Chapter 671: Leaving Thornwick

The morning sun had yet to rise completely when Ezra and Lucy were already dressed and ready to leave.

Their luggage had been packed and placed near the door, leaving little else to do inside the hotel room.

After finishing breakfast, they made their final preparations, while sunlight spread across the city, shining through the hotel windows and brightening the streets below.

The day’s activities were about to begin for many of Thornwick’s residents, but for Ezra and Lucy, it was time to leave.

They exited their hotel room and made their way downstairs, where The Eclipse’s driver was waiting for them.

"Good morning."

The driver greeted them as they approached.

Ezra and Lucy returned the greeting before heading towards the Royal Phantom Rolls parked outside.

Lucy took charge of their luggage, lifting each piece and placing it inside the boot.

Once she had checked that everything was secure, she closed it.

Thud!

The sound echoed briefly through the morning air.

The driver opened the passenger door for Ezra, allowing him to enter first.

Lucy walked around to the other side of the vehicle and climbed inside after him.

The driver then closed the door, took his place behind the controls, and started the steam engine.

A low, calm mechanical hum came from beneath the vehicle.

The engine’s internal parts began to move, and the wheels rolled forward as the Royal Phantom Rolls pulled away from the hotel.

Their first destination was not the Solcrest Airport.

Before leaving Thornwick, Ezra wanted to visit The Eclipse Headquarters and check the progress of the custom-made Royal Phantom Rolls they were building for him.

He had already discussed the design with the team and provided them with the details they needed.

Now, he wanted to see how much of the work had been completed.

A few minutes passed as the vehicle travelled through Solcrest.

The streets were becoming busier.

Shopkeepers were preparing for the day, workers were heading towards their workplaces, and other vehicles moved along the roads.

The morning light reflected off windows and polished carriage bodies as the driver guided the Royal Phantom Rolls through the city.

Eventually, they reached The Eclipse Headquarters.

The driver parked near the entrance, and Ezra and Lucy stepped out.

A female staff member from the team responsible for Ezra’s Phantom Rolls was already waiting to receive them.

"Good morning, Mr. Ezra Ashenlocke."

She greeted him with a polite smile before gesturing towards the main workshop.

"Good morning, ma’am."

Ezra returned the greeting with a proper gentleman’s bow.

His tone was calm, yet respectful.

"Good morning."

Lucy greeted her as well, lowering her head with the neat, practiced bow of a maid.

The staff member led them inside.

The sound of machinery reached them before they had even entered the main production area.

Metal parts clinked against one another, tools hummed, and workers called out to their teammates as they carried out their assigned tasks.

At the center of the room, the main frame and chassis of his Royal Phantom Rolls were being assembled.

Workers moved around the structure, checking measurements and securing parts into place.

Sparks flashed as one of them worked on a metal section, briefly lighting up the nearby equipment before fading.

Ezra slowed his steps as he took in the work.

The main structure was beginning to resemble a vehicle rather than a collection of parts.

Its frame stood firm, supported by the workbenches and equipment around it, while the team continued fitting the pieces together.

Further away, the steam engine team was putting the finishing touches on the engine that would power his vehicle.

Ezra turned his attention towards it.

The new engine sat on a work stand, its clean metal surfaces catching the light from the workshop lamps.

Several team members were checking its parts, making adjustments before it could be installed in the Royal Phantom Rolls.

Ezra studied its shape.

So, they made a new one just for my vehicle.

He had expected the team to make changes to suit his design, but seeing a new engine prepared specifically for his vehicle was still pleasing.

That’s actually nice.

From what he could see, the engine appeared to be a newer design model.

Most of its parts had been compressed into a smaller space, giving it a neater appearance than the engines usually installed in ordinary vehicles.

It was also smaller.

The reduced size would make it easier to fit inside the Royal Phantom Rolls without filling too much of the available space.

Ezra did not inspect every part in detail, but the design was enough to catch his interest.

The team had clearly put thought into it.

While Ezra examined the engine, Lucy was looking around the workshop with growing excitement.

This was not her first time inside a large workshop, though her earlier experience had not been a particularly good memory.

This time was different.

She could see the work taking place clearly, from the assembly of the vehicle’s frame to the team preparing the steam engine.

More importantly, this was the vehicle she would soon be driving.

Her hands tightened with excitement.

"I need to buy black shades."

Lucy announced, turning towards her master.

Her eyes were bright, and she could barely keep still as she imagined what it would be like.

"It’ll be so cool wearing black shades with my usual all-black and silver maid outfit while driving you to class. Oh, my scholars, I’m so excited for this!"

She spoke quickly, moving her arms up and down as the thought became more exciting with every word.

Ezra glanced at her.

Lucy was already imagining herself behind the wheel.

She looked as though she might start practicing her driving pose right there in the workshop if no one stopped her.

Ezra’s expression remained plain.

"I’m more excited about the fact that we won’t need to pay for a cab anymore."

He replied directly.

Lucy stopped moving.

"Ehn..."

She stared at him for a moment, slightly stunned by the answer.

Her master had just looked at a newly designed steam engine and a vehicle being built to his specifications, yet his greatest excitement seemed to be about saving money on transportation.

"No more wasting money on constant travel..."

Ezra continued calmly.

He glanced towards his space bag, where his finance card was stored, and let out a sigh that sounded genuinely relieved.

The thought of no longer needing to pay for cabs whenever they travelled around the academy seemed to satisfy him more than it should have.

Lucy looked at him with a helpless smile.

"You really love money a lot, Master."

She said.

Ezra did not argue with her.

There was little point in pretending otherwise.

After spending some more time looking over the workshop, he turned towards the staff member who had guided them inside.

"Let’s go and say goodbye to the Vice Head of the team before we leave."

He said calmly.

He had no intention of leaving without speaking to the person overseeing the production.

Since The Eclipse was building the vehicle for him, it was only proper to thank the team and check whether there was anything else he needed to know before departing.

Ezra began walking towards the area where the Vice Head was supervising the work.

Lucy followed close behind.

The Vice Head was discussing the design of Ezra’s headlights and rear lights with one of the team members.

They were going over the details needed to bring Ezra’s ideas to life, looking at the design and discussing how it would fit into the vehicle.

When Ezra and Lucy approached, the Vice Head noticed them and turned around.

"Ah, Mr. Ezra Ashenlocke."

A pleased smile appeared on his face.

"Good morning, sir."

Ezra greeted him politely.

Lucy also lowered her head.

The Vice Head looked at the two important visitors, then glanced towards the workshop entrance.

"You two are already leaving?"

He asked with some curiosity.

"Yes."

Ezra replied simply.

He did not add anything more, leaving the Vice Head to ask if he needed further details.

"All right, but how will you leave? Has your family made any preparations for your departure, or should we assist with that?"

The Vice Head asked again.

His curious expression remained as he waited for an answer.

The team had been hosting Ezra during his visit, so it was reasonable for him to check whether their guest had a way to return home.

"Don’t worry, sir. The Ashenlocke Private Noble Dirigible that brought us to Thornwick will carry us back to Metallica."

Ezra answered in his usual calm tone.

He generally spoke this way when addressing people older than him.

His words were brief, but he made sure to show them proper respect.

The Vice Head nodded.

"All right, then. Take good care of yourself. We’ll have a video call tomorrow to show you the progress of the Phantom Rolls. Mr. Anderson might also be around tomorrow, and I’m sure he’ll want to speak with you."

He raised his right hand, offering Ezra a handshake.

Ezra nodded once and accepted it.

Their hands met briefly before they let go.

The Vice Head gave him a final smile, then returned his attention to the work taking place around them.

Ezra turned towards the workshop exit.

Lucy followed, lowering her head to greet the team goodbye as they passed the workers.

Several members returned the greeting, some pausing briefly from their tasks to acknowledge the two visitors.

"Take care, Mr. Ezra Ashenlocke!"

One of the staff members called out.

Others offered their own farewells as Ezra and Lucy left the workshop.

They returned to the same Royal Phantom Rolls that had brought them to The Eclipse Headquarters.

The driver was waiting, and once they were inside, he took them towards Solcrest Airport.

During the journey, Ezra and Lucy put on their masks and caps.

Ezra wore a black flat cap that matched the colour theme of his usual clothes.

Lucy wore a black beret, which sat neatly on her head.

Together with their masks, the caps made it easier for them to pass through the crowded airport without drawing much attention.

They did not want another scene like the one that had followed Ezra during their arrival in Solcrest.

Only the airport staff who handled their identity checks and security screening knew who they were.

After completing the checks, Ezra and Lucy made their way through the airport building.

Their small private Noble Steam Dirigible was already waiting for them.

The Ashenlocke servants assigned to the airship stood outside, keeping watch for their arrival.

When they spotted Ezra and Lucy leaving the main airport building, they immediately approached to help with the luggage.

Lucy handed over what she was carrying, allowing the servants to load their belongings onto the dirigible.

Once everything had been brought aboard, Ezra and Lucy entered the airship.

The interior was familiar to them, and the servants made sure their luggage was secured before preparing for departure.

Outside, the Solcrest airport staff responsible for directing takeoffs began signaling the airship.

The Noble Steam Dirigible of Ash rose from the ground.

Its engines carried it upward, and the airport buildings slowly grew smaller beneath them.

The airship continued climbing until it had gained enough height to begin its journey.

Ezra looked out as Thornwick receded below.

Their visit had taken them through Solcrest, Toy City, and Crimson Bay.

He had checked on the progress of his custom Phantom Rolls, and Lucy had enjoyed the sightseeing, even if their visit had ended with an unexpected encounter at Wendy and Ralph Toy Craft.

Now, there was nothing else they needed to do in Thornwick.

Their journey back to Metallica had begun.