Ch. I: Departure ― Episode 5: The Encounter

－The One Who Transcends Time and the Tiny Companion.－

Driven as if by whispers from the past, Victor decided to travel to Central Asia.

The following day, he asked the hotel concierge about possible routes.

“Central Asia…? Forgive me, my lord, it is just... Do you have a specific destination in mind?”

“No, I’m afraid I don’t.”

Clearly puzzled, the concierge spread out a city map and began to explain.

“There is a railway station in this city with departures toward Russia. This is the station here.”

“It’s along the main street?”

“Yes. It’s a massive international station, so you should recognise it at once.
If you wish to reach Central Asia by rail, you must pass through Russia.”

“Russia, then… What happens beyond that?”

“I believe the route to Samarkand―the gateway to Central Asia―has already been completed within Russia, but I regret that I don’t know the details beyond that point.
It would be best to confirm the rest once you arrive in Russia, my lord.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Victor expressed his gratitude and stepped outside to locate the station.

******

As he walked along the main street, Victor found himself pondering the word railway.

According to reports from his servants, it was a new mode of a monstrous iron machine of terrifying power―but no clear image came to mind.

―Well, no matter how new the technology may be, it is still something made by human hands. It can hardly be pure magic.

The moment he thought this, it appeared before him.

Along the main street stood two enormous brick structures resembling castle gates, and between them rose an even larger palace of iron framework and glass.

―A palace built from such an expanse of transparent glass… This is straight out of a fairy tale!

Bathed in the bright midday sun, the gleaming glass structure struck Victor not merely with surprise, but with awe.

******

Inside the station, Victor approached a uniformed man who appeared to be a station attendant.

“How does one travel to Russia?”

The attendant took one look at Victor, bowed respectfully, and replied,

“If you board the Moscow-bound train departing from Platform Three, you will reach Russia, my lord.”

“And where do I pay the fare?”

“You may purchase your ticket in advance. If you tell us the number of passengers and your preferred date and time, we can issue it immediately.”

“Then one ticket, departing tomorrow afternoon.”

“For yourself alone, my lord?”

“Yes.”

“……”

The attendant hesitated, as if considering something.

“Is there a problem with the date or time?”

“Please forgive my impertinence. I merely wondered whether someone of your rank would truly be travelling to Russia alone.”

“Is that not permitted?”

“No, not at all. I simply thought that those of noble rank usually travel with guards or attendants, for their own safety.”

“That is a kind concern, but I will be quite fine on my own. Besides, while aboard the train, no outsiders can enter, can they?”

“Indeed. Conductors and railway staff will be present, and we take every measure to ensure our passengers’ safety.
However, once you arrive in Moscow… I must admit, we cannot guarantee what lies beyond.”

“Of course. What happens after that is beyond your responsibility. Still, I appreciate your concern.”

“It is an honour. Please allow me to escort you to the ticket office.”

The dutiful attendant, smiling with evident pleasure, led the way.

******

With his ticket to Moscow safely in hand, Victor decided to explore the surroundings. The modern station alone was impressive enough, but he thought he might yet discover something even more astonishing.

―To think that I would ever feel anticipation again…

In an unusually good mood―one he had not known for centuries―Victor wandered through the streets.

Eventually, he noticed a small antique shop tucked away down a narrow side street.

When he opened the old door and stepped inside, a musty scent struck his nose. That smell stirred a deep, nostalgic memory within him.

―Ah… I know this scent. The fragrance of silent layers of time…

It was a smell Victor had always lived alongside: the sunless basements of castles, long-abandoned kitchens, vast libraries of unread books.

Though he believed he had long forgotten how to indulge in sentimentality, his chest ached faintly for reasons he could not explain.

―No―what hurts is my ankle. Why there of all places?

Puzzled, Victor lowered his gaze.

Scratch, scratch…

There was a small jet-black ball of fur, clawing insistently at his ankle with its front paws.

“……My good sir, I am not a scratching post, you know.”

At those words, the black cat froze. Its amber eyes widened as it stared up at Victor in silence.

After a slow stretch, the black cat leapt onto a nearby shelf, used it as a springboard, and in the next instant landed squarely on Victor’s shoulder.

It then remained there, as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

“Now, listen—”

Careful not to startle it, Victor slowly reached for the black cat, attempting to remove it from his shoulder. But it dug its claws in firmly and refused to budge.

With his strength, Victor could have removed the cat by force—
but the cat’s continued existence could not be guaranteed.

“……”

“…………”

After a prolonged stalemate, Victor finally surrendered.

―Very well. Do as you please.

Taking a slow, deep breath, Victor spoke quietly.

“Sir Cat, I am about to set out on a journey. Would you care to come along?”

The black cat let out a single, small meow, then gently touched Victor’s cheek, as if to confirm its choice.

“Then it’s settled!”

And so, quite unexpectedly, Victor gained a travelling companion.

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© 2026 Kaori Yumesaki. All rights reserved.

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Next Episode: Chapter II: The Russian Empire ―

→ Episode 6: Memories of a Lord, PartⅠ

Victor boards a long-distance train bound for Russia—with Sir Cat in tow. 😼

Through his exchanges with the station staff, he glimpses the face of an orderly European civilisation, and memories of the time when he lived as a lord in his homeland begin to resurface…