CHAPTER 26 —
Morning sunlight spilled through the crystal-paneled balcony windows of Aetheria's newly completed council chamber. The room was still fresh, the marble floors untouched by time, carrying faint warmth from the rising sun. Mana veins glowed faintly beneath the floor, threading through the stone like gentle rivers. They pulsed every few moments, making the entire chamber feel alive.
The celebration of yesterday's world announcement still lingered in the air. Aetheria had declared itself to the world, its existence no longer myth, no longer rumor, but a standing nation. Spirits had danced until midnight, fairies drew glowing trails through the sky, and even Lunara had participated by setting off "harmless" spark explosions.
But today… today was different.
Today the world watched Aetheria.
Today the world waited for what they would do next.
Airi sat cross-legged on her new floating chair, which rotated slowly as she hummed a random melody. Her feet kicked playfully in the air, her white dress fluttering around her.
Haruto leaned against the balcony window, arms crossed. His eyes quietly traced the view of the capital below, a construction world still in motion, but no longer chaotic. Roads glimmered, lanterns floated, and spirits glided between rooftops like drifting petals.
Frost stood on one side of the large table, reviewing scrolls and territorial maps. Lunara inspected the magical lamps embedded in the ceiling as if deciding whether she liked the craftsmanship. Lyria slowly turned in midair, spinning in a lazy circle because she liked the rhythmic hum the chamber produced.
Everything felt peaceful.
Everything felt promising.
And then…
A sharp knock echoed across the chamber.
A young elf messenger stepped inside and bowed deeply.
"Princess Airi, Prince Haruto. The envoys from the Dominion Empire have arrived for the diplomatic follow-up meeting."
Airi shot up immediately."Let them in!"
Haruto sighed softly."We agreed no shouting before noon."
Airi did not even acknowledge him.
The envoys were guided in, three men and one woman, wearing the formal silver and white uniform of the Dominion Empire. Their expressions were serious, but respectful. They bowed instantly.
"Princess Airi. Prince Haruto," the lead envoy said. "Congratulations on your successful world proclamation. The speech was… inspiring."
Airi puffed her chest proudly."I sparkled extra hard!"
Haruto placed a hand on her shoulder."…She glowed normally."
"I SPARKLED."
"Normally."
"SPARKLED."
The envoys exchanged nervous glances, pretending to not witness the sibling argument unfolding with terrifying confidence.
The female envoy cleared her throat."We came to discuss post-announcement logistics. Travel routes between Aetheria and the Dominion Empire must now be established officially."
Haruto nodded."We expected this."
Frost stepped forward."Currently, traveling between Aetheria and the Dominion Empire requires a minimum of five days using your fastest caravans."
The envoys nodded.
"With our technology, that is the limit," the lead envoy said.
Airi leaned dramatically forward on the floating table."Five days is too long!"
Haruto added, "For diplomacy, trade, education exchanges, and resource support, five days will not suffice."
Another envoy spoke calmly."Then, does Aetheria intend to build a teleportation gate?"
Airi's eyes widened."We could! I can try! Maybe if onii chan helps… and if Lunara does not breathe on me while I work—"
Lunara narrowed her eyes."I do not breathe on you."
"Yes you do. Your dragon breath makes my hair foof."
Lunara paused."…I do not know how to respond to that."
Haruto cleared his throat, saving Lunara from further analysis.
"We need a solution that is stable, long-term, and accessible to everyone. Not just nobles."
The four envoys exchanged curious glances.
"What kind of solution does Aetheria propose?" the lead envoy asked.
Airi's eyes shifted to her brother.
Haruto straightened, stepping forward.
"There exists a concept," he said softly, "from an ancient civilization far predating this era. Something not native to this world."
Airi gasped happily."Onii Chan is entering scholar mode."
"Please stop calling it that."
"No."
Haruto lifted his hand, ignoring her.
A thin line of glowing mana formed in the air, an illusion spell that stretched forward like a small light-path.
"Imagine," Haruto said, "a long track of metal rails extending across vast distances. Perfectly straight, precisely measured."
He flicked his wrist.
A metallic shape emerged within the illusion. Long, smooth, segmented.
"And on these rails sits a vehicle propelled forward using mana engines and mechanical structures."
The envoys leaned forward.
Lyria gasped."Oooooh! A shiny long bug!"
"It is not a bug," Haruto whispered.
Airi stared closely, then loudly declared,"A worm castle!"
"No."
"A metal snake?"
"No."
"A long thin house on wheels?"
"…Closer."
Airi gasped dramatically."A TRAIN!"
Haruto nodded.
"Yes. A train."
The room fell silent.
Even Lunara stopped adjusting the ceiling lights.
Frost's tail swayed as he examined the projection's wheels and metallic plates.
Haruto said. "A train revolutionized travel and trade. If we combine it with mana engineering… travel time from the Dominion Empire to Aetheria could drop from five days to a few hours."
The envoys stared as if their souls had briefly left their bodies.
"H-Hours…?" one whispered.
Haruto nodded calmly."Possibly less."
Lunara stepped nearer."And it is safe?"
"Safer than current travel," Haruto said. "No monsters. No storms. No bandits. Just smooth travel."
Airi beamed."Onii Chan, your nerdiness is finally useful."
Haruto flicked her forehead."Ow— It was compliment! I promise!"
Frost stood straight."This will require dwarven smiths, dark elf architects, and strong mana cores."
Lyria floated closer."And permission from the Great Forest Spirit to carve paths."
Airi nodded vigorously."Oh yes. We cannot build a super long snake-car without asking Mama Forest."
Haruto whispered,"It is not a snake-car."
The envoys stepped forward, trembling slightly.
"This innovation would change the world," the lead envoy said softly.
Haruto nodded."That is the intention."
Airi hopped onto the floating table, spreading her arms.
"SO! First step! Mini model! Tiny train! Cute! With choo choo sound!"
Haruto gave up."…It will not make a choo choo sound."
"Choo choo mana!"
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes forever."
Lunara whispered to Frost,"This is going to be a long project."
Frost nodded."It will be worth it."
Airi raised her fists dramatically."AETHERIA WILL BUILD THE FIRST TRAIN EVER!"
Haruto quietly added,"And before that… we must scout the land."
The envoys were dismissed with promises of future cooperation.
INTO THE GREAT FOREST
Airi, Haruto, Frost, Lunara, and Lyria traveled toward the outskirts of Aetheria in the afternoon light. Birds scattered into glowing flocks as they approached, and the earth trembled faintly under Lunara's steps.
The Great Forest was not silent, it whispered.Ancient. Alive. Watching.
Trees bent subtly as Airi passed, recognizing the Eternal Princess.
Airi placed her hand on a glowing trunk."Hello, Mama Forest. We want to borrow your land for something very important."
A soft wind wrapped around her fingers like a gentle embrace.
Haruto stepped beside her."We need to build long rail paths. Straight roads. Minimal curves. Minimal elevation changes."
Lyria drifted near the treetops."The forest will allow it… if we explain it well."
Airi turned her head toward Haruto.
"Onii Chan, you explain. You are smart."
"You explain. You are the princess."
Airi puffed her cheeks."Nooo. I get nervous."
"You screamed 'choo choo mana' earlier."
"That was passion."
Haruto sighed.
A low rumble spread across the ground.
Roots shifted. Leaves spiraled.A towering silhouette emerged, a humanoid figure made of roots, bark, and glowing flowers.
The Great Forest Spirit.
Airi bowed deeply."Hello!"
Haruto bowed respectfully as well.
The Forest Spirit's voice echoed like leaves brushing against one another.
"You seek permission to carve pathways through my land."
Haruto nodded.
"Yes. This is not for destruction. It is for connection. We wish to build a mana-based rail system that will bring peace and stability."
Airi stepped forward, hands clasped.
"We want kids to travel safely! And merchants! And adventurers! And diplomats! And people who want to visit family! No more long dangerous journeys!"
The Forest Spirit eyes dimly glowed.
"You desire change. Growth. Aetheria was born from the forest. You respect it. Therefore… permission is granted."
Airi's eyes sparkled."Really?! Thank you!"
The spirit lowered its head slightly.
"But in return… plant new life along the tracks. For every tree you touch, you must grow twenty more."
Airi nodded so fast her hair bounced."I promise!"
Haruto bowed."We will honor this."
The spirit dissolved into petals that floated into the sky.
Airi turned to her brother.
"So… does this mean the world's first train begins here?"
Haruto looked at the open land ahead.
"Yes. This is where it begins."
THE DARK ELVES REACT
By late afternoon, the sibling duo met with the Duskwalker dark elves in their forest settlement.
Their leader, Lumeris, bowed.
"What brings the princess and prince to us?"
Airi grinned."We want to build a… um… a super fast metal snake that carries people!"
Haruto whispered,"Train."
Lumeris raised an eyebrow."A metal snake…?"
Haruto stepped forward and activated the illusion spell again.
The entire tribe froze.
Lumeris leaned in slowly.
"…This moves? On rails? Across continents?"
Haruto nodded.
"It will require tunnels, bridges, supports, mana engines, and reinforced metal."
Lumeris inhaled sharply."Then you need us."
Airi spun."Really?!"
"Yes," Lumeris replied. "Dark elves are the best at shaping stone. If you want straight lines, curves, tunnels, precise alignment… we can handle the milling, carving, and structure."
Airi jumped up and down."Thank you thank you thank you!"
THE DWARVES REACT
Before sunset, the dwarven envoy arrived.
A short, barrel-chested dwarf named Granik stared at the illusion.
Then he grabbed Haruto's sleeve.
"You're telling me… this thing moves… with mana engines… on metal tracks?"
"Yes."
Granik's eyes glowed like molten steel.
"You want metal rails? Metal frames? Cores? Wheel casings? Heat-resistant mana engines? Reinforced mana stones?"
Haruto nodded.
The dwarf slapped the table with pure excitement.
"BRILLIANT! I LOVE IT! WE'RE IN!"
Airi laughed."Yay! Dwarves are joining the train army!"
"It is not an army," Haruto murmured.
Night had fallen when Airi and Haruto finally walked back to their balcony overlooking the capital.
Lanterns floated across the city.
The wind was soft.
Airi leaned on the railing, feet dangling.
"Onii Chan," she whispered, "is this scary?"
Haruto blinked."What do you mean?"
"All of this. The world watching us. Nations depending on us. Changing history. Building something no one has ever seen."
Haruto looked at her small hands gripping the railing.
He gently placed his hand over hers.
"We are never alone in this. Not anymore. And…" His voice softened. "You are the reason this place lives. Aetheria exists because you dreamed of a home."
Airi's eyes shimmered.
"Then you're the reason it grows," she whispered. "You always make impossible things real."
Haruto looked out at the city.
"And you make them worth doing."
She leaned her head on his arm.
"Onii Chan… let us change the world together."
He nodded.
"We already have."
THE SPARK
The next morning, before dawn, Aetheria gathered in the central plaza.
Airi stood on a raised platform, Haruto beside her.
Dark elves.
Dwarves.
Spirits.
Fairies.
Elves.
Beastfolk.
Wolves.
Dragons.
Everyone waited.
Airi raised her hands.
"Everyone! Today marks the beginning of something new! Something big! Something shiny! Something that will make the entire world gasp!"
Haruto lifted a glowing crystal.
"This is the first mana core for the rail system. The beginning of our train project."
Airi shouted with full power,"AETHERIA WILL BUILD THE FIRST TRAIN IN HISTORY!"
Cheers erupted.
Mana burst into the sky.
Even Lunara let out a roar of approval.
Haruto's voice carried through the crowd like a calm promise.
"Before we connect the world… we must design it. And we will."
Airi grinned beside him.
"Let us redraw the map."
The spark had been lit.
And soon
It would reshape the entire world.
END OF CHAPTER 26 — The Spark That Redrew the Map