Snow Witch'S Journey
Magic and Machines

In one short swing, all of the objects moved suddenly, making shapes and preparing positions as if getting direct orders from me as a director. From what was originally just an insignificant remnant to a beautiful look, objects and characters wrapped in blue light powder from my magic. The light powder formed like a background of a glittering stage.

I cleared my throat, confirmed my voice, then in a firm, clear but also gentle voice I said, “One day, there was a girl who found no place in this world.” A light from above shone onto the stage. A little girl with snow-white hair (indeed I made from snow) was curled up and crying in the middle of the forest. “How unfortunate the girl is. Alone in the middle of the forest, in the midst of the dangers that lurk, and do not know what to do. In the midst of her grief, she expects someone to appear and take her to a vast and colorful paradise

For a moment, I stopped and glanced at Spelator. Looking up at the show, the machine fell silent, only the inside of the machine was at work, and did not ask about my magic, as if he was enjoying the storyline as the audience should. I can be relieved and continue.

“Then, on a stormy night, a large figure with a heavy body appeared before him. A robotic machine with a big elephant and tall like a tree. The robot uses its massive body to protect the girl from the storm. The machine inside the robot keeps the girl's body temperature warm.”

From the other side of the stage, I floated a number of stones arranged to be like the shape of a giant machine. I pull out the machine figure and I make a girl figure hug, as small grains of ice fall from above. Soon enough, the ice grains depicting the storm had subsided. The figure of the machine releases his embrace and greets the girl.

“After getting acquainted, the robot feels sorry for the fate of the girl and invites her to go to his country. In that country, the robot believes that the girl will find her true place. The girl agreed and went with the robot.”

Because the girl's body is so tiny and the robot is so big, the robot gives her hands as a lift for the girl. The journey to the land of the robot will be very long and tiring. The girl's body is weak while the robot is not. By giving a ride, the girl will not be exhausted.

“After a long journey, they arrived in a country with a giant wall many times higher than the robot. After passing through the walls, the girl was amazed to see the tall buildings, the colorful flowers that lush in each corner, the citizens and the good robots that shoulder to shoulder. The colors were like describing the mixed feelings of the girl at this time. His eyes emitted a light of happiness but also shed tears of sorrow. He was sad to see the land as his dream paradise. Then, the residents greeted the girl with a very warm smile like the sunshine she had not felt for a long time. The sky supported by tall buildings became bright to accompany the girl, then there were colorful rainbows, balloons being flown into the air, and white birds flying in the sky. The girl sensed a place that was actually in her empty heart. Because now that her heart had been filled with joy, she would never cry and feel alone again. Finish.”

No response or applause ended my story. The spelator was still as silent as before. Even though the story is over, it's strange that no one talks about it. I looked, trying to guess what was in the mind of the machine at this time.

“Jadi ... Is that what magic is called?”

I smile. “True. That's magic.”

“The magic is beautiful, yes.”

I turned back and looked at an illustration floating in front of me. A land of spare change, studded with the luster of icy dust, and beautified with my magic light revives the land as it was originally. There were people wandering the streets, the sky bustling with flying robots and birds, as well as a blend of colors filling each other with blanks. The show ends with a curtain closed. Heavy snow dust fell from the sky and closed the entire corner of the show until it finally escaped the view of the audience, returning to insignificant abuse.

“Is the country Wisendier?”

“True,” nods me so he sees it that way. “I made it based on your master's explanation.”

“Although Niva ... has shown it to me, I still don't understand. Science ... can never be in line with magic. Always cause strife. Like oil .. and water. Now everything is clear, our country .. is destroyed because we refuse .. believe in magic and underestimate it, and the nation that uses witchcraft. I never understood .. with magic and Niva also did not. It's always like that. Up to now-”

“You're wrong. The world now, magic and technology are in the same line. Both of these things become a handle for all humans to grow. Just like your country, robots and humans can work together, magic and technology also coexist. It exists in the real world, and therefore also I travel.”

“Niva is traveling?”

I nodded again. “I live at the very end and coldest part of a continent. In such a remote and isolated place, I always imagined what the outside world would look like. Is beautiful? Is it extraordinary? It's gruesome? Ugly? Or is it just plain and there is nothing out there? When I think about it, my chest is always pounding and pumping a sense of passion that is trying to get me out of here. See and feel directly what the world looks like, even though it does not match your expectations, is not it fun?”

I realized something I had in common with that machine. I have a mother—not related to blood, and Spelator has a master who is at once the human creator. My mom told me if she had a purpose in her life, a mission to find “Ext of the World” for herself. His master Spelator was also like that, having a holy mission for the sake of his country. However, a situation made them stop continuing the mission. That's where me and Spelator are to inherit that determination. Coincidentally, we were found in the same place.

“See ... and feel instantly what the world looks like? So, is that ... Niva's dream? I do not understand .. pe.. human feelings, but that I ... me ... understand that .. ma ..... humans will never give up if .. su .. ... have found their dreams.”

I've been thinking. There is no harm in adding a new interlocutor during the trip. If there was one more person accompanying my trip, I would never be bored again and would not have to feel annoyed again because of Aeron's rude remark. It will be a very interesting journey. But, before that, I have to figure out a way to get out of this place first.

“Hey, what if-”

Suddenly, a loud crack was heard followed by the impact of falling objects. In the hallway that connects the cave, cracks are increasingly extending and dropping the ceiling and stalactites. The crack continued to spread very quickly like a cancer not only in the sky, but also in the wall. I don't understand why the crack has gotten this bad. I hurried up and turned to my left and right, looking for a way to deal with this. I hurriedly stuffed the compass into my bag then raised the magic wand upwards before the shaking sky would collapse. A giant shadow suddenly covered me. Spelator, with its huge body wrapped around me.

“What are you doing?”

“I protect ... Niva, as the robot did in your story.”

“Do not! I can use my magic to protect us.”

“Ti ... no need, Niva. Just use your magic ... to get out of the rubble after this. After all, since the beginning of da .. my dayak has reached the limit. It's free that you save me. 'cause I'm finally a. .. gonna die out there. Out there, no one can ... fix me and .. no one can take advantage of my machine. That is also my wish. It would be better if I ended up ... here, ber ... rest with my master. That's also the ... part of mi. Se... Goodbye, Ni ... Niva. A ... I am happy ... berte .. mu and ber ... perte .. man de .... with .. mu.”.

I could feel a huge chunk of ice raining down on Spelantor's body protecting me. The sound of his metallic clashing with ice kept on deafening my ears like a blizzard crashing through the glass of my room window. In the shade of Spelantor's body, I could only sit limp while waiting for the storm to stop. It's dark in here, I can't see anything. Suddenly, Spelator core light lit up above my head. Not only did it protect me, it also gave me an illumination as well as warmth from the increasingly weak engine temperature. Now it was just me, the yellow light, and the outside roar that seemed to force in and pull me out. The sky kept shaking. My world keeps shaking. Until I close my eyes and everything calms down.

“Slight ... again. Comeon! Just a little more and ..”

Blue energy kept darting upwards from my magic wand. I could see a small light sneaking in from the solid chunks of ice. It worked! I did not stop and continued to fire my magic until finally the outside air came in from the ice that had been destroyed. The freshness of the outside world I can feel again. It's as fresh as ever. The air went into the ruins along with the dark blue light from the night. As much as I could, I pulled my body and took every footing to reach the hole I had made. I no longer care about my dirty or torn clothes, cold air and sharp chunks that make my skin blisters. Up ahead I can reach the outside sky. The closer the glare of my eyes.

“Fuahh …. Finallyaa can be free too.” I stretched my arms wide and inhaled a deep breath. Little snow was still falling from the sky as usual. A gust of cold wind was blown from the branches of the fir trees. Up there, the whole moon came out from the clouds as if welcoming me with her bright smile. I was bathed in the light of the moon and snow.

I stood on top of an ice ruin. The surface is high above me. While I was five meters below the real surface. Previously, this place was just like any other surface, but it sank and created a basin in the middle of the forest. I found a derivative that took me up, to the real surface.

I opened my left hand, there was a solid object that I kept holding. This thing is a fraction of Spelator's power core. He gave it to me as a memento. He told me that I could sell it because it was of very high value and would definitely help my finances. But, no. This thing I'm not selling. This is the last and only relic that remains. Other relics already buried by the cave ruins may even have been destroyed. Let the relic be buried under there and without a single person knowing. I want these ruins to be ordinary ruins, without anything special underneath. While these shards, I'll keep and I'll keep them well.

“Good. Now I have to continue my journey again.”

“Padahan just now you had a difficult thing but you do not feel tired in the least.” I put a power core fragment into my bag, then took out the compass.

“I will rest when I get to the city,” I said excitedly.

“Omong-by the way, the story was .. su-really interesting. L like it. I mean. .. You know, right, I've been stuck here a long time since my owner left me. But, after seeing ... the show, I couldn't stop thinking. So, bi-can you tell me another story?”

Without realizing it, I smiled first. “Of course. I'll tell you during the trip.”