212. The Bottomless Function
As the party entered the dining area, the sign above the entrance read ‘Central Continental’, a peculiar name for a military cafeteria.
“You hear that?!” Cubie exclaimed, her voice buzzing with excitement as a beat reverberated from deep within.
“That’s your tune,” Zetius murmured with a smile.
“Yes!” She giggled in glee, zipping with pure enthusiasm.
As they strode through the massive doors, two maids in matching dark crimson suits with name tags emerged to greet them.
“Sir Lunarius Willhelm!” one of the girls greeted with a practised smile. The other maid, her hair tied in a loose ponytail, simply waved without meeting his gaze.
“May I get a table for four, please?” He asked, shooting a half smile at Cubie, who was floating up and down to the music. Her awestruck face was fixed on the DJ booth.
“Another double date, sir?” the pony-tailed maid queried, her lips trembling, a subtle hint of jealousy in her eyes.
Don’t tell me… Zetius bit his tongue, forcing his curiosity back down.
“Oh, my! Catherine. Nothing like that!” Lunarius blurted out, scratching his nose.
“That’s none of my business. Apologies for my intrusion, sir.” The maid bowed abruptly.
“No, actually. These two pretty ladies are with this handsome man here,” Lunarius corrected, clapping Zetius on the shoulder, his smile widening mischievously.
Catherine cupped her lips, glaring at Zetius with palpable disdain. “Ah, the type of lust they spoke of in the ages of mythology.”
“Zeus’s lust and his harem,” the other maid muttered under her breath, her expression grave.
Zetius swallowed hard, leaning toward the tall elven mage.
“Um… Lunarius, we aren’t together! Stop spreading fake news!” Zetius whispered, a pang of embarrassment in his tone.
“Well, you don’t see them correcting me, do you?” Willhelm replied, chuckling to himself as he stole a glance at Astrid and Ziyue.
Finally, he gestured to the maids, his voice filled with a theatrical flourish. “If you would be so kind. Please, I’m famished!”
Once the maids led them inside, the space was entirely different from what Zetius had expected. He had imagined long steel tables, clustered people, and divided stainless-steel trays.
Instead, the lavish furnishings of the Yamamoto battlecruiser dining hall were decorated with beautiful, intricate tablecloths, topped with glistening silverware and fresh flower vases. The glamorous chamber was massive, its walls adorned with beautiful medieval paintings and large sightports offering a stunning sky view of the terrain below.
Woah… This is a five-star restaurant in the sky. Zetius thought, amazed.
“Zetius, Zetius! Can I go to the DJ booth!?” Cubie nudged his shoulder gently.
“Mhm, go on ahead.” He permitted with a nod.
“Yippie!” She zipped away, weaving between tables and swaying left and right to avoid colliding with the serving maids. He chuckled at how Frain’s vocabulary had begun to rub off on her. After all, she was still a child. He often forgot that, as her appearance could be misleading at times.
“Ahem! Are you familiar with Montelian food?” Lunarius Willhelm probed, looking at the hard-cover menu.
Withdrawing his eyes from the glimmering chandelier above, Zetius admitted, “Not really.”
“What about you, Astrid?” He half-turned to her.
“I have a few!” She shook her head. “Ones with lots of protein work for me.”
“Pfffp!” Ziyue blurted, cupping her mouth.
“What?” Astrid snapped.
“What’s the name, Astrid?” Ziyue’s eyes narrowed playfully.
“I don’t remember their names…” Astrid frowned and scanned the menu in frustration.
“Figured,” Ziyue teased, baiting Astrid with little effort. She was one of the easiest people to provoke.
Clenching the menu in her hands, Astrid grumbled, “Why does she always get on my nerves—”
“Astrid…” Zetius said, gently placing his hand on her shoulder. The soft touch of his words began to calm her rage.
“Fine… because you said so, Zeta,” she conceded, hugging herself.
Ignoring the two, Ziyue put down her menu. “Please, Lunarius. Would you kindly order for us?”
“Ah, yes. I’m hoping to be of use today.” Willhelm smiled before waving a hand to a passing maid.
Not long after Lunarius had ordered for the table, the maid returned with several platters of food, specialties from Montelian chefs: Spaghetti Marinara, BBQ chicken pizza, Spaghetti Carbonara, and Graca mussels, among other things.
The party went quiet as they dined, the food proving quite enjoyable to Zetius’s taste. He wasn't a big food connoisseur, but he welcomed the company and the atmosphere the Central Continental had to offer.
For the first time in a while, there was a sense of normalcy in this broken world.
It was a welcome change of pace, having someone to dine with, to talk about something more than work and arcane matters. It reminded him that life still had more to offer, even in desperate times.
Meanwhile, Cubie had resigned from the DJ booth and was now at another table with Aurelia, Friederich, Lume, and Ryusei.
As the night wore on and the cocktails kept coming in, Lunarius Willhelm, as charming as ever, spread his fire-like warmth to everyone, ensuring they had the best day he could offer. He peppered the conversation with occasional jokes and witty quotes he had gathered from all seven continents.
The lingering rivalries between the two ladies were now more tolerated than before.
“So Ziyue, you mentioned you’d have to return to Russha soon?” Willhelm asked, dabbing his lips with a napkin.
“Yes, Lunarius,” Ziyue replied, her voice flat as she traced her finger along the edge of the glass. “A report from Russha came in a while ago; it seems like the disappearances aren’t a coincidence. It’s a widespread phenomenon. Global even, I’m afraid.”
“You’re joking~When did you check that?” Zetius questioned. He hadn’t seen her leave his side, not even once.
“Pulse code,” Ziyue said, showing her silver ring on her index finger.
“Oh! The Shadowbringers always have the most intriguing gadgets.” Willhelm remarked.
“Still, I’ll stick around for a few days before my uncle runs the nation into the ground.” Ziyue sighed lightheartedly.
Willhelm closed his eyes, “I’d truly appreciate that, Ziyue. I know this isn’t our country, not our people.”
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“But they are still people,” Ziyue said, exchanging a meaningful look with Zetius. He returned a warm smile.
“Yes, always the innocent who suffer the most from their evil rulers and the upper class. This is worth investigating after all…” Willhelm said, his voice softening. Catherine returned with another tray full of cocktails, again on Willhelm’s orders.
“Thank you, dear.” He winked at the maid as she drifted away.
“Say, Lunarius. What about you? Are you planning to return to Germund after this?” Zetius probed before sipping a glass of mojito. The fresh mint aroma was as wonderful as a dewdrop on a leaf.
“Yeah, I heard you are rebuilding it. Some Renaissance mages have been deployed there, right?” Astrid chimed in, receiving a mug of Russha mule, ginger beer and vodka from Willhelm.
Nodding in deep contemplation, Willhelm recounted. “Germund, huh? With the Umbral threat perished, the empress has issued a new order for me to station here. I believe my Renaissance friend can handle it on his own.”
“Sir Canis Wolfgang!?” Astrid guessed, her voice filled with surprise.
“Good guess, Lunarius.” Willhelm smiled broadly before sipping an espresso martini. “I figured with our dwindling numbers of mages, the circle is closer than it ever was.”
“We, um…” Astrid paused, turning to Zetius, “We ran into him and Steve during our search for his surrogate daughter…”
“Right! The little lioness,” Willhelm finished. “Where is she now?”
“Um… She’s… she’s with the Hoffmanns,” Zetius replied, his eyes sweeping across the room with a sudden, painful yearning. The moment had brought him back to a time long past, to the days at House Tasmania.
“I see,” Willhelm clipped, the levity gone from his tone.
“He’s funny when he sings some inaudible lyrics,” Astrid continued, her voice eager to change the subject.
“Ahaha! Looks can be quite deceiving; he might not be a warmongering arcanist like us, but he’s got an Animori’s strength.”
“An Animori? Is he really?” Astrid gasped, her eyes wide with surprise.
“It’s definitely rare! An Animori Lunarius!” Ziyue added, her purple eyes gleaming.
“Germund is in good hands, then,” Zetius concluded, closing his eyes in quiet relief.
Clank! A spoon dropped and cracked on a plate, and Lunarius squeezed his eyes shut.
“Are you alright, Lunarius?” Astrid uttered, reaching out and gently touching his arm.
Willhelm snapped his head up, a violent, jerky movement, as if trying to shake something loose.
“Sir Willhelm?” Zetius called, his voice laced with concern.
Visibly composing himself, Lunarius replied, “Pardon me. I was simply lost in thought.”
“Are you sure?” Ziyue asked, her watchful eyes never leaving the elf. Despite his forced smile, a bead of sweat had formed on his forehead.
Gobbling down some water from his glass, he offered a strained reassurance. “Perhaps, I’m just a little intoxicated.”
“Good evening, Lunarius Willhelm,” a voice echoed from behind, and an imposing shadow fell over their table, momentarily blocking out the chandeliers’ light.
“Father, Aurelia, Friederich!” Astrid exclaimed, her voice more boisterous and slurred than she intended — an early sign of being drunk.
Zetius bolted to his feet, bowing to Astrid’s father in deep respect. “At ease, Zetius,” Admiral Lume said, waving him back down.
“Hi, Astrid, Ziyue, Lunarius Willhelm!” Aurelia chirped with an amicable smile, holding Cubie against her chest.
Lume’s eyes swept across the group. “I hope you all have had a wonderful evening at Yamamoto’s Continental. We tend to take catering to the extreme here, considering how harsh and isolated this life can be for our people.”
“It’s been a splendid evening, Admiral,” Willhelm said, standing up and bowing his head slightly.
“Thank you for your kind hospitality.” Zetius nodded, and the others offered a wave of appreciation.
“The pleasure’s all ours.” Lume stepped closer and embraced Willhelm. “I’d appreciate it if you would continue to look out for my daughter in the realm of arcane,” he whispered before stepping away.
“You have my word, Admiral,” Lunarius Willhelm replied promptly.
Aurelia gave them a sweet smile. “Well, it’s late, so we’ll have to excuse ourselves.” She signalled to Cubie, prompting her to blurt out her practised words.
“Don’t get drunk, Zetius!” Cubie said, forcing a scolding tone.
Zetius chuckled. “Yeah, no worries. I won’t. I’ve got work first thing in the morning.”
“That’s reassuring,” Aurelia said, her tone dripping with sarcasm, before she let Cubie return to him. She then followed Lume to make a farewell round at other tables.
Friederich was the last to leave. He paused to exchange a final nod with his friend. “Zetius.”
“Friederich. Take care.” Zetius returned the sentiment.
The laughter and chatter grew louder as the liquor kept pouring, accompanied by the upbeat music from the DJ booth.
Before Zetius knew it, it was already thirty past midnight. It was a rare night, one he didn’t spend drowning in sorrow, one where he almost forgot how to live.
The night drew to a close as Astrid was finally hauled to her room, aided by the power of friendship — specifically, Zetius and Lunarius. Ziyue and Cubie trailed behind them.
“I did warn you that the big girl is a lightweight,” Ziyue grumbled, causing Cubie to giggle.
“You’re not helping~nnnngh!” Zetius grunted. He was supporting one of her wings, and her sheer weight was so immense that even his superhuman strength struggled.
Once they reached her designated room, Zetius grabbed her by the wrist and placed her palm over the biometric panel.
A soft chime sounded, and the double doors slid open, revealing a big circular bed and simple, tasteful décor.
There was no window, only a giant screen, and an en suite bathroom. An insignia of flames hung on her wall, a testament to her dedication to her subordinates. Astrid seems like the kind of person who takes care of her own, Zetius thought.
“Umm… Zetius,” Lunarius paused, letting go of Astrid’s hand. “I’d rather not, um, go into a girl’s room.”
“Huh?” Zetius blinked in confusion.
Lunarius held back his rising bile and handed a vial from his jacket. “Here, it’s for antelope horn.”
“And what does that do?” Zetius frowned, taking the vial.
“It’s for male potency,” Lunarius said, puffing out his chest with a mischievous grin.
“What?” Zetius gasped, his surprise palpable.
“Aha!” Ziyue blurted, leaning on Zetius with a hand. “He got you! This is the horn of the Antelope Wildren, isn’t it?”
Lunarius nodded with a wide grin. “It’s also a great hangover cure. Have her chew on it before sleep and wash it down with some water.”
“Okay.” Zetius nodded, following the instructions to the letter. With the last bit of energy he had, he hurled the heavy sack of meat onto her bed. Cubie followed him in.
“Cubie, set the alarm for 8:30 AM,” Zetius commanded, huffing as he gently threw Astrid onto the mattress.
She bounced a few times before settling.
“Roger that! I’ll set a couple more just in case,” Cubie said, drifting to the bedside table to fiddle with the alarm clock. “All set!”
“Thanks!”
He studied her serene expression as she slept. Astrid was still one of the most beautiful women he knew. If it weren’t for her towering height and deep, masculine-like voice, she could have been even more popular amongst men.
As her dress came loose, her upper chest was almost exposed. Her skin, slightly tanned from training in the sun, was smooth and flawless.
“Oh~oh!” Zetius quickly covered her with the blanket, looking left and right to make sure no one had seen anything.
Gently slapping her cheek, Zetius called, “Astrid… Astrid… Jeez… wake up.”
“Hmm… w~where am I?” Her crimson eyes fluttered open. “Hehe, Zeta…” She giggled, watching him with dreamy eyes.
“Cubie, some water, please,” Zetius ordered, opening the vial with his thumb. “Here, chew on it.”
“What is it? Hehe,” she drawled, her smile unfaltering as she sat up, only to wobble to the side.
“It’s a cure!” Zetius urged, holding her head steady.
“Ohhh, I didn’t know you liked it rough…” She said, completely flustered as she twisted in his grasp.
“Ugh… Come on, Astrid,” Zetius’s patience wore thin as he grabbed her cheeks and poured the piece of horn into her mouth.
“Nom… nom…” She began to chew subconsciously. “It tasted like nothing. What kind of jerky is that?”
“Water. Drink the whole thing.” Zetius took a glass from Cubie and handed it to her.
This time, she became much more obedient, gulping down the entire glass in one go.
“Come dance with me!” She bolted upright, both arms extended to her shoulder level.
“Ahaha! Maybe another time.” Zetius said, gently massaging her shoulder as he took the glass and placed it back on the bedside table.
Her gaze fell to the bed. “Fine… only if you say so.”
“Yep, definitely… only if you remember,” Zetius said with a fond smile. Slumping back into her bed, he pulled the blanket over her large frame. She tried, but her eyes could no longer stay open.
“Thanks for looking out for me… Zeta…” Astrid mumbled, drifting back to sleep.
“Phew…” Zetius grumbled, looking at the sleeping beauty. “Let it be known that she is not allowed near alcohol again.”
The fight was over.
Eventually, Zetius emerged from Astrid’s room, only to find that Lunarius Willhelm was already gone.
Ziyue leaned her back against the wall, her arms crossed and eyes closed in tranquillity. One could mistake her for sleeping.
Joining her side, Zetius poked her gently. “Are you perhaps drunk?”
“Sorry to disappoint,” she said, her voice making him flinch slightly. “Alcohol is pale in comparison with arc poison. My body has grown accustomed to it.”
“I see.” He scratched his brow. They were so close that their shoulders gently brushed against each other.
“Thanks for not disappearing on me,” Zetius said.
“Been there, done that,” Ziyue replied. And it didn’t work…
Then they both chuckled at one another in the quiet hallway, hundreds of meters above the sky.