Machina Arcanis: Two Worlds Collided-Chapter 274. Iridescent Victoria

Just a few hundred strides from where he stood, Zetius found the sleek QuiHST cruiser. Under the monotonic landscape, it stuck out from behind the boulders like a sore thumb.

The mana-fall — iridescent particles slowly descending from the sky — served as cosmic recognition of the arcane power clash. It was so immense that the residue became a localised phenomenon. The beautiful remnants of their power.

"Whaooo..." Cubie exclaimed with excitement.

Above the fall, it looked like heaven. Slivers of dawn lit up the wall of clouds, an iridescent mythical spectacle, as the individual plumes twirled, ebbed, and flowed to fill the gap left by Zetius's Skybreaker.

This would have been a praiseworthy gift from the god of the sky, Ouranos, if only he hadn't fallen eons ago.

Zetius forgot to breathe at the scene; their vantage point provided a panoramic view of it all. However, that wasn't quite the same for Aurelia, who stole a long look at his face instead.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" he caught her gaze and smiled. "It's our handiwork." The lady couldn't hold back her smile either.

"When Zetius and Mama are together, they always make something incredible!" Cubie chirped in. "Like me!"

Those words made Aurelia's heart inflate like a hot air balloon. There was a strange discomfort in her chest as she glanced away, tugging a strand of red hair behind her ear.

Their jovial chuckles filled the vast battlefield, laughing under the new dawn and the mana-fall.

"Before that, did you hear Mama Marie?" Aurelia's thoughts flashed in.

"Mama? Your mother?" Zetius frowned, confused.

"Zetius's mother?" Cubie pried, tilting her head with a frown.

"It's ours," Aurelia chuckled.

"What?" Cubie's eyes widened with realisation, her jovial expression darkening. They both had red irises. Her mind reeled as the puzzle began to solve itself.

Noticing Cubie's jaw drop in dismay, Aurelia dipped her head toward Zetius. "To be precise, Zetius was adopted two years before I was born. Marie has a weak constitution when it comes to bearing a child, so I'm one of the lucky ones!" Aurelia added, her eyes smiling into curved crescents.

"Ohhhhhhh! You're the biological daughter while Zetius is the adopted son!" Cubie concluded with a clap of her hands, bobbing her head in relief. She couldn't handle her father and mother being siblings like the gods of old, back in the age of mythos.

"Back to that... we did hear her voice, right? When the golden arrow hit!" Aurelia lingered on the thought.

"Yeah... It was as if she were here with us..." Zetius pondered aloud.

Their discussion continued further into the how and where, but before their conversation went anywhere concrete, a shout called out as they neared the cruiser.

"Zeta! Aurelia! Cubie, too!" Astrid was the first to spot them, a smile spreading across her face. It lit her up despite the bandages covering her body.

Friederich stood up from his cross-legged posture, Willhelm standing behind him. Both elven mages wore affable expressions. Dried blood, dirt, and grime stuck to their faces, but somehow they looked funny. Zetius held his chuckle, finding the irony in that; he was just as begrimed himself.

In a makeshift station near the loading zone of the craft, Zetius spotted Frain and Lupus being tended to by Ziyue, a case of med-kits scattered in a mess near them.

They all looked at him, acknowledging him except Lupus, who faced away. Her long rabbit ears flopped flat over her silver fur. Despite being battered and bruised, Zetius was relieved she and Frain were okay for the most part.

"Holy Gaia, Zetius!" Friederich pulled him into a tight hug, his suddenness surprising even Zetius. "You're out of your damned mind! How dare you bring Aurelia to the frontline?"

His reprimand was a facade; they parted, and Friederich still wore a big smile. That was the rarest smile from the steadfast guardian.

"My bad..." Zetius aired out. He didn't think he needed to explain that he had to exhaust every possible option to defeat Ignius.

Friederich shook his head. "You're still spot on, though. In the end, I'm just glad all of you are alright!"

Aurelia smirked, her wry eyes squinting. "Just say you're sleeping through the showdown!" That earned her a chuckle from Cubie.

"I do not regret trusting you, Zetius. Ever. This is your victory," Friederich continued, gesturing with his palm and dismissing Aurelia's tease.

The men clasped arms. Firm. "It's our victory," Zetius corrected lightheartedly. Then his demeanour shifted, his voice quietening. "You still remember you owe me one, right?"

Friederich frowned at first, before giving a slow nod. He hadn't forgotten about his debt from way back when. He just didn't think Zetius would bring it up now.

"Just ask, my friend," Friederich said firmly, crossing his arms.

"In time. That's all I need to know from you," Zetius eyed him with a pang of mischief. "For now," he winked. In response, Friederich and Aurelia returned oblivious smiles. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"It's okay now, Cubie." Zetius signalled, and Cubie unburdened his weight so he could sling his arm over Friederich's shoulders. With both arms, he brought Aurelia into a heartfelt group hug; their heads brushed against one another as they exchanged a knowing glance. It was just like back then. The vision of their young selves, always happy together.

"Guys, I couldn't thank you more," Zetius closed his eyes. He embraced both of them tightly, and they let him hold on as long as he needed.

Willhelm waited until their reunion ceased and they parted before joining in with his charming smile.

"How?" Zetius wore a confused smile, blinking at Willhelm. The real Willhelm.

"I don't know, honestly..." Willhelm could only shrug.

"No demonic possession? No symptoms?" Zetius quipped, half-playful, half-serious.

"No voice in my head. No... It's all gone." Willhelm opened both palms, showing himself to Zetius. Except for some purple bruising concentrated on his face, the charming elf was still a wonder to the eyes.

"I feel truly free..." Willhelm breathed out, and they joined in a deep chuckle.

Next, the 'Destroyer of Willhelm' strutted forward, her motion stiff and awkward as she feigned invincibility. Capeless, Astrid's upper armour was missing, likely destroyed during the marathon of battle.

"Zeta! You have truly defeated Master Ignius?" she asked for confirmation — not because she didn't believe him, but simply because she wanted to hear him say it.

"We did." Zetius raised his finger as he thought of something, then summoned the essence, the one he had obtained from Ignius previously.

He held it out with one palm; the orb was almost too large for it. The flame within burned bright, fierce, and unyielding. Just like how his master liked to fight. It was the personification of Ignius Lux Draconus.

"Magnificent!" Cubie yipped.

"Marvellous! This must be a Mythic-tier essence, right?" Willhelm guessed, rubbing his chin.

Zetius nodded slowly.

"Perfect, then! Zeta, you are awesome!" Astrid said boisterously, showing full teeth. Suddenly, she surged forward with a bear-hug, sending Zetius staggering back slightly.

"There, there." Gently, he tapped on her back, his hand brushing on the thick bandage.

A moment of levity and victory ensued as the five disciples of Aries gathered, their jovial chitchat drifting into a low hum.

In a glimpse, Zetius couldn't help but look at Lupus. She sat with her legs to her chest, hugging her knees and still facing the side. Despite how long it had been, one thing had never changed: she never looked at him.

Now, he understood her somewhat. Jack was the man she loved. Yet, she could not find it in her heart to love Zetius.

How could she? She didn't know him as a Warmonger arcanist, the Prime Disciple of Aries.

"My muscles are sore," Frain's voice drifted to Lupus's ears, making her bunny ears shoot up straight.

"Me too!" Lupus conceded with a weak smile.

Ziyue tossed the remnants of the med-kit into a pile. "All good, you two. I'm not a nurse, but just stay still until the Virgos arrive."

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Virgo mages?" Frain tilted her head, bemused.

"Yeah, the Shadowbringers notified them, and they should be here soon enough." Ziyue winked.

Frain eyed Lupus, clearing her throat to hopefully clear the awkwardness as well. She flicked her head toward the group. "Can I say Hi to Cubie?" Frain felt the need to ask.

"You're free to do as you please, Frain." Lupus breathed out, fatigued. "You're your own master, remember?"

"And Zetius?"

Lupus sighed, waving her off.

The lioness's face lit up in an instant. "Alrighty!" she chirped before bouncing to her feet, waving her hands in an over-exertion of energy.

"What did I just tell her?" Ziyue shook her head, her palm brushing her forehead. The girl was helpless, but very resilient.

Lupus glanced back at the white-haired man in the middle of the group. For a long moment of yearning, perhaps reminiscing at the shadow of her husband, she watched him. Zetius never looked back at her.

Frain exchanged a hug with Cubie and then Zetius, where he showered her with praise regarding her powerful physique and skills. It was like the time they were together training Solis Aeternum. Two daughters and a father.

At some point, Lupus felt relieved as the outsider, but there was an inexplicable aching bubbling up inside her. In truth, Lupus felt a variety of emotions: relief, justice, joy, sorrow, achievement, loss... and finally, freedom. This long, treacherous journey had been grim.

If Zetius is able to be reborn into something new, something extraordinary, then perhaps I can learn a thing or two about him. An intruding thought flared up.

Ziyue sat down beside her, resting her back against the steel wall.

"What about you? Still not talking to him?" Ziyue pried at the bunny Wildren.

Lupus didn't respond. Her lips trembled, and tears flushed down her dark face. The quiet sorrow of a weeping widow. That's when Ziyue grasped the gravity of it. Her quip, retort, and banter were all but forgotten.

The early dawn light swallowed the darkness. In the distance, arcane energy pulsated as two figures emerged, one vertical and one horizontal. Both levitated on a Construct platform, much like the one Lunarius Severan Vonhal used at the Arcana Institute. This was definitely the Construct arcane of Aquarius.

"Please pardon my tardiness." A soft voice echoed through the space, its authoritativeness causing heads to turn.

It was Celestius Virtius Nyra of Aquarius. Radiant blue colours — his hair, eyes, and even his arc uniform with an ostentatious half-cape — shared a similar palette in the most prestigious way imaginable.

Zetius studied the elf; it was as if he had spent hundreds of his thousand years perfecting his stylish design. It was the second time Zetius had met him, and his eyes were glued to the man's ethereal grace.

"Since someone decided to destroy the summit, I had no choice but to rush to the Morderi city to provide protection against the mortal-made disaster." His sharp eyes locked onto Aurelia, then Zetius.

Her cheeks flushed red, her palms flying about wildly. "I didn't do it, Celestius! Please spare this story from my father!" Her voice cracked.

To her surprise, Virtius chuckled lightly. "No actual harm done. I admit, you have far exceeded my expectations. Would you conjecture why?" he quizzed, still holding his smile.

"Because we beat Ignius!" Aurelia blurted, sacrificing constructiveness to swiftness.

"Yes, and?" he frowned, showing disappointment at the princess's outburst. Aurelia smiled sheepishly, fidgeting her fabric.

"Maybe it's a riddle," Cubie mulled over.

Zetius cupped his chin before concluding, "We turned the sky red?"

"Well, that's still far less impressive than the Astral Empress's descent."

"Because the mana clash was so powerful, it caused the mana-fall?" Willhelm joined in. Virtius shook his head.

"Because I cured demonic possession with punches!" Astrid boasted, grinning.

That earned her a big sigh from Virtius. She almost felt the need to stomp her feet, but refrained.

The people murmured now, speculating at Virtius's question until...

"The keyword is there all along, isn't it? You said, no actual harm done? It means there were no casualties!"

"Correct!" Virtius smiled. "Frain, is it?"

Everyone looked at her with surprise. The lion girl was supposed to be the dullest tool in the shed, yet she answered this correctly.

"Good job!" Zetius brushed her dark blonde strands as she purred with content.

"Causality is something that we need to control. How does one manipulate the effect so sufficiently and efficiently? The power output during your clash—and yes, I did perform calculations—could have shattered this nation, stripped it of its civilisation. Millions of lives could have been lost. Yet, not a single soul was destroyed. Except for one Celestius."

Virtius's wise words hung low in the air. The 'oohs' and 'aahs' echoed from the party.

"Wait, you said one Celestius?" Ziyue emerged from the crowd, her eyes darting frantically. "My uncle?"

With a wave of his arm, the platform split into small steps as he descended onto the solid ground. "I did pick him up along the way." He waved an order, and the horizontal platform parked gently, revealing Jovian lying inside.

"I'm not dead, Ziyue..." Jovian groaned. The relief returned to her face. "He meant Ignius."

Virtius spared an underlid glance at Jovian, a subtle way to say that was correct. "Unfortunately, I do not come equipped with Iasis. My apologies for the lack of Proleptis in this dire time."

Zetius cupped his mouth and nodded at the eloquence. Proleptis was the essence of Clothia, the Titaness and the Fate sister of Future. Virtius must imply a lack of foresight or prophecy for his part.

Blinking away a tear, Ziyue walked past them toward her uncle. "Uncle, stop playing injured then! Get up now!" she chided, jerking her face away.

"I didn't—" Jovian stirred, despite the pain.

"He broke his spine, slightly below the mid-section," Celestius Virtius interjected, trying to be a mediator. "The man can still walk, but before that, he would need the intensive and extensive healing ritual. I believe Vivian has you covered, Jovian."

"I… think so," Jovian grunted.

"Duh! That's your fault for not listening to me!" Ziyue kicked the platform, causing a loud bang, and Jovian winced in pain as the vibration reached his injured back.

Aurelia, Friederich, and even Willhelm swallowed in angst at her unnecessary cruelty, except Zetius. He knew better.

Not long after, the group of cruisers arrived with Virgo mages rushing in an orderly fashion. Their standard-issue black dresses and black veils were similar to the ones Triss wore, with slight alterations for individual style.

For a while, Celestius Virtius Nyra spent his time and effort directing the Virgo mages promptly, making sure that everyone was cared for. Eagerly, they led each of the combatants away, prioritising those with more injuries. The scene now brimmed with activity.

Alone, Ziyue sat on a long crate fashioned into a bench, yawning. Since she did not directly engage with Ignius, she was the only one who was in the battle but not injured. Hence, no medical attention was required while the rest of the party went to get some healing and blessings from the Virgos.

Her gaze was lost to the distance. Beyond the ruined battlefield that stretched over a few kilometres, the peaks of the mountain range curved and slithered like a massive wall. She blew a mist from her mouth as she exhaled; her cup of coffee had long gone cold.

The thermal blanket rustled as someone from behind wrapped her up. She jolted, surprised at Zetius standing there.

"Sorry, don't kill me?" Zetius countered with a joke.

She snapped her face back, brooding for some unknown reason.

"This isn't like you," Zetius smiled faintly.

"What?" she snapped, stealing a glance at him with her amethyst eyes, defensive. However, she snuggled into the warmth of the blanket. It felt amazingly cosy.

"Well, you didn't hear me coming... I thought I'd pull a prank on you, but I also figured you'd be cold, you know." Zetius rationalised, making hand gestures as he spoke, though more frantically than he intended.

"It wouldn't be the first time someone snuck up on me anyway," she murmured.

"Are you that worried about your uncle? They'll arrange him a teleportation to Borealis Castle soon."

"Haaa?" she snarled, frowning deeply as if offended by his assumption. "That idiot can die for all I care—since he doesn't want to listen to me." She whined, clearly irritated at Jovian's recent actions.

"He bought me a distraction still…" Zetius smiled as he took the seat next to her, watching the morning sun.

"Whatever." Ziyue crossed her arms. He knew Ziyue well enough to realise she never meant the words she said.

For minutes, Zetius let the serenity soak in, pondering the words he wanted to say to her.

"You should go be with your party of honour and valour and intrepidity and glory," Ziyue hissed as she listed. She wasn't smiling, but there was a harmless venom in her quip.

"And you aren't in my party?" Zetius probed, feeling her shoulder brush his.

Ziyue broke her gaze to the deep valley below. "I ain't got none of that." Melancholy soaked her voice.

"Is it not you who teleported us from the battlefield?" Zetius held his gaze, making sure she saw his genuine thoughts through the window of his eyes. "Is it not you who tended the wounds of the fallen arcanists? Is it not you and your uncle who brought reinforcements? Is it not you who saved the people of Valsorda? Is it not you who saved my life—"

Her finger pressed to his lips. She found herself drifting closer and closer, almost overwhelmed by the need to drink from them, yet she broke away. Flushed red, heart fluttering.

Not letting him see this side of her, she whispered, "But I did the unthinkable…" An exhalation after, "I'm sorry, but I bugged your arc comm, Zetius."

There she went, a confession of a crime. One she'd been thinking about how to face him with. What words she wanted to say. Reasoning, justification, emotion. All was lost in just a simple moment like this.

Zetius's lips parted. "You could do that?" he was surprised, even impressed.

"Yeah," she admitted, her voice small and so unlike her, as she grabbed his ringed hand and tapped gently on the arc comm.

Then she opened her own comm; the holographic screen showed identical information. Her screen matched his. She drew her lips into a thin line, so afraid to look into his eyes. So afraid to be hated by the one person—

"Thank you."

A word she didn't expect to hear. She looked up. Tears already blurred her vision.

"Because of that, you could track us down and help us..." Zetius continued with the same smile.

"I..." Her lips failed her.

"How did you even teleport that fast? The dark teleport and shadowstep? I believe a normal teleport spell isn't that fast unless it's cast by the Astral Empress. You think it'll be fun if you teach me shadowstep sometime?" Zetius poured out his words in a husky voice. With her, he felt like he could speak his mind for hours.

She could only linger on his smiling lips, her dreamy eyes glittering like precious gems.

"Thank you again for giving me a second chance. I owe you a big one, Ziyue." He flashed a big, toothy smile.

"But... but I'm just a shadow..." She breathed out the air self-deprecatingly.

"Everywhere there is light, there is shadow," Zetius said, crossing his arms. "Or something like that." He un-cringed himself. At this exhaustive stage, Zetius couldn't think of a smarter quote; his brain was fogged and fried from everything that had happened in the span of eight hours.

"What does that mean?" she lifted her brows, an uptick pulling at the corner of her lips.

"I don't know, I heard it from somewhere," Zetius chuckled, crossing his arms again.

And like a contagious disease, she snickered too.

The golden light of the sun shone on the white snow, turning it into a beautiful glow.

"It's beautiful," Ziyue murmured, slowly leaning into Zetius. For long, her eyelids were too heavy to keep open.

He didn't seem to mind it, feeling like she deserved that much.

There were always different kinds of battles, but he made sure that Ziyue's deeds didn't go unrecognised. An arcane battle was not always about who pumped out the biggest attack, but who could control the logistics of the battlefield and defeat the opponent without losing their party members.

This was, by Zetius's definition, the first true victory.

Vere Primo Victoria.

When the exhaustion finally came, Ziyue drifted into a soft, silent nap in his arms for a short while. A much-deserved rest for both of them.