Machina Arcanis: Two Worlds Collided
Chapter 132. Ryusei Sol Solara, The Prime Minister of Solis Aeternum

After Zetius finished his late-night ritual, his entire body felt lush and sanitarily fresh. He climbed into the soft, queen-sized bed. The inside of his room was just as glamorous as the festive hall.

“Cubie,” he whispered, caressing his firm chest, testing if she could hear him without the incantation.

To his surprise, she could. “Hmmmm…” She let out a soft groan, like a child being disturbed in her slumber.

His chest immediately glowed a faint blue in the completely dark room. “Are you up, Cubie?” he asked, his voice uncertain.

“I am now.” Cubie hovered above him as he lay flat on the bed. The aromatic scent of the clean sheet filled his lungs.

“I just wanna say thank you,” Zetius replied, brushing his hands over her ethereal body. It felt semi-solid, the sensation akin to touching a condensed cloud of gas.

“Ohhhhhh!” she dragged her words out.

“I noticed... um, you screamed... after the Armatus was damaged. Is it painful?” Zetius said, recalling the jolting sensation he felt each time, the sensory feedback for the pilot.

“Hmmmm... I guess that’s what it was. Pain.” Cubie replied softly. She seemed strangely calm.

“Does it hurt when I do this?” Zetius reached out with both hands, clasping her, and began to squeeze harder. She let him do it without complaint.

“N~not really,” she stammered, almost like a girl blushing. Still, Zetius wasn’t sure, since she didn’t have a facial expression.

“Strange... I thought you might feel pain when I interacted with you directly. Yet that doesn’t seem to be the case at all,” Zetius contemplated aloud.

“Because my body hasn’t fully projected into the physical plane. Maybe,” she said.

“Huh?” He blinked, analysing her words deeply, and then it clicked. “Ah! You interacted with the physical world through the Armatus’s sensors and transducers!”

“Correct. When I was integrated with the machine, my senses were elevated, as well as my thought process. I tried to mimic how the core processor worked, even now,” she replied flatly.

After a long pause, she added, “I feel like I’m changing.”

Zetius nodded as Cubie landed on his chest and snuggled against him. His expression was filled with regret.

“I’m sorry for putting you through it,” he murmured, his words laced with guilt because he had never once considered her a mere tool.

Cubie was his essence, and more.

“Ummm... you don’t have to apologise, Zetius. I did it because I care about you,” she said, her words steady and genuine.

“I care about you too, Cubie,” he responded, warmth showered him.

“I feel warmth, heat... inexplicable hotness,” she blurted, vibrating beneath his fingers.

Her words made Zetius chuckle. “Really? Maybe it’s more than just caring,” he grinned.

“Ummmmm... I don’t understand,” she mulled over.

“Sometimes, you don’t need to understand it. You only need to feel it,” he muttered, feeling his eyelids grow heavy.

With the lingering effect of alcohol and exhaustion, his mind drifted into darkness as soon as his eyes shut.

***

Two azure-winged magpies, with black-capped heads, flirted with one another in playful fashion. Their morning chirping woke Zetius from his slumber.

In the distant past, he remembered the folktales — these local birds were said to be the messengers of peace, and even more so, love. This pair of magpies was curious and elegant by nature, dancing along his window frame.

Cubie zipped closer with equal curiosity, chuckling like a little kid. It seemed she had stayed outside his slot since last night.

The morning light flooded his room like a soft painting, the cool, gentle breeze blowing through the open curtain and across his skin.

Such odd serenity, Zetius thought.

After finishing his morning routine, Zetius dressed in the black royal outfit provided by the maid.

The long black coat had a crimson satin inner lining with a gold seam. Its tall collar added aesthetic flair to the overall look. His black tunic, made of smooth cotton, wrapped tightly yet comfortably around his refined body. He slipped into dark leather boots that fitted him perfectly.

“How did they know my exact measurements?” Zetius wondered, but soon dismissed it, concluding that it was probably Aurelia, or perhaps even Friederich, who had informed them.

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The blonde-haired maid in a black-and-white uniform led him along the beautiful stone path, which opened into a garden complete with its own pristine canal. Vibrant carps floated lazily above the white pebble floor.

Under the shade of a giant bonsai, a tree that had taken hundreds of years and tireless dedication to grow from a typical small specimen into such a grand one, Ryusei stood atop an arched wooden bridge, tossing koi pellets from a bucket into the water below.

It truly brought back old memories, for Zetius had lived with them for as long as he could remember.

From a quick glance, the place remained timeless, unchanging.

Zetius joined Ryusei at his side, sweeping his eyes over the scenic view of the decorated garden.

Every stone, every tree, and every whisper of the breeze evoked a sense of tranquillity on a spiritual level.

The place was perfect for stillness and contemplation.

In the far gazebo, he spotted Aurelia sipping green tea and enjoying a sweet tower with another maid who wore twin tails. Their joyous chatter drifted along the breeze — even from a distance, he could hear it.

“Zetius, how was your sleep?” Ryusei spoke up, his voice soft yet authoritative. His eyes lingered on the pristine water surface, rippling from the carps’ movement.

“It was rejuvenating. Thank you,” Zetius said, nodding. After a short survey of the surroundings, Cubie floated beside him.

“I’d like to personally thank you for bringing my daughter back to me. In a sense, I feel like her reckless adventure has matured her. It was quite effective... but awfully dangerous.” Ryusei grimaced at the last part, glancing at Aurelia.

She noticed them, waving back and smiling sweetly, unbeknownst to her, the content of their discussion was lost to distance.

“She’s one of my dearest friends,” Zetius added solemnly.

Ryusei found himself nodding in agreement. “Still, I’m truly indebted to you, so whatever you may need, feel free to ask.”

“Thank you, Ryusei-sama.” Zetius bowed respectfully.

“Additionally...” Ryusei paused. His expression darkened.

“I’ve heard from Aurelia about your, um, past predicament...” he continued, struggling slightly to articulate the words.

“Of Jack?” Zetius asked, raising his brows.

“Yes. Jack Squire, the DebrisX collector — and his tragic end,” Ryusei said, glancing at Zetius through his spectacles.

“So she did tell him literally everything...” Zetius thought, before nodding calmly.

“I’ll see you compensated handsomely for that as well,” Ryusei said, handing the bucket to the maid, who received it with a polite bow and stepped aside.

“Ryusei-sama, there’s a lion Wildren I’m looking for. She’s my surrogate family,” Zetius requested, his voice firm.

Ryusei glanced up, fidgeting through his sharp memory. “Frain, is it?” he asked.

Zetius blinked, slightly surprised. “Yes, Frain. She’s MIA during the evac mission to Porand,” He admitted matter-of-factly, noticing the maid’s stare. She jolted away, visibly blushing.

It seemed she might not get used to his charismatic and irresistible allure any time soon.

“The Director, Sandria, did mention it during last night’s feast. She promised she’d try her hand at locating Frain as well. Unfortunately, that plan was scrapped beyond repair after she sacrificed all of her mobile suits and Zeigerlich sustained damage during the unexpected engagement in aerial combat,” Ryusei muttered bitterly.

“It is what it is… I’m just glad everyone got out of that without any casualties.” Zetius' gaze grew distant before continuing, fully committed to the course, “No matter. I’ll find her one way or another.”

“I’ll see what I can do for you, Zetius. In the meantime, I have an idea. Perhaps Zeigerlich’s battlecruiser will undergo an overhaul, with Director Sandria as the lead. Pray tell, what do you think of her?” Ryusei probed, running his fingers along the wooden rail.

“Director Sandria?” Zetius asked, surprised.

Then the words flowed out of him, steady and clear. “She’s sharp — highly technical, maybe even a little too mechanical at times. But she’s got this real sense of compassion too, especially for her crew. I’ve seen it. She protects them, not just commands them.”

He paused, then added, “She’s calm under pressure, quick on her feet, and her decisions? Always calculated, always effective. That kind of leadership? It’s rare these days. If anyone was built to care for Zeigerlich, to really run it, it’s Sandria Meinhardt.”

“Agreed. Thank you for the insight. I was right to seek counsel with you rather than my daughter,” Ryusei said, taking his time to digest Zetius’s recommendation, gauging whether they were facts or exaggerations. He then seemed to reach his own conclusion and grinned.

“Still, I’m not entirely sure she’d like to continue as the systems director,” Zetius pondered aloud, rubbing his chin.

"She seemed eager and passionate enough, from what I’ve gathered," Ryusei shared his thoughts promptly. Then he added, "Leave the convincing part to me. It's time I put my persuasive skills to use."

After a quiet beat, as if a more casual thought struck him, the Prime Minister leaned a little closer, his eyes locking with Zetius’s.

“On a different topic, I never knew you were now an ace pilot in Armatus warfare. It wasn’t a big surprise by any means. Since a young age, you have always excelled at everything you set your mind to. I remember Aurelia was awfully jealous of you when she was a child. Little did she know that it would shift into such genuine admiration,” Ryusei said, relishing the old memory.

Zetius chuckled humbly. “Well, I’m flattered, but I’d like to credit her,” he said, gesturing to Cubie, who was hovering on his shoulder.

“I am Cubie!” she said proudly.

“Ah! So that’s your arc relic? A programmable construct?” Ryusei narrowed his eyes and studied her odd shape closely.

“Na-uh! Uncle, I’m better than that!” she blurted in a childish tone.

“Heheh, not really. I believe she’s a sentient essence, perhaps the first of her kind,” Zetius explained, patting her. She hummed happily.

Ryusei looked at him in confusion. “Sentient... essence?”

Suddenly, a golden ring on Ryusei’s pointer finger flickered with a green light, snapping him back into action. He glanced back at the blonde-haired maid and signalled that his time was up.

“As much as I’d like to discuss more things with you, Zetius, the timing is awfully lacking on my part,” Ryusei stated, smiling faintly at him.

The maid approached, gently pressuring him to leave. Ryusei exhaled deeply.

“With Dunkelheit fractured, strays and misfires are likely to escalate, so precautions need to be put in place,” he explained, joining the maid.

“Makes sense,” Zetius hummed.

“I’ll see what I can do for you, Zetius. Until next time.” Ryusei bid his farewell with a wave, walking alongside the maid.

Respectfully, Zetius bowed at his waist until they exited out the door, disappearing from sight.