracer won't take place until S1192. That was the aftermath of the Hundred Days War, after all.

So Cassius Bright should be in the military right now. It will depend on him whether or not he brings his family to attend the funeral service. If he wants to pay his respects, I'm guessing he might. If that happens, Estelle's mother, Lena, should still be alive.

Should I try saving her? I'm not sure. She's one of the first pivotal characters whose fate I could potentially change. She died protecting her daughter during the war. If I do that, I don't know if that will change future plot points. I'm just a guy trying to live his life, and experience Trails and what it all has to offer.

I shook that condescending thought for now. I was happy right now. I was even playing with Elie, one of the future SSS members! She was opening up quickly. We would dart around the first-class cabin using a lot of energy.

Before I realized it, we all heard the cabin's intercom sound off again. It would seem our play time would be coming to a close soon. Is this what a play date is supposed to be like? It was weird to have it on an airship, sure. But I think I like this. Maybe there will be more chances in the future?

"Ding-Dong! We will be landing in Grancel City in a couple moments. Please check in with your respective embassy if you're arriving from a different country and have your passports ready. This will be our terminus for today's flight. This is not our last scheduled flight for today. The next flight, bound for Ordis, will depart in one hour. I repeat...", The voice said.

After the voice said that, we all saw the airship lock into place at the docks. Following a faint hissing sound, the drawbridge locks engaged, putting the airship into place. It was now stationary. From there, the closed gate opened on its own. There were no cabin lights you'd see in an airplane, but we knew it was time to get off. I saw Elie's eyes become downcast, realizing our fun had come to an end.

"Why don't you take Naoto out into the city, Elie? We'll be right beside you. You don't mind right, General?", Henry asked.

"I don't.", Giliath replied, shaking his head. Hearing that, Elie's eyes lit up.

"Really, Grandpa?", Elie said. She then glanced her eyes my way. "Come on, Naoto. Let's go!", Elie said, urging me to follow after her.

"Okay!", I happily replied. Both Giliath and Henry did as they said they would, and stood close by as they watched us run out onto the platform. Seeing this, the old man smiled.

"Hoho, it might have just been a couple hours, but Elie is becoming quick friends with your son.", Henry said, enjoying the current sight before him. They too arrived on the platform and made sure their kids didn't wander off too far.

"I'm under the same impression. What do you think of setting up a few play dates in the coming future after the funeral is settled? I think your granddaughter will get along quite well with Naoto. I also have another son at home who is too young to be here.", Giliath suggested, drawing Henry's attention.

"Is that right?", Henry mused, hearing Giliath suggest that. "Will that be alright?"

"Why don't we see for ourselves?", Giliath responded, before his eyes glanced at the violet-haired boy and the silvery-white haired girl before him who were playing around still. "Naoto, come here for a moment. Grab Elie too.", Giliath suddenly said to me.

Saying that all of a sudden, I looked back at Elie.

"It seems my dad has something to say, Elie. Let's head back.", I said to her.

"Okay!", Elie replied, and trailed behind me. We quickly returned to my father's side. He then spoke out to us with a question, which drew our interest.

"Elie, how would you like it if you came over and played at our house in the future? We're in Trista, which is quite close to Crossbell City. I'm sure we could make it happen.", Giliath suggested.

"Really!?", Elie replied. I could see a happy look in her eyes. I raised my eyes at father. 'Just what are you trying to get at here, old man? You do realize you're asking the granddaughter of Crossbell City's future mayor, right?', I inwardly retorted. But at the same time, I was happy to see father suggest this. Now this would become proper play dates.

I just didn't think it would be with one of the major characters in Trails. Elie MacDowell!

"Hoho, I don't mind if we do this in the future. It'd be best to notify your parents first though, Elie.", Henry responded.

"I know...My parents never have time for me. That's why I have you, Grandpa!", Elie replied, feeling disheartened. Ouch, was the situation with her parents that bad already? They barely had time for each other, them having a daughter like Elie is a miracle to begin with.

"Quite unfortunate indeed. Your parents are always away from each other with their respective work. I'll ask your mother the next time she's home. I think she'll be quick to agree.", Henry responded. I saw Elie's eyes lit up again in happiness.

"Yay!", Elie replied, being happy again. She then looked my way. "I'm sure we can play lots more, Naoto.", Elie said to me.

"Hahaha! Guess that's settled, then. I'll file for some paperwork to make sure your visits are smooth coming into the country. That's always a hassle to deal with, even if you're a like-minded politician.", Giliath said with a laugh.

"I'd appreciate that.", Henry said with a nod.

After the two concluded business, it sounds like the play dates will become official. Does that make Elie my first friend?

Thinking that, we became sandwiched with other passengers that were disembarking the airship. The conversation continued along, changing topics.

"Seeing as we share the same destination, have you figured out your quarters for the evening? The funeral isn't set to take place until tomorrow.", Henry questioned. Elie and I had already returned to Henry's and Giliath's sides respectively. We were with a bunch of more people now, so it's best not for us to get lost like this. I could see other families out and about, but no one to take notice of.

"I have. It'll be at the Erebonian Embassy. Arrangements have already been made. You're in a similar position, so you're more than welcome to join us. I don't think you can stay at the Calvardian Embassy.", Giliath said.

"Thank you for the offer, but I've already booked a reservation at our hotel that we'll be staying at. We should go, Elie. I'm sure we'll see each other again at the funeral.", Henry said to his granddaughter.

"Okay! I'll see you later, Naoto.", Elie said to me.

"Same to you.", I replied with a smile. Just like that, the two departed. I was now alone again with father.

I must say, Grancel City was gigantic. Even bigger than Crossbell City, but perhaps not as big as Heimdallr. It had a much simpler layout. Four main blocks. West, North, South, and East Block. Grancel Airport was placed at the north, which connected directly to the two Embassies, making it easy to get around. The main market was also located here. To the west, you'd find more residential areas, and the Church. To the south were businesses and restaurants, and that included the Bracer Guild. Father said we'd be staying at the Erebonian Embassy, which is nearby.

I'm sure father could bark around orders at the representative there, and he'd have to comply with whatever father would say, haha! Still, I didn't think father would take a moment to grin at me. I couldn't help but grow more curious at father. He caught me off guard with what he asked of me next.

"Are you ready to meet your grandmother, Naoto?", Giliath suddenly declared.