232. Pree and Rhea

Beneath the shade of a large tree, two figures lingered: a red-haired man in a stylish black tunic and a girl who glowed with a soft blue light. It was late afternoon, but the warm atmosphere was pleasant.

The coronation ceremony, which had granted honours to a new batch of Lunarius mages, had concluded that morning with the Empress’s grand speech. Now, the decorations and stalls were being demobilised, leaving only a few scattered crates and boxes. The village was returning to its usual serenity, with just a handful of people loitering.

“You’re brooding again, Zetius,” Cubie pointed out the obvious.

Zetius was silently flicking through his arc-comm, the faint holographic light flickering in his eyes. “I’m not,” he denied, but his knitted brows betrayed him.

“Ha! Liar! You were just standing there, scowling!” Cubie floated dramatically into his view. She bent forward at the waist, her posterior raised high as if hoisted by an invisible string.

“I am not,” Zetius exhaled sharply and swiped the screen away. “And float properly. You’ll expose your backside, you childish girl,” he lectured.

Cubie shifted, slowly descending and straightening her posture. “Like this?”

“Correct,” he nodded, watching her imitate the motion of walking.

“Ah!” She slipped, her legs pointed up in the air. But Zetius’s reflex was quick as lightning; he caught her in mid-air.

“You good?” he exclaimed, her arms cradling her. She was lighter than a normal person.

“Yes!” She placed her feet flat on the ground and exhaled in relief.

“It seems you have fully manifested,” Zetius said, feeling the warmth of her palm. “That’s astounding.”

“That’s right. The more I practise projection arcane, the more earth-bound I become,” Cubie added.

“Do you want to try walking? I’ll help you,” Zetius smiled.

“Um!” she beamed, her face alight with excitement.

With their hands interlaced, Zetius led her forward. After a few tentative steps, Cubie managed to walk on solid ground without tipping over.

“I can walk now!” she gasped in delight.

Zetius slowly let go, and she wobbled a few more steps, her hands extended to shoulder level for balance. She looked like an adorable penguin.

“You're a proper lady now,” Zetius nodded in approval.

Cubie pouted, tucking her hands under her armpits. “That’s a bit rich, coming from the one who let a Celestius poke and prod him.”

“That’s not fair,” Zetius retorted, borrowing Vivian’s justification. “It was an examination for research purposes.”

Cubie chuckled. “People are freaky, especially the highest-ranking arcanists.” Her remark struck a chord with Zetius. He had often theorised that it was some fundamental perversion or deviation that allowed the most powerful arcanists to operate on a plane entirely beyond the norm.

“Let’s go. We have a few stops to make,” Zetius said, jerking his head toward the village.

They strode through the narrow street. There were many new facilities in this area, and Zetius had to chide Cubie a few times as she developed a habit of touching everything. Her new form granted her a world of unlimited interaction.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the north square. Borealis flags still hung proudly from the light poles. In front of a store, two familiar figures stood waiting: a horse Wildren dressed in new leather armour and a tan-coloured uniform, and her partner in crime, a bunny Animori. Prima Vel Rigellion and Lunarius Rhealin, respectively.

Pree’s face lit up when she spotted them, and she waved with an enthusiastic smile. “Zetius! You’ve recovered!”

“Hey, Pree. Nice armour,” Zetius smiled amiably.

“Hehe!” she nickered, spinning around in glee.

Zetius then crouched down to face the small lady. “Lunarius Rhealin.”

“Just call me Rhea, dude,” she replied with a casual shrug, twirling a long, singular braid of her blonde hair. Her casual demeanour baffled Zetius at first, but now he could see why she and Pree were so close. It was a match made in heaven.

“Well, I have to say it…” Zetius paused as Pree’s ears swivelled in his direction. “Thanks for dragging me over the finish line,” he said with a chuckle.

“How could I leave you behind?” Pree replied, twisting her torso in a moment of timidity. But then she straightened up, puffing out her chest with newfound resolve. “We’re a team!” she declared. They shared a giggle, thinking how foolhardy they had both been. They weren’t so different, after all.

From the sideline, Rhea tilted her head back, straining her neck to look up at Cubie, whose figure now cast a long shadow over her. She was the smallest one again.

“How’s it going, little Cubie?” Rhea asked. “You grow up quick. Kids these days,” she grumbled.

“I don’t grow… I’ve always looked like this. I just managed to manifest my body properly,” Cubie explained.

“Don’t be so literal, girl. I’m just teasing you,” Rhea laughed.

“Oh…” Cubie touched her lip.

“Guys! Let’s get some ice cream!” Pree exclaimed, pointing at a wooden sign.

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“Ice cream?” Cubie’s eyes glistened. It was perfect timing, the first time she could taste something.

“Sounds appetising,” Zetius beamed, gently patting her shoulder in approval.

They each ordered a two-scoop ice cream cone. The number of flavours was staggering, so Zetius played it safe with vanilla and chocolate. After getting their treats, they found a bench under the shade to enjoy the moment.

Cubie’s eyes dilated as she licked the dripping caramel and makuna honey combo. “It’s soooooo good!”

“Right?!” Pree exclaimed, her eyes curving into crescents and her tail held high with excitement.

“Wait,” Zetius called out to Cubie. A smear of melted ice cream was on her cheek. He took out a napkin and wiped it for her.

“Thanks!” she hummed before taking another lick.

Rhea’s bunny ears twitched with curiosity. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. Pree told me about you, Cubie, but the way Zetius takes care of you… It’s like you’re his child.”

A warm smile touched Zetius’s lips as he gently ran his hand through Cubie’s hair. “She came to be at the moment of my rebirth. We've faced everything together since then.” His voice softened with affection. “Truth be told, she’s the one who’s done most of the saving.” In response, Cubie’s glow intensified, a clear sign of her bashful pleasure.

Rhea shared a knowing look with Pree. “I understand that. Pree is like my child, too. Our race is either infertile or can’t procreate pure Animori anymore.” She sighed, a hint of ancient sorrow in her voice. “The stories say we were a glorious race once, thousands of years ago. That even the first Celestius, Gregorius, was one of us.”

“Oh! So that’s why your kind is so rare,” Cubie remarked, nibbling on her cone. “What happened?”

“The Black Plague?” Zetius chimed in. Rhea’s ears twitched, and she gave him a sharp, reassessing look.

“Correct,” she said, her voice turning grim. “That day is long gone, but its shadow remains. It’s why there are so few of us left… and why it’s so hard to find a partner who isn’t a complete jerk,” she grumbled, almost to herself. Her eyes grew distant as she watched the passersby, as if lamenting a time long past. “It’s been eighty years since I’ve last met another bunny Animori…”

“Whoa, I have no idea you were that old,” Zetius gasped, quickly slapping a hand over his mouth. “No offence!”

“None taken,” Rhea looked at him wryly. “I was very young then, and my mind was full of adventure.” Her tone held a pang of regret. “Sorry, a grumpy old Animori just loves to talk about her past.”

“It~it’s fine…“ Zetius waved his hands dismissively.

“Hence…. That’s why we’re going to the great Steppes of Mongalian!” Pree chimed in, holding a finger up. “Don’t worry, Rhea. We’ll definitely find you a suitable partner before your eggs all dry up!”

In a flash, Rhea hopped up and rapped a knuckle squarely on Pree’s forehead with a solid thud, all without spilling a drop of her half-melt ice cream.

“You are embarrassing me, you smooth-brained horse-girl,” she said in a mock-stern tone.

“Ahhhh! That hurts!” Pree rubbed the red spot, looking bashful. Even with a skull thicker than most Wildren, she wondered if it would form a lump. The air of camaraderie returned with the ongoing chatter and laughter.

The party strode along the streets that led to a circular platform, its surface covered in runes and glyphs designed for portal anchoring. It was one of two major portal platforms within the castle’s outer wall, surrounded by Corinthian columns that supported interconnected circular frames, exuding an air of ancient elegance.

Security was tight. Over twenty royal guards stood posted, their postures as rigid as statues. Atop the exposed roof, gargoyle stones — a type of guardian golem — sat in silence, their Arcanite Harnesser eyes gleaming bright blue.

“Lunarius Rhea, Stellius Prima,” a royal guard saluted with a practised, almost mechanical motion. “The portal destination has been authorised. Please feel free to step onto the platform when you are ready.”

“Thanks, guys,” Rhea flashed a wide, bunny-toothed grin.

Zetius joined them at the platform’s edge, admiring the beautiful architecture. Its function of security was even more sophisticated; the platform acted as a triangulation anchor, directing authorised teleporters precisely to its centre and not just anywhere in the castle.

“Oh! One moment!” Pree fumbled in her pocket and handed a platinum coin to Zetius. “This is part of your prize!”

“Oh…” Zetius retrieved the coin. The engravings depicted two champions supporting one another as they passed through an arch gate. It brilliantly captured their shared victory, though he had been half-dead at the time. A flush of embarrassment washed over him as Nyrethein’s taunts echoed in his mind. He quickly banished the thought. “Thanks… This coin is perfect. I’ll cherish it.”

“Um!” Pree hummed, her eyes closed in a smile.

“So… Mongalian. That’s your next destination, huh?” Zetius felt a sudden pang of loneliness. People really do come and go. At least they had the arc-comm and teleportation.

“Not to find me a ‘suitable partner’, mind you,” Rhea corrected, making air quotes with her fingers. “That’s not our main quest. The Dunkelheit war might be over, but there’s still social unrest in that region, not to mention a demonic infestation. The missions are piling up! What a drag…” Her shoulders slumped, feeling the pre-exhaustion.

“They say we don’t have enough arcanists, especially after the One-Year War,” Pree interjected, chewing on her thought, literally chewing from side to side.

“The One-Year War?” Zetius questioned, raising an eyebrow.

“That’s what folks are calling it. The war with the Dunkelheit Empire, then the Umbrals… it all rose and fell within a single year,” Rhea answered flatly.

“Why don’t you join us?!” Pree blurted, tugging on the fabric of his tunic.

“Huh?”

“Join us on our journey to Mongalian!” she said, her tone softening into a plea. The glint in her eyes was unmistakable. “You felt it too, right? During the race, we had great, um, teamwork.”

Zetius was taken aback by her forwardness. “I… I can’t leave the castle. It’s the Empress’s order,” he confessed.

Pree’s lips formed a tight line, and a flicker of disappointment crossed her face. “Empress’s order?” she asked, blinking in confusion.

“It’s complicated,” Zetius shrugged, not knowing where to begin.

“I didn’t know you were so bold, Pree,” Rhea spoke up, looking amused.

“It’s nothing like that, Rhea. I just feel like he’s trustworthy and reliable,” Pree argued. “He’s a good warrior, a strong one!”

“Whatever. Don’t be like me, kiddo,” Rhea brushed her off.

Zetius straightened his posture. “It’s not that I don’t want to go, Pree. My obligations tie me here.”

Pree gave an understanding nod, though her disappointment was still clear.

“How about we visit Mongalian when we get the chance?” Zetius turned to Cubie. “I’ve heard a lot of green fields of grass and low scrub stretching over the horizon.”

“Yay! Another adventure!” Cubie cheered.

“Really? You’ll visit us?” Pree’s eyes lit up with renewed hope.

Zetius extended his pinky finger. “How about a promise? I can’t give you an exact timeline, but I’ll come.”

“Yes, please!” Pree nodded eagerly and wrapped her pinky around his. Her cheeks flushed red and her heart began to race — an inexplicable feeling, one she had never felt before.

“All good then. If you forget your promise, I’ll drag you there myself,” Rhea quipped, pointing a paw at Zetius.

They all shared a final, collective chuckle.

Soon after, Pree and Rhea waved their goodbyes and, ushered by the spear-wielding royal guards, walked through the shimmering portal.

Zetius found himself smiling like a fool. Their bright, childish personalities brought out a frivolous side of him that he rarely showed.

“So, what’s our next stop?” Cubie probed, smiling at him.

“South. To the market town square,” Zetius smiled back, showing his teeth. “Come on. Lunarius Willhelm and the others are waiting.”