Machina Arcanis: Two Worlds Collided
Chapter 141. The Forgotten Pact

“Stop sulking, Zeta!” the girl with the characteristically deep voice shouted at the white-haired kid crouching in the corner of the playground, his back turned toward her and everyone else.

The boy, no more than ten years old, spun his tear-streaked face toward her, brimmed with sorrow. Two long trails of tears clung to his cheeks.

“Astrid,” Zeta said, his voice faltering. He tilted his head to the side, hiding his reddened cheek. His left cheek was red bruised from an earlier encounter with a bully.

A tall, shadowy figure loomed over him, her crimson hair backlit by the ethereal glow of the evening light. Ember befitting her name, Astrid Ember Lorne.

Both of them wore black and red gym uniforms, each embroidered with intricate designs and individual sigils on their chest pockets, representing their names and houses.

Zeta bore the golden sun emblem of Solis Aeternum, while Astrid’s chest was emblazoned with the emblem of the cinder flame.

“Move,” Astrid instructed sternly as she squeezed next to him, her shoulder brushing gently against his. A faint trace of shampoo reached his nose. He sniffed reflexively and turned his face away.

Silence hung in the air. It was clear the boy didn’t want to open up.

Zetius was scrawny and small. In contrast, Astrid was taller and broader, making him look like a younger schoolboy, or even a little brother.

She folded her legs beneath her and gazed out at the other kids laughing and chattering across the playground. Without a doubt, boys and girls were enjoying the best days of their youth.

“What’s wrong?” Astrid eventually asked after a long, quiet moment.

“Astrid, why does everyone have parents? Anyone but me… Why don’t I have one?” Zetius finally asked, hugging his knees tightly. His eyes followed a joyful boy being picked up by a tall father. He drew his lips into a thin line, the sight made him feel even lonelier.

“I don’t know,” Astrid replied without thinking. But when she noticed Zetius slumping further, she looked down at her two clenched fists.

“Who needs parents when you’ve got Ryusei-sama and Celestius Ignius as your substitute ones?” she said, her tone laced with confidence and admiration. Her ruby eyes glowed as she smiled with innocent pride.

Abruptly, Zetius turned to study her expression, feeling a strange warmth stir inside him.

“Still—”

“I’d trade my parents with yours. I’d swap places with you if I could.”

“Really?” Zetius gasped, tilting his head.

“Umm! I wanna be strong. The strongest, the mightiest Warmonger like Celestius Ignius or Astress Aurora Vere Borealis!” Astrid announced, her voice thrilled by the thought. She locked eyes with him, her smile widening.

Dumbfounded, Zetius quickly broke eye contact and blushed.

“But... I don’t wanna be the strongest. I want to be—” He paused, hesitant.

Astrid’s eyes darted to him. “Loved?” she finished, surprised.

Zetius nodded, completely serious. Though he lived in a palace, surrounded by luxuries that many would envy, none of it brought him comfort. The grand halls were cold and empty, and his spacious room lacked the warmth that only parental affection could provide.

He closed his eyes, half-expecting Astrid to laugh. She was highborn too, of House Ember Lorne, whose political influence stemmed from their ties to the Ministry of Energy. Such a perfect life, how could she understand him?

But instead, he felt her warm hand touch his forearm.

“Zeta, we only need to be strong. Got it? Next year, we’ll have our first Epopteia rituals.”

He nodded vigorously, the loneliness began to fade away.

After the first Epopteia, students would be able to discover their arcane affinity and mana capacity. Then they would be assigned to the Zodiac Division that best resonated with their nature and ability.

Then Astrid’s eyes caught a glimpse of his bruised cheek.

“Wait!” she exclaimed, gripping his face and turning it gently. Her expression flared with fury as she took in the awful sight. Now she understood what had stirred Zetius to tears.

Feeling the unjust, her expression darkened. She bared her teeth, feeling the fury storm brewing inside of her.

“Zeta, tell me. Who did this to you?” Her words were cut short.

“Oi~Oi~Oi! Astrid?” a large boy called out, appearing from the side with a cunning smirk. It was the same boy who had punched Zetius earlier for standing up for himself.

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Earlier, Zetius had mustered the courage to confront him after being taunted about his orphanhood.

“Allo. What do you want!?” Astrid asked coldly, her face tightening. Slowly and deliberately, she rose to her feet. Her height eclipsed the bully.

“I don’t know,” Allo shrugged in mock innocence, his smirk unwavering as he locked eyes with Zetius.

“I just asked Zetius where he came from. He just simply couldn’t answer. Wait, didn’t you know he’s not royal like us? He’s not even highborn. He’s just an orphan! Maybe his peasant parents left him at the palace gates!” Allo pointed and continued to bombard the boy with taunting words.

Zetius averted his eyes, ignoring him as Astrid stood firm.

“Shut your filthy mouth.” She said, eyes twitching in disgruntlement.

But Allo continued. “Admit it, Zetius. You’re just some scrawny little bi—”

A loud, meaty thud interrupted him. Astrid had kicked off the ground, slamming her knee into Allo’s stomach.

The boy yelped, stunned, then dropped to the ground, groaning in pain. A tear trickled from one of his eyes.

Astrid crouched next to Allo. It was her turn to smile.

“Then you’re crying like a little girl,” she mocked.

“Aghhh! Weaklings!” Allo growled, his face flushed with fury. He grabbed Astrid by the shirt and slammed her to the ground. She heaved, her lungs contracting from the impact.

They wrestled on the ground. The scuffle turned into a chaotic brawl. Groaning and growling echoed through the playground, drawing the attention of the other kids.

“A~Astrid!” Zetius stammered, staring nervously at the fight. Astrid roared, yanking Allo’s hair, but the boy countered with a right hook.

Astrid’s blood splattered onto Zetius’ white sneakers. The boy stumbled back.

Fear clouded his mind and paralysed him. It was clear, Allo was much, much stronger than her. No matter how hard she fought, she couldn't possibly win.

“YAAAAA!” Zetius summoned every ounce of willpower, throwing himself at the bigger boy. They crashed to the ground with a loud thud. Zetius’ world spun, his head dizzy.

Seizing the moment, Astrid scrambled to her feet and punched Allo square in the face. A satisfying crunch echoed from the impact.

“Don’t call us weaklings!” she roared, her voice cracked. Her face was bruised and smeared with dirt, blood, and...

Tears. She was crying.

On the dirt, Zetius sat frozen, stunned. It was the first time he’d seen Astrid cry.

She drew her fist back, her knuckles white. She pushed all her weight behind it and slammed it down with force.

A muffled thud rang out.

Zetius slowly got to his feet to better grasp the situation.

A soft whimper was heard. It was Allo, tasting terror for the first time. His teary eyes couldn’t meet hers.

He was terrified, his body convulsing erratically.

But Astrid hadn’t punched him. Her fist landed on the ground beside his head, imprinting a small crater in the dirt.

She spat blood to the side and rose to her feet, her imposing shadows cast over the crying boy.

“Don’t ever call us weaklings. Fool.” She grumbled, fists still clenching.

With that, Astrid and Zetius stepped away, leaving Allo to lie in the dirt, crying uncontrollably as the other children scooted away instinctively, as if gripped by a primal fear.

There, standing by the exit in white and gold, was Celestius Ignius. His noble smile radiated beneath a tall wizard’s hat perched on his long, white hair.

“Celestius Ignius...” Zetius muttered apologetically, his hand clenched tightly around Astrid’s fingers.

But the old man didn’t scold him. He simply nodded with a knowing smile.

Zetius exchanged a confused glance with Astrid.

“What’s your name, little girl?” Ignius asked gently, crouching to bring his tall frame to her eye level. The girl, strong and fearless, had piqued his interest.

***

Zetius never knew when he’d changed from the weak boy he once was into someone with a fiery passion for strength. But one thing he was certain of, he thirsted for power just as much as Astrid did.

After the ritual, Zetius and Astrid were placed in the same division under Celestius Ignius Lux Draconus of Aries, specialising in warfare and fire-based arcane.

They, along with other highborns, studied the arcane arts diligently at the Arcana Institute. Occasionally, Princess Aurelia and Friederich would join them, though they mostly studied privately due to their direct allegiance to Solis Aeternum.

Like the best of friends, Astrid would often tease him.

“Zetius, you must know you’re strikingly charming. So act like it!” She slapped his humped back, making him yelp and straighten himself with forced grace.

“That’s better!” she praised in her deep, characteristic voice, flashing a toothy grin.

He chuckled, not fully convinced, until he started to see it for himself. Girls flocked to him. They listened to him, smiling affectionately. He seemed to carry an aura of irresistible charm everywhere he went.

His childhood wish may have just come true.

To be loved, he pondered, amused with himself.

For years, their friendship bloomed and flourished. But that thread was severed on one fateful day, the Prime Disciple Ascension.

***

Inside the dojo.

Zetius sat solemnly, his elbows resting on his knees, hands rubbing together. His face was downcast as he stared blankly at the rectangular patterns on the tatami mats.

His mind was absent, lost in thought.

It had been a shock to him as well when Master Ignius had titled him Prime Disciple, above all other candidates.

There was no denying Zetius was an exceptional student. But where talent met relentless effort, there stood his peer, Astrid Ember Lorne, who had outperformed him by a hair in every single test.

Yet here he was. The Prime Disciple of Aries.

Questions lingered in his mind.

Could it be that Master Ignius favoured talent over hard work? Astrid could have... should have... won this title.

But these weren’t problems he could solve with logic or study. No matter how long he pondered, the answers eluded him.

Suddenly, the door slammed open forcefully, but Zetius didn’t flinch.

Astrid’s tall and broad figure filled the doorway. Her curled locks shimmered under the sunlight behind her.

But her ruby eyes were filled with a storm of emotions, hatred, envy, and fury.