Machina Arcanis: Two Worlds Collided
Chapter 161. Master Architect’s Day Off

Steve, formerly a copper knight, sat on a foldable chair near the river. In the far distance to his left stood the mega-dam structure, with its intricate, reinforced design and marvellous visuals, like an ancient building made anew.

The mega-structure also featured a divine statue, metallic amber in hue, depicting the beautiful Suntress of Solis Aeternum, Princess Aurelia, with overly exaggerated proportions. It signified her radiance and benevolence. And her past deed, through the harmonious mana channelling ritual, had saved the city of Eastern Dam and Hasenwald from massive, acute flooding.

If only such a divine visage and bust existed in real life, outside the mind of the talented architect.

Steve saw smoke rising from his nose as he shivered, the harsh winter creeping in. He snuggled reflexively inside his thick layers of clothes, a fishing rod tucked under his folded arm. The campfire sparked next to him, providing little comfort.

Bubbles rose from the half-frozen reservoir before the ice cracked loudly near Steve.

“AHHHHH!” The giant wolf howled in relief and emerged from the icy plane, his long, protruding wolf’s mouth biting on a wiggling trout. “COLD~COLD!” He exclaimed, voice muffled. He began to shudder as his dark blue fur dripped.

Steve scratched his forehead in confusion as he reeled in another fish. “Sir Lunarius, I still don’t understand why you want to go into the cold water. And whined about it.”

“I told you to stop calling me that. Just ‘Canis’ is fine,” he groaned, exasperated.

Lunarius Canis quickly twisted his body, twirling the water out of his fur, before taking a towel as he slowly transformed into a tall, thin man with shaggy hair. Steve watched with awe every single time, such a mystifying transformation.

“It’s good for your health, you know!” Canis lectured with a toothy smile. He then huddled near the fire.

“I’d be dead from the shock before I saw any health benefit from swimming in the icy water, sir,” Steve replied logically. He might not be the smartest tool in the shed, but he could discern what would kill him.

“Your knife, Steve?” Canis urged, outstretched his long fingernails.

“Oh, okay,” Steve hummed as he unstrapped the knife from his hip and handed a five-inch hunting knife to the Lunarius.

“Thanks!” Canis smiled, one hand steadying the trout and the other holding the knife. While humming a melody, he swiftly made a precise incision and removed the fish’s entrails.

Steve watched him with wide eyes. “Are we not going to cook at home, sir? It’s freezing out here,” he spoke with a trembling voice, and then sneezed a few times.

Canis shook his head and pointed at Steve with the fish. “This is the best place to cook fish! In the wilderness! Well, usually, I’d rather have it raw,” he revealed, closing one eye.

“Really?” Steve blinked at him, clearly disturbed.

“Hahahaha! Gotcha!” Canis slapped his lap, amused. “Of course not, I’m quite civilised, you know,” he returned the knife to Steve after carving three fish and impaling them with sticks.

Steve chuckled as he watched the enigmatic Lunarius season the fish with salt and some unknown orange herbs, a citrus of sorts.

Then Canis rubbed his lips with a thumb as though he was contemplating deeply. “I’ll let you in on my biggest secret.”

The words seemed to draw Steve’s attention. He turned to face Canis and leaned closer to the fire. The sizzling noise resonated in the background, and the smoke now filled with the mouth-watering aroma of roasted fish.

Canis rubbed his hands together; a chime originated from them. Steve watched white light seeping out from between his fingers.

Then Canis chanted, “Trophé Hedoné!” His voice echoed across the quiet, icy plane.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

He held out his hands and rubbed his four fingers together, sprinkling a white, glowing substance onto the food.

Steve narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “You’re not trying to poison me, are you?”

“Why the distrust?!” Canis raised his voice, alarmed. Steve burst out laughing. “I jest, sir. I jest.”

As the fish cooked, its skin became crisp, its cracks showing the bright, juicy white meat. Canis took one and handed it over to his friend. “Have at it, while it’s hot, Steve!” he urged and winked.

“Okay, alright,” Steve replied and brought it to his lips. The smell of herbs and the fishy aroma was incredible. At the same time, Canis watched him in anticipation, unblinking.

As he reluctantly took a bite, a bursting salty flavour erupted in his mouth, accompanied by the soft, succulent texture. The secret ingredient that Canis added heightened the flavour to a divine level. The sense of ecstasy almost overloaded his earthly tastebuds. It did not just enhance the physical taste, but it soothed Steve to a spiritual level.

A tear trickled down the man’s face. “It’s like home. The best meal that Mum made when I was the hungriest in my life… It’s redefined ‘delicious’, Sir Lunarius. Boo-hoo-hoo!” He cried loudly and shamelessly.

Canis watched him and began to take a bite of his own. Then, both had their wonderful meal with tears of joy.

***

After the two men finished their meal, Steve muffled the fire. Meanwhile, Canis got dressed in his Lunarius arc coat. And then, they gathered their things as they planned to head back to their home.

Suddenly, Canis’s ear twitched. His nose sniffed the air instinctively. Another moment, he became a big humanoid wolf again.

Seeing his friend visibly alarmed, Steve probed, “What’s wrong, sir?”

Canis brought a finger to his lip and pointed upwards, towards the sky. A series of P.N.I. bots emerged from a distance. Their low-humming arcanite engine noise had been disturbing him for a while.

“Enemy survey, perchance?” Canis muttered as he tightened his grip on the arc hammer — a long handle with a regular-sized hammer head on one end, forged wholly in enchanted Platinum.

“With some puny bots?! Now?!” Steve gasped, panicking. “The Dunkelheit force has been leaving us alone for months. What’s their plan now!?” he blurted, keeping his eyes on the approaching vessel.

“Steve, stay back. Do not engage. You’re not in your knight personal armour,” Canis commanded as he stepped forward cautiously, providing enough distance from Steve.

Simultaneously, Steve took a big gulp of saliva and pulled back to safety.

Then the puny bot initiated a landing. The thrusters, burning red, pushed out hot air before it coasted down to a stall.

The suspension in the air peaked as Canis readied his defensive spell, mana surging and whirling in his arm.

The hatch hissed open, and two figures emerged: a white-haired boy and a burly girl with crimson curls.

“See? I kid you not, I can pilot 12 punies at once!” The boy’s voice rang out, talking to his peer.

The white-haired boy wore a black arc coat with a high collar, lined with red satin on the inner side. Together with his angelic face, his red eyes showed a hint of compassion. The taller girl also had red eyes, but more crystal-like, and wore a white long cape lined with brown fur, layered over arc armours.

Judging from their attire, “Are they arcanists?” Steve mumbled to himself.

“State your business, children!” Canis bellowed, uncertain.

“Canis! Holy Gaia!” Zetius shouted, striding towards him with a big smile. Meanwhile, the girl remained quiet, nonchalant.

“You know me!?” Canis propped his body straight up, turning to Steve with a confused look.

“Wait, Steve, right?!” Zetius pointed out, his excitement palpable. “How… how are you back in West Germund? I thought you were quarantined at Poranthis.”

Canis dropped his defensive stance, returning to his human form, and scratching his head with the hammer head. “Who’s this guy?” he asked himself, uncertain of his memory. Am I that old already?

Realising the confused expression on their faces, Zetius chuckled, raising his arms in a friendly gesture. “This is your friend, Jack Squire!” he revealed with a toothy grin.

Steve jogged eagerly to Canis, who shot him another glance of puzzlement.

Then Zetius swiftly glanced at his mean-looking friend. “Astrid. Come on, introduce yourself.”

“No need to prompt me, Zeta,” she brushed him off before turning to the Lunarius and bowing in reverence. “It’s my pleasure to meet you, Lunarius Canis Wolfgang. My name is Astrid Ember Lorne of Solis Aeternum.”

“Ugh… Okay, young… Jack?” Canis spoke reluctantly. He eyed Zetius from the side in disbelief. Then he sniffed the air, noticing an immense, familiar scent. “I think he might be Jack.” He shared his thoughts with his friend.

Steve nodded. “But… but I thought you died. We saw your corpse on the battlefield,” he stammered, distressed. Those naive eyes of his carried a pang of guilt.

“It’s a long story, guys.” Zetius stood in all grace, Cubie perched on his shoulder, humming peacefully. “And this is my companion, Cubie.”

“Hello, gentlemen!” Cubie chirped happily.

Canis and Steve looked at one another, another wave of confusion crushing them.