203. The Firework Watch
In the far east, a distant castle loomed, its defence towers flanking it on all four sides. A shimmering barrier repelled the rain, protecting the stronghold that served as Britainia's frontline against the dense inland cities.
Below, in a beautiful courtyard, over a hundred arcanists gathered. Their serene nobility was a stark contrast to the violent storm of a battle raging just beyond their border — a battle orchestrated by the most powerful arcanist of all time. While finely dressed mages enjoyed the best wines and food, slave maids drifted through the crowd with reluctant agitation. In the distance, black wings darkened the sky, obscuring the split moon like a doomsday omen.
This was no joyous party, but an old, solemn tradition of the Britainian House of Vale. The battalion was a surreal sight, composed mostly of dark elves whose skin glittered under the starry night, their arc-weapons held at the ready. The real fight, however, was not in the fancy courtyard but in the sky above.
As if summoned by the thought, Nyrethein Vale, the Celestius of Gemini, descended among them. The mages parted before her like a black sea as she swayed through the crowd with intense allure, a glass of red wine in hand. The reverence for her was profound; warriors bowed and knelt in her presence.
Tailing beside her, Magnus Primarch Stephen Vale, draped in a dark crimson suit, waved amicably at his royal subjects. The tall dark elf shared similar features with the Celestius, hinting at their lineage and heritage — the silvery eyes and hair colour.
“Please enjoy your evening, everyone,” Stephen announced, dismissing the attention from the crowd. He extended his hand to help one of the female elven mages to her feet.
“Such a lovely evening, my lord,” the female mage spoke up in appreciation, clasping an Arc sceptre in her hand.
“I’m glad you enjoy our little tradition. The House of Vale always honours its warriors before battle,” Nyrethein chimed in, brushing her four fingers past Stephen's shoulder as she directed their attention toward the battle in the sky.
A massive, black mist flew past the starry canvas. “Unmistakably, that must be Ventiff in the flesh,” Stephen offered his insight.
“A tamed legendary beast? Such absurdity,” Nyrethein scoffed before sipping her crimson liquid, her motion extravagant.
“Thank you,” she gestured to one of the maids at her side and gently placed the half-drunk wine glass on a silver tray.
Explosions erupted in quick succession, like fireworks on a festival night. The flashes of light illuminated their faces.
“Let’s have a look,” Nyrethein flickered her fingers, beaming a holographic map from her ring. The outline of the terrain and sea appeared to be free of enemies.
“From the look of it, the Dunkelheit forces are staying clear of our border entirely,” Stephen shared his observation.
With a wiping gesture, the hologram dispersed. “Their objective is ambiguous. Why attack Borealis Castle of all places?” Nyrethein wondered aloud, tapping her plum lips.
“Either they are too smart or too stupid. There is no in-between,” Stephen said, nodding.
Tilting his head toward the sky, Stephen’s fingertips touched his raised brow, his eyes closed in contemplation.
“I wonder if she is going to implore our assistance,” he whispered, shrugging.
“Knowing her arrogance, likely not,” Nyrethein muttered bitterly, crossing her arms. Something deep-seated stirred within her like a smouldering fire. That feeling lasted only a mere second before her expression shifted back to her merry self, as if by a flick of a switch.
A vibration was felt in the air. Instantly, a long-range lancer beam cleaved through the clouds. Ventiff twirled in the air, evading the attack. The sudden flash of light revealed the battlecruiser’s location as the airborne leviathan drifted further and further away.
“So that’s a lancer attack. An interesting piece of war technology,” Stephen remarked with a calm demeanour.
“Mmm… Look at their frail attempt to imitate a fraction of our power,” Nyrethein added, her tone lilted and playful.
In the distant north, a dotted line, emitted from the thrusters, emerged like a blue highlight painting a canvas as another Umbral battlecruiser deployed its fleet of mobile suits.
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Joining her side, a humanoid Siberian tiger grumbled, “What are they doing, keeping such small fleets, one at a time?” He was wiggling his whiskers, his long tail swaying back and forth in a pendulum motion.
“Looks like they are just buying time,” Nyrethein muttered, rolling her eyes in boredom. “Funny how they plan to trade hours with their vessels and Armatus fleet. It’s too absurd unless… the payback is actually worth it. What could that be? I wonder.”
"Mmm, I see their strategy," Stephen said, his eyes flicking across the memos streaming from his arc comm's intricate web of intelligence. The blue, holographic glow reflected in his pupils. "They're fighting on two fronts as we speak. Another battle is raging on Thylin's northern border, this one against a Solis Aeternum battlecruiser."
“So, apparently, they want to stall for time so they can achieve a siege on that front. Ah! They are after the eastern seaboard facilities. I highly doubt that is all. The rogue Celestius is up to something again,” she grumbled, letting out an exhale.
“Apart from being one of the most powerful Celestius, Ignius is a very calculated man, Nyrethein. We should never underestimate him,” he warned.
“Yeah, yeah. I understood that. However, I’d love to challenge him in the Dreamless Realm. I'm curious how he’d fare there,” she chuckled, almost spilling her improper laughter.
“You would definitely win, my dear sister. Evidently, he has never been titled the Grand Master of the Dreamless Realm.”
Raising her brows in surprise, she asked, “Did you really just praise me, brother?” Her smile widened.
“My words remain truthful. I am willing to say them again in the Dreamless Realm,” he uttered with honesty.
“Hehe, that won’t be necessary,” the Celestius of Gemini nodded gracefully.
The tall elven Magnus Primarch stepped back, turning to face his warbands of Arcanists. Though they feigned ease, a collective tension betrayed them in the intensity of their stares. It was clear they were struggling to conceal their anxiety. Stephen, however, bent into a modest bow. “Well, enjoy the light show, everyone,” he said with a wry smile. “Looks like the Empress can handle this one without us.”
“Well, being unsolicited by the Astral Empress, we will be providing border security for now,” Celestius Nyrethein added calmly. The faces in the crowd nodded in unison before returning to their tables.
The night resumed as if nothing had happened. Even the continuous, distant storm soon faded into the back of their minds.
***
Skyward…
“This is a waste of my time!” Aurora groaned, reaping through the Armatus units. A swing of her Thanatos-spatha cleaved the space, reducing them to dust and brimstone.
As soon as the first fleet was obliterated, the second moved to the front line. The cycle continued.
Falling. And falling.
Despite Ventiff dominating the battlefield, the Umbral battlecruisers were also in retreat. Endless enemies swarmed her. A trickle of sweat ran down her cheek.
Like moths to her purple flame, their assault had no grandeur, no glory, no honour.
In the midst of battle, her ring vibrated.
“Astral Empress,” General Matthew’s voice crackled through the arc comm.
“Out with it, General. I’m in the middle of something,” Aurora retorted, her blades never ceasing their deadly dance as the battle raged on.
“Please let the Dreadnought join the battle!” he requested. “Two Umbral battlecruisers are kiting you, Empress! Let us engage one of them!”
Aurora grunted, her expression soured with discontent. With a quick break, she decided she would no longer be the subject of their cat-and-mouse game.
“Fine.“ She clipped before returning to action.
Black wings thundered. Aurora charged east towards the nearest enemy leviathan. The moment she set her eyes on her target, she tore through the void, destroying enemies in her path while ignoring the scattered few.
Futile beams from their Lancer cannons glanced harmlessly off Ventiff’s wings.
The battlecruiser sped away in terror, but Ventiff beat its massive wings, driving them forward with even greater ferocity.
Eagle-like claws snapped open. Its beak gaped wide, revealing a spaded tongue.
RAWWRRRRR!
The death roar echoed through the void, a sound that could be heard from coast to coast.
Aurora rose from Ventiff's mane, her legs shifting to steady herself. The wind howled past her ears; the enemy’s vessel was within reach.
“Now!” she bellowed.
Ventiff dived, reaching terminal speed.
The creak of stressed metal was followed by an Arcanite explosion as the Lancer cannon was ripped to pieces. Enemy mobile suits surrounded her, bombarding Aurora with their missiles.
Mana surged through her veins. “Begone!” she roared.
Aurora spun with her blade in a circular attack. A purple ring of destruction annihilated them instantly. Sky had gone up in flame.
“Now, Ventiff!” she commanded.
Ventiff roared in acknowledgement. Its claws dug into the super-duplex bulwark as if it were paper, ripping the upper deck open.
The people inside, both Knights and non-combatant personnel, screamed as Ventiff's red, demonic eyes stared down at them.
Quickly, Aurora scanned the chamber, which appeared to be the main hangar.
“Wait? Is that?”
Among the fleeing crowds, she spotted mid-sized bots dragging a massive spherical device into the centre of the room.
Her instincts screamed a warning.
“Ventiff!” Aurora roared. At her command, her mount wrapped its wings around her, forming a protective barrier.
A blinding flash of elemental energy erupted as the Arcanite Disruptor triggered…