When the day breaks, the Supreme Guardians should be like stars in the sky, illuminating the path for all.
Bronya stepped through the dark rift, each footfall heavy as she made her way toward Qlipoth Fort. The wind howled around her, its icy touch a reminder of the unforgiving world she lived in.
When the night falls, the Supreme Guardians must become a warm fire, offering comfort to the weary hearts of the people.
Her fists clenched, a few green sprouts breaking through the fabric of her uniform.
Bronya raised her gaze to the sky. Despite the relentless erosion of wind and snow for seven hundred years, the faintest rays of light still managed to pierce the gloom. The thought of sunlight brought a nostalgic ache—memories of the picture books Cocolia had read to her in her childhood. What would the sun look like, she wondered, after all these years?
The wind bit at her cheeks, tugging at the strands of hair that hung over her forehead. The thoughts she tried to hold onto seemed to be swept away by the gusts, buried beneath the snow and ice.
How long can this land endure?
Belobog... How much longer will this final bastion of humanity stand?
Bronya rarely let herself feel sorrow, but today, for the first time in a long while, she couldn't shake the looming dread of what the future held.
The girl, strong and beautiful, bit her lip in quiet defiance.
She was here.
Standing before Qlipoth Fort, Bronya felt the surge of determination within her falter, wavering like a flickering flame.
Sometimes, she would find herself lost in thoughts of the past—of the uncertain, naive girl who had first set foot within the walls of Qlipoth Fort. She had looked up to her mother, admired the strength that radiated from her. She had dreamed of standing there one day, a pillar of hope for the people of Belobog, offering them comfort with a gentle smile.
A voice pierced the silence.
"Lady Bronya... You're back?"
The sound snapped Bronya from her reverie. Her eyes slowly drifted toward the voice.
Pela stood before her, a stack of reports clutched in her hands. She stared at Bronya in disbelief. The weight of the recent events—the kidnapping, the chaos—was still fresh in their minds. They had all worked tirelessly for days, trying to clean up the mess. But now, here was Bronya, walking out of the fray alone?
No. This didn't make sense.
Pela quickly squashed her own suspicions. She had witnessed the horror of the fugitive—how the monster had crushed Gepard and the Silvermane Guards without breaking a sweat. Bronya was strong, but there was no way she could stand up to such a beast.
This wasn't some fairytale where bonds and friendship could overcome evil.
"...Pela?"
Bronya's voice wavered, hesitation barely noticeable.
But it passed quickly.
A smile, one that was sharp and unfamiliar, crossed her lips as she took a step forward.
"Come, Pela. We must prepare."
"...?"
Pela blinked, still processing. There was something different about Bronya, something she couldn't quite grasp. She felt it, deep in her bones—things were changing, and with them, the fate of Belobog.
Taking a deep breath, Pela nodded slowly, following Bronya in silence.
--+--
The lower area, amidst the vast mining fields.
Oleg, having come to a grim realization, acknowledged the situation was beyond their control. After offering a brief word of support to Felicity and the others, he hurried off, leaving only Seele trailing behind.
"That guy is gone. So, what now?" Seele crossed her arms, lips pursed in thought.
Her words were heavy with the weight of uncertainty, though there was an unmistakable glint of curiosity in her eyes. She wanted to witness it—how the world would shift, how it would transform.
The girl named Bronya had apologized to her and Wildfire before leaving, speaking of a promise for the future. She had spoken of a time when the lower and upper districts would be united, when the people would share the same food, wear the same clothes, and, together, look up at the same sky.
Seele, whose gaze had long been turned downward, found herself yearning for that sky.
Felicity's voice broke the silence, casual and unconcerned.
"Someone wants to break free from the past. What she needs is time. We could sleep here for now and head upstairs to watch the play."
"Could you speak normally?" March 7th groaned, covering her face in exasperation.
It was always the same—just when she thought she might start respecting Felicity, the enigmatic girl would say something to wipe it all away.
"Hehe, Little March, you still don't get it. After the short story comes the high-quality quotes," Felicity said, her finger wagging in mock seriousness.
March 7th sighed, rubbing her temples. "Fine. So, what now?"
"We wait," Felicity replied, her tone almost too calm.
"Bronya is out there, seeking the answer for us—the answer to why Cocolia betrayed us. Personally, I wouldn't mind just taking Cocolia out myself, but sometimes, knowing the past isn't a bad thing."
Dan Heng nodded in agreement. "Felicity's right. We still don't have the coordinates for the Stellaron, and we don't understand Cocolia's sudden shift in attitude. It's late, so we should rest before pushing forward."
Stelle, her eyes sparkling mischievously, raised her hand. "I still have trash cans I want to empty!"
March 7th shot her a disapproving look. "Trash cans? What is it with you and trash cans? Why don't you just become one?"
"Maybe I will," Stelle muttered under her breath.
March 7th, rolling her eyes, was about to retort when a new question crossed her mind. "Where are we going to stay, though? I didn't see any hotels around here."
"Wildfire's people can help us with that," Dan Heng replied, his gaze shifting to Seele.
"Ms. Seele, could you explain the situation to them?"
Seele nodded, though she hesitated for a moment, eyes darting toward Felicity. She was gone.
"Where... Where did she go?" Seele's voice faltered in surprise.
"Felicity?" March 7th turned around and waved her hand, a shrug following. "I don't know. She probably ran off to play somewhere again. She's always doing that."
"..."
Elsewhere, the dark energy stirred beneath their feet. Felicity, with a subtle grin, had already sensed the shift in the flow of life energy—its frantic, desperate surge. The Stellaron had felt fear.
And now, it was her turn to find it.
"Found you, Stellaron,"Felicity whispered, her lips curling into a predatory smile.
--+--
T/N: Suicide attempt number gajillion.