Moments after the communal breakfast, the entire household of the Altavis family had gathered in the sun-drenched courtyard of the Duke's mansion. The air was crisp, charged with the dual energy of an impending grand journey and the mysterious technology soon to be unveiled.
"Are you all ready to depart?" Duke Elgard inquired, his voice a steady rumble of command and affection, addressing his twin sons and their respective spouses.
"We are ready, Father!" they responded in a single, eager chorus.
Kazien, the younger son, stepped forward. With a casual flick of his wrist, he summoned forth a carriage he had created from his spatial storage—a masterpiece of magical engineering, complete with its majestic golem steed. A collective gasp rippled through the assembled family. Even the Duke and Duchess, who were accustomed to the unusual creations of their youngest son, were visibly stunned by the spectacle.
"What kind of carriage is this, Kazien? And since when did you create it?" The Duke's voice, usually so composed, held a note of genuine awe.
"Yesterday," Kazien replied simply, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
Before anyone else could move, Alvin, Kazien's cute and perpetually cheerful future spouse, dashed toward the conveyance. He pulled open the door and climbed inside. A moment of silence was shattered by his booming cry from within.
"My dear, what kind of carriage have you made? This isn't a carriage at all—it's a moving mansion!"
Hearing Alvin's ecstatic praise, Duke Elgard, Duchess Larina, and the others, their curiosity overcoming their aristocratic reserve, quickly followed suit and entered the magical carriage. What greeted them within left them speechless, their mouths agape in disbelief.
"What in the world is this carriage?" the Duchess whispered, clutching her husband's arm.
They were standing in what appeared to be a lavish drawing-room, complete with several plush, antique-looking sofas and an exquisite glass table. The furnishings were not only complete but radiated an aura of understated, almost magical luxury.
"This carriage," Kazien explained, stepping inside and gesturing around the room, "has a sitting room, a dining area, a kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom with a toilet. The motive power and the source of its perpetual lighting come from refined magic crystals."
One by one, they walked through every available space. Their tour of the 'moving mansion' was conducted in stunned silence, punctuated only by occasional, hushed exclamations. The sheer audacity of the creation—a carriage that appeared standard on the outside, yet possessed an impossibly spacious and fully furnished interior—rendered them utterly speechless. It was a masterpiece of dimensional manipulation and magical craftsmanship.
After satisfying their initial astonishment, they settled onto the sofas in the sitting room.
"Incredible! The sofas are so soft and comfortable to sit on!" Duchess Larina exclaimed, Kazien's mother. "Did you truly make this?"
"Yes, Mother!" Kazien affirmed, glancing toward the Duchess. "To make Alvin happy, I try my best to do everything I can for him."
Duchess Larina smiled, a rare, warm expression that momentarily smoothed the lines of worry on her face. Then, the Duke pointed to the golem waiting outside.
"And what about that steed? Is it a living horse?"
"No, Father. It is a golem. It will only move when magical energy is channeled into it."
"But won't your own magical energy be depleted if you constantly channel it throughout the long journey to the capital?" William asked, voicing a logical concern.
Kazien shook his head with an amused smile. "The golem is driven by magical energy sourced from a magic crystal. As long as this world continues to possess ambient magical energy, that crystal will never run out of fuel."
His explanation plunged them back into a state of stunned silence. Kazien's ability to manipulate magic and dimension was consistently beyond their comprehension.
However, Duchess Larina remained focused on her concerns, and the technological marvel itself became secondary to her youngest son's safety. She was very worried about Kazien's safety and well-being if the technological marvel, which was also terrifying, became known to the public.
"Will you be alright, my son? I worry for you if this technology becomes public knowledge. So many people will covet this invention."
"Mother, you need not worry. Alvin and I can certainly handle it." He gave her a reassuring look, knowing that their combined strength and resources would be more than enough to protect them.
Just as the initial shock subsided, Kazien remembered a duty he needed to fulfill. He had created a second, identical carriage, and he was determined to gift it to his older sister, Virena, who lived in the city of Joltam.
"Mom, I want to visit sis Virena's mansion in Joltam City to say goodbye before we both leave for the capital." he announced.
Upon receiving permission, Kazien took Alvin's hand, and with a familiar flash of light, the two teleported away to Joltam.
Meanwhile, back inside the incredible carriage parked in the Lazavis courtyard, the family was still processing the profound creation.
"Father, will Kazien truly be safe creating such a mad carriage?" William asked, the concern on his face mirroring his mother's.
Duke Elgard stroked his beard, a wide grin spreading across his face. "He will certainly be fine. Just bearing the Altavis family name brings him considerable advantages. But if anyone dares to anger Kazien, they will have to face the consequences. Hahaha."
In Joltam City, Kazien and Alvin materialized directly into Virena's mansion. They found Virena sitting alone, relaxing in a comfortable chair.
"Sis Virena!" Kazien and Alvin called out in unison.
Their sudden arrival startled her. She smiled warmly, her hand resting instinctively on her abdomen.
"Oh, hello Kazien, hello Alvin! I apologize, I can't run to you. I'm already six months pregnant, you see."
Kazien and Alvin exchanged looks of pure joy upon hearing the news of her pregnancy.
"Sister, are you truly pregnant? Seriously?" Kazien asked, rushing forward.
"Why would I joke about that? Look! My belly is already this big!" she laughed.
They both approached her and immediately settled on either side of her chair. With a face full of unadulterated happiness, Kazien gently caressed his sister's swollen belly. Alvin, too, tenderly stroked Virena's stomach, a light of hopeful anticipation shining in his eyes.
"I can't wait to marry him and have children of my own with him. Seeing Sis Virena pregnant like this makes me so happy." Alvin murmured, his words directed to Kazien but loud enough for both of them to hear.
The remark caused Kazien to flush crimson, his composure momentarily lost. Virena noticed her younger brother's reddened face and burst into a fit of hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! Why is your face all red like that? Are you also impatient to become a father? But I'm still puzzled—if you want to be a father, why do you prefer men?"