Machina Arcanis: Two Worlds Collided
Chapter 168. The Unexpected Visit

Terissa Mercier, also known as Triss, found herself walking along a quiet street. The air was stagnant and still, making it hard to breathe. A ragged noise escaped her lips as she slowly dragged herself through the street.

“Where am I?” The thought suddenly crossed her mind. She looked around at the lamplight that flickered in the distance. Then she noticed it. The darkness moved like a living entity, slowly creeping towards her.

“Wah!?” she yelped, making an abrupt turn.

A giant, well over three metres in height, bent over and brought her face to Triss's eye level. Triss attempted to scream, but no sound came out.

“It has been so long since I have sought you out.” The tall figure spoke, her words carrying a hint of longing, as if she were a long-lost family member.

Triss studied her with caution. Her expression carried a mixture of gentleness and serenity. Her skin was as pale as porcelain, with fractures marking her surface. Her visage was so mythical, so surreal. And the most striking feature of all, her almond-shaped eyes glowed in the dark like two massive emeralds. Radiant and enchanting.

“Do not be afraid, my child.” The giant’s voice resonated, seeming to emanate from the very air around them.

Straightening to her full, impossible height, the titan held her hands cupped around a shimmering essence. “I mean you no harm. I could not harm you even if I chose to, for I no longer exist.”

Triss could only stare, the titan’s words weaving a confusing riddle in her mind. She gave a numb, automatic nod in response to the being’s immense presence.

With a graceful, hypnotic motion, the titan’s hands parted. Floating between her palms was a sphere of light, and at its heart throbbed what looked like a flawless emerald. As Triss watched, it swivelled to face her, revealing itself to be a vast, conscious eye.

One, always seeing way beyond the thread of fate. One, Triss knew full well.

“Th~the essence… of Proleptis,” Triss breathed in disbelief.

The titan gave a single, solemn nod of confirmation.

“You must alight, Essenceborn.” The titan turned and began to whip her hands around, the mana flowing and shaping the scene around them, which was no longer a lonely laneway.

Her surroundings shifted as the ground became a cosmic sky, with billions of galaxies beneath her feet.

“You must have already known of me, Terissa. I have foreseen and written my echo to meet with you…” She waved her arm in an arc, and the constellations began to realign. “On this fateful, dreamless night,” she riddled.

“What?” Triss blinked, scared of the imposing figure, yet she was partly drawn in by the Titan’s ornate appearance. Speaking of which, rolls of golden scrolls were wrapped around her like clothes, each one brimming with content.

“Child, I do not have much time to dawdle,” the titan grumbled, snapping Triss out of inspecting the ancient texts on her with awe-inspired eyes.

“My~my apology!” Triss fell to her knees, her hands clasped to her chest in prayer. “O’ Mighty Thesmoria, why have you sought out a lowly Novitcius?” she pleaded.

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“Thesmoria?” The titan raised her brow, quickly skimming one of her stray scrolls. “Oh, you must be referring to the Moirai,” she pondered aloud, tapping on the keywords.

“Moirai?” Triss exclaimed with a confused look on her face.

Scratching her brow, the titan sighed. “Correct, Terissa. Thesmoria, Moirai, they are the same entities. But as I stand here, I am a mere echo of her. Come now, I must not answer your endless queries, although I am very much inclined to do so.”

Triss opened her mouth, only to forcefully snap it shut in restraint. Then, the echo of Moirai began to weave her hands around again, and everything distorted beyond human comprehension.

Galaxies flew past her. The clouds of nebulae exploded and dimmed. New stars shifted and were reborn.

“Thesmoria! Ugh!” Triss grunted as she felt a sense of acceleration beyond the speed of light, as the titan’s glowing body disintegrated into mesmerising, sparkling dust.

“Stay strong, Essenceborn. You must endure this journey alone,” the divine voice rang out before everything snapped to nothingness. No visuals. No sound. A true state of null.

And Triss began to fall.

***

Aurora’s heightened senses snapped her out of her slumber. Her elven ears were able to pick up the light footsteps from outside. By her side, Little Cartier snuggled close, mumbling incoherent words in her sleep.

“Wake up, Cartier,” Aurora nudged her before propping the child upwards.

“Hmm?” Cartier whimpered, rubbing her half-sleep eyes.

Suddenly, a soft whimper rang out. “The ruptures… The destruction…” Triss’s voice echoed, anxiety evident in her tone.

Aurora rose from her bed, standing upright with tensed-up shoulders. “Sorry, little one,” she uttered, visibly confused.

In response, Cartier shook her head and scrambled to her side, holding her hands. “I’m awake now, Empress. Let’s check it out,” she whispered.

The Empress nodded and led Cartier to the door. Both were wearing their nightgowns, made of smooth, satin fabric that was comfortable to the touch.

The bedchamber door swung open, revealing a female figure huddled against the wall. The Novitcius of Virgo appeared in a white veil atop her dark green hair with a matching gown. Her expression was contorted, filled with fear and distress. Yet, her eyes were squeezed shut as though she were sleepwalking.

A soft wailing continued to escape from Triss’s lips.

Aurora cautiously scanned the hall, and it appeared to be empty. She then signalled for Cartier to stay close to her.

Her hands reached out to cup Triss’s shoulders. “Terissa, Terissa! Do you know where you are?” Aurora raised her voice, shattering the stillness of the night.

Triss’s eyes snapped open, tears streaming out uncontrollably. “E~empress? Little Cartier?” she exclaimed, her frowning expression laced with confusion.

“What’s wrong, Terissa?” Aurora asked sharply, brushing her fingers across Triss’s shoulder to comfort the girl.

“I’m… I’m…” Triss stammered, her breath shallow and uneven. She seemed to ponder for a moment, then drew her lips into a thin line. “I apologise for disturbing you, Empress,” she responded, bowing her head low with her hands clasped in front of her.

Aurora shook her head. “Speak, Terissa,” she demanded flatly. Beside her, Cartier gave Triss a reassuring smile.

“Are you having a nightmare?” Cartier asked, crouching in front of Triss, who seemed to be avoiding eye contact.

“You can tell them, Triss.” A gentle voice rang out from the end of the hallway. The Celestial mage of Virgo emerged, a striking figure in a black dress, her beautiful blonde hair cascading like sun-kissed waves.

Triss tightened her jaw and shifted towards the Empress. “E~empress, I have a vision of the future. Of the apocalypse!” she cried out, her hands trembling like one who had just experienced a shell-shock.

The Empress exchanged an odd look with Cartier before asking Vivian, who was now approaching them, “Perchance, is she a clairvoyant? Vivian?”

“Yes, Empress,” Vivian replied, brushing Triss’s hair gently.

“Fascinating. Not in my lifetime have I met another bearer of Proleptis,” Aurora spoke matter-of-factly, tapping her crossarm.

“Is it that rare?” Cartier asked, intrigued.

Aurora nodded solemnly, kneeling down to Triss’s eye level. “Then please tell us everything, in detail,” she commanded. Promptly, Triss nodded in submission.