“So you were here! Dinner’s ready. Father insists we eat together.” Said Siesta shyly.
“I did ask you to come visit, but I didn’t expect it to really happen.”
Siesta stretched both her arms out at the wide field before them. The setting sun bathed the field in a beautiful light.
“Isn’t this field beautiful? This is what I wanted to show you, Saito.”
“Yeah, it is.”
Siesta then cast her eyes downwards and twiddled her fingers.
“My father said that meeting with someone who came from the same country as grandfather must be fate. He asked if you could settle in the village. And then said if you did then I… could stop my work at the academy and return here with you.”
Saito didn’t reply. He just stared at the sky. He was thinking of how kind Siesta was to him. If she said any more nice things to him, his heart would probably melt. He felt lonely when he saw Siesta happily sitting and chatting with her family. After seeing the zero fighter, his homesickness grew much more intense.
Siesta looked at Saito who was still staring at the sky and smiled.
“But, it’s alright. I know it won’t work out. You’re like a bird. You’re bound to fly away some day.”
Saito then decided to tell Siesta the truth.
“Your grandfather said he came from the east, right?”
“Um…yes,” Siesta said, slightly worried.
“Your grandfather, like I, wasn’t born in this world.”
“You were born in Rub' al Khali in the east, right?”
“No. It is much, much further than that.” Said Saito in a serious tone. “It’s a different world. I’m not from this world.”
“You’re just playing around with me aren’t you? If you don’t like me, then just say it.” Said Siesta, pouting her lips.
“No, it’s not that at all. I’m not playing around with you.”
“Is there someone waiting for you there?”
“No. But my family is waiting. I'll someday have to leave this world for my own.”
Saito turned to Siesta, and said weakly, “That’s why I can’t do the things you mentioned.”
Saito was very serious. Siesta knew he wasn’t joking around.
“I can protect people with my power while I’m here. But that’s all. I don’t have the right to reside with anyone. I don’t.”
“But my grandfather did, didn’t he?”
“Your grandfather didn’t have the power of Gandálfr like I do. Up until now, there have been many enemies, but I’ve defeated them with this power. I feel as though this power will guide me.”
“Then… Can I wait for you? I don’t have any qualities, but I can wait. If you try your best to find a way home and you still don’t, then…”
Siesta then became silent. If that really happened, what would I do? Saito thought. His pulse raced just by looking at Siesta. She was cute, and stunning without clothes on. She’s kind and can even cook. She’s a great girl. All the more reason why he couldn’t promise her.
Regaining herself, Siesta smiled.
“A carrier owl just sent this. It seems like the teachers are very angry. Miss Zerbst and Mr. Gramont were pale. They mentioned me as well. They said that I could have a holiday for the time being. The princess’s wedding is coming soon anyway. So until the holiday ends, I’ll be here.”
Saito nodded.
“Um… so can you make that Dragon’s Raiment fly?”
With gasoline, probably, thought Saito.
“I’m not sure. I have to talk it over with someone first. If I do get it to fly, I want to go to the lands in the east. Your grandfather flew over from there, right? There must be some hint there.” Said Saito, watching the setting sun.
“Really? If you could get it to fly, then it would be wonderful. The Dragon’s Raiment was called a Zero fighter, right? If you get it to fly, then please let me ride it just once.”
Saito nodded.
“I can let you ride it as many times as you like. It was your family’s to begin with anyway.”
The following morning, using a few of Guiche's dad's connections, Saito managed to obtain the services of a few dragoons and their dragons. They carried the zero fighter in a large net to the academy.
Guiche initially wondered why they were carrying the useless “Dragon's Raiment”, but because Saito insisted on it, he gave in. The costs of making a large net and calling the dragoons were ridiculously high. Saito was troubled because he obviously couldn’t afford the transportation fees. However, as soon as the Zero fighter arrived in the courtyard of the academy, someone appeared in an instant and paid the fees. It was Mr Colbert.
Chapter Eight: Colbert's Laboratory
Mr Colbert was forty-two years old. He had been in the service of the academy for twenty years. He was a mage whose nickname was “Flame Serpent”. His hobby… or more accurately, his life was centered around research and invention. He had rushed down to the courtyard once he had seen the object being carried by the dragons from his research laboratory. His curiosity had been set alight.
“You, what’s that? Can you explain to me?”
Colbert’s face shone as he looked at Saito, who was watching the Zero fighter being lowered.
“Ah, I wanted to talk to you about it actually.”
“Me?”
Colbert was taken aback. Who exactly was this young commoner? All he knew was that he was the legendary familiar, Gandálfr, summoned by Miss Vallière. Born in Rub' al Khali, he was the only person to have called Colbert’s invention “great”.
“This is called an airplane. In my world, they’re seen flying everywhere.”
“This flies!? Wow! Wonderful!”
Colbert started looking at different parts of the zero fighter with a deep interest.
“Could it be that this is the wing! It seems like it can’t flap like normal wings! What about this windmill?”
“That’s called a propeller. When it spins it causes the airplane to go forward.”
Eyes wide in amazement, Colbert drew closer to Saito.
“I see! When it spins, it causes the power of wind! It’s well made, isn’t it! Could you fly it for me? Look, my hands are shaking from my curiosity!”
Troubled, Saito scratched his head.
“Um… To turn the propellers, I need gasoline.”
“Gasoline? What’s that?”
“That's what I want to talk to you about. You know the class we had where you showed us that invention of yours?”
“The joyful snake?”
“Yes! You had to burn oil to make it move right?”
“So you need oil? That’s a problem that is easily solved!”
“No, I don’t think that will work. It has to be gasoline.”
“Gasoline? Hm… well there are many different types of oil.”
Saito suddenly realized the dragoons were grinning broadly at them. Guiche whispered in Saito’s ear.
“Sorry if you are busy, but if you don’t pay the transportation fee…”
“You guys are nobles too aren’t you? Stop constantly bickering about money.”
“Hey, soldiers are poor you know.”
Saito smiled at Colbert.
“Mr. Colbert, could you possibly pay the transportation fee for the time being?”
Colbert’s laboratory was situated in a small area between the central tower and the fire tower. It was much like an old dugout shed.
“At first I conducted experiments in my own room, but noise and bad smells come naturally with research. I was complained to by the people next to me shortly afterwards.”
The wooden racks were cluttered with bottles of medicine, test tubes, jars containing nostrum and the like. Next to that was a wall of bookshelves, crammed with books. There was a celestial globe made from parchment stuck on a sphere, and other various maps. There were lizards, snakes and birds that he had never seen before inside cages. A musky smell which was neither from dust nor mold filled the entire room. Saito pinched his nose.