Chapter 623: Grand Welcome

The afternoon sunlight shone brightly over Metallica and the capital city of Lumithar.

High above the city, the clouds parted as the Ashenlocke Private Royal Steam Dirigible began its descent toward the Ashenlocke Estate Airport. Its enormous frame emerged from the clouds, gradually becoming clearer as it lowered through the sky. Sunlight fell across its outer structure, while the air currents stirred by its descent sent loose snow drifting across the rooftops and open grounds below.

The airport was already busy.

Several landing platforms had been assigned to the different sizes of Dirigibles owned by the Ashenlocke family. Some were used by the smaller vessels, while others were large enough to accommodate the family’s more massive airships. Workers moved between the platforms, checking equipment and transporting cargo, with several Cargo Dirigibles parked nearby.

Wooden crates were being carried into their holds by the workers of Ash. Some were pushed along on carts, while others were lifted by groups of servants and loaded through the open cargo doors. Despite the activity, many of them paused when they noticed the massive Ashenlocke Dirigible descending from the sky.

They had been expecting its arrival, but seeing the airship approach was still enough to draw their attention.

A Guard of Ash stood on the designated landing platform with both hands raised.

He held a red glow stick, keeping it high as he gave the signal that the landing area was clear.

Inside the Dirigible...

The Captain watched the guard through a holographic screen.

One of the crew members from the technical operation team had already zoomed in on the man, making the red signal easy to see despite the distance.

"The signal."

The technical operation staff member spoke calmly while checking the information displayed on the screen.

"Proceed with landing," the Captain ordered.

The crew continued their work, and the Ashenlocke Private Royal Steam Dirigible slowly descended toward the platform.

Its enormous body moved lower as the landing systems adjusted its position.

The sound of the machinery became more noticeable inside the vessel, while the crew monitored the descent and ensured that the airship remained aligned with the designated landing area.

Outside, the Guard of Ash kept the red glow stick raised until the Dirigible was close enough for the landing procedure to be completed.

The airship finally touched down.

A strong current of wind swept across the platform as the massive vessel settled onto the ground. The loose snow covering the floor scattered away from the landing area, exposing patches of the surface beneath it. Some of the snow was pushed toward the edges of the platform, while the rest drifted through the air before settling again.

The workers who had gathered nearby watched as the enormous Dirigible came to a complete stop.

For a brief moment, the airport returned to the usual sounds of its operations. Then, the massive door of the airship began to open.

It moved slightly at first, releasing a stream of white steam from the gap.

The mechanical structure continued to shift, and the door slowly lowered as its gears began to turn. More steam escaped, spreading across the entrance and partially covering the lower section of the airship.

The sound of the machinery remained steady as the door descended.

A few moments later, it reached the ground with a heavy mechanical movement, forming a passage between the Dirigible and the landing platform.

The Maids of Ash were already waiting.

They moved into position along both sides of the entrance, arranging themselves in neat rows. Once everyone had taken their place, they brought their hands together at their sides and lowered their heads, waiting for the passengers to emerge.

Behind them stood the Butlers of Ash.

Each Butler held a black-and-white Camellia flower wristband, prepared for the returning First-Year students of the Royal Academy. The flowers had been arranged carefully, with the two colours forming the design that would be presented to the young Alchemists in recognition of their success.

The Servants of Ash and the Guards of Ash who had accompanied the Ashenlocke family to the Grand First-Year Combat Festival were the first to leave the Dirigible.

They carried the luggage belonging to their Masters, Mistresses, Young Masters, and Young Mistresses.

Some held suitcases in their hands, while others carried bags and other belongings that had been brought along for the journey. The Guards kept watch as they moved away from the entrance, making room for the passengers who would follow.

Once the servants and guards had left the airship, the Ashenlocke Elders and members of the High Board began to emerge.

They walked out calmly, with no need to hurry as they stepped onto the platform. The waiting servants remained in their positions, allowing the returning members of the family to pass before the next group appeared.

The other Ashenlocke families belonging to the Highline branches followed with their children. Their arrival brought more movement to the platform, as the members of the different branches made their way toward the airport building.

After them, the two Duchesses of Ash walked out.

Their personal Maids stayed close to their sides, holding umbrellas above them to shield them from the falling snow. The umbrellas moved with each step, keeping the snow from settling on their clothing as they crossed the platform. Meanwhile, their personal Guards of Ash walked ahead, clearing the way through the waiting servants.

Only after the two Duchesses had passed did the children of Ash begin to emerge.

The Royal Academy students had returned with the rest of their family, and the order of their departure followed the arrangement made for the journey.

The Third-Year students came out first, followed by the Second-Year students.

The servants and other members of Ash continued to wait near the airport building, watching the entrance as the groups emerged.

Then, the First-Year children of Ash appeared.

"WELCOME BACK, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF ASH!!!"

The welcoming voices rang out in unison.

The servants shouted along with the Ashenlocke members who had patiently gathered inside the airport building, and their combined voices carried across the entrance.

"Welcome back!!!!"

"Kyaaa!!! The Young Lord of Ash!!!"

"I spot our Queen!!!!"

"Lady Vera Ashenlocke!!!"

"She’s so cool!!!!"

"The Wild Gun of Ash!!!"

"Lyra Ashburn, you made us Ashburn freaking proud!!"

"Nina Ashenlocke!!!"

"You did your best, Zack Ashenlocke!!!"

"Oh, my Scholars!! It’s the Silent Architect of Ash!!!"

"Sir Ezra Ashenlocke!!!"

"He’s even more handsome in person than he looks on the screen!!"

The cheers continued as more of the First-Year students came into view.

Many of the younger children from the Lowline and other Highline branches had gathered to welcome them home.

Some had not been able to attend the festival with their parents, while others were still studying at Ash Academy. They had all come together inside the airport building, eager to see the students who had represented their family at the Royal Academy.

For the past several days, many of them had followed the festival through the live broadcast.

They had watched the matches, seen the students fight, and listened to the results as each round came to an end. Some had cheered from their homes, while others had gathered with their friends to watch the broadcast together. They had already chosen the young Alchemists they wanted to support before the Grand First-Year Combat Festival of the Royal Academy even began.

Among those they admired were Vera Ashenlocke, the Young Lord of Ash, Priscilla Ashenlocke, Gareth Ashenlocke, Felix Ashenlocke, and Nina Ashenlocke.

These were names the younger generations had known for a long time. Their achievements and reputations had already made them figures to admire within the Ashenlocke family, and the festival had given their supporters another chance to watch them perform.

But now, the list of names drawing cheers had grown.

The children of Ash had not only watched their familiar favourites succeed. They had also witnessed other young Alchemists step forward and show what they could do.

Nate Ashenlocke was one such example.

He had already been on the watch list, but his performance at the festival had brought him a new level of respect. Even though most of the Ashenlocke members and the wider Kingdom still knew little about his background, that uncertainty had not stopped people from taking notice of him.

His performance had given them a reason to pay attention.

The cheers for Lyra Ashburn were even more noticeable.

Her name continued to be called out by the welcoming crowd, and the excitement surrounding her was far greater than it had been before the festival.

Previously, Lyra had been one of those children of Ash whom many people disliked because of her strange behaviour.

She had not been particularly popular among them, and her unusual manner had made it difficult for some to take her seriously.

However, the festival had changed how people looked at her.

Her performance had earned her new admiration, especially after she ranked above some of the Kingdom’s known geniuses. The result had given the younger generations another reason to respect her, and those who had once looked down on her were now among the people acknowledging her achievement.

The change was clear from the way they called her name.

She had become someone they could admire, not merely because she belonged to the Ashburn family, but because she had proved herself during the festival.

And then there was the student who had drawn perhaps the greatest attention of all.

The No. Three of the Royal Academy First Year.

Ezra Ashenlocke.

The calls for Ezra came from several directions, and some of the younger children tried to catch a better view of him as the First-Year students continued walking down from the Dirigible.

Ezra was already a familiar name among the younger generations of Ash. Both the children of his own generation and those who were younger had heard about his inventions, especially the Phantom Rolls and the firearms he had helped create.

His work had given him a reputation even before the Combat Festival began.

The Phantom Rolls, in particular, had become an invention people associated with him. The firearms he had assisted in creating had also drawn attention, and his name had gradually become linked with the development of new weapons within the Ashenlocke family.

Yet, despite everything he had accomplished as an inventor, there had still been questions about his abilities as an Alchemist.

People knew what he could create, but they did not know how far his actual Alchemy skills could take him. Some had wondered whether he would remain a Craftsman of Ash, someone whose value came mainly from his inventions rather than his strength as a Gun Alchemist.

The festival had answered that question to a considerable degree.

Ezra had done more than display his inventions. He had demonstrated skills that many Gun Alchemists, including those above him in rank and age, would have struggled to show.

His performance had given the younger generations a new reason to admire him.

And that was before considering the new application of the Law of Inversion he had displayed through Gun Alchemy.

The technique had caught the attention of those who understood its significance, while the result itself had given the audience another reason to discuss his performance.

Ezra was no longer being spoken about only as a young inventor. He had also shown that his abilities as a Gun Alchemist were worth taking seriously.

The cheering continued to echo through the airport as the children of Ash walked down from the Dirigible.

Some waved toward the people waiting for them, while others smiled as they heard their names being called. The welcoming crowd showed no sign of quieting down, and the servants who had gathered near the entrance watched the students with evident pride.

Once the First-Year students had reached the waiting Butlers, the next part of the welcome began.

The Butlers of Ash stepped forward, each carrying the black-and-white Camellia flower wristbands prepared for the occasion. They approached the First-Year students one after another and carefully placed a wristband around each student’s right wrist.

The flowers stood out against their clothing, their black-and-white colours marking the welcome as a special gesture from the family.

"Congratulations on your success."

The Butlers and Maids spoke together, lowering their heads as they presented the wristbands.

"Thank you."

Bess Ashforge replied to the Butler who had placed the flower wristband around her wrist.

She raised her right hand slightly and looked at the flowers. A pleased smile appeared on her face as she examined the black-and-white arrangement, clearly satisfied with how it looked.

"You are grinning weirdly, Bess."

Henry Ashenlocke’s teasing voice came from beside her.

Bess turned to look at him, but the smile did not leave her face.

"Well, you look cool with the black colour being stronger than the white Camellia flowers."

She spoke softly, looking at the wristband on his hand.

Henry’s head turned sharply away from her.

A slight flush appeared on his face, and he seemed to need a moment before answering.

Instead of responding to her comment, he pointed toward a group of people waiting farther ahead.

"Let’s just go and meet the rest."

The people he pointed at were the friends who had been part of his group during the Trial of Steel and had managed to survive it.

They had been waiting to see their former leader and vice leader return, and the moment they spotted Henry and Bess walking toward them together, their expressions brightened.

Some smiled, while others looked relieved to see the two of them standing there in good health.

The Trial of Steel had brought them together under difficult circumstances. Seeing their former leader and vice leader return safely was enough to put smiles on their faces, and they welcomed them as the pair approached.

Before Henry and Bess could get much farther, another familiar voice rang out.

"I’m back, guys!!"

Lyra shouted with an excited expression as she approached her close friends.

The people who had supported her during the festival immediately responded with laughter.

A few of them began imitating the strange laugh she often used when celebrating a victory.

"Muhaha... Muhaha... Muhaha..."

They repeated it with exaggerated enthusiasm, clearly enjoying themselves as they copied the sound Lyra had made during the festival.

Lyra stopped and pointed at Nathalia, who was among those laughing.

"I don’t sound like that."

Her protest only made the others laugh harder.

Nathalia was still part of the group copying her, and the amused expressions around them showed that none of them intended to stop teasing her anytime soon.

Lyra looked from one face to another, apparently dissatisfied with their imitation, but the excitement in her expression remained.

She had returned to the Ashenlocke Estate with her friends waiting for her, her name being cheered by the younger generations, and a new level of admiration from the children of Ash.

Around them, the welcoming crowd continued to celebrate the return of the Royal Academy students.

The airport, which had been busy with cargo workers and the arrival of the Dirigible only a short while earlier, was now filled with cheerful voices, laughter, and people greeting their friends and family members.

The whole atmosphere of the airport in the Ashenlocke Estate was bright and cheerful.