Machina Arcanis: Two Worlds Collided-Chapter 241. The Omit Casting

241. The Omit Casting

Zetius rested on a long couch, a soft but audible purr rumbling in his chest as heavy books shielded his eyes from the light. The library was too tranquil, the air too fresh, and what was meant to be a quick shut-eye had turned into a deep sleep.

He was completely oblivious as Cartier and Cubie crept closer, mischievous smiles playing on their lips.

“Teehee!” Cubie chuckled, her finger hovering over his face.

Just then, the man shifted, and the book slid from his face with a soft thud.

The girls froze, but his eyes remained shut. The operation was a go.

“He’s sleeping like a log,” Cartier whispered, her usually floppy cat ears standing upright with mischief.

“Yeah, he was too excited last night,” Cubie replied. She poked his cheek, and his skin bounced under her touch, sending the girls into quiet giggles.

“Okay, my turn!” Cartier said. Her short finger floated over and tickled his prominent nose. “Look, look. It looks sharp, but it’s so soft!” she whispered in awe.

The man grumbled in his sleep and wriggled his nose, but that was all.

“The survival instincts of a worm,” Cartier jested. Cubie cupped her mouth to stifle another giggle.

Leaning in, Cartier blew gently on his eyelashes. “Enemy attack!” she mouthed silently. He’d be dead in an instant if that were a real attack. Cubie clapped her hands without a sound, finding the harmless prank deeply amusing.

“Cartier!”

The sharp voice cut through the air, making both girls jump and hastily straighten their clothes.

“What?” Cartier asked, her gaze dropping to Triss’s white pantyhose. Triss’s hands were balled into fists at her sides, her posture stiff with disapproval.

“Let the man sleep, you two. He was working hard late into the night!” The reprimand landed, leaving the culprits to twist in guilt.

“Yes… I’m sorry,” Cartier said, scratching her arm.

“Sorry!” Cubie added with a wry smile.

From behind Triss, another familiar face — a cat-eared Wildren — poked her head out and waved, wearing a sweet smile. “So this is where you’ve been, huh?”

“Miss Mirai!?” Cartier blurted, then quickly cupped her lips, realising she’d been too loud.

Mirai smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’ve brought you all some snacks.”

“Really?” Cubie bounced on her feet. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

“It’s a fine selection of Montellian macarons,” Mirai revealed, gesturing with a single finger.

“Wah!?” The girls’ faces lit up like fireworks. They tiptoed away, following Mirai and her cart with fascinated attention.

Triss sighed. “It feels like a daycare sometimes.”

“Doesn’t it?” Mirai agreed, a soft chuckle escaping her lips.

Mirai then approached the sleeping man. She crouched to his level and gently tapped his shoulder. “Master Zetius… Master Zetius…”

“Huh?” Zetius’s eyes fluttered open. “Oh, hey, Mirai, Triss… When did I fall asleep?” his voice groggy with sleep. Slowly, he sat up, rubbing his eyes.

“Apologies for disturbing your sleep. It’s good to see you resting well,” Mirai said with a respectful bow, just as one would expect from the Empress’s personal maid.

“Yeah… I just realised the trick was…” Zetius froze, the realisation dawning on him. He swung his legs over the side of the couch, sitting up to face the women properly. “Tiring my body out first.”

“Rest is a cure for exhaustion, indeed,” Mirai beamed.

“Mmm. Do you need something, Miss Mirai?” Zetius asked, rubbing his cheek.

“Ah, yes. The Empress has called for you.”

Immediately, Zetius’s expression stiffened, and he bolted upright. “What time is it?”

“It’s merely half past one in the afternoon,” Triss said. Behind her, Cartier and Cubie were still choosing from the wide selection of macarons on the silver platter, searching for their favourite flavour.

“Oh! That’s strange…” Zetius murmured, brushing a hand through his majestic hair. She rarely calls for me this early.

Mirai turned to her cart. “Here is a cold towel.”

“Thanks,” Zetius said, accepting it with both hands.

“And when you’re ready, please make your way to the rejuvenation chamber before two o’clock. The Empress will be awaiting you,” Mirai instructed before returning to her standby posture.

“You’ve got this, Zetius!” Triss cheered him on with a sweet smile.

“Ah! Haha, of course,” Zetius returned her smile.

“In the meantime, please freshen up and enjoy the tea break with us,” Mirai gestured. For a good while, they all shared a quiet moment together. The once-lonesome chamber became lively as they swapped stories, and their occasional laughter seeped into the very walls.

Later, Zetius and Cubie arrived at the rejuvenation chamber with five minutes to spare, their light chatter echoing in the empty hallway.

He pushed the door open to find Empress Aurora already there, clad in her full plate armour. Majestically, the elven mage was levitating mid-air, sitting cross-legged with her palms up, resting on her knees, the tip of each pointer finger touching the thumb.

Her silver hair floated, drifting mesmerisingly in an unseen current. A powerful, silver light radiated from her, the very picture of serene divinity as she meditated.

“She’s like a goddess,” Cubie whispered, awestruck.

Her eyes slowly opened, her gaze remaining low. “You’ve arrived, Zetius, Cubellina.”

“Yes, Empress. You called for me,” Zetius spoke firmly, approaching her.

“I did.” Aurora floated gently down, her feet touching the ground. Her hair, dark cape, and armour cascaded down, settling with the pull of gravity.

“I believe you tested it last night.” Aurora did not raise her voice, yet the words seemed to suck the air out of the room.

“Ah, yes, I did.” Zetius summoned Artimas, stopping three strides from her. “It is indeed a powerful tool, but… It’s incredibly draining.”

“It took only three shots before Zetius was too exhausted to continue,” Cubie chimed in.

Aurora reached out and touched the scale, inspecting his gauntlet closely.

Damn, she even smells nice, Zetius thought, a scent like… one of those expensive perfumes. He couldn't quite place it, but it was captivating.

“I see,” Aurora nodded to herself, as if she already knew. “Show me.”

“And where would you like me to strike?” Zetius asked, uncertain.

“I will be your target, of course.” Aurora strode away, her cape billowing, her motion ever regal and resolute.

Zetius swallowed hard. The memory of the legendary beast was still fresh in his mind. His raw arcane burst was nowhere near as powerful as Friederich's, but he was thrilled to test his might nonetheless.

Knowing her cue, Cubie moved to a safe distance. “Okie~Dokie!”

Zetius nodded to her before returning his focus to his target. Aurora stood with her chin flew high, her expression dignified.

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Planting his feet, Zetius took a long breath. He waved his arm like a majestic wave, and the Artimas coiled and coalesced around it. Its red glyphs glowed as he channelled mana into his two fingers.

“Phoros!” Aurora raised her palms, extending her arms fully. A shimmering globe of a barrier enclosed her. “Whenever you are ready.”

Zetius closed his eyes. His mind's eye pictured a massive thunderstorm, its clouds filled with two opposing layers: one with a high density of negative charge, the other positive. He furrowed his brows, focusing on creating a greater imbalance in the thundercloud. Artimas began to crackle with electrical tendrils, the high-frequency vibration whining with wrathful energy.

A condensed ball of lightning formed at his fingertips, flashing and illuminating the entire room with an erratic, bright light.

Aurora remained steadfast, a corner of her lip pulling up in a slight smile of awe.

Zetius held his breath, his hair and clothes whipping violently in the charged air.

“Astrapyion~Blue!”

He shot the bolt of positive electrical discharge. The tremendous cone of blue lightning followed at incredible speed, mimicking the Blue Jet phenomenon. The sharp scent of ozone burned his nostrils.

WRRRACCCCKK!

The flash of energy blasted into Aurora’s barrier, its residue slithering across the ground and ceiling around her. White smoke rose into the air.

“Did I get her?” Zetius wondered, watching as the smoke cleared.

Her barrier emerged from the dust, seemingly unscathed.

“Wow…” Cubie watched with awe. This wasn’t the first time she had witnessed such a clash of might, but it never failed to amaze her.

Tsk! I'm even worse than Friederich, he thought with a groan of exasperation. I’ll have to try harder!

He flicked his wrist, clearing the lingering smoke. “ASTRAPYION~BLUE!” he screamed, firing a shot even more powerful than the first, his incantation thunderous.

The Blue Jet arced and collided with the barrier, lasting only a second before his attack dissipated into nothing.

The Phoros hummed with arcane energy as Aurora fuelled it with her tremendous mana; otherwise, it would have shattered. She just stood there, holding her barrier, looking almost bored.

Meanwhile, Zetius was breathless, gasping for air. A sheen of sweat formed on his forehead.

He waved his gauntlet again, his motion sluggish. The next one had to count. With renewed determination, Zetius screamed, “ASTRA—”

“HALT!” Aurora bellowed.

Zetius staggered, and the building charge dissipated. His knees felt so weak he had to lock them to stay standing.

“A third shot will take you out,” Aurora stated firmly, dismissing her barrier. She pinched her chin and pondered. “So, up to three shots, I see.”

“Y~yes… It appears so,” Zetius panted, inspecting his gauntlet. That was its limitation. It negated the pain of casting but drained his mana at a frightening rate. It was a fair exchange.

“Hmm, I see.” Aurora closed her eyes for a moment, then offered a genuine smile. “Not bad, Zetius. You did well.”

“I did?” Zetius blurted, blinking rapidly.

“Come closer,” she waved him over, and he jogged to her side.

Aurora dismissed a section of her dark gauntlet, revealing her sleeve. She then unbuttoned it, showing her immaculate skin. “Here.”

Zetius and Cubie inspected her arm closely but saw no damage. They looked at one another and frowned.

“It made the hair on my arm stand. See?” Aurora pointed. The hairs were fibre-thin and silver, impossible to notice without intently looking for them.

Zetius wanted to slap his forehead. It wasn't a real compliment, just an observation.

“Are you alright?” Aurora asked, buttoning her sleeve and resummoning her full armour, the metal gauntlet recladding her arm again.

No, I'm not, Zetius thought. But he voiced, “I’m okay, Empress.”

“Good. We’ll continue with close-quarters combat,” Aurora instructed.

Oh… He realised then that the Empress hadn't been asking about his welfare, but whether he was ready to continue.

“You must pay attention, Zetius.” Amber flames and red, butterfly-like embers flew and coiled around her outstretched hand. “Empyrion~lance.” A spear of pure fire materialised, and she rested its butt gently on the concrete floor.

“Right!” Zetius switched gears and jogged to the centre of the chamber.

Aurora followed, standing tall and relaxed, adopting no discernible fighting stance. “Ready when you are,” she invited.

Zetius raised his guard stance. Seeing no movement, he decided to strike.

“Empyrion~fist!” he yelled, lunging forward with a fist wreathed in fire.

His fist struck empty air. Aurora had sidestepped, evading the blow by a mere millimetre.

“Damn it!” Zetius growled, launching a rapid series of punches. She dodged each one with calculated, economical movements, each evasion flowing seamlessly into the next.

With a gentle push, she sent him stumbling back.

“She’s untouchable! Get more serious, Zetius!” Cubie cheered from the sidelines.

“I have been serious,” Zetius grumbled before lunging again. He threw a left hook at her face; she tilted her head, letting it sail past. He followed up with a right hook to her side; she spun on her heel, fading effortlessly from his reach.

Blasting fire from his palm for propulsion, Zetius shot forward with a flying knee.

Aurora smiled. “Mhm.” She stepped to the side again. The difference in their dexterity was not just a gap; it was a chasm.

Zetius rolled on the ground and scrambled back to his feet, his heart pounding with panic, fully expecting a counterattack.

But no strike came. Aurora wasn't going to attack him.

Then I can be a bit more reckless! Zetius thought, surging forward once more.

“Empyrion-Smash!” He launched the fiery punch straight at the Empress’s face.

Aurora’s eyes pierced through him. She slammed the butt of her spear into the ground. A ring of fire erupted outwards, trembling the very floor beneath him and sweeping his legs out from under him.

“Argh!” Zetius cried out as his body slammed onto the concrete with a meaty thud. A sharp, sickening pain shot up from his shins. His legs were broken.

“Gaia!” Cubie’s face went pale as she rushed forward.

“Cubie, stay back!” Zetius warned, trying and failing to push himself off the floor.

“But—” She paused, her worried gaze darting between him and the Empress.

“Relax, Cubellina,” Aurora spoke, her voice frigid. Then, Cubie watched, her eyes sparking with amazement as Zetius's legs began to mend, the bones knitting back into their original shape. Within moments, he was pushing himself up again.

“I’m fine, I’m alright,” Zetius told Cubie, showing her his palm before turning back to Aurora.

“Let’s go again!” Zetius demanded.

That’s amazing… and really scary! Cubie wasn't sure she could keep watching this.

“So, Zetius, have you noticed anything from our sparring?” Aurora asked sternly. She was no longer a regal empress; she was a fierce warrior-mentor.

“Huh?”

“I told you to pay attention, did I not?” Her words hung heavy in the air.

“I… I've noticed that our speeds are night and day. I can't keep up at all,” Zetius admitted, throwing himself at her again, his fists meeting only air.

“Each of your movements flows into the next with precise intent, whether it is to attack or evade.” He grunted.

“And?” Aurora asked, unimpressed.

“And there’s no wasted motion! I can’t find a single vulnerability,” Zetius said, sweeping his foot at her. Aurora guided his leg away with her free palm. Again? What is this fluid fighting style? Can she just redirect my attack like that?

“Wrong!” Aurora slammed the spear’s pommel on the floor. An impulse of fire erupted, crashing into Zetius and sending him to the ground. The air heaved out of his lungs as he rolled in pain.

“What else?” Aurora bellowed, her words rising.

“Your spear…” Zetius blurted, his mind still reeling from the pain, “It’s powerful and impossible to dodge. I’d have to fight you from the air.”

“Wrong!” Aurora slammed the pommel again.

A crushing weight slammed down on him. Zetius collapsed, the air forced from his lungs in a pained gasp as blood gurgled in his throat.

She’s going to kill me. The grim thought crossed his mind.

“Z~Zetius…” Cubie watched with dread, her lips trembling.

The flaming spear was an elegant, deadly extension of Aurora’s will. She glanced down with glowing silver eyes.

“What else?”

Panic seized him. Zetius scrambled for an answer, his eyes locked on the pommel as it lifted again. His heart hammered against his ribs. The next blow might break him completely.

“You don’t need to chant!” Zetius blurted out, his eyes squeezed shut in anticipation of another blow.

Seconds passed.

And no deadly clink of the pommel came.

“Correct,” Aurora said, a soft chuckle in her voice. “Excellent work, my disciple.”

Zetius opened his eyes to see her offering him her hand. Still dazed, he took it and let her hoist him upright.

“That’s what you were trying to teach me?” he asked, not fully understanding.

Aurora wore a pleased smile. “This is the technique you need to learn. We will call it Omit casting.”

“Omit casting?” Cubie repeated, joining them.

Aurora dismissed her spear. “You realised Artimas consumes a considerable amount of mana with each cast. Technically, this technique can solve that. It will still drain your mana, of course, but it will be far more efficient until you can improve your mana reservoir. That is a problem for another time.”

“Oh!” Zetius exclaimed softly. “So I need to shape my mana through some sort of medium,” he surmised, brushing his lip absently.

“A weapon of your choice, yes,” Aurora replied, her tone softening. She can be so terrifying when she fights, Zetius thought, prompting himself to swallow.

“Choose wisely,” She said.

“Understood, Empress,” Zetius bowed respectfully.

"You shall begin with a conceptual study," Aurora said, clasping his shoulder. "I should entrust you to perform a self-study on this topic, correct?"

“Correct, Empress!” Zetius replied crisply, though he wasn’t fully confident.

“Perfect.” The empress smiled, wider than usual. "If you struggle, come to me, your elven friend, or—" Aurora paused, her gaze shifting to Cubellina, "—her. I believe they can guide you. After all, this is their area of mastery."

“Understood!” Zetius and Cubie said in unison.

"Very well. I will leave you to it. Until then," Aurora instructed, bidding her farewell. After a few strides, she paused and turned back slightly. "This session is adjourned. Come, join me for dinner. You must be peckish."