Machina Arcanis: Two Worlds Collided
Chapter 164. The Sudden Call From The Frozen Heart

The voice came from a bunny Wildren lady at the back. She wore a pointed hat with a wide brim. The hat itself had two openings, allowing her long rabbit ears to be exposed. Her gleaming silver hair cascaded down, its side bangs curling inward.

Her dark irises exuded the strict beauty typical of the Hoffmanns. The lady strode forth, tapping the floor with her staff. Her mage attire featured ornate tails that fluttered elegantly as she moved.

“Big sis Lunice,” Frain exclaimed, nervously pressing her thighs together.

Lunice’s beauty drew the gaze of everyone in the room as if she commanded it.

“Hm,” she leaned close to Zetius, wiggling her nose in suspicion. “Are you really Jack Squire?”

Zetius flinched away reflexively before nodding in confirmation, his lips stammering, “Lu~Lunice, you said, umm…” As he recovered from the shocking revelation, he controlled his trembling lips, hissing air out of his nose. “Lupus’s alive. How? I buried her with my own hands.”

“Did you really?” Lunice brushed his concern aside, her staff gesturing towards Frain.

“That day at Porand’s border. We ran into Celestius Ignius. He crushed us, um, he easily blew us away in a matter of minutes,” Frain began softly.

Zetius hunched forward, his fingers gently brushing her hair. He had no words to offer.

“L~like in an eye blink, he~he severed Lupus’s legs.” Reliving the painful memory, Frain’s voice grew tremulous. Zetius held her hands and squeezed gently, a silent promise that he was there for her.

“I thought that I’d be a goner. But before he could finish us, a cloaked assassin and his partner came out of nowhere, and I got separated and teleported away during the fight,” Frain continued, her eyes locking with Zetius’s. “Jack~Zetius, you must believe me, I saw the female assassin teleport Lupus away with her!”

He nodded solemnly, a chaotic storm stirring in his heart. “That would explain why I couldn’t locate her body. And my master, of all people, was the one responsible for everything.”

Astrid clapped a hand to her mouth, her fingers digging so intensely into her cheeks she nearly drew blood. A volatile mix of empathy and rage surged through her. Their resolve to deter their master from his reign of terror strengthened, solidifying into unshakeable purpose. She couldn't believe the man her master had become. How could that once-righteous man join forces with such profound evil, apparently without a second thought? The question clawed at the back of her mind, growing ever more insistent.

“We later discovered that the rescuer was another Celestius. His name is Jovian Xan Zepharion.” Lunice revealed, her voice firm.

“If~if,” Zetius couldn’t find words, feeling breathless. Steeling himself, he shot out of his seat, clasping Lunice's shoulders. “If that’s true, wouldn’t she have come home? Where is she?”

Lunice drew her lips into a thin line and shook her head.

“What else do you know? Tell me, Lunice. I need to find her,” Zetius pleaded, his emotions in turmoil.

“For months, we tried contacting everyone. Russha’s embassy, any Russha informants and agents, literally everyone we could find. Every avenue we explored, every stone we turned, led to a dead end,” Lunice explained, her expression composed.

“What about Celestius Jovian!?” Zetius blurted, desperation evident in his tone.

“Didn’t you know that Celestius Jovian has been missing since the mortal combat he engaged in with Celestius Ignius?” Lunice replied promptly.

Stolen story; please report.

His mind started to connect the dots. “Yammi and Aurelia did say Ziyue had to go back to Russha to act as his substitute… as the Celestius was recovering in another country, but where?” he muttered.

The deafening silence filled the room as Zetius's hands dropped to his sides.

“Zetius, believe us. The only reason Lupus doesn’t contact us yet…” Lunice consoled the boy, seeing a glimpse of his shattered spirit.

“She doesn’t want to be found. Specifically, she doesn’t want anyone to know that she’s alive,” Zetius completed her hypothesis, his face downcast. He wanted to scream his heart out, but no sound escaped him.

Lunice gently touched his forearm. “I’m glad you are alive, whether you’re Jack or Zetius. I’m glad, truly…” she confessed, her voice notably softer, kinder.

For some time, they continued to discuss other matters. But soon Lunarius Canis and Steve took their leave, and the group concluded their meeting shortly after.

***

Zetius sat on a bench on the front lawn of the Hoffmann estate. A torrent of information flooded his mind — unanswered questions and the unresolved pain of his past love. He needed time to process it all. Even Cubie could only offer quiet companionship, unable to find words of comfort.

“Zeta,” Astrid, sitting next to him, spoke up, keeping her gaze fixed on the white, pristine city of Hasenwald. “Don’t let this hiccup spoil today’s victory. Gaia… We found Frain, for crying out loud!”

“I know,” Zetius muttered coldly. “If she’s alive… How could she leave her family like this? Frain has been here the whole time, damn it! At least send a word or two, how hard could that be?!” He rubbed his four fingers against his palm, anxious. His underlying fear and doubt churned in his mind. He willed it to stop, but his thoughts wouldn’t obey.

“I don’t know her, so perhaps it’s not my place to say, but I wish I had met her. Everyone has their reasons, Zeta,” Astrid said.

“You know I failed them, right? I sent them to fail…” Zetius began, his expression bitter. “Hades’s hell…”

“We all make mistakes, Zeta. Wasn’t that why you worked so hard to find Frain? Now you know your true mission. Find her,” Astrid said firmly.

“Find her…” Astrid’s voice resonated within him.

“Zetius… Let’s go get Lupus!” Cubie encouraged lightheartedly, evoking Zetius’s forced smile.

The loud giggles of children echoed from the entrance next to them, followed by multiple footsteps. They turned to see Frain holding the hand of each twin, with Lunice following closely.

Lumie and Lumus sprinted to Zetius and gave him a hug. He frowned in confusion. “You are Uncle Jack! We knew it!” Lumie chirped cheerfully.

Zetius eyed Lunice questioningly, who stood to the side, whistling innocently. “So you told them, Lunice.”

“They are old enough to understand the concept of Necromancy, well, close enough. So, don’t underestimate them,” Lunice rationalised with a grin.

Standing before him, Frain, a large bag on her back, appeared to be clasping her hands over her thighs, but in truth, she was holding a book.

Zetius recognised it instantly — the very same ‘Arcane 101’ that Lupus had gifted him at House Tasmania. As she handed it to him, he ran his fingers over its hard covers, silver frame, and emblazoned surfaces. It had a sturdy chain, a pragmatic feature he had always appreciated. Zetius was captivated, admiring the tome's mythical craftsmanship.

“Lupus would want you to carry it with you,” Frain said softly. “Only if she knew that you’re a full-fledged Arcanist from the start.”

“Thank you, Frain.” Zetius nodded with a smile and secured the book to his belt.

“Fashionable!” Cubie complimented and chuckled. “Right? Right?” Zetius exclaimed with a faint smile, genuine happiness creeping into his heart.

Beside them, Lunice hugged Frain tightly. “I must ask, are you sure you want to go with them?” she asked with a pang of worry.

“I must go, Big sis Lunice. I’ll find Lupus!” Frain said with newfound motivation.

“Please take good care of her.” Lunice took a turn to hug Zetius fondly, and the twins joined in with affection, turning it into a group hug.

Then Lunice whispered softly, “Take her to the gym or something. Alright?” She snuck a gentle kiss on his cheek before she backed away and winked. Zetius quickly swept his eyes, ensuring no one else saw that, especially Astrid. Fortunately, she was occupied, chitchatting with Frain and Cubie.

On that afternoon, they exchanged goodbyes with smiles and waves. Thus, the journey of Zetius’s party continued. As they left Hasenwald behind, a chill wind began to stir, carrying with it hushed whispers of the trials that lay ahead. Before them, even the city’s spectacular riverwall, once teeming with life, now stood as a silent monument of ice, frozen utterly still. Yet, Zetius’s resolve burned like a relentless fire.

He would press onward. He shall find the love of his life. Without fail.