The train moved exceptionally fast—far swifter than any ordinary locomotive in the Primary World, thanks to numerous enchantments for acceleration and air resistance reduction.
Inside their compartment, Mary was idly tracing the patterns on her seat. She wasn't sure what material they were made of, but they felt cool to the touch and possessed a faint, pearlescent shimmer. Catherine remained as she was, chin resting in her palm as she gazed out the window. Since her spat with Homus, she hadn't uttered a single word. Homus, on the other hand, sat opposite her in total relaxation, leaning back and fiddling with several crystals he had pulled from his cloak pocket.
The scenery outside was a vast expanse of green fields stretching as far as the eye could see. Every so often, small cottages dotted the landscape, and mages or witches could be seen soaring through the sky. While they weren't as fast as the train, their agility was impressive. When these mages spotted the train, they would enthusiastically fly down to the windows to peek at the children. If the students ignored them, they would eventually veer off in boredom; however, if someone interacted with them, the mages were more than happy to chat using voice-transmission magic. It was a lively and peculiar sight.
Eventually, a mage actually flew up to greet those in Mary's compartment.
He looked quite young, with light brown hair whipping in the wind. The force of the gale had blown his mouth wide open, revealing his teeth in a rather comical way. Despite the awkward look, he waved cheerfully before using a spell to buffer the wind so his face could return to normal.
Catherine, who had been watching the horizon, merely gave a slight, polite nod in return. Homus looked over and waved back. Mary, however, dashed straight to the window, her mouth agape at the spectacle.
"Whoa... Hello, sir!"
She tried to shout, but the enchanted glass blocked all sound. Understanding her intent, the young mage flew a bit closer, drew his wand, and waved it toward her.
"[Audio Synchronization]"
A magic circle appeared near his mouth and ears, while a matching circle manifested on the compartment window.
"Hello there! Can you hear me?"
His voice was slightly distorted by the rushing wind, but it was audible. Mary nodded excitedly. "I can hear you!"
"Wonderful! It's been a long time since I've met a child as energetic as you." The young mage spoke with genuine enthusiasm. In previous years, he had been ignored by so many kids that he'd started to question his own charm. Talking to a friendly young girl was a breath of fresh air. After all, being a mage could be surprisingly dull—when they weren't fighting, they were usually cooped up indoors researching; thus, many mages sought out any bit of fun they could find in their spare time.
"What is your name, sir?"
"Wow, you're a very inquisitive one, aren't you? I like that! My name is Guin. You can call me Mage Guin, or even 'The Great Mage Guin'—I'm not particularly picky about titles." He tossed his head back narcissistically, clearly satisfied with his own introduction.
Inside the carriage, Homus burst into laughter, while Catherine simply shook her head. "Childish," she muttered. Mary, ever the kind soul, didn't want to judge her new acquaintance, so she kept her thoughts on his vanity to herself.
After a few moments of chatting, Guin suddenly looked like he'd forgotten something. He pulled a watch from his pocket, turned pale as he remembered his duties, hastily bid Mary goodbye, and sped off.
Mary felt a bit disappointed to see him go. She sat back down and began rummaging through her bags to see if she had any toys to pass the time. Catherine suddenly turned to her and asked, "Mary, is this your first time in the magical world?"
Startled by the question, Mary looked up, thought for a moment, and shook her head. "This is actually my third time here."
Homus listened in with interest. Hearing that Mary had only visited three times made him wonder about her background. She was likely either a "latent circuit" mage who had just been scouted or a half-blood—those born from one non-magical parent. Such cases were common, perhaps even more so than pure-bloods these days. Because of this, pure-bloods often harbored a sense of superiority, making it historically difficult for those of common blood to reach high status.
However, following the Great Purge seventy years ago, pure-blood families who betrayed the magical world were systematically removed, and their influence was dismantled. This allowed common mage families to rise as conservative generations fell. Today, the magical world is generally open to those of mixed heritage, though a few "rats" still harbor deep-seated prejudice. These elitists are now a minority; in fact, if a pure-blood were to openly insult others in public today, it wouldn't be unusual for them to be sentenced to several days of public penance. Equality laws are strictly enforced by the Council to keep such restless mages in check.
Homus himself came from a relatively modest noble family, but since his father possessed a strong magical lineage, Homus enjoyed many benefits as he came of age. Being accepted into a prestigious academy based on his own merit had already drawn eyes his way, with many looking to invest in his future.
This "Future Investment" is a standard practice in the magical world. Investing money and resources into promising mages is legal and regulated by Council law. The mage in question has every right to accept or decline. However, if they accept, they are legally bound to produce valuable results or "profit" over time. If the investor feels their protege isn't meeting expectations, they can petition the Council for a review. If deemed reasonable, the mage must reimburse the investment or provide something of equal value. Conversely, if the petition is found to be baseless, the Council allows the mage to counter-sue, terminating the partnership immediately without repayment and often receiving compensation for damages.
It sounds complicated, but at its core, it is a very capitalistic system: if you take the money, you must deliver the results within the contract's timeframe, or pay the price.