Chapter 14: Far From the World

The door opened and a sudden shift in the atmosphere caused Mei to grimace slightly when a thick, heady smell of alcohol and cheap drinks filled her nostrils. She subtly made a face, entering the bar with measured steps while ignoring the ogling from both men and women inside.

Raising her hand to push a strand of purple hair behind her ear, she purposefully showed the silver ring resting around her finger to signal that she was a married woman and not interested in any of the 'fun' they might offer to her. It worked like a charm and the stares immediately stopped coming, not just one of the bystanders expressing their disappointment verbally as they returned to their routine.

Mei smiled to herself. Kiana made it pointedly clear that she was beautiful, in all sense of the word, so much Mei started to have the confidence to believe it herself. She knew that she was quite the sight, too, considering the state of the Underworld and her being an outsider. Her attires spoke for themselves compared to the semi decent state many Underworlders wore so she was sticking out like a sore thumb.

The bar was quite packed but not verily so. Most of the patrons were keeping it to themselves, drinking and chatting amongst only their peers but not just one was the opposite. Mei steered away from the more obnoxious people and made her way to the counter, raising an eyebrow in amusement when she saw the only person she knew already waiting for her.

Wordlessly, Mei sat down on the stool right beside Natasha and flashed her a smile.

"Hello, Mei," she greeted warmly. A shot of... Mei wasn't sure what because it's green between her hands on the counter. Natasha saw her gaze and she chuckled before downing the fill in one go. "Sorry, I started without you."

"It's fine," Mei told her and she meant it. Natasha seemed like she could use a drink or two with the state she was in after the grueling day of putting people together, sometimes literally. "What are you having?"

"This?" She gestured to the bottle on the counter Mei just realized was filled with the same stuff Natasha was having. "We call it the Devil's Lime."

"Is it good?"

"Honestly? I don't know. It's the most common we can find down here so my taste is kind of askew."

Mei grinned. "I'll be the judge, then."

"Please."

Natasha called the bartender for another glass and bottle and the woman gave them without as much as a word, pouring the drink into the glass she then slid it to Mei's reach with a smile of encouragement.

Mei stared at the green liquid for a moment, silently contemplating why it's green before she brought it near her mouth. She sniffed at it to get a hint of its taste, finding it to be somewhat alright before she took one tentative sip.

She hummed.

It wasn't bad, at least not as much as she thought it would be. She sipped some of it more and rolled her tongue gently, soaking her taste buds and swallowing slowly. "It's okay," she told Natasha before she downed her shot entirely. "Not bad, not as bad as I thought it would be."

"But it's still bad?" Natasha asked with an imploring grin.

"I've had worse."

The doctor giggled as she watched Mei poured more into her glass and silently drank them. "You don't have to force yourself."

Mei raised an eyebrow. "It's not bad. I'd say it's an acquired taste. I'm getting used to it."

Natasha sent her another smile before they fell into a comfortable silence. The cacophony of noises in the background had dulled and merged with the atmosphere, providing an addition to the whole vibes for the two. The night was still young so a lot of people were coming and going constantly.

"So..." Natasha purposefully drawled to gain Mei's attention. "Does your wife know you're here or should I expect an ass kicking after this?"

Mei blinked before she bursted into a laugh. "Oh, she knows so don't worry about it." She told her between chuckle. "Kiana said hi, by the way."

"Was that some sort of subtle message?"

"No, she's being genuine." Mei shifted on her stool and leant her body on the counter, arms crossed over it. "Kiana can be clingy sometimes but she's not an overzealous lover, at least not anymore. I guess, now she knows that we're tied in a marriage she doesn't have to worry about losing me to someone else."

"She puts her faith in you," Natasha said knowingly and Mei nodded in agreement.

"The feeling is mutual, always has been. I always loved her but I was not as straightforward as Kiana was so I couldn't really express my love the way she would. I felt bad that she seemed to be the one who always chased after me but I have my own ways in returning her love."

"Oh?"

"We went to the same school and we lived in a dorm with our other friends and teachers."

"You both lived together when you were kids?" Natasha cut in teasingly with a suggestive look on her face. Mei saw it clearly and huffed.

"It's not like that! She and I started as friends!"

"Friends. Right." Natasha snorted and took a sip of her drink, her tone was anything but believing. "If you tell me nothing happened between you two back then I wouldn't believe you."

"Well, nothing happened."

"Right..."

Mei's brows dipped and she skulked, grumbling to herself as she took another large sip from her own portion. "Why am I telling you this..."

It was Natasha's turn to laugh. "I'm sorry, but you're so easy to tease especially when the subject of your wife is brought up." Her laughter gradually subsided until all that left was a grin before, eventually, it turned into a fond smile. "You love her so much, huh?"

Mei glanced at Natasha through the corner of her eye, slightly looking down due to the difference in height, and found the doctor staring at her drink with a forlorn look on her face. "Of course," Mei told her quietly but surely. "She's the one and only person I love like nobody else."

"Mhm..."

The night went on along the drink in the bottles, now that Mei had her taste buds adjusted to its unique compositions, she found herself enjoying the drink with all her heart. She noticed Natasha refraining from drinking more than a bottle, her empty one sitting on the counter alone right next to Mei's third bottle.

"Keeping yourself up for works?" Mei asked her and Natasha looked up, her red eyes exploring Mei's own and Mei could see the surprise and disbelief in them.

"Yes, I can't afford to get drunk," She frowned worriedly. "You... seem to have a rather high tolerance. I thought you would be drunk by now."

"I can't get drunk."

Natasha blinked, surprised. "Does it have something to do with your power?"

Mei nodded. Being a Herrscher meant a lot of things to many people. It gave them powers, powers beyond any human's comprehension, and curses. Herrschers were the envoys of Honkai, to gain the power one had to give up their humanity. This was true in both mind and body for many people before them. Elysia might've given them the gift to keep their soul but the body was another matter entirely.

When someone became a Herrscher, they practically stopped being a human. Their body was transformed and mutated to accommodate such a terrible power to the point they hardly resemble a human anymore. Their physiology was changed all the way to their cells, turning them into something the Honkai desired for its enforcers.

Herrschers could not get tired. They didn't feel hungry or thirsty. As long as Honkai exist, they would continue to be in their prime. Their metabolism was altered that normal poison would not work on them. This unfortunately came with the side effect of being immune to all sort of drugs, alcohol included.

"But I'm not always like this," Mei told Natasha with a shrug. "When Kiana went to the Moon, she carried with her the seeds of our power. I returned to a normal human being not long after."

She took a swig after that and fell silent, amethyst eyes growing distant as she stared at her fingers nursing the shot glass. Mei... didn't particularly like alcohol because it brought back terrible memories of her time without Kiana but she always made an exception for her friends and workmates and Natasha was as much as a friend as Raven.

Her lips curled into a subtle smirk but apparently not subtle enough because Natasha saw it.

"What is it?"

"Hm? Ah, I was just thinking about the other Natasha," Mei elaborated with a chuckle. "She and I are drinking buddies."

"You two sound like a good friend."

"We didn't see eye to eye sometimes but she's a good person nonetheless."

Natasha shrugged. "Isn't that normal? You don't always agree with others all the time."

Mei smiled softly. "Of course."

Morning came with the usual dull chirping of her alarm. Seele opened her eyes and sighed, rubbing the remnants of her sleep off of her eyes and silencing her phone's alarm with bleary eyes. She sat up and stared at nothing in particular outside her windows, seeing the usual darkness that was the Underworld.

Sunrise was never a concept down here. Everyday was dark with street lamps being the only source of illuminations along with what little light the ceiling lights provided. It was always gloomy and dank but thankfully not as cold as the Overworld due to the constant stream of Geomarrow being transported all through the town.

That, unfortunately, meant an absolute jackshit to Seele.

She felt miserable. Her sleep was restless and she hardly felt refreshed after the countless wake ups in the middle of the night. Her wound ached randomly from time to time and her dream was filled with the strange images of headless women wearing an all too familiar attire of the Supreme Guardian. Maybe seeing the dead Guardian Shadow earlier affected her but it never happened before which was very odd.

Seele had seen her fair share of horror so something like a decapitated body shouldn't have fazed her, much less that of a monster. It made her strangely anxious as she felt her body thrumming with energy, urging her to move, to go.

But to where?

She found herself wondering. When no answer was given out, Seele groaned frustratedly and buried her face in her hands. She stayed like that for precisely fifteen seconds, counting through the time passing in her head to both psych herself and calm her ragging heart, before she kicked her blanket off and got herself off the bed. Silently, she tidied up her bed, hissing when her bare feet touched the cold floor. She always hated mornings.

Grabbing her phone and unplugging the charger, she made her way out to the bathroom downstairs only to pause on her second step in the hallway. Her nose twitched, picking up a delightful scent in the air coming from her kitchen, and her eyes widened.

She nearly forgot she had guests in her house and she nearly walked on them almost naked.

Re-entering her room, she quickly grabbed a shirt and her shorts to cover her decency before she made her way down. Seele passed her living room, seeing Dan Heng already awake on her couch reading something on his phone, and continued on after giving a nod of greeting he returned.

She spotted Mei behind her stove, cooking something while humming a tone to herself, and both Bronya and Kiana on her dining table. Bronya was also on her phone while Kiana quietly swayed back and forth on her chair while staring at Mei's back with a stupid grin on her face. All of them heard her coming and turned to face her.

"Morning," Seele mumbled, a little unnerved by the sudden attention given to her. They all turned their heads almost at the same time. "What're you cooking, Mei?"

"Just a simple breakfast," she told her with a smile. For a woman who spent hours in the bar, she didn't show a little bit of hangover whatsoever. Seele wondered about it for half a second before she gave up and mentally shrugged to herself. "I hope you don't mind me using your kitchen."

Seele waved her hand dismissively. "It's fine. I told you to make yourself at home."

Mei's smile widened and she nodded, returning to the food she was cooking. Seele didn't say anything more as she entered her bathroom, taking more time than her usual routine as she had to change the bandages around her head. When she was done with everything, she felt marginally better than before which wasn't saying much.

"Fuck is wrong with me today..." Seele mumbled to herself as she stared at her reflection in her bathroom mirror. She looked like shit with bags under her eyes and hair unkempt, at least more than usual, while her eyes stayed in their angry red despite her attempt to calm herself down.

Seele was agitated and she didn't even know why.

Rubbing her eyes tiredly, she made her way back to the kitchen. This time, the three teenagers had joined the adults on the dining table. Or should be if not for the lack of chairs.

Seele never thought of having more than four chairs and it bit her in the ass hard. Kiana was forced to lean against the counter, shoving her face with spoonfuls of food, while Bronya munched on a sandwich beside her in a lot more reserved pace. Mei was the one sitting with the teenagers who in turn looked at them apologetically.

"Sorry, I've never had this much guests at once," Seele told them, grabbing an empty plate and putting the food on it. Mei said simple but this was better than anything she had ever had.

"Dowhwoghyisfighn," Kiana replied, at least Seele thought she was replying and not swallowing her tongue by accident. Bronya finished up her sandwich, took a sip of her coffee she had on the counter, and unceremoniously smacked Kiana in the back of her head.

"You are disgusting," Bronya flatly reprimanded, ignoring the stumbling Kiana who glared at her with murderous intent in return to her action, and addressed Seele. "How are you? How's your wound?"

Mei handed her a glass of juice and Seele gave the woman a thanks, looking around the kitchen she then decided to sit on her crates of supplies and shrugged. "I'm fine, I just didn't get enough sleep last night."

A hint of worry flashed in Bronya's silver eyes, the usual stoic silver filled with genuine concern. Seele distracted herself from it by digging on her food and starting to eat, not knowing how to respond to such a blatant display of care.

The sound of footsteps made her look up, Bronya approaching her position. Kiana who saw it all was openly grinning with unbidden amusement in the background. "Here, take these."

From thin air, strips of medicines appeared on Bronya's hand and she extended it towards Seele. Baffled by the magical display, Seele could only quietly accept the offered drugs. "Thanks."

Bronya nodded. "Is your wound healing okay?"

"Yeah," Seele answered distractedly. Not a lot of people could openly express their concern about her well-being so it was a foreign idea for her. Thankfully, Bronya accepted her answer as it was and smiled briefly to her before she retreated back to her place beside Kiana.

She finished the food in a contemplative silence, consuming the given drugs between gulps of her juice. Idle chatters filled the kitchen as March and Stelle asked Mei about some food recipes and Mei answering as best as she could with the differences between Earth's and this Galaxy's ingredients. The first time Mei did in her free time was to browse about them to seek her own substitutes knowing how much Kiana would love her cooking now they're together for an indefinite time. A quick glance to the Kaslana confirmed that it was a fruitful endeavor as Kiana continued to happily eat her portion and then some.

Seele wasn't used to the lively atmosphere but she had to admit that she liked it. Cold, dull mornings were not particularly something she paid much mind because she hardly spent her time at home but it was there at the back of her mind, nagging like an incessant buzzing of static waiting for her to acknowledge. Her routine went along the line of cleaning, eating and sleeping. Never more until now.

It made her wonder how it would feel to have a family before she banished the thought out of her mind. Not only was it a bad thought to travel but also because she didn't even know how a family work to begin with. She had always been an orphan, even far before the situation turned for the worst for the Underworlders. She never knew her father or her mother or any other relatives her entire life.

Oleg told her she had a peculiar complexion, one belonging to a certain racial group living in ancient Jarilo-VI and that her people were a rarity to find even in the cold basket that was Belobog. It was said that the city was built on the Eastern quadrant of the planet where the biggest landmass was, before the cold froze the oceans, thus becoming the largest hub of cultural integrity. He told her that her people were one of them but due to the war they almost went extinct now.

To be frank, she didn't know what to feel about that. Seele hardly understood her own undertakings to even care about them. She just wanted to survive and live like any other people, any other human, so information like that wasn't something significant to her predicaments. When she told Oleg that, he simply smiled and ruffled her hair.

"That's right," he told her years ago, "we're no different to each other. We're Belobogians striving for a common goal of a better tomorrow. It doesn't matter which part of the planet you hail from because all that matters is to help others. We're together in this."

They gave her a name then. Seele, a word from the long lost country that belonged to her people, meaning Soul in common tongue. Oleg said that the name fitted her like nothing else for she was the courageous soul, the indomitable human spirit, that was always steadfast in the face of the greatest of challenges.

She often wondered how true that was.

She put her empty plate on the sink at the same time Mei did and it turned into a little argument when Mei offered herself to wash them. In the end, Seele relented. Too tired to argue and honestly thought she couldn't win against Mei with how adamant the woman was.

Seele went back to the bathroom to take a quick shower and change to her usual attire, the last thing she saw before she returned to her room was Kiana dragging Mei into the bathroom with an impish smile and a wink. Both March and Stelle made a face at that with the latter blushing intensely while Bronya rolled her eyes repulsively. Dan Heng, as usual, appeared unfazed.

"You have five minutes. Exit a second too late and I will bust the door open regardless what sort of predicament you're in," Bronya warned Kiana who then proceeded to flip her the bird.

"Sod off, man."

Seele chuckled quietly.

Repairing her scythe was a routine Seele had almost on daily basis. There was never a shortage of troubles for her to avoid and thus it was imperative for her to maintain her weapon so it would always be on top notch state, a lesson learned the hard way when her scythe fell apart during a fight years ago.

Speed was her ally as such was the most effective way to use a scythe. Usually, a scythe was light so it would be easy for its user to wield but Seele's was the exact opposite. Aside for its sturdiness, the heavy composite metal was meant for additional weight for better momentum and force. Seele did not quite wield it, if anything the best way to use her scythe was to go along with it rather than to control it entirely. It's akin to dancing, a deathly dance but a dance nonetheless, where she should move along the flow of the nonexistent rhythm instead of fighting it.

That said, she was still its master. The strength it carried was her own and the power behind its strike was of her making. Which was why it absolutely baffled her how tough whatever those mechanical arms were when it caught her.

Sure, she angled her weapon at the last second so she wouldn't kill Clara but the strike still carried a huge momentum, enough to cut a man in half at the very least. Seele knew because she had done so in the past and the sensation stuck on her so she still remembered it in vivid details to this day. From what she saw, the arm had not even been scratched. Not the paint and definitely not the material either.

Instead, the blade had been crumpled flat against the frame of her scythe it was a struggle to get it off to replace it. It should have been able to cut metal as it was made of a material with higher density than what was used for the automatons yet it crumpled like a wet paper. Whatever Mei's summon was made of, it definitely was a tough material.

After reassembling the weapon and allowing it to disappear for later use, Seele made her way downstairs for the second time that morning, only this time she was heading for her living room where the rest of the crew had already been waiting for her. Wordlessly, she fished out the letter Bronya left for her to deliver and put it on the only table.

Almost immediately, all of their attention was drawn to it. Seele sat on a nearby couch and sighed deeply.

"Tell me if anyone has a better idea."

None of them said anything because how could they when their options were so limited, or so she thought until Kiana raised her hand up like she was a five year old in the kindergarten.

"Let's go kidnap someone."

All hope disappeared from Seele's heart and she buried her face in her hands dejectedly.

"Denied," Bronya rejected immediately. "To begin with, we don't know who might have the knowledge of the Stellaron's whereabouts. Svarog only confirmed its existence."

"And what malicious giant thing it was," Seele muttered to herself but they heard her nonetheless. "If we don't do something fast, who knows what Cocolia might do to Bronya. I mean that Bronya but you've got the point."

"She wouldn't harm her," Bronya told her with so much certainty it made Seele pause to look up. "Cocolia loves her like nobody else. I do agree, however, that she might do something foolish to her that she might regret later."

"So, what? Our only option is to go to this Serval person?"

"That's our best bet."

"But how do we do that?" March asked with a frown and Stelle nodded along. They both shared the same sentiment. "We can't go up there. We're criminals!"

Seele waved her hand dismissively. "I'll do it," she took the envelope and pocketed it back, pacing back and forth just to get rid of the buzzing in her muscles. "She's foreseen this possibility. She wanted me to go to Serval because I'm the best option, second being Kiana but..."

The white haired Kaslana smiled a genuine smile. "But she trusted you more."

"No offense."

"Nah, it's cool."

"So, you'll go to her and hopefully she knows a thing or two about the Stellaron?" Stelle chimed in.

"That's the plan, yeah."

"How are you going to meet us later?" Dan Heng voiced his concern.

"I can give you a ride," Kiana offered. "I can make portals for us to teleport."

"... I'm not going to ask how but I'll keep that in mind," Seele muttered. "Either way, this is the only option we can take. I'll go up there, get this Serval fella, and when it's clear I will message you guys to rendezvous somewhere safe. Is it clear?"

"Do we have to bring Serval with us?" Mei asked out loud. "She's a civilian, a former Silvermane sure, but is now a civilian. It can get dangerous real fast."

"Bronya told me to bring her. She must've known something we don't. We can only trust her judgment."

Mei nodded, crossing her arms over her chest. "Fair enough. Our main problem is our lack of knowledge regarding the local landscape and state of affairs. The map Himeko sent us is... grossly outdated."

"In other word, we'll have to head in blind," Bronya deduced for them. "I don't know about you but I'd like some intel in our intel."

"... We can't travel in group. Too obvious." Seele rubbed her temple to sooth the ache of her wound and the telltale symptom of headache surfacing. "Kiana, your power... What is the exact requirements for you to use it?"

Kiana shrugged nonchalantly. "If there's space, I can go in. Usually, I'd just memorize the places for references but I can also detect Honkai energy and teleport to near or it." She sent Mei a smile then. "That's how I found you."

Mei hummed warmly and smiled back.

"So, you can teleport to anywhere as long as you have clear image of it?"

"Theoretically speaking, yeah."

Something clicked in Seele's head and she nodded. "How about this, I'll take Serval to somewhere safe and then you can move everyone through your portal. I'll snap you a picture."

"That works."

"Alright, it's settled. I'll go get Serval and you guys wait until I give you the all clear."

"Be careful," Bronya told her and Seele paused to stare at her silver eyes. "You might not be a wanted individual but you don't have ID on you. If a Silvermane Guard catches you, there'll be a huge trouble."

Seele waved the concern off. "Don't worry about me. You're not the only one who can disappear on a whim."

So she said to Bronya but it was revealed to be unnecessary.

The sunlight was almost blinding to her sensitive eyes while the blast of fresh air almost made Seele wheeze due to its richness with oxygen. Seele leaned her head on nearby building and closed her eyes, breathing in and out while counting each exhale to calibrate her sense with the new surrounding. Everything was different. The warmth, the air and as she stole a glance upwards, the sky itself.

She was lost in her own mind as she stared at the heaven and its endless expanse, deep dark blue stretching to the world's end. Without realizing it, she found herself suddenly on the exit of the alleyway she was in and from there the view seemed to only grow greater to her eyes.

Then the oppressive feeling hit her and she swayed on her feet until her back hit a dumpster. She gasped, hands trembling, and forced herself to look down to the ground as she calmed herself.

It was a primal fear of a greatness too great to comprehend. Seele, whose only ever saw the sky once ages ago when she was but a child, was crushed by the sheer majesty. A sudden fright that it would fall and squash her like a bug.

"Fuck!" She cursed under her breath, slapping her knees to make them stop trembling under her. "Move, dammit!"

The first step was shaky and she gritted her teeth frustratedly, the second one was less so but she still felt like her feet might give up on her any time soon. But the third and so on were solid and full of confidence, no different than her usual gait.

Seele exhaled, still keeping her eyes on the ground as she walked. Thankfully, not a lot of people were around to see the strange woman and her even more stranger antic. Despite it, what little around still gave her a variety of looks. Some with curiosity, some with contempt and some with clear interest. The reason was obvious as she glanced at their clothing.

Life in the Underworld was hard but if there's something the Underworld was not, it would be cold, at least not in the town or mine and when compared to the Overworld. It was far from ideal but definitely hotter than the Overworld. Thus, her choice of clothing must have been an oddity for the Overworlders.

They had on them jackets and thick clothes unlike Seele and her dress which, comparatively, was very light. What she sought was mobility. The cold hardly bothered her with her power keeping her muscles abuzz. Seele saw no point in dressing thickly when it could only hinder her movements in battles.

She decided to ignore them. Between her still confused brain and her duty, it was an easy task than normal and Seele normally was an expert in ignoring people.

Seele followed the roadsigns for directions, mentally thankful she wasn't illiterate like many of the Underworld children and Oleg particularly for patiently teaching her in the past, until she found herself in the Administrative District.

It was a grand space, more crowded and definitely more well kept. She would've snorted at the last bit if not for her mind being preoccupied by one last fact.

It was also heavily patrolled.

Silvermane Guards with various weapons and armor were everywhere. Some stood guard on vital public property, some walking around their assigned patrol paths, and some simply stood idle but ready at the same time. Seele grimaced and looked around, looking for an opportunity she could exploit and finding none.

Oh, well...

She marched on, head held high and eyes forward. Neverwinter Workshop was just ahead of her, she could see it behind the giant Geomarrow monument just right near the stairs leading to Qlipoth Fort as Bronya told her. All she had to do was cross the opening and she should be fine.

"Halt!"

Seele came to an abrupt stop, bristling not from the cold but a sudden rush of adrenaline in her veins. She turned to face the source of the voice and clenched her teeth.

A Silvermane Guard. Female, short, purple haired and bespectacled. She looked unlike most other Guards and it made Seele wary because she seemed to fit better as a scholar than a fighter. Seele looked down to meet the woman's eyes.

She seemed to be studying her from head to toe, a disapproving frown on her face. "What are you doing, Ma'am?"

"... taking a walk?"

"Your choice of dressing is inadequate to protect yourself from the cold." Seele blinked confusedly but she didn't dare to relax. "Please change immediately for the sake of your own health. If you don't have thicker clothing, I suggest visiting the Civil Welfare and Health Division. They should be able to provide you some clothes."

The woman produced something from her pocket, a slip of paper, and began to write something before she handed it to Seele. Still confused, she accepted it nonetheless.

"Bring this to the receptionist, they should be able to provide you with what you need."

Seele stole a quick glance at the paper, noticing the name on it. "Thank you, officer Pela."

Pela smiled. "Take care."

She left without further word and Seele chuckled to herself, heart finally calming down. Honestly, she wasn't even sure what to do if her cover was blown since she surely couldn't fight the whole battalion of Silvermane Guards alone. "Well, that was fucking unnerving," she muttered under her breath before she continued on to her destination, slipping the paper into her pocket.

A soft chiming of the a bell signaled her entry to the shop, Seele immediately assessing her new surrounding. Bronya never told her what sort of shop it was but the name had Workshop on it so it should be pretty self-explanatory. Various mechanical parts and items lined the shelves and almost every tables with the counter being an exception in the middle of the shop, some she recognized but many she didn't. She walked to it and rapped her knuckles against the wooden surface, still looking around for a sign of life.

"Hello?"

"Yes! Here, sorry I'll be right over!" A decidedly feminine voice answered from the other side of the shop before a blonde woman emerged to her view. "Sorry about that. Are you making a purchase or repair?"

Seele took a second to answer, still looking at the woman up and down. Her blonde hair had some bluish streaks on it, while her lips were set in a friendly smile despite the grease and oil on her cheeks and hands.

"Miss?"

Seele cleared her throat. "Ah, no. Neither. I'm looking for a Serval?"

The woman's smile turned larger, though this time Seele could see a hint of alarm in the woman's eyes as she put her guards up. "That would be me," she said, no less friendly. "How can I help you?"

"I have something for you." Seele took the envelope from her pocket and slid it on the counter towards Serval. "From a friend, I think."

Serval's eyebrows rose. "You think?"

"Look, I'm not sure what she is to you so I can only assume especially if she trusts you so much." Seele shook her head. "Please, just read it."

Serval eyed Seele for a moment before she nodded, finding the honesty and desperation in her complexion. Tearing the seal open, she unceremoniously fished out the letter and unfolded it, eyes scanning through the written words.

Dear Serval.

I am sorry in advance for using such an inadequate medium to inform you on this matter but the urgency of the situation does not allow me the reprieve nor the luxury to meet and talk with you directly.

I have been wondering on what to write to you so this won't cause you distress, but alas I cannot find the words to subject you with such ease. Thus, I have decided to say the entire, unfiltered truth; I am in trouble and I need your help.

There should be a young woman who delivers you this letter. Her name is Seele and she's hailing from the Underworld.

Serval paused to look up at Seele who was now distracted by one of the displays, her back turned on her yet Serval could still see the agitation in her from the way her fingers absently drumming against her thigh.

You can trust her for she is a good person. I have been to the Underworld and I can tell that situation is far from ideal for the people below here. I did not understand why Mother restricts me from learning and going to the Underworld but if this is the reason, if she wants me to turn a blind eye on their sufferings, then I can say with confidence that I am not.

I am planning to confront Mother about it. I have told Seele that, if I failed to message her in hours after my departure, she is to deliver this letter to you. I have hoped that you won't have to read this, but if this ever reaches your eyes then it is but a wish.

Seele will inform you of the situation. It's a burden I'm not willing others to take but I know she can and willing. I know you have history with Mother and that I completely understand if you refuse to bear any sort of business with her anymore and I will not force you to aid us if you do refuse. Seele will understand, so will the rest of us, but you are our only hope in settling this matter.

Please help me put a stop to this madness. Please help me in convincing Mother of her faults. I do not want to see people suffer unnecessarily, especially if it's due to the Supreme Guardian's making.

Best wish, Bunny.

The paper crumpled between her fingers, Serval looking up to meet Seele's eyes which were drawn to her from the noise. Folding the letter neatly, she put it inside the envelope again before pocketing it.

For a long time she stayed silent, contemplating what she had just read, while her blue eyes grew distant. The light from the morning sun filtered through the windows and reflected on the ocean sapphires like the glint of the sunrise on the sea.

"That Bronya..." Serval mumbled, sighing deeply. Seele approached her with a worried frown.

"What did she say?"

Serval ignored the question. "You Seele?"

Seele raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, that's me. Did she say something about me?"

"A few things. Are you really from the Underworld?"

Seele's intrigued gaze turned defensive as her eyes narrowed into a glare. "What about it?"

Serval raised her hands in a placating manner, sensing the hostility from the woman across from her. "Nothing. She mentioned that you are and that she has been down there."

"We've had a few matters we needed to settle and she wanted to accompany us. We didn't hold her against her will or whatever."

"I believe you," Serval told her without an ounce of doubt. "Bronya she... She always has a huge sense of duty and righteousness. She refuses to sit idle when there's people she can help."

Seele smirked. "Damn right she does. Are you going to help us or nah?"

"Of course. Please allow me to clean up and change first, however."

"Do what you need. I'll be here."

Serval was a Silvermane Guard because of course since she's Bronya's friend, or at least that was what Seele thought until the blonde told her that she was a former Guard. Her uniform was also different than normal Guards, less armored and more of a... uniform.

"I was a researcher," Serval explained as they exited her shop. She locked the door behind her and put the keys into her pocket, the red blocky Closed sign staring back at Seele. "Part of the Technology Division. Technically, we're part of the Silvermane but we worked closer with the Science Council than the Department of Defense."

"Former, what happened to you? You still look young to retire."

"Well, that because I didn't. I resigned."

"Huh?"

"I resigned," Serval repeated. "There are some disagreements in our department and I found it impossible for me to follow the new policy."

"So, you left?"

"Yes." A Silvermane Guard greeted Serval and the she returned it with an equal warmth, Seele watching the interaction with silent interest. "But enough about that. Tell me what happened."

Seele scowled to nobody in particular. "A robot told us about the Stellaron, he has the record about the research taken by the people of old."

"The Stellaron..."

"Yeah, do you know anything about it?"

Serval stopped and Seele paused on her step to look at the woman a little behind her. The blonde's face was set in a mixture of disdain and resentment. "I think I know where it is."

Eyes widening, Seele swiveled her head around to make sure they were alone and pushed the older woman gently into the entrance of an alleyway. "Tell me where it is."

"I will," Serval tried to appease and put her hand on Seele's shoulder disarmingly. "But it will be difficult."

"We have the strength."

"And Bronya? Do you not want to ensure her safety?"

Seele flinched and gritted her teeth so hard they creaked under the pressure. "She made me promise her to destroy it, whatever the cost."

"The Stellaron is the source of our struggle. Seele, whatever the means, whatever it takes, we need to put an end to its vile influence."

"We will. We'll destroy it ten times over for what it did to us."

"... I cannot stress this enough but I'm sure you understand that the future of our children rests solely on us. We cannot afford to fail, not when we're this close, so even if I have to trade lives, I wouldn't hesitate."

"What are you saying?"

Bronya smiled sadly. "The reality."

"Stupid," Seele muttered. "Stupid Silvermane, stupid Supreme Guardian and stupid Bronya. These whole fuck-ups started because of, what? A goddamn desperation to fullfil their duty? Why can't they just be fucking honest to themselves?"

The smile Serval gave her was bitter and hiding a suppressed pain. She shook her head and chuckled but it lacked any humor. "Because people look up to them. Because they're the beacons of hope that have to burn the brightest to lit up Belobog in this dark time," she exhaled then as her gaze glazed over. "They burn their souls and who they are the fastest amongst us, so soon you wouldn't even recognize them anymore. The fire dies down and the timber goes cold. Such is the price they have to pay, the price we have to pay."

Lying their way to the Silvermane Restricted Zone was easier than it should've been with Serval on the lead, many if not all of the Guards trusted her enough to let her wander in the outpost, though it was very obvious Serval did not enjoy her action any bit judging from the way her smiles waned with each encounter.

These people were her friends as she knew almost all of them on first name basis and exploiting their trusts like so did not sit well with Serval. Yet, she marched on. Putting a mask of fake indifference Seele saw through with ease.

Seele had always been a good judge of a character. Living in a place where people could backstab you in the back at any given moment required such a necessary skill if one were to survive. At first, she was wary when Serval brought her to the outpost with so many Silvermane Guards around but decided to give the woman the benefits of the doubt anyway since Bronya vouched for her but her opinion on the blonde took a turn for the better with the passing time. Serval did not seem like she was going to betray her, even if she did Seele still had contingencies on place to escape. A single dial to Kiana's number and she would be away in an instant.

For now, she decided to trust the woman since she hadn't done anything wrong to her.

"Why do the Silvermane Guards have an outpost here?" Seele found herself asking the woman, partially to gleam some information from her and partially to fill the silence between the two. Serval glanced to her direction and hummed noncommittally.

"This place is one of the many entry points to Belobog's inner wall. Here it leads to the vast Snow Plain and from there is the Everwinter Hill. When the Fragmentum appeared many of years ago, we dug in here to combat and prevent it from further spreading." Serval shrugged then. "But the outpost also serves as a weapon testing ground, which is why the security here is very tight."

"Yet, they let you walk in without question."

"It's... not exactly the first time I'm here."

Seele raised an eyebrow, intrigued, and asked. "You said you're a researcher? What exactly were you researching? Weapons?"

"No, it's the Stellaron."

"Wait, what?"

Serval sighed. "I didn't mean to keep it a secret from you but I'm sworn to my oath of secrecy. However, now that we've come to it, I think you're more than deserving to know."

"The Stellaron is one of the top secrets of the Architects. The Research Division I was in... It was our duty to dig out the truth about the Stellaron, a truth that now I know has been known for a very long time."

Seele had told Serval the information Svarog provided them and the woman had been oddly quiet afterwards, lost in her own thoughts as they made their way across Belobog. Everything suddenly made sense. "So, the reason you resigned is because they lied to you?"

"More or less. They didn't want people to know the truth so they bury it deep along with those seeking after it. I simply did the deed myself to save what little dignity I have left," Serval scoffed then and her face set into an angry frown. "Almost my whole life I spent looking for something my superiors ultimately hide from us. They didn't care about our lives, they just wanted to cover themselves up in the deceit they created."

"... you sure you should be saying this so blatantly?"

The blonde scoffed. "What to fear, exactly? What else can they take from me?"

Not having the answer, Seele fell quiet. Serval was angry and she could feel the anger radiation from the woman. Hot and suffocating despite her attempt fighting it down so it wouldn't leak out of her heart unbidden. Decades wasted, for some a lifetime they could never have, thanks to a selfish few in power. As foreign as it was to Seele, she also knew the concept intimately.

Maybe not the same, not to the details at least, but the pattern was always the same. Be it on the Underworld or Overworld, those strong ruled over the weak like a pack of tyrannical predators feeding on the foot of the lambs. People exploited each other all the same, if not for money and greed then for survival. None of them was right but it happened all the time because of human's nature and society. Serval was a victim. Not the first from the Overworld Seele met and doubtfully would be the last either.

Bronya was the last. Ironically, the future leader of Belobog was also a victim to its dark reality. Perhaps, it had always been like that. Perhaps, the Supreme Guardians were destined to fall into the same pit they and their predecessors dug since the creation of the city. An unbroken, infinite cycle of tragedy.

They arrived near the gate, the one and last that then led to Jarilo-VI cold wilderness where civilization withered and died. Beyond the wall was dangerous, lifeless frozen lands where no humans presided. Whoever was there was either dead, or belonging to Belobog's Expeditionary Force.

It was only normal for it to have an entire details of Silvermane Guard unit, cladded in heavy armor and weapons. They're the elite force of the Guard, always ready and at the front most of the defense. Naturally, their arrival was sighted by the well trained gaze of the soldiers there long before either Serval or Seele could explain their intentions.

"Citizens, halt!" One of them ordered before he approached them with cautious steps. Behind him, the other Guards were carefully maneuvering their way behind the protective sandbags and not so subtly readied their rifles, eyes never leaving the two women. "This is a restricted area, depart immediately or you will be arrested for trespassing."

More restricted than the Silvermane Restricted Zone? Seele wondered to herself, somewhat amused, but she didn't dare to show it on her face. Instead, she pulled her phone out and snapped a quick picture, sending it to Kiana who replied with a thumbs up almost instantly.

"I need to talk to your Captain," Serval said, not slightly unnerved by the intimidating presence of the Guardsman standing a head taller than her, not even by his equally long spear. "Tell him his sister wants to speak with him."

Seele blinked. "Huh, sister?"

Serval shook her head. No time to explain.

"I'm sorry, but I can't grant your request. Captain Gepard is busy with... confidential matters."

"Don't you give me that," Serval snapped. "Don't talk to me about secrets. Get Gepard here right now fast because things are about to get real ugly for us all."

The man hesitated. Despite the one wearing the bulky armor, he seemed to be the most vulnerable with Serval being his undoing. After a moment of silence, he audibly sighed and muttered something under his breath that oddly sounded like 'fucking civvies'. "Alright, I'll inform him but if he says no, you must vacate this area or I will have to force you."

"Sure, thank you."

He left then but the two Guards watching over them still kept their utmost attention at them, not easing up a bit.

"So, your brother is the leader around here?" Seele asked Serval who nodded as a response.

"Gepard is my little brother, he's their Captain and responsible for the troops in this area."

"That's quite the rank."

"What about you? You seem like a fighter yourself."

Seele shrugged. "I'm a Wildfire member."

"A what?"

"Wildfire," she explained. "When the Silvermane retreated from the Underworld, we're left defenseless so the local created a militia to combat the monsters and restore orders. That's us, the Wildfire."

Serval nodded solemnly. "I see. It must have been difficult for the people down there."

"Yeah. It could've been better if..." Seele gestured loosely around her with her index finger. "... none of these happened but we managed."

"I'm sorry, truly."

Seele rolled her eyes but there was no malice behind the gesture. "You sound exactly like Bronya. It's none of your fault so don't."

Serval opened her mouth only to close it again when heavy footsteps approached them. Turning their attention to the sources, they were met with Gepard and the Guard earlier. Serval immediately broke into a grin as she regarded her brother who didn't quite share the gesture.

In fact, his expression didn't change one bit. He kind of reminded Seele of Dan Heng.

"Hey, Geppy," Serval chirped happily while Seele snorted quietly at the nickname. "Do you miss your sister?"

Gepard eyed the two of them for a moment before he turned to his subordinate. "Thank you, Sargeant, I'll take over from here."

"Sir!"

Gepard then addressed them both. "Follow me." He didn't bring them far, just around the corner, where he then proceeded to block with his towering presence. "What is it, sis— Serval? I'm very busy."

Serval grinned. "Aw, Geppy! Do I need reason to check on my brother? Have you been eating well? And I mean well as in real food and not whatever frozen abomination they're giving our boys and girls?"

"... we've only had our provisions, you know that."

"Unfortunate,' Serval chuckled and Seele watched with fascination the way her smile vanished. "Gep, I need you to be honest with me. Have you seen Cocolia and Bronya?"

"Why?"

"Just answer the question, please."

Gepard crossed his arms and said sternly. "You are not privy to that information."

"So that means you have," Serval concluded between humorless chuckle and unease. "My friends in the Fort said they haven't seen both of them since the morning, which is very odd, but now you're telling me they were here?"

"I'm not telling you anything."

"Yeah, yeah," She dismissively said. "Where are they heading, Gep?"

"Classified."

"Her order?"

"Yes."

Serval grimaced. "I have an inkling where they're going," she turned towards Seele who had been watching the interaction with a mixture of amusement and interest. Catching Serval's gaze, Seele raised an eyebrow.

"The Stellaron?" She asked back, though it sounded more rhetorical than inquisitive. "But why? Did Bronya succeed convincing her mother?"

"No." Seele blinked. The surety in Serval's tone was so clear it was almost unsettling. "Cocolia is uncompromising in her ideal. I doubt Bronya won over her." Serval bit on her bottom lip anxiously, facing Gepard without a trace of juvenile she showed earlier. This time she appeared anxious, almost horrified even. "Gep, I need to go and find them."

"You can't."

"I'm not in the mood to play around," Serval said through clenched jaw, striding so she was now directly in fron of Gepard. Her brother simply stared down to meet her glare. "We have to get to them quickly before it's too late."

"I will not allow you to pass. Madam Supreme Guardian ordered me to not let anyone disturb them."

"You listen here, lil bro, if you won't let us through then I'll have no other options than to kick your—"

"Then I'm sorry." Gepard cut her off, effortlessly hoisting a now very angry Serval up to his shoulder and stepped back to the opening. Seele made a move to follow when he brought his free hand up. "Stop there, if you try anything remotely hostile I'll be forced to hurt you."

Seele's fingers flexed on nothing as a wash of energy filled her blood and flesh. When she blinked, her pupils turned red while her lips pulled into a snarl. Serval kicked and struggled on his hold but Gepard didn't seem one bit bothered by the squirming woman.

Things turned from bad to worse when his men joined him, weapons raised towards Seele and shields bared. Then, it turned from worse to holy shit this is terrible when Kiana chose to appear along with the rest of the crew right behind Seele.

The Kaslana blinked, raised her hands up, and cursed. "Oh, what the fuck?"

Mei emerged next from the golden portal, hand instinctively went to the hilt of Seven Thunders as her purple eyes scanned the situation, and made herself stand right in front of the three teenagers who were just as surprised and confused.

Seele waited for Bronya to appear but the portal collapsed without her exiting it. Frowning at her absence, she summoned her scythe now she was not the center of the attention and held it ready, banishing the thought of Bronya for the moment.

The sound of heavy metal hitting the ground was more than enough to make the Silvermane Guards tensed up, now eying Seele and her scythe warily. Seele, meanwhile, simply twisted and rested it on her shoulder, her other hand on her hip. "Good timing, guys."

They silently drew their weapons minus Mei and Kiana with the former still not moving to free her sword while the latter only stood dumbly with her hands up. The air was still and silent with both parties waiting for the other to strike first.

The material of her fingerless glove creaked as her hand tightened on the shaft of her scythe, more and more Quantum energy bleeding into the world. Seele began to flicker in and out of existence, making the Guards even more on edge at her display and strange power.

Before the tension could snap, a sudden interruption melted the string. A Silvermane Guard running hurriedly past the crew and completely ignoring them. He stopped before Gepard and snapped a quick salute. "Captain! Priority message from the Third Highland Scout!" he produced a small piece of paper from his pocket and began to read. "Massive monster presence in the area, break, direct heading towards the North Gate, break, recommending the enactment of Winter Contingency, end of message."

Gepard's cool mask cracked slightly, his eyes widened in surprise, before he recovered just as quick. "Marshal the troops, bring everyone to the North Gate. Send a message to the Artillery Corps to set up shops on the rear line behind the wall, tell them to immediately prepare for fire missions." He went on like that without a regard to the crew and one by one the Guards left until only a handful of sentries left. Only then did he address them again. "I have an urgent matter to attend and we are short of manpower. Whatever you do now is beyond my capability."

They stared at him dumbfounded, except Serval who grinned. "Aw, Geppy! Thank you so much, lil bro!"

Gepard didn't respond. At least, not right away. He stopped right beside Serval and sent her a meaningful glance. "Serval, I... I trust you. You're smart enough to not put us in further jeopardy." The last bit was accompanied with a quick sweep to the rest of them. "I know you have your reasons but you should know I also have my duty to uphold."

Serval's smile turned more reserved. "I know and I understand. Bronya is... she's like my own child and Cocolia was my best friend. I want to help them. I don't want them losing their friend like I did. There's still hope for them."

Gepard nodded. "I'll have Dunn accompany you."

"Wait, Dunn? He's here?"

"Yes. You're not a fighter so I'll have him protecting you."

"Fine, fine. I know I can't argue with you on this one." She chuckled dryly. "You take care, okay? Try to come back alive."

You're the brother I truly cherish.

"Don't worry about me." Gepard turned, ready to leave, only to stop when Kiana stepped right beside him.

"Wait, I'm coming with you."

He regarded her for a moment. "It will be dangerous."

"That's why I'm coming." Two portals swirled into existence by her sides and the dual pistols they now associated with Kiana emerged from them. Kiana snatched and twirled them between her fingers, showing a dexterity gained from years of practice and combat effortlessly. "Mei, I'll leave them to you."

"Of course. Be careful."

Kiana winked at her. "Back to you, babe."

TBC.