Machina Arcanis: Two Worlds Collided
Interlude: Aurora and Cartier

Over the pristine coast, overlooking the high-rise buildings and tall skyscrapers, their lights flickered, beautiful and serene in the distance. There stood a grand castle composed of multiple layers and buildings within its grim, dark walls.

The castle walls stretched wide, enclosing everything within their vicinity: gardens, restaurants, bathhouses, and other essential facilities. The entire structure had been designed to be fully self-sufficient in time of war.

On its outer wall, eight massive metal hinges were connected to equally massive chains that plunged into the sea, seemingly anchoring the castle and preventing it from drifting apart. In essence, this island castle was a colossal vessel with a diameter of one kilometre.

At a glance, its triple-tiered tower stood tall with grace and grandeur, bearing the name of House Vere Borealis. At its highest point, the tower displayed the white-silver emblem of the North Star. Few knew the true purpose behind this ornament. In reality, it was the enormous jewel, the Arcanite Harnesser. It was the rarest of them all.

The North Star artefact whirred softly with immense energy, constantly casting an invisible arcane barrier to shield the castle from an air strike. It was undoubtedly both decorative and functional.

Within the heavily protected walls, a young Wildren girl sat on a stool inside the greenhouse. She wore a dark beret over her floppy cat ears. Her dark hair, long and slightly unkempt, fell over her cheeks as she tucked a stray lock to the sides. She swung her legs gently as she tended to a flower pot. The white roses in front of her were immaculate and beautiful.

Cartier Di Joy was a tragic orphan, brought to Borealis Castle only a few weeks ago. Her city, the city of Namvie had been levelled by a massive explosion intended to cripple the Astral Empress of Osten. Miraculously, Cartier had been the only survivor. To Cartier’s astonishment, her mother had created an arcane barrier to shield her, something she never imagined possible.

Perhaps her mother had been a mage, hiding in a country of machines and technology. That thought began to make more sense to Cartier.

But the fate sisters had played their cruel game. As debris and chaos rained down upon them, her mother’s barrier failed. Without mana to sustain it, the protection collapsed, and they were both buried beneath rubble and darkness, waiting for death.

“Mother...” she murmured, thinking of the warm hand that had held hers through those endless hours. Each moment could have been unbearable, but her mother’s smile and kind words gave her the strength to persevere.

Long before her mother fell silent, the stone slabs had begun to shift on their own, and a pair of glowing silver eyes met hers.

An injured elven mage stepped forth, clad in black armour with a majestic cape flowing behind her. Her long silver hair fluttered in the breeze.

She appeared surreal — beautiful, elegant, and divine beyond comprehension.

Her saviour was Aurora Vere Borealis. Cartier recognised the distinct features instantly. There was no doubt she was the Astral Empress of the opposing empire.

Despite that fact, Aurora had not hesitated. She healed Cartier without question and saved her life. After that, Cartier had been teleported mid-battle to this unfamiliar and magnificent place, surrounded by strangers.

A melodic humming drifted through the air, followed by soft, nimble footsteps.

“Cartier! Meow!” called a maid, another Wildren girl, holding an empty vase with both hands. Her dark tail swayed playfully behind her.

“Oh! Miss Mirai!” Cartier greeted with a polite smile. The maid’s pink hair was braided into a crown, adorned with a headpiece, and her blue eyes matched Cartier’s own.

Mirai had been the first person Cartier met. Though their first encounter was awkward, the maid’s kindness quickly made her feel at ease. Cartier, being obedient, polite and clever, soon bonded with her. Over time, Mirai became her teacher, her big sister, and her only family. They became inseparable.

Mirai served as the personal maid of the Astral Empress herself. But with Aurora often away on political ventures and rarely at home, having Cartier around made life far less dull.

The more, the merrier, as Cartier’s mother used to say.

Mirai approached and placed the jade vase on the table.

“Is it cold?” she asked, rubbing her forearms.

“Not really,” Cartier replied promptly.

“Meow? Tough skin, have you?” Mirai chuckled, then glanced around at the many pots arranged across the shelves. “Which one should we pick for the Empress tonight?”

Cartier had already made her choice.

“What about these white roses?” she asked eagerly, pointing with her four fingers.

Mirai leaned forward to inspect them. The scent of freshness and lush petals filled her nose as she sniffed several times.

“It’s not quite good enough. See? It hasn’t fully bloomed,” she said, pointing with a faint smile.

Cartier visibly shrank, her face falling in disappointment. She had spent an hour selecting the best ones from the entire greenhouse, only for them to be rejected.

She fidgeted with her cold, dirty hands quietly. Mirai picked up on it immediately, knowing Cartier was the kind of girl who never demanded or argued. She was as gentle as cotton.

“Hey, don’t feel bad. There’s nothing we can’t fix with a bit of magic touch,” Mirai suggested with a toothy grin, pointing at the flower.

Cartier’s eyes locked with Mirai’s, surprised. She smiled and nodded energetically.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“Yes! But… I never managed to cast it.” The child’s mood dropped again.

“Cartier, if it were easy, everyone would be able to cast it, wouldn’t they?” Mirai said matter-of-factly.

“You’re right… Still, I’m just like everyone else,” she replied, her tone self-deprecating. Back then, her mother had made it look so easy. She would just say the word, and a spherical barrier would appear from nowhere. Just like that.

“No, Cartier, you’re gravely mistaken. And I’m about to prove you wrong. How about we give it another try?” Mirai encouraged, gently patting her hat.

“Okay…” she nodded.

Then Mirai instructed kindly, “Let’s hold up our hands.” She raised hers in demonstration.

As Mirai had taught her, Cartier closed her eyes and focused on gathering mana into her palms. A soft warmth rushed to her fingertips.

“Now we’ll use the spell. Remember, imagine what would make the flower bloom, got it?” Mirai continued with a smile.

Cartier nodded solemnly. She pictured a field of flowers, the blooming cycle, and the changing seasons. She focused further, furrowing her brows.

“Warm light to help with photosynthesis… the right temperature… water and nutrients to sustain growth…” she murmured, citing what she’d learnt in biology class.

Her fingertips began to glow with a faint green light. Mana condensed, waiting for her final chant.

“You’re doing great. Chant the keyword,” Mirai said, her smile widening in anticipation. Her tail wagged uncontrollably with excitement. This was the first time Cartier had come this far.

A green translucent vine slithered from Cartier’s fingers and disappeared into the flower. The petals began to grow and expand into a beautifully bloomed white rose.

“I did it?!” Cartier exclaimed with joy, her mouth agape and her tail shooting upright.

“Meow~ Meow!” Mirai hummed with a smile before hugging the girl. She purred contentedly.

“Arcane isn’t just about knowledge and imagination. It’s about will, too. As long as you don’t give up, you can achieve anything,” Mirai concluded with a serene smile.

“Thank you, Mirai, for always supporting me,” Cartier said, snuggling closer.

The two girls finished preparing the vase, their light laughter echoing across the greenhouse, and soon they headed towards the main building where the Astral Empress resided.

***

Their soft footsteps echoed through the long, massive corridor. A red embroidered carpet stretched over the cold, rigid floor. The ceiling soared ten metres above, and the walls were adorned with centuries-old artifacts and paintings. It felt like a grand museum in its own right.

Silvery arcane tools, Renaissance paintings, and even the head of an old Armatus were on display. However, there was not a single painting of Aurora Vere Borealis. Cartier had spent her first few days exploring the halls and found none. The only portrait that resembled Aurora was one of the empress’s deceased mother, Austria Vere Borealis.

In the painting, she wore a white dress with golden embroidery, a striking display of unfathomable wealth. Some said she was among the very few elves who had the luxury to die of old age, having lived over 2136 years. Her stern eyes bore a striking resemblance to Aurora’s, though her hair was more ashen in hue.

At a glance, it looked like a taller version of Aurora. How fascinating their bloodline must be to produce such extraordinary arcanists. Aurora had held the title of strongest for five centuries straight.

Cartier and Mirai stopped at one of the rooms. The oak doors were arcane-crafted to perfection and depicted a fragment of history — specifically, the third apocalyptic event, “The Ventiff’s Terror.” Cartier thought to herself, absorbing the fascinating story Mirai had been telling her throughout her stay. She always listened attentively.

Perhaps one day, she might become a scribe who preserves the world’s memories.

Mirai, holding a flower pot in both hands, gestured to Cartier.

“Meow! Empress Aurora?!” she greeted politely, using a softer tone.

“Should we wait?” Cartier asked, fidgeting impatiently after a long silence.

Mirai pressed her ear to the door. “She’s in there, still having a meeting.”

“Come in!” Aurora’s voice called from inside, and Cartier slowly opened the door.

It creaked as they stepped into the spacious office. The interior was simple, styled in dark tones with minimal furniture.

At the far end, Aurora sat in a sleek dark suit, facing a holographic screen. A stern-looking general saluted. “We appreciate your Astral effort in supporting us with your warmongers and renaissances. This will help us push back the aggressive border wars.”

“Understood, General Matthew. And I appreciate your newfound allegiance with our greatest empire,” Aurora replied, her words crystal as she sat upright with regal posture. The arcane communication disconnected.

Aurora spun her ergonomic chair and smiled through her exhaustion. But the moment her eyes landed on the two girls, her expression softened. These were the ones who reminded her why she remained in the political sphere. Innocent souls like Cartier and Mirai. She fought not for conquest, but to build a better world for them.

In the wake of Empress Nohrell’s fall, the fractured forces of Dunkelheit had begun to splinter further. The weak threads holding them together frayed, and one by one, former enemies turned to Osten for support. At the centre of it all stood Aurora Vere Borealis, spearheading diplomatic efforts with a new sense of urgency and resolve.

Her actions were not driven by ambition, but by the desire to spare others from the tragedy of war. Through tireless work, her influence grew. What was once unthinkable had now become reality, a few Celestius mages had pledged their full support.

It was her most remarkable achievement yet, but only a step forward. Her ultimate goal remained clear, to gain the endorsement of all eleven Celestius mages and unite the world under a banner of peace.

The empress motioned for them to come closer.

They approached, and Mirai replaced the withered flowers on Aurora’s table with the fresh, blooming white roses.

Aurora took a deep breath.

“Hmm,” she hummed softly. “A trace of arcane. This scent isn’t yours, Mirai,” she remarked, smiling first at the maid, then at Cartier.

“Your Majesty, it’s me! I cast Anthosia!” Cartier said proudly.

“Majesty?” Aurora raised an eyebrow. “No one says things like that anymore. Who taught you that?”

Mirai smiled mischievously as the little girl glared at her in mock distress.

The Empress exhaled lightly. “Anyway, Cartier, you’ve been telling me you couldn’t cast it. What changed?” she asked, though she already knew the answer.

Cartier looked to Mirai for reassurance, then replied with quiet confidence, “I think it’s the resilience.”

“Perfect,” Aurora said, pleased as her gaze drifted across the room.

“Empress Aurora, dinner is ready. Shall we?” Mirai said politely, clasping her hands in front of her. Cartier’s tail twitched in excitement, her mouth already watering.

“Right. Let’s dine together,” Aurora said, her tone neutral.

As she began to rise, a sharp pain shot through her right arm and shoulder. She winced and braced herself against the edge of the desk.

“Empress Aurora?!” “What’s wrong?!” The two rushed to support her, concern written all over their faces.

“It’s fine,” Aurora said, raising a hand to stop them. She steadied herself and stood.

“Empress, is it from your battle against Empress Nohrell?” Cartier asked, frowning.

Aurora’s face turned solemn. She closed her eyes and nodded slowly.