“I know it hurts shortpuff, you can take some more pain relief elixir once we’re on the train.” Kagura shares a quick hug with Nev once within reach, an annoyed sigh huffed out afterwards before she nods and gazes off to the side.
“Stupid pain… Stupid teeth…” Rebecca and Nev chuckle a little while Kagura grumbles to herself, then look around for a few moments, quickly checking to make sure they have everything they need.
“Alright, final check. Got Seraphine, sweetheart?” Rebecca asks, Kagura nodding right as her familiar bounds up onto her suitcase. “Good, good. And your bear?”
“In my suitcase, she’s ready and accounted for.” Kagura replies while fingers scratch behind Seraphine’s ears, the familiar responding with happy purring.
“I think that’s everything then, so let’s be off.” With everything accounted for the trio departs the house, Seraphine settling on Kagura’s shoulders while Rebecca’s familiar peers about from hers. Bags are quickly loaded into the car before everyone settles in, familiars choosing to occupy laps on the drive to the train station. Though the drive is relatively shot, Kagura stares out the window miserably the whole time, a hand pressed to her cheek while an ever so slight grimace graces her features.
Fifteen short minutes pass before the car is parked in the extended stay lot, the trio filing out and quickly fetching their bags from the trunk. With familiars in tow and belongings in hand they depart into the station, Rebecca pulling up the tickets on her tome before they reach the train. A quick flash of the tickets confirms their room reservation on the sleeper car, the three being led on and shown to their room before the attendant returns to the train’s door.
“This sure looks cozy.” Kagura remarks as she idly inspects the room, making note of just how spacious it is. Four twin sized beds that fold up to become seats, a large window, plenty of baggage space, and a private shower and bathroom, a large, comfortable room suitable for a family like theirs. Once she has her bags stowed away she slumps onto one of the beds, eyes clenching shut before she presses fingers to her cheek and applies pressure once more.
“I’ve always liked these rooms, they’re comfortable, and it makes long train rides far more relaxing.” Nev’aran hums out, fetching a vial of pain relief elixir as she speaks. The demoness steps over to Kagura before coaxing her into sitting up, the vial being passed to her soon afterwards while the brunette sighs. A few sips of the sweet, warming liquid are all that is needed before the teen begins to relax, her pain melting away after mere moments.
“Mh… Better…” She murmurs, screwing the cap back onto the vial before passing it back to her mother. With a loud bellow of its horn the train begins to crawl out of the station, gradually picking up in speed as it ambles down the tracks leading to Tal’vedan. The city quickly fades into the distance, replaced with the serene backdrop of forests, animals, even the odd lake or two. Seraphine clambers up to the bunk above Kagura while she fetches her laptop and headphones from within her backpack, shoes being slid off before she settles onto the bottom bed properly and opens the laptop.
“Isn’t this nice, shortpuff? Just you, us, and nothing but the beauty of outdoors while we head to Tal’vedan.” Nev happily sighs out, a kiss being shared with Rebecca before her gaze focuses outside the window. “It’s been quite some time since I’ve been home, getting to see the family will be nice.”
“It would be nicer if I didn’t have to suffer this morning…” Kagura mutters, a sigh escaping afterwards. “It is nice, though, I’ve always wanted to see what the other nations were like, so I’m glad we get to visit Tal’vedan for a few weeks. I’ve never met any of our relatives either, with school and stuff…”
“Believe me, your relatives have wanted to meet you for quite some time, it just wasn’t ideal until now. I have time off from work, you and Becca are home for summer, now is the perfect time to go have you meet everyone. It’ll be a long trip though, the last time I took the train to visit the family it was… A day and a half, considering the stops in between.” Nev explains, Rebecca nodding while leaning into her side and getting comfortable.
“I’ve been to Tal’vedan a few times, though not recently, it’s beautiful there, and if I read right, where we’re going is not as hot as other parts of the country during the summer.” Kagura groans while listening to her parents, head slumping back a little before her eyes fall shut.
“And I thought the train ride to Solenim was long…”
~
“Hey there Mer!” Kagura says once she sees Mer’ania’s face pop up on the screen of her laptop, a wide grin quickly forming.
“Hey yourself Kags. Went with lavender this time? I think it suits you.” The demoness greets in return, a bright smile of her own visible. “On the train already? What time is it for you?”
“Nine at night, we had dinner a bit ago so we’re just relaxing, but I thought I’d give you a call while I have internet. What time is it where you are?” She asks in return, Mer’ania humming momentarily before speaking.
“Five in the afternoon, still plenty light out, though I can see it’s not the same where you are.”
“Right, right, time differences… It’s gonna take forever to get used to it being four hours earlier, though… I guess I can deal, it means I’ll get to see you after all.” Kagura chuckles before brushing stray strands of hair away from her face, her smile softening slightly afterwards. “Anyway… I should probably get going, we’re gonna be pulling out of the town the train stopped in soon and I’d rather not lose connection while talking to you.”
“Have a good night, Kags, I’ll see you when you get here.” Mer’ania blows a kiss to Kagura after speaking, Kagura miming catching it before one is blown right back. Ignoring the giggling from her parents she hangs up the call, laptop being slid off her lap before her legs are swung off the bed and she makes her way to her suitcase.
“Headed somewhere, sweetheart?” Rebecca asks, Kagura pulling her favorite gown out of her bag before looking to her mothers.
“I was gonna head up to the sightseeing car for a bit, watch things for a while.” Both adults nod to Kagura after she speaks, continuing to smile, the brunette retreating into the bathroom for a few minutes before retreating out, now clad in the soft gown. Clothes are stowed away before she moves to leave, but before she can she’s stopped by Nev’aran.
“Before you go, take some elixir, I don’t want you all pouty while you’re relaxing shortpuff.” The demoness offers out the earlier vial of elixir to Kagura, the teen’s smile softening while she steps over.
“Yeah, that would’ve been a bad idea…” She murmurs before uncapping the vial and sipping from it, passing it back afterwards once the cap is in place. Sighing quietly, she retreats out of the room and up the stairs by the end of the car, soon stepping through the connecting door between the room car and the adjacent sightseeing car. Given the later hour quite a few of the seats are taken, but it takes her no more than a minute to locate one not presently occupied, her gaze finding focus out the large window as she settles onto it.
“Wow… It’s so pretty out here…” As her gaze focuses on the dark landscape outside the window she mutters to herself, the starry sky above and the distant cities the only visible light thanks to the car’s darkened interior.
“Yeah, it is isn’t it, Grins?” Kagura jolts in surprise when a familiar yet wholly unexpected voice addresses her, gaze quickly turning towards Demetri who simply just grins down at her. “Surprised?”
“I… Uh… Of course I am, what are you doing here?” She questions, looking as if she’d seen a ghost.
“Family vacation. We were down visiting the Wild Lands for a bit, then we planned on heading to Tal’vedan, but stopped back home for a few days. I wasn’t expecting to see you here, guess it’s a nice coincidence our families are travelling at the same time, hmm?” He muses while settling in beside her, Kagura simply averting her gaze back out the window.
“I guess…” Demetri quirks an eyebrow
as Kagura speaks, the brunette gritting her teeth slightly before sighing. “I mean, it is nice to see you, you just… Scared me, I wasn’t expecting to see you here…”
“Right, I forgot you can be a little jumpy when you’re startled.” He teases, Kagura huffing audibly while her expression softens. “Lighten up, alright? You know I’m only teasing.”
“I haven’t exactly been in the best mood all day, Demetri, it’s hard to be happy when my mouth hurts…” Demetri chuckles softly before turning his gaze out the window just as she had, idly watching the passing forest not far from the train.
“Oh, right, that was today. Well, at least the pain is only for a few days, then you can enjoy the rest of your vacation in peace. Visiting Mer’ania, whatever else you’re going to do in Tal’vedan, I’m sure you’ll have a grand time, I know we will where we’re heading.” Kagura sighs before sliding down in her seat a little, electing to watch the passing landscape in silence while Demetri does the same. Before long, however, he gets up to leave, but not before looking down at Kagura while she continues gazing out the window.
“I’m gonna get back to my family, I’ll see you around Grins.” He says before departing the car, Kagura watching him leave before getting up herself. With her mood diminished she retreats back into the room shared by her and her parents, dropping onto her bunk before staring upwards distractedly. Rebecca looks over to her as she does this, then glances over at Nev worriedly before looking back to Kagura.
“Hey, sweetheart? Is everything alright?” Her question is met with the brunette rolling onto her side to face the wall of the room, a sigh escaping before her head visibly moves in a nod.
“I’m fine, mama… Just… Tired, I guess…” She lies, hoping her parents believe her and decide not to question further. Rebecca slowly stands and moves to Kagura’s side, kneeling before pressing a hand to her shoulder gently.
“Alright, if you’re sure… You can tell us both if anything is wrong, okay?” Kagura again nods before hugging Ruby to her chest more firmly, Rebecca’s hand soon leaving her shoulder as she stands and retreats back to Nev’aran. The two watch Kagura for a short while to see if she’d move, and when she doesn’t they begin to converse amongst themselves, employing whispering to keep Kagura unaware.
Ultimately they decide to watch a movie together on Nev’aran’s laptop, this passing a little over two hours of time, both glancing over at Kagura from every so often to check on her. Finally, once the movie has ended, Nev gets up and approaches her daughter, finding her fast asleep atop the covers. Rebecca is motioned over before the demoness begins carefully moving Kagura, much care employed as she settles her under the blankets without waking her. Once confident she’s comfortably covered she and Rebecca press a kiss to her forehead each, then begin readying for bed themselves.
~
“Good morning Tal’vedan, this is Ten’arius with your morning report. Earthener sightings continue to occur, though more sparse than in prior months, as the leaders of the governments prepare to issue a declaration of war against the invading mages. Thanks to the virtually non-existent levels of crime in our nations, the combat mage forces are readying themselves for a first strike, though we have received no word from the government as to who their targets are and how long they expect the brewing conflict to last. We will bring you more updates as they come, for now we go to Den’avia with weather.”
A soft yawn echoes out while the news plays on Nev’aran’s laptop, the demoness looking up at Kagura before closing the news feed and moving the computer off to the side.
“Well look who’s finally awake, good morning shortpuff.” She teasingly greets her daughter while the teen rubs the tiredness out of her eyes, hair messily strewn over her face.
“Nh… Good morning mom…” Kagura’s reply is murmured while she pushes herself up into a seated position, Seraphine lapping at her face for a few moments before settling at her side. “And good morning to you too, Seraphine… What time is it?”
“Oh, six o’clock, though that’s mainly due to time differences. We’re heading north now, instead of west, so the time won’t change any further, though I’m sure it’ll take some getting used to.” Rebecca hums out as she steps back into the room, Kagura groaning before rolling onto her stomach and burying her face into her pillow.
“It’s too early…” She grumbles out to the amusement of both her parents, Nev’aran gliding over before lightly shaking her shoulder.
“C’mon sleepy head, your mom set a time for us to head down for breakfast, if you want to take some pain relief elixir beforehand then you need to get up and get dressed.” The demoness chuckles when Kagura again grumbles, the teen gradually extracting her face from the pillow before she sighs.
“Alright, alright… I’m awake…” Kagura rolls onto her back once again before forcing herself to sit up, legs swinging off the bed and arms stretching out to either side. Once up on her feet clothes are fetched and she disappears into the bathroom to dress, roughly fifteen minutes passing before she steps out into the room once more, now clad in dark blue denim shorts, a white t-shirt with a red heart emblazoned on the chest, and knee high white socks.
“C’mere shortpuff, I’ll brush your hair for you.” Kagura nods to Nev before fetching her brush and some hair ties from her bag, the demoness’s lap being settled on soon after before she relinquishes the brush and accessories. While her lengthy brown locks are brushed out to perfection she hums a cheery tune, ignoring the pain in her mouth as best she, and before long her side is pat, Kagura hopping up to her feet now that her hair is tied off into two low braids.
“Alright, elixir, then breakfast, I think we could all use a nice meal to start our days.” Nev fetches the vial of elixir from her bag before passing it to Kagura, it’s contents immediately being sipped at until a proper amount is gone. With it’s effects immediately washing over her she sighs in relief, the vial recapped and passed back.
“Blegh… That’s so much better…” Mumbling to herself Kagura slips over to her bed and settles onto it’s edge, taking some time to put on her shoes while Rebecca sets out food for the two familiars, both of whom bound right over and begin to eat.
“Melangreve, party of three, your table is ready.” A voice calls out over the intercom, Rebecca motioning Kagura over as she makes for the door. The trio walk along down the hallway together, heading up the stairs and through the sightseeing car before entering the dining car, the booth set aside for them being settled into and menus handed out.
“Mm…” Kagura idly hums to herself as she looks it over, though her gaze continually falls out the window for a few moments, the continually passing landscape of interest to her. Eventually she settles on something, not finding anything she’s overly interested in, maple and cinnamon oatmeal with juice ultimately being chosen. Once food orders are placed she turns her gaze back out the window, watching the passing jungle to her right, a variety of animals able to be seen meandering about in the early morning light.
“Excited, Kagura? We’ll be arriving today, about twelve more hours until the train reaches the city.” Rebecca hums out, Kagura nodding slowly while she continues watching the passing outdoors.
“Definitely, it’s beyond beautiful here, more than I expected from what we’d learned in school, so I can’t wait to see it in person, and not just from the inside of the train.” She says while her smile begins widening, Nev’aran chuckling a little before reaching over and ruffling her hair lightly.
“It really is beautiful, huh. I forgot just how much, given how long I’d been away. It’s really nice, getting to take you both to meet family, and after everything that you’ve both been through, well, I just want this to be a relaxing and fun trip, for all of us.”
th friends
Embers of the Past Page 18