Felicity's sharp eyes caught the subtle presence of the Stellaron, though she showed no haste in her movements. Her experiences with its power had given her a deep understanding—it was nearly impossible to destroy herself with the Stellaron in its current state.
Yet, the word "nearly" carried all the weight.
The Stellaron was a force of nature, continuously absorbing the life energy of Jarilo-VI, and she could feel its strength expanding with every passing moment.
What if… What if it works?
She knew that one planet's energy wouldn't be enough to fuel the Stellaron's hunger. But she could feed it herself.
She would supply it as much as it demanded, and the balance of the planet would remain undisturbed. Then, once the Stellaron's power grew strong enough, she would guide it away and ignite it—destroying it and herself in one final explosion.
She chuckled at her own brilliance.
But not yet.
With a quiet step, Felicity entered Qlipoth Fort, her form slipping through the shadows. The Silvermane Guards patrolled nearby, oblivious to her presence. They walked past without a second glance.
She had recently perfected a new skill—disguising herself as a plant. It wasn't true mimicry, but rather an art of wrapping herself in life energy, hiding her essence beneath a veil of nature.
To anyone else, she would appear as an ordinary plant—what kind, she didn't know, and frankly, she didn't care.
The world always had a reason for everything, didn't it?
With a grin, Felicity slipped into Cocolia's office, eager to witness the confrontation she knew was about to unfold.
As expected, Bronya entered, followed by a familiar round-faced girl.
But what struck Felicity was the way Pela's eyes flitted over to her—a brief moment of confusion. It was as if the young girl had noticed something out of place in the room.
Felicity's heart skipped. Why is there a tree in the Supreme Guardian's office?
Pela's gaze lingered for a heartbeat, but the weight of the atmosphere around them quickly drove her attention back to Cocolia and Bronya.
Then, the storm began.
"Mother, I'm back," Bronya's voice was heavy, tinged with fatigue. Her eyes locked onto Cocolia's back, pain flickering within them.
"Bronya!? I thought—" Cocolia's voice cracked, the relief in her eyes almost too much to bear. "I thought I was going to lose you. Those rebels didn't harm you, did they? I'll have Sebastian see you immediately—"
Cocolia's sudden joy was stark against her exhaustion. She turned quickly, the weariness of late nights catching up to her.
"No, mother… I don't want to see Sebastian right now. Sorry…"
Bronya's words were calm, though her heart churned. She shook her head, as if trying to clear her thoughts before continuing.
There was so much she had rehearsed, so much she had planned. But standing here before her mother, she hesitated. The weight of it all threatened to crush her, yet she knew—this moment was inevitable.
"After I was kidnapped by Ms. Felicity and taken to the lower districts, I saw the truth for myself. I saw the condition of the lower districts and, in the process, uncovered a fraction of the truth…"
Bronya's eyes bore into Cocolia's, searching for any hint of doubt in her cold, beautiful purple gaze.
But disappointment hit. Cocolia's eyes turned icy, and her lips barely parted.
"Go on," she urged, but her voice was sharp, almost dismissive.
The warmth Cocolia had shown moments before vanished, replaced by an edge that made Bronya's heart plummet.
"I… I saw the true power of that lady. She's here for the Stellaron. To stop the disaster it has caused Belobog."
Bronya's voice was near pleading, as though hoping against hope that Cocolia would deny it, would claim ignorance. But Cocolia's expression only darkened.
"And mother…" Bronya swallowed hard, her next words almost a whisper. "You've always known about the Stellaron, haven't you?"
Her question lingered in the air, thick with expectation.
The silence between them was suffocating. But Cocolia's eyes froze over, a flash of fury now clouding them.
"Enough!" Cocolia snapped, her voice ice-cold. "You've fallen for the words of an outsider and dared question my orders?"
Bronya straightened, her voice stronger than she had expected. "No, Lord Cocolia. You've kept so much from me. It's hard to keep trusting you when I know so little of the truth."
Cocolia recoiled, her shock evident. She looked at her daughter, her face pale. After a long moment, she murmured, "You must be tired… Silvermane Guards, take her to rest."
There was a strained politeness in her voice that stung.
Bronya's words had cut deeper than expected. Cocolia's authority had been shaken, and she was left fumbling in the silence, feeling something she had not felt in years—fear.
Cocolia lowered her head, unable to meet Bronya's eyes. She gestured weakly to the guards, but they did not move to detain Bronya.
Instead, they stood silently, weapons in hand, eyes trained behind Bronya as she moved forward.
Bronya's voice broke the silence like a sigh, "Mother… you've lost so much over the years. Including… trust."
The truth was stark, undeniable. Cocolia had isolated herself, while Bronya had gained the trust of the Silvermane Guards. The loyalty of the soldiers, built through years of fighting on the front lines, now leaned heavily in Bronya's favor.
Felicity watched, her heart swelling with an odd satisfaction. This was the moment she had anticipated—the tipping point where everything changed.
Bronya clenched her fists, eyes burning with resolve. Her past vows, her regrets, and the weight of those she had lost, all coalesced into a single force.
With deliberate slowness, she raised her pistol toward Cocolia.
"Pass my order. The Supreme Guardian has been assassinated. Seal off Qlipoth Fort!"
Her voice rang out with chilling clarity.
Pela froze, her eyes widening in realization, before she gave a single, resolute nod. She spun around, her small frame brimming with authority as she barked the order.
"The Supreme Guardian has been assassinated. Seal off Qlipoth Fort!"
--+--
T/N: I haven't play hsr in a long time, but is there even plants in Belobog or am I tripping?