Chapter 665: Sightseeing

The next morning arrived peacefully.

Sunlight shone over Solcrest, spreading across the rooftops and streets as snow fell gently from the sky.

The white flakes drifted down onto the roads and the edges of the buildings, adding to the cold atmosphere of the city.

Despite the weather, the people of Solcrest had already begun their day.

Steam Vehicles moved along the roads, pedestrians walked between the buildings, and shopkeepers prepared their businesses for the morning.

Inside one of the city’s finest hotels...

Ezra stood before the dressing mirror in his bedroom.

He raised his right arm and adjusted the heat-stimulating bandages wrapped around it.

The other bandages had already been placed around the parts of his body where he usually wore them.

He checked the wrapping, making sure the material sat properly against his skin before finishing the last section.

Once he was satisfied, Ezra passed a small amount of Cognis into the bandages.

The alchemy system activated.

Heat began to spread from the material, gradually warming his body.

The difference was noticeable, especially after the cold air outside and the bath he had taken earlier.

Ezra lowered his arm and checked his reflection one final time.

He then put on a casual white shirt and a black sleeveless sweater.

After adjusting his clothes, he slung his space bag over his shoulder and wrapped a white scarf around his neck.

He wore a black glove on his hand before putting on his black shoes, which matched his black pleated trousers.

Once he had finished dressing, Ezra left the bedroom and entered the parlour connected to his suite.

"Good morning, Master."

Lucy greeted him politely.

She was already in the parlour, arranging the breakfast that the hotel’s room service had delivered earlier.

Plates had been placed on the dining table, and the food was ready for them to eat.

Ezra walked towards the table.

"Good morning."

He replied calmly before taking his seat.

The hotel where they were staying was considered one of the finest in Thornwick and the number one hotel in Solcrest.

Its suites were designed to feel more like private residences than ordinary hotel rooms.

The arrangement made it suitable for guests who travelled with servants.

Separate bedrooms were provided for up to two servants, giving them their own space to rest.

The rooms were furnished to a high standard, and guests did not have to share their sleeping quarters with the people they employed.

The main suite offered even more.

Ezra’s bedroom was spacious and had its own study, bathroom, and restroom.

Since the hotel also catered to Alchemists, a separate cultivation room was available for guests who needed a place to practice.

A balcony provided an outside view, allowing guests to look over the city in the morning or at night.

The parlour served as the main living area of the suite.

It included a dining room and even a separate kitchen for guests who preferred to have their servants prepare their meals instead of relying on the hotel’s food service.

Every part of the suite had been arranged to provide comfort and privacy.

Naturally, staying in such a place was not cheap.

Only people with considerable wealth, such as Dukes, Counts, Viscounts, High-Ember nobles, wealthy non-nobles, and members of the Royal Family, could comfortably afford to spend several nights in a hotel of this standard.

Ezra and Lucy continued with their breakfast.

They ate without rushing, enjoying the quiet morning before heading out.

Once they had finished, Lucy began clearing the table.

She collected the used plates and utensils, taking care not to leave anything behind.

After cleaning up, she pressed the button that notified the hotel’s staff that the suite needed to be cleaned.

She then turned towards Ezra.

"Master, I’m ready."

Lucy said.

Ezra nodded, and the two left the suite.

They made their way to the elevator and descended to the reception floor.

When the doors opened, the hotel’s staff noticed their arrival.

The receptionist straightened behind the desk.

Several other employees nearby also turned towards them.

They all recognized Ezra Ashenlocke.

The Eclipse had already informed the hotel that he was a special guest and had instructed the staff to treat him with the proper respect.

As a result, they knew who he was and had been prepared for his presence.

Of course, they already knew about him even before The Eclipse instructed them about him.

Many of the Staff had watched the Grand First Year Combat Festival of the Royal Academy, and had watched Ezra make a name for himself.

They were also few who knew Ezra all the way back when he presented the Phantom Rolls to the whole Kingdom.

And many had also read the scary article about Ezra’s involvement in the killings of the Baron of Sterling’s family members.

The receptionist and the other staff members lowered their heads in greeting.

"Have a safe day, Sir Ezra Ashenlocke."

They said simultaneously.

Ezra raised a hand in a polite wave.

Lucy, standing beside him, lowered her head and performed the usual bow expected of a maid.

However, she was not wearing her usual maid outfit.

Her casual clothes made her look different from how the hotel staff might have expected a servant accompanying a young noble to appear.

Some of the female employees who saw her exchanged glances, and a few assumed she was Ezra’s lady rather than his maid.

Lucy did not notice their assumptions.

She followed Ezra towards the exit, and the two stepped out into the cold morning air.

The Royal Phantom Rolls that had been assigned to carry them around Solcrest was parked outside.

Their tour guide was waiting beside it.

"Good morning, Sir Ezra Ashenlocke, and..."

The guide greeted Ezra before turning towards Lucy.

He paused, looking at her with a confused expression.

He seemed unsure how he should address her.

"Just say Miss."

Ezra said plainly.

The tour guide blinked before nodding.

"Okay. Good morning, Miss."

He greeted Lucy.

Lucy turned her head towards her Master.

Her expression suggested that she had found his response a little offensive.

"I have a name, though."

She said with a pout.

Before the driver could come around to open the door, Lucy stepped forward and opened it for her Master herself.

Ezra entered without making a comment about her reaction.

The tour guide watched Lucy close the door before walking around to the other side of the vehicle.

He then glanced towards the driver, who had observed the exchange with a calm expression.

"Isn’t she his woman or something? Am I missing something?"

He asked, low voiced.

The driver looked towards Lucy as she walked to the other door and entered the vehicle.

"She’s the maid of Sir Ezra Ashenlocke."

He replied calmly.

The driver then made his way to the driver’s seat, leaving the tour guide standing there for a moment.

The guide was surprised.

She’s his maid? And she’s that pretty?

He thought to himself, his face turning faintly red as he recalled Lucy’s appearance.

What a lucky young child.

I wonder how many maids the Ashenlockes have who are as beautiful as her?

He shook off the thought and entered the vehicle.

Once everyone was inside, the driver started the steam engine.

The Royal Phantom Rolls began moving, carrying Ezra and Lucy away from the hotel.

The tour guide settled into his seat and looked towards his guests.

"Before I forget, Sir Ezra Ashenlocke..."

He said calmly.

He reached for a pair of nose masks and handed them to Ezra and Lucy.

"Please have these."

He added calmly.

Ezra accepted his mask, and Lucy took hers as well.

Both put them on.

The guide watched them adjust the masks before continuing.

"We don’t know how people, especially the children, would react if they saw you, Sir Ezra Ashenlocke. So, let’s try to keep things safe."

He said with a simple smile.

Ezra gave a small nod.

The reason was understandable.

His appearance had already drawn considerable attention at Solcrest Airport the previous day.

If people recognized him while he was sightseeing, they might gather around him again, making it difficult for the three of them to move through the city without interruption.

The nose masks offered a simple way to reduce that chance.

With the arrangements settled, the Royal Phantom Rolls continued along the road.

Their first destination was the Sol Volcano of Solcrest.

The journey took them through the busy streets, where the snow continued to fall lightly.

Steam rose from the vehicles moving along the roads, while people in warm clothing walked between shops and buildings.

As they approached the area around the volcano, the number of visitors became more noticeable.

The Sol Volcano was crowded.

Locals from Solcrest had come to visit, along with travelers from other regions of the Kingdom and the larger cities of Thornwick.

Families moved through the entrance areas, and groups of children could be seen among the visitors.

Many of them had recently finished the first semester of their academy lives.

With the holidays beginning, their parents had taken the opportunity to bring them to some of the famous landmarks in Solcrest and Thornwick.

The Sol Volcano was one of those places.

For many families, the holiday offered a chance to leave their usual routines behind and spend time visiting places they might not normally have the opportunity to see.

The volcano attracted people who wanted to experience one of Thornwick’s well-known natural landmarks.

Ezra and Lucy arrived with the other visitors, though their arrangements were different.

They purchased VIP tickets for the visit.

Ordinary guests had to join the queues and walk longer distances before boarding the small Noble Dirigibles that would carry them to the different sections of the Sol Volcano.

With so many people arriving, those lines had become quite long.

The VIP tickets allowed Ezra and Lucy to avoid much of that waiting.

They also helped reduce the chance of Ezra being recognized by the crowd.

Even with his nose mask on, there was no guarantee that people would fail to identify him, especially if someone noticed his face and began calling out his name.

For that reason, avoiding the busiest queues was useful.

After their tickets had been checked, Ezra and Lucy were directed towards the boarding area for VIP guests.

A small Royal Dirigible waited there.

Unlike the Noble Dirigibles carrying the larger groups of ordinary visitors, this airship was reserved for VIP guests.

Other passengers were already boarding, and the staff guided everyone towards their seats before preparing for departure.

Ezra and Lucy boarded with them.

Lucy followed the staff’s directions before finding a place near the window.

She settled into her seat and looked outside while waiting for the Dirigible to depart.

The boarding process soon finished.

The doors were secured, and the airship began to rise.

A low sound came from its machinery as the ground slowly fell away beneath them.

The Dirigible climbed into the air, carrying its passengers towards the first marked section of the Sol Volcano.

Lucy leaned closer to the window.

The view gradually opened before her as the airship gained height.

She could see the surrounding landscape from above, with the visitors and structures near the boarding area growing smaller as the Dirigible moved away.

The staff member responsible for explaining the site began addressing the passengers.

"So, as you all know, there are four volcanoes that exist in Thornwick."

The tour guide pointed towards the window, directing everyone’s attention to the view outside.

From their position, the passengers could see only a small part of the volcano’s enormous body.

The landscape stretched beyond the visible section, making it difficult to take in the whole formation from their current distance.

Lucy was among those who had pressed close to the window.

She held her binoculars and looked through them, trying to get a better view of the volcano.

The scenery held her attention completely.

She adjusted the binoculars, following the visible slopes as the Royal Dirigible continued towards its destination.

"Wow."

Lucy muttered to herself, amazed by the sight.

Bonus Chapter for the Magic Castle!