Serene Drakos, the Blood Iron Princess
The voice of the captain, a jovial fellow, came over the intercom, echoing throughout the rather sizeable private airliner, closer to a large passenger jet merged with a cargo plane, rather than a well, private jet. This was a testament to the funds at the hands of the Drakos family, and of course, the overall number of personnel and cargo being flown in from the Americas. They'd had to make a few stops along the way of course, given where the city-state was located, and even aerial refuel at one point with a tanker aircraft, but here they were, making the final approach. Relief personnel moved about the aircraft, checking cargo in the back bays, attendants checking with the passengers who were part of the "delegation" to Fusang.
But one person had been alone for almost the entire flight. Whether out of respect, following orders, or just not knowing how to handle the Professor's heir, Serene Drakos had been left alone in her private cabin, sans of course a communications relay via the satellite network back to Rocktech HQ in upstate New York. It wasn't to talk to her father, but rather to talk to the one person she considered a friend...if you could call a state of the art near military grade advisory AI a person. Or a friend at that. Her father was off on some adventure, the board of directors handling the day to day, odds were he was either once again hunting a rare magical artifact, or was legitimately just at some state function. She almost felt bad for the mages who might incur his ire...But enough of that.
The captain's words reached even Serene, the young heir, and mostly alright magus despite her average circuits(which were ironic given the rumors about her maternal heritage, but one digresses), starting from what she had been doing. She hadn't been talking to Drake, she'd just been staring at the box in her hands, with its multiple compartments. This box, or chest rather, wasn't holding the mystic code her father had left her, no, that was on her head, snugly in place, ready to be used if the need arose, there hadn't been time apparently for other Mystic Codes, and her adversion to blades made an Azoth sword out of question. Nay, this box was from her grandmother, and contained...cataylsts. Handpicked, as the note from her grandmother stated that these were intended to help her summon a servant most suitable to her. From what she gathered, some of these were worth a fortune. None were as grand as say a piece of the round table, but well, she had a lot of items belonging to more modern servants. Example being an original copy of one of Edison's patents, another being an item from Sir Charles Babagge's lab, and a fragment of Tesla's coil. She understood why her grandmother had gone for more recent servants, those within the past thousand years, they were more "predictable" more likely to aid the family in their ends. And less likely to draw undue attention. This was the most kindness she'd been shown in awhile. But it wasn't any of those prior mentioned items that most interested her. No, it was the actual handwriting of one of mankind's greatest geniuses that drove her to excitement.
Somehow, somehow her grandmother had managed to acquire an original drawing of Da Vinci, the legendary pioneer who had hid his own work to avoid being discovered. Sure, there were no regents for Archimedes, as she would have liked to have a shot at summoning that great figure, but all information pointed to the servants mentioned being ones who actually existed. And a city like Fusang...where servants could be summoned freely? Why, it was a chance to document them all, and send her findings back home. But enough, she had to take on her role. She had been raised to rule with an iron fist, there was no room for error. There was no room for kindness, softness. She was the Blood Iron Princess, as her public persona had been designed. The Iron Fist that would lead the Drakos family forward. She secured the box, and secured her own seat, and waited.
Fusang International Airport.To an outsider, it was a bustling airport like any other, but to those in the know, it was the future of the magus community, if not the entire world. The past and present coming together, to reach for the future? A dream come true. And for many, a chance to meet their idols. It was a bit cloudy, but not enough to make one worry about storms. And then, it came into view. Painted in the gray and silver color scheme, the Rocktech airliner, resembling almost a 747 in appearance, engines humming as the high tech hybrid descended. Wheels deployed from casings, locking into place, flaps shifting to assist in descending. Then, touchdown occurred, the plane bouncing once, before wheels bit into the tarmac, shaking the plane and its occupants a tad, but not too badly, as it began to rapidly deaccelerate, the g-force palptable, before it reached a safe taxiing speed, and began to pull off of the runway once it was ready, and began to approach the private terminal set aside for it.
Pulling into place, cargo transported rolled out, as the plane's back began to open, akin to most standard cargo vessels, revealing a rather nice cargo bay, raw materials mixed with new tech, and personal belongings for the relief staff beginning to be unloaded. Inside, crew began to disembark, personnel following, as the portable ramp was brought up, the portable item in question being placed against the raised door out, as it then depressurized, and opened, allowing people to begin to leave. But no one did, instead moving to one side or the other of the main hallway, allowing a specific person to step out.
Inside her quarters, Serene had gotten to her feet as soon as the all clear was given, and began packing up everything else she needed. On her back went her backpack, containing all her equipment that wasn't stored in the main cargo bay, aka her laptop and portable gaming consoles. She made sure the chest was secure alongside the gaming consoles in the one suitcase, and she turned, glad that the clothes she had and other belongings would be taken care of. She left her room, walking past the people lined up, internally her heart in turmoil, she felt so...off about all this, but her face was a poker, giving nothing away. She reached the outside door, steadied herself, and began to descend, moving quickly down the ramp, towards the tarmac, where a small delegation were already waiting, likely a mix of Drakos related personnel, and whoever official people were required. Onwards, she supposed.
Streets of Fusang CityThe meetup had gone well, she'd gone through all that was required, retaining the stone cold approach, and was glad that her overall appearance, mystic code that people mistook for actual horns, worked in her favor. Now, seated in the back of a family limo, Serene glanced outside, as the silent pair of security staff faced her, an aide beside her, talking about various things, Serene able to hold the conservation even without looking. Finally, she glanced over and faintly smiled as the aide confirmed that all paperwork had been handled, and that the summoning room at the family estate in the city was ready for usage as soon as Serene wished to summon, should she desire to. In response, Serene nodded to the suitcase at her feet, the aide confused at first, before realizing as Serene gave an almost sharktoothed smile, what it meant.
I see you came prepared. We've noticed Central Administration that you are ready to start proper classes as soon as needed. And that they should expect a servant to be registered in your name. Do you have one already in mind, your eminence? Serene didn't respond at first, then slowly, she chuckled, an almost villianous undertone to her laughter.
"Yes, yes I have. I know exactly who I wish to summon. Have a space prepared, preferably large enough for a servant to set up a workshop within. Don't want them expending extra effort to construct their workshop if I can help it." This elicited an almost look of fear from the aide, as the young woman realized that whoever the Princess was summoning, it had to be important. Serene silenced any response further with a hand, as she leaned back, to enjoy the sights outside. For a new chapter had started.
Watch out Fusang City, the Blood Iron Princess has arrived...
//Part 1 of ?. Further parts will entail proper setup and summoning of Da Vinci, which will be a collab between me and Caster, to save on posts.
