1907
Wilhelm sat inside the train compartment, he was currently making his way towards Francia. He knows his journey would be filled with dangers due to his heritage as an Elfen, especially an Elfen race from the Deutsches Reich.
In this world, it followed the same history as his former world. The Franco-Prussian War, which unified the German people under a single banner called the German Empire. With the taste of defeat, the French Third Republic was born, under a seething hatred to retrieve the lost land Alsace-Lorraine under the hands of the German Empire.
In this current world history, Francia still held the grudge of defeat against the Deutsches Reich.
"Francia, Albion Kingdom, Holland Empire, Kingdom of Flanders, Oesterreich-Ungarn, Tsar of Zima, Dominion of Maple, and lastly United Stars… that should be enough for 2 or 3 years of travelling around." Wilhelm closed his notebook, placing it inside his coat pocket.
While inside he could see the scenery of Francia travelling deep inside, passing through the mountains, he felt joy while his eyes shifted towards the sky. He smiled but the smile died quickly as he remembered the Balkan wars that will happen much more sooner than the Weltkrieg.
"Right… the Balkan Wars, the first and second war. To think it happened so quickly." He muttered.
Wilhelm's ears twitched. He could hear some footsteps, and it was a passenger just like him, but the passenger was Francia, she was quite tall but the most distinguished appearance they have is that they have animal-like features, especially that of a wolf. Her long blue hair, and a long brown trench coat with a black pants, she wore it with such elegance.
She spoke in french greeting Wilhelm, she didn't harbor any grudges or hatred that Wilhelm was an Elfen race, it was rare to even meet them due to the growing tension between the two nations.
Wilhelm uttered the language of magic, as he used a magic translation to understand French. "Ahem, I apologize for thinking you would speak French." She apologized as she could hear Wilhelm speak in the language of Magic to speak in French.
"There's nothing to apologize for, but it's rare to see a Francia willingly talk to me, considering I could feel some hostility to the others inside the trains." Wilhelm spoke in a calm and elegant way.
"I apologize for them on my behalf if you don't mind, you won't mind if I sit beside you right?" She smiled.
"Feel free to take a seat, I don't own them after all. So what brings you here?"
"Hmm… it's just to relieve the tension if I believe so, and also it seems you're travelling to Paris as a Francia. I would suggest you won't visit Paris, as you would know the Elfen race isn't treated kindly in that place for the time being." She suggested that he turn back, and never visit Paris due to the tension that is currently happening.
"I am happy to hear such warnings, but I have some plans in Paris so I would have to reject your suggestion Ms.?"
"Names Jeanne." She gave her name.
"Nice to meet you Jeanne, I'm Wilhelm Von Pomerania." Wilhelm offered a handshake as a gesture of acknowledgement.
"So you're a noble."
"Yes I am, you may just call me Wilhelm to drop some formalities if you don't mind."
"I'll gladly accept it, so what's your purpose for visiting Paris anyway?"
"Hmm… just sightseeing to be precise, well I already have planned a lot even for my next destination. It's a long journey ahead and I'm just starting."
"Just sightseeing?"
"Yeah, I just want to enjoy some scenery if you can say that."
"I see, what a solemn journey if I would say to myself." Jeanne ears perk up.
Wilhelm saw her ears perk up, he was curious but at the same time he wondered how it would feel to touch those ears. He removed those thoughts for now as it would be rude if he accidentally blurted out his inner thoughts.
"For you, are you going to Paris as well?"
"Yes I am, I would be going back home after all or being called for work to be precise."
"Tough luck."
"Indeed, do you also read books?" Her eyes landed on his luggage and his Notebook inside his pocket.
"From time to time."
"I see, I would recommend Masters of Europe if you haven't read it yet. It is such a detailed and complex book."
"Oh…uh…" Wilhelm just smiled, considering Jeanne is recommending him a book that he made.
"I have already read it…" He softly answered. He felt awkward the moment he answered it, but the two continued anyway.
Their conversation lasted until finally reaching Paris itself.
"Now if you don't mind Jeanne, I'll take my leave."
"Alright Wilhelm, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise Ms. Jeanne." He answered in a much formal way, as he departed from the train.
"Senior Detective, do you think he is a Spy?" Said by another Francia this time she was a friend of Jeanne.
She has shorter red hair, and wears the same clothing as Jeanne, and both of them belong to the same department. They were in the Detective department of Francia.
"I don't think so, he's probably a tourist." Jeanne smiled, knowing the history between the two nations, she didn't discriminate against the people of the Deutsches Reich like the others.
"He was pretty calm when he was talking to you, I also saw you were slowly releasing some of your magic on him." said her junior.
"Oh you felt that?"
She only nodded, while Jeanne indeed released some of her magic, but Wilhelm didn't make any reaction, it's either he's used to it or he has a strong magic resistance.
Either way, she doesn't want to assume that much. Knowing he might just be innocent.
"Let's meet again someday, Wilhelm if fate allows it."
…
"I'm now in Paris… and it seems I'm already being eyed by the people of Francia."
But he ignored them, as his ear perked up in enjoyment, as he finally stepped foot in Paris.