191. The Empress Returned

The sharp spire of the multiple-tiered castle tore through the grey, cloudy sky. Cold rain drizzled down on its grim exterior of dark steel and brick. A gigantic arcane barrier embraced the isle, its defensive power drawing mana from a source at the castle's highest point.

The sigil of the North Star shimmered, making the surrounding air ripple ever so gently.

At first glance, the monotonous, depressing climate of the place was palpable. In the lonely town square, only a few people wandered through the wet weather, their black parasols bobbing with the occasional breeze. Boots splashed through the puddles.

A harmonious hum rang out as the space ahead distorted into a mirage. An outline of a doorway materialised while blue light expanded and conjoined, filling the empty air. From it, Triss Mercie stepped out, followed closely by Cartier.

“Oh! It’s raining here,” Triss muttered, instinctively shielding Cartier with her arms.

“It’s fine, Miss Triss. The rain doesn’t bother me!” Cartier replied with a light smile, glancing over her shoulder to where they had come from.

When the empress did not emerge from the portal as expected, Cartier called out, unsettled, “Em~empress?”

Suddenly, trails of light hurtled across the horizon.

A massive explosion erupted when high-yield ballistic missiles struck the castle’s defences. The barrier rippled erratically, sending a shockwave through the ground.

“Eeeee!” Cartier shrieked.

Triss immediately pulled the child into her embrace, a hand protectively clasping her head. People screamed in panic, their running footsteps echoing as they sought refuge.

“It has begun,” a monotonic voice stated beside them. They both tilted their heads upwards to see the Astral Empress’s calm expression. A mere firework display did not faze her.

“Empress Aurora?” Cartier gasped, part surprised and part confused.

“Will the barrier hold?” Triss questioned, her eyes darting about anxiously.

“For a moment, yes,” Aurora replied bluntly. Her eyes narrowed, peering into the distance. Another wave of bombardment lit the sky, its amber light illuminating her skin, and the explosions reflected in her silver eyes.

“Let’s make haste. I need to perform the mana recovery ritual,” Aurora urged, lightly tapping their arms. She had already turned towards the castle entrance.

‘Don’t tell me… she intends to unleash that monstrosity again?’ Cartier internalised, her tail shooting up with a twitch.

Triss and Cartier looked at one another questioningly, yet both felt it was not the time for questions. It was often impossible to know what the empress was thinking, so the two simply followed her lead.

They had to jog to keep up with Aurora’s quick stride. They strode past the giant fence as occasional flames erupted in the sky, making Cartier’s heart thump like a drum. She panted, her short legs working furiously to keep the pace.

The spacious courtyard seemed to stretch on endlessly as she hustled.

At the castle door, one of her royal guards in black armour knelt with a spear on her shoulder. “Astral Empress.”

“Guard, where is Mirai?” Aurora asked promptly.

The royal guard pointed towards the left wing. “The last time I saw her was in the kitchen chamber, um, a few hours ago, Empress.”

“Go to the underground bunker. Help everyone you can. Go,” Aurora commanded, brushing her fingers over the smooth surface of the shoulder plate. The royal guard nodded and departed at once.

As Aurora was about to step onward, her rings vibrated. At roughly the same moment, the bombardment above ceased.

“My apologies, I’m a bit late to the ball, Empress,” General Matthew’s voice spoke up. His holographic live feed appeared in the air. A massive shadow fell across the buildings, blocking the sun. The brown battlecruiser, the size of Borealis Castle, cruised overhead, the sigil of a silver shield proudly emblazoned on its exterior.

"The Dreadnought battlecruiser is here to serve and protect!" General Matthew spoke up, excitement lacing his tone.

Heat flares shot from its side ports, painting the sky red. The enemy’s bombardment was intercepted, the incoming missiles veering off their intended course to detonate harmlessly in the distance.

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“I thought you wouldn’t arrive,” Aurora replied coldly.

“Heh, as my father used to say, great calamity births great heroes. Wouldn’t you agree, Ventiff’s Slayer?” the General quipped, brushing his nose with a big finger.

“One hour,” Aurora stated bluntly. “Give me one hour,” she told the general with the imperial beard.

From the sidelines, Cartier watched with wide eyes, piecing things together. "One hour, then what?!"

Smirking, the man curled his fist and placed it on his chest in a salute. “Solid copy!” The light from the crystal on Aurora's ring faded.

“Let’s go and get Mirai. This way.” Aurora flicked her head to the side and strode off.

The three-metre-tall steel door, heavy and imposing, creaked open with resistance. Empress Aurora stepped in, her eyes sweeping the room as she called out her maid's name.

“Miss Mirai!?” Cartier shouted, poking her head around, only to be met with the empty kitchen chamber.

As she rounded the kitchen island, she saw a crimson pool spreading out from behind a table, with a pair of human legs visible.

“Ahhhh!” Cartier screamed, cupping her mouth. Before she could recoil, she felt a hand on her head. Looking up, she saw Empress Aurora.

“Smell it, Cartier. That’s red wine,” the Empress said, her tone steady.

“Huh?” Cartier blinked, her eyes eventually recognising the black and white maid’s uniform. “Miss Mirai!?” she cried, rushing to her side.

As Triss and Cartier managed to help Mirai sit up, the maid’s eyes fluttered open. “Mmm~mmm…” she groaned.

“Cartier… Empress…” she murmured, fighting against a wave of vertigo. “Ouch…” She flinched as she gingerly touched her forehead.

Other than a red bruise on her forehead and a wine stain on her frilled blouse and apron, there seemed to be no further injuries.

“Terissa, please,” Aurora implored, gesturing with a finger. Triss nodded eagerly and hovered her palms over Mirai. After a divine chime, a healing green glow engulfed Mirai’s head, and the throbbing pain quickly subsided.

“That’s better… Terissa, isn’t it?” Mirai smiled widely. In response, Triss returned the smile and helped her to her feet.

She swept her eyes around, feeling a sense of warmth, until Aurora signalled by pointing a finger skyward.

Suddenly, the sense of urgency surged back. “O~Oh! Empress! We’re under siege!” she exclaimed, her voice laced with alarm.

“You’re a bit late to the party, Miss Mirai. We already knew,” Cartier clarified.

“Oh…” Mirai exclaimed softly. The tone shifted almost in a heartbeat. Her tense posture relaxed. “Since the Astral Empress is with us, there’s no cause for concern!” she giggled.

But they did not laugh with her. “What’s wrong?”

Aurora shook her head. “A hiccup. I need to return to full strength immediately. Mirai, prepare the bath.”

“The bath?” Mirai tilted her head, confused. Then, it clicked. “Oh! The ritual bath! Right this way, Empress!”

***

The hollow sound of footsteps resonated through the long hallway, its arched ceiling soaring over five metres high. Mirai led the group, ignoring the shelves of collected historical artefacts. None of that mattered now.

At the end of the path, Mirai flung open the chamber door, revealing a luxurious white tub the size of a small pool, embedded in the floor. Wasting no time, she drifted to the side and twisted a valve, unleashing a flow of hot, steaming water. She moved to the opposite side and did the same, and the bath began to fill.

“Are~are you taking a bath, Empress?” Cartier probed, her voice trembling.

The Empress cleared her throat. “Yes and no. It is a ritual,” she clipped, hiding her embarrassment behind a deadpan expression.

Checking the temperature with the back of her hand, Mirai nodded at the Empress before heading to the far side of the room. A wooden shelf held various vibrant flora and aromatics, all kept in orderly rows.

“Cartier, with me,” Mirai instructed kindly, and Cartier approached the shelf and inspected the containers with awe. "That's new. I've never been in this chamber before." She thought to herself.

The maid urgently traced a finger along the bottles and containers, her lips murmuring, “Lavare… there it is.” She handed a glass container of enchanted lavender petals to Cartier.

“And Chamomile!” Mirai exclaimed, snatching another container and tucking it under her arm.

“Sprinkle them!” Mirai instructed with a hand gesture by wriggling her fingers. In unison, they both scattered the vibrant, lush petals into the swirling, warm water. The steam distributed the aromatic scent, which soon engulfed the entire room. Strangely enough, it smelled like a good night's sleep, rather than anything else.

“And lastly…” Mirai winked, cupping her hands to her lips. A soft, inaudible incantation invoked a brilliant light that seeped through the gaps between her fingers.

“Wow…” Cartier blinked in amazement.

"Truly exquisite, wonderful arcane," Triss stood by the side with shared astonishment.

Like liquid starlight, Mirai poured the arcane from her palms into the bathtub. Bubbles ebbed and flowed, creating a vortex of mesmerising nebulae.

The magical light from Mirai’s hands faded, leaving the chamber lit by the dim, crystalline glow from the water itself. Empress Aurora had already shed her formal attire, her immaculate skin seeming to absorb the soft light.

She gave a final, appreciative nod to her companions. "Thank you," she said, her voice a low murmur.

Stepping down into the magical pool, a sharp, satisfied gasp escaped her lips. The water, alive with swirling glitter, embraced her. It was more than just relaxing warmth. It was aliving currentthat seeped past skin and into bone, chasing the last vestiges of fatigue from her very soul. She sank into the shimmering vortex, the water closing over her shoulders as she tilted her head back. For the first time since returning, her mind fell silent.

Serene meditation transpired.

The exhaustion was slowly devoured by the arcane, and in the void it left, a profound vigour began to rise. She closed her eyes, letting the current of regenerating mana return, like a single, petrified seed cracking apart the stone around it as it burst to life.