Belobog.
Though Felicity had been in Belobog for some time, this was the first moment she truly laid eyes on the City of Preservation.
The administrative district sat proudly in the heart of the city. Everywhere she looked, the vibrant energy of the crowd filled the air—people bustling along the wide avenues, buses whizzing by on tracks, and the sharp cries of newspaper vendors ringing out from the roadside.
The Overworld had a distinct warmth about it. Compared to the Underworld, it was calm, almost peaceful. The people here strolled leisurely, their expressions unhurried, as though time itself moved slower in this upper district.
It was the contrast of heaven to hell.
Felicity let out a soft sigh, unknowingly stepping closer toward the center of the square.
In the middle stood a peculiar building, and beneath it gathered a circle of children. They surrounded a woman dressed in the uniform of the Silvermane Guards, laughing and chatting amongst themselves.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Pelageya Sergeyevna, Intelligence Officer of the Silvermane Guards, and your temporary guide for the [Belobog Historical Tour]."
The blue-haired girl, with a soft, round face, offered a gentle smile, her voice sweet and calm.
"Please, just call me Pela."
"Sister Pela~" the children chimed in, voices filled with delight.
Their cheerful chorus was quickly followed by a shift in their attention, all eyes suddenly drawn toward Felicity as she approached with a curious, albeit confused, expression.
Felicity paused for a moment, unsure of how to respond, before following the children's lead.
"Sister Pela~" she echoed, her voice light.
"...Please, don't mimic the children like that!" Pela's mouth twitched, a mix of amusement and slight frustration crossing her features. She cleared her throat, quickly trying to steer the group back on track.
"Alright, kids, please pay attention..."
Boredom started to creep into Felicity's thoughts, her attention drifting as her gaze wandered.
It was then she noticed a familiar figure standing next to her. Stelle had appeared quietly, hands on her hips, an easy grin plastered on her face, as she offered a teasing thumbs-up.
"As expected of us!" Stelle declared with pride.
"Sister Feli, you're here too!" March 7th waved excitedly from a distance, her cheerful voice cutting through the air.
March 7th rushed over and began scanning the square, her curiosity piqued by everything around them.
"Where's that sneaky-looking guy? Don't tell me he's gonna abandon you and run off?" She shook her head, her face twisted in indignation.
"I knew he couldn't be trusted! I just knew it!"
Felicity shook her head with a faint smile, her hesitation only a brief moment before she reached out and pinched March 7th's cheek playfully.
When fate comes knocking, there was no point in avoiding the inevitable.
"Why are you pinching my face?" March 7th's protest was half-hearted, her cheeks puffing out in protest as she tried to escape Felicity's grasp.
"Let's just exchange information, alright?"
Dan Heng's voice came from behind them, calm and carrying a note of exasperation.
They had been chatting endlessly, but the matter at hand had yet to be addressed. If they continued like this, they'd still be talking when the sun set.
Felicity nodded in agreement, quickly relaying the details she had gathered.
Dan Heng reciprocated, detailing the situation on their side.
"So, beneath Belobog, there's an underground city as large as the city above?"
Dan Heng nodded slightly, his gaze thoughtful.
The decision to separate had been the right one, and Felicity had obtained information they would never have learned otherwise.
"And the Supreme Guardian, she received you, believed everything you said, and offered all possible assistance?" Felicity raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
"It seems so," Dan Heng answered quietly.
"I honestly didn't expect it to go this smoothly. She's really... surprisingly kind."
March 7th smiled warmly, still amazed by how easy it had been to talk to the Supreme Guardian. In their travels, they'd encountered few commanders as approachable.
"Stay alert, though. Something about this still doesn't sit right with me." Felicity's voice dropped, a wary edge to it.
"I agree. The Supreme Guardian... when I spoke to her, I felt like her gaze was more penetrating than it should have been. Almost as if there were more people in the room than just us..." Dan Heng's tone was steady, yet the concern was clear.
"That's a bit unsettling when you say it like that," March 7th murmured, her expression faltering as she instinctively shrank back, her hands rising defensively.
"Maybe we're just being too paranoid... She promised to help us. I really hope she keeps that promise," March 7th muttered, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Dan Heng crossed his arms, scanning their surroundings carefully.
"Let's stop talking about this for now. We need to rest and be prepared for tomorrow's negotiations."
After all, they were in Belobog's domain. While they were temporarily guests of the Supreme Guardian, there was no guarantee they weren't being watched. The Silvermane Guards were everywhere.
"And don't forget, we agreed to explore more before the day ends."
March 7th pouted, not ready to give up on her plans just yet.
"I want to dig through Belobog's trash, too!" Stelle raised her hand eagerly, her excitement palpable.
"..."
March 7th shot Stelle a look, one that was equal parts exasperated and speechless. Ever since Stelle discovered the hidden treasures in the trash cans, she couldn't resist the urge to clean them out.
Even in Belobog, she wasn't holding back. When March 7th and Dan Heng weren't looking, Stelle had already dashed off to the nearest street corner, digging through a trash can with fervor.
"Let's check out the Machinery House first. It's supposed to be beautiful. Gepard told me there's a performance happening there, so let's go!" March 7th suggested, practically bouncing with enthusiasm.
"He said 'occasionally' there would be a performance, but you seem to have conveniently forgotten those two words," Dan Heng corrected her dryly.
"Damn it! I'm still going! Come on, let's go!" March 7th didn't waste a second. Without waiting for anyone else, she sped off toward the Machinery House, pushing Felicity and Stelle ahead of her.
"We need to go now or it'll be dark soon!"
"..."
Dan Heng looked after them, a bemused sigh escaping his lips. He almost opened his mouth to say something, but the words never left his throat. Instead, he quietly followed.
...
Qlipoth Fort, Cocolia's Office.
"But mother... Lady Cocolia, I personally saw Ms. Felicity granting blessings, even bringing the dead back to life. If that's not a sign of the [Stellaron], we should investigate further."
Bronya argued, her voice tentative, but Cocolia's cold gaze silenced her.
"Bronya, you disappoint me. You saw only a fraction of the truth. The truth you were meant to see, not the whole picture."
Cocolia slammed her palm against the table, frustration evident in her harsh tone.
"But—"
"Enough!" Cocolia snapped, cutting her off. "Arrest them tomorrow. Bring them back, and you will learn the full truth."
There was no room for debate in her voice.
"Get some rest, Bronya. Prepare for tomorrow... I expect you to handle this."
With a dismissive wave, Cocolia turned her gaze away, signaling the end of the conversation.
--+--
T/N: She only glanced at the smallest part of Mount Tai! (wuxia reference)