Aleph slammed his room door shut. Why was March acting like that?
At least, he didn't think he'd done anything to deserve being showered with a rain of ice arrows.
A sigh escaped his lips before he cracked his knuckles and neck. Unfortunately for March, now she was going to have to taste his revenge.
He dropped onto the bed, exhaling sharply.
"This woman is completely insane…" He muttered, resting his head on the pillow. It didn't take long before he drifted off to sleep.
.....
When he opened his eyes, it was just past midnight. The hotel was completely silent.
Most likely, no one was still awake at this hour.
He stood up slowly, stretching his shoulders, and walked toward the window.
"Let's see if you were right." He murmured, opening the wardrobe to pull out his coat.
[Does he really think this is the right time for this?] Asked Burroughs.
"Nope." He said as he jumped out the window. "I just don't think I can keep sleeping. And what else could I do at this hour? Might as well put this free time to practical use."
[Master, I must remind you that if the hypothesis is wrong, exposing yourself to an area with a high concentration of residual Stellaron energy could trigger a lethal overload] Said Burroughs. [Where exactly are you planning to go?]
"We're going to Neverwinter Hill." He said simply, starting to hum a little tune.
[...Are you stupid?]
"All or nothing, Burroughs. Time to flip the coin and see if luck's on my side."
[You are definitely stupid.]
"Can I ask you to keep monitoring my condition in real time?"
[Fine.]
...
Once at the top, he extended his right arm and took a deep breath.
"Begin monitoring. I'm going to release energy."
[I'm ready.]
Frosty energy wrapped around his hand. A burning sensation surged through his body—like eating something way too hot that slides down your throat… except this time, the burn started in his chest and spread throughout his entire body.
"Bufudyne." He murmured. Ice swirled around him as a shard began to form in front of his hand. Once it was complete, he grabbed it, clenched his fist, and slammed it into the ground.
Immediately, several spikes shot up from the point of impact, each at least six or seven meters long, while the height of the spikes was…
[Almost twenty-one.]
Aleph couldn't help but whistle. Nice number. Honestly, he had expected a max of ten or eleven meters, so this exceeded his expectations.
Curious, he decided to try something else.
[What are you going to do now, Master?] Asked Burroughs with curiosity.
"Thinking about it… could I create something similar to Fragmentum monsters if I consciously increased the Stellaron energy concentration in my magic and gave it a more humanoid or monstrous shape?" He said, sitting down on a nearby rock.
[That… is actually a pretty interesting thing to try. What shape will you give them, Master?]
Aleph let out an arrogant huff as he stood up. If Burroughs had eyes, she would have rolled them for sure.
"Watch me work my magic, Burroughs!" With a snap of his fingers, two figures formed.
One looked like a cartoonishly muscular caricature of a Dan Heng impersonator, styled like a stereotypical circus strongman. Mustache and all.
The other, meanwhile, looked like a Jing Yuan straight out of Street Fighter.
[Fascinating] Burroughs remarked sarcastically. [Seriously, Master?]
"…My mind's a little hyperactive." At this point, Aleph saw no way to defend himself, so he reluctantly accepted that Burroughs probably wasn't wrong to treat him like an oddball. "Well, if I'm doing this, I'm doing it."
Both ice men turned to look at him as the ground beneath them rose, forming an icy ring.
"Begin!" He shouted, feeling a little silly for forgetting to bring snacks. For a moment, the idea crossed his mind to make this a Jarillo-VI public show, but on the other hand, he thought that might be too much.
Besides, he could already picture Luka giving him a betrayed look, telling him he thought they were friends.
Yeah, he didn't want that on his conscience.
[I suggest you check your torso] Said Burroughs, pulling him out of his thoughts.
Aleph lifted his shirt slightly. What he saw made him burst out laughing.
The golden cracks on his chest were receding. Not disappearing completely, but clearly less pronounced.
"Ha. So it worked… It worked!"
[Controlled expulsion stabilizes internal pressure. The process will have to be repeated periodically while you remain on Jarillo-VI, but the results are positive.]
Aleph sat on the edge of the makeshift ice ring, elbows resting on his knees as he watched the fighters continue their match as violently as possible.
[Congratulations, you are no longer at risk of death.]
************
The room at the Goethe Hotel smelled of perfume, lotion, and a faint trace of nervousness that Aleph tried to hide as he adjusted his newly bought shirt.
The jacket hung in the closet waiting for him, and in the mirror, his reflection examined him with a mix of self-criticism and satisfaction.
One last glance at his cuffs, a quick pass through his hair, and a smile formed.
Not bad. Pretty good, actually.
[Not to sound insistent, Master, but it's obvious this is a date.] Burroughs commented with a condescending tone.
"I already told you. It's not." Aleph rolled his eyes and adjusted his shirt collar. "Bronya was clear. She only asked me to go with her because Cocolia and Seele would be busy. She didn't have anyone else to go with, that's all."
[And that excitement you have while getting ready? Are you going to justify that with cold logic too?]
"Have you never heard of the thrill of experiencing something new? It's the first festival I've ever been to."
[Whatever you say,] Burroughs replied, not bothering to hide the disbelief in her voice.
Aleph left the room, crossed the lobby without looking at anyone, and a genuine smile spread across his face as he made his way through the administrative district. It was nighttime, but the festival had already begun to bathe the streets in warm lights and enveloping music. With every step, it seemed the city was transforming. He was almost tempted to stop and look at the stalls, but he had to meet Bronya first.
As he walked toward the entrance of Qlipoth Fortress, a small unease struck him—a feeling that he was forgetting something.
"Wasn't I supposed to be somewhere else at this hour?" He muttered under his breath.
[If you forgot, it probably wasn't important.]
"Good point."
.....
Aleph had no idea that, at that exact moment, back in the Goethe Hotel, two figures sat in sepulchral silence.
March and Stelle stared toward the entrance with dark expressions.
"He promised he'd come with us." Stelle said.
"He even promised to pick the attractions we'd like the most." March added.
Both crossed their arms at the same time.
...
Meanwhile, Aleph finally arrived at his destination.
The sight left him speechless.
Bronya was waiting at the fortress entrance, wrapped in a dress that blended elegance with an almost ethereal delicacy. She gave him a rather shy look, her hands behind her back.
When she saw him, she tilted her head slightly.
"Do I look weird?" She asked, a hint of insecurity in her tone.
Aleph shook his head, still stunned.
"You look incredible."
Bronya turned her gaze away, but couldn't hide the smile that bloomed on her lips. A light blush colored her cheeks.
She soon stepped closer and took his arm.
"It's time to get started."
And without giving him a chance to reply, she led him toward the celebration.
....
From a nearby building, hidden in the shadows of a high terrace, Seele and Cocolia watched.
Cocolia had her arms crossed, lips tense, and a look that oscillated between anxiety and resignation. Part of her wanted to grab a rifle or a spear and neutralize Aleph.
"This is moving too fast." She murmured. "What if that boy is just playing with her?"
Other thoughts crept into her mind.
"She's still so young… I'm not ready to have grandchildren."
"My poor Bronya."
Seele glanced at her from the corner of her eye, clearly irritated—but for different reasons.
"I'm pretty worried." She muttered.
Aleph wasn't a bad guy—she knew that—but being a good person didn't mean not being an idiot.
She didn't want Bronya to fall into something she wasn't ready for. She was a very sheltered girl.
Easy to impress for bastards who knew how to use words well.
Seele remembered certain men's faces from the Underworld. They weren't evil. But they were selfish, immature, or impulsive enough to drag a woman into an emotional whirlwind without thinking of the consequences. She wouldn't let Bronya become another sad story.
.....
Contrary to both their expectations, Aleph—far from making any inappropriate moves—was polite and respectful enough that Cocolia, albeit reluctantly, admitted she had no complaints about him.
On the other hand…
Though awkwardly, it was Bronya who seemed to be taking more of the initiative, pushing for more progress.
Somehow, that worried Cocolia even more than if it had been the other way around.
Seele frowned, muttering with a bored expression.
"I could be enjoying the festival. But no. I'm here babysitting two idiots. This is what I get for being responsible."
She crossed her arms, resigned.
"Although, thinking about it… if I don't keep watch, the overprotective lady might ruin Bronya's day."
"…Why are you staring at me so much, Seele?" Cocolia asked curiously.
"It's nothing." Seele replied in a slightly curt tone.
***********
The first stretch of the walk was calm. Aleph and Bronya strolled down the main boulevard of the commercial district, now completely transformed for the Calisol Festival.
The streetlamps glowed in amber and blue, thin ribbons of light floated through the air like kites, and soft music played from speakers hidden among the floral decorations.
Aleph smiled at the joy woven into the atmosphere. Because of certain troubles in his past, he'd never been able to attend anything like a festival before, and he was genuinely looking forward to it.
"Is there always this many people at the festival?" Aleph asked as they walked between the stalls.
"No, not really. But with several of Belobog's problems solved, the Underworld blockade lifted, and the funding for reconstruction materials… morale couldn't be higher." Bronya replied calmly.
She kept her arm linked with Aleph's. She didn't speak much, but every so often she made small remarks about the changes since the last festival.
At one corner, a group of children played with miniature fireworks that burst into animal shapes — a golden fox, a dragon made of smoke, a flock of shimmering birds.
"Cute. Maybe Stelle and March would like those."
"This is the first time I've ever been to something like this." Aleph said, breaking the silence.
Bronya turned to him.
"You've never been to a festival?" She sounded genuinely curious. "With everything you've told me, I would've thought you'd had at least one… eh, unusual experience at one."
Aleph shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck with a slightly resigned laugh.
"For some reason, something always happened that kept me from enjoying one."
"Like what?" She asked with interest.
"Well… I got sick during one, had allergy problems at another, and once I had to keep a friend company after he got banned for life. You know, things like that." Aleph smiled wryly, remembering that particular disaster caused by Su.
"How awful." Bronya murmured. "What did he do to get banned?"
"Well, it all started with a bet we made… it wasn't supposed to escalate that far, but some unexpected things happened along the way, and, well… it got a little out of hand."
...
The afternoon went on. The bustle of the festival began to fade as they walked toward the outskirts of Belobog, slowly leaving the crowds behind.
"Aren't you tired?" Bronya asked.
"No, you know… you could say I'm pretty used to exhausting experiences." He said as he stretched. "I could still take on an army of Fragmentum monsters without breaking a sweat!"
"How poetic." Bronya said, giving him an unimpressed look. "And yet you seemed so tired when you lost to Hook in that poetry contest."
"… You lost too."
Bronya gave him a playful shove on the shoulder.
"You started it." Aleph said with a laugh.
Bronya let out a small chuckle.
Aleph stepped forward to help her open the door.
Once inside, Bronya turned on the lamp.
.....
A few minutes later, they were sitting on the sofa, each with a steaming cup in hand.
In such a calm setting, their conversation flowed effortlessly as Bronya told him about her experience running Belobog, and Aleph shared what had happened at the Herta Space Station and the Luofu.
At some point, they'd ended up sitting closer on the same couch.
Bronya leaned back against it with her legs crossed, looking at Aleph.
"I liked this." She said suddenly.
"The tea?" He asked with curiosity. He couldn't help feeling a bit proud of his progress in brewing — he'd asked Arlan and Dan Heng for plenty of tips to improve.
"The day. This peace and quiet." A beautiful smile bloomed on her face, and Aleph found himself breathless. "If someone had told me several months ago that I'd have an experience like this, I probably would have thought they were crazy."
Aleph looked down at his cup.
"… So, was this a good day for you?" He asked.
"It was a very good one." Her gaze drifted to the various photos arranged on one of the walls of the cave. "Not that I didn't enjoy the past when it was just me and Miss Cocolia…"
Their eyes met.
"It was an unusual and different experience. But I liked it a lot."
She leaned toward him, setting her cup aside. Resting her head against his chest, she made herself comfortable without asking for permission.
Not that she needed to.
Aleph blinked but didn't move.
After all, Stelle had already gotten him used to sudden contact.
"Are you comfortable?" He asked.
"Very," she replied, snuggling closer and letting out a yawn.
"You're sure you don't mind me not saying sweet things?"
"You're here. That's enough." She murmured the words as her eyes began to close. Aleph gently stroked her head as he wrapped his arms around her.
The warmth of Bronya's body brought him a peace he hadn't felt since that time with Stelle.
A yawn escaped his lips, and his eyes grew heavy. Aleph tried to fight it and stay awake…
But the accumulated fatigue won, and it wasn't long before he drifted off to sleep as well.
*************
Extra Act: Seele to the Rescue
While Bronya and Aleph enjoyed crepes together, two separate groups were watching them from different spots.
Internally, Seele cursed them both for attracting the attention of those three lunatics.
Cocolia turned the corner, closing the distance to the couple. Seele stepped forward, blocking her path.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"Someone has to stop my daughter from making a mistake." Cocolia replied coldly. "She's far too young for that mistake. She won't have a boyfriend until she's thirty—and only if I approve!"
"She's not making any mistake." Seele said, her tone carrying a hint of doubt. "Besides… you shouldn't be the one to decide that. That's Bronya's choice."
"Hmph. And why should I listen to you?" Cocolia was in no mood to back down. "Move."
Seele didn't move.
The silence between them lasted barely a second before a group of workers passed by carrying a large metal frame. Seele sidestepped just in time for them to block the street. By the time the path cleared, Cocolia no longer had a direct line to Bronya and Aleph.
Two streets away, March was running with her camera in hand. Seele caught up with her before she could round the corner.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm gonna avenge Stelle! Aleph ditched her and now—"
"Stop making things up."
"I saw it! Well… I didn't hear it… and she didn't mention it… but—"
"And your credibility comes separately, I assume?"
March hesitated. Seele seized the moment to point toward a shop further ahead.
"There's a group of Astral Express Anonymous cosplayers gathered there. If you hurry, you can still get pictures."
"Really?" March's eyes lit up.
"Run before they leave."
March didn't hesitate for a second.
That left only Stelle.
She wasn't running—she was walking briskly and discreetly, eyes locked on the couple who had just entered a café.
Seele intercepted her at the door.
"Move." Stelle demanded.
"No."
"It's a date, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Then I don't have to—"
"Yes, you do. Leave them be."
Stelle clenched her teeth and tried to push past her, but Seele shifted to block the way.
"You don't understand anything, Seele."
"I understand they deserve peace."
A man opened the door from inside, confused by the scuffle. Seele smiled and gently pulled Stelle back.
When the man closed the door again, the couple remained inside, oblivious.
Seele waited until Stelle had walked a few steps away. She knew she'd try again.
Cocolia reappeared from the opposite side of the street, looking for a way in. Seele moved forward at a measured pace, and just before the woman reached the door, a delivery cyclist turned the corner and nearly ran her over. Seele grabbed her arm to steady her.
Cocolia brushed her hand off.
"You're in no position to tell me what to do."
"I'm in a position to stop you from doing it."
Cocolia's glare was pure ice. Seele didn't flinch. The tension between them made nearby bystanders take a cautious step back.
Meanwhile, March returned, her camera hanging from her neck, breathing hard.
"They were gone! Where's Stelle?"
"Somewhere else." Seele replied, pointing east. "I think I saw Serval hauling gear for a concert. If you hurry, you might—"
March bolted off before Seele could finish.
Seconds later, Stelle rounded the corner for the third time—this time dragging a wooden chair.
"What's that for?" Seele asked, raising a brow.
"If they won't let me in, I'll watch through the window."
Seele sighed.
"No."
"Yes."
The chair never touched the ground. Seele took it with one hand and set it back on the sidewalk effortlessly. Stelle tried to grab it again, but a sharp whistle cut through their exchange: the café's waiter, visibly irritated, had stepped outside to warn them that security would be called if they kept blocking the entrance.
"See?" Seele said, nudging Stelle back a step.
The girl scowled.
"One day, you're going to stop meddling in my business."
"When you stop trying to ruin moments that aren't yours."
Stelle didn't reply. She walked away in the opposite direction, though Seele knew she hadn't given up.
Inside the café, Bronya and Aleph kept chatting, unaware that a silent war was being fought just beyond the door.