Machina Arcanis: Two Worlds Collided
Chapter 184. Wake Up Call

During one of her 'regular' visits aboard the Yamamoto Battlecruiser, Admiral Lume Ember Lorne escorted Rye Au Norm to meet the Chief Operations Engineer, Robert. He awaited them deep within the ship, before one of its three colossal 'hearts', also referred to as the main Arcanite engines. For a vessel of this size, multiple primary engines were a necessity, drawing immense power through rigid conduits as thick as the girth of P.N.I. bot.

“Welcome, Lady Rye, Admiral,” Robert greeted with a bow, taking her extended hand and kissing it gently. A deep, muffled rumble reverberated from the semi-sphere in the middle of the chamber.

Lume raised his brows in surprise at their familiarity. “Hm, I didn’t know you two were best mates,” he quipped with a pang of jealousy.

“Well, Rob and I go way back. We both used to study under the tutelage of Professor Miyasaki,” Rye spoke up, a soft smile on her face.

Rob chuckled heartily. “That was a lifetime ago, wasn’t it, Lady Rye?”

She winked back. “Not quite. I still remember the time you blew up the lab like it was yesterday.” Playfully, she ran a sharp nail across his shoulder.

“Hahaha! You should have seen the professor’s face! I had to deal with so much trouble. We had to re-assess the long, tedious risk assessment before we could even get the lab reopened,” Rob laughed as he spoke.

“Ah, Professor Miyasaki Aisawa?” Lume chimed in, stepping closer, his frame intimidatingly wide. Rye licked her lips, noticing his subtle movement. “Men are quite territorial…” She noted to herself.

“Oh! So you have heard of him, Admiral Lume? I’m impressed,” Rye praised, brushing her hands against his broad chest.

“Well, he’s famous in the field of Arcanite Power,” Lume said, then pointed at the engine. “This is one of his designs, with some upsizing, of course.”

“Hmm…” Rye cupped her chin as she inspected the wondrous machine. The label on its surface read ‘ORT’ with a large, light-green ‘7th’ printed on it.

“I’ve heard of that somewhere, Rob?” Rye turned to ask.

“That’s Ouranos Research and Technology, our nation’s own research company,” Rob reported sharply, his voice filled with pride.

“Aha! I remember it now! You worked for them when you were just a graduate,” Rye exclaimed, smiling from ear to ear.

“Only because you didn’t join, despite them offering you the position first, Rye,” Rob admitted with a shrug.

“You know how I was and always will be. I’m a patriot, so it’s only natural that I had to work for my nation’s top company!” Rye clarified with charm, her eyes shimmering like real emeralds.

“And you sat on the executive board for a while, too. Meanwhile, I’m…” Rob muttered, a sad smile on his face. Even Lume stole a glance at him. Never before had he seen Chief Engineer Robert express such vulnerability.

“Oh, Robert. Comparison is the thief of joy, you know,” Rye consoled kindly.

“I didn’t know that you had worked at Arc-harm Inc.,” Lume chimed in, not wanting to be left out.

“It seems my visits aren’t frequent enough for us to catch up on things, Admiral,” Rye chuckled at his innocence before directing her attention toward the engine.

“Regardless of its massive size, it doesn’t make the noise that Armatus units usually do,” she wondered aloud.

Filled with amazement, Rye stepped to the edge of the guardrail. The ceiling here was over fifty metres high, and the bright blue light from the core illuminated her face. The engine had the lower half of its body buried beneath the mezzanine platform.

Lume came to her side and smiled. “That’s because the Arc shield is used to contain the noise and protect its core.” He pointed out the ten-metre rods surrounding the perimeter, which were emitting a semi-translucent shield that covered the entire area.

“Fantastic! So it’s not just for the noise,” she observed, lightly tapping her glasses. “You’ve also created a feedback loop from the excess energy produced by the engine itself.”

“We call it the Auto-regulating Energy Generation and Insulation System!” Robert stated firmly.

“That’s quite a mouthful,” Rye quipped, a sly smile on her face.

“A.E.G.I.S.,” Admiral Lume supplied.

“Oh… not bad for an acronym, I must admit.” Rye beamed, her gaze lingering on his chiselled face for a moment longer than necessary.

Suddenly, a chime rang across the chamber. Lume glanced at an urgent message and turned to step away. “Sorry, I must take this—”

He was halted by a pull on his wrist. “Admiral, the Umbral Dunkelheit has launched a campaign against my nation,” Rye uttered, her voice a trembling plea.

***

Empress Aurora rolled over in her bed, the thick velvet blanket brushing gently against her skin. Soft light filtered through the windows of the bedchamber, situated high above the ground, casting vibrant, mosaic-like colours onto the carpeted floor. It was a hand-knotted rug, made from the supreme silk of Thylin.

She hummed, lightly kneading her shoulder. Evidently, the clash of might she had endured yesterday had gifted her a souvenir. A soft grunt escaped her lips as her muscle soreness began to alleviate.

Seeing the empty space beside her, she thought to herself, "Hm… Cartier is already up and about."

She rose to her feet and walked towards the tall window. She ran her fingers along the edge of the brass frame, which was imprinted with a floral pattern that bespoke profound wealth. There was no doubt in her mind that Lunarius Severan had handpicked the best suite the entire Arcana Institute had to offer for her.

She pushed the window open. The hinges rotated smoothly with little resistance or noise. The bright light of the high noon sun forced her eyes shut, and she reflexively raised a hand to shade them.

“It is noon already… I have overslept. It must have been over a decade since that last happened to me,” Aurora mused quietly. She surveyed the scene below, appreciating the few pedestrians buzzing along the beautiful street and the mages flying on their staffs just overhead, as though hurrying to their classes.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

The thing about the Institute was that its disciples were always engaged in self-cultivation, with only occasional guidance from the masters of their selected Zodiac signs. That was how it always had been, and how it always would be.

“Such a peaceful campus,” she muttered, a smile finding its way to her lips. A tinge of delight lit up her beautiful eyes. The empress was still in her shiny gown from the previous night, its fabric nearly the same shade as her long, straight hair, causing them to blend together.

Satisfied with her morning ritual, Aurora spun around.

At that exact moment, Cartier swung the door open, its hinges creaking softly.

“Good afternoon, Astral Empress!” she lilted with joy, one hand clasping a tome that seemed quite large for her small frame.

“Hmm?” Alarmed, Aurora heard another set of footsteps trailing behind the child. Her body tensed visibly.

“Empress, we brought you food…” Cartier said, gesturing behind her as Friederich stepped into view. The tall elven man poked his head into the room with restrained curiosity, a clear giveaway that this was his first time seeing the over-the-top decor.

“Apologies for the intrusion, Empress. Cartier insisted that I bring refreshments to your bedchamber,” Friederich said in his usual calm demeanour.

Seeing his hands were full carrying a silver platter laden with delicacies, Aurora lowered her guard. “Oh… I thank you, Prime Guardian.” She gestured for the man to enter, studying him as he kicked the door closed with his boot. He wore a formal uniform. An Arc coat with gold accents and a remarkably thick fur collar, the sheath for his arc-blade on full display at his hip.

Friederich placed the food onto the circular table before stepping back into a formal stance, hands clasped neatly behind his back.

Aurora raised a brow, her lips parted to question his intention, but Cartier took her by the wrist and led her to a chair. “Empress, please enjoy your meal!”

Confused, she reluctantly complied. She picked up the cutlery, inspecting its shiny surface.

“What is the name of this again?” Cartier asked, pointing at the steaming platters adorned with various red meats.

Friederich leaned in slightly and nodded. “Kurobuta pork.”

“What’s this?” Cartier beamed, pointing a finger at the lustrous cubes with a marbled red texture.

“That’s Wagyu beef,” Friederich answered promptly, before returning to his at-ease stance.

“And this one?” she pointed again.

“Omi beef,” Friederich replied.

Her expression unreadable, Aurora cleared her throat and asked, “Cartier… what are you doing?”

Cartier's smile faded. “Umm… I just want you two to not fight, for once…”

Aurora forked a piece of meat and placed it gently in her mouth. She chewed for an incredibly long time, leaving the other two in suspense. Friederich stood guard with his chest puffed out, while Cartier eyed her with the same excitement she had shown upon entering.

“Well, Empress?” Cartier eventually spoke up, unable to tolerate the silence. “I was just speaking with Friederich in the dining chamber, and he mentioned that at your first meeting, you were provoked and ended up killing Astral Empress Nohrell Voss Fenrith!” she grumbled, her hands balling into fists at her sides.

“There is no need to use her full name. Just call her ‘Fox’ or something,” Aurora commented with a shrug.

Puckering her lips in displeasure, Cartier muttered under her breath, “In all honesty, I do not find that very amusing.”

“I was not joking,” Aurora countered, a small, almost indistinct tug at the corner of her lips.

Friederich coughed softly, a nervous tic.

“Well, that’s not the point, Empress. He is a good man, a good person. He even tried to stop your attack!” Cartier added reasonably.

“During the match, I did commend him, did I not?” Aurora said as she continued to eat the succulent meat.

“Empress.” Friederich handed her a handkerchief with a polite gesture. She took it gently and dabbed her lips.

“You did. Still, this time, it would be great if you two didn’t fight, for a change,” Cartier said, before pretending to be engrossed in her book. In the background, Friederich nodded in nervous agreement.

“Got it, my dear.” Aurora smiled mischievously, then gestured at Cartier with her fork. “I know what this is about now. You like him, don’t you?”

It took less than a second for Cartier’s cheeks to flush red. “Of course not!” she snorted, hiding behind her book as if it were a fortress wall.

“Any plans for courting soon, Friederich?” Aurora teased with a deadpan expression.

“No, Empress… Ahem, at least that is not in my near future,” Friederich replied, faster than he intended. “My goal right now is to reach the rank of Lunarius and to hone my skills with the blade.”

“Perfect!” Aurora beamed before trying the grilled kurobuta. She chewed slowly, her nearly glowing eyes fixed on Cartier.

“What?! E~Empress?!” Cartier stammered, sneaking a glance at Friederich, who remained as still as a statue.

“Will you deny that the Prime Guardian has an irresistible allure?” she pressed, pulling the book away from Cartier.

Cartier blushed a deep red. “No… I cannot deny that. Otherwise, it would be a lie. Miss Mirai taught me that I must always stand true to my word.”

“Hahaha!” Aurora burst out laughing, cupping her stomach. She wiped a single teardrop from the corner of her eye.

Cartier turned to look at Friederich in bewilderment, but he could only offer a blank look in return.

“Honestly, stop standing there like you are one of the royal guards, Friederich,” Aurora said, waving him towards a seat. “Come on. Join me, don’t be daft.” At her urging, Friederich scrambled to the chair.

“Umm… is everything to your liking, Empress?” Friederich asked, pouring still water for her from a glass jug.

“Delicious,” Aurora replied after a bite. “However, the flavour has been enhanced to a new height by the arcane.”

Her revelation caused Cartier and Friederich to exchange a look, a clear sign that neither of them had heard of such a spell.

“It’s an essence named ‘Trophé Hedoné’. It allows the caster to enhance a flavour to cater to a specific person’s palate. As simple as it may sound, I haven’t tasted anything prepared with it in decades,” Aurora couldn’t help but explain.

“Wow! I never thought such a spell existed!” Cartier exclaimed, her eyes shimmering.

“My knowledge is indeed limited, as my priorities lie with the warmongering aspects of the arcane,” Friederich chimed in, crossing his arms.

“You would be surprised how many strange lesser essences there are in the world,” Aurora chuckled. Their conversation continued effortlessly, filled with delightful giggles.

***

After stepping out of the bathroom, Aurora checked her black dress in the mirror one last time. She flicked her hair over her shoulder, feeling confident and ready to rejoin Cartier and Friederich, who had gone ahead for a walk.

Suddenly, her ornate ring vibrated violently. She flicked her index finger, and a blue hologram appeared, showing the caller's thumbnail. It was a man in his fifties with dark hair, dark eyes, and a stern imperial moustache.

She accepted the call. “Greetings, General Matthew Martinez.”

“Greetings, Astral Empress. My apologies for calling on such short notice,” came the deep, gravelly voice.

“Report, General,” she commanded sharply.

“Right away, Astral Empress. We have detected three medium-sized battlecruisers converging on Borealis Castle. And they are moving fast, I’m afraid.”

Aurora’s eyes widened slightly. “It sounds absurd, attacking my castle…”

“No… Mirai…” The thought just crossed her mind, she shook her head, steeling herself. “Are you certain, General?”

“Positive. There is no mistaking it. Our survey craft should acquire a visual soon. If you do not mind me acting with autonomy, I have already ordered my battlecruiser to your castle, Empress,” General Matthew replied, his tone crisp.

“That is fine, General.” Aurora felt her jaw tighten, her fist clenching. “Fine… I will gather my entourage and teleport there immediately.”

General Matthew saluted as the hologram deactivated. Her legs were already carrying her towards the door, her movement calm and regal. Her primary objective was clear: to get Triss and Cartier.